Bigwan

Eventful gig... First off the place was a terrible layout. 2 separate stages, both small, about 15 feet apart, separated by a walkway from the dancefloor to the restaurant. 1 stage for the drummer, another for the rest of us (2 guitarists and me). Literally if I'd stepped back I'd have been sitting on the PA desk. Whole PA crapped out 7 songs in (not my fault - I didn't step back!). After 10 minutes of fiddling with everything we could think of (and chewing the balls off the guitarist who didn't bring his spare powered desk like he was instructed to do) we muddled on by using our active monitors as the PA and turning guitar and bass amps up to 11. Funny thing was none of the punters noticed. They just thought we were having a break! Unfortunately it played with our heads a bit as I couldn't hear the drummer at all (I was standing right next to my bass amp and the guitar amp and he's not a heavy hitter). Ever tried to keep time with a drummer you can't hear? Interesting experience... Pity, since with the monitors on stage and the PA pumping we sounded better than we ever have! Positives: The manager of the place wants us back again. My bass rig is smaller than I thought I could ever get away with and sounds awesome! (Ashdown ABM 1x10 combo into an Aguilar GS112) My nerves should be fine from now on if we can get through a night like that! Drummer and guitarists singing was top notch (they take lead vocals in about half the songs overall) Negatives: The singer needs a total dressing down (called someone he knew in the croud a c*nt over the PA, got more drunk and generally unprofessional as the night wore on, couldn't sing for toffee, also progressively worse as the night wore on - although probably because he was straining his voice as he couldn't hear what was going on). Also disappeared when it was time to load-up the van... The whole PA experience has made me even more sure I want to go with in ear monitors...

My first gig with my new band is tonight. All covers - my first all covers band that's made it as far as gigging. The nerves are made worse by the fact that a lot of the punters will be people I know. I've always found it more nerve-racking to play in front of people I know than to play to total strangers. How do you handle gig nerves or do you eventually get over them the more you play?

Just bought a Bongo 5HH from dougal. Great guy to deal with. Fast shipping. Recommended!

[quote name='eude' post='262190' date='Aug 14 2008, 09:24 AM']Holy crap! That looks good enough to eat! You must be stoked... Are you getting an adjustable ramp like on Dood's Doodle too? Cheers, Eude[/quote] Totally chuffed with how it looks. My only concern is that I haven't seen the maple fingerboard in detail yet, but I trust Jon's judgement as far as wood goes. Yes the ramp is the same idea as on 'The Doodle', the idea being it'll feel like one big pickup to rest my thumb on.

Things have been a bit quiet lately on this, but Jon sent me some pics last night. Took my breath away when I opened them! [attachment=12105:DSCN4951.jpg][attachment=12106:DSCN4954.jpg] Jon's having a week off next week and should be completing this one the week after that, which'll make it 42 weeks total build (quoted 12 - 20 weeks when I ordered). I'm in no hurry or I would have been a bit more annoyed about the delay, but these pics make up for quite a few of those weeks!

My shuker build was quoted as 12 - 20 weeks. It's now 39 and counting. Good job I'm not in a hurry...

[attachment=12071:13082008052.jpg][attachment=12072:13082008053.jpg][attachment=12073:13082008054.jp g][attachment=12074:13082008055.jpg][attachment=12075:13082008056.jpg][attachment=12076:13082008057.j pg][attachment=12077:13082008059.jpg][attachment=12078:13082008061.jpg][attachment=12079:13082008062. jpg]

The look is really growing on me actually. I think it's easier since mine is a subdued colour. Perhaps if it was desert orange it would be more difficult to love it! The white pickguard on that bongo 6hs really does make it look like a loo seat though!

I've already added a Bongo 4HS to my 'wanted' list. Would give me a bit more room to slap with my dodgy technique!

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='260796' date='Aug 12 2008, 01:22 PM']But do they work better than GK cabs with a GK amp, or Hartke Cabs with Hartke amp?[/quote] People seem to think there is some kind of synergy when you use amps and cabs of the same manufacturer together... I think that's total nonsense myself. Historically GK amps and Hartke cabs seem to be a combination people like. Whether that's for you or not will depend on your ear. Try before you buy if you can. If you can't then read as many varying reviews as possible (until you can see the actual trend and can weed out the "I've only had it a week, but it's so good I'll never sell it" guys and the "I'm only playing this because Fieldy/Flea/Victor/Marcus does" guys). Some of us don't get the chance to try quality bass gear before making decisions...

