stefBclef

I think he's made that sound a lot worse than it actually is...and then mispelled Squier and put a really high price on it! No chance...

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1343164739' post='1746557']
Great stuff, good luck with the gig
[/quote]

Cheers...Police and Thieves cover went down ok, but the gig was generally a bit poor due to sound issues....I will take my grumblings over to the playing live forum!

[quote name='Mike Ed' timestamp='1339526868' post='1689997']
How about Junior Murvin's [i]Police and Thieves?[/i] I've always though it would suit female vocals.

Mike
[/quote]

Well we went with this one and we're playing it for the first time tomorrow night! I'll let you know how is goes down...

Cheers for the inspiration!

[quote name='Commando Jack' timestamp='1342648864' post='1738871']
You want [url="http://bestpractice.sourceforge.net/"]BestPractice[/url].

Open source and does slow down and pitch shifting (independently of course) as well as looping.
[/quote]

This is awesome. Exactly what I was after. Cheers!

Evening all

I have some songs I need to transcribe and I was wondering if anyone knows of a free piece of software that I can use to loop the same section of a track over and over.

I found one a while back, but then after a few days it said I need to pay to carry on using it. I'm not one for torrents and hacks etc but if there is an open source program out there intended to be free I would love to hear about it.

After spending an hour downloading useless programs I thought it would be best to get a personal recommendation!

Or, if anyone thinks this is cheating and wants to give me some tips for transcription I am all ears! I find myself listening to the same passage over and over anyway it just means I have to stop playing bass and start clicking mouse to get it back to the point I want it!

Cheeeers
Stef

Thanks all, i'll have a listen to some of those artists. I remember hearing an Erykah Badu album once and loving it so i look forward to checking her stuff out.


[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1342622620' post='1738047']
If that's your era then more or less anything from the period. The band playing behind these artists was almost exclusively the same bunch of musicians. More from a historic perspective there's a great DVD called Standing In The Shadow Of Motown which features the surviving musicians and is an excellent watch and an object lesson in groove.

Also, go with flats, as suggested. As soon as you get the right groove the whole thing comes together.
[/quote]

I didn't realise there was a DVD of that. I bought the book version although I have to admit I haven't dedicated much time to it at all so I guess now is my chance!

Yes I already have flats on my P and I play reggae so finding the right tone shouldn't be too much of a problem. Right, time for some transcribing!

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1342621270' post='1738023']
Listen to Motown - James Jamerson and Bob Babbit - and Stax - Duck Dunn. Tend to favour the Motown guys myself. Less is very much more but it's also critical just how you play that 'less'.

[/quote]

Thanks. I was introduced to Jamerson's playing through Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"....absolutely stunning playing from start to finish. But I haven't really listened to any other Motown artists - who would you recommend?

Hello amigos

I have recently agreed to play bass in a soul / rnb style project. Now this is not my type of music at all but I am trying to take this "musician" thing to the next level, and make a bit of money out of it...hired gun stylee.

So, can anyone give me any advice about playing soul bass?

Here is an e.g. of the type of music I am on about.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6HXk8PdrAU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6HXk8PdrAU[/url]

From listening it seems like:

1. Less is more
2. Less is more
3. A five stringer or hipshot may be useful.

Can anyone recommend some soul music that I should listen to to get my groove juices flowing? Famous players etc?

Any info appreciated.

Thanks
Stef

I'd say if you are happy playing bass then carry on playing bass. Find a new guitarist and keep the band going...these things take time, and you gotta keep at them.

Having said that, if you are considering jacking the whole project in, maybe you are having doubts yourself? But even if that's the case, it would still be worthwhile trying some new guitarists as they will add their own flavour and that may spark the whole project back into life...

Good luck with it dude.

Are these still available? And do you have a price for each of them individually?

Bought a nice strap from Nick and the transaction was as smooth as could be. Lovely stuff. Cheers
Stef

I just bought some more strings off Alec! Posted very very quickly and item nicely packaged...perfectomundo.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1338469541' post='1675049']
...a squirt or two of contact cleaner would definitely be the first thing to try. This is the stuff I keep on the shelf: [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/contact-cleaner-4153"]http://www.maplin.co...ct-cleaner-4153[/url]

[/quote]

Ok, I had a go at fixing this, and I am a very happy man! Turns out all it needed was some cleaning with the contact cleaner and the pots are now working perfectly. Also the input that wasn't working has also come to life after jamming a jack in and out and blowing it.

Great advice BCers! Thanks a bunch.
Stef

I bought a lovely Squier Jazz from Rob - very smooth transaction from start to finish and he answered all my questions and kept me updated. Great stuff!

[quote name='BRANCINI' timestamp='1340213814' post='1701232']
I dont do it myself, I prefer the jaunty 'lean it casually againts me amp' style.
But how come nobody has replied that they just lie it on top of their amp ?
[/quote]

I lay it on top once, but it was a stupid thing to to. The top of the amp was somewhat contoured, making it rather to easy for the bass to slip off. Also the neck of the bass hung over into the small passage between the drums and bass amp and the dj was playing very loud, bass heavy music for a few hours before our set. It was a miracle the guitar stayed on till we played.

I then came home and started this thread!

Hello again,

I am going to get round to opening this combo up this weekend, and hopefully fix the problem. The amp is actually at my friend's house so I would like to try and find out more or less what I might need so I can take it round.

