Maude

[quote name='visog' timestamp='1380444779' post='2225186'] Erm I'm not familiar with the x3 live but you should be able to plug that into your PC, use Line 6's Gearbox software to amp & model your sounds and play along side YT, MP3s or your DAW - as I do but with a Line 6 Toneport in place of the x3? Or am I missing something here with yuor question? [/quote] Yes what I have works fine an I can just run another lead from the computer to the X3 to use youtube but that's just the problem, I don't want to be connecting leads and equipment all the time, it doesn't seem much but my life is very busy and practice doesn't happen as often as it should because I have to get the X3 out of it's case, then plug in the phone lead, computer lead, phone charger, bass lead, X3 power lead, headphones lead, so if I can only grab a 15 minute practice is isn't worth bothering with. If I can just plug a bass straight into the computer and play along to all the music stored on there and on the internet then it would be so much easier. I could get another external gadget but was hoping to just plug straight in, also that way I can play along without headphones through the stereo system that will be hooked up to the computer without having to run from the computer into the the external gadget and then from that into the stereo or computer as I'd have to keep swapping the inputs on the stereo. Ideal setup would be Bass>Computer>Stereo system/headphones with all sources be able to be heard simultaneously, without spending a load of dosh. I'll also add I'm not worried about amp modelling or effects, I just want to practice not play a live gig through it, although the possibility of a few effects would be nice

Thanks for all the replies, [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1380408656' post='2225010'] You can get low latency on the built in sound even on old machines if you install the ASIO4ALL driver. I got 10ms through my old Pentium 4 over 10 years ago! Also, if you're not bothered about applying amp models you should be able to live monitor the signal with zero latency. Again that will depend on your setup but it worked with the bog standard AC97 on board sound on my old machine, just by ticking the box in the mixer on Windows XP to pipe the line in straight through to the output. [/quote] I'll pull the tower out later and see what inputs and outputs I have on the back. It has a Pentium 4 running Windows 7 so it might possibly work as it is.

Evenin' , As a complete computer dullard I have a question which I'll get to in a mo. I usually practice along to recordings on my phone or to stuff on youtube, with my phone, bass and headphones all plugged into my Line6 x3 Live, it works fine but I can't be arsed to set it all up every time I practice. It may not seem much but phone charger, Line 6 power, bass lead, phone lead, headphones, etc, I end up tangled up with a load of leads and then the door goes, you get the picture. Now the question, and bear in mind I'm very handy once in the know but just not in the know at the mo (there's a lyric in there somewhere ). What would I need to enable me to plug my bass into my computer (desktop tower jobby) and play along to everything on there, youtube, downloads, CDs, etc. I've seen the VST effect thingies like this ([url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Guitar-VST-Multi-Effects-Plugins-Great-Bass-Sound-Digital-Download-Version-/130609697712?pt=US_Computer_Recording_Software&hash=item1e68f1d3b0"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Guitar-VST-Multi-Effects-Plugins-Great-Bass-Sound-Digital-Download-Version-/130609697712?pt=US_Computer_Recording_Software&hash=item1e68f1d3b0[/url]) and thought it would be ideal but don't really know. I could get some wireless headphones so it really would be just plug the bass in and away I go. Years ago I had a laptop and had to get an external soundcard with low latency so my playing didn't lag when we recorded some stuff but is that needed today as computers are more powerful, what figures should I be looking for on my PC. I'll also add I'm currently putting all my CDs onto the PC and will be hooking a decent stereo up to it so I can listen to my music collection and I could practice through that as well, I'm not massively worried about the quality of the bass, just simplicity. Your thoughts and knowledge will be gratefully received.

I just got outbid on a Danelectro 'dead on 58' Longhorn in 'copperburst' with a Dano case which had butterscotch lining, I couldn't see myself using it in the bands I'm in but it was so beautiful I just had to bid on it, I couldn't afford any more and got outbid 2 seconds before the end and I'm gutted. It wouldn't ever be worth much but it is a piece of art as far as I'm concerned.

