stevebasshead

[quote name='cheddatom' post='679893' date='Dec 10 2009, 08:40 AM']I swear there's 4 weeks in a month?[/quote] It's the new Euromonth. Did you not get the memo from Brussels?

As I understand it, it's probably nothing more than the position of the pickup. If it had been mounted even just 1/2 and inch left or right of where it is, the harmonics would've come through differently. Back when the original of which this bass is, er, based on, playing with harmonics was barely done and certainly the inadequate bass amplification of the day would've ensured they were lost in the mix! So the design choice of where exactly the pickup was positioned was based on the normal playing style of the day. It's kinda hard to explain but when a string is plucked for a harmonic, it doesn't vibrate equally all along it's length and there can be little null points where not an awful lot is happening and if hte pickup is under one of those spots for a given harmonic then it barely rings out at all. So if the pickup was positioned elsewhere it would have got a stronger signal if you see what I mean?

I've not been around BC all that much this year for one reason or another so I've missed out on the previous postings of that video. So I've just had a quick poke about at some of his others. The guy's quite something, daft, dextrous...and dubious! But his vids are strangely likeable...hmmm...maybe I shouldn't have had that last whiskey!! I can play like this in my sleep. Awake however is a different matter

[quote name='YouMa' post='679744' date='Dec 9 2009, 11:44 PM']Im in![/quote] Thankfully my astounding lack of slap-talent lets me off the hook!!

[quote name='Chris2112' post='677013' date='Dec 7 2009, 07:00 PM']Sounds like he has his bass plugged directly into a farting elephant![/quote] That'd be the predecessor to ZVEX's Woolly Mammoth pedal, the Flatulent Pachyderm FWIW I rather like that tone too.

Be aware there's different types of switch cleaner, ideally you want the type that lubricates too otherwise the issue will come back again.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='676813' date='Dec 7 2009, 03:40 PM']From the ammount of complaints i've seen on this board about GAKs online stock system I would bet on them having already started work on a new/improved system.[/quote] Aye, no one can afford to lose sales in this economic climate!

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='676780' date='Dec 7 2009, 03:12 PM']Cancel your order. That's the most effective and direct way of showing your displeasure. S.P.[/quote] Yes and no... that only works if they actually monitor their transactions or generate reports for cancelled orders rather than let their system just handle cancellations automatically. And if they don't monitor they'll never know. Given that they can't monitor stock levels I wouldn't like to assume they monitor for cancelled orders. I'd still say the best solution is to contact them, you can still cancel the order but at least by contacting them they'll know for sure why.

You need a Big One and two midgets. Position the midgets one each side underneath the Big One and get them to lift it up (and this is the important bit) [u]evenly[/u], to your ear height. The Big One is quite light so the midgets arms won't get too tired during a gig. You might want to give them ear protection too.

Aye, shouldn't happen in the 21st century! I've been hit by it myself (not GAK though) and it's frustrating. GAK have a presence here in the affiliates section, maybe PM them to let them know you've found an issue with their website and stock level monitoring?

If it's got an effects send it'll likely be at line level rather than instrument level seeing as it's built into the preamp. Should still work of course but you might want to watch the input level on your FX unit, you might need to lower the input level to avoid clipping as floor FX tend to be made for the lower level instrument signal.

Just bought Derek's Behringer rack tuner off him, excellent nick, great price and very securely packaged up. Good comms from him too, top bloke to deal with Cheers Derek! Regards, Steve.

Just to add to the confusion(!)..."flat EQ" may depend on the type of EQ in your amp. If it's passive EQ and based on the old Fender circuit (check this by turning the bass, mid and treble to minimum - if your amp goes [i]silent[/i], it's passive EQ!) then flat is usually bass and treble at minimum and mids at max. Weird but true. If it's active EQ then flat will be all controls at 12 o'clock. But to your main question, small adjustments are usually better and try turning EQ's down not just up. For example if your bass sounds too thin turn the treble down and boost the volume rather than turning the bass up. Experiment a little and see what effect each change has - do them one at a time. Hope this helps, Steve.

