neepheid

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1329911518' post='1549456'] They certainly broke the mould when they came up with that one. What does that big bar (which looks like one of my kitchen cupboard handles ) do? [/quote] From the bumf that came with it: "Finger bar rest. Extra long, for new comfort when playing." Clearly, long is the new comfort

I don't really see what everyone is bitching about. I guess that makes me wrong.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1329874708' post='1549080'] I've decided to give my Blazer a much needed clean. It's old and it's gone a bit grubby, could do with cleaning up the tuners, the bridge and the frets. The body's going to get a makeover too at some point but as it's my only bass, I can't really have it out of action for any period of time. Anyone got any tips on getting these bits nice and clean? The bridge is a solid chunk of brass and the tuners are chrome. Im guessing the frets are stainless steel. I have no problems with taking everything apart too, so I can leave all the bits in solution if need be! Thanks in advance! Alex [/quote] Dismantle, dismantle, dismantle. I clean frets with Brasso - mask off the fingerboard first! The other stuff I'd soak in (cheap) diet coke for a while as already mentioned. Remember to rinse off the cola thoroughly and dry the parts thoroughly before you lubricate/reassemble.

Not the best environment to be trying this (at work with lots of computers whirring away in the background and a slightly rumbly ventilation system) but I could hear up to 16k. 17k was debatable - I'm not sure I could hear it but I could hear when it ended? I must try this again with the external USB sound interface and headphones when I get home

Not clearly. I was so keyed up on adrenaline that I don't even remember being on stage. Someone took a vid of it and on the whole I think I did OK (I had a music stand with cheat sheets off to the side which I can be seen perusing between songs), but I really can't remember any of it. No drinking. It'll be easier in front of an audience you know half of. My first gig was a paid one for a 40th birthday. On the plus side, we were on last and the crowd were pretty well oiled by then

[quote name='BB3000S' timestamp='1329771944' post='1547181'] Came across this at the EBMM forum, and can't seem to find it already posted on here. Anyway, apparently a gifted bass player could win a 1-year bass scholarship at The Institute, London. Short notice, last day to apply is Feb 24. http://www.icmp.co.uk/institutecontent.asp?ContentID=28&ID=67 [/quote] Now why did you have to spoil it with the word "gifted"?

What exactly are you afraid of? By getting over that hurdle of asking to try a bass you have already moved beyond those who go to the shop to browse but never do more than that. It's not an audition, it's not a gig. No-one is going to care, apart from the type of person mentioned before who is jealous of your ability to sit down in a shop full of people, pick up a bass and give it a shot. You don't have to impress the salesperson - you're the one with the money to spend. The last time I tried an instrument in a shop it was in quite an open space and there were other people in the shop but to be honest they either just carried on with their business and I didn't even notice they were there when I was playing (a bit like a gig then ) If it helps, decide what songs/riffs you're going to play before you even go to the shop. When I finally got the confidence to ask to try a bass in a shop when buying my first bass I worked out a couple of bassy things (Peaches, Sunshine of Your Love, that sort of thing) on the bottom 4 strings of a guitar I had lying around before I went. That helped eliminate the "mind gone blank at the crucial moment" thing.

I think I could be easily replaced, my playing skills - while improving all the time - are still fairly rudimentary. But I'd like to think I bring other stuff to the table apart from rudimentary bass playing - I'm reliable, punctual, have own transport/gear, am reasonably easy to get along with, can do web/computer stuff, can usually badger a couple of mates into coming along to gigs etc etc. There's always the inertia generated by an aversion to the hassle of getting a replacement also to fall back on

I'm going to a friend's house tomorrow night because his daughter has expressed an interest in taking up the bass. I'm flattered that he asked if I'd take a bass over and see what she thinks of the whole malarky. She's 13 so I'm thinking that she ought to be able to handle 34" scale (I haven't got any shorties anyway, so tough!). I'm thinking I'll take my Yamaha across as it's the thinnest necked bass I've got and it's not got that intimidating aura around it that basses like Ritters give me these days. For variety (as well as maybe showing her some stuff without having to swap all the time) I was thinking of taking two basses. Should I bring across one of my bonkers Gibsons, or should I play it safe and take the G&L? I've never done this before so I'm wondering what best to do - maybe try and play along to one or two of her favourite songs, maybe show her some arpeggios/scales, maybe take the first RGT grade book along and see how it goes from there? I guess first and foremost it should be fun, so not too heavy on the theory (what little I know of it anyway )

I really enjoyed that. I feel quite inspired now - I think I'll go pick up a bass

Most recently, Gary Numan's "Cars". I can't get it out of my head now

Yes, I do have to like the look of the bass. They are as much [i]objets d'art[/i] as they are instruments. There are styles I will not buy even if they're the nicest sounding/playing basses in the world. Colour is not so much a consideration for me. I'm not quite as shallow as a puddle, but I'm definitely the shallow end of the swimming pool.

