faceman

Afternoon all, I'm just off over to Newcastle to buy some new strings for my babies. Going to get a pair of D'Addario Chromes for my P and D'Addrio EXLs for my Rickenbacker. However, I'm never very good on string gauges and can't remember what is the best one to get. Something tells me it is 45-65-80-100 for D'Addario strings, is that right?Or, should it be 45-65-80-105?! I know my Ric prefers lighter strings so think that is defiantly better on 45-100s! Seb

I need to do some setting work/modifications on my Classic Vibe Precision. I'm planning on a.) Chrome Bridge/Pickup Guards - for that classic 60s look b.) New Strings - think I'm going to get a pair of D'Addario Chromes as they aren't too loose! c.) Adjust Pickup Height - How should they be aligned? At the moment they are angled unequally but are they supposed to be? Or should they be flat/even with each other? d.) Potentially new pickup - Might go for an SD Quarter Pounder down the line but not for the moment! Thoughts on the pickup adjustments?

So my college is doing a production of Rent this summer and I've signed up to audition for the bass chair. I've never done this sort of thing before but it's my last chance before graduating to do a musical band and after listening to the soundtrack, it sounds pretty good! Some fun 80s/90s styled pop numbers, with some nice bass parts too. The more I think, the more I want to do it. However, the audition states that musicians need to be of grade 6 level and sight read well. I'm not sure if I'm up to those standards as I've never had to do either. I'm wondering if I should take up a few lessons before then to prep me in sight reading bass lines? I can always work out the lines after sitting down and following what each note is and such and then using the music to follow the progress of the song. None of the bass sounds too hard and I'm sure I can do it all, I'm just not sure about how capable I will be in the audition if I'm just given the music and told to play. I was thinking of buying the sheet music in advance, learning it and hoping the arranged versions are similar Thanks

Jesus, 110 that's a big E! I'll probably grab a pair of the Chromes as I've had good experience with the EXL rounds. I'll probably do a mini review and some pictures when I've had a chance to play it through my rig up north! So far. Looks very sexy. Neck is very fit. All good so far

Just picked up one of these babies from The Gallery in return for my SUB, just not the found I was looking for! Does anyone have any suggestions for flats to put on this baby? Was thinking either TIs or the La Bella Jamerson ones but I know nothing about flats. Also might go for bridge and pickup covers, best place for these? eBay? thanks!

Found this clip of Diane Birch performing 'Nothing But A Miracle' on American late-night TV. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqdQxYnnAes&"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqdQxYnnAes&[/url] Apart from the beautiful shimmering Rhodes sound, the bass player is exquisite in my opinion. He's very funky, smooth and melodic - it seems he's playing a single coil Precision through an Aguilar stack. It's such a deep fundamental sound I'm thinking this is flats? The sound cuts through, it's exactly what bass sound sound like in my opinion. Now, could you get a sound similar to this with a Squier 50s Classic Vibe?

Going to see dave5's Musicman SUB bass tomorrow and an contemplating a second hand Squier VM Jazz Bass, so we'll wait and see!

Sack him? Well he's our singer too so it'd pretty much destroy the band and we'd be starting again! Plus, he's my best mate so don't think I could. However, some of us (me included) are graduating this summer so something will happen anyway. He spent most of the set attempting to retune but I couldn't hear from my side of the stage. I agree there is no excuse for spare strings.

What were your thoughts on the neck and output Rich? It does seems mad the 60s Sonic Blue can be found for around £259 new whereas the Fiesta Red is £299 at the link above. £40 for a colour...Madness!

Well I'm on the train now and no bass with me! I might see if I can borrow one or bail for a bit. I just loose noodling and practising each day, it helps me improve and I find it relaxing. However, a break and all that might be a good idea. Either way, I'm now trawling Basschat and the nets for cheap bass stuff. A good time occupier

I'm listen to two new Jazz additions while heading on the train down to London. Listening to Miles Davis A Tribute To Jack Johnson and Sonny Rollins and The Contemporary Leaders. Both are excellent and I'm surprised I like the Rollins one, as I'm not a fan of acoustic jazz but the melodies are so perfect.

Seeing this thread reminded me of my last gig and I went mental at our guitarist. He asked if he could use my tuner and I said sure. He apparently pressed the 'flat' button and thought by pressing it again it would cancel it out. However us season vets would know this adds another semi-tone to make a tone and he then tuned his guitar up. As we started the our opener, his top E string snapped (because it was pushed up an F) and I just got very angry because he didn't have a spare string! Then he proceeded to do the whole set with a tuning of F, B, E, A, C which sounded horrendous - he apologised profusely at the end of the gig. Nearly ruined the gig but I was told the bass and keys kept it going I resolve to ensure they he has a spare set of strings and a tuner he knows how to use. Grr.....

