Sean

[quote name='steve-soar' post='205945' date='May 25 2008, 01:22 PM']How do the American ones compare to the Far eastern models? Cheers Steve.[/quote] [url="http://www.lakland.com/skyline_vs_us.htm"]http://www.lakland.com/skyline_vs_us.htm[/url] I think that covers your question in enough detail. I have three Skylines and rate them as highly as anything I've ever played. Best bang for the buck on the market especially if you pick up a good second hand one.

[quote name='Jonny Walker' post='207971' date='May 28 2008, 12:31 PM']But don't you think its a bit cheeky that everyone else nicks the shape? im sure that Leo's humbled buy the amount of manufactures that produce a P or J.... but its a bit lazy.[/quote] You can never accuse Gibson of being lazy in their bass designs but they really have never caught people's attention in the same way that the Jazz, Precision and Stingray have. Manufacturers will go to market with what they think will sell - they will try to give the customer what he wants and generally that is what Leo came up with plus (or minus) something. Leo Fender doesn't care anymore but his widow does.

[quote name='Jonny Walker' post='207967' date='May 28 2008, 12:29 PM']Im not saying i don't like Fenders i fancy an aerodyne for myslef... and i have no doubt in my mind that GB make a better 'Fender' than Fender buy using far more expensive woods and better joining techniques but surely they could have changed the general shape... its just sometimes people get addicted to the shape and its on that promise that GB use the design.[/quote] My Laklands are "copies" of Leo Fender instruments and they have different shapes. I think we need to define what is a "copy", what is a "reimagining" and what is something completely different. One thing that's certain is that Leo Fender got it spot on when he designed basses and the majority of manufacturers out there now are making instruments that are hugely Fender influenced if not direct copies. QC on certain manufactures is historically better than Fender too.

I used to play in a classic rock covers band and we turned down loads, especially weddings - you only need one bad experience and a bit of bad judgment to put you off for life. Now it's multiband gigs that we won't do - I just can't bear to go through that equipment change and all the rushing and overruns and having to deal with inexperienced idiots in other bands that have no manners. There's also a minimum fee. No charities, no gigs for friends/family (whatever they offer to pay), no sound limiters and other stuff that may put us off is either already listed here on the thread or we might just get a feeling about the gig/organiser.

[quote name='BeLow' post='90153' date='Nov 18 2007, 11:13 AM']Cream - All right now[/quote] I didn't know they managed to cover a song that was written after they broke up!

Does anyone else get issues with using a B2.1u into an iMac? I get horrible nasty crackles and buzzing instead of nice bassy goodness. When I use my Zoom H4 everything is tickeyboo.

[quote name='lowdown' post='205631' date='May 24 2008, 05:45 PM'][Some Function Bands Even have Pad's][/quote] Garry, what's a "pad" in this context? Do you mean like a place where they all live? Cheers, Sean

[quote name='Machines' post='204718' date='May 23 2008, 07:10 AM']I suppose at those prices they can afford to .[/quote] Lakland made a profit for the first time last year - the Lakin family business was propping up the bass business for years.

I have superglue in my gigbox always but using the amp is the best tip as per OTPJ point 2 above. Prevention being better than cure.

The combination of string spacing and the profile of the neck are well worth considering as a whole. My Lakland 55-02 has 19mm spacing but the neck is really very slim (low profile) and makes playing quite easy. The Squier 5s (19mm) I've played have been completely unmanageable for me by comparison due to the neck profile. I bought an Ibanez SR1001 a couple of years ago and found I just couldn't get on with the 16.5mm spacing after a while. Again, this is one of those cases where you just have to go and try them. I've always found Status 5s easy to play and they have near enough 19mm spacing.

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='202033' date='May 19 2008, 12:23 PM']Nor do I understand the association between light weight and cheapness.[/quote] +1 I know that the US Lakland basses have lighter wood (on average a pound lighterthan a Skyline) and Sadowsky basses are extremely light. My 44-02 (7.25 lbs) and DJ (just under 8lbs) are very light. Who the hell wants a heavy bass around them for a four hour rehearsal?!!

