Lfalex v1.1

4 of the 5 gigging bands I've played in were pretty good in many respects. The last was not. The guitarist (and it was "his" band) wouldn't drive more than 10 miles.. Ever, so gigs were difficult, as one of us would have to taxi the Muppet around. He'd screw up loads, and break strings all over the place. This affected the singer's confidence, and she became very nervous. The drummer is a great bloke, and we'd just motor along regardless. The guitarist stepped WAY over the line and abused the organiser of a charity event we were playing, and that was it. The drummer and I apologised to the organiser in person, on the day, and quit by email together that night.

Mainly fives for me. Doubt I'd buy another 4 now. To much material with lower notes in to get by with less (for me)

[quote name='zero9' timestamp='1352206069' post='1860008'] Why not get a 4-channel mini mixer? [/quote] I did this, initially as a stop gap, but I found the pre-stages so clean that I stuck with it. It's been great when other bassists share the rig (Phonic mixer into QSC PLX1202 power) Set up one channel each. [b]MUTE[/b] the ones you're not using, and off you go!

Were/Are the originals Nickel wrapped, then? I really can't see the point in taking steels, Nickel plating them and [i]then[/i] coating them! I don't like them on anything with phenolic fretboards (so that's 3 basses out for me!), but they sound great on "woody" sounding instruments. They are on two of my three Warwicks. I use DR Fatbeams and Sunbeams on everything else. I'll have a look at the reviews, though!

Er.. [b]Westone Raider 1[/b] Columbus Series 2 Jazz [b]'96 Vigier Passion 5 Series 3[/b] [b]'97 Warwick Streamer LX6[/b] '90 Musicman Stingray 5 fretless [b]Ovation Celebrity[/b] [b]Hohner B2A 5[/b] Ibanez SRX 700 Iceni Zoot Chaser prototype [b]Yamaha Attitude 30th Anniversary BS Sig[/b] Ibanez EDB600 [b]'04 MIA Fender Jazz (s1)[/b] [b]'02 Warwick Infinity SN4[/b] [b]OLP MM3[/b] [b]'09 Status Streamline 4[/b] [b]'97 Warwick Fortress Masterman5[/b] I [i]think[/i] that's it.... (Edited for forgetting that I still have the Raider 1, and that those I still own are in [b]BOLD[/b])

"Crime of the Century" by Supertramp. Particularly the title track, which, upon being re-visited, is nothing short of a minor masterpiece: Well written and arranged, with plenty of space for ALL the instruments. Superbly Played. Gets its message across with the bare minimum of lyrics, which are over inside 1m45s. Well recorded and produced, but not glossy Excellent bass sound, plus some Taurus pedals at the end if I'm not much mistook...

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1351975269' post='1857550'] Even if your active bass has a particularly high output, it also has a special control which helps you ensure that the optimum signal reaches your preamp ;-) [/quote] This!

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1351788322' post='1855443'] Is one of them a 3-string? [/quote] Now [i]THAT[/i] was a bass... I have a Hohner B2A (V) strung like it (with two empty saddles) Have you seen the photo of the remains of his Trace amp after the loft fire that "shrank" the 3-string.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1351766931' post='1855033'] News here: [url="http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-basses/54787-tony-levin-sledge-stingray-classic.html"]http://forums.ernieb...ay-classic.html[/url] Hell has frozen over....we have a Sabre reissue! [/quote] Please don't link to [i]that[/i] forum. It's not a nice place. Full of sycophantic fanboys and a couple of complete tyrants.

Ah, I see. So while certain manufacturers spend a (small) fortune in design/technology/material R&D, they'll skimp on feet?

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1351704133' post='1854426'] Wow. Can you youngsters even imagine learning thousands of songs by constantly lifting and replacing a stylus on a record? Not to mention taking each record out of its sleeve and placing it on the turntable, or carrying armfuls of albums downstairs every day, to use your parents' decent record player (mine played a semitone fast!) [/quote] Aw, c'mon! The compact cassette was widely available by the early/mid 70's. Just rip a few LPs and burn them to a compilation tape. write down the tape counter start points, and BINGO! you can play/replay tracks without the hassle of the stylus rigmarole!

