Dood

Often, if a bass isn't working out for me, but I want to work with it, I give it a full service. It's amazing what a full set up can do to a bass I might be fighting. I find that getting the relief right and action can make a dog play like...well... you know, as they say 'butter'. A fret dress won't go amiss either!

It's going to be one sexy bass that's for sure! I have a law-suiter here, Black P/G on Ash and Maple. I adore the combination, so I know that this is going to be so tasty!!

[quote name='paulnb57' timestamp='1452012036' post='2945519'] Very nice indeed, he doesn't hang about does he? [/quote] Oh no, he certainly doesn't! That man has golden hands!!!

[quote name='M@23' timestamp='1451998596' post='2945306'] All I can suggest is; find a teacher, a good, very good teacher! Different people find different things hard so try not to beat yourself up over it. Most of the greatest rock musicians wouldn't be able to tell you what key they were in! A good teacher will help to break it down in an understandable way. Most people have the capacity to learn difficult stuff, its just breaking down the barrier and finding a way in which it makes sense to you. Edited to say, sorry if that doesn't sound helpful, but there is probably no point trying to explain how it stuck for me as we all learn differently. It sounds like a proper, qualified and experienced teacher could help you far more, in a few hours, than anything else. [/quote] Yes, a good teacher I would recommend also. One who is patient and can work with you with a customised lesson plan rather than regurgitating the same lessons over and over.

There is definitely a link between reading notation (and playing it at the same time) and those who also suffer from 'visual stress' reading normal text. For example, the use of overlays (sometimes green for example) can help to sharpen up and make reading text and symbols easier. If it's an effort to read something then it certainly becomes less fun to try to learn it, that's for sure! I use glasses with a VDU filter (essentially blocks out ultra-violet and parts of the blue colour spectrum I believe) and I find it much easier to read normal text and notation. It is a marked difference. I am not Dyslexic though. Musical Dyslexia does exist, though I suspect it'll be given a different medical name!

[quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1451994260' post='2945254'] I have a great drummer. [url="http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/korg-electribe-esx1-603049.jpg"]http://medias.audiof...esx1-603049.jpg[/url] Edit: don't know how to embed images from my phone, will fix when I get home from work. [/quote] Yeah, these are great. I mean, you only have to PUNCH the information in once with one of these

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1451996917' post='2945285'] Finding the drummer can be done . Keeping them can be a problem tho '... [/quote] non-prescription drugs, lots of gaffer tape and a cellar - or suitable blackmail over dodgy mobile phone pictures can help.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1451993805' post='2945247'] Pretty sure I jammed with one of your old drummers a few years back - hadn't been back playing bass for long then, but boy that was special. So much control, so much feel. Never come across anyone else close to that. [/quote] Oh wow! Coooool! I taught them well heh he he!!!! Speaking of keeping good time and control, a very good friend of mine, a session drummer & clinician based in L.A and I managed to jam over Skype. It was just for fun, playing around some classic grooves. When Skype stopped freaking out and restored our connection we found that we'd managed to stay playing in time - across five and a half thousand miles!

Oh my word isn't it! There's something, whatever it is - call it X Factor or some deep psychological theory over what bonds musicians together in unspoken communication - but when you find them, as you say, it is so damn good!

[quote name='Noisyjon' timestamp='1451923716' post='2944629'] Yes, more visible would be good Dood. That QSC amp looks great. If/when I am going to go for one I'll check out all the options I think! [/quote] Give me a shout if you want to ask anything about the QSC or above reviews!

[quote name='Noisyjon' timestamp='1451906423' post='2944382'] Flippin' 'eck Dood, had no idea this treasure trove was sitting there! Well done. Just had a quick butchers at the Matrix GT1600FX review. Are you still liking it? It's a lot of bang-for-buck on paper. Cheers, Jon [/quote] Hey Jon! I have to add the latest issues to the pile too! Thank you very much! I love doing these reviews I think maybe this post should be somewhere more visible? Anyway, I think the Matrix is a very cool amp, however I did end up selling it when the new breed of 800W D Class heads appeared on the market. Which is hilarious as I recently bought a QSC GXD8 power amp for big gigs which I don't really need as the TC Electronic BH800, my current lightweight head is a very capable machine in itself. The thing I really like about the QSC verses the Matrix though, given they are a similar weight - is that the QSC has onboard DSP for tailoring your signal in to the cabinets of your choice.

I recovered a pair of old I.T related power supplies for my effects usage. Now those as you can imagine [i]are[/i] a clean source of power. I forget exactly what item they came from, probably a gigabit switch or something. No noise, buzzes, anything!

[quote name='Greg Edwards69' timestamp='1451833015' post='2943779'] How about the rolls mini crossover? The inimitable Billy Sheehan uses one to remove the low end in one of his signal paths. It's not a pedal, so would be an always on unit. [/quote] Yes indeed that one is certainly on my radar. I even have the schematic diagram for it. I just want to find out how much gain it offers on the output, but then I thought about having a 'loop' in the box too thus saving on kit to carry around. Sure, it's only one pedal, but I like the idea of taking as few items with me as possible.

Or, a loop pedal that has a graphic EQ before the send of the loop. But instead of using sliders on the outside, trimpots under the cover so that the 'curve' and 'boost' is never messed with. Hmmmm... too many ideas now!

OR... I need a pedal like the Boss LS-2 with the ability to high-pass the signal going around the 'effects loop' AND also to boost the level going to it. I feel that I am very close to a custom pedal here, but there might just be something out there already!!

I've been having a bit of fun with my pedals this evening and have finally found a way of nailing a drive tone that I've been after for a while. I have all manner of effects loops everywhere that I know that I can simplify and get the results I want. However, I want to get round and downsize part of the signal path that I need to 1. Sculpt away lots of low end and also 2. boost the output by up to 15db. Yes, I am doing this with a graphic pedal currently and have tried a little Mooer micro thing which sounded not so good doing the same job. Does something like this exist? I thought I'd ask before I drop Max at SFX a message!

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1451677209' post='2942410'] Straight into the input will work just fine. [/quote] Yup, I think the effects loop is more likely to have too much signal level from the send - or to put it another way, there isn't an input gain control on the B3 sadly.

[quote name='Greg Edwards69' timestamp='1451674237' post='2942362'] I wonder if this could be made into an iOS or android app that would interface directly to an zoom unit? I'm not fussed about extra hardware based control - but the touchscreen interface looks awesome! [/quote] I believe it is possible to use IOS apps that already exist to change patches on a B3. I'll have to search out the YouTube videos that describe how to though using a MIDI interface.