Wonky2

Tonight has been a good eye opener.... I went to visit another player nearby. An old school guy with a lot of playing experience..... Forst of all, what i wanted was to see, examine and play anither bass. One which has been set up well and played regular by a working player. Imediately i noticed some fundamental differences. And allthough, by his reckoning, i had set up my bass quite well and made a good job of the repair, i could tell instantly what changes i needed to make. Tje reference point of another imstrument has been pricless. String hight will be reduced a little further. I didnt want to set it up too low, but i now understand it is possible. String tension.... This was an interesting one..... I LoVED his string set up/ tension / action... He told me to told me to throw away my e string, shift the a,d,and g over and buy a high c string. Im not sure if that is normal practice but his bass felt and sounded fantastic to me, i could actually play it quite well..... Tomorrow i will be making some final bridge hight adjusments and dropping the string notches by approx 2/3 mm...... I. Also going to take that opportunity to widen my string spacing evr so slightly as i much prefared the wider feel of his set up. Mine were as id read in a guide book set at 7/8" (22.5ish'mm) his were 1 1/16" (26ish mm) ....so approx 2mm either way out....3.5/4mm wider..... I also thinned the bridge down tonight , must confess to using my first power tool in the project, a belt sand. I used it clamped upside down on yhe bench and worked the bridge thinner on the flat 90' side...... Its worked well. Last thing is sound..... It was clear that his bass had alot more thump than mine, im not sure if that is just the quality of his bass over mine or if its a set up issue... His had thump and the sound was deffinately coming from the body of the bass, mine sounded like it had less thud, depth like the voice was that of the string rather than the body.....? Any suggestions on that...? Im loathed tomrun off to,a luthier as i have learnt so much by doing this myself. The quality of the workmanship isnt really the issue, its the knowledge beind the reason which i have had to read, research and ask you guys for guidance.... Its coming together and hopfully a bit more work and itnwill be sweet... Thanks for all your help guys Wonky

Thanks kairyu, i will do that... I usually do with my acoustic guitars as they sound a whole lot different out front than when playing.... So yes, good point.

Thank you kairyu , Still working slowly on the set up.... Lower nut slots a little at a time... The radius i had set origionally on the bridge has niw been changed. It felt combersome in regard to right hand playing across strings, g was too low, A was too high... Bit more fiddling ,dropping string notches a little lower and reprofiling radius to suit... Its getting there. What i can say so far....... Its bloody hard work playing kne of these things! Hahaha ...... Its improving the more i work on the set up, but string tension is high, i think id like softer tension on the strings.... And id like to brighten the sound a little if thats possible ? Not sure how thats done ither than strings, but will make minor adjustments on bridge possition to see if that chnages things. Its not bad, it sound nice and warm but id lime a more mid sounding sound if possible ? Still got to thin the bridge down towards the crown a fair bit so maybe that will make a differance, im sure it will. Going to play another bassists bass tomorrow so will have some better referance and also have a decent player take her for a test drive, see if ive passed my db luthier 101 crash course

I hear ya alyctes.... I hear ya.... Some People swap wives, surely we can swap books

Listen to them, A lot. Punk/ thrash isnt a genre i have ever played and id expect 1 minute songs are quick and despite speed, fairly basic. Original music is a challenge at short notice but the approach should be basic.... Learn the verse, learn the chorus and bridge....write down the arrangement ,make note of any extended sections, lead breaks, repeat refrain or the like. Write out the set list with notes. The key, time sig... If you break it down from whole songs to (typically) these few sections your only ever really playing a few bars at a time and switching through each section throughout the arrangment. If you know the verse and its repeated, its not like you have to learn that bit twice, your just playing the same as you played before. (In basic terms) Spend an evenening just listening to each track and making the above notes..... Play it over and over. It helps to have the words and sing along....... Play along with it. 10 days, You'll be right enough. See if you can persaude them to have a run through before the gig, if not possible with full band at least pin down the guitarist and singer for an evening session.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1454266556' post='2968073'] There used to be a thread where people were passing around Guy Pratt's book for others to read when they'd finished it. I gave my copy away, I thought it was f***ing rubbish. [/quote] Hahaha it may well be .... I only got a short way in where he was talking about his upbringing etc.... But i liked the writing style, easy going..... May as well give it a go... Ill get up in the loft in the next few days and see what ive got to offer....