We played one venue where the staff told us not to worry about the sound limiter until 11pm, apparently it didn't come into play until then. Not sure how that works, no-one's mentioned a version with a timer built in but it did seem to be an eminently sensible technical solution that might, just might, make these appalling devices viable. Sure enough it was in the red all the way through our gig but it didn't cut out once and we finished before 11 anyway. Anyone come across one of these timed ones before? Or were the bar staff just mistaken?

If it helps I always thought it was a synth bassline, and I could get pretty close to it with a Boss SYB-3 and my Ric. I can't say whether the (or any) synth bass tone is based around any particular bass though, I kind of doubt it...but then again I've never thought about it before. Good Q actually!

Nice quiet office now, everyone but me has gone home, just watched the vid. Dem's da bloo's alright! Can see why you're worrying about making it work at a corporate gig..but wait...Hey! I saw people dancing, 5 1/2 minutes in - how much of your rep. is made up of the more up tempo stuff? Once people have had a drink or several they'll dance and if they're dancing they're having a good time regardless of their normal musical tastes. My band do the odd corporate/wedding do and we give 'em the same indie covers as our pub setlists. All ages and taste's get up and dance with a drink inside them but they'll need encouragement from your singer. Or if you can get your wives/girlfriends into the gig and get them to start dancing others will follow them (we do exactly that if it looks like people aren't going to move themselves). But ultimately your band needs to be comfortable with doing the gig

My take is similar to the above - first and foremost get [i]absolute [/i]confirmation from the booker that music-wise a) they know exactly what they're getting from your band and b ) they won't get anything else (i.e. some people just seem to think that all they need to do is book "a band" and some sort of witchcraft happens whereby you just know any song they ask for on the night...disappointment ensues shortly thereafter!) Secondly (and I haven't watched your YouTube link, so I don't know) does your frontman normally have the stagecraft/personality/all out balls to really engage with and win over an audience, especially one that may not take naturally to the blues you play? If he doesn't then I'd add that to the reasons to hesitate because if he doesn't do it naturally it's unlikely he'll be able to bring that out on the night without looking forced and unnatural. Finally, if your band does do the gig then [b]really[/b] go for it, half measures will be uncomfortable to watch. You'll be playing to an audience who (statistically, by majority) will consist of people who normally [b]don't [/b]go to see local bands, so on the night they just want to watch something entertaining, a show rather than just appreciating the music. Hire suits, hell hire two [i]noticabley[/i] different styles and change between sets (if you're being paid corporate rates you'll have plenty of money to cover the hire). Goof around [i]a little [/i]with your bandmates. Maybe have your harp player put his hands to his mouth to start playing only to have forgotten his harp and one of you has to hand it to him?!? Anything to add to the pizzaz, it's showbiz! You're right to air your worries to your band, best to get everyone committed one way or the other. Good luck either way. Steve.

Cheers Alex

Hi Alex, My bass port points diagonally at the floor because I have a Mesa Boogie wedge combo and the port is on the 45 degree angle bit underneath (does that make sense?) I know the Auralex blocks will isolate mechanical vibrations from a wooden floor but do you have any idea how much that will be negated because the port is firing bass vibrations just inches from that same floor? Cheers, Steve.

Si's a top bloke to deal with, I can happily echo all of the comments above. Traded my Ric 4003 for his Mesa/Boogie Buster 200 combo yesterday and had a good natter about all thing bass too. Thanks Si. Regards, Steve.

[quote name='thumbo' post='605418' date='Sep 22 2009, 11:42 AM']Hi BlueFalcon, I work for Sound Unlimited. We're just having some temporary website issues! We'll be back online shortly.[/quote] I've bought some bits and pieces from you guys, great prices, quick service and a very smart website design too! Glad this is only a niggly technical issue.

A quake?

I'll play along with them in the house if I need to refresh my memory but I rarely stick 'em on just to listen to. On the odd occasion I do I'm often surprised by 2 things, first how I've missed and/or added little things to the bassline and second, how much more we tend to rock-up the tracks. I much prefer our versions which might sound big-headed (it's not meant to be) which I think is how it should be in a covers band. A perfect recreation would be a bit of a technical exercise (but not without some merit) whereas I think music should live and breath through the musicians playing it and it benefits from putting some of ourselves into it. After all, even the original artists tweak and adjust their parts when playing them live.