peteb

I’ve actually got three rigs these days: 1. a Mesa Boogie M-Pulse in a rack with a SPX90 & a tuner with two SWR Goliath 4x10s – this is used in a band that always has a van at its disposal 2. a Markbass 3x10 combo – used for another band where I have to gig out the back of my car (thru I do prefer the boogie rig the MB is much lighter / portable and sounds great) 3. I have a Hartke 3500 that I use as a back up to the boogie also a SWR Goliath 6x10 living in a rehearsal studio at the moment – a great cab that I am sure I will use again in the not too distant future

An Essex Viking...... cool! Always thought that he sounded like a drummer playing bass - which he was! Still, a mega player who inspired a lot of people I'm not exactly the world's biggest L42 fan but can't deny that some of the singles were pretty cool...........

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='642276' date='Nov 1 2009, 01:16 AM']Does anyone use one on here?[/quote] I've got a Ken Smith Burner 4 string - their budget range but still a cracking bass! A guy out of a support band a while ago had a KS jazz and that was a very nice bass as well

[quote name='Shaggy' post='642385' date='Nov 1 2009, 10:42 AM']Mesa Boogie Diesel 2x15: Road-ready (flightcased) model, EV loaded, 800W, 4ohm mono or 2x8ohm stereo. Tightest sounding 2x15 I've tried, but rather surplus now I'm DI-ing. £300 if you're interested. [/quote] I think that is probably what you're after

Personally I always leave the bass eq flat and tweak the amp (warm bottom end, slight boost in the upper mids, a subtle cut in the upper mids, flat top end and slightly overdrive the front end)

[quote name='Davo-London' post='633019' date='Oct 21 2009, 11:27 PM']It's OK as long as ignorance is acceptable.[/quote] I don't think that bilbo's post that you refer to is ignorant at all - I think that he makes a valid point

[quote name='peted' post='633431' date='Oct 22 2009, 01:58 PM']I have a Badass II on my Precision. It sustains better and appears to have better harmonic content than the bent piece of tin that was on there before. I wouldn't call that much of an accolade though. I think their main popularity stems from the fact that anything is better than Fender stock bridges, and the screw holes are designed to line up perfectly so you don't have to go and drill holes in your precious bass. I much prefer the two-piece bridge on my Warwick.[/quote] +1 on every statement that you have made there mate!

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='633852' date='Oct 22 2009, 09:11 PM']I find if I don't think about any of the songs, they literally play themselves. When we play Josie I have a part midway where I play a little solo riff. I find if I think about it coming up I get panicky, and sometimes f@ck up. Weird.[/quote] It doesn't tend to happen when you're playing out a lot as long as you don't think too much - as you say the songs just play themselves I used to sometimes get that in the past where I would think too much and screw up solo bits, but not so much now - I think that I've managed to master over confidence at last!

Last Saturday night, songs I've been playing for ever - first time for a while!

Depends on how your band works, some will work the solos, etc in the rehearsal room some beforehand I play in two bands - in one the guitar player pretty much works out his solos in the room, one prepares in advance. Guess who is the best guitarist in the better band??

[quote name='henry norton' post='612332' date='Sep 29 2009, 06:54 PM']I think alot of people 'hear' what they want to hear when it comes to instrument mods. I also think the change in appearance can make people play differently, more aggressive or maybe more sensitively. Maybe making your instrument look woodier made you play in a more 'woody, mellow, warm way'. Not in a 'wooden' way by the way After all that work you'd want to 'hear' an improvement after all. I'm pretty sure taking off a thick layer of polyester will have some effect on the sound but after the strings, pickups, wood, construction and electronics have all had their say, it'll be tiny fractions.[/quote] I do take your point, but…. if anything I actually preferred the sound of the bass before I stripped the paint off! I agree with Warwickhunt, the finish definitely has an affect on the sound! My main gigging bass now is a natural (waxed) Warwick Stage 1 which sounds great on stage with a band. However, I’ve never played a Stage 1 with a paint finish but would love to be able to compare the two……

