Funky Dunky

[quote name='Luulox' timestamp='1476043821' post='3150817'] Any tone SRV used is perfect for me. Quite keen on dimebags type distortion too. [/quote] I love SRV's tone, it has been aped so much it's almost clichéd - but every one is a pale imitation of Stevie's.

Thin single-coil, bridge pickup sound. Arctic Monkeys tones. Indie guitar sounds. Criminal.

Dunlops are EXTREMELY rough. They may play in nicely - we'll see - but out of the packet they're kinda horrid!

I had this problem with my Sterling Sub Ray 4. I temporarily tuned it a bit higher in pitch, which worked a treat for playing alone, but if you're in a band situation it's no use. I was using lower tension strings, and when I changed them (to a different brand, higher tension but the same gauge) the problem went away. Drop £20 on a new set of higher-tension strings, and all will be fine.

I had this problem and actually found it took me several steps to remedy it. I changed my brand of strings, worked hard on my technique and then was actually able to LOWER my action! Oh, and FYI - rolling some of the treble off at the amp made for a good temporary fix.

I used a TC Electronic BH550 in a rehearsal room a while ago. It wasn't absolutely hideous, but it coloured the sound of the bass to the point that it sounded like I was going through a mid 1990s floor multi fx unit. It was just a bit......yucky-sounding. I feel the TC stuff masks the true sound of your instrument in a way I really don't like. That said, I haven't used a whole lot of different amps - but the TC sticks out as being particularly displeasing. Great effects, not so great amps, imo.

Do you have a budget in mind?

Been playing them in for a couple of hours today and they're not nearly as bad as my initial impressions. In future, however, I'll be going with DR strings.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1475823559' post='3148933'] If you're using Dunlop steels, they feel lifeless because they're cr4p strings. I put a set on and found them duller than their nickels (which are decent)! Dunlop Super Bright, or the Marcus Miller set, is another story though. Very lively, and the lowest tension I've ever seen in a string, which makes for effortless slap etc. But they took a long time to break in until I was happy with the tone, they sounded far too thin and clanky at first. [/quote] I'll agree with you Super Brights. Simply the best strings for slap I've played. I just wish they did a slightly higher gauge, as you need a crazy featherlight touch for plucking, imo, or else you get all kinds of movement. It did occur to me that Dunlop SS may just be crap - the Fat Beams I tried settled in and smoothed out quickly. These Dunlops, though - oh dear - I feel like they're scrap metal. They DON'T feel like a quality string. I almost want to send them back and seek a refund. I will never buy cheap strings again.

They're too grippy, as has been said...but my Ray doesn't sound like a Ray with Nickels. Tell you what, though - having the steels on is going to make me a better player, because with steels there is no place to hide as far as dampening strings is concerned.

Yes, more resistant to sliding! Definitely! Is there a middle ground? Between SS and Nickel?

It's just me, isn't it? When I started playing bass, I found that Stainless Steels were too zingy and created too much unwanted handling noise. So I switched to Nickels. Softer. Quieter. Less zing. All good. But then.......I grew dissatisfied with the Nickels. They appeared not to EQ well. They weren't great for slap. So I went back to SS......and a brand new pack arrived today, I put them on my bass and they looked and felt cruddy. Sticky (not as in gluey, just...not slick). Now, this is the second set in a month to do this. First was a set of Fat Beams. Today it's Dunlops. Same apparent issue with both? Is it just because I'm used to Nickels, which are smoother and shinier out of the pack? Are Stainless Steels typically a completely different feel? They feel so lifeless by comparison. They are, aren't they? It's just me, isn't it?

[quote name='McBass' timestamp='1475484053' post='3146168'] Can i ask what the issues were, i'm well on my way to a 3rd Unit failure? [/quote] 3rd EBS failure? Interesting. I had been considering a Reidmar, but this puts me off.

Genuinely saddened by this. Rod's a dude. I often used to ask people "Did you know Thriller was written by a white dude from Cleethorpes?" Cue open-mouthed disbelief. R.I.P. fella, thanks for the funk

Anyone tried these? I can't find a demo, sadly, but the Wilkinson J pickup sounds lovely. The P pickup goes for £39.99 new.....

Cack-handed, sloppy funk.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1475574933' post='3146962'] I don't know why you guys let the people who work in music shops wind you up so much. Go in, say "no thanks, I'm just looking" and get on with it. Know what you need to know before you walk in. Don't ask them stuff and don't converse. If you find anything you'd like to try ask and try it. Either say I'm having it or no thanks and go around the loop again or leave. Life's too short to get angry with anyone let alone anyone working in a music shop. [/quote] That's good advice, but when it comes time to buy and the salesman starts mucking you about, or worse, making a fool of you/patronising you/making you feel like you're an inconvenience by being in their shop with a fistful of cash, why should you accept that? These shops are entirely dependent on our custom, yet for some reason, it appears to be fairly common practice for them to treat customers extremely shabbily. The result is, we take our business elsewhere, and (rightly) warn off other consumers from 'rewarding' these people with a transaction. Life is also too short to tolerate rudeness, suffer fools gladly, or pay someone who has treated you poorly.

Played through one a couple of days ago and was most impressed. Liked it a lot better than the Markbass I tried before it.

If it's a Fender P Bass? Probably a Nate Mendel or a second hand 60th Anniversary reissue.

My tastes are far less expensive, I want the Oil Red Corvette $$ and the 60th Anniversary P Bass which is now gone. I would also like the stunning Lake Placid Blue P Bass which I saw a coupla weeks ago. Ooooo.....GAS....

My modest, but handsome, family: [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ccolLKK.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1475370388' post='3145468'] Gave up music shops,exercise in futility. Places never have what I need. Highly recommended repair shop Strung Out. Me "morning. I need about 6" of cable for ground wire" Them "Try Maplin" Me "What about flatwounds ?" Them "Just what's on the shelf" Guitarguitar Me "Any flatwounds ?" Them "Errgh" Me "Don't bother I'll check the shelf" Course none both times. Local shop RA Music Me "Any scratchplate screws ?" Them "Try Guitarguitar in Glasgow " 50 mile round trip into Glasgow city centre for screws I can get of eBay for £1.49 ! No chance. Did have a success with Ayr Guitars,in Ayr Me "Any black beauties ? Owner " Naw. I've got Roto Nexus though." Me " What they like ?" Owner "Got a set on my Wal. That's it over there,I'll plug it in so you can try them" Yes I bought them. [/quote] Ayr Guitar is the best name for a music shop ever! Also, the owner is a great guy. I had been playing all of six months when I went in, just for a nosey. He came over while I was trying out a Cort, started chatting away about basses and I indicated that I was just in to kill time while the Mrs was away looking in shoe shops. He then asked if I wanted to try his Wal. I wet myself and squeaked 'yes please'. He gave me a thorough history of the bass and tour of its features, then plugged it into an amp and urged me to have fun. I had fun. What a fantastic fella. Unfortunately, they don't carry much of interest to me, but if they did, I would give that dude most of my business. And trying to buy flatwounds in Glasgow is like trying to buy Rohypnol in Boots.

I think this might have to be my next bass. I've noticed a phenomenal amount of love for BBs on this forum, and I tried a 424 a while back and really dug it. I want my next bass to be a 5er and I know the BBs are highly regarded. How's the low B on these puppies? I like it in red, too! http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Yamaha-BB425X-5-String-Bass-Guitar-Red-Metallic/1I3M

The Tonehammer is several hundred quid dearer. It's a bit like saying a Vauxhall Corsa is a decent car but you'd rather have an Audi A4. I would love a TH.....but....it's several hundred quid dearer.