kendall

I have tried Rotosound Flats and they were so difficult to play despite spending hours/days etc trying to reset up my bass. That said, I have used D'Addarios in the past and found them too tight. I use Rotosound Swing Bass Standard Gauge on my four and five string basses. The feel and sound are pretty good, a tad noisy on the slides, but have been robust enough and kept their sound.

I'm not sure I would replace them with Rotosounds again, always willing to try something new. After all, they're only strings!

Hi there welcome back to the land of bass. When I returned to bass playing a couple of years ago I envisaged using headphones etc, but found it a bit restrictive, so I got myself one of these, Cheap and good tones for the price and quiet enough to noodle away without disturbing the wife, also has headphone jack if needed. The bigger amp/combo could wait until you need it. [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/vox-pathfinder-10/24074?gclid=CMin6ev0rroCFWbMtAoddRIACw"]http://www.gak.co.uk/en/vox-pathfinder-10/24074?gclid=CMin6ev0rroCFWbMtAoddRIACw[/url] Maybe able to pick one up second hand cheaper. As for a bass. I have played Ibanez GSR200's Squiers Vm and Deluxe and found them to be great for the money.

Interesting point this one. I bought my old Aria very cheap off ebay as a project. I have since, set it up, tidyed up the frets (I think they could still do with a proper going over but they play nicely, so I have left them). I replaced the pick ups, tone and vol pots, bridge, tuners and set up the neck so I have a nice low action with no fret buzz. Also isolated any external buzzing by shielding the cavity with copper. All from internet research.

This took me many months of trial and error, using the internet as a reference point. At one point, I fixed the nut with superglue and baking soda as a stop gap until I got a new nut. This repair has held up nicely over the last year - so again, I've left it.

I also used a free online set up guide from someone called Jerzy ?? which proved to be really helpful. Going through this process, has given me confidence to set up my more expensive basses myself. Although, the Aria is my go to bass now. It sounds and plays fantastic. The only outstanding item is a new paint job, but I've grown to like the worn in look!

I really enjoyed the satisfaction of learning this stuff from scratch, I made a few mistakes along the way (burnt out a new pot with the solder iron!) but my confidence, knowledge and skills have increased so much that I have performed set ups on friends guitars that have made a real difference for them.

Cheers Andy - that simple huh?

Will do some digging.

Ta

Hi there

Looking in the Basses for sale section, I see most sellers highlight the trade value of their bass. Any idea how I find out what that would be.

The bass in question is a Squier Jazz Deluxe V

Any pointers gratefully received.

Thanks

The Aria SB's were made in Japan, Other 1980's Aria's the Magna's, XRB's etc. popular in the mid 1980s were made in Korea, lower specs. But still great basses. I have a 1987 Aria that I have restored and it plays like a dream, slim fast neck, great balance, looks cool too.

The current SB's are Aria's top end machines, although a "similar" look could be achieved with the one below in black.

[url="http://www.ariaguitars.com/english/products/mab-stdii"]http://www.ariaguitars.com/english/products/mab-stdii[/url]

