Twincam

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1426697499' post='2720964'] If I shout really loud the wife can hear me from he top of the garden. [/quote] Haha!

I'm thinking i might start practicing amped more. My playing has become very sterile and dull as i hear fretboard clacking etc over the note often sounds very plastic too with Fender tapewounds most of it not coming through an amp, many noises by the nature of string on metal frets will never be eliminated, but im still overly trying to reduce them. Rather than focus on the nuances of playing im trying to now play cleaner and cleaner focusing solely on that.

Im only a beginner and probable at a average level for my almost 2 years playing. I only comment when i feel i can offer something. Self taught and glad i am only recently really honing my playing i know what works and what does not from experience. I hope my development continues. I am much better at setup work, light repairs basically spent 2 years really learning about the luthiery side in various ways. Spent money on tools and sometime soon will be attending a few shorter courses with the intent on doing setups, light repairs, electrical work etc etc as a little business. I would never give bad advice unless its possibly on other subjects not related to playing or setups etc lol. Always willing to learn more and i really like basschat its for the most part fun and friendly. With fantastic members. One last thing is i refuse to learn any more than basic theory as i just have no interest in it also find my brain does not comprehend it, so this i keep out of.

Pretty much the same as many above only had to listen once, and im sure it goes 10s, 15 and the 12. Even more confident after seeing others replies.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1426628439' post='2720178'] The one on the left is a lot louder the one on the right unplugged [url="http://s997.photobucket.com/user/stingraypete/media/20130308_185259_zps4eb72611.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Urgh there's always one!.... Hahaha Oh and to add is it wise keeping them next to that radiator???

Just curious when un amped how loud are you?. Obviously say a hollow body will be louder, but when playing a solid body how well can you hear it?. When un amped i can only just about hear myself, using tapewounds and light plucking. The various sounds made from the fret board are often louder, thankfully not the same amped of course. No real point to this just curious.

It's amazing how a few millimeters here and there can really make a big difference to how a neck feels and to how you play. It's one of those things that makes me think its really cool how sensitive our hands are.

4mm at the 12th is really high! anymore and in my view its a waste of effort. I can't see what you would gain going higher. I do believe higher actions give a sweeter sound, but there is a point of diminishing returns. With that said if you like the sound and can play it then go for it. I used to like high action then found lowering really did improve my playing. I had to adjust and refine my plucking technique.

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1426495927' post='2718402'] Roger Sadowsky and Michael Tobias have been building basses for many years. They did a very interesting talk about setting up basses at NAMM this year. Better from the horses mouth than us hobbyists. http://youtu.be/QzDxC98VNx8 [/quote] Good vid seen it before. I will say that like many things in any instrument building and setup there are many ways to do things the right way.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1426495477' post='2718397'] Do you guys always loosen the strings before adjusting the truss rod? I always do (although only because I guessed I should) but it's a bit annoying to have to bring it back up to pitch again to see if it's right, then detune it again if it needs a further tweak.. ad nauseam. Some great advice in this thread though... BC at its best. [/quote] It seems most do not feel loosening of the strings is needed. I don't and never had a problem.

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1426369948' post='2717482'] Just had a read through Twincam's post. Above bit is not the best advice. On any bass the string should be held down where the neck joins the body. That is where the neck relief starts, not at the last fret. On a Fender there are five more frets after the neck joins the body. Holding down at the last fret will give you a false reading. What height is your nut Funky Dunky. That's the first thing that needs to be checked before anything else. Until that is right you'll never get anything else right. Then neck relief, then saddle height, then intonation. [/quote] While this is partially true and I get your point. Plenty of good luthiers and manufacturers alike take measurements as I suggested at the last fret and I believe the error that could be induced by taking the measurements at the last fret to be negligible. Once again pointing out that many have used the described technique for decades. And on many bolt on necks you do get a little ski jump effect which makes the curve of the neck actually from 1st to last fret which throws in all sorts of variables anyway. You will never get the perfect setup and the basses that come close time after time have a lot of attention paid to them. To address the fret buzz further perhaps you are playing too hard?. I think this is the biggest cause of buzzing for many, some people need a higher action or larger gauge strings (higher tension, less vibration), or to refine there technique. Since I've been using low tension tape wounds ive had to refine my touch a lot!. Turn up the amp pluck lighter, if using a pick in general you need higher action.

