Dood

36 minutes ago, TimR said:

 

Audiences are easily pleased. If they can tap their feet, or jump up and down they're happy.

 

Bonus points for a chorus they can sing along to the second time it's played if they don't know it already. 

Judging by the demands for the same song night after night, I'd say they'd be more than happy with just a window to lick and a balloon.

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

I'm pretty sure you could get very close to the recorded version of those using live keys, good enough for a live audience anyway? 

I re-read your reply and I think you make an interesting point. Considering the majority of audiences (no offence meant to them) couldn't tell, nor care about the differences between electric bass or double-bass, I wonder how many non-musicians (who make up a large proportion of the audience) even care about backing tracks? Or, counter to that, are musicians caring too much about wanting to reproduce their precious (which it is) material live and instead should just go out as a bare bones performance? 

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

I'm pretty sure you could get very close to the recorded version of those using live keys, good enough for a live audience anyway? 

Indeed, it is very true that when I started tracking bass for the album, the orchestral parts were all expertly written using top-tier virtual instruments. I even said to our orchestrator that they were so good, they need to be forward on the album. Danny laughed and quipped "they're all going, we're having a real Orchestra!" At that point of writing my parts I had no idea the size of the project and that it would include another 100 musicians ha ha!! 

TL/DR Yes, I guess a couple of keyboard players could cover most of the parts, maybe! 

Pictures on the way!

I don’t want to sell this bass actually, it’s a cracking instrument for silly money. The price reflects current condition:

There is a very small ding on the upper horn top edge and a ding that mysteriously appeared on the back of the headstock bottom edge. Neither are large, but alas, they are there and need pointing out. Understandably they don’t affect the playing area or playability of the instrument. Finally, I was going to have EMGs dropped in because, well, they will sound amazing, but unlike the standard V5, it turns out the routs on the bridge pickup aren’t deep enough on this bass and would need skimming down a tad to get those lovely deep active pickups in. The process was abandoned and bass returned back to stock. 
 

I’m not sure if I have a box for the bass, unlikely, so collection is suggested. You might also want to pop some new strings on if you want some MM zing. Plenty of life in these if you prefer something a little more bedded in.

https://www.andertons.co.uk/sire-marcus-miller-v5-24-fret-4-string-bass-guitar-natural/

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Sire basses have become best-sellers worldwide, and for good reason! Collaboratively designed with bass virtuoso Marcus Miller, Sire's instruments are acclaimed for their beauty, luxurious playability, impeccable build quality, premium features and relative affordability. Able to keep up with the demands of professional working musicians, Sire basses outclass almost everything else in their price bracket!

The V5 24 Fret is a modified, modern take on Sire's flagship V Series model. It allows you to be more creative in soloing and chording thanks to a full 2-octaves per string fingerboard (24 frets), and a deep body cutaway that lets you easily access the higher register. It's the ultimate bang-for-your-buck bass for virtuosic players after a versatile instrument!

Key Features

North American Alder Body — Popular timber synonymous with bolt-on guitars and basses. Offers a balanced tonal foundation for the pickups, with tight lows, bold mids and singing highs.

C-Shaped Roasted Maple Neck — Roasting process crystallises resins and removes all of the natural moisture retained by the neck wood, ultimately darkening the material and increasing stability for rock-solid tuning!

'Edgeless' Rolled Fingerboard Edges — Enhances the overall comfort and playability of the neck and makes it easier to play. What's not to like?!

Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Pickups — A signature formvar design that has a '70s pickup spacing (closer to the bridge), yielding a punchier sound akin to Marcus' original bass.

Passive Volume & Tone Controls — Simple electronics allow for easy adjustment of your overall tone without compromising the true bass sound.

Marcus Miller Vintage-S Bridge — Brings a cool vintage aesthetic to the instrument, and ensures optimal intonation and tuning stability whilst maximising the transfer of sound energy to the pickups for superb sustain.