Yeah, im not sure of its legallity either but no ones copying anything, all books are paid for so im not sure if copyright law prohibits the lending of original paid for property ? Not that i care much

I met up yesterday with Essexbasscat to finalise a deal on my mesa walkabout rig.... During conversation he mentioned something about doing a black strat project for a friend to which a light bulb switched on in my head...... I dashed off into the loft where i have a huge amount of books ive read to fetch back a copy of a book i have about david Gilmour or more so, his black strat. (Its a great interesting read about the histroy, journey and modifications of his favourite black fender stratocaster). I handedthe book to Tom and asked that if he wanted to take it, read it and just post it back when he was finished i had no problem with that and was happy to share it with him. Seemed like a great idea...... I was at a loose end last week while waiting for my car to be mot'd and went to spend a couple of hours in the library with a coffee and a book. (A chance for some welcomed peace and quiet from the kids at home ) I Started to read a book by Guy Prat called my bass and other animals, it was a good read which i enjoyed, but as i wasnt a member of the library i had to leave it 3 chapters in when they called to say my car was ready. So, after the book lend yestereday, i wondered if any other bc'ers may have a copy which they have read and wouldnt mind loaning it out to another member ? Logic followed that it may be good to have a thread in which members can make requests for a short term loan of a particular book and if others can help, maybe they will? Understandably, some books are expensive or precious things... For example, i wanted to buy chuck treagers book on set up and repair of double bass for optimum sound, but at £75 a copy i resisted the urge to buy.... I certainly wouldnt expect anyone to loan me that either ! But a paperback which is of low value is a fairly low risk and too be fair, we are all quite a friendly and trustworthy bunch here on bc. I have a loft filled with books i have read (not all music) and often think it criminal that they lay there, read, done, finished with........ So...... There it is........ If any one has a copy of guy prats book they have read and wouldnt mind lending it out to me as a respectful bc memeber ( ) please let me know. Please feel free to add any book requests here... whether it be biographies....music books, or other.... (Not razzle or big jugs weekly) If members can help..... Let them know

Hahha lots of opinions.... All valid i guess... I know all the other products available, the winders, the drill attachments etc etc..... I guess this one is set at fairly low speed/torque, unlike a cordless drill. Its not something i use, and thats after 26 years of playing at age almost 40. I dont think its a question of being lazy as such, but if you do set ups/ repairs etc or play guitar and change strings much more frequently, a tool like this at under £20 could be a great help. Especially with basses that require neck off to adjust truss rods. I often swap strings between flats and rounds on one particular bass i have depending upon studio needs for that particular session. So yes, not an essential tool, many alternatives out their, but for a dedicated tool for the bench, toque protected, speed set to sensible... 19 quid is great. I guess those who have no need for one or only change strings once in a blue moon, they would likely not see the appeal, but for those who spend alot of time winding, and winding and winding...... Incidentally, i restrung my double bass last night, and that tool would have been warmely welcomed

Spot on bubinga.... Personally never heard of her and dont follow or listen to any chart musiac at all..... But seen he with her band on jools new yeras eve show. My attention was grabbed immedialty and dispite the trackes they did having no bass player, i ached to be there playing with them. A fantistic groove, top draw musicians too. Spent the next few days watching vids, listening to tracks..... I dont think ill be dashing out to buy any albums but it did completely have my full attention and git 10/10 on every aspect. Faith restored.

I had the pleasure of doing business with Tom in relation to the sale of my Mesa Walk about Rig. Doing business with tom was a genuine effortless pleasure, extremely easy to deal with and hugely considerate to me as a seller which in itself is appreciated. Tom is a great guy , rest assured if you wish to do business with him it will likely be the easiest safest sale you will ever make.... Wonky

Thanks tom.... It was a pleasure both doing a business and meeting an online friend....

Yes will do, thanks guys... Last night was a late one.... I played it for for a while and immediatly a few things were apparently. The curve of the bridge made the action/string hight feel too high in places making the transition between strings for the right hand disproportionate, i marked the bridge further on a and d strings to the hights which i would lower them further, removed it an made further adjustments, dropping the string notches to the new markings and the sanding the nut down to ensure only half of the string is below the notch. It made a good Improvment.... I would add that it is easier to mark the strings in situ, slacken the string and set aside, make the notch adjust ment and restring/tension. Doing this a little at a time. Once they are all right, make a pencil mark too run through each notch allowing for half of string thickness and remove bridge to resand down to the new line. Worth noting, when marking notches, make the notch marginally less than you would think as on tension the string itself will settle liwer than the notch looks. G string is a little lower than i would prefer so will continue to fettle! Also nut hight doesnt look great, certainly isnt "business card" kind of hight !

