Damonjames

[quote name='Grassie' timestamp='1387823474' post='2316168'] Phil Gould, Reni, Alex Van Halen. [/quote] Phil Gould? I know he is one hell of a rugby league commentator, didn't know he played drums too! Sorry, I couldn't resist... That joke would be WAY funnier in Australia....

Sadly, not for me this year. Although I'm getting a gator rack for my brand new GK rb1000ii head that my Mrs let me buy last month, so I can't complain! Ill catch up on some pedals in the new year, rest assured as I have a bad case of GAS right now. I did pick up a set of new old stock russian transistors for a big muff clone I'm planning on building if that counts?

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1387916045' post='2317248'] I've had a top year laughing, learning, buying and selling with you horrible lot. Let's do some more in '14! Happy holidays to you all. Rat. [/quote] +1, this made me laugh!

Hi all basschat peeps. Merry Christmas to you all, good shout Dale. I hope santa brings you all a little something to relieve the GAS!

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1387917809' post='2317262'] My GP says it's an ulnar nerve issue but doesn't seem willing to offer a solution [/quote] Sorry matey, just saw this... My advice would be find another GP and get a referral to see a specialist. I've only been in the UK for a couple of years and have been amazed at how easily you can slip through the cracks in the NHS. Kick and scream until you get some help, life is too short to be in pain. I know you Brits like to pride yourselves on being stoic, but no one give out medals for suffering!

"Who's Andy Fraser?" Ouch! You may remember him from such songs as "all right now" by Free. Ask yourself this one simple question, can you continue to play at your best with numb fingers? I'm tipping the answer is no! Your problem (at least as I see it) is you are too concerned about how everyone else will see you, instead of just finding something that works and rocking out. Trust me, if you have decent chops (and by your saying about receiving complement after playing a shorty, it sounds like you do), just rock out, be confident and have fun, I bet no one will even notice. Especially if you are an average to smaller height and build woman ( I'm treading carefully here), a shorty will look less out of place, it worked for Paul McCartney for years!!! Take what I say with a grain if salt thought, I'm still living in hope that you will one day sell me that Aria Pro ii B&G you beat me to! Merry Chrimbo!

Thanks Ugly Dog, I've been doing some searching online, this could be dangerous! I wasn't trying to sound patronising with my previous comment by the way. You are right, I probably should have highlighted that I have some experience in this field!

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1387782378' post='2315477'] I do like to support my local music shop he is a fantastic guy and really knows his stuff and does magical set ups the only down side is he does not really sell much bass gear normally about 4 or 5 Fenders in the shop and a few packs of strings and a few odds and sods I don't really mind this as he is only a small shop and he cant afford to keep a big stock of bass gear as he makes most of his money on 6 stringers and repairs now here is where I start moaning there are basically 2 other shops near me that sell a bit more gear and 1 of them wont stock any thing bass related as he says there is no interest in it so fair enough I don't go to that shop and the other shop in the nearest town to me is a chain store now they have lots of bass gear in stock but the negative is they just seem like they don't care its kind of like comparing your local friendly newsagent with Tesco if you get my drift? and another downside is they seem to employ "kids" who no disrespect to them but they have very little knowledge and just go through the motions to sell gear and get there bonuses.So I tend to do most of my buying on here or on line for stuff I do pop in to my local shop now and again for some strings or set up work even though the strings and bits and bobs are cheaper on the net as I like to support his shop. But it just seems so sad that there are not really any proper music shops around is it the same for you guys in other areas of the country? I know that the day will come where the internet and chain stores will kill off the little shops which is a shame as there would be such a lot of knowledge and skill lost and where would we go for set ups and repairs? I know I certainly wont be trusting my basses to the larger chain store type places [/quote] Unfortunately this is a growing trend! The cold reality for us bass players is that we are in the minority, and lets be honest, how many basses do you buy in a year? You are lucky your local guy carries some fenders! It must be hard to justify tying up your cash flow in stock that doesn't move , atleast Compared to guitars. I agree about the knowledge level of staff too, the reality is that retail doesn't pay particularly well, so it is only appealing to the young. And this is a broad sweeping statement, but the gen y kids do seem to have a meh attitude toward pretty much everything! Maybe when us lot get a bit older and don't need the cash so much we can go and fill the ranks and use our experience to make up this shortage. Surprisingly though the new world we love in is giving rise to some outside the box thinking, as we are seeing more boutique shops start (regardless of what the store sells). Using the Internet to reach your market, your shop front can be anywhere and still sell. Drew at manchester bass lounge is a great example. Top bloke, great range of new ad second hand basses, and great knowledge. Be patient buddy, use the big chain stores to try stuff out and buy online. Either that or research loads of youtube reviews etc, but online and if you find you don't like it move it (I find this way much more fun!) that's generally how I do it.