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='610473' date='Sep 28 2009, 12:04 AM']I'd probably try to avoid defining it if I could, but as you insist... ...bassier to some degree, with less tightness in the mids and highs, and perhaps a greater low-mid warmth. Mind you these things can be very difficult to describe at the best of times and it was in the mid-eighties that I did this so, although I recall finding it more 'woody' at the time, I don't now recall exactly what it sounded like. I think it would be fair to say, however, that the difference would have been small.[/quote] The reason for the thread is that I did strip the paint off a 70s Fender P a while ago and it definitely did have an effect on the sound but I have struggled to describe exactly what that difference is. ‘Woodier’ is the term that I would also use but I don’t know why! Of my other three basses, two have natural finishes and one has a solid paint job. The painted bass seems to have what I tend to think of as a ‘sweeter’ sound but possibly cuts thru less, but I’m not sure to what extent that is due to the finish.

[quote name='Tait' post='610171' date='Sep 27 2009, 06:07 PM']I GOT IN [/quote] Well done that man!! Did you get any further information about any record deal / their immediate ambitions, etc - i.e. are you gonna be posting about sold out US tours in the near future?

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='610289' date='Sep 27 2009, 08:06 PM']If the solid paint and the natural were both lacquered I don't think it would make much difference. I stripped the lacquer off a natural finish Aria once and it did sound woodier.[/quote] How would you define "woodier"?

Can anyone explain the effect on the tone of a bass that a solid paint finish has (obviously compared to a natural finish)?

The following applies for rock bands (not function / wedding bands or jazz ensembles): Rock music is supposed to be LOUD! There are limits to this and excessive loudness will not do anyone any favours but you will not get the necessary power without having sufficient volume If your (rock) drummer isn’t very loud the chances are he isn’t very good and you should get rid of him / her – they have to play at the optimum volume for them to drive the band, which has to be loud enough to be heard over him If you want to sound convincing there is no way round this……

Got a mint Warwick Streamer Stage 1 off ebay for the princely sum of £435 (now my main work horse bass) and back in the 80s I got a USA Fender P that was playable but needed a bit of attention for £135 from a shop after a bit of bartering (I got my guitarist to come into the shop to negotiate for me cos I didn't want the bloke in the shop to know how much I wanted it - still got the bass and still mates with the guy who I bought it off)!

[quote name='anthomp' post='576155' date='Aug 20 2009, 10:18 PM']Not enough gigs as blues harp player[/quote] A mate of mine is a really good blues harp player, but to say the least his gigging options are somewhat limited and he plays in about the only decent band round here that would possibly require his services He was trying to learn to play bass a while ago!

Heard Physical Graffiti and then Rainbow Rising and decided that I wanted to be in a band that could produce that sound I was drawn to bass I suppose from having heard Chris Squire in Yes and always liked the look of Fender Pbasses – also, I thought that most kids were learning to play guitar and if I started of as a specialised bass player I might have a head start and be offered more gigs!

BTW - Italian Tony is actually rather a good bass player (used to play in my mate's band)......

I've always thought (unless you're going for a glam or custume type image) that the band should look like a cooler version of their audience! Ideally if someone was to see you at the bar they should identify that you are in the band rather than an average punter If you are after a record deal, etc image is all important - up there with songwriting. Unfortunately, the right haircut may be more important than if you can play or not! But the worst thing you can do is to look like you are trying too hard......

Check your email Cheers - Pete

PM sent

[quote name='jakesbass' post='530964' date='Jul 2 2009, 07:18 PM']It really is that simple, but here's an elaboration: I can play songs that I have only heard (never played before) because my ear-finger relationship has over the years become very quick. I will listen to a song be able to sing the bass line, once it's firm in my head which [i]can[/i] be as few as 2 or 3 listens but usually more, and then I will be able to play it through with maybe one or two adjustments or close listens for the odd awkward note. And it really boils down to being able to sing the bassline[/quote] Exactly what I do - you don't need Jake's level of training to able to do this (thru, obviously it can't hurt) Basically, if you can sing it you can play it!

A pleasure to deal with Wayne - top bloke of the highest order!