bassbloke

before you start adding additional notes, experiment with how note length and quality and the use of space can spice up a bassline.

I bought one a couple of weeks ago. Sound, feel and appearance are all fantastic. However, it suffers from the same problem as other active Fenders - the preamp is a bit all or nothing and I have Audere preamps in my other two Fenders and the passive style tone is so handy. Reckon I might have to get the preamp in this one upgraded. Audere also offer passive switching on the modular preamps.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='252004' date='Jul 31 2008, 12:02 PM']Our main song is at 45 bpm and a section involves me sustaining a note for 9 beats. Depends on what you play. Its easy to kill sustain, hard to increase it without bass modding.[/quote] That's what vibrato is for. As for breaking strings when strung through body - I've been through body stringing my Fenders every since I bought my first. It adds an extra inch or so to the overall length of the string and seems to increase tension ever so slightly. I've never really paid it much thought though. There are countless instrumenst out there that are fundamentally better designed that my jazzes and p, but that doesn't mean that sound they produce is neccesarily more pleasing. Finally, some of the most memorable songs ever were performed on bass guitars with a rudimentary design, with old strings, action that would cause most of the members of thsi forum to faint through very basic amps. Doesn't stop people trying their hardest to emulate those sounds though.

I own the Boss RC-20XL. I've often toyed with the idea of selling. You can pick them up on ebay 2nd hand for around £110. There's now the Line 6 JM4 modeller too [url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/76296"]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/76296[/url] Absolutely crammed full of features.

Parcel2Go will set you up with a US address for this purpose. It's a PO box address but it's linked to your UK address.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='327958' date='Nov 12 2008, 09:30 PM']This evening the first thing I did when I got home was to tune it up. The strings were tuned to way crazy notes. At first when I saw that the E string was tuned to a A or summat, I assumed that tuner must not be picking it up properly. But no, it was that far out of tune. After I tuned the bass, the action seems to have lowered. At least, it is much more playable. I have got some scope for lowering action at the bridge, so I'd like to try that. Trying it this morning, the neck did seem quite wide. But this evening after playing it a bit more, it feels quite comfortable. But the top, normally C string, seems to be the wrong gauge. It is the same gauge as the G string, and to tune it to C I need to REALLY tighten it. On HC I'm told that La Bella make a "175" (I don't understand the units) for tuning to low F#. Since I'm in an experimental mood, I'd like to try this. Does anyone know where I can buy one in the UK?[/quote] You'll need to file the nut if you want to fit a set with a low F# or the strings will sit too high and the actionw ill be wrong and it'll affect playability and tone. You have to ask if you'll use a low F# more than a high C.

[attachment=15773:Basses_2...1_09_007.jpg] My main gigging and recording bass. It's a 2001 US Deluxe Jazz that I picked up in the states. Stockpreamp has been replaced with an Audere JZ3D 3 band. Sounds great. The B isn't great,but this bass feels so comfortable, I can live with it. This bass has some serious bottom end - I have to roll off the bass on my amp and I never boost the onboard preamp. Here are some recordings of the bass in action [url="http://www.mothballdesign.com/stonerrock/mixes/kaithulu%20boogaloo%20HB.mp3"]Stoner Rock Band Song #1[/url] [url="http://www.myspace.com/neoentity"]Prog Metal[/url] [attachment=15774:Basses_2...1_09_009.jpg] My backup bass. It's a 1996 50th anniversary model bought from a basschater. The stock preamp has been replaced with a 2 band Audere JZ3D. The pickups have been replaced with Fender Noiseless and the tuners swapped for hipshot Ultralites - all purchased from basschat! It sounds very different to the 2001 bass - much more nasal [attachment=15775:Basses_2...1_09_008.jpg] The missus and I have agreed on a maximum of three basses with a strict one in one out policy that tends to keep bass purchases in check. The recent sale of my Fender HM bass has led to feverish scanning of the for sale forum on Basschat and ebay for a suitable replacement. I popped into Andertons today and tried out a handful of Precisions, none of which impressed me. On the way out, I stumbled across this little beauty. Second hand, but pretty much mint and half the price of the new one in stock, better sounding and much better set up. So, out came the Mastercard. It's a 2003 US Deluxe Precision in a rather gorgeous sunburst - the the grain of the wood looks lovely underneath. [attachment=15776:Basses_2...1_09_012.jpg]

I find ghe best way to deal with odd meters is to break them down into simpler, regular meters 5/4 becomes a count of 2 and a count of 3 7/8 becomes a a count of 3 and 4, or 4 and 3 or even 2 and 2 and 3 It helps if you really try and pick out an obvious repetitive numerical pattern to the drums.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='321873' date='Nov 4 2008, 03:35 PM']Can i ask why you didn't then?[/quote] The wonders of hindsigt. [quote name='dave_bass5' post='321873' date='Nov 4 2008, 03:35 PM']2 basses for £145 seems very cheap.[/quote] I've had a couple of people, including Paul from ArrowHead and my local music shop repairer quote around £60 for a basic fret dress.

It's a Vester bassfrom the 90s.

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='321486' date='Nov 4 2008, 12:51 AM']For a beginner????? McEnroe....."you cannot be serious"![/quote] In all seriousness, sitting at home learning songs only goes so far. Your best bet would be signing up with one of the Weekend Warrior schemes or similar. Two dads I know have signed up with a place called the realistic rock academy in Epsom and are realising a lifelong desire to learn drums and guitar respectively. They get a few months to work on a set's wroth of material before playing a gig at the pub next door. It's a great idea.

Walls of Babylon by Symphony X- just finished it a short while ago. Quite chuffed actually as it only took a couple of hours last night and tonight. I'm going to crack on with the rest of the album. I'm also hankering after a Caparison bass too

I want you back by the Jackson 5. Great fun.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='321355' date='Nov 3 2008, 09:33 PM']If i needed it i would certainly not be against using it if it turns out its cheaper and quicker than getting it done by hand. Its certainly not something i would attempt as if i cock it up i would have to pay for it to be fixed. I don't think any of my basses have ever needed anything like this but its reassuring that if one did i could get it done quickly. I don't know how long these machines have been around but i get the feeling its the way forward.[/quote] It's neither cheaper nor quicker than getting it done by hand. The machine requires significant financial outlay and for the operator to be suitably skilled in its operation. So, you have to pay a premium for the service so that the repair centre can recoup its money. There are other limitations too - it can't handle scalloped necks. As I said, mine cost £145. I could have got both of my basses done somewhere really good for that!

I had one of my basses pleked. The bass played like a total pig beforehand and playedlesslike a pig afterwards. Turns out that the owner beforeme had used a piece of nylon packing tape as a shim which had totally screwed the playability. All in all it cost me £150. My advice. Save your money.

There's a scheme called wekend warriors that's designed to get older lapsed musicians back together . [url="http://www.mia.org.uk/weekendwarriors/"]http://www.mia.org.uk/weekendwarriors/[/url] The best way to improve is to play with other musicians. Bass players are always in demand so you'll have little problems finding a group.