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='201308' date='May 17 2008, 11:50 PM']at that price i would take it![/quote] Instant profit and then you could buy something you fancied. And it had to be worth it just to have the story to tell!

I use an Alesis and it's great. If you're a singer songwriter doing demos I'd recommend drum loops like the ones at drumsondemand.com but for doing your own patterns or putting together customised practise patterns the drum machine is great. I've tried using software ones but as I don't have a notebook portability becomes an issue and for me drum machines are more intuitive. Either way, learning about drumming and "the groove" in general is an essential part of growing as a bassist - it's something I'm pushing myself to do more with. With the Alesis units, the SR-16 or the SR-18 they have the ability to program in swing quite easily. It is done as a percentage and there are three "amounts" of swing that can be programmed in. I wasn't sure from the specs whether the Boss DR-3 or Zoom units had that function so I went for the Alesis. The new Alesis SR-18 has instrument input and runs off mains or batteries so it can be used as a practise amp too.

For me it would be a Lakland Darryl Jones 4 but with a P/J pup (Fralin) configuration, D-tuner and an oiled neck. The Lakland Duck Dunn is a modified Bob Glaub so I don't see why I can't modify someone else's sig bass to be mine! Oh yeah and it would be in Black with a rosewood board and pearl PG. There's only £3k and 9 months waiting stopping me!

The Funk is a journey not a destination.

I reckon this would make a good sticky.

Does anyone in a function band have a system of carving up the money paid out to band members based on what their contribution is? E.g. We have looked at splitting each fee into 40ths so for a £1000 gig there are 40 x £25 available. Each band member gets a base payment of 3/40 and the keyboard player who is also the DJ for the function gets 2/40 for that job and depending on what your contribution is you get a nuumber of 40ths until all the money is gone. We haven't actually done this yet but the first gigs are coming in July and we'd like to know if anyone has any good ways of splitting the cash. One way I reckoned was each band member has a base percentage, say 7% each, then there's expenses (travel, subsistence, consumables etc.) and on going running costs (marketing, CDs, website, phonecalls, business cards, etc.) and then anything left gets left in account to invest in new gear/costumes etc Anyone have a system or spreadsheet that could be adapted? Thanks Sean

Are these Auralex pads any good? Gimmick or really useful piece of kit? Does anyone have any experience of these? [url="http://www.auralex.com/sound_isolation_gramma/sound_isolation_gramma.asp"]http://www.auralex.com/sound_isolation_gra...tion_gramma.asp[/url]

I'm sure they used to be called Classic Rock UK and I seem to remember singing I Can't Explain with the singer somewhere once when they were on the same bill as my old band. I remember gassing to one of them for ages after the gig - I think it was the singer and he really does look like Daltrey. They used to do mainly stuff by The Who but also threw in some Free and Bad Company numbers. Very good entertainment and thoroughly nice chaps, I just wish I could remember more about it all. I promised the guy I would go and see them at a gig but if you try to Google the old name, "Classic Rock UK" you've got no chance of finding them so I'm glad they've sorted that out. I really like Bongos but can't see myself ever having one. What's going on with the tape on the pick ups here...

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-Billy-Sheehan-10th-Anniversary-Signature-Bass_W0QQitemZ200220779814QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-Billy-Sheehan...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] £60 for UK shipping!? It would be worth it if Billy Sheehan turned up at the door with a takeaway curry, a few cold beers and gave you a lesson for a couple of hours!

Richard Finch. He was one of the founders and has worked with tons of people over the years.

[quote name='Galilee' post='196419' date='May 11 2008, 11:10 AM']I'd buy the book to get The Real Me anyway.[/quote] +1 Dreaming From The Waist (Live) from the Maximum R&B Box Set is gorgeous and shows his awesome ability to improvise. My Wife has to be in there too, Stu. Especially if it's the one from the same box set. Great news anyway can't wait to get my sticky mitts on that book!