Stylon Pilson

The plastic battery snap on my bass guitar broke apart, so I figured I'd try to replace it myself. The original was connected to a little 2.5mm TRS plug, so I took this out and soldered on a replacement battery snap. Now I seem to have a really bad ground loop, making itself known as a rather loud hum that disappears when I touch the relevant parts of the instrument. Does it seem likely that the ground loop was caused by: 1. Poor soldering (haven't done any since school) 2. Inadequate part (ie the replacement battery snap) or 3. Inadequate shielding round the base of the TRS plug Thanks in advance. S.P.

[quote name='Faithless' post='250477' date='Jul 29 2008, 02:49 PM']EDB was twice-the-price as GSR, and I couldn't afford it, so, after a bit of trying, I took GSR.. EDB one felt really better, but, money... [/quote] How long would it take you to save up the extra for the EDB? S.P.

Doable. It might help if one of you puts down a guide vocal track which can then be replaced by the lead singer when he comes in. S.P.

[quote name='Wooks' post='250303' date='Jul 29 2008, 11:35 AM']Why is this? I'm probably showing my ignorance here, but what's the difference between an instrument cable and a amp cable??[/quote] Instrument cables are shielded - the "ground" wire runs around the outside of the "signal" wire with insulation between them. Speaker cables have two thick parallel conductors and are not shielded. Using speaker cable as instrument cable -> noise due to lack of shielding Using instrument cable as speaker cable -> possibility of conductors melting together and causing a short. S.P.

[quote name='silddx' post='250241' date='Jul 29 2008, 10:16 AM']I kinda disagree, I think starting with your own number shows confidence and makes a statement that you are an originals band that does a few covers, rather than the other way around.[/quote] I agree with this sentiment. You can start with an original, but you have to make sure that the intro and ending are bulletproof, and you play it with gusto and enthusiasm. Play it as if it were your #1 hit and the audience know all the words. S.P.

If you like your Ibanez SR and you don't have any feelings of lust towards any other instrument, then get another SR. S.P.

[quote name='Faithless' post='249739' date='Jul 28 2008, 04:19 PM']Nobody?... [/quote] Buy the best bass that you can afford. S.P.

[quote name='insinkerator' post='244362' date='Jul 21 2008, 12:19 PM'][url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-Tour-450-Bass-Head-?sku=480314"]Peavey Tour 450[/url] -Its the price tag that caught my eye here. Seems almos too good to be true.... am i right?[/quote] I can't speak for the other two that you listed, but I can vouch that Peavey gear is good and very robust. Obviously don't buy it without playing through it to see how you feel about the tone, but as far as build quality is concerned, don't let the price tag fool you. S.P.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='244328' date='Jul 21 2008, 11:14 AM']It sounds fine at bedroom volume but I won't get chance to put some serious welly through it until Saturday. The other lads think it was a monitor issue - I hope so.[/quote] If you can find a way to test it before the next gig, then that would be a good idea. Partly because you may find that the same monitor issue arises again, in which case you still won't know whether it's busted or not. And if it explodes next time you crank the volume, you want to have a little bit of time left to obtain a replacement! S.P.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='244304' date='Jul 21 2008, 10:44 AM']The rest of the band camped in the field with all the bikers but I went home sulking thinking my new cab was kaput.[/quote] I assume that you have since checked it and found it to be in full working order? S.P.

Saturday night was a 40th birthday party for a friend of Greg, our lead singer. Greg had offered to do this gig for free before I even joined the band, so I can't complain. And the birthday boy paid for the PA hire, so we weren't out of pocket. We were playing in the corner of the garden, and hardly anyone was watching us - most of the guests were inside the warm house, listening to the stereo. I switched to a fretted bass after 9:30pm because it was getting dark and we didn't have much illumination on stage. The gig went fine, but when there's barely anybody watching, and one of the neighbours' neighbours' neighbours' neighbours comes round halfway through to complain about the noise, it puts a bit of a dampener on things. It's infuriating to know that 95% of the people there wouldn't have cared if we hadn't been there. Still, I try to throw myself into the gig anyway, and do all my moody introspection the next morning. S.P.

It's gorgeous. If I didn't live 250 miles away I'd be getting in touch with you on that whole singing thing, I swear.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='239910' date='Jul 15 2008, 12:08 PM']Or maybe a Ashdown 1x12 of some sort, the MAG being the cheapest. The combos are quite small (well, not very deep) and i used one for about a year without PA support and it served me well. Dirt cheap as well.[/quote] I'm very happy with my Ashdown Electric Blue combo. It's got a 1x12 and you can hook up an external cabinet to get the full 180W. It's a steal at <£200. Looking at the statistics, it's not much smaller or lighter than the Bassman 250/115 so perhaps it's not the ideal combo for the OP. S.P.

[quote name='silddx' post='239913' date='Jul 15 2008, 12:11 PM']I tend to practice without, I don't have an amp, only a desk and monitors in my studio. I find I enjoy it more with when I'm plugged in so I play for longer periods. I sort of assumed practising without any amplification of any sort would enhance my technique and show up errors more easily but I think I might be changing my mind now. probably a volume issue. I play fairly powerfully in fingerstyle too so eveness may be an issue because of this. What do you think works best? Or do you think it's a purely personal issue?[/quote] I usually practise plugged in. As you say, if you aren't amplified then there is a tendency to play too hard, in an attempt to produce some sound. I'd say that being amplified probably shows up errors better than playing unamplified. If I were you, I'd consider investing in a practise amp. Take your bass round to a guitar shop and try a few out. S.P.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='239862' date='Jul 15 2008, 11:32 AM']It only lasts for a couple of bars and only comes round a couple of times, but is a nice contrast to the fingerstyle groove he plays. Of course, he isn't doing it to show off.[/quote] Of course not. That would be absolutely unthinkable. S.P.

I'm struggling to remember a quote that has stuck with me for many years. I can't remember who said it, and I can't remember the exact wording. I think it was in Bassist magazine. Some famous, well-renowned bass player said of slapping "yes, it's technically brilliant, but it completely misses the point" or something like that. I feel that that quote sums up my sentiments nicely. S.P.