lastnotleast

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1357160242' post='1918499']You're so old that punk is the only thing you [b]can[/b] play! [/quote] I resemble that remark except, in my case, it's modern country rock which is much thrashing of the root until my arthritis meds kick in. Welcome Yuman. This is such an outstanding forum that they even let Yanks in.

Welcome. You have come to the right place for making friends, sharing and learning. I tried a forum here in the States but did not like it so signed up here and have not regretted a single minute. Just wish someone could help an old man figure out how to turn on spell check. I will try not to be too envious of your MM Sting Ray and will start by saying well done young man, well done.

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1357070336' post='1917174']The women are taking over![/quote] Listen to Ry Cooder's [i]Women Will Rule the World[/i]. Welcome Bass Lady. This is an excellent place for respectful advice and for making friends.

Welcome. Also new to bass and have found these forums to be quite helpful. Enjoy

Welome, sir. I am also a convert to bass and finding it extremely gratifying. My first bass was (is) an Ibanez ErgoDyne EB300. I have since acquired a Yamaha BBN5 and am afraid to play the Ibanez now as it might spoil me because it's so easy to play. There is little doubt that you will find these forums friendly, respectful and very helpful.

These kids today. I am 61 but have (5) children so tend to be in a better position to keep up. As this is a U.K. forum, I recommend the ADMINs prohibit any use of the language that is not the Queen's English (and I'm a Yank!). I told my kids that you Brits actually start sentences even in writing with the word "right" and I love it. Only objection is that I am not sure about your cusine and, most especially, I am leary of Spotted Dick. Happy New Year Ordinarily, I would wish you a proserous New Year as well but it appears the politicians are having none of that.

[quote name='MrTaff' timestamp='1356920462' post='1915239'] I certainly need more than one, we swap between standard & drop c tuning a few times during a set, so that's 2 different basses needed. Are people really gigging without a backup? [/quote] My point precisely. I play a 5-string but carry a 4-string just in case. For drop tuning, have you seen the Bass Xtender drop tuners from Hip Shot? I was going to put one on my 4 until I found a bargain on a 5.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1313755348' post='1345379'] My experience is not restricted to 3' in front of the cab because these rigs have all been used for the back line at several jam nights, so I get to hear all my rigs from "out front".[/quote] This is the key. Low frequencies are long waves and "speak" at a greater distance than the short distance at which we typically stand in front of our kit. Ask a competent player with similar technique to sit in with the full band so you can hear your sound from the dance floor. By similar technique I mean playing with a pick, slap, thumb or fingers. Another factor is blending with the tone of the kick drum and keyboard if present. I use (2) 1x15 sealed cabinets so prefer the kick drum to be a more percussive pop rather than loose and booming.

Welcome. I play a Yami BBN5 which I bought for $100.00 (US) and I love it?

Welcome. I am also new here (from the U.S.A.) Bass is somewhat new to me and the advice I have received here has been very helpful. I have played drums, guitar, keyboard and even a bit of trumpet in bands for nearly 50 years but was never the bass player until now. My hope is that you will feel as welcome here as I have which has triggered a Downton Abbey marathon in my home the past few days.

Welcome. I am also new here (from the U.S.A.) and this forum is quite friendly and helpful. My recommendation is to discipline yourself to practice simple scales for as long as your fingers can tolerate it and every day. Use all four fingers and work towards playing without any fret noise (buzz). Listen to and learn to play some old MoTown and old 12-bar blues such as Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Junior Wells. This music is the basis for almost everything you might need to play if you ever join a band.

Welcome. I am also new here (from the U.S.A.) and an old guy at 61. The bass is somewhat new to me as well. I have played various instruments in bands over the years and fooled with my bass players' basses but only just recently purchased a bass kit. Being extrememly fortunate to have been asked into a very good modern country rock band. This is a new genre to me as I am more of an R&B fan. My hope is that you will find this forum as friendly and helpful as I have.

Welcome. I am also new (from the U.S.A.) and I have found the people here friendly, helpful and respectful. Do not be shy, ask many questions, keep us informed about you band and tell us about your musical career.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1356696112' post='1912475'] Bit like becoming a Jazz musician, then... [/quote] Jazz musicians are shriveled due to lack of nourishment due to lack of money. Definition of optimism; a jazz musician with a beeper How do you know a jazz musician is at your door? You hear a knock followed by, "Pizza."

