Marc S

[quote name='alexpea' timestamp='1412873905' post='2572902'] I bought one of [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/J-tone-Black-Double-Bass-Pick-up-/191134096791?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item2c807add97"]these[/url] recently as a backup and I can't honestly tell the difference between it and my K&K Bass Max. Sounds great on my Ply Beater Bass [/quote] Thanks for letting us know about this I've seen these J-tone pickups about, on ebay They really are cheap, and maybe worth a try .... and some experimentation?

What a terrible story! I hope she is OK And I'm really pleased that some kind individual has donated a ticket Likely that those that stopped her don't understand the true value of music.....

Looks quite something! Prob a bit too heavy reliced for my own tastes, but of course, it's all personal taste.... Looks really different, and very eye-catching though I love my factory finish Fender J Roadworn It's the best, most comfortable bass I've ever played and I just love playing it There are those who dislike roadworn / reliced instruments but one real plus, is that you are less precious about them getting slight knocks on stage .... and that's quite liberating, in an odd sort of way I once had a near mint Rick and was paranoid when I took it out & about.... Cheers

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1412712323' post='2571312'] Years ago a guitarist I knew built a "stand" using cardboard tubes from the local carpet shop - stood the tubes on their ends and sat his amp on top of these. He claimed that with a smaller area actually touching the floor less sound was being transmitted through the floor. ...... [/quote] [quote name='tonyquipment' timestamp='1413103616' post='2574848'] Put the amp on the sofa... [/quote] TheGreek's solution is a good idea, and yes, if there's less surface area in contact with the floor It will help reduce those low end frequencies travelling through the building tonyquipment's solution is another good one BUT - make sure any fans & vents aren't blocked by the sofa or cushions Otherwise you run the risk of overheating! At home, I tend to use my electroacoustic bass, unplugged It's plenty loud enough to jam along with CD's / MP3's and general practicing I know my neighbour can't hear that at all Cheers Marc

I'm pretty much the same as most of the others I usually carry a backup bass, and think that's the sensible approach So he really should have a backup too Again, it depends on which bass I was using Some basses, I'd rather not loan to a stranger But if he seemed a genuine enough guy - I'd loan my backup bass.... I was in a band who played an afternoon session of 4 bands We were last but one, and the band who were on last, saw themselves as the "main band" even though that wasn't really the case..... They were young, and really full of themselves Our drummer had loaned them his kit, and while onstage were sarcastic about us, as we had played covers EDIT: The lead singer had said "we don't do covers - we're an original band - we can write our own songs" and 2 songs later, launched into a well known cover song! At that point, if it had been my bass amp they were using, I'd have gone onstage and removed it Our drummer decided to let it go though.... At the end of the evening, I had already left - the drummers father came to thank our drummer, but The drummer nor any other member of the band bothered to say "thank you, for the loan of your kit" So I'm much more cautious about loaning stuff since then.... Again, it's all down to their attitude when asking etc

You could try putting a couple of carpet off-cuts underneath the amp? Maybe take a peek in a local carpet shop's skip, round the back? .... one of those old carpet sample book type things might be a good idea.... I know what you mean - Just playing my DB late at night, unamplified It's quiet everywhere else - and the sound of bass really can carry.....

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1412621281' post='2570523'] .....I remember when "Made in Japan" meant "junk" but the reality was that most of the stuff that came out of Japan in the 70s was pretty much alright and that it was a ploy by British manufacturers to try to maintain their sales (of what was pretty shoddy items TBH) by slandering the opposition. [/quote] Yes, I remember that too Several pals had really good basses and guitars made in Japan during that period and I had a "Shaftesbury" Rick copy bass, made in Japan, and it was absolutely fantastic I only sold it cos it needed re-fretting, and I didn't have the cash for that at the time Really regret ever selling that bass now... Among my current crop of basses, is a China-made Squier Classic Vibe 60's P bass in rather fetching pink/red, with tort plate - It looks fab, IMO and it plays better than a Fender US P bass I recently tried (that was good too - just not quite as nice as my Squier) My Squier sounds great too, and it's really well put together - feels, sounds & plays like a quality instrument.... I've bought a lot of cheaply made Chinese tools etc - and usually regret buying them, cos they bend! lol So I suppose it depends what you're buying that's made in China.... If someone were to ask about whether to go for a new China-made Squier I'd always say try it first - but I'd also say "go for it!"

