Skinnyman

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1409783903' post='2543440'] Seeing as we've moved from providing info to willy waving, I took a GK combo, Westone Quantum, bag containing leads and Boss ME6B, and a sleeping bag on the back of a Triumph Tiger 900 from Tamworth to Maidstone and back again. [/quote] Did they enjoy it?

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1409819982' post='2543573'] I hate flats. They sound good to me for about two hours after putting them on, then just sound dull and not what I want at all.I like rounds because you can dial down your tone or use foam and get the flat sound if you want. [/quote] Each to his own. I love em. I've just discovered Rotosound flats which are a bit brighter than some, Picato have a nice, silky feel to them. I also have a set of half rounds waiting to be put onto a jazz bass. If I want bright, I play closer to the bridge and use the EQ. But I like the sound of old school, rich, creamy bass - and flats do that perfectly for me. But hey, if you prefer rounds then go for it - there's a reason why most people prefer them!

Wow. I complain about my guitarse but he's a sweetheart compared to yours... It's very possible that bandleader and guitarist had a chat and both came away with very different recollections. So bandleader thinks he was diplomatic (it's not you, it's us. We're holding you back, you're undermining their confidence and they aren't as talented as you, need to make room to let other people grow, etc). And the guitarist just heard 'blah, blah, you're brilliant but cut the others some slack'. Question is whether you can live with him now he's turned over a new leaf or whether you still want him out. In which case, there's a very good thread on how to can someone on this very forum! But I'd assume incompetence or incomprehension rather than some Machiavellian plot, lies, deceit and intrigue.

You may have read this previously as "drummer required". Well, twenty four hours is a long time in band politics. We have our drummer back (for now at least) but our singer has decided he'd rather do Perry Como covers then Robert Plant, hence the update to "singer required". We're a covers band, gigging regularly around the Cambs and Beds area doing a pretty wide range of stuff that probably fits under the label of "classic rock". We're all, ahem, mature - in our forties - and have got a reputation for being a very tight unit. We've had a really busy summer but, ideally, we're looking to reign back a bit and rehearse once a week and gig a couple of times a month. Most of our gigs are word of mouth recommendations or repeat bookings, which is probably down to our lead guitarist who is stellar. Set list is varied with all the usual stuff, plus we try and make it interesting with some less well-known material; Pink Floyd, Marillion, Blue Oyster Cult - and with the right vocalist, we hope to extend this even further. Whilst the lead singer vacancy is the important one, if we can find someone who can sing and play something else (keys, bass, guitar), we have the flexibility to change things round a bit to accommodate. If you (or anyone you know of) might be interested and would like to know more, please PM me....

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1409667153' post='2542000'] What to do with the 4th hole? My Ibby SRA305 is a passive pickup bass that has an EMG EXB between the output of the pickups and the jack. The EXB is a variable scoop control that I have found most useful in gigging: buffering the output, and the ability to dial in the exact amount of scoop for straight-to-scooped, vintage-to-modern, fingerstyle flat-to-slap contour, etc. [/quote] I like that... At the moment, I just added another, front-facing jack to complement the oddly-positioned one in the side of the bass. Weirdly, I use them equally - the front one with an L-shaped jack and when I'm plugged into the amp directly, the side one when I'm using the wireless attached to the strap. But I like the idea of the scoop control. Mind you, I also liked the idea of the webcam. Someone else suggested a flickering light in there.... Might have to drill a few more holes to accommodate all these ideas. Someone wanted sound clips of the Entwistles. There are three: P (Neck), J (Bridge) and both. All recorded direct into Sonar with no EQ or effect and with the tone control set to about mid position. Don't get excited - it's just a scale but should give you a sense of the sound of the Entwistles (mine are the PBXN and JBXN variants)

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1409597497' post='2541376'] Would love to hear some sound clips of your Nanyo with the Entwistles in it [/quote] I'll try and upload some this week.

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1409433001' post='2539733'] I'm not a violent man myself but I would understand you being one on this occasion. [/quote] Seriously, it's every bleedin' week and has gone on for months. Every time there's a small bass fill (think "crazy little thing") I see him look across and smile and nod, like I'm a three year old and just managed to tie my own shoelaces for the first time. Patronising t**t. Hmmm, perhaps this is symptomatic of a wider issue with my band mate. But one of these days, he's going to get a bass chucked at him with the words "well you 'kin play it then" as I stomp off to sulk....

