dangerboy

Why not follow the tried-and-tested major label route? Find someone who looks the part and is easy to manipulate. Maybe the son of a label executive's friend, for example. Train them up to a basic standard. Done.

[quote name='matt_citizenbass' post='547124' date='Jul 21 2009, 10:58 PM']yeah, the water rats is really renowned for having the most ridiculously stupid pay to play service. no one should have to do that. i once spoke to that tom guy on the phone (as mentioned above) and he said they require we sell no less than 50 tickets in advance other wise we won't be allowed on stage. he said he'll keep checking back on whether i think we can do it every month or so and he does each time i saw their number pop up i just let it ring. pay to play is the biggest joke ever[/quote] Much better to come and play for Duel in the Deep (finally!). How was the gig with BITCHES?

I think there are a few things you need to take into account - Rick pickups are single coil, have pole pieces directly under the strings (rather than smaller ones either side) and are mounted hanging from the pickguard/surround, rather than screwed to the body. You'll get closer the more of these things you do. They're also floating above a maple through-neck, which provides some of the clarity. I did an experiment recently to see if I could get a Thunderbird to sound more like a Rick, with single coil pickups mounted from pickguard rings. Answer - yes. It sounds a lot more like a Rick (but not all the way). [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=53048"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=53048[/url] If you want a cheap first step, I'd start with Quarter Pounders, and see if you like them. Dark Stars are a very expensive experiment!

Just had a little play. No neck dive at all, and in fact quite a bit lighter than my Travis Bean (which is the bass I'm used to).

I have the 8-string version of this (I think joegarcia does too, but his might only be strung up as a 4). It has the normal aluminium tonal clarity and brightness (and even more top end due to octave strings!). It is heavy (but only by modern standards), but still lighter than a lot of my other basses. The seller doesn't seem to have mentioned the fact that it's 30" scale anywhere, but it is. The switches are coil taps and phase, I think. Anyway, it can make a lot of different noises.

I did a gig with an Ashdown Five Fifteen once. By the end of the night it was completely wrecked and sounded distinctly unhealthy. Gain and volume were both on full to make it loud enough. Thankfully - not my amp, I didn't choose the settings!

1mm Clayton Acetal triangles. Thinnest thing I've found that doesn't bend or scratch paintwork off. For guitar - it has to be brass. Nothing else sounds as good to me. So I have to have metal scratchplates!

That's definitely the most heavily-modified DMZ4000 I've ever seen!

Is the XL9 the one with two P pickups and the most amazing set of knobs and switches this side of the Space Shuttle? BigRedX knows the score with prices - I'd say at 350 someone would have a bargain, and at 600 they'd feel like they were paying top end (I've owned 3 Kramers myself - DMZ4001, 450b and XL8). But those are basschat prices. You may well do a lot better on eBay - or worse! You could always stick an ad on www.metalnecks.com or in the forums at www.kramerforum.com too.

I only play with a pick. And I often play this.

I have dipped my toe into the world of valve amps by buying one of these: [url="http://acoustic.homeunix.net/twiki/bin/view/Acoustic/GuitarTubeCombo164and165"]http://acoustic.homeunix.net/twiki/bin/vie...eCombo164and165[/url] It's primarily for guitar, but also sounds great on bass when run into a 15" cab. At the moment it's quite noisy, even from the pre-amp out, and the seller suggested it could do with new pre-amp tubes. It takes 3 12aX7s and 1 12aT7. Do any of you have good recommendations for high-quality, cheap replacements? I've never dealth with valves before.