Mark_Andertons

[quote name='Facefoxx' timestamp='1338667530' post='1677911'] I'm at Brighton institute of modern music which is a performance based course but because they're affiliated to Sussex university they feel that need to beef it out with modules that require us to "broaden our horizons" academically so to speak. I have no problem with that, but the standard of teaching in these modules aren't too great if i'm honest. which is worrying considering that this amount to 60% of said module And the criteria for this assignment focuses on both marketing and design. The figures from this survey will determine whether or not there is a need for a product like the one i'm proposing to make. at the moment i can argue either way. Saying either existing product already attend to this problem. Or that there is a need in which case the next step is prototyping. However Due to several reasons I've left it later than others. so any help really is appreciated. [/quote] That's interesting. I did my degree (in production) at Leeds College of Music which is pretty similar to ACM and BIMM and so on so I know what you mean about the extra modules that can seems a bit more 'filler' than 'killer' (disclaimer incase anyone from LCM is listening: love you really!) If there's anything specific I can help with just give me a shout on PM. Since uni I've done a second degree in Marketing from the Chartered Institute with specialisation in Market Research. I don't want to be over bearing and yak on about it but I know what it's like when you leave an assignment to the last minute (I was the master of that) and you suddenly realise you need to know something and it's too late to ask a tutor. SO... if you have any last minute 'sh*t I need some help with that' moments just let me know. I'm checking my inbox every 2 mins at the moment waiting to hear about some FX for sale so I'll see any PM pretty quick. Best of luck!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1338662101' post='1677824'] Check out my front! [/quote] Haha. I've got a Moana at the moment but nothing special. Been tempted by some of the new Fenders and these chaps: http://www.facebook.com/unkuleles

Survey done. Just out of interest is your course in marketing or in design? and where are you studying? If it's in Marketing happy to help you out in any way if I can. Be through all that myself so glad to help someone else going through it

haha. Lovely back on that I'll admit! Always love a good back!

Similarly to the Blackstar HT5H it's a great sounding head through the matching cab but (again same at the HT5H) once you put it through a good 4x12... just, wow. The price just seems totally disconnected from good the thing sounds. Gets incredibly close the Tiny Terror (albeit a fair bit quieter)

If you've gr a mac GarageBand is great to practise with. Otherwise scour the Internet for grooves you can put on an mp3 player. Tons of stuff out there, just make sure the grooves are in time too!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1338399126' post='1673999'] There are some great 34" scale 5 string basses and some crap 35" scale 5 string basses IME and visa versa obviously What's all the electronics talk about? The op wanted advice on basses and amps not the Maplins catalog! [/quote] Just saying that all things being equal if you're buying a 5 string bass and you are going to spend a lot of time between B and E (which you would playing Gospel) then, all things being equal, you'd be better off with a 35. 35" scale lengths were designed so that the low B would be at a decent tension and ring true so it makes sense. You are absolutely right that there are some 35" dogs and some some incredible 34" but all things being equal, personally if it's got more than 4 strings it needs to be a 35". BUT (obligatory disclaimer) it's ultimately down to peoples taste. I've got big hands so maybe that's why I prefer 35 partly!? Who knows

Jeez can you guys move the AC/DC stuff to another thread? I think it's fair to say it's gone off the topic right now. Trying to help a brother out and you guys just want to debate and defend your prides not actually help the OP with his rig.

[quote name='bassickman' timestamp='1338396608' post='1673944'] The £5k budget is for amp and bass. I'm thinking maybe Fender jazz deluxe 5 with mark bass little mark tube 500 and a mark bass 4 x 10. Or maybe a genz benz shuttle and a vanderkley 4 x 10 or......... a genz benz with a bergantino 4 x10. [/quote] Might I be so bold as to suggest that a Jazz 5 might not be best option for Gospel. 5 String Fender Jazz Bass is only a 34" Scale length which makes it harder for the low B to ring true and to get that proper silk smooth low end. If you think about most of the really big names in Gospel bass Bubby Lewis, Justin Raines, Andrew Gouche they all play 35" scale basses (albeit all MTDs because Tobias snaps up any Gospel Bassist worth their salt to endorse) but there's a reason they all way long scales on their 5 or 6 string basses. So yeah definitely lay hands on a 35" and see the difference it makes! If you need a starting point the Ibanez BTB675 is great. You might want something even better but you'll immediately feel the difference compared to a Jazz V which just feels like the low B was stuck on as a badly considered after-thought (which cynics will point out it basically is). Awesome gig to land by the way! Very jealous.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1338387766' post='1673709'] If you're playing Gospel, get a 5 string bass, a 410 or 212 cab, a 500 watt amp with a good DI and some flight cases. I think your brain would be better off full of bass lessons than this other stuff! [/quote] +1 though if you want to play Gospel you really needs a 6 string American MTD and a wall of GKs

[quote name='deanovw' timestamp='1338106282' post='1669537'] I dont think these are available new anymore. You may have to keep an eye out for a used one. The new ones are 1x15 combos with less power. [/quote] Good shout, didn't notice Skezza was referring to the old one. Sorry!

