Clarky

[quote name='Sawtooth' post='1194900' date='Apr 10 2011, 06:50 PM']any vids knockin' about? [/quote] This one, although its one of our least gypsy ones and here's a montage with a cover of 'Speaking of Happiness' we have done that is being considered for inclusion in the next series of vampire programme True Blood, again a slower paced one (we do much pacier songs too)

[url="http://standardlondonevening.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/stranger-than-paradise-rasp-thorne-the-briars-dj-sacha-dieu-the-gadjo-club-rattlin-bone-hootananny-9-april-2011/"]http://standardlondonevening.wordpress.com...y-9-april-2011/[/url]

Try BCer Joona who lives in Helsinki. His username is bassotaiteilija. He logs on regularly but doesn't post much. I sold him a Fender CS Jazz and he was great to deal with.

Thanks all for advice. I think I am going to try out some of those foam sound hole plugs and add a mag pickup so I have the choice of piezo, mag or both (since my Coda combo has two channels). Surely that should make things better?!!!

[quote name='gareth' post='1194690' date='Apr 10 2011, 03:35 PM']Any observations/comparisons with 70's p basses and more recent USA reissue p's?[/quote] Its pretty light (<9 pounds; definitely noticeably lighter than your/my old ressue P with added J, Gareth, but about the same as my old 73P). The neck is obviously much chunkier than my old 73P but is so worn that all the varnish/lacquer has gone, which makes it very smooth and tactile and surprisingly fast to play. Sound-wise I would be lying to say there's much in it as there's only so much difference between split P pickups. To my ears it sounds deep, woody and rich, like a good P bass should

[quote name='slobluesine' post='1194551' date='Apr 10 2011, 01:21 PM']14 onstage!!! bloody eck!!! errrr get yerself a Fender mate you CANT make any money [/quote] We took home £400 last night which is not bad for an hour's gig ... until you divide it between 13 of us! The DB is partly an image thing as its a retro band (see below) - it would be a damn sight easier to use my P bass! [attachment=77110:rattlin_bone.jpg]

[quote name='derrenleepoole' post='1194536' date='Apr 10 2011, 01:08 PM']+1 to the above. Player quieter on the stage and let FOH handle the volume out front. Or is this too simple a solution to your requirements?[/quote] In principle thats eminently sensible but there's 13/14 of us packing the stage and I am squeezed next to a loud-ish drummer and a sousaphone player so even with amps low its bl**dy noisy on stage!!!

[quote name='bajistaman' post='1194469' date='Apr 10 2011, 12:06 PM']If you dont mind how much did you pay for that beauty?[/quote] About £3k as it was re-finned (100% original oly white '63 non-refins are very hard to find, much more so than sunburst basses; I tracked one down in the US and it would have been over £5k, so that decided me to go the refin route)

Here is my '63 P, which is all original bar OW refin. Sourced recently from the US by BC'er Si Clifton. The celluloid scratchplate is badly shrunken and cracked and I am trying to decide whether to stick with it for true authenticity or to put on a very authentic-looking repro celluloid guard (made about 20 years ago and nicely aged) that I have acquired from a US source. I think its rather lovely, the neck is wonderfully playable and it sounds superb (well, just like a good P should). [attachment=77098:P1040183.JPG][attachment=77099:P1040192.JPG][attachment=77101:P1040190.JPG]

[quote name='slobluesine' post='1194417' date='Apr 10 2011, 11:18 AM']plugging the f/holes does the trick, try 3/4 layers of gaffa tape first (single layer is useless) if that works there's diy or Dougs Plugs... [url="http://www.dougsplugs.com/"]http://www.dougsplugs.com/[/url][/quote] For about £60 inc postage those foam Dougs Plugs f-hole plugs look like a pretty good solution as they are invisible to the audience - will investigate! TNIT, don't think I could squeeze the bass between my knees as a long term option but U can see it might work!

Just a thought. - what about Di ing from Fishman and using some sort of in -ear monitoring so I don't need the amp next to me?

Thanks all. I will try cloth around the bridge next time. Unfortunately I have no option due to size of band but to stand near the drummer and my amp (which has a down firing speaker) when the stage is cramped, as it was last night. It was hugely difficult trying to adjust things before our set commenced as the DJ was playing drum n bass at Heathrow Terminal levels and the stage was booming like a mofo!

To kick off with I've pasted below from the 'How was your gig' thread when I mentioned having feedback problems on the big boomy stage last night (rig: DB; piezo p/up into Fishman Plat Pro into AI Coda combo into AI extension cab): [quote name='bob_pickard' post='1194264' date='Apr 10 2011, 07:28 AM']As for feedback - I've tried everything piezo wise, muting the strings, phase shifting, praying and swearing - unfortunately you have to use a mag pickup in small/medium halls at big volume - the schaller is loud but sounds rubbish and rattles - Kent Armstrong is pretty good; I've just got a Moses Graphite to try which will be interesting and have my eye on their new one....you can borrow one and try if you like if we can find a gap where gigs don't clash[/quote] [quote name='clarky' post='1194264' date='Apr 10 2011, 010:00 AM']Thanks mate - I really have to solve the volume/feedback problem as our band plays quite loudly and, with 13 of us last night (plus two clowns), I have to stand tight to a fairly noisy drummer. I used an Auralex Gramma pad for my extension cab and put the AI Coda at head level behind me on a solid old Trace bass amp (not switched on!) and still could barely hear myself at the levels that didn't produce feedback. My strings are Silver Slaps so I would need to move to metal strings if I went for a mag pickup - mind you I also have a set of Presto Ultralights (on my Eminence now) which I think contain metal, so can be used with a mag p/up.[/quote] So I wondered if any of the experienced DB'ers had any suggestions to get my rig louder without encountering feedback problems? BTW, the sound engineer had to virtually remove all the low-mids on my Fishman preamp to control the feedback

