bassbloke

Recent stop gap promo shots taken on a sunny afternoon in Hoxton. [attachment=45068:26125_10...095233_n.jpg]

Nothing sounds quite like an SWR. I've owned a Bass350 and SM400 and traded up because I found both of them a bit underpowered and was concerned about how hot they ran. That said, neither ever gave me any problems. So, if you like the SWR sound - and a great sound i is - I would suggest sticking with SWR unless it's out of your price range. What about a 550x or 750x? Less features, but has the aural enhancer, parametric EQ and limiter which, IMHO, is the bulk of the SWR Sound.

I've found myself using compression less and less over the years. I run a limiter in my signal chain with the threshold set really high. It's really just there to protect my speakers if I get carried away. Slap sounds better the more gentle you are - the notes will have better sustain and you get more of a contrast between slap and pop as opposed to just loads and loads of attack.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='771988' date='Mar 11 2010, 07:10 PM']every so often though, some b*****d guitarist decides "I'm gonna write a riff that involves hammering between the D string and loads of random frets as quickly as I can"[/quote] Does mean you have to though...

+100000 on the professional refinish. If you want something unique, give my good friend Dave Hobbs a bell. [url="http://www.insanarty.co.uk"]www.insanarty.co.uk[/url] He's refinished two of my basses and a guitar for a mate and they look fantastic. If you're on facebook, drop me a pm with your profile name and I'll add you as a mate and you can see the fruits of his labours. Would cost you well under £250, including lacquering.

[quote name='throwoff' post='770610' date='Mar 10 2010, 04:44 PM']OK! This might seem like a wierd question but does anyone use DEADG on a 5 string? I dont like a low B dont find it useful in any way shape or form so I have this idea in my head to tune DEADG giving me a D for drop D songs and also I would then also be able to play octaves on the A from it which I like the idea of. If this has any big problems I'll tune it to EADGC as I would rather have a high C than a low B anyday Just wondered if anyone else does this or due to my previously mentioned lack of theory im missing something obvious to you guys![/quote] If I had that little use for a low B, I'd either ditch the 5 and get a 4 tune DADGC. I tune my 5 ADADG. Very handy.

I remember borrowing a Hondo P bass from my wife's cousin back in the early 90s. It weighed a tonne, was made of ply and the neck could have been used to launch arrows.

Get it lacquered by an auto shop. Probably cost you about £50 for a couple of coats of automotive lacqeur, which will be baked hard. Very very durable.

[quote name='WalMan' post='761781' date='Mar 2 2010, 01:41 PM']As above if you are getting to that stage it really is worth getting a partnership agreement set up sooner rather than later. If not you will end up covered by legislation that is over 100 years old. I'm sure everyone has heard of royalties cases like The Smiths, and more recently for A Whiter Shade of Pale, that have rumbled on for years and where probably the only winners are the lawyers. Get everything agreed now while you're all talking, 'cos a few years down the line when the singer has been through the rest of the bands g/f's, the guitarist says he wrote all the songs when everyone elses recollection is that is was a group effort, and none of you are talking except through lawyers a bit of paper that covers the business aspects and was agreed in the good times will be a godsend.[/quote] Check out our myspace page. I would dearly love to see our singer get in on with some of our wives/girlfriends No, no, that's sexist.

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='761626' date='Mar 2 2010, 10:59 AM']Are you anticipating trouble or have you just had trouble??[/quote] Not really. However, band is gaining profile - bigger gigs, endorsements, etc... but still at the stage where investment is required from individual band members (merchandise, backdrops, photoshoots, web hosting) so we're considering a formal agreement setting out expectations, etc...

Do any of you have formal, written band agreements covering royalties, investment, disputes? If so, how have they worked for you? Have ou ever needed to involve the MU or similar to assist with settling disputes? If so, were they helpful?

I would have packed up my stuff and left after a quarter of an hour or so.

[quote name='valere24' post='755968' date='Feb 24 2010, 12:01 PM']I never understood the point of the IMRM technique. The middle finger does as much work as IM so it defies the objective. I can understand the advantages of IMR, RMI, or adding the thumb TIMR. I personally use IM, RMI, and RMIT. That said, unless you're into fusion / virtuoso style bass playing, I cannot see myself recommending 3/4 finger techniques to somebody still starting on the instrument, better stick to IM to start with. And maybe learn to use a pick.[/quote] I agree that people sometimes get too hung up on advanced 3 or 4 finger techniques as a way of achieving very fast picking speeds when, in reality, a pick would provide plenty of speed and note defintion. However, 3 finger techniques work very well for more efficient string crossing, muting and a generally more relaxed feel and if somebody is starting out, they may as well learn to develop a tecnhique using as many as possible. It's not as if you learn to ride a bicycle using one leg at a time.

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='754988' date='Feb 23 2010, 01:31 PM']I can't get on with the neck size on a 5...dropping the e would be the answer but then I would have to relearn 27 songs...[/quote] Half our set was in standard tuning and half in Drop D. Retuning bottom string from E to D takes around 5 seconds. Try using a pick on the drop D numbers - that'll give you less thump.

[quote name='silddx' post='754201' date='Feb 22 2010, 06:44 PM'] Actually, you said piss off and practice or [b]something[/b]. I have just put the laundry on and am now about to do the recycling, wash up, cook dinner, record a bass track for a mate's album, and start rehearsing for Saturday's gig. Does any of that count? [/quote] There's such a fine line between attention to detail and pedantry.

Andertons music do 9 and 12 months interest free and are sizeable fender stockists, so would order one in for you. Your big problem with a special order and getting one on finance is that there's zero opportunity to bargain/haggle. List prices on the US Deluxe Fenders is high - well over a grand, whereas second hand values are 2/3 of that.

i said go and practice.