Iain

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1424167961' post='2693276']IMO, digging in is a waste of energy.[/quote] Depends what you're going for - mellow Jazz I'd agree but to really get a percussive hard sound you need a little energy. Think about the Maiden sound and that just doesn't work without digging in. [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1424167961' post='2693276'] Just relax and lighten up your touch, which will improve your tone, speed and fluidity, and work away at it. Your stamina and dexterity will improve over time. [/quote] This is spot on - when I picked bass back up in 2013 I had to swap out to a pick for faster, constant, stuff because my hand got too tired. 18 months on and it's not an issue, I rarely go back to a pick and find I have to turn the amp up when I do which is just too much hassle to do mid set. [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1424167961' post='2693276'] It's also perfectly OK to use just one finger. [/quote] I've been trying to analyse my playing - trying to understand what I do so I can see where to improve and it's quite tricky... If you're concentrating on what you do bad habits don't manifest, just when you're not paying attention! I have noticed that I quite often swap between one and two fingers, particularly on fast 8th and 16th parts. I've also noticed I tend not to do the 12121212 but a more random pattern depending very much on where I want emphasis to fall using the middle finger for harder notes. For really fast stuff I ten to just use the index finger up and down like a pick. I guess the key thing is to do what works for you as a player without getting too hung up on technique unless you find you can't play something properly.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1424801635' post='2700637'] sadly I was never impressed with their bass amps [/quote] One of the places I practise at has a Peavey combo with a 15" Black Widow, grapic eq, chorous, etc. Sounds pretty damn good although I generally switch out all the eq settings and use my own FX.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1424775130' post='2700220'] Is the new bass a bit louder or quieter? If so, maybe re-setting the threshold would have helped [/quote] Not significantly different - both active. Very different to play though - old Thumb 5 vs Dingwall Z3, different active circuit.

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1417261581' post='2618623'] I generally have a little all the time. I use a rack mount fx unit (Eleven Rack) and have just a little dialled in early in the chain. Usually ~4:1, slow attack, fast release. Generally not too strong or intrusive... just levels things out a little. [/quote] I've had a tweak on most of my setting since I posted this and removed the compression entirely. Change of bass and I found the lack of expression to be annoying - it was more noticeable on the new bass.

I'd be up for a meet depending on when and where.

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1424174947' post='2693402'] Well, yes and no. We're being paid to give people a good time, not play precisely what they can hear on a CD. We're a 4 piece covers band with one guitar and no keys. Playing precicely whats on the record would kinda limit the set list. It definitely doesn't mean I cant be arsed to learn it properly. [/quote] I remember seeing Garbage in Nottingham years back and it'd have been pretty dull if I hadn't had a front row view up Shirley Manson's skirt. Sounded exactly like the CDs. Of the two covers bands I'm in one is pretty faithful to the originals and the other that has a lot of punk in it isn't so 'rigid'. Both work okay and both get appreciation. The punky outfit is way more fun though!

I've heard great things about the Cali. I'd look for a comp with control over attack and release though - I found the simpler ones hard to tweak enough. I've juts removed compression off most of the patches I use on my Eleven rack though as I'm finding they're not needed with my new bass - improvement in bass or technique maybe.

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1423951096' post='2690890'] That looks stunning !!!! I love the grain and colour [/quote] Yeah, I'd hoped it was going to play like a dog after seeing it but it plays better than it looks... ended up spending more on that visit to BD than I'd planned! Just need to learn to play well enough to justify having something that good.

I picked up this Z3 from Mark @ bass Direct between Xmas and new Year and it's just too good (their original pics):

[quote name='DaveFry' timestamp='1423425172' post='2684628'] Doing stuff on the fly is where the real magic lies . Plus , learn from the oldies while you still can would be my advice . If they are smart they will be learning from you too , so everyone is growing . Priceless . [/quote] This is great advice. Learning to be flexible, improvise and adapt will stand you in good stead. Anyone can deliver a flawless performance if they practise indefinitely.

I don't know Mr Peart other than reading some of his books and anecdotal stuff about him, documentaries etc. but he seems to be extremely introvert. for those of us in the middle of the introvert-extrovert scale or even towards the extrovert end it's quite hard to 'get' how hard social interaction can be for someone at the extreme end of things. My wife is quite introverted - she finds large groups very draining and limits her social interactions to a small group of people. She finds meeting new people slightly stressful. Someone who is at the extreme end of things will generally find uninvited interactions with strangers downright unpleasant. I suspect this is where Neil sits, but I may be wrong!

