dave_bass5

Cheers, ill hunt him down.

I just had a mailshot from Stringsdirect with these very funky looking strings in it. Im tempted to try a set but thought i would ask around first. [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/7098-dr_4_string_neon_hidef_orange_bass_guitar_strings_45_105"]DR Neon Strings[/url]

6. Black with matching black headstock and matching black PG.

When i got rid of mine it was to the Bass Centre. It had been in the wardrobe for years as i didnt think it was even worth selling. It had all Schaller gold hardware, a different pick guard, different pup and been re wired a couple of times. I still got £300 for it. I was told its the neck thats the draw to these basses.

Cheers guys. I think it was my thread about changing the Squier electrics. I had decided not to but managed to damage the volume pot when I changed the pickup so I had no choice but to get a new pot. The Squier ones are really nice but i found them small and fiddly to work with. The point is that I've had, and have, basses that have got CTS pots and they are very nice and smooth. It's the ones ive brought that I'm having issues with.

In the quest to upgrade my CV P I'm trying to find a CTS pot that's as smooth as the stock ones. So far I've brought two solid shafts from one place and a split shaft from another and none of them have a smooth action. All the basses I've owned, including the current ones, have had nice smooth pots. It's not how I'm installling them as I can feel this by just turning them in my hand. I've just ordered a vintage style one to see if that's any better but after that I'm giving up. I have these in my HW-one and they are very smooth so I'm hoping I get lucky. Am I expecting too much? I know it's not the end of the world, and I don't really use the volum knob mich anyway but it's just an annoying that the cheap Squier ones are better. I've read so many mentions of these pots that I can't believe I can't get a smooth one.

Busiest year in our 7 year history. Lots of social clubs but the weddings were also up a lot on last year. Already got 20 gigs booked for next year.

[quote name='3V17C' post='1024754' date='Nov 15 2010, 03:45 PM']the charity is not particularly close to the guitarist or anything, i think its more the fact that his friend is organising it - originally he was going to go along by himself and just jam with said friends band on a few songs - not sure why this changed to wanting the whole band there - all seems to be a bit of an afterthough and just squeezing us in the bill for the sake of it. ah well.... see what happens i guess!... i know the guitarist has tried getting a dep in but had no luck so far - should have asked on here maybe!! cheers c[/quote] Yeah, it sounds like he has been put on the spot. Probably promised to get the band there and now has to let his mate down.

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1024668' date='Nov 15 2010, 02:26 PM']originally not fussed,[/quote] This normally means not wanting to sound like you want to do it (for whatever reason but normally because you know there wont be a lot of enthusiasm) but hoping someone else will say yes for you. At least, thats my experience. Personally i would do the gig if i was getting paid (a nominal fee as its for Charity, but a realistic one considering the distance), it was well organised, and i was guaranteed 99% a time slot to be on stage and wouldn't need to be getting there too early. I dont think many of the above applies to this thread though, so i would say no to this gig. I wonder if the guitarist has promised the loan of any gear.

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='1021426' date='Nov 12 2010, 01:56 PM']I can't think of a bass-related topic that hasn't been done [i]at least[/i] twice here. [/quote] Im not sure i agree with you but im going to post a great video just saw on Youtube called "drummer at the wrong.........;-) I love my Gramma pad. I got one when someone posted about a discount and a lot of us placed an order, and have used it at every gig since.

We went all the way to Wales (from London) to play a small wedding reception at Caerphilly Castle on Sat. Its pretty much a ruin other than the main hall and we just managed to get the gear in before the rain hit. With stone walls and floor, plus being in the corner we expected the worse. I didn't eve both with my BDDI as i though it would complicate things freq wise. As it happens we had a fantastic sound. This was the first gig ive done with my upgraded Squier CVP and it sounded exactly as i had wanted it to sound. More P sounding than my old Duck Dunn's or my Fender P5, not that i didnt like them, its just the CV P has that earthy tone (big thnaks to Andy at Wizard for producing such a good pup). It might have been the venue's acoustics that helped but im very happy to use the Squier as my gigging bass now. As i was so wrapped up in the new bass i played the the intro and first verse to Walking on sunshine in A rather than E. It threw the band out but i dont think the audience noticed.

I got a JV P when they first came out and sold it a few years ago. Ive been through loads of basses both during the time i had it and since i sold it any to me a lot of the basses ive had were better. Nice necks and a very good retail price at the time but i think they are over priced second hand now. Worth it if you like the feel etc of a specific one but silly money to buy just because its a JV. IME of course.

