TPJ

Just changed my strings for the first time in 2 1/2 years. I had Innovation Honeys on there. They still sounded good to me but were getting a bit boomy for a few projects. They where heaven for the bluegrass though. It took me a few weeks of hemming and hawing and reading before deciding on Evah Weichs. Initial thoughts are they are much thinner physically than the Honeys. Never realised how used to the big strings I had become. In a way I miss the mass. After letting them settle for a few hours and then playing them for a few more hours I hear a distinct difference. They are much clearer than the Honeys where when I took them off. The tone is only marginally brighter which is good because I like a dark tone and not a bright twangy one. I wish I had recorded the Honeys when they where first on the bass to get a better comparison. I can't remember back that far and one tends to get used to the tone even though it's changing over time. Still not sure if I should have bought the mediums instead of the weichs. I don't mind a bit of tension as it gives you something to dig in to. I'm hoping that my bass has retained it's lowend. I'll know later in the week when we play some bluegrass. It's impossible to tell with "front room" playing. I have an acoutic rehearsal tomorrow, a gig tomorrow night and Monday night. Kind of looking forward to it to see how these strings perform. I'll keep you posted.

I bought A Mesa Walkabout head off Chris. He gave me a better than great deal. Very flexible and great comms. Thanks again bud

[quote name='lowdown' post='840200' date='May 17 2010, 09:12 PM']That is not totally correct. Depends what the gig is.If you are backing the shows , of course. But there are just as many gigs on ships where you are playing for dancing or even just dinner/lounge/bar gigs playing standards and Latin. Bubinga.. The money is not as good as it used to be, but it still is ok. Plus the thing is everything is all found [ food, accomodation ] If you got nothing else to do - do it. I have done plenty over the years and made plenty of Muso friends all over the world. There will be plenty of other bands and muso's on board, so you will have a good social life. Who knows you might like it and do a bit more. A sure good way of getting your chops together.[plenty of playing] and save a bit of dosh. Garry[/quote] +1 If you get the chance, do it. Get paid to see the world and play music everyday.

I have a set on my acoustic bass guitar. Really sounds nice. Got rid of the piano wire sound those bronze strings can sometimes have. They are very nice strings and flats last forever so a worthy investment.

[quote name='dub_junkie' post='839758' date='May 17 2010, 01:46 PM']I love the tone of the 5. a bit more polite/subdued with less sizzle compared to the 4 . but works better from my experience with both[/quote] I believe they are wired differently, hence the tone difference. A 'Ray 4 through a Sadowsky outboard pre/DI gives it a lot of warmth. Still cuts but a rounder tone. Shove it through a Yamaha NE para doo-dah and there is another load of possibilities. I don't agree that a 'Ray is a one trick pony, you just need to learn to ride it different ways.

Sack the drummer and just play bass and guitars. You'd be surprised how well it works for all styles. The listener's brains fill in all the stuff they know should be there.

[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='831161' date='May 8 2010, 01:28 AM']This is louder than a conventional upright ? .... veeerrrry interesting . Sounds like a winner, assuming there's no downside. Wonder why it's not been done before ? (Looks too radical I guess) Andy[/quote] Louder is one thing, I doubt it has the warmth or low end.

Hi Matt. Hard call on strings as each bass is different and any strings will react differently on any bass. How old are your Spiros? Has your bass been setup recently? I've not tried the Roto's. I use Innovation Honeys currently. They are warmer sounding than steel strings, but less defined in pitch. The Evah Pirazzi weichs may be good to try for you. Lots of good things on the net about the Full Circle but again, some pups sound great on one bass and rubbish on another. The Upton Revolution 2 is another option. It sounded more open and natural on my bass than the K&K bass max does. I'm looking into one of those APTflex film pups to try. You've presumably searched the DB forum on talkbass for info. If not, go over there and read your head off. You'll come away even more confused I've found it's kind of a buy and try thing with double bass. Hopefully you'll find the sound you're after without breaking the bank.

I have sausages for fingers anyway so I didn't notice any enlargement except for the tip of my little finger on my left hand. It sometimes resembles a chupa chup after a long gig My girlfriend did remark on the strength of my hands though, I guess I sqeeze harder than I realise when we hold hands.

Door stops and walking stik ends work too.

As the agent said to the band, "I keep telling you guys, you have to save up for these gigs"

[quote name='Bilbo' post='820687' date='Apr 27 2010, 02:41 PM']Ah well! In at the deep end!![/quote] There's no other way really Glad to hear the playing is going well and nothing is hurting, except maybe the old fingertips.

Been speaking with Alan [url="http://www.bassix.net/"]about the CF UDB[/url] Anyone down in Kent that can try one out to save me a trip from West Yorkshire? I'm going to arrange a day to hopefully check one out and compare it to my indistinct cheap hybid. The price is a bit more than originally thought and it is right about the same cost as getting one of those Chadwick folders sent over here. So, the tone will be the decider really.

[quote name='slaphappygarry' post='815635' date='Apr 22 2010, 11:53 PM']DPA 4060 well worth a try. [url="http://www.dv247.com/microphones/dpa-4060-bm-prepolarised-omnidirectional-miniature-condenser-microphone--20919"]http://www.dv247.com/microphones/dpa-4060-...crophone--20919[/url] Can clip it on to the strings under the bridge and, because it is OMNI, it does not suffer from proximity that a cardiod mic would. G[/quote] I thought the super-cardioid where best as they don't suffer from bleed as badly and pick up the source more cleanly. The [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=482357"]poor man's 57 setup[/url] is another option. Playing around with mics is like playing around with strings. Costly and no sure end result

[quote name='geoffbassist' post='797265' date='Apr 6 2010, 10:00 AM']It's all about the strings. I do love the evahs but think my old spirocore weichs may have been even better.[/quote] How so? I like the Honeys I use but they are getting dark now after 3 years. Are the Spiro's weichs really bright and twangy or do they mello? Spiros are supposed to be the best for pizz, which all I really do, but I don't want a bright, zinggy tone.

I grew up listening to EWF. I still practice to their greatest hits CD. Great music. You can really hear Verdine and Maurice pushing and pulling a lot in those recordings. It's what makes many of the grooves. I met the Phoenix Horns when I was a kid flying to Colorado and they where on our plane. They looked familiar and as I got closer I saw the EWF tour jackets and horn cases. I was star struck