[i]3Leaf Audio Groove Regulator - 7[/i]
[b]3Leaf Audio Proton - 1[/b]
[b]3Leaf Audio Pwnzor - 1[/b]
[i]Adrenalinn II - 1
Aguilar Agro - 3
Aguilar Filter Twin - 1
Aguilar Octamizer - 3
Aguilar TLC - 2
Akai Unibass - 2
Akai Deep Impact - 1
Amptweaker Bass TightDrive - 1
AMT Slap Bass -1
Analogman Mini Chorus - 1
Aphex Punch Factory - 1
Arion SFL-1 Stereo Flanger- 1
Arion SPH-1 Stereo Phaser- 1
Ashdown BassOmeter - 1
[b]Ashdown Chorus - 2[/b]
Ashdown Drive Plus - 2
Ashdown dual band compressor - 2
Ashdown Lomenzo Hyperdrive - 1
Ashdown sub octave plus - 1
Atomic Echo Clone (Original Way Huge Aqua Puss) - 1
Baja Opto-limiter (DIY)-1
Barber TonePress Parallel Compressor - 1
Barge Concepts VFB-2 - 2
BBE Sonic Stomp Maximizer - 1
Behringer BDI21 - 3
Behringer chorus - 1
Behringer RV600 Reverb- 1
Behringer UV300 Vibrato- 1
Boomstick Bottom Feeder - 1
Boss AW-3 Dynamic Wah - 1
Boss BE-5B bass multi fx - 1
Boss BF-2 Flanger - 1
Boss BF-2B - 3
Boss BF-3 - 1
Boss CE-1 - 1
Boss CE-2 - 3
Boss CE-2b - 3
Boss CE-20 Chorus -1
Boss CE-3 Chorus -1
Boss CE-5 - 1
Boss CEB3 - 5
Boss CS-3 - 1
Boss DC-3 Digital Dimension -1
Boss DD3 - 1
Boss DD6 - 1
Boss DD-20 - 3
Boss DS-1 - 2
Boss Dimension C (single pedal, 4 switch version) - 1
Boss FT-2 - 2
Boss FV-60 - 1
Boss GE7B - 2
Boss GEB7 - 2
Boss HF-2 Hi-Band Flanger -1
Boss HM-2 - 1
Boss LMB-3 - 2
Boss LS-2 - 12
Boss MD-2 - 1
Boss ME-50B - 1
Boss ME-8B - 1
Boss MT-2 - 1
Boss MZ-2 - 1
Boss NS-1 - 2
Boss OC-2 - 14
Boss OC-3 - 1
Boss ODB-3 - 10
Boss PH-1r - 2
Boss PH-2 - 1
Boss PQ-3b - 1
Boss PS-3 - 2
Boss PS-5 - 1
Boss PW-10 - 1
Boss SD-1 - 1
Boss SD-2 - 1
Boss SL-20 -2
Boss SYB 3 - 2
Boss SYB 5 - 1
Boss TU2 - 21
Boss TU3 -5
Boss TU-12H - 2
Boss chorus ensemble CE-5 - 2
Bugbrand Bugcrusher - 1
Carl Martin 3-band parametric EQ - 1
Carlsbro Flanger -1
Carlsbro Phase 2 -1
Catalinbread DLS Mk I (clone)-1
Catalinbread Formula No.5 (clone)-1
Catalinbread HyperPak (clone)-1
Catalinbread SFT (clone) - 3
Catalinbread Teaser Stallion - 1
Catalinbread Valcoder - 1
Chord CH-50 Chorus -1
Chord PH-50 Phaser -1
Chunk Systems Brown Dog - 1
Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer - 2
Clay Jones Overdrive (clone)-1
Crowther Hotcake (clone, 1977 version)-1
Crowther Hotcake (clone, 2003 version) - 2
Crowther Audio Prunes & Custard - 2
Coloursound Swell -1
D*A*M 1966 fuzz (clone)-1
D*A*M Drag'nfly fuzz (clone) -1
D*A*M Ezekiel 25:17 bass overdrive/distortion (clone)-1
D*A*M Fleshhead fuzz (clone)-1
D*A*M FZ-673 fuzz (clone)-1
D*A*M Grease Box (clone)-1
D*A*M Meathead Deluxe fuzz (clone)-1
D*A*M Meathead Deluxe Dark Silicon fuzz (clone)-1
D*A*M Red Rooster treble boost (clone)-1
D*A*M Sonic Titan distortion (clone)-1
Danelectro Chili Dog - 1
Danelectro French Toast - 2
Daphon E20CL compressor-1
Daphon E20DL delay-1
Darkglass Microtubes B3K - 1
[b]Darkglass Microtubes B7K - 1[/b]
Demeter Opto Comp - 2
Devi Ever Aenima (clone)-1
Devi Ever Hyperion - 1
Devi Ever Cherry Pop - 1
Devi Ever SodaMeiser - 2
dighom Alfred - 1
dighom AIfred II - 1
dighom Karl - 1
Digital Labs MD1 - 1
Digitech Bad Monkey - 3
Digitech Bass Synth Wah - 1
Digitech Whammy - 7
DOD FX25 - 2
DOD FX-25 B - 1
DOD FX-80B compressor-1
DOD 250 - 1
[b]Dunlop Bass Cry Baby - 6[/b][/i]
[i]DHA VT1-drive-eq 1
DHA VT2 - 3
Earthbound Supercollider (clone)-1
EBS Dynaverb - 2
EBS IQ - 1
EBS Multicomp - 7
EBS Multidrive - 1
EBS Octabass - 5
EBS Unichorus - 2
EHX Bass Balls - 2
EHX Bass Big Muff - 7
EHX Bass Metaphors - 2
EHX Bass Micro Synth - 5
EHX Big Muff Pi (Black Russian) - 3
EHX Big Muff Pi (Green Russian) - 1
EHX Big Muff 1978 IC (clone)-1
EHX Clone Theory - 2
EHX Enigma Q-Balls - 1
EHX Flanger Hoax - 1
EHX Freeze - 1
EHX HOG - 1
EHX Knock Out - 1
EHX LPB-1 - 1
EHX Memory Boy - 1
EHX Memory Man with Hazarai - 2
EHX Metal Muff - 1
EHX Octave Multiplexer - 2
EHX POG2 - 2
EHX Pulsar - 1
EHX Qtron - 3
EHX Qtron+ - 3
EHX Small Clone - 1
EHX Ring Thing - 1
EHX Small Stone Nano - 2
EHX Small Stone (Black Russian) - 1
Exar PigNose - 1
Ernie Ball VP-Jr - 2