Nice one Paul! Might try that, I'm not overly picky about the octave, just something to add that synth feel

But seriously, I'd throw in John Bonham and Chad Smith :-)

Dave Grohl Dave Grohl Dave Grohl

For me it would be Metallica Stone temple pilots Red hot chilli peppers Jamiroquai Chic

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1387705208' post='2314619'] Although I often socket diodes too! Do you know what Fuzz you want to build? Each circuit has inherent pitfalls really. Si [/quote] Fuzz wise, I would like To build a tall font green Russian and/or a civil war russian. I would also like to make some variations with a mid boost or possibly a hi/low pass filter like the new deluxe bass big muff. I would like to have a shot at anything really, maybe a noise gate, a compressor, envelope filter or octaver/synth. I have no idea if these are achievable for a home builder or not so some feedback would be great!

[quote name='BigBassBob' timestamp='1387720628' post='2314856'] Make sure your soldering technique is acceptable before taking on a project. Practice wiring some pots or something first. It's not fun having to go back over loads of sloppy (but working) solder joints to find the bad one. [/quote] Thanks for the advise, I think I should be ok. I am an industrial electrician by trade and studied electronics ;-

Thanks for the replies everyone. Had a spare moment tonight to try and see what the deal was with my Black Russian and found a couple of things. The pots are really scratchy so hit them with some contact cleaner and it seemed to improve it to about 90% of where it should be, one pot is still a bit off. The other thing I noticed was the circuit board was touching the back of the pots (can only assume the previous owners have stood on the pedal and bending the back part where the sockets are in) so I think this was the main issue. Also took the time to put in a DC socket, this pedal is on my pedal board and am prone to leaving the I put jack in, hence running the battery down which probably wasn't helping my cause! To sum up, I have a functioning pedal that should hopefully see me I to the new year and can get something else then. I'm even contemplating making my own muff clone, so who knows!

Hey guys, looking at making a fuzz pedal. Anything I should watch out for?

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1387578677' post='2313654'] No matter how low your strap, you'll never be as cool as this duck. [/quote] HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Nice one

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1387573880' post='2313622'] For me looking cool is irrelevant in comparison to actually being able to play the instrument comfortably. I honestly don't know how some folks can play the their basses slung at their knees...better to be a Mark King than to be a Sid Vicious in my book! [/quote] I find this point a little moot. I don't know you white cloud, so please take this comment in the spirit it is intended 😜 (that funny symbol is me winking at you In case you can't see my emoticon), but if you're an average Jo player like the vast majority of us, I'm tipping you're no mark king or jaco or any other amazing player who slings their bass in the "how to play bass 101" endorsed position. By the same token it is a broad sweeping statement to say that anyone who slings their bass low is as rubbish as Sid vicious. Again, find a height that is comfortable and works and just crack on with Making a racket! 😄

Tim Commerford is one of the coolest dudes on the planet, and in his words "a bass is a badge, not a belt". Whatever works and is comfortable I say. You did make me giggle though dingus!

You saw my pic then 😄

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1387483359' post='2312638'] The rule is: as long as the instrument covers your navel, all is well. I now try to have my bass at the same height when sitting as when standing. [/quote] I used to subscribe to this school of thought, but not any more. Wherever possible I avoid playing sitting down! If I have my bass in this position I find two things happen: 1. My right hand (picking hand) wrist gets closer to a right angle which I find uncomfortable 2. The neck sits closer to horizontal, placing the 1st fret further away. Now having smallish hands, I find fretting the e sting on fret 1 with index finger and then fret 3 or 4 with ring or pinky respectively places stress on both my fingers/hand and my wrist goes over the 90 degree mark. I wear my bass quite low by conventional standards, not quite a rob trujillo low, but the neck plate is at or about my belt buckle. By doing this I find my picking hand wrist is almost straight and by lowering the body, the neck rises higher, Meaning my fretting hand wrist is also straighter. I find this works really well for me, not saying it works for everyone. And I will concede that as I move up the neck, usually around the 12th fret, at the angle I play it starts to get a little cramped, but I still manage ok. Keeping in mind I'm no virtuoso, so I don't spend hours soloing up and down the neck. I also think I look cool... At least as cool as I can ever look1 http://www.smellslikeseattle.co.uk/About.html

I don't even particularly like muse!!!

Between this thread and the guitarist in my band, I have developed a severe case of GAS... I though I had cured it

Speaking of newton, Howdy neighbour! I'm just around the corner in Abram! I really should use the full site more often and see where we all are!

My emoticons don't work apparently 😟 (that is me frowning)