BigRedX

That shape is fantastic!

What I don't like though is the fact that the facings don't cover the whole of the front and the back of the body. IMO when I see a neck through bass like that I always think it looks cheap and nasty. I never understand why anyone would want to spend the time picking a gorgeous piece of figured wood for the top and then ruin the effect by running the bland and boring neck woods right through the middle of it.

And don't get me started on light and dark stripy necks. It's such a cliché. Surely there must be an aesthetically more pleasing way to get the same neck strength?

You're going to be playing this with your band?

If that's the case what you play will depend on what the others in your band play. If it was me, I'd work out some simple lines based on the chords and then wait to hear what the rest of the band are doing.

If you are just playing along to the track for your own amusement, then anything you want that fits.

BTW I've never managed to get a Ebow to work with bass strings.

What version of Mac OS are you running? Might be worth trying the one that came with the Mac originally.

What's the spec of the graphics card? You might have run out of VRAM if you are trying to run both monitors at very high resolutions. Try reducing the resolution of one and see if it will allow you to increase the resolution of the other. What happens when you switch to mirroring rather than extended desktop?

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1370714145' post='2104806']
Although there the analogy ends because prog rockers were musically talented and could actually play their instruments.
[/quote]

But it doesn't matter how "musically talented" or how well you can actually play your instrument if you're not actually going to do anything worthwhile or interesting with it.

Subjective I know, but I think too many musicians loose sight of the fact that it's the music that you play that is more important than your actual technical ability.

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1370690815' post='2104411']
Yes but the title of this thread is Best Bass Sound You've Ever Had / Heard?
[/quote]

In that case every bass sound I've ever had on every studio recording I've ever made has been the best bass sound I've ever had at the time. IMO.

As for recordings that don't have me on them, the bass sound I aspired to in the 80s was this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15ScQivK5DY

[quote name='vmaxblues' timestamp='1370692854' post='2104449']
Good feedback guys, the bass is a lovely Yamaha BBN5, the strings are Rotosound roundwounds.

On my fours I am using 105 - 45's, I like a punchy tone but with warmth.

Cheers

Stuart
[/quote]

In that case I would suggest trying virtually any other reputable brand of strings. IME Rotosound make some great standard gauge 34" scale roundwound strings, but struggle with anything else.

If you use through-body stringing it might be worth trying a set with a taper-wound B.

What strings are you currently using and what bass are you using them with? What don't you like about them?

Gauge just one thing to consider when choosing a string. Strings that work well on one bass don't necessarily work as well on a different make/model.

There is no "best bass sound" Firstly it is entirely subjective, and secondly it exists only with the context of each individual song/arrangement/production.

Here in the UK punk was a wake-up call for pop and rock music that had become increasingly complacent, self-indulgent and dull. For me it wasn't so much the initial music which was fast furious and fun, but the DIY spirit that came immediately in it's wake and has ultimately led to the diverse range of music available to hear today.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1370628502' post='2103761']
Unless you are playing somewhere that supports originals music, you are on a downer. Most folk who go to bars, want to here stuff they know and if you aint got a following, you are f***ed! Play covers and throw in a few originals and get them known otherwise you are on a hiding to nothing
[/quote]

Plenty of places putting on original music being attended by enthusiastic audiences and able to pay the bands that play provided that:

1. Your band is entertaining

2. Your band is prepared to travel to these venues

3. You are prepared to put in the work required to get these gigs

Yes, people's priorities do change, but the experience with my band recently has been too many musicians like the idea of being in a band but aren't prepared to put in even the minimum work required to be in one that is any more than the occasional bit of fun.

I think the problem is that a lot of musicians are lazy and think that just because they have some technical ability, everything else will fall into place without them really needing to do anything else...

I'm on the other side of the fence to the OP. I'm in a band playing our own material, that has been growing a nation-wide fan base over the last 3 years, is about to release our second single and has (paid) gig offers coming in from all over the country and are just starting to get offers to come and tour in Europe. However over the last 12 months since we really stepped up the amount of work we were putting into the band we've had difficulties hanging on to drummers and guitarists.

The story goes a bit like this:

We advertise for a replacement musician and get a whole load of replies. Some don't like the music - that's understandable. But plenty do and we arrange for the more interesting and enthusiastic ones to come for an audition. We don't expect any of them to learn an unfeasible number of new songs, we give them three that we'd like them to be able to play and also explain that we'll end the session with a bit of a jam on something new so we can see how they'll cope with writing parts.

And what do we get? A few don't bother to turn up or even get in touch again. A lot appear to have done nothing other than listen to the songs for the first time on the way to the audition and consequently can't really play any of the stuff we asked them to learn. Luckily someone will have actually learnt the songs and might also be able to come up with appropriate parts for the new song we try out with them. They seem to be a person we can get on with and we offer them a place in the band.

