uk_lefty

People on here with the model T love it. Like most brands I've noticed their prices have really shot up in the last few years. It's a shame because they do a good left handed range but they're just too expensive for me to take a punt on, considering they'd need to be specially ordered by most retailers (in left handed at least). The Stiletto Studio range does look nice but am pretty sure the price has doubled over five years.

I bought a Stingray in 2018 and though I don't sound like Pino on it... It's fretted... But it makes me very happy. It's a fine bass. Buy a Stingray.

Fair enough. I just can't listen to songs I've played over and over for five years that I used to really like. Now I either associate it with the memory of a bad gig or realise I've played it very, very wrong for too long!

You definitely want only a smaller proportion of those songs. But try to find something in them you like, it might not even be your part but if the drummer does something you like just wait for that bit and let that give you energy to smile through it. Or put your own twist to the song if the circumstances allow. But being in a cover band that plays songs you like... Well, you won't like them after a year or so of playing them!

Doesn't matter how you got there 😊👍

Tell us the advice please 😄

I think that's what we have to accept as bassists. We will not get the exact sounds. We can try to get close but it gets to a point where "that'll have to do". I wrestled with synth tones for an 80s covers band, what I made at home sounded pants with the band, and now I've done a few sessions with a pop-rock band and I've gone for stock Helix fuzz sounds and just fed them into my wah pedal with no clever signal routing or processing and it's done the job more than adequately. Also playing with a live band the energy to play with and your dynamics are worth far more than getting the exact tone off the record, time is spent far more effectively on learning the song than on chasing tones that we know are from other instruments.

Was pondering selling mine... Then started playing with a pop-rock band and realised how stupendously useful it is. My PC died a few weeks ago so instead of faffing about trying to create patches I've been using a lot of the stock BAS presets, as well as a few decent sounds I'd made, and it just works. In a second audition last night I went from hairy fuzz for songs that are synth bass driven to plummy round vintage bass tone with a bit of reverb at the tap of a few buttons in the next song. The Helix just works and doesn't have to be complicated.

Did I mention that 2x 15s also looks awesome?

If you like your Ashdown stuff then I'd recommend stacking up two of the Rootmaster 115s. While these are typically rated at 250 or 300 watts I've somehow acquired one that has had a bit of an enhancement and is 500w rated. I used to have another and stacking them up gave me nice big round bottom end. No idea why but I moved on the standard cab at some point. Then I wanted a second cab again and got a deal I couldn't turn down on an RM 210. Its a subtle difference but the 15 to me just sounds more full.

When you go to pick it up just have a look about. Is it being kept in a damp shed? Is there a knackered car on bricks in the driveway? Does it smell of cat pee? Do you think you will get out of there alive? Seriously, all the best advice has already been given. Just shop around, there's bargains to be had if you're patient. I snagged an excellent 2x10 combo with 12 band EQ, valve pre, loads of features in brand new condition a few months back. But I spent ages trawling eBay looking at stuff the rats had run out of bits to chew listed at £500 and more.

If anyone finds the stonking bargain they got on an RM800 out of Germany isn't quite doing it for them.... Let me know. I'm in the market for another Rootmaster!

I don't know if it's because I've had it for 4 years or more, or because it's just so well designed.... I bought a fantastic feature rich Trace amp a few months back (122H GP12 300watt combo in mint condition) for the 80s sound. It's bluddy great. BUT, for sheer ease of use, plug in twist a knob or two and get perfect tone for active, passive, fretted or not... You just can't beat a Rootmaster. You just can't.

Fair do's

I think the stuff they sell on eBay is mostly B stock of some sort. I've had an eye on them for a while and unfortunately I've been too sensible to indulge recently.

I like the knobs.... Looks like an Eden!

I used to play (field) hockey quite seriously as a goalie. I "retired" a long time ago but still play a bit not in goal for fun. As soon as anyone finds out about my past I am volunteered as gk for every game, especially very low standard teams travelling goodness knows where. Keep your secret a secret or you will never be free of your past!

Could have been left in its case more often than not or meticulously looked after. I picked up an 80s/ 90s amp a few weeks ago that even smells new because it was left under a cover in a working men's club and got used about twice for a failed run of open mic nights. I've also seen a 70s Fender with a brand new looking neck but a sun faded body. It had spent 30 years hung on a wall and not really played. 80s Japanese made basses are incredible value for money. You've got something that will last a good while longer but it needs to be played!

Ha! I pulled the plug on a band I had started after 9 months because I could see it heading down the same way....! Guitarist: has anyone got a PA? Me: my mate in my other band is an ex soundman, I can get hold of any PA kit we need from pub gigs to big functions. He's got about four or five different set ups. For a few pints he'd probably even come and set it up for us. Don't worry about it. Guitarist points to a single speaker of his: But what do you mean by a PA? That's a PA. And I use my Markbass combo as a sub. Me losing the will to live: I mean a mixing desk, all the cables you'd need, monitors, speakers on speaker stands handling the vocal and.... Just a proper PA. Not a single speaker.

You are! How you keep all that going I don't know. I hope you get the biggest share of gig fees.

These guys weren't anal about it, my point was if they were I'd be ok. As long as it was only that. Because someone else is providing something that I benefit from.

In the band I've just stepped away from after over five years one of the guitarists was a pro soundman and so he was in charge of the boxes and bags of leads. He was the boss of all that. I carried heavy stuff, packed stuff away and never, NEVER, treated any of the kit disrespectfully. What is it with some people? If the person in charge of the leads wants them looped anti clockwise in 12.3" radius circles and stacked neatly by the mixing desk at the end of the night then you try damn hard to do that for them, surely? If you benefit from it, you have a role in looking after it, and the person in charge of it. If any band member was to chuck gear about before or after a gig I'd offer to chuck their guitar/ drums/ folder of lyrics about in the same manner, see how they like that??!

£180????!!! If they have anything left handed let me know...!!! Great deal. That will be a quality bass. Have it set up by someone who knows what they're doing, fresh strings and you've got an excellent, excellent instrument to learn on.

For fretless I found the Boss LMB 3 good but used it as a limiter rather than compressor. There's some recommended settings in the leaflet you get with a new one and one of those really helps bring out some character when you're sliding notes. They're very cheap second hand and Behringer made an even cheaper clone version. I'm now using a Helix Stomp for almost all effects and compression so as some have suggested using a multi effect like a Zoom or the TC Spectracomp you're likely to find one that suits your set up and the sound you want without having to tweak it much if at all.

I saw that too. Quite a set up he has there, do you think he ever sticks them all on at once just to see what might happen.... Interestingly at a Marcus Miller clinic he was going through his pedals, digital delay, etc. and said he has a cheap zoom multi just to play about with!