Mikey R

Hey all, does anyone have off days / weeks / months? Like, practicing just makes everything worse and you just get frustrated? I feel like Ive been in this rut for a couple of months now, I thought I was just not practicing enough but practice just doesnt help. Got no control over the strings, my quarter notes are all different lengths, cant seem to hit the strings with the same velocity each note, the ghost notes dont sound, and I keep forgetting what section of the song comes next. Its like my muscle memory has gone to pot. Someone please tell me it'll pass some time soon cos Im really not enjoying it right now!

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1352071649' post='1858517'] As a musician highly interested in math and physics, I'd say they're essential. [/quote] I just dont get them - surely they only affect any notes played open string? As I understand it, they are used on a guitar to make the B a little sharper which makes it better harmonically related to the other strings when playing common open chords - as bassists, we just dont have that problem. Am I missing something?

Agree with the above - scale length is only one part of the equation. Personally, I find an uncomfortable action to be the biggest problem, followed by neck width, then profile. My guitarist played bass in another band, and I find his 5 string unplayable due to a wide, shallow neck and super high action - but he dislikes my 4 string as its a toothpick by comparisson.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1351007473' post='1846134'] Boiled linseed oil is Danish oil. Edit - Sometimes it's boiled tong oil. [/quote] Nope - Danish Oil is a blend of resins and oils (possibly tung oil, possibly linseed, more likely mineral oil). [quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1351008530' post='1846158'] So,never in 22 years is ok then? [/quote] I used to just wipe my fingerboards down with a little furniture polish. Ive got a rosewood neck thats been off the instrument for about 13 years and its not showing any sign of cracking up.

Cheers guys, drummer is away for two weeks so wont get the try the LB with full band for a bit. Will let you know when I get the chance to try it

Bought a BF Compact off of Oli, really fast transaction and next day delivery - dead chuffed!

Cheers for the posts guys, I spent the morning scanning through schematics and for the most part all the major bass amps follow the original bassman layout, fixed bias with negative feedback into the phase splitter, difference is in the filtering in the feedback loop and the values of the components to suit valve, HT voltage and output transformer. Im guessing the output transformer has a bigger part to play than the valve types. The combinations are mind blowing - the solution is probably to just try out a few amps and see what I like. [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1350219792' post='1835869'] Tons of vintage amps suitable for bass with EL34. What cab do you have? [/quote] Oli - you know what cab Im using as you sold it me last week! [quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1350223337' post='1835925'] Ive been doing pub gigs with my LB30 and BF Compact with no problem. In fact the LB is getting more outings than my ABM at the moment. At some stage I'm sure I will need to try the DI and put a little bass into the PA, and Im looking forward to experimenting with that. [/quote] Cheers Geoff, thats good to know. I should probably try to control the GAS till Ive at least tried the little beasie.

Hey all, sorry if this has been covered before but Im new to this thermionic way of life and wanted some opinions. Ive got me an Ashdown Little Bastard, going through a Barefaced Compact. I love the tone in my living room, but Im a bit worried it might not be loud enough to hang with the three piece rock band. Ive not tried it yet as we always use the backline at the rehersal studio but thought I would share my thinking on here in case anyone else has had similar experience. If I do need to upgrade, Im thinking I'll need to go up to between 90 to 120 watts, so thats around an extra 6dB, give or take. From what I can tell, alot of the bigger amps out there use with KT88 or 6550 output values, which some say are interchangable provided the anode voltage is below 600v (!). These amps have four valves at around 150 to 200 watts, six valves gives around 300 and up, so thats possibly overkill for what Im after. In the vintage market, are there any bass type amps that have EL34s or 6L6s? And importantly, how does the choice of valve type effect the tone, and can they be interchanged on that model? Im playing a P type bass, lots of clank in the mids but a tight bottom end, not too sparkly (bright switched off, no tweeter).

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1349899648' post='1832101'] Also if you have no limiter to catch excessive peaks then you will likely need to go a little faster in the attack to keep them under control.... [/quote] There may be no need to catch the peaks - the amp will clip them off and that might be a sound you want. Ive been playing around with valvey type amps and thats just what they do. However, if you want a really clean sound, then yes I agree you would probably limit them.

[quote name='umph' timestamp='1349431664' post='1826161'] Don't agree, you can run them at 100W a pair and they'll still last a decent amount of time, obviously if you ran them 800/800 they'd pop in a second but for the 100W you need about 400v~ on the screens and it really has to be regulated. [/quote] Just out of interest, how would you efficiently regulate a 400v HT line? I believe most solid state regulators only work up to a fraction of that voltage? EDIT: Dont worry, Ive figured it out I think.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1349864067' post='1831393'] Another thing is that the SE Bash has gained a bit of a reputation so some people travel a fair way to get there (eg from the Midlands or the South Coast). [/quote] (cough)North Yorkshire(cough) Though Im really sad I couldnt make it this year, Ive done the previous two and the SE bash really is a great day / weekend out.

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1349726982' post='1829799'] Yes, I realise it wouldn't be a SE bash! I was just thinking that if we were talking about a National Bash, somewhere more central would be better. What's the secret to organising a decent bass bash then SE BCers? We had one in Birmingham last November, but only 4 of us turned up! I would love to organise a bash of the same sort of caliber as the SE one, so any advice would be much appreciated! [/quote] Location close to public transport. And tea and cakes, obviously.

[quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1348750470' post='1817703'] I'll be interested to hear what everyone makes of the wee prototype I'm bringing along... [/quote] Right, Im officially narked Im not able to make it this year! Alex, is this something along the lines of a super midget? I wanted to ask how the Neo issue is coming along and if you had any progress on a replacement - never mind, I'll catch you some other time.

Just bought a Polytune off of Gareth - great bloke, quick delivery and recorded post.

The bass in my avatar orinigally had a plastic nut, which snapped right in half. Its got a zero fret, so I wasnt expecting any difference in tone, but with the brass nut it really does make a difference. It may be to do with the added mass, rather than the hardness of the surface, I have no idea why, but with these fingers playing this particular bass, it was enough to notice.

Sorry, wont be able to make this one [size=4][size=5][size=3][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]1. Hamster - Fender Hotrod P/J, Bareface Compact, Auralex Gramma Pad, SFX Thumpinator; either Markbass 800 Tube or Ampeg PF500 Portaflex[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]2. BigBeatNut - Rob Allen Deep 5, Status Electro, Lakland 55-02 Fretless, Markbass CMD121P, a selection of SFX micro pedals[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]3. Stingray5 - Musicman StingRay5 and Stingray fretless, Tune TWB-6, Trace Elliot BLX-80 combo, Boss GT-6B fx, Gramma Pad, (+ raffle bits & freebies).[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]4 OBBM - undecided on basses but Schroeder cab(s) and mini-rack Mk2 (+raffle bits)[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]5. Charic (tentative) - ACG Finn 4 (Drop C tuning), Yamaha RBX6JM, Modded Fender MIM, TC RH450, 2 x TC RS210, Line6 DL4 (delay pedal), Behringer Chorus Pedal[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]6. Happy Jack - Ampeg Baby Bass and (just for OBBM) at last I'll bring along a Hofner Verithin. If there's enough (any) interest, I could also bring along a Fishman Fusion pedal plus a rig to play through.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]7. Macdaddy - custom shuker or custom Iceni Zoot or Hamer Blitz + raffle bits[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]8. Billyapple - Gibson Thunderbird, Un-Finished Wishbass Lobe, Matamp GT200 Head, Matamp 212 Cab, DHA VT1 Eq[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]9. Walman - (assuming it'll all fit in the smaller car I got last year as I was cutting down on gear ) Wal Pro1/Custom hybrid, 2 x G&L L2500 US, Tanglewater ClassicJ, Roland PK5 bass pedals w DSI MoPho synth, GenzBenz Streamliner 6, BF Super12T - alternatively a poll on which to bring may be required[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]10. OliverBlackman- going to bring the Tokai as it seems in a recent thread not many have experienced the 80's Jazz sounds.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]11. Shockwave - Gibson RD and Gibson Grabber or Fender P-J Antigua.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]12. dc2009 (tentative) - Warwick Corvette $$ 5 Special Edition, Lakland Skyline 55-01. Sansamp, SYB-5, Q-tron+, BSY600. Anything more will need a lift![/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]13. Eude (tentative) - ACG Finn SC Classic BO 5 string 33" Scale, ACG Finn SC Classic BO 6 String 33" Scale, Ibanez Promethean 5110C & EAD Foundation 112 3-way Prototype.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]14.Bloodaxe (tentative) - Aria SB-1000 Frankenfretless, Ibanez Promethean 5110C [might add the SB-900 & Bloody ZZB Custom to this if anyone's driving from E or SE postcodes & I can blag a lift][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]15. 51m0n - the usual guff (Roscoe, Berg, MB blah blah, if in doubt check my sig) + a very tentative PluxTheDuck & related kit[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]16. Urb - Sei bass plus laptop (maybe) and my fingers[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]17. Seashell - Fender Precision (MIM) and Ibanez SRX500. No rig![/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]18. Merton - multiscale 5 prototype, other things maybe, like Mikey's sleeping bag[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]19. Russ - Sei Bass 5-string fretted singlecut, Sei Bass 5-string fretless J, Ampeg SVT-7, Markbass 106H[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]20. Silverfoxnik - Roscoe Beck 5, Schecter Diamond P 5, BC Rich Eagle, Hughes & Kettner Bassbase 600 head, SWR Triad, Boss ME-50B[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]21.Bassmanady-Yamaha BB 2005,Yamaha BB605[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]22. Hen Barn - Status Kingbass[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]23. 6feet7 - matching pair 1999 Fender Hotrod Precision & Jazz basses, GUS G3 Retro Active[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]24.Barneyg42 -Status S2 classic 5 headless, Status series 1 five, NGC Nanyo Bass Collection fretted and fretless,MXR pre into Crown poweramp into Acme low B and Barefaced Compact[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]25. Ashwood1985 - Streamer $$ 5, Thumb BO4, Silver Series Jazz Squire, maybe SR1000 FL, Roland D-Bass 210 combo, Sansamp BDDI, EBS Unichorus and IQ, maybe Bassmurf[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]26[/font][/color]. ped - Vigier Passion, S2 1988, Roland V-bass, arse hair clippers [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]27.TheGreek - the unsellable Overwater J4, possibly my custom headless, GK backline 110[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]28. Sibob - Barefaced Compacts, Markbass LMII, Genz Benz Streamliner 900 (probably for sale), '71 Precision, '03 or '73 Jazz. Effects?[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]29.JHK-(99% sure) GB Spitfire five,TRB6P,TRB5P,MM Stingray five fretless,probably a little bit of EDEN gear.[/font][/color][/size][/size][/size]

Last year we covered recording drums, maybe this year we could do something on recording a room full of acoustic instruments, such as a bunch of acoustic guitarists, with close and ambient mic'ing?