BigRedX

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1424804059' post='2700672'] That's a bit of an weakness, for some, in your argument to be honest. I notice you live in Nottingham, which is on the M1. You're in pretty easy reach of several good sized towns and cities, Manchester is only just over 2hrs away. London is only 1hr 45mins from Nottingham, it's 4+ from where I live. Bristol is the nearest good sized city with a good music scene to me, that would take me and my band in excess of 2 1/2 hours to get to. [/quote] Maybe. But my overall point is that the bands who get the gigs are those who are prepared to put the extra effort in to get them, and if that means travelling a bit further than usual for a worthwhile gig then that's what you need to do. I find it interesting that you single out Manchester and London. In our experience neither place is any more or less important than anywhere else in the UK other than a lot of their venues and promotors have an over-inflated sense of their own importance, which with the current state of the "music industry" is rather unwarranted. Yes there are probably more large cities in easy reach of Nottingham compared with where you are, but we go where the worthwhile gigs are and if that means a 4+ hour journey each way so be it.

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1424715145' post='2699537'] Oscillator sync is great. Not sure what you mean by the signal path, I have never owned or played an MS20 before so I'm not sure. I seem to remember something is new on the patchbay bit but can't remember what [/quote] One of the great things about a true modular synth is that you can connect any output to any input and listen to the results. That means being able to do things like use audio output of a module as a control voltage for another. The classic example of this is cross mod (using the audio signal of OSC1 to modulate the pitch of OSC2 or vice-versa) which appears to have been implemented to a degree on the new version as the FM switch. What is less good is that the only place the audio signal appears is at the final output which limits your options considerably. Looking at the patch bay also I can no longer see a separate keyboard input for OSC2 which would have been even more useful now that cross mod is actually available.

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1424778941' post='2700288'] I keep meaning to ask... how did your Burns Sonic end up with what looks like a 1980-ish Kasuga bridge? [url="http://dms01.dimu.org/image/01Szzq3Zgq"]http://dms01.dimu.org/image/01Szzq3Zgq[/url] And where's the rest of the Kasuga? J. [/quote] When I bought the Burns it still sported the original bridge and machine heads but neither were particularly functional. The machine heads slipped as they approached proper tuning and all the threads on the adjustable bridge had stripped so that it was held together by being wrapped in wire. The current bridge is the third one I tried and IIRC came out of miscellaneous guitar parts drawer from the old Carlsbro shop in Nottingham and cost me a couple of pounds. It doesn't have anything stamped on it and is only drilled for 4 strings, but otherwise it's the same as the one you linked to. Strangely enough the previous, less suitable bridge was an 8-string one. The big problem in replacing the original Burns bridge is that it has a very small foot print but the saddles have to be very tall due to the design of the bass. Also the string spacing is quite narrow - 16.5mm. Finding another bridge to replace it has been a real challenge and in the end I gave up looking for one with the same footprint and bought this one mainly because it didn't have pre-slotted saddles so I could file my own. It was then mounted on a piece of mahogany to get the saddles to the right height.

It would be interesting to know if the DAD rig that I posted earlier in this thread was real or mainly for show. It might be worth the OP getting in touch with whoever designed/built it for them.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1424775035' post='2700217'] Was it easy at the start though? [/quote] Actually it was. We went from being an idea that Mr Venom had for a band, to playing our first gig in about 8 weeks including writing a short 25 minute set's worth of songs. We recorded our first demo about a week later. Mr Venom networked like mad to put the band name about and within another month we had landed a decent slot on a Psychobilly all-dayer headlined by The Meteors. Everything pretty much stemmed from that. In a way it helps that the music we play fits into several identifiable niche genres, but knowing the amount of behind the scenes work that MrVenom and myself put in to promote the band and comparing that to what my previous less successful bands used to do, it's not really surprising that we are doing so much better.

Getting gigs is easy provided that: 1. Your band is entertaining 2. Your band is prepared to put in the hard work required to get gigs in the first place and then to get re-bookings. 3. Your band is prepared to travel to where the gigs are. Simply turning up and playing your instruments is never going to be sufficient. If we wanted, The Terrortones could be out every Friday and Saturday night for pretty much the rest of this year playing songs we wrote to enthusiastic audiences up and down the country and getting paid for it. However we've decided to slightly scale back our gigging and concentrate on better gigs and quality support slots while we record our album. The band has no problem getting gigs and repeat bookings because we put on a show and we put in the hard work making contacts sending out promo material and chasing up every lead we are given. IME for most bands this is just too much effort and unsurprisingly they struggle to get gigs.

I used to have the PitchShifter/Delay and the Compressor along with Akai micro-rack delay (same 1/2 rack footprint). They all worked fine, but for me programmability was more important so I sold them along with another 4U worth of effects and replaced the lot with a 1U Roland GP8, which is still going strong over 20 years later. BTW unless you want to spend ages playing around with double sided tape you need the proper Boss rack shelves as these are the only ones with the right shape for the screw fixings.

[quote name='tony_m' timestamp='1424722843' post='2699702'] Blimey, you must also have an interesting selection of cases to go with them! [/quote] I suppose so… A mixture of large flight cases, standard Hiscox Lite-Flights and custom branded gig bags. The Burns Sonic still has the original (very battered) Burns hard case!

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1424722828' post='2699701'] Mr BigRedX has three of the buggers. How can that be fair [/quote] I also have a G1 guitar: [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/GusG1.jpg[/IMG] I've wanted a Gus ever since I saw photos of the prototypes in a music mag in the late 80s. I got one of the basses relatively cheaply second hand because it was in terrible condition and the others were bought at a time when the prices were considerably less than they are currently.