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1329082598' post='1537034'] What? You wouldn't let someone have a noodle if they were admiring backstage? A 45 minute set would be a different question, but am happy to let people look - and I'm sure we've seen your Grabber doing the rounds at a bass bash. Same thing, no? As sod's law would have it, the Gibson shipped a string this afternoon, mid-studio. Topical question, as I had the moment of panic wondering if I'd f***ed it. You might all be right about just living with it, as I think I knew the answer before I started. Good to hear commentary on the Epis, as gives a route to look down. Thanks chaps. [/quote] In my opinion the bass bash is a controlled (read "sober") environment in which bassists (most of whom I know personally or at least on here/Finnbass) get to have a shottie of my basses while I get to have a shottie of theirs whereas at a gig it's a random, possibly intoxicated Tom, Dick, Harry or Harriet asking for a shottie of my bass. Not the same thing at all to me. It's different if I know AND trust them, but otherwise the answer is no. I suppose that makes me a meanie.

I should add that there's no way in Hell any other bands are getting their mitts on my basses. Not sure why this requirement is stated when you're so careful of your bass and self critical after the potential consequences.

Far Eastern Grabber copies exist, if you could score a genuine Grabber pickup from somewhere then maybe that's an avenue to explore? Or you could try to live with the fact that instruments are like any tool, it is possible they might get damaged in use. I own 4 Gibsons and I practice and gig with them all, including my beautifully refinished Victory. There's no doubt that I'll be a bit annoyed when it picks up its first ding, but the music goes on regardless.

I own heavy basses, I own light basses. They all sound good (to me) because of the pickups, electronics and strings and while I'm not completely closed minded to the idea that wood type/density will have some influence on tone, I'd be surprised if it was more than 10% influence - if anyone could ever put a figure on it. I don't think weight/density makes one bass better than another, just different. I sympathise with people who have physical difficulties with heavy basses and I feel lucky that I am physically able to play any bass I choose. The right strap makes all the difference. My two heaviest basses (>12lbs) have Neotech Mega straps and it makes them comfy for the whole set.

No regrets here. My first bass was an Epiphone EB-3 and while it turned out to be just about everything I didn't want in a bass, at least it started me out in a Gibson-y frame of mind rather than a Fender one so I suppose I should be thankful for that

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1328980544' post='1535653'] Well since I've never driven an NSX or a Ferrari I'd probably jump at the chance to drive either of them...............even if it was just to Tescos and back frankly. By the way we may have a mutual friend - Angus McCurrach (he's played with The Oxbow Lake Band) and now plays on a set of Flintstones drums with 'The Trybe' up your way. [/quote] Heh, yes I know Angus. He left the Oxbow Lake Band before I joined but I have bumped into him a couple of times - in fact we played with The Trybe at a gig last year Oops, thread hijack

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1328978160' post='1535585'] Don't ask me? I think it's probably because it's a classic design. There's probably a thousand other basses out there made by other manufacturers which are better in many ways but you don't fantasise about driving through the Swiss Alps in a Honda NSX you fantasise about driving through the Swiss Alps in a Ferrari. [/quote] I'd rather have a go in the NSX to be perfectly honest. I also dislike Jazz basses. Everyone's different

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1328891380' post='1534480'] Yes, technically, you're right: if those were the only two ground wires connected to the plug then it wouldn't matter which way round they went. But .... in my experience the case of the socket is usually in contact with the cavity shielding (either by touching, or by some other ground wire). And this is, by far, the most common cause of "the battery on my active bass drains really fast" syndrome. [/quote] Cool - sounds like a "best practice" thing that a bodger like me tends to forget/never know in the first place

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1328885791' post='1534370'] NO! NO! NO! The battery ground is wired to the jack socket like this to ensure the battery is disconnected when your cable is unplugged, and for this to work, you need the two ground connections round the right way. (Otherwise the earth wires on your bass will complete the circuit, and your battery will be drained before you've finished reading this post). So you need to connect the battery black wire to the barrel tag on the jack socket. [/quote] Even if the only two wires in question are the ground from the preamp and the -ve to the battery? I'm happy to be wrong (in fact that might clear up something that's been puzzling me for a while) but the two (ring/sleeve) terminals are not connected when there's no plug inserted and a gap's a gap, isn't it?

[quote name='V4lve' timestamp='1328872410' post='1533989'] Unbodged! [/quote] I hope the screws are long enough - I put one of those retainers on an OLP MM3 - it pinged out on one side under the stress.

I got a Gibson RD Artist (not in a hard case) delivered from the Netherlands for €40 back in September if that helps. While sussing that out I'm also a bit peeved to find out that the value of the Euro vs. £ has decreased since then and it would have cost me £100 less if I had bought it today. Damn it!

This of course relies upon people being able to put things in the right place. But fundamentally, as someone with zero interest in basses with more than 4 strings, I would also welcome it.