solo4652

Laney RB4, 160W, £120, just down the road from where you live! http://basschat.co.uk/topic/216804-laney-rb4-160-watt-bass-combo/page__hl__laney+combo__fromsearch__1

Hmmmm. G&L L1000 necks are known for being prone to warping and developing a "ski-jump" central bump. Personally, I'd be very wary of buying one of these necks without seeing it first - bit tricky in this case, since it's in America. B/C's Ou7shined knows all about these things - he's the chap to consult.

I've been "having a bash" on the cajon for about a year now. I originally bought it as an alternative to playing bass (I was going through a "fed up with bands and bass" period). Here's a few things I've learned about playing cajon; (1) It may well give you backache unless you have long arms and a short body - bit like an ape. I made a collapsible stand so I could sit on a chair with the cajon angled up towards me between my feet. Much more comfortable position than sitting on it and leaning forward. (2) When you're starting out with it, it's very easy to hit it too hard, and you will soon hurt your hands and arms. I bought a cheapie bass-drum mike: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/321226408279?lpid=83&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=83&ff19=0"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/321226408279?lpid=83&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=83&ff19=0[/url] and hooked it up to my bass practice combo. You can then turn up the bass and stop hitting the thing too hard. (3) Cajons seem pretty sensitive to room temperature and humidity. Don't leave it in a cold and damp rehearsal room. (4) It's tempting to use your favoured hand more than the other one. It does need practice to learn how to use both hands alternatively, and this will lead to a more fluid playing style. (5) Lots of YouTube videos available for picking up the basics. However, there are no rules and you will develop your own approach and style. Sorry - I'll shut up now.

[quote name='JakeBrownBass' timestamp='1383311035' post='2262974'] It's not the best playing on my part but it may help. [/quote] Wish I could play as badly as that!

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1383073281' post='2259932'] 'Fraid not, but doesn't look as nice as the Attitude being sold on here. Looks too different. Have a bump anyway [/quote] Yes - it's pretty dissimilar to the Sheehan Attitudes. I'm told they were made in Taiwan.

[quote name='lonestar' timestamp='1383076146' post='2259974'] I cant think why you're sticking with this it doesn't sound a whole bundle of fun ? [/quote] I suppose it's because I'm trying to rein in my natural pessimism and give it the benefit of the doubt - at least for the time being. Also, it's better than playing with yourself in the spare bedroom...

Folks, I'm trying to track down some information about the Yamaha Attitude Deluxe. Looks like this: [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/yamaha-attitude-deluxe-fs-973975/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/yamaha-attitude-deluxe-fs-973975/[/url] Google search throws up virtually nothing. Anybody got one or played one? All information welcome.

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1383048562' post='2259452'] I use this variation of Floating Thumb technique where slide your plucking hand across the strings using the full length of your thumb to mute strings. I couldn't get on with moving my thumb from string to string at all. See what you think. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU[/media] [/quote] Edit: After checking a few videos, it seems that the Todd Johnson method may be very similar to the Gary Willis method. A couple of tips if you try this: (1) I find that raising the saddle of the D string a little, and the G string a little more helps to slide the thumb over those strings. I usually end up with the strings more-or-less "flat" rather than following the curve of the fretboard. (2) Make sure you don't drop your arm (and then raise your wrist) because that raises your thumb off the strings.

I use this variation of Floating Thumb technique where slide your plucking hand across the strings using the full length of your thumb to mute strings. I couldn't get on with moving my thumb from string to string at all. See what you think. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU[/url]

[quote name='Heathy' timestamp='1382358356' post='2251067'] Hopefully it was just a bit of a rant and he will calm down. One question regarding the no-notes demand: Is he also the lead singer? [/quote] No - he does BV's. We have a female lead singer.