We do stock it but we haven't actually have any come in yet from Ibanez, probably the same thing elsewhere http://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-combos/pid23702/cid687/ibanez-p5110-promethean-250w-10-bass-combo.asp When it does touch down though I'm sure we'll get one on display to try out. Tricky to guess when NAMM stuff arrives some of it is announced as if it's coming out the next day but when you speak to manufactures they say they haven't even begun production! I know we have an Ibanez order coming in on the 1st June so might be one with that if you're lucky. Mind you quite a hike from Staffs!

[quote name='lxxwj' timestamp='1338066809' post='1669314'] The Diago Powerstation is a daisy chain but it works well without noise or other interference. [/quote] Indeed the Powerstation is just about the only daisychain I'd be comfortable recommending. Diago are a really small company and James the guy that owns it is a top guy so they're well worth supporting (not being biased there because Andertons don't stock Diago anyway!) but I've got a Diago Showman pedal board and I've got a Powerstation as a backup powersupply should I ever need it so yeah they get the thumbs up from me!

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1338062494' post='1669231'] Thanks Mark, I'll give that a try. My mixer volume controls are knobs, not faders. I'll set them to the "unity" position and go from there. [/quote] That's fine. As far as mixers go whatever you're putting through them the rule is Set main outputs where you want them with a reference input like a CD, Channel Gain to minimum, Channel Volume to max and then slowly turn up gain until it's as loud as you want it plus a little bit louder then from then on you can just use the volume fader and not touch the gain. Works for anything that goes through a mixer and ensures you aren't giving anything more pre-amp gain than it needs (pre-amp gain is where the majority of noise is introduced to a signal).

DI: Gain/Volume are probably as much tone shaping as volume and interact (i.e. if you need more gain then you'll never less volume if you want less gain you'll need more volume. DI Level is purely an output volume control. Set both Gain and Volume to 50% and DI to 50% too STOP Put some music through your mixer so you can set the main output at a comfortable listening level. Then stop the music. Put the mixer gain (on the bass channel) to its minimum setting and the volume fader (again on the bass channel) to its highest setting. now Slowly turn up the gain until the bass is as loud as you will ever want it. From then on only use the volume fader on the mixing desk to control the volume, pull it down if you want it quieter and push it up if you want it louder. Try that and let me know how it works it. That's the best way to do it but if you get a lot of noise then you might need to tweak it. As I say try it and let me know and we'll tweak if it needs it.

I'd chip in not to skimp on Powersupply if you can. Daisy chain ones like the one you mentioned are well and good for cheap and cheerful bedroom playing but it's worth having a serious think about something with isolated power outputs in the long run. Much less risk of noise/interference. Yes they are expensive but they also last years (decades/life if treated with respect) cheap power supplies die, and they usually wait until half way through a very important gig to do it. If you do go for a daisychain one for the love of god cover up any unused power jacks with electrical tape because if they touch a metal pedal chassis at best you'll get a nice firework display and at worst some unhappy pedals.

Heard a great tip from Musicademy which I'm sure a handful of you guys will know. Which was to think about your repetoir in 3 circles within each other (don't make me draw it!) like rings in a tree trunk. In the core you have the material that you know like the back of your hand and could play at a moments notice in any key. Then in the next segment/ring/circle you have all the stuff that you're working on learning at the moment and you can play confidently most of the time, then outside in the last segment/ring/circle you have songs that are literally too hard for you, way outside your comfort zone. And your aim is to practise songs in all three with a view to pulling things from further out of the circles into the core. That way you are always challenging yourself with stuff that you can't play and improving quicker than if you just pottered about always playing what you can already play confidently. That was a proper crap explanation. Sorry! I'm sure you get the point though: practise working on songs that you think are way out of your league and before you know it they will be in your league! That's not to say don't work on scales techniques etc just a good tip for improve general skills faster.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1337970150' post='1668273'] I have two basses and two guitars. I like playing bass and don't really have a clue yet how to play guitar. But still have two. [/quote] I'm sure the opposite is true of many Guitarists. I had 3 Basses (and 5 guitars) before I considered myself to be taking bass playing seriously

[quote name='CBbass' timestamp='1337893433' post='1667191'] Similarly I'm very curious how often instruments sell in stores. I'm sure someone here would have worked in a music store. If so can you tell me which store and on average how often you sold instruments. I'm a little curious about % total sales for certain other items too. e.g. amps, picks etc. [/quote] This is going to sound fabulously scientific... We sell LOADS of guitars, we sell some basses 16% sounds pretty much bang on to me. Perhaps even a little less.

Awesome. I've known about the hot hand for a while but not really been tempted to get on until seeing this! Here's the vid from Source Audio: great tutorial to set it up but no where near as good an advert for the sounds as the Pinn Panelle vid! [url="http://www.youtube.com/wUpGfj9ZJMA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUpGfj9ZJMA[/url]