Dood

Ok, I'll admit to making a rookie error. It may have even been an album launch show, I can't remember as it was 25 years ago this happened. I had my wide strap, I had my well known brand strap locks and everything else meticulously installed and set up. Our band were a well oiled machine and were able to overcome most things going wrong in a show, as was the case this time. The screws that used to come with strap locks were woefully short (I am sure you can guess what came next...) So, I sought out a couple of long screws that had heads small enough to fit in to the strap buttons so that the straplock mechanism still worked correctly. Come the night of the gig, our drummer counted off the first song and with an enthusiastic leap in to the first note, the bass flew away from me with the same energy. I'd.... used.... brass.... screws 🤦‍♀️🙈🤦🏻🤦🏻‍♂️🤦‍♀️ I played the rest of the gig on a bar stool that as if by magic appeared next to me mid song!

I've been having a really good session again today looking at the Silverstone II. Today's progress has been really interesting, using the Silverstone as a pure FRFR solution (I've also been playing with the cabinet from a "standard rig" point of view too). As I have one in for review, the Darkglass Anagram has been providing front end duties along with my beloved and rather ancient Alesis 24 band programmable EQ in to my fave Bergantino B|Amp or my EBS 802. I have to say that Silverstone II takes effects and amp sims admirably! I've dialled in a killer tone on the Anagram which sounds brilliant through both my studio monitors and the Silverstone II. In a live setting, I have the option of sending FOH a different signal, so there's plenty of options for doing that but it's nice to know that what is coming out of the cabinet behind me is a fair representation of what FOH is also getting. For me, this is really important. A very capable and portable solution with plenty of beans on tap! More later

Looks like a recently divorced auntie getting ready for a Saturday night indoors with the 4 Scottish terriers.

When @fretmeister unleashes his new god-like bass tones, the congregation will bow down ready to give up their souls. In anticipation, waiting for the bass to drop, the words echo across the room.... "Let us PRay!" And it was good.

SPECTRUM THIEF by Ghost Audio (FREE). "Spectrum Thief is an EQ-matching plugin that can export impulse responses. Great for capturing the frequency response of speaker cabinets, or creating adjustment filters to tone-match your guitar tone (or even a full mix), to a reference sound. The plugin is FREE and requires no authentication or registration, so grab your copy!" https://ghostnoteaudio.uk/products/spectrum-thief I've used various methods to capture EQ curves and create custom IRs, but this simple app is free and works really well. I've also discovered it makes a great applet for comparing the tones of different basses and their pickups and, of course, mix curves for full mixes too!

You'll definitely see something from Dood in August 😉 - And a full review will be out as soon as, after pickup release, though I couldn't nail a date as after I have submitted my video and copy, it goes in to the magazine "system".

I've had the E4W's for some time now and have been able to prepare a donor bass to install them. The whole installation took less than half the time to remove the existing preamp and pickups, thanks to EMG's brilliant quick solderless harness system. After a solid few hours scrolling through 100's of tone presets and my gear, these pickups might be the best EMGs I have ever used, which also makes them possibly the best pickup I've put in a bass ever too. I could tell you more, but right now I'd have to k*ll you 😂🤣 So you'll have to wait for a bit 😉

IK Multimedia's MODO Drums has a free version. I've also noticed that after isntalling AIR Music / InMusic's free channel strip they've just given away, they now seem to own BFD drums and there's a lite version for free from them too. If you're on a Mac, then Logic's Session Drummer is useable - I guess GarageBand would offer a drum option too, but I havent used that app for ages. I do have EZDrummer 2 & 3, they are, as mentioned, paid options but very, very good. You'll hear a mixture of MODO and Logic Drums on pretty much all of my review videos. I improvise everytihing (badly ha ha) so drum loops are really useful! EZD hasn't featured much, I should get it back on track!

Have a look at these super bass plugins from United Plugins: https://unitedplugins.com/plugins?tag=bass United Plugins have a massive selection of plugins by various associated brands, I use the Firesonic and Sound Device products on every recording. I’ve certainly had no issues with running any from U.P.

I was once asked to dep for a band, and the next thing I know, two years later I was still playing for them. ... wait.. *penny drops*

Interesting, thank you! Did you need a serial number or proof of Sire ownership to get it ordered?