Specifications

Body

Body Material: North American Alder

Body Shape: Marcus Miller Jazz Type (24 Fret)

Neck

Neck Material: Roasted Hard Maple (Satin Finish)

Neck Profile: C-Shape

Neck Binding: 1-Ply

Neck Joint: 4-Bolt Steel Square Plate

Scale Length: 34" (864 mm)

Fingerboard Material: Rosewood, Edgeless (Rolled Edges)

Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)

Frets: 24, Medium

Inlays: Square Block

String Nut: Bone (38 mm)

Hardware

Bridge: Marcus Miller Vintage-S

Tuners: Premium Open-Gear

Pickguard: 3-Ply Black

Control Knobs: BK Jazz

Hardware Finish: Chrome

Electronics

Pickups: Marcus Vintage-J Revolution Set

Controls: Volume (Neck Pickup), Volume (Bridge Pickup), Tone (Master)

Hopefully it's a blip and they can sort out the issues in time. 

{edit} excuse the pun! 

22 hours ago, joel406 said:

Started thinking after that last post. So, I got the Classic V out. Has new strings on it and is in tune out of the case. Body fits better than the KB. EQ so much better. Easier to control out of the gate. Easier on the right hand(if that makes any sense). Smooth tones. It's an affordable MTD 534. After 15 minutes of play I've already ask for it's hand in marriage.

 

She said yes.

I think I've spent too long looking at the Classic V. I think the only thing I'd liek to change (given that I've not had a chance to play one yet) is that I favour 'quick release' bridges. Definitely not a deal breaker by any means, just a nice to have. I'm also an EMG guy, but given EMG don't offer Bart config, it would have to stay as is. I reckon that B would be brutal with a pair of active soapbars in though! 

Maaaan I need more YT videos!

8 hours ago, attackbass said:

Just bring back the US Bass Player Magazine from the mid 90s please.

It still blows my tiny mind that once upon a time, a lifetime away, I read those first BP issues back to front and inside out wondering what it'd be like to write for what was the premier bass mag on the planet at the time. Fast forward (a couple of ha ha) years, I'd get to write my very own column each month. Crazy! 

Just now, Lozz196 said:

Happened to me.

 

You weren’t Man A were you?

I think it has happened to the best of us my friend! I mean, it's not as if we aren't immediately recognisable. I'd be sh*t out of luck if I had to be in an ID parade! 

A "I love coming to see this band, they're so good"

B "There's always a good atmosphere at this venue!"

A "So do you come see the band a lot?"

B "I'm... I play the bass.."

*Tumbleweed*

If I went on tour playing the last album I played on, we’d need about 100 musicians on stage alone. (Think Devin Townsend’s The Moth), so, in that case, it’d be impossible to perform on considerably smaller budgets (considering the players on it) unless elements, such as The City Of Prague Philharmonic (and choir) were distilled in to recorded parts (as much as I’d rather they weren’t!) So, I can see why sometimes backing tracks support the production.

At the other end of the scale, Dave and Miranda who perform big band classics at the Dog & Duck on a Tuesday night aren’t going to have access to Sinatra’s backing band. Backing tracks there too.

I guess it’s a question of what feels honest? Does the audience feel they are being hoodwinked rather than “getting their moneys worth?) 

1 minute ago, bremen said:

Dynamite with a laser beam?

Guaranteed to blow your mind!

I have (naturally) already asked for review basses, I really wanna give them a spin. However it might be one of my esteemed staff mates will get their hands on them first! Keep an eye out for a review when we do!

2 hours ago, BigRedX said:

 

I thought he used 9, albeit in three switchable banks of three?

Only the bottom three are live for a wet-dry-wet set up. The next three are fast swap outs in case of failure and the last three are, well, spares spares lol!

I'm going to pre-empt this one and, as sad as I am that I can not in anyway be there to see the two-nighter shows, I am catching up with Devin Townsend's Moth show which is streaming this evening https://onair.events/devin-townsend-the-moth 

two of my friends are in his touring band and if nothing else I'll be cheering them on BIG STYLE! - Devvy is a legend and has funded the entire project out of his own pocket. 

"

Devin Townsend 'The Moth' - Live Concert Stream

Visionary musician Devin Townsend unveils his rock opera The Moth. Streaming live from 28 March 2025.  

After a decade in the making, Townsend’s new composition, The Moth, tells the story of the human experience from birth to death. Together with the symphony orchestra Noord Nederlands Orkest, the narrative will be brought to life by an impressive seventy musicians, a sixty-member choir, and his own band (which includes Mike Keneally, Joseph Stephenson, Darby Todd, and James Leach). 

