peted

You could lend the guitar to a sweaty bassist friend. The neck on my first bass is looking really worn in now (it's about 17 years old). [attachment=4819:squireneck.jpg]

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='119323' date='Jan 12 2008, 10:30 PM']I always see people selling stuff saying "I've never run this head past 3". I never run mine under 7! [/quote] That'll just be Hartke gear. Their amps seem to get to 70% volume in the first quarter turn of the volume knob. My 350 Watt Hartke 3500 has the volume at 2/10 for pub gigs and about 3/10 for bigger venues. Stick with your Warwick amp as I'd much rather have a sweeping range of volume rather than loud, and louder.

[quote name='TheBigBeefChief' post='118128' date='Jan 10 2008, 08:08 PM'][attachment=4772:beard.bmp][/quote] It's all about the handlebar. Mine lasted a day before the missus forced me to shave it off. [attachment=4802:DSCF0035.JPG]

1) You have to at least be solid, well rehearsed and proficient in the basics of bass playing. Then you pitch your playing ability for the covers that you choose. Most of the modern pop rock which people love to hear is pretty easy to play. When you feel comfortable with your basic root-note plodding you can move on to the flashier stuff. Make sure that you put on a show and at least look like you are enjoying yourself on stage too, even if you happen to hate the song they've asked you to play 2) Covers bands won't pay my mortgage. Not by a long shot. It will keep me in strings, a few beers and rehearsal rooms and that's about it. After ploughing a fair percentage of my wages into originals bands it's nice to do something which is at least self sufficient. Do it for the fun, with the money as an added bonus.

I've just been reading some of the Musicians Union literature and it does recommend that venues ensure that all equipment is properly PAT tested [quote]Regular inspection and testing helps you to meet your legal requirements under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992.[/quote] I assume this is just to cover them in any legal proceedings and not compulsory. They also talk a bit about Public Liability Insurance [quote]Public liability insurance protects against claims made by member of the public for both bodily injury and damage to property. Increasingly local authorities and others who contract musicians and bands require written evidence that musicians are insured against Public Liability before the are able to perform. ... Public Liability Insurance is provided by the MU to a current level of indemnity of £10million per individual member. This benefit of membership protects members against liability for bodily injury and/or loss or damage to a third person's property whilst performing either solo or as part of a group/band/orchestra and/or whilst teaching in a public or private place (including at home).[/quote] Again, appears not to be a legal requirement. More a 'good practice' recommendation in case you find yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit.

To look after my natural finish Warwick I use Warwick finishing wax: [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/ViewProduct.aspx?productId=1089"]http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/V...?productId=1089[/url] The tub that came with my bass has lasted me a good few years now. Will probably need to buy more by the end of this year.

I think this happens to anything which becomes 'finite' and collectable. Once the 70s finished, so did the production of 70s Fenders. There are enough of them around still to mean that the bassist with bottom-less pockets can travel the length of the country to buy one for £thousands£. I can appreciate the 'hobby' or 'interest' that is collecting vintage or rare instruments but it's just not for me. I like the modern stuff which remains cheap new and even cheaper second hand

My rig consists of: Bass -> Aphex Bass Xciter pedal -> Hartke 3500 -> Hartke pro 2200 2x12" It's a GAS killer whenever I plug into it. Might be tempted to trade up to the new [url="http://www.soundtech.co.uk/hartke/hydrive/cabinets"]Hartke HyDrive[/url] range depending on what it sounds like.

Looks like the UK distributor for Hartke have acknowledged the existence of the new range. Hopefully UK prices will follow in the next few weeks *huge grin* [url="http://www.soundtech.co.uk/hartke"]http://www.soundtech.co.uk/hartke[/url]

That looks amazing. Congratulations on a top-notch refurb job.

Get a 5. That leaves more 4 stringers for me I don't get on with the string spacing of most 5s. Plus I started to learn on a 4 and I don't find it restrictive in any way (I have down tuned when necessary).

I love the shape of my Thumb bolt-on. Second would be the Streamer which just seems to fit perfectly.

It seems that Hartke have set up a website for these new amps and cabs. Not much content on there yet. [url="http://www.whyhydrive.com/"]http://www.whyhydrive.com/[/url]

I'm talking about the big cans that cover you're ears. I've got a pair of Sennheiser eH350s that I think are perfect. I can hear every little nuance off the CDs in my Tascam. I don't have anything like perfect pitch, but these make it a lot easier to work out what's going on. [url="http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/icm.nsf/root/products_sennheiser_headphones_evo_500095"]http://www.sennheiser.co.uk/uk/icm.nsf/roo...ones_evo_500095[/url] I got mine from my local Sound Control.

The second hand market for Warwick is all in the older models before they brought in so many of the CNC machines. I don't mind this as it means that people can pick up an amazing Warwick quality modern instrument at next-to-nothing prices on the 2nd hand market.

I use a Hartke Pro 2200 cab which is a 4 Ohm 2x12" using the same design speakers from their XL line. I think the XLs have bigger voice coils or something, all I really need to know is that they sound head and shoulders above the cheaper Transporters. They are heavy, but nothing a good set of caisters/wheels or a sack barrow can't make light work of. I would hold off for a bit as Harkte are just about to release a new range of cabs called HyDrive which are supposed to marry the benefits of hybrid Aluminium and paper cones with Neodymium magnet technology. If the pricing model matches their current lines, then i'll be straight out for my first 8x10 ^_^

If you're going to go with a bass trainer (good choice) make sure that you factor in a good pair of closed headphones too. They make a world of difference.

[quote name='dood' post='97564' date='Dec 2 2007, 11:53 AM']Yeh the ole Hartke site has always been a bit slow! Anyone found a price list for these babies yet?[/quote] The only price anywhere on the 'net seems to be [url="http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HyDriveHX810/"]this place (HyDrive 8x10")[/url] They don't even have pictures of the gear, which makes me very dubious. They reckon the list price is $1300, but they're selling at 3 Cents shy of $1000. Straight USD to GBP conversion of the list price makes them £630, but i'm sure we'll get taxed for living on the wrong side of the Pacific.

I have both a Tascam bass trainer and a little Line 6 110 Studio. I use the Tascam for working out basslines for my covers band, and the little combo for general noodling and technique practice and workouts. I'd actually recommend having both if possible. If you're playing along to songs then the Bass Trainer can't be beat.

I was recruited into my current band by putting my profile on [url="http://www.musofinder.co.uk"]Musofinder.co.uk[/url]. Could be worth a go.

I have an SR900 which I use regularly in my covers band. I too found that it naturally lacks a bit of low end, but the onboard EQ is very versatile and it only takes a little tweak to get it on par with my Warwick. The bass is as light as anything and very comfortable for when I have to play for a couple of hours in an evening. To compensate the light body the through-neck and through-body-stringing means that it will sustain for days. External build quality is very good, with features that you'd expect on a bass at least twice the price. The internal wiring and soldering isn't the neatest i've seen, but the electronics haven't failed yet thankfully. I think I paid something like £550-560 for mine from PMT in Romford. Haven't regretted it as it makes a great workhorse bass and it's close to earning it's keep

[quote name='dood' post='97236' date='Dec 1 2007, 02:52 PM']Have you seen the videos on the Hartke MySpace... very entertaining!! lol[/quote] I have been watching them, entertaining indeed. I like the way that you can find stuff out about new Hartke products on their Myspace before the information hits their official Hartke.com site. Now that's 'down with the kids'

I'll be looking out for these in stores. There's a promo from Stu Hamm on YouTube [url="http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=doDfuaNizuU"]http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=doDfuaNizuU[/url]