Have to say that a pair of DB112s in black and silver with a chrome ashdown ABM head would look altogether sexual!

GS came first. Been around for a fair few years and has won 1x12 shootouts galore. Some say it's a little mid-shy, but I don't hear that in mine. I'll be buying a second one one of these days. They are quite big (deep) for a 1x12. The DB is slightly larger and constructed from different wood, apparently adding more mids to the sound. Same actual driver as the GS. A different cab finish (vinyl rather than carpet). Better looking cab - very retro. Similar weight. If I hadn't already got a GS I'd go for a DB, but since I got a GS second hand then I'll stick with them.

[quote name='bassman2790' post='260464' date='Aug 11 2008, 11:24 PM']- it is![/quote] Yes it is a bit, but I don't have to look at it when I'm playing it!

Received myself a Bongo 5HH in the post this morning from our very own Dougal. Had it out to band practice tonight. WHAT A BASS!!! Preamp flat, pickup pan pot centred - Best sounding bass right off the bat that I've ever heard. Fat, punchy, buttery. Haven't had a chance to play much with the preamp yet but I think things can only get better! Also the best sounding B string I've heard in many a year. And no noise/hum whatsoever, no matter where I stand in relation to my amp. Fantastic! Only misgivings I have so far are over the string spacing which is a wee bit tight for me, but for this sound I can get over that. Having owned quite a few different basses in my time I can say the following: 1). If you yearn for a Wal (been there, done that), but can't stump up the cash - this is the bass for you. 2). If you want a fatter stingray tone - this is the bass for you. I LOVE IT!!! EVERYONE SHOULD TRY ONE RIGHT NOW!

[quote name='coasterbass' post='257804' date='Aug 8 2008, 09:20 AM']Interesting plan. My concern would be that the limiter won't protect you from the ambient mic. If you have vocal mics in the main mix then wouldn't these function as 'ambient' mics anyway?[/quote] Possibly. Depends on the mic pickup pattern I suppose. The ambient mic was just an afterthought though.

OK guys I'm starting to gather all the components for an in ear monitoring system (wired). I'm going to run: [attachment=11714:mon.JPG] My problem is what to use as a brickwall limiter to save what little hearing I still have from spikes in the mix? Would something cheap and simple like a behringer bass limiter pedal do the job in the meantime until I find something more suitable? The reason I want to mix myself into the monitor mix again is that I might have to share the mix with someone else (only 3 monitor mix outputs from the desk), so I'd like the option to add more of myself as I see fit. Also like that I can add an ambient mic into the personal mixer too (I'll be the only one using in-ears in the band). Any thoughts?

[quote name='Mike' post='256410' date='Aug 6 2008, 04:00 PM']WOW - stunning finish! PS Mine is up to 8months![/quote] Looking good! 38 weeks and counting here Jon quoted 12 - 20 weeks at the time...

[quote name='ped' post='255851' date='Aug 5 2008, 10:40 PM']Haha I promise I will do in a bit because I have moved house now and set up my lil bass corner in the lounge... some clips should be easy to rustle up. I will add them to my porn thread when I have done some! Cheers ped P.s I probably sound like a broken record talking about the chuffing Vbass, too![/quote] Let's put it this way - you've get me worn down far enough that I've spoke to Jon Shuker about putting a piezo/midi pickup system on my 18 week overdue 6 string in preparation... just need to find a v-bass now...

[quote name='ped' post='255638' date='Aug 5 2008, 06:11 PM']I have several synths I use from my Roland V-bass and pickup (note it is not a midi pickup but a dedicated pickup for each string). The synths track flawlessly as a result and you can play several notes at once because each string is separately processed. It makes playing really juicy synth sounds across the bass a pleasure because you can adjust the volume of each string to match and get the whole thing sounding like a keyboard![/quote] Er... not to sound like a broken record or anything... CLIPS!