[quote name='mike257' timestamp='1382860432' post='2257186'] I do 40-ish weddings a year with my function band, whilst we have a song list that clients get to see that probably isn't far off that number, the reality is that we continually evolve our set and replace things with fresh material but from one gig to the next it doesn't change massively. It isn't as if you're playing to the same crowd every week and having to change it up for them, so if he wants a pro wedding band your first priority should be getting an absolutely storming 2x60 mins that you can play really well and then looking at things you can have up your sleeve to change, deal with requests etc. If we tried to maintain 200 songs to a high standard (whilst keeping that list fresh with new material, which is a necessity) we'd spend ten times more hours in the rehearsal room than we would being out earning - not really the point of being in a 'pro' band. The majority of clients are perfectly happy to let us call the shots with the setlist so we concentrate on having a really solid core that works week in week out. As a new band, you need to make a good impression and playing 40 songs brilliantly will do that much more effectively than playing 200 songs moderately well. [/quote] Yes - I completely agree with you. After 5 rehearsals we're up to 20 songs and, in my personal opinion, we're a million miles away from playing a local open mic night, let alone a pub gig, let alone a function or a wedding. Maybe I'm expecting too much, too soon - I've been told before that I'm too pessimistic.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1382538607' post='2253380'] I'm sure it is very good at this and SO much more. The trouble with Reaper (and DAWs in general) is that whenever I've tried one, I feel like I've just walked in here: [/quote] Exactly!

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1382479907' post='2252810'] This is what I use. [url="http://www.rinki.net/pekka/slowmp3/"]http://www.rinki.net/pekka/slowmp3/[/url] Quick and easy download and totally simple to use. It is free as well [/quote] Thanks. That's really easy to use! Again, is there the facility to save altered files?

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1382478691' post='2252789'] I was just about to mention Best Practice. I haven't used it myself as it's PC only software, but the GUI looks remarkably similar to the ASD (posted above). Audacity is an amazingly useful bit of software, but making changes on the fly isn't its forte (IMHO). [/quote] I did have a quick look at Best Practice but it seems to only allow files to be imported from CD or DVD - is that correct?

Got Audacity working now, after a bit of a faff with that Lame file thingy.

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1382467503' post='2252584'] I think it costs £2.99 ! Edit - its free - quite funky little interface but only does pitch shift +3 to -3 . If you can get Audacity to work as well you have the best of all worlds! [/quote] This works well - thank you. is there some way of saving the altered MP3 file, please?

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1382465919' post='2252560'] I see its a pitch shifter you are after - so the ABRSM App might be the one for you ! I use an TASCAM MB-1 which has looping, speed shift, and pitch shift and you can plug a bass directly into to it and play along - not sure if that's what you were after? [/quote] Thanks for the ABRSM App. Is this only for smartphones and tablets? I had a quick look at its features and it shifts pitch as well as speed. It asks me for login, password etc. Ideally, I just want a simple piece of free software I can install on my laptop that enables me to load an MP3 file, change the song pitch using notes rather than % shift (?), then save the altered MP3 file without faffing about with extra add-on programs. Something like this but without the adware, malware, bugs... [url="http://mp3-key-changer.software.informer.com/"]http://mp3-key-chang...e.informer.com/[/url]

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1382465292' post='2252545'] Theres an App from the ABRSM [/quote] Not with you, sorry.

Is there not something that's simpler than this!?

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1382460685' post='2252452'] Not sure what the problem is with Audacity - that's what I use. [/quote] Well, I can import an MP3 file to Audacity and change the pitch. Can't seem to save it as an MP3 file, however.

Folks, Is there some reliable, easy-to-use, free MP3 pitch-shift software out there? I've tried Audacity but it seems to hate saving files as MP3 files. I've tried a couple of freebies but had to restore my laptop to yesterday because of bugs.

At this stage, I'm unclear about whether band leader meant 200 songs before we start gigging (ha! - fat chance) or 200 songs somewhere/sometime down the line (and even that would take virtually constant rehearsing), or whether he was trying to make some sort of statement and/or gauge reaction. As I said, it's a brand new band and I'm trying hard to keep my opinions to myself, turn up on time, play the bass and go home. Personally, I don't need or want a full-time pro wedding band and I can afford to tag along for the ride for the time being. At the vey least it gets me out and playing with people rather than YouTube. We'll see how it pans out over the next couple of months but I will keep on checking the usual "Bassist needed" websites.

I was a bit dumbstruck when guitar said 200 songs. I've managed 40 in the past, but that took months of effort and practice. Since this is a brand new band (and I'm the oldest, most experienced, most grumpy and most world-weary), I'm trying to go with the flow for now and let the others realise for themselves that there is an[i] awful[/i] lot of work ahead. I'm trying not to come across as negative or obstructive. It's hard.

First meeting/jam/rehearsal of the new band yesterday. It's being set up by the guitarist who's fed up with his 9 - 5 job and wants a full-time pro wedding band. "I want 200 songs on the songlist", he said, "and no notes on stage". I'm now contemplating the huge task of learning 200 songs - gulp.