Bobthedog

My preferred answer to this is: If one is in a tribute band it makes sense to learn note for note (but which version - as released on a record (single / album?)? as performed in different guises whilst played live?). If in a covers band, not so much.

I try to learn the main publicly recognisable parts note for note, other less interesting parts are my close copy.

My bass tutor once told me I sounded better when I did not play! What he meant was leaving a gap occasionally can make the music happen. On that basis I would say playing at 0 bpm was enough. 😊

Today:

1. Fingers
2. mtd nickel strings
3. mtd kingston z fretless 5
4. Boss WL-20L
5. Bergantino Forté HP
6. Van Damme Blue Series Studio Grade speakon with Neutrik plugs to
7. Bareface Big Twin II

Items 1 and 4 through 7 remain unchanged on a day to day basis. I no longer have another amp / cab / combo.

The one that you enjoy playing. Simples.

Maybe not the answer you are looking for but price, woods, neck shape, set up, colour, sounds etc are all variables that are individual to our own preferred styles and tastes.

2 hours ago, Bass Culture said:

In the 40+ years I've been playing I've never needed to file a nut to accommodate different strings.  E strings has varied between 90 -105 and G from about 35 -45.  Never had any issues (or maybe I was too stupid to notice them!).

I had a joint conversation with Mark from Bassdirect and Sheridan Dingwall at the last LBGT show re fitting Payson strings to my Dingwall instead of the Dingwall branded strings (which were out to stock everywhere at the time) and Sheridan said he had not heard of Payson strings but thought that nutwork may be needed; Mark then offered to do that for me. It was enough to concern me, although I continue to question how material the difference would have to be to need some nut work. Payson do now do a thinner string set

The Dingwall Nickels were 45/55/80/100/130 and the Paysons (at the time) were 45/65/85/105/130. Payson do now apparently do a thinner string set but I have a stock of Dingwalls now.

1 hour ago, TheGreek said:

The increase in size is marginal - unlikely that you'd need to do anything to the nut IMO.

Thank you.

Although I have been playing for a while I am incredibly naive when it comes to changing to different gauges of strings. I am looking to put some Chromes  (flats) on my new MTD fretless but note that the D'Addario A, E and  B strings are 80, 100 and 132 compared to the 85, 105 and 130 of the  MTD roundwound strings. Is this likely to be an issue at the nut?

I am too chicken to start filing nuts and have no idea what to do if new strings are materially narrower.

1 hour ago, Grahambythesea said:

Much nicer than a Sire, I guess it’s lighter too.

Thank you, it is, although it does have a slight neck dive problem. A different strap should sort that, I hope.

Prince, Wembley Stadium. Mrs BtD and I were invited by one of her clients, Private Box etc. Unfortunately it was right at the other end of the stadium to the stage so not only could we not see the small man but there were no apparent speakers in the box and along with a non opening thick pane of glass, we could barely hear him. Luckily hosts and all agreed to leave pretty early on. 1993?

I have switched my Sire V7 fretless V for this absolutely stunning MTD Kingston Z5 Fretless:

I was not getting on with switching between my 35" fretted Roscoe and the 34" fretless Sire V7 and so have just received this today (px with the Sire). I am absolutely in love with the looks already. Fretless MTD Kingston Z5. 

To należy uznać za dobrą polszczyznę

Has he been able to log in yet?

(one for the oldies here)

7 hours ago, BassAdder27 said:

But why do they appear on bass amps and not guitar amps typically ??

I know the benefits of having it but curious why guitar amps tend not to have it ? 

I wonder if it is because guitar amps are typically lower power vs a bass amp and therefore there are not the same issues as when switching the amp off? I have no idea but my 1300watt Bergantino forté HP instructs me to mute before switching off to avoid a "thump" via the cab. 

and (superb guitar sole at the end)

6 minutes ago, odysseus said:

A quick survey among my music-playing friends has revealed that 'haven't got the time' morphed into 'can't be ar$ed' really quickly.  It is understandable that motivation can be an issue, but isn't it better to treat the down-time as an opportunity?  (normal caveats apply!)

In an ideal world yes, but the mental issue of this is not something that can be rationalised. 

2 hours ago, Bunion said:

Almost anything off Ten album by Pearl Jam (not Jeremy) you can get your bass face on and go wild. 
kind of makes you forget there’s  no frets. 
 

Black is one of my go to tracks to chill out with. I have a fretless bass but have never played this on it.  Doh!

I can safely say my bass playing has fallen off a cliff. The year at home has taken a toll on my drive and enthusiasm for all things. I have just let my bass tutor go and now perhaps pick up a bass twice a week for 10-15 minutes only for random nothingness.

I am trusting vaccines and summer will bring back enthusiasm for all things fun. I think I managed 100 miles on the Harley this year and cannot remember the last time I picked up my DLSR

Sorry but nothing posted so far beats this favourite, imho:

I think he and Tom Jones are working on something together:

My router is at the other end of the house to my Mac and so there is no chance of wiring. On the other side my wife is wired as she has the router in her study   

My wife is not the problem, she has no interest in my study / come music room. 
Until she retired, however, we had a housekeeper who was superb but for one indiscretion which was almost a sackable offence. I came home one day to hear Mrs BtD say “Paulene tells me you have a new bass”. I did in fact have not, I had just taken one out of a case for the first time in a while. I mentioned this to Paulene and nary a word was ever said again on the subject (nor the new basses that subsequently appeared)

Wow, very nice! For such a cheap price too! 51p! astonishing. 

I am not sure if this will tell you anymore than you know, but I think this is a great video on how to use compression, albeit 25 mins long:

https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk