Lfalex v1.1

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1358677448' post='1943034'] I think it is unprofessional and disrespectful to both other bandmates and the people paying to see you. With my former 'party' band I've played gigs where either singer or drummer, luckily not both, were pissed and I spent the entire gig waiting for the next train crash - missed verses, coming in at the wrong place etc. It puts the whole band out and makes everyone look cheap. [/quote] Whilst I may periodically bemoan my chequered band history, it is to their eternal credit that none of my band mates (in any band) have ever got on stage with more than one drink inside them. It does seem counter-productive to practise, buy nice gear, and invest time, effort and money rehearsing... Just to undo all of that by consuming too much alcohol when you play live.

Fender Steve Bailey sig? I think he's defected to Warwick now, but there might be some around s/h...

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1358684829' post='1943194'] I thought this was going to be a Florence and the machine thread but the op meant consistently off pitch end to end not just the chorus, as you were [/quote] He-he! Just to clarify, I DID mean off- key from start to finish. A couple more examples: Dear God - Xtc Somebody I used to know - Gotye. Compare that to the Walk off the Earth cover. That's in A=440. The original isn't, and sounds better for it. To my ears, at least.

[quote name='DaveFry' timestamp='1358637753' post='1942779'] Some New Agers claim that tuning to A = 432 Hz is better for us than 440 Hz Of course they have dug up all sorts of ancient evidence to support their claim . There is loads about it on the 'net if you search for 432 hz tuning . Stuff like this ; [url="http://www.omega432.com/music.html"]http://www.omega432.com/music.html[/url] and [url="http://www.carnaval.com/music432/"]http://www.carnaval.com/music432/[/url] - Can't find a " shrugs shoulders " emotcion - [/quote] That's scary stuff. Especially now I'm reading Einstein quotes whilst listening to (old) Vangelis..... which according to my ears/my bass ain't @ 440Hz... Conspiracy!

[quote name='paulconnolly' timestamp='1358637715' post='1942778'] However the deliberate detune proclivities of some guitarists to drop D or even drop C can be a bit tricky to deal with. [/quote] A Five String fixes that!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1358635267' post='1942733'] A lot of songs recorded on tape would be vari-speeded to their final tempo during mixing. [/quote] And on some the tape just ran plain S-L-O-W...! edited for worst typo ever.

Why is it that so many of my favourite songs are written/recorded either side of the concert pitch standard of A=440Hz My mp3 player's just been chucking them at me tonight... Why do my ears like them so much? Is it just because they are subliminally different? (The last was "Golden Brown" - The Stranglers) Does anyone else suffer too?

[quote name='mbellishment' timestamp='1358626024' post='1942545'] ...2nd hand... [/quote] Oh... Yes. Second Hand. I Scored a Warwick Fortress Masterman 5 for just over 500 quid on here. Has a little bit of wear & tear, but is solid as a wok, and plays perfectly. An SR5 will set you back £800ish, but is still a good bet.

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1358621934' post='1942440'] There are at least two that I am aware of: a very, er, tasteful P bass: and a very, er, tasteful Warwick: Which just goes to show that Clayton puts more taste into his basslines than his basses. [/quote] Did you [i]have[/i] to post the "upside-down, left-handed Stryker with a right-handed neck"? Abomination.

[quote name='danthevan' timestamp='1358349867' post='1937517'] As for surviving, stay away from black cabs and helicopters [/quote] And, in fact, try avoiding the capital city of England. Perhaps it's a clear case of " distance lends enchantment " Seriously, the place is overrated.

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1358331708' post='1936986'] That is surprising. With neodymium getting a bit of attention recently due to its ever increasing rarity (used in wind turbines) I would not have expected to find it in commercial pickups at all. I use it extensively but have only ever seen it in one other, the qtuners. [/quote] I think a few others use it here and there in some pickups, but not right across the range (Delano rings a bell) Definitely a contributor to the BIG Bongo sound, along with the 18v electrics and 4 band eq..

AlNiCo pickups are back in the SR5, versus ceramic in the Sterling and Neodymium in the Bongo. That, eq settings and strings are likely to be the biggest contributors. I moved my SR5 in for exactly the same reason. No sparkle, even though it was fretless, it was just [i]dull[/i]...

[quote name='musophilr' timestamp='1358257385' post='1935674'] True, dat. Tracks that used to make me drive like a lunatic include: Hocus Pocus Speed King Space Truckin' [/quote] Fireball!

Status?

There is room. They just have to be better than they are at the moment. What else is there? The Gallery? Not that accessible from outside London, and it's like playing "sardines" in there. Bass Gear? The next nearest multi-brand emporium is Bass Direct, and I think Paris might just be closer...

Ah, well. So much for restraint, then. It seems someone else has a purple monstrosity, too. But those (Rotosound?) silks really do clash badly...

I liked it best when it was above Mike Walsh's workshop. Chris was there then, too. Good enough range of stock, some good s/h stuff, and plenty of enthusiastic banter in the showroom.

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1357169946' post='1918752'] Dude, you could out purple ANY of these! [/quote] Quite probably. Hence my restraint..

Ultimately, it comes to us all, though the reasons vary dramatically. I have no physical issues with playing bass, but just can't stand having to actually be shut in a room with people for hours on end. That combined with the associated cost and exertion (for no return) effectively ended my live playing career. And was I glad I stopped. I understand that there are those of us who [i]have[/i] to stop and don't want to, and that is regrettable

[b]Have you sunk or swum?[/b] Floated. [b]Has your playing and musicality improved?[/b] No, but neither has it declined. [b]Has your band done well?[/b] I quite rightly left the last one about 18 months ago. I find now that I have neither the time, money, nor inclination to indulge in being a "band member". [b]Have you joined bands you wouldn't have before?[/b] No. I'm less likely to join a band than ever, though not due to BC. [b]Have you started teaching?[/b] Seriously? I'm a bad enough student, let alone a teacher. [b]How's your confidence?[/b] Confidence in what? Myself? Zero. In others? Less. But I generally don't let that interfere with what I'm doing. [b]Have you been inspired to push yourself?[/b] No. [b]Have you taken Bilbo's advice and learned to read music notation?[/b] No. Nor do intend to, as it would serve no purpose for me. [b]What has being an active member of Basschat helped you achieve?[/b] I have acquired a rather fine bass from here. I have sold 3 others, though not on here, despite advertising them.

Have it cut up and laid out so it looks like a piano keyboard on your fretboard. With the black keys where dots would be... (And it'd confuse keyboard players!)

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1357663630' post='1926284'] If you don't enjoy it (or don't need the extra dough it brings in) then don't do it. I can enjoy playing any old crap though, which helps. However, when looking for a band you do want to play in, it is easier to meet other musos while you are in a band, rather than sat at home. [/quote] Exactly.

Rather than have a self-congratulatory round of (self) back-patting, why don't "we" (BC) have a set of awards for the bass-related industry (industries?) Y'know, categories like: (off the top of my head..) Best customer service Best advice Best rehearsal studio (perhaps by area) Best independent luthier Best set-ups Best new product (bass/amp/other/etc) Best recording studio And a "recommendation" for second and third places as appropriate. The primary aim being to raise the profile of BC in the industry and promote stronger links between the community here and the bass world (See what I did there?) outside...

Yes to: Breeze Victoria Oxford Stealth I'm sure the others are fine, but the design and features of these in particular are quite appealing to me.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1357132018' post='1917818'] FWIW I'm in two minds on composite boards - I had this on a Hohner B2A fretless in the 80s - very disappointing, but I also had a composite fretboard on my Status KB which I was very impressed with... Probably of no help what so ever.. [/quote] Actually, you've struck the nail on the head (in a roundabout way!) A phenolic 'board [i]might[/i] complete/complement an already good instrument, but will not make a silk purse from a sow's ear...