Fender Blender (clone)-1
Fishman Platinum Pro EQ -1
Forced Fire Modulus Magnus delay/modulation-1
Frequency Central Causality Phaser-1
Frequency Central Phase Evolution-1
Frequency Central Phase Revolution-1
FuzzHugger ABsynth - 1
Fuzzrocious Grey Stache - 1
Fulltone Bass-Drive Mosfet - 1
Fulltone OCD V,4 (clone)-1
Guyatone MD-3 delay - 1
Guyatone PS-3 Phase Shifter - 1
Hardwire CM-2 - 1
HBE Psilocybe -1
Hughes & Kettner Tube Factor - 1
Ibanez AF-2 Airplane Flanger - 1
Ibanez BCL Bi-Chorus-1
Ibanez FLL Flanger-1
Ibanez PD7 Phat-Hed Bass Overdrive - 3
Ibanez PM-7 Phase Modulator-1
Ibanez PT-9 Phaser-1
Ibanez SB 7 - 1
Ibanez SD-9 Sonic Distortion-1
Ibanez Soundtank Super Chorus - 1
Ibanez TS-7 Tube Screamer-1[/i]
[i][b]Ibanez TS-9b Tube Screamer - 1[/b]
Ibanez WD7 Weeping Demon - 2
Interfax Harmonic Percolator (clone)-1
Iron Ether Oxide - 1
ISP Decimator - 2
Jacques Fat Burner - 1
Jacques Fuse Blower - 1
Jacques Mercer Box - 1
Klon Centaur (clone)-1
Korg DT-10 - 4 (I have 2! )
Korg Pitchblack - 8
Janglebox compressor (clone)-1
Jen Cry Baby-1
Lehle Sunday Driver - 1
Line 6 M9 - 2
Line 6 Bass Pod XT Live - 1
Line 6 DL4 - 3
Line6 FM4 - 1
Line6 Echopark - 4
Lovepedal Eternity (clone)-1
Lovepedal Purple Plexi 800 (clone)-1
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay (clone)-1
Maestro Brassmaster (clone) -1
MarkBass Compressore - 2
MarkBass Super Synth - 1
Marshall Guv'nor (MK1) - 1
Marshall Jackhammer - 3
Marshall Echohead - 1
Marshall Regenerator - 1
Maxon CP9+ - 1
Mellowtone Clean Chan Dirty Chan - 1
Mictester Opto Compressor (DIY)-1
Mictester Silicon Tonebender (DIY)-1
Moen Buffalo - 1
Mojo Hand Cream Pie - 2
Monolith Oracle fuzz (clone, modified) -1
Mooer Green Mile -1
Mooer Pure Boost - 1
Moog MF-101 - 3
Moog MF-102 - 1
Moog MF-105b - 2
Moog MF-107 - 2
Moog MP-201 - 1
Morley Little Alligator Volume Pedal - 1
Mr Zinky Master Blaster - 1
MSD Earthquaker Bass Wah - 1
Musitronics Mutron III - 1
MXR Bass Octave Deluxe - 4
MXR Blowtorch - 4
MXR El Grande Bass Fuzz -1
MXR M-80 DI+ - 9
MXR M-87 Bass Compressor - 1
MXR M-143 Limiter
MXR Noise Clamp - 1
MXR Phase 90 (clone, modified)- 2
MXR Super Comp - 1
Nobels PHD Phaser-1
Palmer Deepressor - 1
Pearl DS06 Distortion-1
Pearl OD-05 - 1
Pearl PH03 Phaser-1
Penny Pedals Fingerprint (clone)-1
Peterson StroboStomp 1 - 1
ProCo Rat (clone, heavily modified)-1
ProCo Tubro Rat - 2
Radial Bassbone - 3
Radial bigshot io - 2
Retro Channel The Fuzz (clone, modified)-1
Rocktron Cyborg Reverb - 1
Runoffgroove Tri-Vibe (DIY)-1
Sadowsky Pre-Amp/DI - 1
Sansamp BDDI - 13
SansAmp Para-driver - 1
Seymour Duncan Tweak Fuzz - 1
SFX Micro Fuzz - 1
[b]SFX Micro Thumpinator - 3[/b]
SFX S&M - 1
Shin-Ei FY-2 Companion fuzz (clone, modified)-1
SolaSound Tonebender MkI (clone)-1
SolaSound Tonebender Mk II (clone)-1
Sonic Punch Creamy Dreamer (clone)-1
[b]Sonic Research ST-200 Tuner - 1[/b]
Source Audio Programmable Graphic EQ Pedal - 1
Strymon Lex Rotary - 1
Subdecay Liquid Sunshine Mk II overdrive (clone)-1
Subdecay Noise Box - 1
Subdecay Prometheus - 1
Subdecay Proteus - 1
Subdecay Quasar DLX - 1
TC Electronics Alter Ego Delay/Looper - 1
TC Electronics Corona Chorus - 1
TC Electronics Flashback Delay/Looper - 1
TC Electronics Hall Of Fame Reverb - 1
TC Electronics Nova Dynamics - 1
TC Electronics Nova Modulator - 1
TC Electronics PolyTune - 4
TC Electronics Shaker Vibrato - 1
TC Electronics Vortex Flanger - 1
Tech 21 Bass Boost Chorus - 1
Tech 21 VT Bass - 4
Tech 21 VT Bass Deluxe - 4
Toadworks Mr Squishy - 1
Wampler Triple Wreck (clone)-1
Way huge swollen pickle - 1
Way huge Pork loin - 1
Wholenote PH-5 Phaser-1
Wounded Paw Black Sheep - 1
Wren & Cuff Phat Phuk B - 1
[b]Wren & Cuff Tall Font Russian - 1[/b]
Xotic X-Blender - 2
Xotic Bass Preamp - 1
[b]Xotic BB Bass Preamp - 1[/b]
Yamaha FL-10-II Flanger-1
Yamaha Magic Stomp - 1
Yamaha OD-10 - 1
Z.Vex Box of Rock - 2 (clone)
Z.Vex Fuzz Factory (clone)-1
Z.Vex Woolly Mammoth - 6 (clone)
Z.Vex Mastotron - 1
Z.Vex Wah Probe - 1[/i]