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1424718796' post='2699623'] I like that a lot, if memory serves it's an aluminium neck'd Hartke? Edit: third time's the charm, and clearly a Hartke from the filename [/quote] It's the XL-4 model which was the top of the range assembled in the US and apparently each one was personally inspected and tested by Larry Hartke himself.

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1424620930' post='2698359'] I wouldn't bother trying to use a bass guitar with a midi controller. My experience with i2m was loads of latency even if your technique is super clean. Better results every time by playing the keyboard. [/quote] Very much this. Unless you have the cash for an [url=http://www.industrialradio.com.au/index.php]Industrial Radio Bass[/url] MIDI via a bass guitar is a complete non-starter.

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1424355438' post='2695480'] I've never owned an MS20 so I can't compare. This has a few extra features which weren't on the original - oscillator sync (very nice!), and also a button to switch between the original filter, and the later filter. It seems very expensive (£900 inc vat and you also get the SQ1 sequencer) considering they were selling the MS20 kit (with full size keys) for about £750. I got carried away when I saw a demo on youtube! .. I always wanted another analog mono synth since I sold my SH1 several years ago. Certainly sounds like a great monosynth to me. I've only brushed the surface of what it can do as I've never had a modular before so I don't know what all the patch leads can be made to do yet. I'll work my way through the manual soon... You're right though - looks very cool! [/quote] Good to see oscillator sync in there. that was a much missed feature for me back in the 80s. Have they improved access to the signal path from the original? That was my biggest disappointment, that there was limited possibilities to use the audio generated as a control voltage like a fully modular synth. It wasn't until I managed to get hold of an MS50 to go with it that I was able to unleash all the sonic possibilities

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1424713138' post='2699492'] Where's the batmobile gone? [/quote] It's not a bass. [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/HallmarkWingbat.jpg[/IMG]

And these are the ones I used to own but don't anymore: [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/TrabenPhoenix5.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/TokaiTalboB135.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/SwitchInnovoBass.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/ReverendRumblefish.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/PedullaBuzz.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/OverwaterOriginal5Fretless.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/ManneMandobass.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/LightwaveSabreA.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/LaceHelix5StringFretlessBass.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/Kramer450B.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/HartkeXL-4.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/CarloRobelli8StringBass.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/BornToRockF4B.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/DSC00198_zps0d689472.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/DSC00121_zpsf61cf347.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/DSC01568_zps7c12b6c5.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/DSC01363_zpsf8363add.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/DSC01129_zps3fb90458.jpg[/IMG]

These are the basses I currently own: [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/DSC00290_zpsc18d4a5a.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/DSC03107.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/DSC03062.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/DSC02853.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/DSC01105.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/DSC02163.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/SeiFront.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/DSC01541-2.jpg[/IMG]

[url=http://basschat.co.uk/topic/5525-weird-wonderful-basses/]Where do I even begin?[/url]

[IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/5453_file_8766_3-1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/5841_file_9344_3.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='paulbass' timestamp='1424602661' post='2698100'] Hi everyone, after a recent thread on here about liking fellow members facebook band pages i noticed that many of the bands have really good posters advertising their gigs etc. This looks more professional and appealing. What software is used to create these posters? We use a basic software that came with a camera we use but it doesnt do the fancy stuff like manipulate the wording so you can say curve the wording or put it on an angle. If that makes sense. I'm usually left to deal with this side of things and my knowledge is pretty basic to say the least! I can manipulate the pictures but not any wording. Any help and advice would be appreciated. I've spent hours trying to figure it out and its driving me up the wall Thanks in advance peeps! [/quote] In a way asking what software people use is the wrong question. The most important part of getting a good poster (or any other graphic design) is having a good idea and the talent to be able to realise it. While the right software can make some things easier, a decent graphic designer will be able to get excellent results with whatever they have to hand. The computer and the software on it are just another tool, just like the pen, paints, Letraset or airbrushes that came before it.

I saw Polysics at CBGBs in NYC and Fra-Foa in Kyoto, Japan. Neither visit was specifically to go and see the bands but I did alter the timing of my trip to NYC to make sure I was there when Polysics were playing. The Fra-Foa gig was just a happy coincidence that they were on tour to promote their second album while I was in Japan. In the late 70s and early 80s I would often go to gigs away from home with no means of getting home after the gig and no accommodation booked, just hoping that I would find either a suitable all-night cafe or somewhere safe to bed down until the first train/bus back in the morning.

I own a bass with no truss rod (although it is supposed to have some type of extra non-adjustable re-enforcement in the neck). There's a little bit more relief in the neck than I would like these days, but considering that the instrument is over 50 years old that's not bad.

Any decent DAW will be able to open MIDI files and assign them a track and instrument based on the their MIDI channel and program change numbers.

On the whole everything sounds better when it's louder - especially rock music. It's making it still sound good when it's quiet that is the true skill.

How durable are these inlay stickers? I tried something similar using Letraset shapes in the 80s and it all rubbed off in a matter of months even with a clear-coat over the top.

Thanks. I see that they've added a dedicated Octave/Volt CV input on the MS20 now, although it was always possible on the original version using a bit of lateral thinking.

Honestly I don't think that there was anything in particular that made me play bass. I just wanted to be in a band play music and write songs. When I was getting into music in the 70s many of the bands I was interested in had at least one member who owned and could play a vast array of instruments, and I wanted to be like that. In my first band everyone played everything they could get their hands on and instrumental roles were handed out on a song by song basis depending on who could play which part best. The main reason I found myself playing more bass guitar than the others was that I was the one who went out and bought one once we no longer had access to a bass that we could borrow from a class-mate. Between then and now I've spent time in bands playing guitar, bass and keyboards. Right now I'm happiest playing bass but that could all change if I decided to do something else musically.