EliasMooseblaster

A wider strap can obviously help relieve some of the pressure, and a strap with more grip can stop the bass from moving. I bought a wider strap with better grip to keep my Epi EB-3 in check - notorious instrument for neck-diving that it is - the difference now is that it still dives but the strap takes my shirt with it!

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1373463260' post='2137872'] Although I have tried a fair few, to run two sets of parallels effects but most strugged to have a decent output when both are on. I'm assuming you are using it to switch basses between songs though, to which i will say that's fine but the issue comes with gain differences, but as long as the basses are fairly even it shouldn't be a problem. [/quote] Well, that's the other thing I was worried about - it would just be to switch between basses, but I'm not sure how different their output levels are likely to be. Of course, it would hardly be the end of the world if I just had to go and adjust the volume of the amp! The advantage of building my own, of course, would be having the option to add a volume trim to each input so I could match them, but perhaps that would just be a bit too anally retentive. I need to take the 8-string along to a few more rehearsals anyway and see how it compares with the EB-3 in a band setting.

Not sure about them myself - making the obvious comparison with the White Stripes, DV have the better drummer, and the singer's voice is less annoying than Jack White when he's yelping away. Still, they're not the only female two-piece going - I think this pair have been around a bit longer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHG6MxsoPiY

Oh, well since you asked so nicely: I've whittled down (quite a substantial) number of active bands to focus on one main project, which is Cherry White. We released our new album last week. You can hear it, and stalk us, here: http://www.cherrywhitemusic.com/

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1373285889' post='2135610'] If you're handy with a soldering iron, it would be a simple task to make one yourself with a few bits from somewhere like Maplins. Even using good quality connectors should leave you plenty of change out of £20. [/quote] Well, this was the other option, of course - there is a Maplin just down the road from my office. And looking at the prices of these things online, I could probably save myself a few quid and have fun burning my fingers with a soldering iron to boot!

I don't *think* this has been covered before, but admittedly it's a bit hard to know what to search for. So: anybody know anything about the wiring in a typical ABY box? This is probably a stupid question, but since they're used for running a single guitar/bass signal to two rigs, could one use one in reverse? That is, have two basses plugged into the box, sending the signal out to one amp, so I could switch between the two without having to fanny around with unplugging cables, etc?

Sort of. More accurate would be say "being in tune all the way up the neck." Or, as near as damn it. A quick check is to do the following: choose a string, and play the harmonic at the 12th fret. Now, fret the string at the 12th fret and play it normally. Is the note higher or lower than the harmonic you just heard? Rinse and repeat for the other three strings. If the fretted note is the same as the harmonic, your instrument's intonation is probably ok. If it's higher or lower, it may be time to move the bridge saddles backwards or forwards a touch.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1372243459' post='2123206'] The best-playing Fender I've ever owned says "Mike Lull" on the headstock. The second-best Fender I've ever owned says "Alleva Coppolo" on the headstock. The two most expensive basses I've ever owned say "Fender" on the headstock. Sweeping generalisations are always tricky ... [/quote] Yeah, the best-playing Fender I've ever owned says "Schecter" on the headstock...but that might just be because I can't afford to buy that gorgeous US Fender I tried in the shop a few months ago!

This is an excellent idea - I've always felt bad about throwing a lot of perfectly good metal away, and was looking in vain for somewhere I could recycle my old Rotos. Sadly I had no choice but to throw away the last stockpile of old sets as I recently moved house but if you're still happy to collect then I'd be happy to send them to you. (I will almost certainly have a used set of Ernie Ball Cobalts going spare this time next week - though I'd treat myself to a re-string before our album launch gig!)

[quote name='AndrewRichards' timestamp='1369929130' post='2094602'] What do people do when they feel too burned out to practice? [/quote] Drink.

We're not married, though my other half was with me in the shop when I tried the most recent purchase (Hagstrom 8-string). When it came to a decision, she was the one going, "yes, but it does look lovely, doesn't it? And you know how rare 8-strings are..." (Definitely a keeper!)

Thank you very kindly sir! Yeah, credit where it's due: I think we stumbled upon two excellent people, both for mixing and mastering. Both of them could be sent into a frothing rant about the "loudness war" and how it was killing modern music, their philosophy being "any radio station will compress it to buggery anyway, so we may as well at least make the original copy sound good." Still, very glad you enjoyed it - thanks for listening and particularly for the feedback!

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1369830299' post='2093163'] Please do not bid? [/quote] Yeah, that was the bit I didn't understand. (Apart from the motivation of sticking a strat neck on a LP body...)

Job done! (Love the video, by the way)

Thank you! Yeah, I know what you mean about the vocal - we recorded the whole thing "as live" in one room so the main problem was leakage onto the vocal track, at least with the louder songs. (She actually went and re-recorded the vocal for the follow-up single to avoid this problem.) That said, it's worth hearing live - she barely even needs a mic. Absurdly powerful voice for someone who really isn't that big!

