mingsta

Here's mine. Mainly just playing covers to some midi tracks, but hopefully some original stuff up in the future once I get back in to playing a bit more. [url="http://soundcloud.com/mingsta88/"]http://soundcloud.com/mingsta88/[/url]

I picked up a USB interface on the 'bay last week, here's a few rough and ready bass parts that I recorded with a midi backing track. [url="http://soundcloud.com/mingsta88/"]http://soundcloud.com/mingsta88/[/url] I've not recorded before, so I found it hard to relax and get in to a groove and there's lots of small mistakes that I can hear when playing back (most of these were done first take as I only had an hour on sat night) - but nevertheless I reckon doing more of this would be a great way to improve technique and become a more consistent player. I've just come back from a ten year break from playing, and am blown away by all the easily accesible technology that we now have. You can jam to backing tracks on your ipad, recording direct in to a laptop and upload to soundcloud and facebook to share with your mates - awesome!!! Any constructive criticism appreciated. Would also like to hear of any good online resources for learning more about home recording and how to record a good bass sound.

Back in the days, Kyuss and Monster Magnet were two of my favourites.

Musicman's build quality is top notch. I've been disappointed by the Fender's that I've tried in comparison, which is a shame as I really wanted to like them given the vast number of classic recordings and bass luminaries associated with the P and J. I'd still like to own a Jazz or Precision one day, but I think I'd try and scout around for a nice used example of a mex/japanese model.

I think a Musicman Big Al 5SSS could be up your street if you can get over the looks (its a marmitte thing). Its a tone monster and I've love one myself if I could find one for the right price in the classifieds.

Well you've got a nice collection there, I'm guessing that you have a preference for Jazz style basses. I've just been down a very large guitar shop within the M25 (guitarguitar in Epsom). Tried an standard jazz and was disappointed with the finish and the way that it played. I didn't get to check if it was MIA/MIM/MIJ, it was around £900 so guessing that it was the american model. I then picked up a Sadowsky Metro Jazz which felt and sounded great. If you like Jazz basses and have a healthy budget then I'd definately check them out. I think their made in Japan line starts from around £1700 and the US models from £2.5k and upwards. Plenty of options available to make it more "special", but even the bog standard model that I tried felt special enough. The Pedulla rapture also looks lovely though I've never tried one before. I'd personally go for a bass that I could demo, if you're spending that much money and its going to be your special one, then why take any chances on a bass that you've never tried. Get a shortlist and then try em out until you find the one that sings to you.

Keep an eye out on eBay.com and classifieds I picked up a new 5hh stealth for £500. Even after tax and mail costs it still worked out just over 700. Awesome bass, btw. Bongos depreciate quite nicely so I think used but in great condition is the way to go.

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1332938541' post='1595115'] Don't fall for the 'If I have a B I might as well have a C too' argument. For me that was a step too far and as a result I have a very nice ornamental Shuker 6 hanging on my wall. Just can't make the transition at all. OK for a little blast now and again, but I wouldn't ever dream of gigging with it! If you need a 6 string you wouldn't think like that, you'd just need it, full stop. [/quote] Sounds about right. I found it relatively okay to adapt to a 5 string, but I think the 6 would be a different kettle of fish. The B out of the way until you need it but the same can't be said of the C.

In some ways, only you can really know whats best for yourself here!!! Have you owned a 6 string before? Are you getting this bongo just for variety and occassional use? Or is it going to be your main bass? I'd always go for a 4 string if its a bass I'm going to play a lot - but thats just me. I find that I always end up grabbing the 4 string when I'm in a situation where I need to be at my best (best being relative!). PS great choice - bongo's are great basses. They may be fugly, but you just can't argue with the playability or that tone: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wd7QWMBle0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wd7QWMBle0[/url] Ming

I've just received a set of LaBella flatwounds, which Happy Jack kindly offered to sell to me in response to a thread. Top bloke, great to deal with.

Check out songster.com lots of tabs and you can print if you sign up. You can also play along with the tracks

Good luck, if it's minty and exactly what you are after then put in an offer and see what they say. There seems to be a massive difference between uk retail prices and second hand, so it's still a good saving over the cost of a new one. Don't think you need to worry too much about the build quality, musicman are generally very good.

Ive still got my Trace 1215 GP12 SMX from '94 - its barely broken in to be honest, as I've hardly gigged since my late teens so its been relegated to low volume home practice. In anticpation of some gigs this year, I recently paired it up with its sister 2x10H extension cabinet which I got for the princley sum of 70 squid on ebay!!! I'm not really up to speed with all the latest amp tech, but it seems that the new amps/cabs are a fair bit lighter, which is a big plus in its own right. My rig weighs about 50 kilos! I get the feeling (though couldn't say its from first hand listening) that the market's gone more in the direction of a high-fidelity sound. Not looking to change it as I feel that the rig's not had a proper crack of the whip this past 18 years. Quite frankly, the prospect of finding a new amp scares me, as I suspect it would turn in to the quest for "the perfect sound" and we all know what that leads to....bankrupcy!!!

