SpondonBassed

[quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1492681148' post='3282207'] I use an alcohol based string cleaner after each gig or rehearsal where the strings can be sticky with sweat then dry with a microfiber cloth. Hair product also gets in there too and make the strings feel sticky. I use fast fret before playing to make sure the strings don't feel rough. I do this for both flat and round wounds. I don't take the strings off to clean them, never really had the need. I have been told recently by a luthier they don't go back up to correct tension when back on the bass... Sure lots of people do this anyway... [/quote] That's interesting. You actually put stuff on the strings and so guarantee your strings are cleaned each session. I'd heard briefly about Fast Fret but passed over it. Is it like silicon polish or summat? I wont ask about the hair product I but can imagine how it could easily happen in some scenarios.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1492679023' post='3282179'] Quick wipe over with a bar towel between songs, that's all I bother with. Rounds or flats, they last for ages, they get replaced when they are worn by the frets rather than because they're grubby. [/quote] One day I hope to play bar venues. It is my dream that I will pull enough punters to be able to demand a bar towel that is soaked in [s]the finest vodka[/s] solvent just to clean my strings, oh, and to freshen my gums but that's wholly incidental.

Aaaaaargh! Someone had to go and mention Bert flipping Weedon! His "Play in a Day" guitar book presumed a knowledge of songs that were out of date before I was even born. I gave up trying after using his "method". It was years later that I got over myself but I [i]still[/i] don't want to play six strings, even on a bass. He might as well have been Ed Winchester! It is said that he was the first British guitarist to have a hit record in the UK singles chart but come on... that was 1959! I had his book twenty years later and its practice material didn't bear any relationship to any of the music that the youth were listening to.

[quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1492678400' post='3282167'] I've tried ultrasonic cleaners, they work well but check this hazard warning if using IPA. Ultrasonic cleaners produce significant emission of vapours (they are used as humidifyers) [url="http://www.tovatech.com/blog/3953/ultrasonic-cleaner/how-to-safely-use-ipa-in-an-ultrasonic-cleaner"]http://www.tovatech....rasonic-cleaner[/url] [/quote] This can't be overstated. Good point.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1492676950' post='3282147'] I use finger sweat. Occasionally I'll grab the string between my fingers & wipe or rub with the butt of the palm of my hand if needed. Oh, I use flatwound strings. [/quote] Two of my three guitars are now wearing flats. During my "crusty" phase, I considered swiping them down my very own bass cleft just to get rid of the worst of the foreign matter build up. (Not really) Seriously though. There is a vast difference between the expectations of a roundwound user and the likes of you and me. It seems to be a characteristic of Rotosounds in particular that the desired sound of the string lasts for a relatively short time.

I didn't like Prince in the eighties. When he first appeared he was an object of ridicule because of his music video where he appears to ride a full dress touring motorcycle. When we saw that it was a teeny weeny Honda 250, he lost all credibility. Well, right or wrong, that was the opinion of my peer group at the time. We were all about surface, never the substance that supported it. I was young and had no sense. Not very long after, I learned that Prince as a performer was just a facet of this small man's huge talent. He was controversial in his own right but all of the time, his writing was making hits for other musicians. I realised that the persona of Prince was merely an outlet and not the main body of his work. We laughed when he dropped his name for that symbol thingy. Branding was not one of his strong points. However, he was always there working away in the industry and occasionally making the news. I grew to appreciate him for his music much more than his stage appearance as a maturing adult. He was innovative, lyrically pithy and always worthy of attention. I would have liked to meet the man behind the persona and shook his hand. First impressions don't always last

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1492540474' post='3281107'] Yes. Unfortunately it now appears that 'Bullying' someone is now seen as a sustained activity done to someone until they are psychologically disturbed for life. Although this is the internet, so I suspect people like to feel all pompus and believe that's what I meant by it. [/quote] The word "bully" is widely understood Tim. I wish it hadn't come up here but your casual attitude towards bullying is questionable. As a special favour to you I have copied over a dictionary definition to help refresh your memory; bully[sup]1[/sup] [ˈbʊli] [b]NOUN[/b][list=1] [*]a person who uses strength or influence to harm or intimidate those who are weaker. "he is a ranting, domineering bully" synonyms: [url="https://www.bing.com/search?q=define+persecutor"]persecutor[/url] · [url="https://www.bing.com/search?q=define+oppressor"]oppressor[/url] · [url="https://www.bing.com/search?q=define+tyrant"]tyrant[/url] · [url="https://www.bing.com/search?q=define+tormentor"]tormentor[/url] · [url="https://www.bing.com/search?q=define+browbeater"]browbeater[/url] · [More] [/list] [b]VERB[/b][list=1] [*]use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force them to do something: "a local man was bullied into helping them" [/list] I will speak no further of this. IBTL

