Happy Jack

Passive, always passive. I play almost entirely in pubs where issues like power, cables and space are important. Three powered cabs is three more things needing power sockets, three more cables trailing across a tight space, and a huge increase in weight to be lifted onto PA poles. I have a rack containing a power distribution board (so a single 13A plug does everything) feeding the mixer, a feedback destroyer, and a power amp. XLRs go in, speaker cables come out. Simples. It's all modular so each component can be upgraded as needed. The power amp is a 4-channel unit with independent volume controls. Two channels for the tops, one for the drummer's foldback, and one spare for me to use in emergency should my bass rig die on me.

So it's basically an improved Orange Terror Bass?

D'y'know I never actually realised there was an album ... I thought it was just a one-off single.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1392237855' post='2366413'] My guitars are on one of those 5-guitar stands. I use gig bags so they're in the bags, on the stand, bags are not zipped up so I can pull them out, but it means I don't bang them together when I put one back. [/quote] That's smart ... never occurred to me.

Veering off-topic a bit, the thing that has surprised me most in this thread is not where Markbass source their cabs but the comparison between ply and MDF. Having (at least partly) grown up on boats, I rate good-quality ply very highly indeed whereas I've always considered MDF to be a rather toxic form of chipboard, cheap & nasty. May need to re-calibrate ...

The weight/backpain thing is a bit like seasickness, people never really 'get it' until it happens to them. After that, they take it very, [i][b]very [/b][/i]seriously. I've sold some of the best basses I've ever owned simply because they were too heavy. It doesn't matter how great it sounds if you never play it. The lightest Precisions I've owned all weigh 7.5lbs ... and I own all three of them right now. No coincidence. The heaviest all weighed over 11lbs. For those who don't think in terms of the weight of a bass, 11lbs (roughly 5Kg) is a bass that, if you play it sitting down with it resting on your knee, it cuts off the circulation to your leg and your foot goes numb. This is not a good thing. Two of the best-sounding Precisions I've owned were very heavy, apparently supporting the weight=tone argument. But the two best-sounding that I own now are both Mike Lull 5-strings, and each of them weighs just 7.5lbs. Go figure.

The KK Baby Bass (based on the original 60's Ampeg Baby Bass) is good for this sort of thing. It gets you maybe 80% of the way to a true DB sound, but 90% of the way to the portability of an electric bass guitar. The playing experience is difference because it lacks the pure physicality of a 3/4 DB, but as a practical rehearsing tool and for use at gigs where access is an issue (the last gig where I used mine on-stage was up a spiral staircase ) it's hard to beat. There's probably one with another Basschatter in Edinburgh that you could try but if not, next time you're in London with some spare time ...

The bit which stopped me in my tracks was: [i][b]And if Fender's Custom Shop were a free-standing company it would qualify as the sixth biggest global guitar maker in its own right.[/b][/i] Exclusivity ain't what it used to be ...

I have to say that mine is nicer than that and definitely in much better condition. If someone offered me £4000 for it I'd bite their arm off. That's a ridiculous price, and anyone who wants a 5-string Mk.II can definitely and easily do better than that. All of which said, if he can find a buyer at that price then good luck to him. A fool and his money ...

I found this post on the official Fender forum: [color=#333333]Many people would be interested to know Fender's sales figures across the product range but unfortunately that is what's known as "commercially sensitive information", and they haven't given out official numbers for decades, if ever.[/color] [color=#333333]However, it is well attested that the Strat outsells other models by a long way. I don't know how Telecaster sales compare to Gibson Les Pauls (the major commercial rival), but the Strat is miles ahead of both of them. That much the Company has been prepared to reveal in guitar magazine interviews and other such places over the years.[/color] [color=#333333]Still, there are some interesting stats to be had about the instrument industry. As we all know, Fender are the largest guitar manufacturer in the world, with Gibson in second position. And if Fender's Custom Shop were a free-standing company it would qualify as the sixth biggest global guitar maker in its own right. Which is quite something.[/color] [color=#333333]However, in the league of instrument makers as a whole, Fender are well back from the lead. Here are some thought-provoking figures:[/color] [url="http://www.musictrades.com/global.html"]http://www.musictrades.com/global.html[/url] [color=#333333]As we see, Fender are only in fifth place: Roland are twice as big as Fender and Yamaha are seven times larger. Clearly, the really fat money is in electronic music related gizmos. Shaping timber pays less.[/color]

It's perfectly normal to get a bit heavier as you get older ...

If you're running to a script and say the same things at the same point every gig, then throw the script away and just play the songs. If you're capable of chatting naturally and in context (different line of patter when playing to half a dozen punters sitting behind tables, or 50 drunks on the dancefloor) then just go with what's natural. All that said, one of the best (big) gigs I ever saw was Robert Palmer at the Hammersmith Odeon, maybe 1984-ish. Walked on, "Hello London", then three hours of almost non-stop music. The longest gap between songs can't have been more than 30 seconds ... they were launching into the intro of the next song while the crowd were still going bananas for the song they'd just finished.

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1392081842' post='2364552'] What does a dolphin need with frets? Or with a bass, for that matter! [/quote] Maybe it swopped it for its old bicycle?

How come you've seen my office?

Let's play 'See If You Can Spot A Single Original Part'. I'll go first. Erm ...

Aye, 'twas a gyrating-tottytastic night alright. Although someone had to tell me afterwards what "twerking" is ... And the evening started with the Manager saying "But you can't bring a [i][b]drumkit [/b][/i]in here!". Oh yes, and we received not one but [b]two [/b]requests for [i]Sweet Home Alabama[/i], both from ladies who weren't even born when the plane went down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZNVF1F23oQ

Unlucky Fried Kitten.

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1391722921' post='2360707'] Right now, Sky Art 1 (Sky 129) is Gary Moore playing a 1 1/2 hour set of Jimi Hendrix blues stuff. [/quote] No it's not - I just checked.

Nothing wrong with saying hello to the town where you're playing: "Hey! Feltham! Good t'be hyah!". Or, as I learned from seeing Heavy Metal BeeGees band Tragedy, "Hey! London Town City!"

[quote name='Freddy Le Cragg' timestamp='1391681405' post='2359998'] I am the singer and the bassist, so I go bang in the middle. [/quote] But what happens after you've gone bang?

You're over the dozen and counting, so a quick word from the SouthEast BassBash collective experience ... try to have a 'quiet room' available if you can. With a handful of people it's not really an issue, but as the numbers mount the noise levels tend to increase exponentially (oh, alright, you know what I mean!). The room with the basses and rigs will quickly become aggressively loud and wearing on the ears, so people will need a chance to rest their ears, talk to each other normally, and have a cup of tea and a Danish pastry. Depending on prices, if you can also have one further room with a resident drummer (plus kit, natch) and a 6-string then people wanting to try basses in a band situation will have that option. Enjoy!

As ever, Bill, I am impressed at your generosity. And your patience.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1391617953' post='2359302'] Why not use the volume knob to balance it out? Have I missed something? [/quote] Hah! My experience is that rolling OFF a bit of volume also cuts the highs & mids. Maybe that's the reggae solution ...

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1391693190' post='2360237'] The people of Ballater will have to dig their hands in their sporrans. [/quote] Last time I tried that, he said he'd set his dogs on me ...