I don't really like the look of single cut basses and then realised that my Yamaha Bex4, which I think is beautiful, is a single cut. Of course I always knew it was but because it's 'Les Paul' shaped (like the Gibby above)it doesn't look unusual, as I think the Fodera style do, and never struck me as being a 'single cut' so to speak, if you know what I mean . Trends come and go but everything will always have it's place .

Hi Jimmy, PM me your address and I'll get them sent off sometime in the week.

Anyone can shape a fingerboard ........................... wether it's the shape you need to make it playable is another matter

Yes, sorry I haven't replied. I haven't had time to swap them over yet but will hopefully get them on tomorrow.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1379367748' post='2211955'] BTW can someone give a definition of a "Pub Gig"? Is it simply a gig in a pub, or is there more to it than that? Because although I do most of my gigs in venues that are pubs they don't seem to have much in common with a lot of what gets described as a pub gig on here. [/quote] Depends on the pub I suppose, wether they think they're a 'trendy' wine bar type or just spread the sawdust a bit thicker and shoo the chickens into a corner for Saturday night. We have convinced a few pubs by saying we're confident enough that they'll be happy with us that we won't ask for a fee, just pay us what they see fit at the end of the night. As long as you get the punters in you will get a decent fee. A second booking will be properly negotiated once the foots in the door.

[quote name='five-string.co.uk' timestamp='1379361783' post='2211855'] For future reference (and cases where you turn up and find you caught in the situation mentioned above) grab a mat out of your car. They are usually waterproof / rubber one side, and carpet on the other. Works a treat! Greg [/quote] That's a good idea, could go in the 'top tips' thread that's somewhere on the forum. Re Fatbacks suction cup, you could just use a regular sink plunger instead of your endpin. Stick it to a window at waist height and play up and down the neck like a massive guitar

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1379330716' post='2211261'] No probs - just grateful to everyone who has been patiently waiting ( Maude in particular - I think I owe you a pint ...or come to think of it maybe a couple !) [/quote] You've got my address, just pop a pint in the post .

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1379281551' post='2210909'] what a venue to play a gig at, should be a good one. [/quote] Really looking forward to it but it's going to be a long one, we have to do two 1hr sets with the acoustic band (doublebass) and then two 1hr sets with the electric band (electric bass) but that just means double money for me

I've just found out that I can 'feel' a timing but cannot 'count' a timing. We've had to learn the unplugged version of 'I kissed a girl' by Katy Perry (yeah I know) for a gig and the intro is basically 'Take 5' by The Dave Brubeck Quartet. To me it seems perfectly natural to play but the two guitars are having trouble with the timing (5/4) and are asking me to count as I do the intro so they can come in and stay in time. I can't seem to count and play to this but I can't see what their problem is. In the electric band we have the same problem with 'Sex on Fire', the guitarist (same one in the acoustic band) can play it fine but when the drums and bass comes in he completely losses the timing, again I know exactly what he should be doing and when but can't count it to him. He's a really good guitarist normally, just gets thrown by strange timings. I don't know if it's good or bad that I know timings but somehow can't explain or 'count' them .

Oh and I've also got to learn this week for a big gig at The Eden Project, 'Dancing in the Dark' and 'Make me smile (come up and see me)' at the request of the CEO of BT Cornwall ............... hmmm, still BT are paying big bucks so I don't mind

I just been learning 'Stuck' by 'Caro Emerald', 'Here comes the rain again' by 'The Eurythmics', 'If it wasn't for love' by 'The Steeldrivers' and funily enough 'I kissed a girl' but the unplugged version with Dave Brubeck intro for our acoustic band (doublebass). Were doing the Steeldrivers one with a rockabilly feel which is always fun

Cool, I'll stick with a bit of ply then, if I cut it right and sand the edges it will fit in the large back pocket on my case, you could fit a bloody crash cymbol in there! Re: strings ubassman, I'm looking forward to them, hopefully I can try them out at this gig.