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1426114516' post='2714709'] Would buzzing in the higher frets be eliminated by giving the saddles a wee tweak to raise the action? [/quote] Yes. Or playing with a lighter touch or playing with higher tension strings (even set at the same action etc due to less vibration arc) higher tension strings are typically but not always bigger gauges of roundwounds and most gauges of flatwounds are higher tension. Also remembering buzzing can be a high fret. To confuse the situation more you can even get buzz between the nut and a fretted note (back buzz), while this won't come through the amp it can sound horrible to the player, Caused by too low a nut or a high fret in the lower to mid region and even too little relief. There is a fine art to setup for sure but as my prior post says you should be able to set up any bass, with a few non specialist household tools to a fairly good standard that would satisfy most players and styles. Assuming the nut and frets are in relatively good condition. Although a high nut can be altered with a set of roundwound strings as well as any nut file. I might do a picture series or video that will enable nearly anyone too check the initial setup of there instrument record it and if needed identify problems. Then if needed setup there bass or guitar even. Also to correctly check and cut a high nut all to a very good standard with just tools nearly every house has. Although i strongly recommend buying the correct tools and if unsure going to a luthier if you identify other issues which need a specialist. I hate the thought of people buying an instrument and being left with something hard to play or in lots of cases unplayable out the box and not knowing what to do. And being disappointed or worse put off playing. My girlfriend says i shouldn't show people especially if in the near future i want to make money from setup work lol.

I think if someone takes someone to court for plagiarism and wins they should only be entitled to a certain percentage of the profit.

To me i thought the song was sufficiently different enough to not be a copy. And this confuses me even more about how close you can get to others work, there is not an infinite amount of notes, chords etc. Since i have been reading about this case ive noticed more and more songs are very similar. The Beatles Taxman and the Jam's Start i noticed just the other day for instance.

Ive got more used to the fender tapes. Been able to lower the action a little to 3mm-2.5mm so still a little too high. Loving the sound even more now they have mellowed. Of course lots of music they are not so suitable for but very much still enjoying tapewounds. I shall investigate the above mentioned thanks

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1425904683' post='2711961'] Why don't you just join a band? [/quote] No i have thought about that and i really want the experience of getting something going myself from the very start. Even if it does not work out, i really want to go down that road. Pick my own people or have a major part in it anyhow. Anyhow im going to hold off for a little bit, as have other things (good things) going on and want to make sure im better prepared to really give this a good shot. No noubt i will ask some advice on how to write a wanted ad soon. Oh and too add i had a good laugh at the replies!

Haha very funny, like it

Yes there are many multi pedals that do all that and much more. http://www.thomann.de/gb/bass_multieffects.html The only multi pedal i have used was a zoom one. Others will chime in im sure on a recommendation. But there are lots of options.

Here is an easy way to set up a bass, with household tools that should give you a very playable bass and a pretty standard setup. Tools need are a 4mm allen key, a 2.5 mm allen key and a 2mm allen key. Also a small allen key for the bridge saddle adjustment. Finally a standard business card like the ones from a taxi company not a plastic credit card etc they are too thick. Of course if you can invest in the correct tools but this method is fine for getting a bass in playing condition, for someone with limited tools. First tune your bass normally then fret at the first fret and then with your elbow of your right arm hold down the e string on the last fret. This is so you can check the relief of the neck, place the business card corner first in between the 7th fret of the E string while its still held down at the first and last fret. It should slide in nicely if it doesn't fit in as the gap is too small then the neck is too straight and needs more relief, if it fits in but there is also a gap the neck has too much relief (too bent). the card should just fit in there nicely maybe a very slight drag. Business cards tend to be around .010 - .015" in size which is around about the average in most factory specs for relief. If you tighten the truss rod turning it right it will make the gap smaller, left for increasing the gap. This is of course while your looking at the nut right on if your holding the bass tightening looks like your going left and vice versa!. Assuming the truss rod access is in the headstock. Ok so turn the allen key small turns at a time, then check the relief as above, remember each time you tighten or loosen the truss rod you must put the A string back and re tune all the strings so you get an accurate reading of the relief. Its time consumming and can sometimes be a pain in the bum but has to be done right. Once you have the relief set, then we adjust the bridge saddle to alter the final string action (height). There are a two different areas to measure the string height at the 12th and 17th fret i suggest if you play hard we go for the measurements at the 12th if you play lighter the 17th fret. There is also of course the fact nearly everyone likes a different string height but, 2.5mm - 2mm is about standard. To measure the height get your 2.5mm allen key and i will assume you have chosen to measure from the 12th fret. and without fretting the string measure the height of the E string from top of the fret to the bottom, and adjust at the bridge saddle so again the allen key slides nicely in and out with very slight drag. Make sure the bridge saddle is level it does not need to be angled, also while taking measurements make sure the bass is in relativly the same position you play, as necks move slights amounts at different angles. Ok So once the E is at 2.5mm you can set the A, D and G in this way the final G string should be 2mm. So maybe E and A could be 2.5mm and D and G 2mm in height from the top if the 12th fret to the bottom of the string. And again after every single small movement of the strings you make at the bridge every time before the height is rechecked it need to be put back into tune. The bass other than now needing to be intonated should be in very reasonable playing condition. If you dont have a 2.5mm allen key a 3/32" one gives you about 2.4mm. Feel free to set the string height higher or lower, but using allen keys or even drill bits do a good job of measurements. 4mm is the heights action that could be considered playable, under 2mm is low but the lower you go the more buzzing you might get if you hit the strings hard. Buzzing from frets 1 to 7 indicate too little relief, buzzing in the higher frets indicate to low an action, buzzing all over might indicate just that your playing too hard for the setup. I could write a full on essay about various other set up problems and remedies. Watch setup videos, read my little guide and hopefully it will all make sense. Hope what ive written helps.