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1409429772' post='2539694'] Give him this to play... [attachment=170503:Weat_Repo_A_Rema_You_Made_Bass.pdf] It's a pdf of 'A Remark You Made' (Weather Report, but you knew that...). Save it, re-naming the file as 'Weat_Repo_A_Rema_You_Made_Bass.pdf'. Best played on fretless... Hope this helps. [/quote] Brilliant. The dots will be enough to put him off. :-)

[quote name='TheSiberian' timestamp='1409427267' post='2539663'] If you want a double neck for posing, renting a cheap one for a day should be ok. Lol If you really want a double neck that is playable and sounds correct you should spent at least the double of your Rick or Fender...really. Warmouth sells different bodies and necks but you have to pay the price. One more hidden problem is the weight. I always considered the double neck as the grail, checked many ( very expensive ones ) at the Frankfurt Musik Messe but the weight was always a deal breaker. Best [/quote] It's probably the pose - although, if I could find one that was a reasonable weight I'd buy it and could make use of it live. The point about it costing the same as two individual guitars is well made - but there are plenty of good, inexpensive Asian guitars and basses being made these days so something that cost the same as a pair of them would seem reasonable. Although I accept that there probably isn't the mass market demand to justify production of a budget double neck. Seems like you can get 6/12 doubles but no 6/4's. Shame...

Does anyone else have a guitarist in their band who reckons they could play bass if they wanted and insists on telling you what to play and how to play it? Or is it just me? I need to know before I deck mine.....

Don't ask me why, but I have a bit of a hankering for a double neck - 6 string guitar and bass. But they seem incredibly rare and, the few that are made, incredibly expensive, boutique instruments So, does anyone know of a more mass-market (sic) version? I don't mind spending a few hundred on one but not a few thousand. Has anyone ever made a 6 string/bass hybrid?

Just bought a Genz Benz ShuttleMax 12.0 off Andre. It arrived on time, well packaged and is just as described. Communications were good (but bear in mind that Andre's a busy guy!) and he's a thoroughly decent bloke who gets my recommendation. Buy with confidence. (Side note: gigged the Max last night. Wow. Like, wow.....)

Just a quick update on yesterday's mini-festival. Given the deluge we suffered all day, we managed to move the event into a large marquee meaning that we all stayed dry(ish) and, more importantly, so did all the gear. This meant that a lot of the stuff I'd taken was overkill but, hey, rather that than not enough... Technically, it went really well. A good sound both on stage and out front. No-one complained about the onstage mix and a couple of people were complimentary about the setup. Unfortunately, because of the weather, we didn't get the crowds we'd hope for - just a few dozen hardy souls, maybe a hundred or so through the day. I haven't seen the exact figures but we covered costs (fortunately, we'd had a lot of stuff donated) and will be able to give a reasonable donation to Stoke Mandevile. The wise decision was taken to cancel the auction and to hold a separate auction some time soon which will boost the donation even more. So, I'm annoyed that the weather was so bleeding awful, annoyed we couldn't raise more for the charity but pleased that all the technical stuff worked. Thanks to everyone who contributed hints and tips and meant I wasn't going in completely cold! But the next one I do will be in the dry......

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1408871620' post='2534129'] I'll test out the idea and if it's a good one, I'll claim it as my own and bask in the glory Cheers. [/quote] The creed by which I have lived my life captured there in a single sentence....

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1408824909' post='2533891'] Yeh, I'm trying to get myself a young toyboy of about 45 [/quote] Aren't we all, dearie?

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1408819010' post='2533842'] Whereas the useless oldsters tend to stay useless. :-) [/quote] Bugger, you noticed? It's because my arthritic fingers can only just crawl around the strings on anything under 90bpm. Anything more up-tempo and I need a lie down But at least I try to be polite when I'm useless on someone else's bass.... Bleedin' kids....

[quote name='Wylie' timestamp='1408817999' post='2533825'] I play with a trio, but we perform so seldom, I'm practically a bedroom player. I play along with a number of CDs designed for practicing bass with comping, and I practice scales and etc. I agree with some responders who said playing with a band is a pain in the neck. Even though I play out seldom, living as I do in a fairly rural community, every performance feels like a much bigger deal than it should. Basically, I just love the sound of the bass. [/quote] So maybe there's scope for a thread on here "Jam Partners wanted"? Unless there's one already that I can't find? If anyone's in the South Lincs, North Cambs area? I could do with honing my guitar skills a bit more....

