lownote

In the unlikely event you're feeling horny and don't know where to go for help, may I recommend Nigel McGill's Sax School. Not as astonishingly amazing as SBL, but competent and very very helpful for about the same money as Scott's academy.

If you can find one buy a Hohner B Bass VI. Small, nicely balanced, active/passive, soapbar pups, twin truss rods, neck through, beautiful wood. Around £250 off eBay. I've had two and have no idea why I sold them. Anything else is a pale imitation - IMHO of course.

Thanks Hellzero - the expertise and willingness to help on this site is awesome.

Thanks. Not clear what you mean by real EMGs and mine being passive? Cheers...

Just got a Hohner B Bass V. Active/passive with EMG pups. How high should I have them under the strings? New strings but the B string is quite quiet compared to the others - even though the sound is reasonably tight and well articulated. Doesn't help that at the mo the pups aren't going anywhere up or down so whatever your advice disemboweling may be needed first.

+!. Or the Fender Rumble, TC 250 2x8, Markbass if you're feeling rich

Google for Scott Devine's video on why not to buy a five. It's actually a cheeky title, because the video is moreabout why fives are good but the hiccups you may have along the way and tips on how to make the transition. If I recall, and from my own experience, fives are heavier, the spacing can be narrower, and the extra string alters your fretboard patterns picture. The upside is being able to work across and not have to go up and down the fingerboard. While 'Jaco never needed more than four strings', a great many pros do play with a five. The best advice I've had and would give is commit 100%. Don't try and play both the 4 and a the 5, you'll never get there. Decide to play a five, find a nice five you like and then never touch the 4 again. FWIW YMMV

I wandered into Norwich PMT a while back to blag a box for a bass I was flogging. Figuring that even asking nicely wouldn't cut the mustard for a very crumbly 63 year old who looks disturbingly like Compo, I thought I'd better buy something before asking. A charming young man, helpful, knowledgeable and chatty but never patronising or irritating, introduced me to their two secondhand bass cabs. Deciding I didn't really want a Fender combo, we switched focus to an MB 121 Traveler in great nick for £280 label. He went to endless trouble to set me up with a head I liked and left me alone in a booth to noodle as long as I needed. He was so nice I could see no alternative to buying the bloody thing (but TBF it was starting to make sense to me - God I love MB tone). Once I'd got my wallet out said lad was willing to haggle but wasn't a push over, and happily agreed to work several suitable guitars boxes into the deal (what I originally went in for, if you recall). Then when he learned I was parked 400 yards down the road he carried (yes he did) my new cab all the way to my car. I almost put him in the boot too and took him home to introduce him to my daughter. Then I remembered I don't have one.

I went a couple of years ago, and yesterday. The difference, primarily due to Scott Devine's influence, was astonishing. First time I took in a couple of a couple of big time stars doing their thing. The rest of it was just a cacophony of plank spankers trying to impress - who? This time Scott's workshops alone were amazing. I only had Sunday afternoon, thanks to British Rail. But in that time I got to hear and see and question Scott and his band, Rich Brown and Henrik Linder. I also saw Phil Mann, Mark Smith and Steve Lawson. And I know Bobby Vega, Yolanda Charles and Garry Willis were there too. Most of those were only there because of SD. That's amazing - and IMHO gives the thing a focus you could achieve in no other way.

No gamble Max. You can join Scotts Bass Academy for nothing for two weeks. In that time you'll find out if he's the man to help you. if not you just cancel your trial.

I went to look in your window once and stood in a large and very soggy dog turd under the window. This somewhat took the edge of my delight at what is an Aladdin's cave of good stuff. Let me know when you have a Hohner B Bass VI for sale.

Can't personally see the point of taking it. As others have said it's a proper racket for hour after hour of yoof slapping hell out of umpteen basses all at the same time. I'd take earplugs. Seriously. Your bass is just going to be something worry about.

These are my chance EQ settings. For my sound, and on a Markbass only I suspect, with a P bass clone and ToneRider pup, these are awesome. Bass, around the middle, both mids rolled way down, treble slightly over middle, both VLE and VPF half way to full. So that's a double scoop. The result is a very thuddy bass sound, not unlike old dead strings with a mute, with real 'smokey' atmosphere and character. But with the options of dialing all the bright clang back in if needed, for instance to cut through a band mix. For me, poifick.

Got my ideal setting by accident. Spent ages setting EQ then brushed against the pots cos I'm clumsy. Resulting sound was mega, but the setting would look crazy on paper.