BILL POSTERS

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1352847418' post='1868491'] What would your definition of a 12-string guitar be? And what is your definition of a 6-string bass? [/quote] Well, neither of em are a Bass.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1352764298' post='1867287'] There is no DC from a not broken amp. Doesn't work like that. Even if it did, dc doesn't break speakers, you can put a 9v battery across a speaker and it is fine. [/quote] If it clips into a square wave, that is DC, although only in very short pulses, isnt it ? But still 60 volts in short bursts is going to warm the speech coil up a bit. Cant see it doing damage unless you did it for a long time though. and as it would sound really bad thats unlikely. although with old speakers pushing the cones past their limits would soften them after a while and make them sound farty.

[quote name='sirenboy' timestamp='1352799774' post='1867462'] My band The Siren played its first gig with a new drummer at The Half Crown in Long Eaton last night. Strange night to be gigging but Monday is the pub's live music night. But there was a decent crowd there and we really rocked! We have had problems with drummers - the last one had been with us for five months and then quit three weeks before the gig saying he hated the set (why didn't you tell us that and leave weeks ago instead of leaving us in the lurch three weeks before a gig?). The new drummer is really great and is, we feel, our missing link. He learnt the set in two weeks and has slotted in perfectly. Looking forward to the next gig! [/quote] Yeah, I reckon a lot of drummers might be the missing link...

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1352753019' post='1867090'] Can't give a straight answe here. Dansette was great , very bassy ,) Early Tangerine Dream albums had great artwork, but the pops and clicks were annoying. Sabbath albums sounded good. Sabotage was thinner than Kate moss. Judas Priest albums were more warped than anders brevik. When metal albums got pressed onto CDs initially , the quality was worse than crap.(castle records anyone??) Eventually , remasters such as sticky fingers/goats head soup sounded great , with the orignal inner sleeves like the vinyl. Used to love overkill on green vinyl, and bomber on blue, not forgetting levitation,) These days , my lifestyle has changed and will buy CDs I like, put them into my iTunes, and play them on my iPhone . Listen to vinyl rarely , because of this. Don't buy mp3s tho'. Nearly forgot, the needle used to stick/jump. Don't miss that. [/quote] Dansettes had a single EL84, a 7X4 eliptical speaker in what was in effect a large enclosure, and mor importantly, a ceramic cartridge called a TC8H, that had almost a volt output, with little regard to quality, and a very different frequency response to a magnetic cartridge like you see on decent systems. Might be something to do with it.

[quote name='Roger Evans' timestamp='1352746077' post='1866953'] Love vinyl myself but purely for nostalgia as others have said. Got plenty of old records that crackle like a log fire! [/quote] But thats OK. You listen to the music not the quality. I always thought that was the general idea, HiFi freaks were generally thought of as nutters who read too many magazines when I wwas working in consumer electronics, but we mainly dealt with 3rd party servicing for chain stores and catalogues. 60s and 70s music had to sound OK on Radio 1 or local radio, which was usually a.m back then. or on a TV, which wasnt much better. Somebody once told me that Dave Edmunds always used to listen to the mix through a little eliptical 4X7" speaker, to make sure it was going to sound OK played on a cheap record player, or AM radio.

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1352725369' post='1866516'] This weekend I set up my turntable and dug out the old vinyl albums. They have been put away 'safely' for the last 15 years or so while my kids grew up a bit. WOW! I've never really appreciated the difference before, but after not listening to vinyl for the last 15 years or so the difference is quite marked. Having been on a diet of digital music for that time - CDs, mp3s and DAB, analogue sounds so much smoother and dynamic. Nostalgia points:[list] [*]The 'ritual' of putting on an album [*]A sleeve you can look at without needing glasses [*]Dynamics - the music hasn't been compressed within an inch of life, and there are actually quiet sections [*]Warmth - it's a more pleasant sound to sit and listen to [/list] I suppose one of the key points as well is actually taking time to sit and listen to music. [/quote] Now try listening to it through a decent quality old amp and speakers, I swear it sound better, so its not entirely down to the format. and i depends what your listening to as well. Old Blue Beat and Ska on a Blue Spot Radiogram for example. Only about 15W of EL84s per channel, but still sounded 'right' somehow, maybe cos that was the kind of gear it was mixed for, I'm not sure. But solid state gear was a lot mor basic electronically as well, and it sems to show, one of them things where you just cant put your finger on why. As for hiss and scratch, a lot was down to the vynil quality for sure. I seem to remember Polydor in particular were terrible on the mid 70s

