Marc S

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1382611313' post='2254282']


Learning to play DB as well as BG is a guaranteed way of getting good bands interested - you will always be in demand if you can play both !
[/quote]

Here's hoping so ubassman...
No one biting yet though....

TBH - I bought the DB just because I wanted one anyway
I'm so glad I did - it's lovely

[quote name='Nick Riffed' timestamp='1382609865' post='2254255']
Bass?
[/quote]

Lol

Back in the 80's
I owned a Shaftesbury Rick copy
It was a really nice bass too
I only got rid of it cos it needed re-fretting
and I didn't have the dosh for that

Now I'm sure many of you are thinking they certainly aren't a rarity!
But I haven't seen one in years
When I started playing again a few years back, I searched high & low
they would get pulled off ebay now anyway
but the last one I saw there fetched almost the same as an "original"

Damn good basses those Shaftesburys too - apart from the tuning pegs...
Folk reportedly stripped them if they couldn't get spares
Just wondered how many would be around now,
as I say, I haven't seen one since the 80's
I wonder how many have survived

Sorry to hear that mate...

I was having a far too hectic time of it in the summer
I was in 3 bands, and it was all a bit much

... ended up ditching the one band - with all the apologies in place etc
Then, a fortnight later
the other 2 bands I was in folded!!!
Both for very different reasons - neither of them anything to do with me

But in the space of about 3 weeks, I went from 3 bands to none

It had all been a lot of work too
and one of the bands had some big bookings....

I don't like fishing, but I bought a double bass
and that made things a little better

Hello Adam,
Welcome to the forum
and good luck with your grades & your bass search

Looks incredible, as everyone else has said
I want one, I want one....

Please don't go as far as the matching codpiece tho......

[quote name='keeponehandloose' timestamp='1382006682' post='2246573']
no , but you can stick a piece of the special tape
across your face for the pirate look..
[/quote]

Lol

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1381762104' post='2243285']
Well, just as I was about to open a case with ebay, I get an email notification that the seller has refunded the full amount to my Paypal, with an apologetic note accompanying it.

At least I got my money back without having to go through official channels. However, I'd rather have had the goods lol. Im happy though.

My cynical side says he was disappointed with how much I won it for, and got a better sale elsewhere, and couldn't work out how to get out of the sale with me. Jus' sayin'........

Cheers guys

Geoff
[/quote]

Could be that, as you say
But who knows?

Anyhow, yes you'd rather have the goods
but at least you got your money back - so you can buy it from somewhere else

Whew! sigh of relief

Cheers
Marc

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1381929726' post='2245612']
The single best thing you can do for your bass playing is join a band.

You don't even have to gig. Just get some like minded individuals in a practice room together and make a nice racket
[/quote]

I'd definitely go along with that
There's nothing like playing with other musicians to hone your skills

Although, I'd suggest you do play a few gigs too
Sure, you don't have to gig
but there's nothing like a bit of pressure to tighten up your playing

Doesn't have to be a paying gig, or can be something you do for a charity
but it all helps, especially if you get people up & dancing, or get good feedback from your audience

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1381927833' post='2245574']
Potentially a good idea. However IME some of the BBC regional presenters/shows can be very partisan about which local artists they choose to support and which they simply ignore.
[/quote]

Indeed, but that probably happens on the show already
A producer may have or not have a liking for a particular band / act

One positive thing is at least it's what a completely different producer thinks is worth supporting....
Gives the viewer access to bands they may otherwise not see.....

I use a markbass CMD102P - think it's the newer model?
Not 100% sure as I bought it S/H
and I think it's great

A pal of mine has the older version, and I used his once, for a gig
What was definitely noticeable to me, was his older version was cutting out when the amp was turned up
We think that was because my bass is active, and when I turned the volume control down on my bass,
and turned up the gain & vol controls on the amp, it was better

Maybe there are a few subtle differences like this in the electronics?

Marc

Thanks for that link ubassman
Useful info there, in plain English too

The post has been moved, at some point in my own DB
You can see the position it used to be in
It's more toward the G string of the bass,
and a bit further toward the tailpiece

I think this bears out, according to that illustration, in terms of the sound I'm getting
I'm quite happy with it the way it is,
but I have wondered whether, because it has been moved, whether it could "fall over"
Seems firmly enough in place....