I must admit that i dont really use the Korg much, and certainly not at home. For reheasing and learning songs i dont really need much hardware. My setup is Bass (sometimes BDDI) in to the line in on my M-audio 24/96 and then either run A guitar sim like Ampeg SVX or GR4, or just straight through using the BDDI. I then play along with iTunes etc. The line out gets split between a cheap set of Speakers and the Headphone amp i posted about above. If im in another room i use a M-audio USB interface in to my Netbook, with either the BDDI connected or SXV and use Itunes to stream the MP3's from my main PC over WiFi. It works really well. My Headphones are closed but i find they still let in quite a bit so im on the lookout for something more sealed.

I was really looking forward to using the irig setup but just couldn't get a good clean tone and sent it back. For now im back to my trusty Korg Panadora for mobile rehearsing.

Playing the bass

I came in here to see what headphone recommendations there were. I always use my PC for practising and as its in the living room im always on the lookout for a good set of enclosed cans as the TV is normally on at the same time. My current ones are Senheiser HD215's and i dont really rate them so i need something fuller sounding, with good isolation. I use a tiny headphone amp called a FiiO, cost about £15, that i find has a very nice signal, for the price. Its about the size of two Compact Flash cards on top of each other and improves even my ipods. Its powered by an internal battery thats charged using USB. Ive got the notepad and its great but i rarely need to use it. Its a bit overkill for just playing along to MP3s etc. Ive also got one of those small Behringer Xenyx mixers.. These are dirt cheap (of course) bu ti prefer this over the Spirit. The Sony's that OBBM mentioned look good. Ill have to investigate those next week.

I think you can get extra large covers off ebay that might fit the higher mass bridges, although ive never heard of anyone getting one to fit a BAII. I actually replaced the pups in my HW-one Jazz with Wizards and it transformed the bass. I just love the tone i get from it now, and it was good to start with. I guess im just agreeing that Wizards are a great upgrade and very cheap.

[quote name='philipleonard' post='1020956' date='Nov 12 2010, 08:00 AM']I've fitted the Fender chrome plate over the bridge and want to keep the look but I'm not sure which bridges (Badass,Gotoh,Hipshot etc) will fit under it. Have you guys got any tips? Phil.[/quote] Badass definitely not, cant comment on the others.

Agree with London Calling and Baggy Trousers. I learnt them a few weeks ago (just for my own amusement). Nice and simple once you know how. Ive also finally learnt Tears of a Clown (the original). For some reason thats eluded me for ages, although ive never HAD to learn it before.

Well, after all that soldering i think im going to change the volume pot again. Compared to the Squeir pots both the new CTS pots feel scratchy and cheap. Ive only put the one in but have tested both. The Squier pots are very smooth and feel really nice when i turn them. There are no sound issues, no scratchy noise or anything like that, i just expected more from a £4 pot. As both are like this i think ill try another brand. Maybe im being a bit too fussy now but when a "quality" item feels cheaper than a budget one it bugs me. Ill also give the blade idea a go, cheers for that.

[quote name='icastle' post='1020267' date='Nov 11 2010, 03:39 PM']Watch it Dave - I have a vague idea of where London is and will hunt you down, replace your solder with a coat hanger wire and watch you suffer... [/quote] Sorry, no offence meant. I wouldn't want you travelling all this way [i]up north[/i] with your coat (or kagoule) hangers ;-) I actually threw my lead free solder out last night as i felt the new stuff was easier to work with. Im glad i started this thread now. Ill impress the rest of the band with my new soldering knowledge on Sat.

Cheers icastle, that's sort of put my mind at rest over the dullness issue i thought i had. You learn something new everyday. At least when i put the bass that ill never sell up for sale the buyer can rest assured the joints are good. I was going to ask about National railway route numbers next........;-)

[quote name='Bigwan' post='1020000' date='Nov 11 2010, 01:12 PM']In my experience lead free solder produces a duller solder joint than leaded solder. I hate the stuff myself, as do most high volume electronics manufacturers. Just doesn't do the job as well as the real thing.[/quote] This is what i was thinking. I know my skills aren't great but compared to the other joints in the bass all my joints were dull. I was thinking it might be the solder, that one of the reasons i started this thread. Looking at the new joint with the new solder there is a bit more shine to it now. Its all good now. Bass sounds great, looks exactly the same and plays like a dream. Job done.