I will start by giving it all a clean with the contact cleaner recommended above. The contact cleaner came with a nozzle, do I also need some kind of cloth to wipe away excess fluid or other dirt/dust? If so does it matter what type of cloth? (e.g. lint free, yellow duster jobby etc.)

Then I will look for any loose solder joints and solder if neccesary.

I am expecting to have to replace the volume pot as it is more than just crackly, it cuts out in most positions. Is this the type of pot I can expect to see in there? [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/standard-dual-gang-potentiometers-2207"]http://www.maplin.co.uk/standard-dual-gang-potentiometers-2207[/url]

Hmmm what else; oh yes, is there anything I need to be careful with so as not to cause further damage to the amp while rooting around?

Any other advice you can think of would be appreciated and i'll let you know how I get on.

Ta
Stef

Thanks for the advice chaps. Yes, it looks like £50 is indeed the going rate around here. Seeing as I only paid £30 for the combo I think i'll use this oppurtunity to teach myself a bit about amp maintenance and have a go!

Stef

[quote name='EdwardHimself' timestamp='1340187144' post='1700525']
I think the local PC world might have one, but they're called "Knowhow" or something like that these days anyway only joking. I don't think you would be able to get both jobs done in the big smoke for that kind of money. If you want something done right as they say, do it yourself. But make sure you keep away from any capacitors. That sh*t is dangerous.
[/quote]

Ok, maybe I should have used the word "tech" rather than "tech guy"...people are always talking about "took it to my trusted tech" etc!

Anyway, yes I would like to open it up and get to know a bit about these things myself. The problem is that the amp is where I rehearse, rather than where I live, so whenever I am there we are practising and I don't really want to take the amp apart during these sessions as it does work at the mo sufficiently for rehearsal.

Well if anyone can recommend an amp tech in North London, I will get a quote from them and if not I will see what I can do myself.

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1340187203' post='1700529']
Stef, that's what the Precision looked like when it first appeared, from '51 to early '57.
[/quote]

Oh...thanks!

Good Morning

I have a Laney 120watt combo that needs some attention. I think the volume pot will need changing, and one of the input jacks doesn't work (the active one). You can read more on the symptoms here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/177818-crackly-volume-pots-on-a-120w-combo-how-to-fix/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/177818-crackly-volume-pots-on-a-120w-combo-how-to-fix/page__fromsearch__1[/url]

I would like to take it to someone who knows what they are doing for a full service and my local music shop quoted me "a fraction over £50". I was hoping to pay more like £20-£25.

Does this sound reasonable? Can anybody recommend someone in the North London area (Stoke Newington is where the amp is located at the mo) to go to?

Otherwise I may just have to dust off the soldering iron and get into it myself. Which could end well. Or is could end badly.

Many thanks
Stef

[quote name='Heathy' timestamp='1340047557' post='1698324']
I have used a Hipshot D-tuner for the past 20+ years. But the answer really depends on the song, the line you're playing, and what everyone else is doing.
[/quote]

Yep I guess that was the answer I had in my head all along...just gotta suck it and see what sounds right in the situation. Ta

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1340041884' post='1698172']
Couple of Thin Lizzy songs we do I just detune my 'E' string half a step, takes seconds, usually covered by singer waffling between songs, a lot quicker and easier than retuning whole bass, or swapping for a 2nd one.
[/quote]

And you just get used to the new patterns I suppose? I will delve in and try that thanks!

Evening all

I play a 4 string bass, and the current song my band is learning is gonna be played in Eb due to the singer's comfort zone. The lowest note in the line is a C (although that is just a passing note and the lowest crucial note is a D).

The song was recorded in F, and I picked out the line from this recording (in this version I skipped the above mentioned passing note and so the lowest note of the line was an E).

Anyway, at last weeks rehearsal we decided to change the key to Eb and so I just moved position so I used the Eb on the A string, and went from there. The line sounded ok here up the neck, but obviously there was part of me that would like to get a fatter, lower sound (song is reggae).

So I made a mental note to see if detuning would be a realistic option in this song.

I have never played with alternate tunings on my bass or guitar, im not sure why I have just never fancied straying from the norm.

What would I do to detune? Just drop the E string a whole step, or detune all four strings?

Is this what you would do? I have seen Scott Devine's post about and octaver but I am not really keen to get a pedal involved for this.

Thanks all
Stef

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1339926240' post='1696250']
It seems unlikely that he's drawn a blank if he genuinely has tried all those places. Sounds like your eBay guy just can't be arsed.
[/quote]

Yes that's what I was afraid of. But I messaged him BEFORE I bid on the collection only item asking if it would be ok to arrange a courier and he agreed outright. Also, I spoke to him on the phone yesterday and he seemed like a genuine chap. I will give it another couple o' days and then I might have to do an APB...stranded bass!

Thanks for your reply. Now I want a beer or two!

Can anyone offer more advice on where to find packaging materials for a bass?

I have bought a bought a bass off a guy on ebay, and he agreed to let me arrange a courier (rather than collection only).

However, he says he is having terrible trouble finding suitable packaging. He has been to music shops, he has been to bike shops, he has been to sofa shops and supermarkets. None of these has given him any joy.

It has almost come to the point of buying cardboard (which obviously I don't want to do) and im not even sure the local post office would have suitable sized packaging? Maybe?

Can anyone offer any more places to look for suitable packaging? Or has this chap been very unlucky on his previous visits and should go round them again?

Thanks
Stef