Evenin' all, We have just had a very last minute booking for an engagement party this coming Friday, it will be held in a marquee at the hosts property and we will be playing at ground level with no stage or wooden platform. Apparently the marquee went up yesterday so the ground will be dry but it will still be soft. I haven't done a gig like this with DB yet and wondered what do you folks do about your endpin sinking in the ground? I was just going to get a square foot of 18mm ply (because we have lots spare at work) and route a little pocket in the middle to locate the endpin in, or is there a special piece of equipment just for this? I've seen the things on ebay that look like 'fancy ashtrays' but they look a bit poncey for my liking. What's your thoughts folks?

1952 , I would never have thought the EUB had been around that long. Is this brand the earliest or are there older ones about? Sorry to barge in with questions , I like the look of it though .

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1379175285' post='2209518'] Played the Fender Pawn Shop version today. I liked it a lot, but I don't know what I'd "do" with one musically. £600 for a Fender one is probably out of the question, but a second hand squier might sway me... [/quote] That's how I feel, I so want one but I don't know if I'd use it in a band situation. Hopefully a lot of people will do the same and buy a Squier one because they're so cheap and then not use it, I'll buy it second hand for peanuts ................... if I can resist buying a new one .............................. oh who am I kidding? I'll have an Olympic white one please!

Ok Daf I'll hang on to them for a bit and see who wants them. Roll up roll up, get your free trial of the wonderful Innovation Honeys here!! I liked these but still prefered my Rockabillys. The honeys, to me, sound more refined than the RABs with more sustain but that just caused me problems with a touch of feedback, nothing major but it was there. The slap sound was more harsh than the RABs although I prefered the slightly higher tension, I get carried away when not meant to be slapping, giving a slap of the strings against the fingerboard between notes and the Cajonist (is that even a word?) gives me 'the look', I can still do this with the Honeys to give a certain feel to the timing but it doesn't give a loud clack as easy, I haven't described that well but maybe you know what I mean . For me it's still the RABs but that's probably because the music we play calls for a nice dark, gutty sound and I don't need a refined sound so although there is good and bad about both sets, the RABs just clinched it. Ultras next, they could be 'the one' .

Hi Daf, I PM'd ubassman over a month ago as I was worried they'd got lost in the post, "apologies and I'll post them A.S.A.P." was the reply but still nothing . This free string trial is a fantastic idea given the price of strings and the variation in sound between strings and basses, it would be a crying shame to see it end because some folks can't be bothered to send them on when they're done with them.

This is one of the reasons I always play naked.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1378658534' post='2202875'] Strangely enough, nothing at present. I must be ill. [/quote] I was in that place and was quite content until I saw the new(ish) Squier VM Bass VI, I'll take one in Olympic white please. Absolute bargain if there as good as they look.

We rent the basement in an old office building in a nearby town, it costs £80 a month but the two bands I'm in and the drummers other band all share it so that's split three ways. It's great because we can leave all the amps, PA, drums etc set up, just bring your instrument and plug in, and obviously we can rehearse as often as we like.

I'd only just bought a new double bass, which cost twice as much as the one I showed her when she asked 'what does it look like', well it does look like that just a bit dearer. Anyway I got away with the DB purchase by saying I'd sell a couple of electric basses to cover the cost, I still have them all though. A week later a Yammy Bex 4 came up on here for sale and I've been after one for a while but I knew I couldn't swing it after the DB, I thought I'll buy it and get it sent to work and then take it straight to the rehearsal room, where I'd leave it until it was safe to smuggle home. The only problem was I was paying with paypal and the email address linked to that comes up on her phone, she wouldn't log into paypal to check as I'm always buying bits and bobs so I thought I'll just say it's some strings if she asks. I send payment and her phone goes off, 'what've you bought now' she says, 'oh just some strings from someone on basschat' I reply, 'what, for £280!'. I didn't think the amount would come up without logging in, oops. I just said that they may still be attached to a bass. I told her it's ok because I'm going to sell a few others to cover the cost of the DB and Bex 4, I've still got all my basses.