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1351691986' post='1854242'] Just pick your own favourite colour, not someone else's favourite colour. Simple. [/quote] Well, the OP did ask....

[quote name='MilkyBarKid' timestamp='1351552347' post='1852655'] Sorry to go against the grain but I've got a nad 3020 somewhere kicking around and I think it's positively awful, I was never too impressed by cyrus either. I have a early 90's ion obelisk with Epos es14 speakers which I think was a magical combination - there aren't many amp/speaker combinations where you can actually hear the notes on a 5 string, rather than just a thump. [/quote] I have a Musical Fidelity B200 and a pair of ES11s at work, with an MP3 player as a source. Remarkably good, even now.

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1351671643' post='1853885'] My preference would be the bright yellow, with a rosewood board and a black pg. No matching headstock. [/quote] Mine would be (Graffiti) Yellow, with a black p/g and matching headstock. BUT.... I'd stain the fretboard black, and have black hardware and screws throughout..

[quote name='Leen2112' timestamp='1351547123' post='1852553'] Christ, I'd never manage with the crazy riffs my guitarist sends me if I didnt practise everyday! As I've mentioned in another thread, I remember Gary Moore saying If you walk into a room where you keep your guitar and not feel the need to pick it up, then maybe it's not for you. [/quote] I think Mr. Moore just identified why I play bass... But, as I don't gig, I can play as and when I want. Which is the way it should be for something which is, for me, a leisure activity. It's interesting to note that some people have cited the way in which their work impacts upon their leisure activities: If you do something a lot at work, you are (a lot) less inclined to do it in your spare time. I work with large numbers of the public, and when I get home, I'm all peopled out. Gigging/being in a band would just involve MORE people, and I just don't want to engage in all that.

Aren't they the brass plate at the base of the neck? AFAIK you "slap" the string into it for the percussive sound... rather than sound being from the string striking the last fret. At least, I [i]think[/i] that's how it works.. Arguably of more use on fretless, I suppose (?) And not to be confused with the ramps/fretboard extensions that help plucking hand technique/stop you digging in...

I rake quite a lot! I can play passages with alternating finger strokes, but with rakes and the odd hammer-on from my plucking hand, it's much more economical, particularly in fast passages. As for ascending (in terms of pitch) raking, I often use the side of my fore finger, as it leaves my thumb free for damping or the odd percussive stroke (!) whilst leaving my middle finger ready for what's coming next...

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1351379714' post='1850751'] The main reason I love Ernie Ball Musicman basses comes down to tone. If you don't love the Ray tone, I'd leave it be. [/quote] There are alternatives, though; Sandberg Ken Taylor Warwick Fortress Masterman (sadly discontinued except as a custom order) Plus other two pickup designs that aren't a million miles off, notably G&L, Warwick $$ and so on.

Ever seen the Fender Breadboard bass? It's just that... A neck and bridge screwed to a flat rectangle of wood (right scale length, of course) Pick -ups were then screwed or nailed into place to see how they worked in various locations. Once they were right, the measurements were transferred to the production prototypes.. Might be worth a go if you want to experiment...

Get a Sterling instead?

See what you can source second-hand?

[quote name='bassicinstinct' timestamp='1351079487' post='1846991'] If this doesn't put a smile on your face and/or a spring in your step, I'd be[b] VERY[/b] worried! [/quote] When I read posts like that, I get all excited. Alas, I couldn't get on with it at all.

[quote name='JeSuisSkeleton' timestamp='1351101885' post='1847403'] Burns Bison. Borrowed one once when my bass died. Worst instrument I've ever played. Looks like balls, plays like sh*te and sounds rubbish. [/quote] Original or Korean? The Korean one I tried was better than most of the Jazzes in the (Wapping) Bass Centre that day. (US, Mex, Jap etc.)

So if all these bits of foam are so good, why do 99.9% of cabinets have RUBBER feet?

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1351020877' post='1846361'] I just think some people simply don't have a sense of humour or are German perhaps. [/quote] Achtung! It has become apparent zat zis is not a bass....