Twincam was the most recent example I've seen of a Rotosound string user complaining of premature string death. I wondered how many users have successful restored the sound of their strings by cleaning. I've been using ultrasound for a while. About ten years ago I spotted a small ultrasound bath intended for cleaning jewellery that was for sale in our local ALDI. It was less than a tenner so I had to give it a go. I have found it cleans sweaty watch straps, spectacle frames and guitar strings really well. At first I used warm soapy water as the solvent but quickly changed to 100 percent iso propyl alcohol when cleaning strings. 100 percent concentration is important as there is no significant quantity of water present and the solvent evaporates off without leaving water behind to cause corrosion or damage to string tails. The solvent is available on the 'net. I would warn that string tails may not be colour fast in this solvent however. Observe all of the warnings on the label. I'd also check that coated strings are safe in this solvent else I'd use warm soapy water and gently blow dry the string thoroughly. The solvent on its own would be good for cleaning using a brush but with iso propyl alcohol the fumes are noxious and inhalation is not recommended. Here's an inexpensive example of a cleaning bath that is available today; [url="http://www.lakeland.co.uk/25650/Ultrasonic-Jewellery-Cleaner?src=gfeed&s_kwcid=AL!49!3!{creative}!e!{placement}!o!{adwords_producttargetid}!&ef_id=WPhKmwAABF7HOq-e:20170420054355:s"]http://www.lakeland....0170420054355:s[/url] [attachment=243443:UltrasoundBath.png] Am I the only one who uses one of these?

If all the component parts of the band are there but not slotting together, you can't really call it a band. Whether the aim is to replicate a song as in a tribute or to do an original arrangement of a well known song, the band has to gel and appear as one entity. That's fundamental.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1492505134' post='3280695'] So with enough effects, some sunglasses, and a few hats, you can make electric guitars sound like a church organ. Who knew? [/quote] Mike Oldfield, that's who. He used something like sixty odd guitar overdubs on Ommadawn. I suppose he did it that way to avoid dealing with the unreasonable demands that church organists make during recording sessions. Another option at the time would've been to hire Rolf 'Arris and his stylophone. Even with the benefit of hindsight I'm not sure what would've been a dodgier prospect to work with. Gary Glitter with a comb and tissue paper? I think I'd rather be left alone in a room with sixty guitarists. That clip though. I had to stop watching it because of the bloke with the long hair. After the second flick of his quiffy bits I was stuck with an image of him as the back end of a horse flicking bot flies away with its tail. I'll listen without looking next time.

[quote name='Burns-bass' timestamp='1492507769' post='3280735'] Brilliant, thanks guys! I'll check it out when I'm not working on a policy brief about Short Bowel Syndrome. (This isn't a joke) [/quote] Let us know when you've worked it out. Meanwhile, I'll find out if I am allowed to use a calculator while listening.

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1492385049' post='3279864'] SMV was never meant to be a long term thing. Stanley announced to a magazine interviewer that they were going to do it, as before that they'd only kicked the idea around. But once Stan said it was happening, it was on. There was no real chance of it going further as all three of them have other commitments, especially Marcus, I would say. It's a bit like Jeff Berlin, Stuart Hamm and Billy Sheehan doing Bx3, just a bit of good luck with a calendar and a one off project of good, wholesome fun. [/quote] I wouldn't like to think of them as being that naive as to look at it that way. If I think about it, it is probably the way for all "supergroups". That the Travelling Wilburys got two albums out was perhaps remarkable. Many thanks for the pointer to Bx3. I wasn't previously aware of them together. I will enjoy a blast of that later.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1492338982' post='3279464'] The only thing I'm moving up in, is the line at the Chinese restaurant down the street. Blue [/quote] Hahahahahaha!