Anyone involved with a half-decent band in Cambridge? We've booked a night at the Corner House (http://www.acousticstage.co.uk/the-corner-house) on Saturday 10th August, and we wanted to try and book two local bands to share the night with us. Interested? Have a quick gander at our stuff: http://cherrywhite.bandcamp.com/ and, if you think you might be suitable, pop a reply in here or send me a PM with some links to your stuff. (NB Don't worry about fitting into the same genre; we like variety! It's just that "suitable" sounded less wordy than "would not attract a polar opposite crowd.")

The question is, how many people saw the name and actually recognised that person as the bass player, and how many saw the names and thought, "oh, I'm sure (s)he's in Coldplay / McFly / The Wurzels"?

I hope nobody minds if I follow xilddx's example and cheekily repost this here, only it seems to have fallen on deaf ears over in the Recording forum (excuse the pun). Just a quick and shameless plug for my band's new single, which you can hear over here: http://cherrywhite.bandcamp.com/ The song goes by the name [i]Dead from the Waist Down [/i]and is supposed to pave the way for the album we recorded back in March. We've had a couple of positive reviews so far, so I'd love to hear what the BC community makes of it!

I think you're well within your rights - I try not to be a dick, but I do expect to be asked. To be fair, the last time I called someone up on it, I'd actually taken my amp offstage after our set, and two bands later, the guy had hauled it back onstage without even bothering to come and find me. If he'd asked, then of course I'd have let him borrow it. It's just the principle! From the opposite perspective, I've found the best way to avoid any embarrassment is to ask the soundguy, who will happily tell you whether it's the house rig or somebody else's...or whether it's *shudder* DI only...

Just a heads-up for any London-based BC'ers who've nowt better to do tomorrow (Saturday) night. We're playing at the Cavendish Arms, in Stockwell, along with Maxmebar Orkestar, Xaphrodite and We Could Be Astronauts. Last we heard, it's a fiver and the fun kicks off at 8pm. (And apparently the bar is open 'til about 2.) The Cavendish is a short walk from either Stockwell tube or Vauxhall train station: 128 Hartington Road, SW8 2HJ. Do drop in, it should be a good night!

My band's just released a new single: [url="http://cherrywhite.bandcamp.com/track/dead-from-the-waist-down-single"]http://cherrywhite.b...ist-down-single[/url] This is the first of two that we'll be releasing before the album ([i]129,[/i] due for release in July). Have a gander; hope you enjoy it, and any feedback is greatly appreciated!

A great loss to music. I was learning piano before I took up the bass in the first place, so Ray Manzarek has been a source of inspiration for even longer than John Entwistle!

Clearly too late to the party, but I would have voted for the Bronco myself! I started on one (mine was red) and it was a lovely beginner's bass. The other advantage, if your lad plays the cello, is that it's a much more simple layout than the other two you had in mind. The single pickup removes the temptation to spend more time faffing around with tone-blending than learning to play it!

As Chris B rightly points out, [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1307275645' post='1257277'] I agree, I prefer long scale, but you are supposed to move your hand to place your fingers over the note so small hands aren't an excuse for not being able to reach a note. Esperanza Spalding has smaller hands than most here and easily plays the double bass!! [/quote] As far as 4-strings go, I started learning on a short scale (30.5", I think) without knowing about the different scale lengths. A year later I got hold of a long-scale (34") and never looked back. Small hands needn't be a hindrance, but I just felt the longer necks suited my huge hands better! That said, I'm glad my 8-string is short-scale...I've got it tuned a semitone flat and I'm still getting used to the extra tension!

[quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1368488089' post='2077768'] [size=4]Raygun Relics at it again! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400485813700&ssPageName=ADME:B:FSEL:GB:1123"]http://cgi.ebay.co.u...:B:FSEL:GB:1123[/url][/size] [/quote] He's obviously decided that "organic" will make it more likely to appeal to suburban mothers who don't want to buy one of these dirty, artificial GM Stratocasters for their teenage sons. I'm looking forward to the Free Range, Corn-Fed Telecaster... [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1367840742' post='2070036'] It's a funny old thing is fashion. When i bought my 1974 Jazz over 20 years ago i got a few quid off in the shop where i bought it when i pointed out that it had a few dings and buckle rash. Nowadays the shop would be highlighting those dings and buckle rash as a badge of honour to promote the sale of 'this roadworn beauty'. [/quote] You'll be reassured to know that the shop that sold me my Schecter just last year gave me a hard case, a new set of strings and a nice strap all for free...because of one little scratch along the top of the bass-side horn.