JamesBass

Cheers Gents, I've been thinking that they'd want groove, feel and timing than the slap and crap. Luckily I'm not a slapper or crapper aha, the first piece I thought of going with was Bach's Invention 4 in the key of D minor, it's crazy but more technical exercise than audition piece I think. I'm applying for Solent Uni having already done(Well just about done) 2 years at my local college on a HND course, so only have to do a top up year, which I'm applying/applied to do. Current batch of songs up for consideration are: Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac Turn To Stone - ELO Evil Woman - ELO Commentators - City and Colour Who Do You Think I Was - John Mayer

So, I've just applied to finish my degree at a few unis and am after a decent audition piece, I'm really unsure about what I should choose. I want to do something that will impress, but isn't too safe, so no boring basic grooves really. Any suggestions oh wise members of BassChat?!

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1390391945' post='2344787'] I tried it and hated it. I find Sibelius much more user friendly. I wanted something I could use on a netbook (Sibelius would have overwhelmed it) so tried Musescore but everything took so long to do by comparison, I deleted it. Never actually completed anything on it!! [/quote] I'll give you the fact it's somewhat clunky at times but for free I can't really complain, especially how my Sibelius budget got added to my amp budget which was then spent last night

So I've been weighing up buying Sibelius for some time now but, while browsing the internet last night, I happened upon Musescore, a free downloadable version of Sibelius for mac and PC, I haven't used it fully yet but first impressions lead me to think it's fairly ok, certainly more than usable and good enough as it was free! I'm not affiliated with musescore in any sense, just thought people on here might wanna try it out

Cheers, definitely a speakON combo, which saves me a few quid!

610 is what you're after? Check out the Barefaced 69er, by all accounts it looks like a VERY special cab, it's on my list of what to buy when I win the lottery or earn enough cash, a few members on here have them, can't remember names right now though. As for a head, it depends what you want. I've listened to the stuff and it sounds very much to me that you like a warm but not too driven sound? So valves are a plus for that, what else do you want/not want? I've just bought the CTM300 Ashdown head, it's phenomenal, nice clean and bright with the gain below about 1-2pm and I get that warmth and "bounce" push the gain and it breaks up exactly how I want it to, I haven't driven the back end yet, but from what I'm told it's an utter monster! But still has note definition and clarity, I'd certainly be checking it out if you can afford it. Hope the search goes well!

Cheers lads, mind is at ease now and also more knowledgable!

The jack does fit the input, but as people have said, the manual only states about the speakon only? I may just buy a Speakon to jack lead and get more leads when I get a new cab

So I've just bought myself an Ashdown CTM300 head, it has speakon connectors, but can these handle jack or not? I know that's probably the most ridiculous question ever but just wanted to know where I stand

[quote name='blunderthumbs' timestamp='1390126237' post='2341607'] I have used Ashdown gear since 2000. Abm 4x10 500w combo was the first coupled to a Abm 1x15" 300w cab. Then I bought an Abm 2x10" 500w combo to do smaller gigs with. Sold both and replaced them with the later Abm Evo II stuff (Still made in UK) Abm Evo II 500w head through two Abm compact cabs 2x10" and 1X15" 300w ea. Doesn't seem to have the bollocks that the combo's had... maybe i't's the cabs as JamesBass said. the earlier stuff had Celestion drivers. Would like to try the Barefaced cabs that everyone is raving about or Aguilar maybe. Still love the Ashdown Gear though. The later Evo III stuff is made in China I believe. [/quote] I thought it was a case if parts are Chinese. It the amps are still put together in the UK? For what it's worth, Ashdowns customer service is AMAZING! So of the best in the biz! They have an account on here and do post regularly!

Yeah wasn't gonna go mad with that, it's more of a very cheap interim cab till I save up for a lovely barefaced aha

I've used Ashdown amps exclusively in my 10 years playing, I've had the only 30watt combo then moved to an EB-180gen2 and have borrowed an ABM-500 off a mate consistently but found it lacking in the true tone I've always wanted, still an amazing amp and one that many session players use, I've just bought a CTM300 this week and that head is UNBELIEVABLE! The clarity and note definition even 16ths is just phenomenal, the EQ works EXACTLY how I want it to, plus it's all valve and dirties up perfectly! I'd recommend it if you have the cash or find one cheap like I have. The cabs are average, not the best out there but certainly useable. If you want too quality cabs then look no further than Barefaced in my opinion.

[quote name='JustAverageMax' timestamp='1389984730' post='2340326'] I do check out PMT every now and then as its really close to my college but I know they dont like people just seeing what basses are like and then not buying them which is fair enough but it'd be handy to be able to try some nice basses out. I dont really like the feel of my '51 P bass to be totally honest, it's a lovely bass however since buying I've played basses that i've preferred as the '51 sounds a tad weak to me? maybe it just needs fiddling around with and being properly set up etc but thats something I can't warrant spending money on if I dont like the feel of the bass. [/quote] They may not like people trying and then not buying them but it gives the store an indication of what people like or don't like, I often try to avoid stores in general, they never have a bass set up to how I like it and then get funny when I say, nope not for me, or tell them the setup wasn't great. These stores are there for us to try the basses in, only someone with silly amounts of money and no real idea buy without trying properly!

Been offered a Laney Richter 410 on the cheap, will this be ok to pair up with my CTM300? If only for the short term?