Now that the work is finished, here's an update. I ordered a set of Entwistle pickups. PBXN and a JBXN (Bridge). Unfortunately, Simon was away for a few days so it was a little while longer than usual to get them - for which he apologised. I fitted them and discovered a weird fault on the J pickup. A strong signal from the E and A strings, next to nothing from the D string and virtually inaudible on the G string. I can only assume that the J pickup is in fact two separately-wound coils mounted side by side and that one of the coils had failed for some reason. Whatever - I contacted Simon and he agreed to send me a replacement. I paid the additional postage to guarantee a Saturday (and pre-Bank Holiday) delivery and the new pickup arrived this morning. Fitted and tested - this one works perfectly. So now, for less than £125 all in (including the extra postage and the diesel to go collect the bass in the first place), I have a nice, clean SB310 which has set up beautifully and which has a fantastic sound. Back of the net! But here's something a bit odd. I now have two of these basses. One is still active with a new EQ, the other's passive as described above. They're both set up identically and they're both strung with Rotosound flats. I expect them to sound different when plugged in - which they do - but, and this is weird, they sound completely different when played unplugged. The older, active bass has a real low thump to it where the newer one is much brighter. I expect some of that is down to the fact that one set of strings is new and the other set are about 3 months old. But the difference is huge - absolutetly and fundamentally different in character. Not that I'm objecting. I like having two basses that feel and play identically but which have such radically different tones. But it's weird that it should be so noticable even when they're unplugged. But I am a happy boy and looking forward to trying the new bass out on Monday. In the rain.... :-( Final note: On first impressions, Entwistle pickups are the business. Incredible value for money and stunning sound. And I'm well impressed with AxesRus who supplied the 3-pot wiring kit. Again, great value and lightning fast service. I'm now on the look out for a nice SGC Nanyo five string......

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1408782894' post='2533382'] I am sure it will go well as you have clearly given it some thought and preparation [/quote] Thank you! You should see the spreadsheet I have, down to which xlr cables are going to be plugged into which channel of the multicore, what power drain each amp is going to take, what mic is going in what stand at what time and for how long..... Turns out, THAT'S rock'n'roll!

[quote name='sellisnba' timestamp='1408705485' post='2532713'] Ok probably not the best way to put, We all play for fun. What I was trying to say was does anybody just enjoy playing along to songs on there music player? I know there is a hell of a lot of people on here who are in bands. I'm a bedroom player and will probably remain that way for the foreseeable future. I could never picture myself in a band or jamming situation. I just wondered if there are other people out there doing the same. How do you know your good or confident enough with your own ability to play in front of strangers? The thought of it scares the crap out of me. [/quote] It sounds like you'd quite like to be in a band but you're not sure if you're good enough/ready? That's exactly how I felt. And still do with regard to my guitar playing. But I found a couple of people on band mix and we just got together to play. No intention of gigging, just adding a new experience - playing with someone else. After a few months of that, we were joined by a drummer who was in the same position - been playing a while but only in his own garage. Great fun in itself, meeting up once a week to play together with no pressure to perform. It's amazing how quickly your playing improves when you play with others and after about 18 months we were asked to play at a party - which is when we became a band and haven't looked back since. So if you're happy playing solo to backing tracks then go for it. But if you want to try something new, but don't want to join a band, then just find a jam partner and watch your playing improve..... But whatever you do, have fun

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1408774808' post='2533335'] I hope this went well, as I've seen too many small outdoor gigs where the sound quality was awful. [/quote] Thank you - it's actually on Monday. Which, given the forecast for the Bank Holiday, rather underlines the first of my assumptions in the original post. Doh. I've picked up a lot of good advice from this thread so I'm glad I posted it and even more glad that people have taken the trouble to respond. I will admit that some of the finer points of earth spikes and the subtler nuances of TNS, TNC-S and TT supply systems have gone over my head but I did pick up from it the need for RCDs at the stage end of the power extensions. (Handily, they've given me someone who's quite annoying to help me so he gets to touch everything metal before I do, just to make sure that nothing is live that shouldn't be). I'll update the thread after the event and let you know how it went.... And if anyone's in Bedford over the weekend, bring your brolly down to the White Horse on Newnham Ave from 2pm and come and say "hi".

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1408741325' post='2533202'] Not sure exactly what you mean here. You would normally just take the main LR stereo out into the crossover, which would then spilt between High freq LR and low freq LR. Low going to the subs obviously, and the exact crossover frequency can usually be adjusted to optimum performance for your cabinets. The Sub out on a desk usually refers to sub mix and doesn't need to be used in live applications. Hopefully this is what you mean and clears it up? [/quote] Doh! Obvious when it's explained like that. Thank you. I feel very stupid. But better informed at least! Cheers

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1407266397' post='2519036'] I'd love a Gibson SG bass.....if i could ever muster the ££s i really love the look of them but i've never played one. [/quote] They're brilliant. Light, comfy and deeeeep. Regretted selling mine five minutes after it left.... Would buy another tomorrow

Asbury Park of the King Crimson USA album. But then, I am very old. And just before it, the recent Squackett album.