Finally...... Strung up (rough) It plays but needs set up now....... Just spending some time admiring it in one peice im happy with my work but may see professional input from a luthier for set up now, allthough i could easily iron out the few issues which arecapparent at this point..... It sounds nice, but i have no real context to put it in or make comparrison, but to my ear its nice.... The neck is thicker then im used to and will take some getting used too and it is quite physical to play right now, but, its litterally strings on and rough..... Hope either i ir a luthier can get a good set up out of it and ease things up But for now, im happy enough just looking at it !

Wished id have seen this when people asked me what id like for christmas https://m.thomann.de/gb/ernie_ball_power_peg.htm?o=24&ref=mrl_a_24&search=1454118889 Might go mad and treat myself

Iv recently bought a mini mark bass rig... Lil mark 4 head and 2x10 traveller..... Made in indonesia..... Got to say, its fantstic. I know the first lot of indo cabs shifted to lesser quality ply wood, but that was resolved. The gear i have could have been made anywhere, it sounds great, its warrantied and ive had no issues I paid £390 for the little mark 3 head which is just great value for money.....

Its all in the eyes..... Playing as a band is so much more than reeling off bars and notes, its a collective consciousness ..... Scan the eyes, be lead by the drummer and his, at this point and in these situations, over exagerated body laguage which will provide a visual unity to ensure what ever the outcome, all oarties do the same thing. You can rapp the guitarist across the knuckles later

Thats a good call....fair do's

Acoustic, dobro, banjo.... Country ish ??? But not "country" Its a hard sound to lable ? Think squeeze, labelled with love.... I like a bit of jazz though

Couldnt find one Ive bought the schertler stat b pup and preamp.... Thought id give it a go.... Got a good price on what cost £370 new

[quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1454094837' post='2966462'] Might be worth spending a little time with the stock strings (assuming you still have them) - they will give you an idea of the character of the bass itself, and how comfortable you feel with that level of tension/stiffness, and whether there is any issues with the setup that need to be addressed - the couple of stentor 1950s that I've played both had rather a lot of relief in the fingerboard, which made them very hard work with steels, and in such a situation if you can't afford to have the fingerboard planed (or don't want to) then you might want to revise your string choice for something that will be easier to live with. [/quote] The thing is, i bought the bass snapped in two at the neck, it came with no bridge and no strings........ I did manage to get a set of steel flats donated by a very kind bc'er for set up purposes which came off a thomann bass soon after he bought it..... So , i have no name or clue what the strings are, and no experience of any others....... I m currently finishing off the bridge fitting so set up of bridge and nut may as well be bespoked to a string i intend to try for use.... So, if you have played a stentor 1950 or two and are a little familiar with the build, what would you suggest... My evah p choice was based on reveiws of playing ease, tension feel and warm sound........

With my reoair nearing completion.... Pick up almost chosen/ purchased... Its time to turn my thought to strings. Ive read alot of reviews etc..... My requirment will be mostly piz. No slap or bow..... After obviously countless reccomendation for evah pirrazi wiech i will go that way. What i dont know is should i require low or med tension ? I guess this is a oersonal prefferance thing like gauge..... ? I want e,a,d,g format.... Plenty of places selling them, but where is best on price ? And does anywhere online offer any bass chat discount ? Thanks for any advice Wonky

[quote name='keeponehandloose' timestamp='1454073871' post='2966125'] Nothing wrong with a bit of torn up fag packet to use as a shim.. its all about getting the right pressure on the pickup. [/quote] Andy, what pup you using? Ive got back to the schertler stat b seller and hope to hear back soon..... Strings next..... Im thinking evah pirrazi wiech should do it...... Where would be best on price ?

yep understand on the gluing, but I don't mean face to face glueing of the surfaces, just a tiny bead on one of the 90 degree angles where the two woods meet ?

that's where the appeal of the Schertler set b came in as I figured id have better control feedback and boom etc, plus a pre amp designed to go specifically with the pup.... its an expensive set up but I have chance to pay £200 for one which reckoned to be a good price, I certainly couldn't stretch to the £320dd plus retail price of new one.... another train of thought is that spending £200 on the 2nd hand shcetler puts me in the right ball park to buy a new fishman full circle.... although that could end up requiring an additional preamp to appease the relationship between the pup and my amp...... this urb pup lark is a mine field , especially for someone who obsesses over decision like me !