I have Kent Armstrong 10k ohm, vintage on my bitsa, cost about 30 quids and sound like an old precision. Never seem to see them mentioned on threads like this though.

My 91 MIM Precision sound good with the original pickup, nice deep growl. Have they changed them since the early Mexican fenders, or was i just lucky ? I much prfer the sound of it to that of my 2011 USA Precision, but that might be down to the bloody orrible greasebucket tone circuit,which will be leaving sometime soon.

I was repairing amps on and off from the late 60s till the mid 90s, and still do the occasional one or two. Theres a big difference between the older Mullard and Brimar stuff which was of a much more consistent quality than the stuff available these days, so as Bassmec already said, NOS or good second hand is my preference if its my own gear. I dont believe much of whats claimed by the brand names that are aimed at musicians for ridiculously high prices. Even 30 or 40 years ago there were firms that bought in bulk and would screen print whatever brand name you wanted, ie they came mainly from the same few factories anyway. After all, worldwide, how many plants are there turning out ECC83s and EL34s to sell to what must be a small and well diminished market. Chelmer Valves (CVC) seem as good as any nowadays tbh, and helpful. The have been around for donkeys years and their own brand stuff is as good as anybody elses. [url="http://www.chelmervalve.com/electron-tube.php"][color="#0f72da"]http://www.chelmerva...ectron-tube.php[/color][/url]

[quote name='daz' timestamp='1351973043' post='1857521'] Sounds like a bit of arthritis if it is one of those 'now its getting colder' twinges ?? Anyway can i ask [i][b]whats the diff between fish oil and cod liver oil [/b][/i]capsules ? Good idea about the doubled leg warmer by the way. (are you sure it was "The wife's ? ) Mine is caused by the changing of my computer chair! With the chair i have now i have to stretch my arm out at an angle to reach the mouse. Manys the time i fell asleep at the controls and woke up arm outstretched. So now I invest in a wireless mouse and keyboard. [/quote] Probably just the price in reallity, but its what was in the cupboard and according to some [s]nutter [/s]woman my wife sat next to on a plane recently, theres a huge difference. Does seem to be helping though. She also only uses coconut sugar in her coffee and coconut oil as a moisturiser nowadays, so its probably just a fad. As for the mouse, now theres a thought, my laptops on the blink, so I been using my desk more lately, and I use a mouse lefthanded. I wonder what fish oil is like for guitar necks..... Just kidding.

I usully get it a bit around this time of year for some reason. So far this year a daily double dose of Fish Oil capsules ( not Cod liver Oil) and one of the wifes legwarmers, doubled over as a support and to keep it warm seems to be helping, it aint been too bad up to now.

[quote name='popoctave' timestamp='1351863288' post='1856322'] Unless you're Sid Vicious! [/quote] Should think his eyes are a bit cold and dead by now mate.

[quote name='hollywoodrox' timestamp='1351804811' post='1855749'] let your notes ring low and clear shaking the very bowels of civilisation [/quote] So we should all tune down and try for the brown note at around 7Hz ?

According to my missus, its cos I look like I'm falling asleep while the guitarist is charging about like a demented Wilko with a nose full of marching powder... Cant be that though, People know before we go on, and I havent always been so quiet.

