Marc S

Hi Alex, Welcome to the world of bass (we're much friendlier than guitarists, aren't we? lol) And welcome to basschat too Those old Aria's are pretty damn good basses IMO I used to fancy owning one years back, and still like the look of them If you picked it up cheap, then all the better Marc PS. You are also welcome to beat my country at Rugby.... .... what? Oh you already did!

Yes, I have a fretless - though I just use it to muck about on, in the main I'll have a try of that trick with the hanky though.... The effects unit I heard rendered a really good DB sound I don't know how it did it, but it was pretty close Still looking for effects suggestions too BTW How good is the Zoom 3? Does the rather cheaper Zoom 2 also have a DB - esque effect? Cheers all Marc

[quote name='Qlank' timestamp='1415886041' post='2604827'] Take a hanky or a sock to a guitar shop. Pick a fretless bass. Use the sock to dampen the strings by the bridge. Play like you would your double bass. Take on cheddatom's suggestions. You might like what you hear. [/quote] Hmmm, interesting - must try that I'm intrigued now!

[quote name='DanR' timestamp='1415876189' post='2604685'] The Hurting is a great album. Easy to slate them for being overproduced but underneath it all is great songwriting and hooks [/quote] Yes, overproduction was possibly a part of that era & genre But as you say, some good songs in there Even if, like me, they aren't your favourite band, you can easily find yourself singing along...... ...and knowing a lot of the words etc

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1415882861' post='2604778'] Well, good players wont work for free, so that is a limitation you'll have to consider, IMO. But agree on the second point, but it is possible to have a good band that does stuff you enjoy ..( I'll enjoy it a lot more if we do it well ) and get paid .. but you do have conside rmarketing elements as well...as in most things where money gets involved [/quote] I know plenty of good players who work for free, and some brilliant players too.... Again, it all depends on whether they are earning a decent enough wage elsewhere, and how much time they have, how much they enjoy the music etc But I think you'll find many good musicians work for nothing, or next to nothing You could say that financially hurts those who need to earn via playing - but that's also another thread of course

[quote name='steviedee' timestamp='1415874931' post='2604670'] Thanks for the info guys I'm actually am going to see one which is priced at £180. [/quote] I'd say that's a pretty good price IMHO You may want to look around - I have seen one or two a little cheaper But that's still a great instrument for that price....

I've got a Squier VM series bass, and it's great! Haven't got one for sale, but I'll vouch for the quality and value for money of one of these basses mine was fretted, and I converted it to fretless with a Squier VM fretless neck - both necks have been great and the bass worked well in both guises You see them going second hand for reasonable money Good luck with your search

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1415800239' post='2603897'] I wouldn't be in a band that had revenue as a goal. It's all about the art dears... [/quote] Yes, I agree I realise that for some people, making money out of music is more important, or even essential, if it is a big part of their main income source For me, music is my hobby - I love it, and I wouldn't want to be part of anything that I didn't particularly like I've also found that where money is, or becomes a big part of a bands' focus Things tend to fall apart, or get ugly Myself and other band members have been ripped off by those who focus on the money, and who also haven't been keen on paying for rehearsal studios... A shift towards charging more has also disbanded one band I was in (some members of which now refuse to talk to one another) Of course, this is just my personal perspective, and it would be nice to make some money back for all the cash & effort I've put in but this is my hobby, and I'd rather have fun and a good rapport with the band I couldn't see myself playing with a band I didn't like, or playing music I disliked just because it paid well..... EDIT: After all that (lol) - I was also going to say joinmyband and Gumtree have proved unfruitful, but I've met quite a lot of musicians through facebook, often friends of friends etc

I was never a huge fan of Tears For Fears, but liked them a bit I have Songs From The Big Chair on vinyl, and I think back in the time of that album, I preferred other music, and was probably listening to the bass on other music, and busy trying to emulate that.... But I agree, listening to the music a few years on, I found the songs and bass more interesting than when I first heard it..... EDIT: Of it's time, and yes, it worked in context

Hi SubsonicSimpleton, Great to hear you've sorted the soundpost issue Well done sir! A stroke of genius, I think I'm looking at your home made sound post tool with with huge admiration Also, I'd like to have a go at making my own (just in case) Could you do me a huge favour, and post a photo of the tool, from the other side? I'm just wondering how it works exactly? Apologies for not quite fully understanding, but does the loop of fishing line around the copper pipe, to help "catch" the soundpost? I think that's my understanding of it? Thanks for posting, oh, and by the way, you may not have a flat cap and a whippet, but this Welshman doesn't like sheep, doesn't particularly like Rugby, and can't sing..... .... and I don't carry a giant leek around with me either EDIT: But I am not averse to skip-hunting, if it provides me with what I want..... and for free Marc