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1412113458' post='2565901'] FWIW I have used an NS5 for a long time and only came to like it when I put a set of Honeys on it and jacked the action right up. [/quote] Useful info - thanks for that owen Did you find it more comfortable due to the lower tension Honeys?

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1412076521' post='2565340'] A full sized Harp? Blimey. They are so heavy that I had assumed when people moved house they just left it there with the bath and the oven!! [/quote] Lol - at least no one at a gig is likely to nick one.... And yes, walbasist - harps really can sound absolutely awesome We had said harpist perform at our wedding last December The reception was in Caerphilly Castle and the sound of the harp was really loud..... in a huge ballroom.... unamplified!

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1412064011' post='2565203'] Have you tried getting a proper DB in an average car with 2 kids and the driver? I'm currently playing in a local music trust group / orchestra that my kids attend. 2 kids, a clarinet, a sax, my amp & EUB is all I can fit in the car! I got my EUB purely because I don't have room for a DB, in the house or in the car. [/quote] I know - DB's take up a lot of space in a car, and by the time you start adding amps, cabs, cables, stands and bass guitar etc That's a big appeal of EUB's for me I do quite a few open-mics and local music club evenings - these are obviously un-paid and it's just so much handier to use an EUB for these sort of events EDIT: I also forgot to mention - I live in a 3 storey house, and sometimes have to keep the acoustic DB on the top floor ..... I really should have a roadie by my age! lol Mind you, DB doesn't cost as much, or take up as much room as kids! A good pal of mine, who is a drummer, has 3 musician kids and is regularly carting a full-size harp and a cello around, along with said kids.....

[quote name='Burg' timestamp='1411989713' post='2564521'] Bugger, I was hoping no-one on basschat had seen this. [/quote] Sorry Burg.....

[quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1411980720' post='2564434'] SLB100 on ebay at the moment [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-SLB-100-Silent-Bass-/221557909038?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item3395e1662e"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3395e1662e[/url] [/quote] Thanks for that andyonbass That's a great price at the moment In my watch list already Cheers

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1411945313' post='2564274'] I'm confused. If you want a double bass sound, wouldn't it make sense to buy a double bass? I like the sound of some electric uprights, because they sound like electric uprights and it's a nice sound. But if that's not what you want, don't buy one? I have thought about getting an EUB myself (I've played DB for about 5 years now) but the only ones I would want to own are the Yamahas. [/quote] No, I've already got a double bass It's a beatiful David Gage "Czech Ease" I got from greg on this very forum I want / need an EUB, as I often practice late at night, and in the wee small hours, it's surprising how the sound of a DB can travel it's also surprising just how loud Mrs S can get, when she's woken up! lol Also, I play some gigs where I double up, and play bass guitar too So I'm just looking to travel a bit lighter for some of those gigs, and the rehearsals I do with my folk band.... I had a Stagg, which I recently sold - to save up for a better EUB - something like an NS design It's surprising how much less practice time I'm getting, and, partly due to where we rehearse, how much more of a pain it can be to cart my DB around for midweek rehearsals...... Hence the need for an EUB as well as my DB My original post was really asking about the comparison between NS basses, and an Aria I had only just become aware of (you don't seem to see many of them around) but as ever, there are other solutions too - like the Yamaha BC'ers have kindly brought my attention to But atm, they are a bit out of my price range, sadly Hope that answers your question thisnameistaken Marc

My first DB pickup was a second-hand K & K Pickup, with 4 sensors I must say, that pickup did seem to give some "acoustic feel" to the sound Maybe because there were 4 sensors? Or some other reason? Perhaps I should not have sold that one on, and tried some experiments, using it together with one of these Schatten pickups...... ah well Just because you have a sound you are happy with - it doesn't mean you shouldn't experiment further Cheers again guys