[quote name='bob_pickard' post='1194264' date='Apr 10 2011, 07:28 AM']Nice one Clarky! well done mate! I have the same problem with the dressing room at our regular Burlesque club gig - half a dozen girls in corsets - it's awful! As for feedback - I've tried everything piezo wise, muting the strings, phase shifting, praying and swearing - unfortunately you have to use a mag pickup in small/medium halls at big volume - the schaller is loud but sounds rubbish and rattles - Kent Armstrong is pretty good; I've just got a Moses Graphite to try which will be interesting and have my eye on their new one....you can borrow one and try if you like if we can find a gap where gigs don't clash Anyroad up well done mate![/quote] Thanks mate - I really have to solve the volume/feedback problem as our band plays quite loudly and, with 13 of us last night (plus two clowns), I have to stand tight to a fairly noisy drummer. I used an Auralex Gramma pad for my extension cab and put the AI Coda at head level behind me on a solid old Trace bass amp (not switched on!) and still could barely hear myself at the levels that didn't produce feedback. My strings are Silver Slaps so I would need to move to metal strings if I went for a mag pickup - mind you I also have a set of Presto Ultralights (on my Eminence now) which I think contain metal, so can be used with a mag p/up.

We played the Hootananny in Brixton, a massive pub that stages regular live music and has a proper stage and sound engineer. Various Balkan/gypsy type acts before us and of course Princess Knickers, who acted out stripping tableaux to a couple of songs, including "(I may not be a lady but I'm) all woman" by Lisa Stansfield! Sharing the dressing room with her was an interesting experience, I had to study the ceiling closely at points Anyways, we came on about 12.30am and played an hour to a big (don't know how many but several hundred at least) crowd and got an encore. I used the double bass and struggled a bit with feedback on the boomy stage (which meant I had to have quite low on-stage volume) but I suspect more experienced players than me would have had the same problem. Apparently it sounded good in front of stage though so all good

[quote name='ficelles' post='1194230' date='Apr 10 2011, 01:47 AM']remember you've got to put it back together safely...[/quote] Fortunately in this case you would have to be an even bigger electronickery numpty than me not to be able to put it together - its literally two colour coded clips for the transformer and screwing the units to the metal base plate. Had it been more complicated I would have ignored the instructions and sent the unit whole

If it helps, we are now on at midnight not 12.45! Thought not ...

[quote name='icastle' post='1193686' date='Apr 9 2011, 12:12 PM']Is this AI under warranty?[/quote] Probably not (its the older IIa series) - Beedster got it off eBay and I bought it off him so would be difficult to track down history. That said AI have indicated they will repair for free

Thanks all for advice. Fortunately the toroidal transformer was clipped rather than soldered on, so it was a simple exercise to disconnect it (and it has colour coded wires for when I eventually re-connect, making that process simple too). For peace of mind's sake I would rather have sent the whole unit but its all bubble wrapped and bagged up now, hopefully safely. Cheers again!

[quote name='chris_b' post='1193610' date='Apr 9 2011, 10:47 AM']You don't say what the problem is, but if it turns out to be caused by a faulty power supply they would need the transformer. I'd give them a call to make sure. Are you sure there’s no one over here who could fix it?[/quote] It just stopped making sound above the level of a mouse squeaking in a rehearsal last week (and the effects/send doesn't override this) - AI think the power amp has gone, based on my rather more detailed description of events. I did ring Overwater to see if there's anyone else but they only recommended sending back to AI. To be honest I will be selling this combo when it is fixed (as I have had to buy an emergency replacement for a big gig tonight) and I would rather any would-be buyer had the AI 'guarantee' attached to the repair work.

[quote name='apa' post='1193605' date='Apr 9 2011, 10:43 AM']And it will probably involve a soldering iron!! Im sure thats in the small print of the warranty!! Not to put the fear of god into the op but sending it to an appointed repairer in this country sounds like a much more 'customer friendly' option to me. A[/quote] There is no appointed repairer unfortunately. Overwater distribute and they told me to send to the US

Thanks all. I will disconnect the toroidal transformer as it sounds like this is not needed. TBH, the head isn't much bigger than the parts I would be sending off and its metal casing protects the electronic innards. Seems very odd to me to send the guts - I will need a ton of bubble wrap to make sure it doesn't get damaged on route. But I guess this is what Acoustic Image do and if it led to laads of problems they would have stopped doing it?

[quote name='obbm' post='1193591' date='Apr 9 2011, 10:32 AM']Sounds to me like its the mains transformer. A picture would help.[/quote] There's a panel with lots of electronc-y stuff and its attached by wires to something very similar to this thing [attachment=77035:Professi...nsformer.jpg]

I have to send back my faulty Acoustic Image Contra to the US for repair. This comprises a head bolted on to a speaker. I was told "you don't have to remove the whole chassis, just take the top off (with the preamp attached) and then remove the rear panel (with the power amp attached) and send us those two units." So I've unscrewed everything and the front panel is self explanatory. When the say rear panel with power amp attached, do they mean the big circular thingummy that comprises densely coiled wires in a plastic type covering? Thanks in advance from an electronics numpty

[quote name='Tandro' post='1193477' date='Apr 9 2011, 02:40 AM']Hi, Just inquiring as to any teachers in and around West London, or anybody recommended in that area? Will have to put up with (what I consider) a beginner. Looking for proper guidance and a real grounding in the basics of bass playing and music and taking it from there upwards. Thanks all...[/quote] Try Tom Kenrick, BC user name is TKenrick [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showuser=3018"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showuser=3018[/url] He is based in Chiswick and is a very good teacher and pro player who will fit the bill nicely, I think