Apologies if this has been asked before, but I was wondering what peoples thoughts were sound effects units / pedals I'm after something as close as poss to a double bass sound, for my bass guitar Pre-empting those who say "If you want something that sounds like a DB - get a DB" I do play double bass too..... I'm just after achieving something pretty close, with a bass guitar too Some people have mentioned the Zoom B3 effects, as being pretty good Just wondering what anyone else has found? Generally speaking, I don't really "do" too many effects I seem to go through phases of using one pedal, I move on to another, and they usually gather dust But I've heard folk talk quite highly of the Zoom, saying it's got some useful effects, and is reasonably priced for what you get.... Cheers all Marc

[quote name='DanEly' timestamp='1415717275' post='2602984'] So this little number came today... [/quote] Looks great! I'm rather envious.....

Just wanted to say another + for Markbass cabs I've got a 210 combo, and it cuts through nicely I used to have a Markbass 15 as well, which I sold That was a nice cab (sold due to needing space, and having another cab I didn't want to sell too) Markbass gear certainly is comparatively lightweight I know - cos I'm getting too old to shift heavy stuff around

PS. A big part of my own "mid life crisis" was buying basses I really wanted when I was younger, but couldn't afford Mind you, I now have far too many! lol And in reality, I still can't afford them - but I have realised that life is just too short not to have some of what you really want That translates to: Go & treat yourself to a lovely, lovely bass that you really "need" ! EDIT: +1 to BassBods comment also

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1415706011' post='2602808'] Roadworns have a smaller radius fretboard & use skinnier frets don't they? These changes probably mean the angles your fingers & wrist are bending at are slightly different to what you're used to so it might just be your muscles straining.... [/quote] My Roadworn has the same size frets as my USA The necks are really similar, in terms of width, depth and radius too If anything, my USA Jazz is very slightly (only very slightly mind you) narrower at the nut end - not really anything much in it mind Certainly no neck dive on my roadworn.... Like I say, it's the most comfortable bass I've yet played Part of that, I'm sure, is the fact that it is "roadworn" in appearance too By that, I mean I'm not overly precious about it, or having forty fits when a drummer is setting up right next to it I hope you can sort your problem But whatever you feel about the bass, it's not worth suffering tendonitis Good luck Marc

Other things can affect cramp in your hand Is it possible that you've only happened to notice it after playing your Roadworn? Have you maybe been clicking away at a computer mouse a lot during the day? How does the neck finish feel, in comparison to your Japan-made neck? Is it more shiny, less shiny? I wonder whether the finish is more worn on your other bass..... I have too many basses atm, including a lovely US Jazz I recently bought on here But I'd hate to think of parting with my roadworn....... eughhhhh

Hi Froggy, I used to play bass as a young man Then stopped in my mid-twenties, and didn't take it up again for over 20 years! So it was literally like starting again, and I was a bit older than you are now So it's not insurmountable..... Can't believe it was that long.... Or that I had ever given up, but life being what it is, other things got in the way.... You've made a good start, by having a tutor ... now work out something a bit cooler lol Just play along with some CD's / MP3's (or 78's! lol) and have fun working out more songs It can feel like a real sense of achievement, when you work out a song you really like Anyhow, welcome to the wonderful world of bass The trick is, to just have fun Good luck, and enjoy the journey Marc EDIT: Still having a mid-life crisis, in Cardiff.... Mind you, the "crisis" might have something to do with my local football team

Hi, I've got a Roadworn Jazz and it's my fave / most comfortable bass to play It's a Mex built (I think they all are?) and a few years old I got it second-hand from this fab forum It plays beautifully, and I find the neck is just superb Can't say I have any issues with it at all I can play it for ages & ages I can't think what would cause your problem Does the neck have a bit of "drag" compared to your Japan Jazzes? My left hand usually glides along, I must say And the neck seems slimmer than some US Jazzes I've played Hope you can get some helpful feedback, and a solution Let us know how you get on Best Marc

Just echoing what the others have said too Daf I didn't actually partake of the trial myself - I just went ahead & bought some silver slaps from what others had recommended But it was a great idea Cheers for setting it up in the first place and thanks for your help & advice too best Marc

Why has he not got it on a strap?