D.I. Joe

The only snag with trying DRs is that they are really expensive. If you can afford to risk the money to try strings then carry on, but if like me you're a bit tight then keep an eye on the Classifieds section as they pop up occasionally - as new a lot of the time as well!

[quote name='Commando Jack' timestamp='1343746336' post='1754526'] The other reason might be if you're playing with a horn section it might make it easier for them (e.g. some Stevie Wonder tracks). [/quote] I think you're right, a lot of Motown recordings are in flat keys. In Stevie Wonder's case though - I believe most of his songs are in flat keys because the black keys are much easier for him to find. In Fragile Sanity we play in Eb for the sake of vocals, but we play some songs in their native key - and not just the ones that are originally in Eb tuning!

[quote name='Joker2807' timestamp='1354123110' post='1882393'] Im torn between the rotos and the sunbeams.. not sure which id prefer [/quote] I'm digging both at the moment. I think my soreness may be down to how unnaturally hard I was playing them rather than the strings themselves but all the same - Sunbeams feel great! Have you tried them before or are you just thinking about trying them?

Precision sounds great but... OWW!! It's been so long since I used these strings that I forgot how rough they are! I know there will be a lot of people who think I should just man the f**k up but I don't think they'll be staying on for too long. Might get some nice soft Nickels on, or maybe some barbed wire... I know the old issue of Rotosounds has been bashed about so many times already, so the question is - What is most important in a string - feel or tone? Going by recent sets I've tried I'm really liking Sunbeams at the moment for their feel, and Fender NPS feel and sound really nice to me to, so I'd be more inclined to say feel over tone - though both are important parts of the whole. Thoughts below:

I never make mistakes, however I am prone to a little real-time-on-the-fly-improvised-artistic-interpretation

Tesco?! Pfft!! I only buy my basses from Harrods

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1353802261' post='1878673'] The reason veneer strips the same thickness as the fret tang are used is for structural stability. There are those luthiers who, going the other way, actually cut their fret slots narrow so when all the frets are seated there is some natural backbow, taking stress off the truss rod. Without the veneer inserts in the fret tang slots, your neck is at risk of folding up like a pretzel, in spite of a good truss rod. [/quote] Really? I didn't think that the depth of the fret slots would be sufficient enough to make a real difference.

Greetings fellow Low-End Lotharios! Having pulled the frets out of my cheapo Shine 5 string today, just wondering from your guys' experience what would be the best way fill (or otherwise) the gaps where the frets once were. According to the Fender Bass Manual you should use veneer strips, but could you just use wood filler? I could follow APA's method of applying a thin layer on top of the fingerboard, but this bass has funky planet inlays and I'd like to keep them on display if possible. What do we reckon? Joe

There is a friend of mine playing bass in a local garagey rock band and IMO his fretless sounds better in the mix than his fretted basses. Not saying this is necessarily the case for everyone though. I don't think instruments of any kind should be confined to specific genres as a rule - they are all musical instruments, so you can use any them to make music. Simples

Liking the demonic eyes in my photo by the way!

Great stuff today guys! Very informative session from Jo, and it was great to meet everyone and try out some interesting gear - I was most impressed by the Sandbergs! I do think that I should have brought my Precision along to try and even the numbers though! Thanks for organising it guys, hopefully we'll have another meet in the not-to-distant future!

An interesting conversation that I had at an open mic last week... According to the chap I was speaking to, you are more likely to blow a speaker by using an under-powered amp than by using an over-powered amp. I guess in the context of power ratings - whereby, say, a 1200w amp could happily power a 600w speaker at a reasonable volume whereas if the values are reversed, the amp tops out and sends a heavily clipped signal which causes the speaker to fail. I'll point out now that I do not know a great deal about the mechanics of speakers and PA systems. I know some basic principles, but don't know much about crossing/loading etc. and I guess the impedance rating of the speakers would play a part as well. I can see the logic - a speaker emitting a squared wave pattern will be moving more violently than one which is producing a sine wave. Thoughts anyone? Joe

Aha okay, no worries! Doesn't change the fact that I need to set it up by Sunday though!

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1352732460' post='1866652'] Oh, is it the one with the natural wood body by any chance? I'm after one of those... but i'm quite specific about the body type. Natural wood or white for me only. [/quote] It is indeed! I've only had it for about a month now and still haven't quite got round to setting it up yet, so I'll get me tools out before Sunday!

Think perhaps I might bring some gear to this thing... If anybody wants to try any of the following then give me a shout! Fender Highway One Precision (USA) Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V DHA VT1 Bass-Drive-EQ EHX Germanium Big Muff Morley Dual Bass Wah Zoom B3 Ashdown ABM500 EvoII Hartke VX 115 Hartke VX 1508 Most of it is fairly modest tbh, but if it is of any interest to anyone then let me know

Personally - index and little if its at the bottom end of the neck. More likely to use my ring finger above the 7th fret.

[quote name='bremen' timestamp='1352208058' post='1860077'] I have in my hand a smartphone. I tap it in time with the tune we're playing at its correct tempo. It remembers that tempo and saves it with the title of the song. I repeat that for each tune in the set. (Later, at a gig) I select the songs from a list and arrange them into a setlist.I put the smartphone on a stand that the drummer can reach. The display is showing the name of the first tune in the set I've just arranged. He touches the screen. The display flashes four (or eight, or whatever) times at the appropriate tempo for that tune. He clicks his sticks. Away we go. Meanwhile, the display is showing the next tune...and so on. Does this app exist, or can anyone help me create it? [/quote] You should keep ideas like this to yourself otherwise someone else might end up making a bit of money!

[quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1351110449' post='1847576'] indeed it is my friend! andy [/quote] Great! Rexington has expressed an interest too, if there is room for her?

Got the day off so now I'm free to attend!! 0175westwood29 - is the offer of a lift still open?

I've had a VM Jaguar (the first one with P/J pickups and stacked pots) and I now have the VM Jazz V. Both are amazing quality basses for the money. I like the Jazz just as much as my MIA P!! [runs for cover]

Yeah I'm happy to contribute some fuel money. Just need the time off work! Hopefully shouldn't be a problem.

If you Plymouth boys are up for helping us out with a ride then I'm up for the trip! I'm currently down to work that day but I'll see what I can do!

I'm all the way down in Cornwall! Bit far for me I think...

These have a tapered E and B and are apparently designed to fit through-body bridges. Has anybody used them on a top-loading bridge? I don't know if that would be a problem. Cheers Joe