I've got a Fusion F1 and is't not massively heavy, has good straps so you can wear it like a backpack (being aware it sticks up above your head) and has enough pockets to be useful without ending up being a pack mule... Not cheap though. I've lso got one of their 'DJ Backpacks' which is great for odds and sods.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1422569606' post='2674294'] Ah, the human memory is very flawed. It tends to edit itself... probably a survival mechanism to stop people actually dying of shame. [/quote] What's more worrying is no-one else paid enough attention to either the original or what I was playing to point it out...

[quote name='steantval' timestamp='1422569230' post='2674288'] It really makes me cringe when I see a naff pub covers band bass player actually playing an A to D over the verses. [/quote] /cough

I'm not a big fan of the song and hadn't listened to it in years so, when a random collective I jam with decided to put it in a set I just jammed away. People enjoyed our massacre of the song. Having read this thread and gone back and listened to the original I'll see how the rest of the group react to me playing nowt until it matters... I'm quite embarrassed that my recollection of the bass line was so off!

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1422384662' post='2672012'] I always find that honesty is the best policy when dealing with my hubby Although he also has an expensive hobby in photography. We have a deal, we pay our share for our bills and outgoings and if we have anything left then we are free to do what we want with it [/quote] This! We both put an equal percentage into the household costs and what's left is up to us how we spend - holidays, basses, hair, shoes, handbags, whatever. We've yet to have a disagreement about money let alone argument.

Good result! I had a PF500 and it really didn't like our (too loud) practice sessions - tone muddied up badly. I was running it into 115 and 210 PF cabs. I sold it on with the 210 cab to a friend who will never use it in anger. I used the 115 cab in a pub gig this weekend with my Markbass BB head and the cab sounded great...

[quote name='Jenny_Innie' timestamp='1422309144' post='2671105'] Do you think it actually will be 2000 watts? Will it be much louder than a PF800 or an RH750 for example? It's also quite a cheap thing. Does that mean it'll be quite low quality? [/quote] Tried to find actual tech specs rather than the high noise-signal marketing fluff on their site... even the downloaded PDF doesn't give anything away... Looking at their cab blurb they talk about 1000W and then keep the 250W RMS to small print... I'd guess the power handling for the amp is peak but they don't even seem to say what the 2KW power is into - 4 ohms? 2?

[quote name='BassBunny' timestamp='1422212011' post='2669921']Big Bang Class D output stage & having tried just about every Class D around, I just don't find they have the "clout" of the Class A/B section in the MB analogue amps.[/quote] The old stuff must be earthquake epic then - my BB head moves internal organs.

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1422030389' post='2668012'] Peart's repeatedly said how much he hates touring, and he's frequently made it clear that he despises his audience. [/quote] From an interview recently Geddy mentioned that Neil is in constant pain when they tour, I'm not sure someone who despised their audience would put themselves through that.

I run a MB setup - Big Bang head and a pair of traveller series cabs.. 12" and 15". With hindsight I'd just run 2 12s. Mostly the single 121H is enough though. Personally I thought the 121H sounded better than the 102P.

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1422091757' post='2668535'] just got a Combustion in trade yesterday,my first try with fanned frets & i was a little worried that i might not like it. well suprise suprise i started playing it & didn't struggle at all,as said above it just felt right. [/quote] Played my first gig with my Z3 and no issues, just easy to play.

[quote name='zerofocus' timestamp='1422032359' post='2668044'] I personally really like the look of these basses the thing that caught my attention was the darkglass EQ which could be very cool given Nollys destructive tone they seem to be selling them separate here: [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Darkglass_Preamps.html"]http://www.bassdirec...ss_Preamps.html[/url] [/quote] Interesting - I've a 4-pot bass (vol/blend/bass/treb) that I'm on the lookout for a pup/preamp upgrade for... could probably make the 5-pots work with a bit of dremmeling!

My wedding ring is quite thick so I just don't wear it when I'm playing bass otherwise it clanks against the neck/bottom of frets. More of a problem when I use sloppy technique!

[quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1421427409' post='2661126']muting techniques to play cleanly requires a patient approach to practice. [/quote] Guitarist in my band picked up my new Dingwall and tried to pick out a few lines this week - I was reminded on how much good playing hinges on having control of the bass rather than just hammering away - open stings ringing out, improper fretting, general untidiness. Pretty much all about the left hand being busier than just fretting. That YYZ clip is pretty special Qlank!