pete.young

[quote name='chris_b' post='441481' date='Mar 22 2009, 02:42 AM']Has anyone ever had an amp fail and had to use their backup amp?[/quote] Not fail, but my Burman developed serious distortion problems at one gig and I switched to the LMII backup. Turned out that the power valves were falling out. Now fixed, thanks to a set of Marshall-pattern spring retainers.

Never really got into mandolins, although I inherited this one from my great uncle, and am in the process of fitting a new bridge: This is much more fun. It's a flatback bouzouki, made for me by Paul Doyle in 1979. The back is 4 pieces of plum. Tuning is G-D-A-D, mostly an octave down from a mandolin, as popularised by Donal Lunny of Planxty, Bothy Band and Moving Hearts.

[quote name='Eight' post='430978' date='Mar 10 2009, 08:42 PM']But it works, and aside from a tuning peg coming lose (just the flappy bit you turn) and some delam on the pickguard, its not that bad.[/quote] What more do you need? Failing that, my Bass Collection SB310 strung B-E-A-D will soon be up for sale at a very reasonable price, just as soon as I can replace the balance pot that crapped out t'other day. This does sound reasonable on the B even with a 120, but I've gone to the 5-string dark side so needs must.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='428614' date='Mar 8 2009, 03:14 PM']Janek Gwizdala?[/quote] +1. And Hadrian Ferraud. I think you're up there too Bilbo, having completely done my head in trying to match your style and panache on that dep job!

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='427313' date='Mar 6 2009, 04:22 PM']For an SB301 on eBay you'll be doing well to hit £150.[/quote] +1. There was an SB310 on there the other day for opening bid of £80, no takers :-(

When I was learning to sight read, I was taught 2 things - Practise - get music out of a library, any music. Play it once. Move on. Read intervals. Not absolute notes.

[quote name='Col' post='425576' date='Mar 4 2009, 10:11 PM']Sting plays exactly "the right thing" on so many Police tracks. Can anyone imagine "Walking on the Moon" with a different bassline, or "The Beds too Big Without You" for instance?[/quote] Walking on the moon no, but I'm a huge fan of Sheila Hilton's cover of Beds too big. They didn't change the bassline, just shifted the back beat a bit.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='425494' date='Mar 4 2009, 08:12 PM']Now that's something I may find myself quoting ...[/quote] I don't entirely buy that. Does Colin Hodgkinson sound like James Jamerson sound like Phil Lynott sound like Pino?

Well, not really. I need a 5 but don't particularly want one, so I need to find one that I really REALLY want to play. If that makes sense. Step away from the beer whilst posting to basschat!

Mark responded to my plea for a loop switch in the 'wanted' forum with a very decent offer, a deal was done and it couldn't have been better from my point of view. Excellent transaction, recommended.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='422436' date='Mar 1 2009, 04:17 PM']Before Speakon connectors became the norm amps and speakers that were more "upmarket" used XLRs rather than jacks to make the connections. I have a Carlsbro 1x15 cab from the late 80s/early 90s with only XLRs on the back.[/quote] Thanks for that. Dumb probably wasn't the word I should have used.

[quote name='Alun' post='422350' date='Mar 1 2009, 01:36 PM']Have they actually got a PA or are there just two speakers and you plug the speaker leads into your own amp? It might be worth checking as the words "plug your amp into" are a little worrying. Cheers Alun[/quote] It is, I agree. Trouble is that nobody in the venue that we've managed to talk to so far seems to know, and the other people in the band might not understand the answer! The fact that they're using XLRs makes me think it's a line level input - nobody would be dumb enough to use those downstream of a power amp, would they? If we're not happy that it won't damage anything, we wont be using it.

Thanks for that Si. Guess we'll have to see how it goes. Latest from the non-techie members of the band is 'they give you a cable with a 3-pin mike plug' which sounds to me like a (balanced?) XLR, suggesting they're looking for a line-level input. Kickdrum is a good idea, we can sort that out no problem. Guitarist has an 'echo send' on her multieffects unit which we can plug into the desk.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='421910' date='Feb 28 2009, 07:40 PM']Nice, that. Shame it's had the frets ripped out. J.[/quote] I dunno, the one I had was a really good fretless. Someone on here still has it I think. I know there isn't one in the catalogs, but I was starting to wonder if this was a factory option rather than an aftermarket job.

Aria Pro II RSB special fretless [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-Fretless-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ140304022437QQihZ004QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-Fretless...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] I used to have one just like this in black, and sold it to Silverfoxnik after I got my Bass Collection.

We've an upcoming gig in Colchester at O'Neills and have been told that they would like us to use their PA. The only desscription of this PA is that it's two cables coming out of a box on the wall that we plug our amp into, and the sound comes out of the pubs speakers. Ho hum. Our normal setup is a non-powered mixer, two powered cabs and a powered monitor set. This normally only handles vocals and a bit of keyboard. We could DI bass and guitar but we're not geared up for miking drums and we don't have an electronic kit. If there's anyone who's played there and knows whether they need a line-level signal or a powered signal, please speak up! Any advice gratefully recieved.

Gigs are like buses - none for ages and then three turn up at once! I'm gigging with Crossover this and next w/e Saturday 28th Feb: The Hyneholt, Ilford Friday 6th March: O'Neills, Colchester Saturday 7th March: The Milestone, Ipswich come up and say hello!