I wonder if this will last longer than SMV? They managed a year from 2008 to 2009. In the last thirty five years or so, I've seen this a few times. It's one of those band models that is born out of discussions that contain phrases like "wouldn't it be cool if..." and "what's the worst that could happen". I was one of two bass players in a side project to my main thang back in the eighties myself! That Stanley Clark, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten all thought multiple bassists was a cool enough notion to fly just proves that they aren't infallible either. It can work but perhaps it is best as an intermittent feature rather than the USP for a band. In their defence, SMV isn't always three basses together, sometimes there is a DB in there too. I did like the "Thunder" tune. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBKJrgdn8oQ

[quote name='Elfrasho' timestamp='1492290518' post='3279287'] This is bang on. That spitfire analogy is miles off the mark. I simply don't understand why it seems to be acceptable to do this. In any other walk of life, rebadging an item to pass it off as a premium brand (hmmm) is just simply wrong. If you're happy to play a Harley Benton for example, then you should be giving them the credit. In fact, [u]i love to see guys playing not that expensive instruments and making them sound decent![/u] Fraser [/quote] So do I.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1492297885' post='3279317'] At first I thought it was odd, the festival organizers never meet the artists. Now that I think about it there's no reason for it. Plus many of the A list artist are mukti-millionairs and probably have people around them to keep people like me away from them. Blue [/quote] I get the sense that you feel ready to move up an echelon within the industry. It also sounds like you are putting in the work to achieve it. That is to be respected because a lot of players go stagnant once they reach a perceived "average" level of skill - whatever that is for their little pond. Remember your roots though bro.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1492260190' post='3279064'] My thoughts exactly. It's like it's a music program devised by a focus group (like a lot of BBC programming). Speaking of TOTP, given that the Beeb don't seem to tire of rehashing that cheese-fest, why don't they repeat some Whistle Test too? [/quote] Keep an eye on BBC4 because they sometimes put on docs using TOGWT footage and such late on in the night.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1492249839' post='3278942'] At the local Womans institute, old people's care home, open mic night, go busking. It doesn't have to be a support slot with a reformed Led Zeppelin (although that would be cool) [/quote] I've done two out of your four choices but I ain't telling which ones. @ OP - If you feel you are turning your back on your mates, I understand. I think you might have little choice however and it is a common enough scenario for the territory. Take 'em out for a curry night and let them down gently. Good mates will tolerate a lot as long as you don't seem to be going behind their backs or giving them the opportunity to respond before the event. Good luck. It's nice to hear of people who want to make the effort.

It's as if it was the illegitimate love child of TOTP and TOGWT. Now that its parents have retired it is left running the shop into the ground - if you take some of the comment seriously. It's good to have a commercial free music program at all IMHB. If you channel surf the Freesat music offerings you are as likely to hit a commercial as a music vid. Nowadays there is a lot of "lifestyle" content too which makes me want to yak up into a bucket frankly. Be honest, you'd miss it if it went away forever.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1492245038' post='3278885'] you should be so lucky [/quote]

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1492248193' post='3278923'] Yep, in a church so the work was being done in the space it was written for. Lots of good stuff, but some of the recitative passages where not hanging together well. I did have to discipline myself to not start swinging some of the basslines. [/quote] I'd love to have heard that performance. Good man.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1492242394' post='3278850'] pure convenience, carting around a bass and side drum for a few songs at open mic, and the time to set it up would be too much [/quote] Understood. I thought for a moment that she was a fan of those Vulfpeck clips. PS; Am I going to get a slap next time she sees me for what I said earlier? Heeheehee.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1492242612' post='3278856'] I guess, but while it goes against my own position on value,When it comes to playing festival headliner stages, I think you have to be seen and heard in action when your on the top of your game. Blue [/quote] By "value" are you saying you don't get paid as much as for your four hour bar sessions? Like you say, the exposure is good. You can't put a price on that.

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1492211394' post='3278775'] Got in an hour ago. 2.5 hours of playing after a 3.5 hour rehearsal this afternoon. That was HARD work. I remember why I stopped doing it now. It was interesting to go back to it after a long break and realise that his basslines are a huge part of my creative DNA. [/quote] I believe that trumps Blue's four hour bookings if you add it up. Controversial. How was it apart from the hard work? I'm thinking you had a church venue or at least a venue that allowed the sound to breathe freely.

[quote name='IainS' timestamp='1492099480' post='3277975'] I sometimes think that the only way I'm going to really learn fretless is if I sell my fretted bass so it becomes a choice of fretless or nothing. The temptation to play something perfectly in tune is just too great sometimes. I can see why it took you years. [/quote] For me it just felt wrong with roundwounds. For all those years I didn't realise a change of strings would make it feel right. It was as if the scales had fallen from my eyes after thirty long years. I agree with you. If you had no other choice I don't think there would be so much temptation to rely on frets for good intonation. I also think that you would get your ear in - so to speak - far quicker.