Greggo

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1386363542' post='2299431'] What sort of Ibanez? [/quote] Ibanez RG 270 DX Edit - decided not to go ahead anyway as I'm after a Telecaster style guitar really.

Someone is interested in swapping my unused Ibanez guitar for a Vintage les Paul copy. Now, if it were the current range with the Wilkinson pickups I'd be all over it. But the one on questions is an older version from late 90s so non Wilkinson pickups or hardware. Anyone know if they are still any good for what they are or avoid?

I'm having serious GAS for an Encore p-bass! Saw one in a random bric - a brac shop near where I work today , in sunburst and I had a play. This was a fine example of an Encore bass if ever there was one - mint condition, unsure of the era or year, but was pre-Wilkinson I think. Although the headstock looks similar to the latest shape. The neck believe it or not was just lovely. Very smooth and the grain on maple was very nice,and the bridge looked really substantial, and not a typical cheap bridge. Definitely needs a tweak of the rod to correct relief but seriously considering making an offer. Price is a bit high for an Encore, (although arguably the way it plays probably worth it) but may see if he'll swap it for a an acoustic. Plugged in it it does exactly what it says on the tin (albeit through the small practice amp the guy had in!).

I wonder if these Indian Encores are better than the newer blaster series with the Wilkinson pickups? Pre Wilkinson encores may be more sought after following this thread!

I remember seeing a maverick bass in gumtree not so long ago. Maverick were same people that make fret king iirc. Trevor Wilkinson had a lot to do with design. I had a maverick x1 guitar - very metal!

I've used Reaper using WINE in Ubuntu and it works absolutely fine. Arguably performance was better than when I used windows 8, presumably because the O/S uses less resources.

My first bass was a red Encore from 90s and I've started to miss it despite not owning it now for 13 years! Was a great bass for tracking recordings as the tone just seemed to sit perfectly in the mix. Been getting all nostalgic listening to tracks I recorded with it and realising despite owning "better" basses I've never had a better recorded bass tone. Even with my Yamaha BB414, can't quite get the same sound even though it has a p pickup.

Bellended off due to lack of responses

Thanks for responses. For now I'm going to continue straight to PA through my bass v-amp which seems to be loud enough for now and will look for an amp As far as cheapness, well I've been looking at ashdown electric blue 180's - seem to be had for around 100 and seem a nice size too. Anyone got any thoughts on them?

[quote name='Bill' timestamp='1385774516' post='2292206'] I would have to say yes for me, it definitely has that effect, Gary Willis and Matthew Garrison, tend to have an upwards fingering technique. [/quote] My techniques seems to be more diaganolly so when I raise my pups my fingers come to rest on pickup and stops me getting any weird overtones by inadvertently tapping the string below. I can't do the upwards technique very well

Quick question for people that use a ramp or play over a pickup raised high - after you pluck the string does your fingers tips follow through into the ramp which is how it stops you digging in?

As our band are now having to pay for rehearsal rooms including amp hire, I'm finding myself in a position where I may need to actually buy an amp (last place rehearsed for free and I had a 350w combo to play with) The amps I've hired have been woefully underpowered in our new preferred rehearsal room so my questions is this - Guitarist uses a 50w valve combo, what power would I need to match it at a minimum? (bearing in mind I'll likely be using solid state as cheap as I can afford) Using PA works a treat as a work around but may not be feasible long term if gigs come up etc (in the past I could borrow the combo from rehearsal room)

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1385335511' post='2287220'] You should never need to get used to a bass! If the 5 feels better, why not just keep that? Doesn't matter if you don't use the low B if it feels right! [/quote] I do like the sounds from both though to be fair. I've made a few adjustments to bass and managed to get it feeling /sounding good again. I lowered saddles again and managed to get the sweet spot of being easy to fret but still a full tone so happy with it. I think also as the strings are fairly inexpensive legacy strings as they are wearing in they don't feel particularly nice on the fingers either which probably didn't help matters.

To be honest I think I'd rather just have one bass rather than waffling about with two, problem is I've got a 4 and a 5. If I play the 4 I miss the low B but then when I play 5 long enough I think I don't use the low B enough to justify a 5! I probably just need to get used to yamaha again. I am planning on going down the flatwound route so thinking a set of 40 - 100 status hotwire on the yamaha.

5 string is a Vintage EST96, and is strung 40 - 125. Both basses 34 inch scale. Yup thinking it must be the difference from one to the other. Also the difference in string spacing from 4 to 5 has changed my perception of the comfort of the 4 perhaps.

Bit weird but over summer I swapped a bass for a Yamaha BB414 and once set up with new strings and all adjustments made was a wonderful instrument to play. However I've not been using it in the band as have been playing 5 string and is set up with lighter strings than the 4 string. I went back to playing yamaha but of late it suddenly (for want of a better word) plays like ass. The action feels higher and strings tighter, A string has gone dead and generally is not as good to play. Tried lowering action a bit and now the strings feel a bit clicky on the frets so I've put it back. What the hell has happened? Is it because it feels crap compared to the 5 er or is it possibly related to the winter months kicking in and affecting instrument? It's been on a stand in spare room and I guess heating has been on low in that room. I've checked relief and that seems to be the same, although I guess wouldn't hurt to maybe give a tweak to lower it a bit.

Wedgie rubber picks are great, really comfortable and give a good halfway house tone between fingers and plectrum (more attack than fingers but with a nice round tone). Unfortunately even in light playing they degrade like anything on roundwounds strings. Does anyone know if flatwound strings would be kinder these type of plectrums?

Are the MM pickups made by Artec do you know? (that isn't a bad thing if it is, the Wilkinson pup in it now is Artec)