What happens next is they find out that actually being in a band like ours isn't just about a weekly rehearsal and the occasional gig. Right now we are getting good gig offers that at the minimum cover our travelling and other expenses at least once a week, and if we took everything we were offered we could be doubling that. And if we're playing out of town (which a good two-thirds of our gigs are these days, because that's where our audience is) then you are going to expect not to get back home until the small hours of the morning. But that's the reality of being in a developing band nowadays.

In many ways a lot of the hard work has already been done: we have a back catalogue of about 3 sets worth of song written, we have an enthusiastic following in the places we play regularly and don't seem to have much of a problem winning over new fans. The recordings and merchandise are all already paid for, we don't expect them to put any money in other than the occasional rehearsal room fees (when the gig money doesn't cover next week's practice), and we are offering an equal split of any songwriting credits and royalties. But still it seems to be too difficult for a lot of musicians, and unfortunately they decide that they would prefer an easier life - albeit one with a lot less musical fun and excitement. And we find ourselves back at square one trying to find someone who'll be right for the band and hoping it will be a bit more permanent this time.

The days of being whisked of to stardom at a record company's expense are long gone. But you can still get out and have some fun playing great original music in front of a responsive crowd and not be out of pocket at the end of the evening, provided you are prepared to work at it and have a late night once or twice a week. I also don't expect and of them to put all the time and effort that the sing and myself but in on top of the rehearsing and gigging - though we'd never say no if someone did want to add more to the band. Turning up for rehearsals and gigs and performing like you mean it will be fine for us.

Sorry for the rant and sort of hi-jacking the OPs thread but this has been something that's been threatening to boil over for the last couple of weeks now...

Rotosound used to make an Extra-Long Scale B String, because I used to buy them for my Overwater. Given they weren't very good at it (2 out of three I got were duff) may be the reason why they've been discontinued.

You are potentially subjecting yourself to 6 months of Future Music's unique "journalism" style though ;-)

Great stuff! Good to see bassists on here getting some brilliant gigs.

Adjusting your strap so that the bass is at the same height sitting or standing IMO simply doesn't work. When you sit down the whole upper half of your body relaxes, so unless you make a conscious effort to "sit up straight" your posture and how the bass sits/hangs in relation to your body will be completely different to when you stand up. For the bass to be in exactly the same place when you sit or stand, it would have to be barely supported in your lap sitting, plus you would have to unrelax the upper half of your body. After doing all those things you might as well practice standing up.

Because when I play in public I always play standing up, I also always practice standing up. That means even when I'm just doing 5 minutes noodling on the bass at home, I'm stood up with the bass on its strap as it would be when I gig. If I was to join a band where we sat down to play live I would change my practice position to match.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1370590431' post='2103032']
[url="http://www.bas-extravaganza.nl/?page=bassen&BassenID=20"]http://www.bas-extra...sen&BassenID=20[/url]
[/quote]

Unfortunately because of the way his website has been coded [url=http://www.bas-extravaganza.nl/?setlang=EN&page=bassen&BassenID=20]this[/url] is the link you need to go directly to that page in English.

Those are both lovely looking instruments. Congratulations! Is the Stormbird set neck?

Surely the whole point of playing live is to put on a performance? Otherwise you might as well just have a DJ instead.

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1370538556' post='2102438']
Great piece of wood! I want to make a guitar that has a jigsaw body. Not just the top as I have seen before, but big pieces that fit together to make the body.
Sorry, just thought this might be exactly that ha ha.
[/quote]

Do you mean like [url=http://www.bas-extravaganza.nl/?page=bassen&BassenID=20]this[/url]?

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1370540188' post='2102454']
Any sensible company would have been sending more than the two screws in the first place and without being asked.
[/quote]

Very much this.

My Boschma rack case lost a small rubber foot off the bottom. An email to the company enquiring about the availability and cost of a replacement resulted in 4 new ones appearing in the post from Holland to the UK.

Similarly when the tweeter volume knob from the back of one of my EBS cabs went missing I was sent two replacements all the way from Sweden.

Two great companies that know how to look after the owners of their products and who will continue to get my business.

It's not really stereo though is it? it just allows you to route each pickup to a separate amp. Or am I missing something?

Dick Venom & The Terrortones will be opening proceedings for the next "Dick Venom Presents..." gig at the Jam Café on Friday 14th June.

The main event will be the fantastic [url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Moonshine-Stalkers/102014723226810]Moonshine Stalkers[/url].

Mr Venom will also spinning the discs between bands and on into the early hours of the morning.

Entrance is free. It all kicks off at 9.00pm.

[IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Gig%20Posters/967245_657049504310793_1972675070_o_zpse8ed577d.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks!

It's next Friday. I'm about to start a thread for it.

Edit: Just noticed that your band is getting plenty of what look like good gigs too! Good to see.