The Hofner Jack Bass, you mean? Don't know anything about 'em I've just tried to carry all my bags and my guitar and this is not going to work. So buying a cheap bass in London it is!

Afternoon guys, Sorry for yet another [i]want-some-advice[/i] thread but you are all so good at giving constructive and helpful advice! Basically, I've got an internship in London starting tomorrow and I'm heading down from Durham later today. However, a month without bass isn't one I like the sound of so my plan was to take my Ric with me, just for noodling, practising or even the potential of a gig there. However, I'm travelling by this countries' finest National Express East Coast and will have my hands full with a suitcase, laptop and suit carrier. Lugging my bass doesn't seem a very good idea so I came up with the idea of buying something cheap-ish while I'm down there (probably from our SH forum) and then selling it on the other side? It would also be an opportunity to try out some of the fancier Squier series of VM or CV... What would your recommendations be? Take or buy?

Excellent tune, I'm a big lover of all Stax, Motown and Soul of that era so I'll have to keep an eye out next time I'm back North!

Just to say that I changed my username to [b]faceman[/b] a few months ago so this feedback thread is the same person!

I had the pleasure of doing a trade with Conan (Geoff) with my Ashdown MAG 4x10 combo with his Ampeg SVT-15E. We were both very happy with the result and he was a fantastic fellow to do business with. I can fully recommend this fellow as someone to trust and do business with! Thanks again

Not at all Geoff, I'm just setting off from Durham now with the 410 loaded in my car

Yeah I should have made it clearer. I'm looking for something smaller (as my my 4x10 is too big for the sort gigs I'm going at the moment) and with a different sound as my 4x10 is too ballsy, although that could be the fact it is Ashdown. I know they aren't known for their highs, more for lots of bass but how do they usually come across? I'd like to keep my Little Mark incase I have a gig where I need to jack up the volume and can borrow something from someone else! As long as I kept an eye on the master output, would it be alright? I was thinking how would the sound of the two go together?

Afternoon all, I've just been given an offer to trade my Ashdown 4x10 for an Ampeg SVT-15E cabinet. Now this may seem a little strange but it is something I'm seriously considering. I played a gig a few weeks ago with an Ampeg BA115 (the one with 5 styles) which was quite basic amp but it was the best bass sound I have ever had live. It was large, fat, very clear and just bloody fantastic! So that's why I'm considering this swap. What I do want to know is how my Little Mark will pair with this cabinet? Would they work well together, as the LM has a transparent tone. Also a friend pointed out that Rickenbackers are about treble response, and does one get that with a 15" Ampeg? Seb

I've got a MAG 4x10 for sale at the moment if you are interested? Looking for around £180 for it, PM if you are interested. I'm happy to ship as well, as picking up I've been very impressed with it, but I'm moving to something smaller as it is just too big for the gigs we are doing at the moment!

Listening to Gorillaz's Plastic Beach - Stylo with Bobby Womack is possibility one of the most amazing feats. ever! It's very electro, very retro-80s! I've also been listening to Return To Forever to indulge in my jazz fusion tendancies. The live 'Returns' album as well as the self-titled debut are on constant Spotify rotation, maybe an Amazon order is needed soon

I went to my bass playing friend today and we took a look and made the following changes 1. Tightened the truss rods - the one nearer the E string was overcompensated but we've tightened them both up and it's looking better. However it does need more but we didn't want to risk more than 1/4 turn per day. 2. Lowered bridge pickup - It was too high as as my friend pointed out, there was no difference between both and the bridge pickup. So lowered the bridge and both pickups give a much better result. 3. Adjusted bridge saddle - The D and G strings were too high so we lowered the right hand side of the bridge. I'm going back tomorrow to adjust the neck again, as he didn't want to do too much in one bad. The neck is still too bowed but it's getting there! Fun times

Hey guys, Thanks for the response. I decided to take the 4003 and not make any adjustments to it. A bass friend of mine was there and his expert advice told me the neck was bowed and the truss rod needs tightening, as well as lowering the G, raising the A,D strings. He's going to come over to help me sort it out before my next gig on Sunday but I agree a proper setup is needed soon. If you are interested, i've got videos of the gig here! Feeling Good - [url="http://www.facebook.com/v/10150120382800584"]http://www.facebook.com/v/10150120382800584[/url] You've Got The Love - [url="http://www.facebook.com/v/10150120434435584"]http://www.facebook.com/v/10150120434435584[/url] The bass sounds pretty good anyway, just going through my small Ashdown combo and into the PA system. I couldn't hear much of it from where I was but I enjoyed it very much anyway! Seb