Blademans thread about when to call your self a Bass Player got me thinking. i've sometimes been told by punters that I look like a Bass Player, and I know others have too. I dont think Its a physical characteristic, there obviously are tall ones, short ones, fat ones thin ones etc. Over 30 odd years my appearance has changed a hell of a lot, long hair, short hair, beards mustaches, T shirts, Suits, even a cowboy hat, but people still say it. So is it an insult I keep missing ? or is it a look, stance, posture, miserable facial expression, dress - what ? Who else hears it from punters ? The more I think about it, the more paranoid I'm getting.

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1351715311' post='1854630'] I am short fat and bald..... Does that qualify me as a bass player? [/quote] Yep, qualifies you as a short fat bald one I spose. I'm not sure what a Bass Player looks like. Just that people see us at the bar or something, and assume its me. and a good few Bass Players have said that the same happens to them as well.

Maybe your not a Bass Player till you [i]look like a Bass Player... [/i].

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1351601141' post='1853083'] IMO it is better to err on the side of caution and buy a product that is desigined for the job. It only costs a few bob and due to the fact that it should only be used very sparingly, will last for years. [/quote] Designed for the job by who - the people selling it, or the manufacturers of guitars ? Lemon scented oil might smell nice, but more or less any oils will make it shine. nobody used anyting at all 20 years ago, except maybe a bit of vaseline. Is the Dunlop stuff, or anything else, actually recomended by a large manufacturere ?

Baby oil is white mineral oil I think. Wonder what its like on strings and fretboards.

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1351191889' post='1848563'] It's all about our mad mother tongue, maybe different in others, but in ours Saying, I'm a bass player is ok regardless of level Saying, I'm a footballer, implies your a pro Saying, I'm a midfielder is ok, regardless if its for man utd or the dog n duck [/quote] It dpends on the question surely. If its 'What do you do for a living?' The reply might be different, but if its what do you play ? then it might be I'm a Bass Player. Otherwise my ability to play chopsticks would make me a Pianist, and I had violin lessons when I was 11, so if I can still manage Twinkle Twinkle little Star, I'd be a Violinist. So theres a difference. As said earlier, and re reading it it looks a bit offensive, sorry. But havin the odd wafty krank wouldnt make you a W##ker would it ?

[quote name='simes' timestamp='1351081694' post='1847029'] I play (bass)....therefore I am (a bass player) [/quote] Think about that next time your in the bathroom doing the one armed pole vault, You just might change your mind.

When I first started I thought of myself as a Bass player. Then in a conversation with some muso mates who were far better players and more experienced than me, and who were looking for personell, one pointed to me and said, "he's got a Bass" Thats when I realised the difference... When others call you a Bass Player, it makes a subtle difference. and you begin to stop doubting yourself. Only begin to though, 35 years later and I still have my doubts about whether I'm actually just winging it.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1351096225' post='1847318'] Be careful. Apparently sunflower oil sometimes doesn't dry properly & can end up just being sticky. Check if there's a use by date on the oil, Then a few months after it's past, have a sniff of your fretboard. [/quote] Been a few years and it dont stink yet. On a similar vein though, anyone on here found anything that will lubricate strings ? there used to be some stiff that came in little aerosols, but I cant find any mention of it these days. I just bought a new Precision and theres way too much zing for my liking, I'm too tight fisted to change the strings just yet but they sure are taking a lot of playing in.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1351084034' post='1847088'] There are all manner of things added to cooking oils to aid heating & retard burning that would make using them on a guitar a pretty bad idea. They will also go off & smell pretty bad. [/quote] How dare you sir ? My Bass playing might stink, but my Basses dont. Pure sunflower oil aint got no additives. I dont mean Mazola, anyway, you wipe a little bit on and then wipe it off once every 6 months or so, not saturate the fretboard. First did it a few years ago, never oiled one in thirty odd years of playing before that tbh.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1351023754' post='1846428'] [b]but you are in the gang![/b] [/quote] And you can never leave, Never.