The absolutely wonderful dude that is Jono from ACS has just shared this post via ACS on Facebook:- Although this is not the same initiative that Musicians Hearing Health had, these are the Pacato 16 (non-moulded) type. Look after your ears 👂 everyone 😊 Tinnitus UK has teamed up with ACS Custom to offer you universal earplugs that can be used whenever they're needed! These high-quality filtered earplugs are your go-to solution for safe, immersive listening. By choosing to buy earplugs from us, you’re not only protecting your ears, you’re also supporting our vital work helping people living with tinnitus. The earplugs are available to buy now on our website (link below ) https://tinnitus.org.uk/buy-earplugs/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLLSDtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpoTD1JGM3oI1fbpfr7JT1Zvl0Hu5Y-U2Oc7VzTO2e4LGwgI4qo29VuEh2sx_aem_JyA5e-xNLjYmf-54vvSpbg

A standard multimeter set to read volts applied to the Ring and Sleeve of the output jack on a bass with active electronics won't give an exact reading, because placing the multimeter in the circuit in this way is in series with the preamplifer and battery, which would be correct if trying to take a current reading. A standard multimeter should be placed directly across the + and - terminals of the batteries for the most accurate reading. I.E, in Parallel with.

Mine got worse after getting COVID. I wasn't gigging at the time, so I can't find anything else to blame it on.

One of my bug-bears with hi-fi earphones masquerading as IEMs is that they can actually do more damage, especially if IEMs, even proper ones, aren't used safely.

Yes, I think the Hearing Health For Musicians (I think its called) initiative is still running, I'm not sure - but professional musicians (especially in the MU) have access to hearing tests, health advice and moulded ear plugs. I have a nice set of red ones!

I have aids to help with my Tinnitus as does my buddy Paul Gray (The Damned). Tinnitus noise can't be cancelled out I am afraid, however different techniques are used to help mask it, or help to teach the brain to 'turn the gain down a bit'. More on that another time. We've also tried various ways to protect our ears from more damage too, alas Paul has come back from tour with more sadly. I'm off the road from big gigs nursing other health challenges, but it pays to give my ears a rest too.

Here's my full review of a custom Elite model by Overwater from their Progress series of handmade basses. My written review is on it's way and will be available over at http://www.bassgearmag.com later, but here's the video to accompany it ahead of the release. Hope you enjoyed it and thank you so much to Mick for offering for the bass to be diverted to me for the review before delivery! You must be very happy with it! Dooooooood

Gosh, what a horrible time to be a top quality bass gear reviewer! Neural DSP, Darkglass and now Line 6 all bringing out new toys! Mwah ha ha ha!!

Although I didn't end up ordering in the end, I also contacted RightOn about making a custom strap for me. They answered back and asked questions then offered solutions along with a price and how to order. The only reason I didn't go through with the order is that I received a lovely welcome gift from Bass Gear Magazine,a care package that included a big branded strap! That said, I might still treat myself given that they could make the strap I had in mind.

First one spotted for sale on FB https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AUpTNPC9q/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Whilst you're at it, arrange with the band to have a member (at least) join the ISM or Musicians Union. You'll have access to their advice, legal department, PLI, gear insurance and most importantly template contracts to create your own, so that you don't get stuffed by unscrupulous "venues". when they skirt around accepted booking practices.

https://greasygroove.com isn't a UK based company, though they have a great selection of products and looks like they ship internationally. However, to help you order, I did stumble on this page with PDF templates of a wide range of well known brand PDF templates to download for free. Handy if you wanna create your own I guess. https://greasygroove.com/will-it-fit *I've made a decent post about the company (I don't know them) so I'm not just leaching their templates off the website for nowt.

I'm yet to dig in to fin dout more, but I have found another two plugin management applications for your perusal: https://owlplug.com https://sonisto.com/access-manager The latter seems to be able to manage updates too, but both websites lack descriptive detail!

Oh Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!! I'd hope you'd be able to get an immediate swap out, but nevertheless it's a massive ballache having to go back / ship the item to where it was bought from. Hope it gets sorted quickly!!!