Thanks for the input guys. Happy jack I'd be happy to take you up on that offer, thanks!

Hiya, but of a newb question here, I'm going to take my first dip in to the world of flatwounds. I normally use super slinkies or rotosound swingbass 45 to 105 guage - find both to have roughly the same tension though quite different in tone. I've heard that flats can have a higher tension for a given guage compared to roundwounds. Given what I normally run for roundwounds, what guage would you recommend for flats if I want to retain the same kind of tension? [b] Stainless Steel Flat Wound[/b] [b]Set 760FM[/b] Medium [i].049 - G[/i] [i][b][sup]1[/sup][/b][/i] [i].069 - D[/i] [i][b][sup]2[/sup][/b][/i] [i].089 - A[/i] [i][b][sup]3[/sup][/b][/i] [i].109 - E[/i] [i][b][sup]4[/sup][/b][/i] [b] Stainless Steel Flat Wound[/b] [b]Set 760FL[/b] Light [i].043 - G[/i] [i][b][sup]1[/sup][/b][/i] [i].060 - D[/i] [i][b][sup]2[/sup][/b][/i] [i].082 - A[/i] [i][b][sup]3[/sup][/b][/i] [i].104 - E[/i] [i][b][sup]4[/sup][/b][/i]

Good stuff! I was kind of leaning towards the same conclusion. Maybe I can switch round in about 20 years once the HH has warmed up a little [quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1331816983' post='1579345'] Try the flats on the older H first [/quote]

Funnily enough I've just flogged my 1st bass to a friend. It was a Fenix Jazz copy. It played lovely, much better than the 90 quid might have indicated. Plugged in, it was rather weak sounding and really needed some better pickups/electronics to do it justice, hence not been played for over a decade.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1331639534' post='1576250'] Also, the beautifully figured neck woods they were using around the time... because of their inherent nature didn't always settle into nice straight pieces of wood like a simple grained neck would. Quite ironically these are generally the most sought after necks.... aesthetically that is. It's fair to say though that the ones that have survived this long without going skew-whiff are the good 'uns. [/quote] I spoke to a luthier the other day and he was saying the same thing. The figured necks tend to be less stiff than unfigured and can be more sensitive to truss rod adjustments and changes in temp etc. My 93 'ray has a light flame pattern but has been pretty stable over the years. I've noticed that the neck has gone from very pale blonde with almost a hint of green to a rich yellow/brown over time - its a shame that the same can't be said of my hair color, which has gone the other way (dark -> grey)!

Hi All, I've got an old '93 ray who's tone has thickened and warmed up rather nicely over the years. Am also about to acquire a brand new HH ray which will be presumably a little zingier while the woods still got a little green left in it! Its frankly a little silly having two of the same bass, but I have an opportunity to pick up an absolute stunner thats looking too good to miss. If I was being sensible I should really be looking to find a P or a Big Al, but ho-hum! So anyways, I've always fancied something thicker and thumpier as an alternative to the Stringray tone and would like to chuck some flats (probably LaBella Deep Talkin) on to one of them. Any one have experience of how flats go with the SR H and HH? Which would be the better combination of the two? I'd imagine that the neck humbucker of the HH is a natural pairing with flats, but my older H ray will probably sound warmer due to its age. Mingsta

Hi there!!! I've just joined basschat after recently getting back in to playing. First picked up the bass in '92 when I was 15 to play metal (there, I've said it!) and hard rock covers with my mates, by the time I got to sixth form, I'd picked up a taste for jazz, funk and motown (though the long hair remained) and did a couple of terms worth of bass tuition with a man called Jeremy Meehan who was a big inspiration with his awesome rythm and feel, though I never really got my head around learning the theory! My playing's been a bit patchy over the past ten years, but I've re-discovered the passion over the past few months - hoping to get a few friends together and play a set when I get hitched in September and carry on gigging after that. The gear I'm rocking - mainly a throwback to the early 90's where I'd put all of the proceeds from my student jobs in to new kit: A '93 2-EQ Stringray, '94 Trace 1215 GP12 SMX combo, also picked up a Bongo 5HH Stealth a few years ago for a knockdown price on Ebay. Other priorities in my life mean that I'm going to need to keep the renewed interest in music SEPERATE from any renewed interest in gear - so if you see me lurking around the classified forums, SHOOT ME! Looking forward to joining the community! Mingsta