Hi there. Just wanted to post up a quick review of this little amp that I picked up on the weekend. I wanted a small amp for noodling in the front room. My current practice amp didn't really sound too great when I had the volume low. So I tried a few amps, including an Orange 25w amp. This little VOX really did it for me.

[url="http://www.voxamps.com/pathfinder/pathfinder10bass/"]http://www.voxamps.c...thfinder10bass/[/url]

So after at least 10 hours of playing, I have used it for playing a lot of metal and some more effects driven proggy stuff and it's handled it all. My big issue with my previous amp was when playing my five stringer, the B string didn't really come through, especially at lower volumes. What I have found with this VOX is a great sound even at low volume, the B string comes through really nicely, which was an issue with my other amp - it sounded too muddy. When you whack up the volume and gain this really kicks out some noise - a great overdriven sound or reigning back in the gain a clear warm bass tone.

There is a bright switch that when pressed really makes the harmonics sing. My wife noticed the sound difference straight away when I plugged in. There's the usual headphone jack, bass and treble controls and it looks rather nice and is compact.

On the negatives - quite hard to find any for the price - my only niggle is that the back is open, which I prefer to be closed, mainly as I have a dog and I don't want dog hairs in there. Although - to be fair she doesn't play bass too often! Also I don't think its as solid as other amps, but I don't intend to travel much with it.

For the price - I paid £59 for this - I was intending to spend a bit more on an Orange amp, but for the money this really hit the mark. So if you are in the market for a small practice amp - I would recommend trying this out.

No mention of Alex Webster......strange. Pleased to see John Taylor in there - but number one?

I always loved the bass sound of Iron Maiden and Metallica. However, it was hearing the Love album by the Cult that inspired me to pick up a bass. Jamie Stewart an unsung hero of 80's bass playing. Once, I started then I expanded my playing to Metallicas Ride the Lightning/Master of Puppets and Anthrax, Among the Living. Today the influences are pretty much the same, but I've diversified since I picked up the bass again 2 years ago, to include - John Taylor, Geezer Butler and Alex Webster.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1355354968' post='1897446']
Guitar guitar? I've had similar experiences with them.
[/quote]

Recently ordered a guitar from these guys - it was advertised as pre owned and in good condition. When it turned up I was unable to find any marks on it anywhere and even the frets were unscratched. Either they packed a brand new on by mistake or this guitar had never been played. That said, i needed to do some minor set up work on it. But for the price - I was well chuffed.

If a brand new bass turns up with marks on it - I would be expecting some kind of refund.