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1356666548' post='1912256'] My poor old ears tell me that a great deal of the tone here comes from, not the bass, but the combination of the bass and bass drum. Change the bass a bit; 'twill still work, but change the bass drum and you're out on a limb. Not sayin' it's no good or anything, but I just don't hear this (nor indeed many in this vein...) as being 'simply' a question of bass (or amp...). The drums are an integral part of it, imho. Now then, is that a Ludwig kit..? Sonor..? Yamaha..? Gretsch..? The bets are on... [/quote] Precisely! You younguns need to go back a bit farther to the '60's and the MoTown Sound to more fully understand what is happening here. James Jamerson stuck a piece of foam rubber under his strings at the bridge to control the ring of the open strings he was not playing at the moment. These sympathetic tones can be controlled with proper left hand technique but it is my theory that Jamerson was always so drunk, he needed the foam in the studio. Gibson marketed basses for a while with an ugly slider to engage a foam mute. Reminds me of the Coke bottle in the movie [i]The Gods Must Be Crazy[/i]. The MoTown Sound was a watershed culmination of jazz, gospel and pop. Muscle Shoals was next to carry on.

Perhaps the best bass players are the ones noone notices?

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1356610820' post='1911580'] Well done. 9/10 for effort. (No, sorry, no malice intended. Just kidding. Nice post; thanks...) [/quote] That's hilarious! I apologize to Her Majesty. I'm certain she does not mispell [i]nurturing[/i]. Thank you Dad, I have started the day with a good laugh at myself. Powdered/snorted cocoain was not a massive problem until folks learned they could freebase, the precursor to crack. I watched it happen in the early '80's and it was terrifying. It turned healthy robust young men into shriveled skeletal zombies.

An appreciation for music is a gift and musical talent is a gift with an obligation to share. It is possible for music to operate as an addiction if it is out of balance to the degree it detracts from other essential components of one's life. I suspended playing out to raise five children but, now that we are down to one, it is time to resume and I wish there was more of it. There have also been times when there was too much of a good thing, playing 5 or 6 nights a week. It was more like work; made good money but the joy was minimal. There is great wisdom in realising one's weaknesses and limitations while nuturing and improving upon one's talents. (please note my polite use of The Queen's spelling)

[quote name='Balcro' timestamp='1356375874' post='1909740'] What shouldn't be flexible is your discretion.[/quote] This is true of most things in life n'est-ce pas?

Thank you, Balcro and I apologize for the typo in your name.

Balcro, it remains to be seen how reliable this amp head is and I am concerned enough about it to feel the need for a backup. One of the light weights would be ideal but I also want more power/headroom and could move the Acoustic B200H to the backup position. Acoustic B115 cabs are rated at 250 watts (@ 8 ohms I presume) . What would be the maximum safe wattage amp head I could use with (2) cabs operating @ 4 ohms? Connecting (2) 8 ohm cabs allows the amp to operate at 4 ohms but how is the amp wattage distributed to each cab? Are the both getting the full wattage of the head?

Not sure I would say [i]nothing to do with the originals as[/i] there may be some sort of design pholoshpy heritage. Until my band gets too loud, my rig sounds very good to me and when we play a venue which provides a P.A., there is no problem. It's when I have to push it to it's limit that makes me want to use a head with more wattage. . Acoustic B115's are sealed cabinets with a defeatable tweeter which I turn off as it bleeds off power to operate the passive crossover. I do notice that the 5th fret A on the E string resonates noticebly more than other notes telling me that I may need to look into a compressor. I own a Behringer CL-9 which I use for lead guitar and might play around with it a bit to see if it can be used for bass. What do you think?

Badges? Badges? We don't need no stinking badges! You are correct Mr. F. but the same could be said for any of the familiar brands from my youth such as [i][b]Fender[/b][/i]. The Acoustic name only contributed slight (albeit falsely) to my decision to purchase it. The main reason was price tag. However, I am not disappointed in the leaset. My bass is a Yamaha BBN5 for which I paid $100.00 US and I am not disappointed with it either. Someday I will upgrade but perhaps my ability should improve first.

I believe your comments regarding use with low/mid priced amp systems may be spot on. My Acoustic B200H & (2) B115's were puchased on the cheap at $300.00 US. My plan is to someday be able to afford a higher end kit and keep the DI-100 in case for whatever reason I may need an alternate direct box to the board.

Have Behringer CL9 compressor for my guitar (before I learned to play a real instrument) and works fine except for having so much trouble with the DC adapter I gave up and loaded a battery. Now longer gig on guitar so not a problem but running a battery can be problematic over time.