And just what would happen if a soundpost did fall over?

Cheers again

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1381914091' post='2245223']
How would you improve it (apart from having your own band on, obviously)?
[/quote]

Oh, I wouldn't recommend my own band playing on it for a start

For me, it's been the type of bands they've had on there lately
nothing much inspiring, and all a bit "bland"
There are plenty of great musicians and bands out there,
but whoever is scouting for them or selecting them may be where the problem lies

You know what I'd like to see?
I think they could easily have a live link-up with another, local BBC studio somewhere,
and have a new bands slot.... or an unsigned acts slot somewhere in the programme
perhaps the camera crew could go out to a gig, or session somewhere on location?

Why not have a special edition of the programme, recorded live at one of the lesser known festivals?

Difficult, what with time constraints, I know
but a fresh approach to the format might give it a bit of a lift....

I do like Jools, as a presenter, and as a musician - top bloke
And I'd hate to see the show disappear - but I've heard a lot of people say they think it's not as good as it once was

I had an OMG moment, a few years back, when Jools had Seasick Steve on the show
Never heard anything quite like it before! great stuff
I suppose I'm really looking for one of those moments every now & again ?

Marc

[quote name='madshadows' timestamp='1381337259' post='2237847']
Hi Folks

I'm John and live in SE London on the borders of Blackheath/Lewisham, played bass many, many years ago in my teens and early twenties but stopped when I got married and started raising the kids
....
See ya John
[/quote]

Hi there John, and welcome to the forum

I too gave up playing after getting married & having my son
I really regret that now - particularly as I didn't play for a long time

However, I started playing a few years back, and I'm just so glad I did
Oddly enough, my ex-wife bought my son a bass one Christmas
and that spurred me on, to pick up bass again, and give him a few pointers

He's now a better player than me,
but the key is that I'm enjoying playing again, and never looked back

Hope you get a bass soon
and welcome back to the world of bass playing

Marc

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1381910658' post='2245160']
.....At least it's a live music show though instead of autotuned singing to a backing track.
[/quote]

+1 indeed
Any show which promotes live music is a good thing

Although I have to say, I used to watch it more regularly
Now I watch it rather less frequently
Last nights' show was probably the worst I've seen

To me, the quality of the show has taken a complete nose-dive
Shame, as it could be so good

Reading this post got me interested in the position of the sound post
As a relative newcomer to the wonderful world of DB's
I started to search for issues on the position of the soundpost,
and can't seem to find too much info

How did it effect the sound from your DB ubassman?
and how did you move it?
I understood it to be rather tricky, and a task really only to be undertaken by an experienced luthier

Cheers again
Marc

As others have said, there's lots of choice
Not tried a barefaced cab,
I use Markbass gear, and I think it's awesome
It's also relatively lightweight

Phil Jones also do some really small amps & cabs,
which although they're tiny, pack a real punch

Definitely keep your eye on the secondhand section on here
Enjoy the forum

I've got too many basses, and not enough time to play them
I really should sell 1 or 2 of them

But, as others have said, two really is the minimum a gigging bass player should own
When gigging, I always take a spare - I've never needed it
but you just don't know what could happen;
a string snap, the electrics develop a fault, or the battery go dead (if you've got active pickups)

A guitarist pal of mine always carries a spare, in case of strings snapping
The one time he didn't, we was playing in a rough-ish pub
some drunken eejit was dancing & fell on him, breaking the jack plug & damaging the socket...
.... he did manage an on the spot repair - but it was touch & go...

You could always try & seek out a Warwick fretless, if your heart is set on fretless only
- then do a trade in if / when you find one....
Me? I'd keep the vintage Warwick

HI there,
Do you still have this loop station for sale?
PM me if you do....
Cheers
Marc

Your respect for the possibility of the bereavement is highly admirable,
but you have also to be careful just when you open a case
I wouldn't wait too long for this,
as there is also a time limit on when you can open a case,
and a time limit on how long the case can be open for - depending on when you bought the item

I've used ebay a lot, over several years
and honestly, I find it's absolutely fine 99% of the time

I did have a bad experience with a guy who told me exactly the same story
There had been a bereavement in his family
The trouble was, because I'd ordered something that was hand-made
it had a 28 day delivery anyway!
So by the time I'd been fobbed off a few times - the time limit for opening a case had elapsed!