[quote name='Absolute Beginner' timestamp='1389908074' post='2339525'] Thanks all for your comments. I really appreciate it. Although, I love playing my Viola bass, I'm not overkeen on the whole neck dive issue, or the fact that it leans forward quite a bit if playing when standing up. In some ways now, I'm not sure whether I should have opted for one of my other bass choices though, ie: Epiphone EB3 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Just out of interest, does anyone own one of the two basses ? If so, would you recommend them, or do they suffer from the above issues ? I must admit, given their relatively low cost, I could be tempted in buying one of them once I have developed and feel more confident. Thanks again, Fraser. [/quote] In my experiences all Gibson derived basses suffer from more neck dive than fender derived ones, so on that basis and my personal experience I'd opt for either the Squire P bass or the Jazz, try both and see how they feel!

For me it has to be clean as possible, you need to hear the nuances of your playing, check your note clarity and definition as well as getting your timing spot on! Effects can come later, especially when playing in a band, you and the drummer need to be in each others pockets and to be able to hear everything that's being played. Effects are an embellishment to your sound, got to have your clean sound good before you add effects. Well that's my opinion on the matter, I'm not a user of any effects

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1389879517' post='2339017'] Yeah, I've got a '69er too and they are superb, especially with a valve head. [/quote] What head have you got? I might have to go down the barefaced route to be honest...

[quote name='the boy' timestamp='1389830310' post='2338549'] Makes sense........ Indeed....... I gotcha....... Actually I'm lost. Are these people in some kind of suspended animation or something. Am I one of them. If so I'm suing somebody. lol [/quote] You take the blue pill and this all ends and you wake up in your bed, you take the red pill and you stay in wonderland and I'll show you how deep the rabbit goes

[quote name='Absolute Beginner' timestamp='1389824293' post='2338446'] Hi. I'm very new to playing the bass - I bought an Epiphone Viola only 3 weeks ago and am loving playing it ! I just wanted to get people's take on this; do you feel that you need a natural aptitude to be able to play the bass or do you really think that you can learn and develop if, like me at the moment, it doesn't feel that easy.....?! At the moment, being able to play scales seems a long way off ! Anyway, I'd really appreciate any comments you have. It would be great to hear from others like me, whom started from scratch with no absolutely no experience, stuck with it and playing the bass is now paying dividends. Cheers, Fraser. [/quote] Hi Fraser, Speaking as someone who picked up the bass 10 years ago, which to you sounds like forever but to many on here it's only last week! There's a certain understanding that can come naturally, it's all mainly about how you as a person pick things up, if you're a fast learner and work at things, you'll notice improvements quicker, it will give the feeling of natural ability. I felt like I was the next bass prodigy but in hindsight I just worked hard and luckily I pick things up quickly. Speaking as a bass teacher, there are people who seem to be able to pick a bass up and with no prior knowledge can play it to an extent. I'd recommend finding yourself a good teacher, if you're local to Portsmouth then send me an email at [email protected] and we can chat, if not I'd recommend looking on places such as musicteachers.co.uk or uk-guitar-teachers.co.uk. Best of luck Fraser James

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1389819133' post='2338353'] A serious amp like that needs a serious cab! I'd get the Bergantino NV412 that's for sale on BC, if you consider that transportable. Also check out the Barefaced '69er [/quote] Been looking at the '69er, just don't have the finances to outlay on a new one, nor the waiting time ideally. Might check that berg out now, it'd be rude not too

Portable, light, transparent and efficient, good parts that are easily source able from the UK/EU etc., nice design features like silver cloth and different vinyl, full range, no scoops or bumps, decent tweeter and drivers on all speakers. Pretty much as everyone has said!

So I'm looking to get a new amp in the coming days potentially, looks like an Ashdown CTM300 but I need a cab to go with it, any recommendations out there? I'd prefer second hand for budget reasons but could stretch to a £1000 budget. Weight isn't the issue more ease of transporting, so what should I be looking at?

Found some UFO, T-Rex, Saxon and 10cc today, all good bands I remember from growing up, just haven't listened to this sort of stuff for about a decade now, shame really, but I suppose when you're 10 it's not good to like your Dad's music, especially when all my mates were in to the modern rock/POP-Punk stuff, like Blink 182 and Foo Fighters.

Not new to ELO by a long stretch but like many here, I've just forgotten about them and they've been adsorbed in to the pages of music history in terms of how current they are, Mr Blue Sky is forever on the radio and is, in my opinion, a fantastic feel good song, but it's not their best work without a shadow of doubt! Found the Are You Experienced Album, as well as two or three Cream albums, there's plenty of Fleetwood Mac, as my Dad was a big fan of them. Got a few Deep Purple albums like Burn and some Iron Maiden ones. Will continue looking tomorrow, now is time for some bass playing!

So Dad decided to inform me that he had his music collection sitting in our loft space and he had plenty of classic albums and good music up there. So I get the 2 boxes of vinyl and CDs down and have been in the process of ripping the CDs on to my iTunes so I can put it on my iPhone while I drive. I've just sat down and listened to the ELO best of album and my god what an album! How unbelievably good were they! Jeff Lynne is a songwriting genius! The whole feel of the album is perfect, clean and polished production while being raw and natural, the bass lines cut through while still being bass-y and sitting well in the mix, phenomenal production and songwriting! We need more bands like ELO to come through nowadays! Anyone else a huge ELO fan?