With string tree's as said above really does not matter, but at least 2.5 just to be sure of no string slip. Without string trees it depends, as a rule at least 3.5 ive found works, however if the nut is not optimal for say a smaller gauge string 5 plus raps around the post will give a good break angle to stop rattling in the nut due to the increased down ward pressure. Better to have more raps then cut too short and find that you don't have correct string break angle.

With recent improvements in my playing i have refined and made a few little tunes/riffs etc etc that i feel are fairly decent nothing to complicated but things i feel have some potential. I always have little ideas. Unfortunately everyone who i was jamming with is busy or not interested of late. I have kept my new ideas slightly guarded of late, but ive said to them i really think there is potential there, at the very least not to be rubbish and i want to explore these ideas, still no interest from friends which is a shame as in the past things have worked well just never got anything rolling, and now im starting to get a bit of playing ability no one cares lol. So i need to find a guitarist but i have certain requirements. That they are understanding of my current abilities and wont expect to much from me at least in the beginning, basically i don't need hendrix coming in and leaving me behind. That they have some sort of knowledge of music theory because im lacking there so it would be helpful that they could help flesh out ideas or that at least they are good at elaborating on ideas. That they have there own ideas too. Maybe someone even of similar experience to me as long as we work well together and act as sounding board for each other. Age, sex, appearance not important. Long as they are reliable and available. Broad range of musical taste would help too everything from the 50s to now. Oh and to add must have some sort of ambition even just a little. Is that too much to ask? how would i go about looking for this person and writing a wanted ad?. I'm totally clueless about this. Oh yeah and i don't want any weirdo's im strange enough myself, someone fairly grounded would help even me out. I suppose i can suss people out myself anyhow.

Is it wrong i prefer these knobs over the other 2 styles they have. Not my choice if the pick guard goes, that would be up to the gf think she likes the pearl pick guard which is actually done very well for the bottom of the range model. Totally agree about the strings they come with yuk!.

As in my nbd thread same here 3 days delivery, although ive never had problems with uk next day delivery either.

First off, 3 days from Thomann to me, so fantastic service. Not my Bass actually bought it for my girlfriend as she has been really enjoying me teaching her on my bass (the blind leading the blind phrase comes to mind haha). Wanted something short scale, cool looking, light weight for her. Ticks all the boxes and at a decent price i thought too. Initial Review. Average overall quality for the price range. Seems well put together. Ok finish a few very minor imperfections common for price range again. Binding is well done. The tuners are fine! ive seen many reviews saying there not great etc but they seem totally fine to me, smooth, hold tuning fine so far, don't feel flimsy at all, time will tell i suppose. Electrics work well and feel ok, nothing special but not junk. Pickups im not sure about, initial signs are that they are actually very usable, surprisingly deep and punchy for such a little bass especially at the price point. No odd noises or grounding issues. Certainly sounds like a Hofner even with the cheapo rounds it ships with it had that distinctive sound, hollow body just like the German versions. Setup out the box was a mixed bag, easy to play but some buzzing issues that needed fixing with minor fret work and new quality strings. Soon as i can i will totally re level, crown, polish the lot. Odd buzzing noises that can't be anything other than the terrible strings it came with, i read they were horrible but i got a shock! if Harley Benton can afford to fit Daddario's then surely all basses should come with usable strings. Couple of other minor things the fretboard and adjustable bridge are not well finished (the chrome tail piece is fine, zero issues), usable certainly and i doubt will give any issues but would of liked to see them look a bit more refined. It's a lovely bass really. Very easy to play, addictive in a way. Does get that Hofner sound. Works well finger style despite tighter spacing. Looks very cool in my opinion. Quick pic [url="http://s330.photobucket.com/user/Twincam2008/media/IMG_20150304_153946_zps0khl2axp.jpg.html"][/url]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1424511769' post='2697059'] Now there's an idea. A new way to adjust neck relief, with two little windy handles. Or even curve radius of the fretboard!! I will write to the patent office before anyone else nicks it. Where's my 'Cleartone Guitars' headed notepaper? [/quote] [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1424513940' post='2697086'] Jesus Christ! So it's [i]you!! [/i] [/quote] [quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1424527170' post='2697330'] Surprised someone doesn't take it off his hands and convert it to a 5 string Bass (for those with huge hands). [/quote] [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1424556700' post='2697761'] Would it be cyber-bullying if all of us offered him £59.26 every hour for a week? [/quote] Pmsl! .