[quote name='Jonnyboy Rotten' timestamp='1352999045' post='1870351']
Thanks all for your input! I have finally purchased my bass! I got the Orange SR300! Gonna go set it up, tune it and rock out! \m/ \m/
[/quote]

Excellent choice - I sold my Ibanez GSR200 as it was not getting any use - it was great to get me started back on bass a few years ago. I kinda miss it now! The SRs are an even nicer beast.

Enjoy!

I've been working away in London, so one night, sat on my own in a pub, I jotted down some lyrics based on my recent experiences in the 'smoke'. Sat down at home last night and worked a nice riff over them. Never tried the lyrics first, music second approach. Am pleased with the results so far.

[i]I did read somewhere that Steve Harris grows his fingernails and uses them as part of his attack on the strings, this helps for that percussive sound that he has. I have played a Steve harris signature p bass - really liked it, but it didn't give me that 'Steve Harris' sound or indeed those Steve Harris skills! At the end of the day, it's a P Bass with flats, lots of treble and fingernails attacking the strings.[/i]

My first proper bass was an Aria Pro 2 in the 80's, when I returned to playing a couple of years ago I got myself an Ibanez GSR200 which I really liked, until I tracked down another 1980's Aria. After a bit of TLC, new pick ups and electrics, I was back in the groove and the Ibanez was sold. I have since bought a 5 string Fender Jazz which I love but always go back to my Aria, something about the feel of it more than anything else. Easy to play, the only bass that's ever felt like a part of me.

I may change the Fender in the future but the Aria is going nowhere, maybe a new paint job but that's about it. Hmmn Purple Sparkle anyone?

Thing with Jaco IMHO is that I don't really like his music. Not my style or groove at all. However, watching him and trying to play A Portrait of Tracy opened my eyes up to other techniques and sounds from my bass that my usual style of music doesn't give me.

A fascinating character and a useful source of leftfield inspiration.

Down IV,
The Cult - Choice of Weapon
Gojira -L'Enfant Sauvage
Hawk Eyes - Ideas (this has been played constantly since Feb - the future of British metal)

I try to fit in at least 15 mins a day. Usually when I've got in from the office, I sit down in my corner and just play. Two oe three days a week, I will have a focus on something I want to learn/practice so I have a 60 - 90 min session. Most evenings though it's just 15-30 mins noodleing before evening meal, and oddly enough, this has been the times that something I have been working on just clicks into place, less pressure on myself I suppose.

Interesting topic - I tend to just sit down with my bass and noodle, quite often i hit on something that sounds good and keep playing with it until I'm happy with it. I use a Backtrack and then go back to it the following day - it's either naff cos I'd had a beer or two, or I build on it.

My approach tends to be how I'm feeling at the time, what's going on in my life influences what comes out of my bass. I wrote one of my best lines sat in a hotel room after a sh*tty day in the office and only a large glass of merlot for company. The next day, I was excited and couldn't wait to get home and rework it with some effects.

I've also noticed that in my noodleing moments, it's also influenced by what I've been listening to on my commute - be it Bryan Ferry, Sisters of Mercy or Cannibal Corpse. Their influence often comes out through my fingers.

[i]Finally nailed Bury Me in Smoke by Down last night. Not a technically challenging riff, but getting the groove right was the challenge. It finally came together last night.[/i]

Thanks buddy - makes perfect sense.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1345112209' post='1773593']
I use a kind of "pinching" motion using my finger and thumb.... works for me. Thumb plays downwards on the lower string (the E in this case) and finger upwards on the D. Give it a try!
[/quote]

Nailed it last night! Superb tip - thanks a lot!

HI there - I have a few pedals that I use frequently. Ashdown Chorus, Ibanez Tubescreamer and Dunlop Cry Baby Wah.

They are all quite battery hungry and I would like to get an adaptor to power them. I tend to use one or two at a time - never all three.

I'm a bit of a novice with all this stuff and would like some suggestions for powering them all. Do I get a pedal board or, can you get a multi use adaptor?

What sort of things do I need to check. I know jack about volts and amps I'm afraid.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Guns N Roses - You Could Be Mine - great chorus pedal stuff

Sisters of Mercy - Lucretia My Reflection

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1345112209' post='1773593']
I use a kind of "pinching" motion using my finger and thumb.... works for me. Thumb plays downwards on the lower string (the E in this case) and finger upwards on the D. Give it a try!
[/quote]

Brilliant! I will give that a try this evening. And EZ Bass - Yes your post makes sense. Thanks.

PS. As for the bagpipes drone - I had got it wrong it was 12 fret on D and 10 fret on E sliding to 11 Fret on D and 9 fret on E!

Cheers everyone - why didn't I think of the thumb thing?