Best known for his groundbreaking metal, progressive rock, and ambient music, Devin Townsend has pushed the boundaries of genre across his 30-year career and established an unparalleled artistic legacy. The Moth will be staged exclusively in Groningen, and there have been no plans for global access - until now.  

The show will stream live on 28 March 2025 at 20:15 (CET). It will then be available on demand with unlimited replays through the On Air website, mobile, and TV apps.  "

12 minutes ago, chris_b said:

A few years back I played with a guitarist who could make his 112 combo and pedal board sound like a stack of Marshall’s, even at a very low volume.

 

You just need a guitarist with brains, will power and talent. . . . oh, wait!!

There's a guy who keeps appearing on my feed who uses one of those little 30 Watt solidstate micro heads (The ones based on Soldano, Friedman, Bogner etc) and through a single 12", they absolutely roar. Straight in to the PA, you're laughing. 

Speaking of Friedman, a guitarist I sometimes play with has one of the lower powered 20W valve heads that has an 'emulated' output that goes straight to the PA and sounds brilliant. He also plays with a tiny 12" cabinet for backline. On stage volume isn't loud, but he's never had issues with not creating tone or feedback. It can do loud thats for sure. 

14 hours ago, jensenmann said:

I completely get why the don´t want to go ampless. There´s a huge difference in how a guitarist reacts with or without an amp. 

Edited your post for humorous impact  though there's an element of truth in it.. 

I'm sorry, I can't speak specifically for the laptop M4's, but I've been persuaded by the piles of performance testing on YouTube for the M4 desktop models, such as the Mini. I have an M4 iPad with an add-on keyboard, which is proving itself with everything I throw at it.  So, if my i7 iMac throws in the towel, the M4 would be the model I'd head for. 

I absolutely want Jon Shuker to build me another bass. It's not even that flashy, it's just that things have been a bit of a struggle of late, so the lotto would have to go on paying off debts from years of busting my balls first before I get to enjoy that luxury. 

I've a very long list, GAS does me in! However, a Tobias 5er, very topical, I know, but, nostalgia! GASsing hard for one of those!

On 25/03/2025 at 18:13, chris_b said:

If I won  the lotto I'd keep most of my gear.

 

Top of the list would be an Aston Martin DB12 Volante.

oooh nice! I've always had a soft spot for the V8 Vantage! 

20 minutes ago, bremen said:

Done.

 

The Dood abides!

Thank you! It's really difficult to gauge if anyone gives a monkey's when few people subscribe, follow and like! 

On 26/03/2025 at 11:00, lemmywinks said:

Here's the frequency centres for the Mki:

 

The bass control actually mimics a USA Bart preamp (ie too low centre point and not enough around 100hz/120hz for me) but I don't think they sound that similar in person, the mids are voiced quite differently. On the Markbass MB-1 the lows are centred a bit higher and it sounds better IMO, check out Handsome Dan's review of the Cort C5 here to see how the MkI pups sound with it:

 

Here's the Bart MK1's in a different Cort bass, this time with a Cort Preamp'. Please give the channel a follow and the videos a like, we don't charge you for our reviews, so it would really help us to boost our reach with some support! 

It would be wonderful if you could click this link and subscribe to my own personal channel that I am hoping to put loads of material, outakes and deep dives on in coming weeks.  PLEASE ❤️ 

37 minutes ago, Schnozzalee said:

The new Gibson one didn't come with a case for £1,800?

I think tehy come with a padded gig bag ratehr than a full on hard case, which is available as an option.

22 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Just to update:

I tried the Chordbot Lite app yesterday evening, it's exactly what I needed. I've now paid the £4.99 for the full featured version. Thanks again, Bix.

ChordBot is great and if anyone is looking for a really dead simple web based app to do something similar, Chord Player, here https://www.onemotion.com is fun, I also like the Drum Machine app, especially if you click the Visualise mode. My younger (and older actually) students find it strangely mesmerising! 

For a more detailed web based app, HookPad is brilliant for theory as well as song writing.  

5 hours ago, Piers_Williamson said:

Shat 69?

Wham 69 - Borstal Christmas 😂

nevermind, I can't spell lol