I contacted ebay and told them about the 28 day delivery, and this allowing no time to open a case
but I just got a load of generic replies, informing me I should have opened a case sooner!

If you don't use ebay much, something like this could put you off
But I have to say, apart from this 1 minor incident, and a few niggles - I've found it to be good

Be careful of leaving it too long before you take action though!

Hope it's resolved without any hassle for you

Marc

[quote name='martthebass' timestamp='1381604025' post='2241352']
Regarding Ricks, hate the neck on mine (it's a real fight compared to a P or Jazz standard), the shape may be pretty but is hard work. However......that tone makes it worth it. Talk about love/hate.
[/quote]

Yes, I've been surprised at some of the comments about Ricks too...

I always loved their sound. The necks on all the ones I've played have been fine
Not the thinnest or fastest I've played, but certainly narrower than any Fender necks
The thing I find uncomfortable about Ricks, is the body shape - looks great
but somehow, it doesn't quite "sit right" for me

.... that, and the awful big square block of a pickup guard
Just can't understand why they'd place something over the strings, right in the way of your right hand

Can't quite see why many folk dislike them...
The company attitude toward their design, and copies is crazy,
but the basses are great - but that's just my opinion....

Back to the subject of my OP
I recently picked up a Burns bass (one of the new ones)
That looked good, but was really uncomfortable to play
It was really top-heavy, so the machine head end of the bass just wanted to tip down to the floor
The small body and the position of the strap holder meant the bottom end of the neck was
a long way away - I could hardly reach F or F# on the E string

Lots of switches/ switch positions too
Which as others have pointed out, seemed to affect the sound much

Not one of the worst I've ever played,
but not a great bass, all the same....

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1381443557' post='2239376']

There better be a 'hug a bass player' day sometime soon......
[/quote]

Let me know, and I'll keep a low profile that day!
Never met a huggable drummer yet

I've always used all four,
but I've recently taken up the double bass
Many tutors of the DB seem to advocate only using 1 2 4
but try as I might, I can'y help but use the 3rd finger.....

I just can't kick the habit!
Whatever works best for the individual....

Looks like Howard made a fab job of it
Real professional finish

[quote name='benbastin' timestamp='1381312270' post='2237254']
Here's my take on it.

Wood for instrument making is dried for a long time before use, typically at least 30 years. It takes this long to full dry out, and make sure your not going to get any nasty surprises with it warping in funny directions. Then you put the wood through an further long process of carving, bending, tweaking, glueing etc
This all changes the properties of the wood drastically, and the further to that it end up covered in varnish. So when you start to play the instrument, all these different components are going to move, and change. Usually this manifests it self in a feeling of tightness or reduced sound in the case of repair, and an opening up as the instrument begins to vibrate together, as the components become one instrument and not a collection of parts. The wood itself has to get used to its new shape and purpose. It had at least 1 hundred if not 2 to 3 hundred as a tree, then a further 30-40 as a plank, then between a few months and a few years being whittled into an instrument, so its hardly surprising its not immediately happy as a bass or a guitar.

In addition to these considerations is the glue used, especially when dealing with laminates. Instruments are traditionally made using hide glue, which seems to be closer to wood in terms of vibration that other glues such as white glues and epoxy often used in cheaper instruments and mass produced guitars. Hide glue certainly has a minimal affect to the wood. Where as when you use laminate which are often made using white glue or epoxy and extreme cases such as the cheaper range of martin guitars the wood itself it impregnated with epoxy, the glue becomes a huge part of the equation, and takes much longer to bed in.

Any instrument that isn't played regularly will not maintain its sound, thats the best thing you can do for any instrument is play the hell out of it every day.
[/quote]

A pretty comprehensive answer, I think