lownote

charic, do I need a new nut to convert from B-G to E-C? I'm sure this has been debated a million times before but I can't get much joy out of Search yet.

Ok let me be more specific. 5 strung E-C or a 4? Both pieces wot I'm currently learning myself seem to involve galloping right up to the 24th fret, and sometimes long stretches. 13-19th fret is a lonnnnggg way for a guy with little hands. Seems to me my 5 strung E-C would alleviate a lot of this pain, but I'd then have to reach over the C string for all the lower notes. OTOH, a 4 has a slim narrow f/board. Just wondered if anyone had been in this situation and could wiseadvize on what was best. FYI my 4 is a P bass so doesn't go to 24 frets and my 5 is B-G so I presume will need a new nut. Or will it?

My current thing is trying to learn how to play suitable classical pieces on bass, with massive assistance from Talkingbass.net. If you had the budget to get a bass for this one purpose what would it be?

Hey I was 57 when I started, n that wor 6 year ago come next Michaelmas. Not a problem. Make allowances for yourself learning a bit more slowly, but if you ain't got arthritis there's nothing else to hold you back. Talking of which, be kind to your back. Buy a lightweight bass, ditto amp: my 500w 210 cab weighs so little I have to weigh it down with beer glasses to stop it blowing away. And discover Scott's Bass Lessons and Talkingbass.net as the teaching is top notch and far cheaper than 121 learning. And start playing with others as soon as you can. There, my two penn'orth from an ol 'un, so just you pay heed young lad...

OK, I'll give it time to grown on me. Tnx for the responses.

Bunny, what difference did it make to the sound that makes you like it so much?

I just bought an Ibanez SRSC805 which has been modified with a Glockenklang 3 band pre-amp by the previous owner. I know nothing about these pre-amps, and while it seems to play alright I wondered if any one had experience- based opinion on whether the Glock is worth keeping in or I should revert to the original Ibo wiring. It’s not a job I could do myself so its not as simple as putting the old loom back in to see the difference. It sounds very bright to me, more than I actually like. I've tried my old favourite D'Addario nickel strings as well as the Elixirs it came with and I'm not sure I 100% like any of the combinations. But if this mod is the best thing since sliced bread maybe I can learn to live with it.

Hi Just bought an Ibanez SRSC805 off Baggyman on here. Very pleased overall, but Baggy replaced the electrics with a Glockenklang 3 band Preamp. This means the active passive switch and MF switch holes are now empty. Baggy's filled the holes quite neatly with black pencil rubbers. Just wondered if anyone had a better solution for filling redundant control holes. I can't use the original switches just to fill the holes without cutting them off the original loom, which I don't want to do.

Kit which sounds fine quiet in the noodle room may not cut the mustard when the wick is turned up. This is specially true of more budget gear. I had two Fender Mk 2 112s which sounded lovely in the bedroom, and prior to that two TC BC210s ditto. But in both cases they sounded a bit shouty and not quite so nice when turned right up for gigging. Now I have an LM2 and BF 210 which sound great quiet AND loud.

Speaking as 'im wot has had both a 110 and a 210 let me say the little guy is amazing. Featherweight and a lovely sound. When I bought it I went mad and bought a Vanderkley at the same time. The Vanderkley went and the 110 stayed. But, IMHO it ain't up to the demands of a big band, not really. Maybe two would be but that's getting pricey. The 2x10 is. I bought Lozz's and I've played the Dereham Blues Festival and small pub gigs and its barely stirred in its sleep. I love it to death, or I would if the tolex wasn't lifting and I hadn't got GAS for yellow speaker cones.

As title really. About to buy an Ibanez srsc805 and wondered what I should or should not do to treat a purple heart fingerboard?

Well now, this following is true... after we played a set at the Dereham Blues Festival this summer, out of the blue I was assaulted by an attractive woman of middle years who gave me a great kiss and then disappeared before I could get my mojo together. This goes to show that it is possible to pull being a bass player even if you are fat, bald and the wrong side of sixty. And no she wasn't my wife, who was there and touchingly amused by the incident.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1509100995' post='3396596'] I'd try C without doing B at the same time. Then do A. If you don't like that, try B and if no joy, D. E is A while doing F, which is looking for another band. [/quote] Awesome, succinct and perfect advice. Thanks chap!

How do you handle a situation where a change of band member (and therefore musical tastes ) changes the direction of a band? We've just changed keyboard players. We used to have a play list I was happy with rooted in early seventies / late sixties stuff rooted in blues and Americana and reasonably interesting to play. Our new keys man is 10 years older than me and his tastes are taking us back to very early sixties simple pop, and I'm not happy. OK, I admit I'm John Blunt and my instinct is to say I'm not happy. But the other band members are willing to accommodate his suggestions and I don't want to upset anyone, especially if I'm in the minority. Should I: a/ keep quiet and live with it b/ stamp my pretty little foot, say I don't like his stuff and risk seeming to put myself before the band c/ talk to the other original band members about it d/ leave Or is there a 5th option people more diplomatic and world-wise than me have tried successfully? Thanks

Its easy with Barefaced cabs. They're programmed to incrementally distress with time. I look after mine like a baby and yet the Tolex is starting to peel.

I run a Fender P loaded with round wounds as my main bass, and a Squier P with Tonerider pups, KiOgon loom and flats as my backup. Actually, they arrived in the opposite order of that but I liked the Fender so much I've swapped their seniority. The rationale for this combo now is that they feel, weigh and handle much like each other so it's not going to throw me if I have to switch in a crisis. But also having the flats gives me an alternative if I'm playing a gig for which the rounds are just a little too brash.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1504431034' post='3364733'] Write out the arrangements and place them in front of each player. On music stands. I'll get me coat... [/quote] yes but which glasses do I use?and even they're no use if the stage is half dark.

ooh, your signature icons could be mine

Far from stifling innovation old age can help generate new approaches to music - even if that wasn't the plan. The collective age of my band is close to 350 years and lapses of attention and memory are the norm. E.g. : Band leader: Can we please stick to one version of this number. We never play it the same way twice. How we just did it at the end of the rehearsal was nothing like how we did it at the beginning of the rehearsal. How did we do it then? [Four puzzled looks] Rhythm guitarist: Um, no idea. That was three hours ago...