SpondonBassed

[quote name='Hamstar8' timestamp='1485032658' post='3220643'] Hi, I need help, I play a fender p with my fingers, problem is I have quite small hands, I've always found that I shred the skin on my last two fingers quite badly, I lube the old strings which helps a bit but with gigging quite a bit I need something else, so ... I want a clean punchy sound but with a smooth string what do you recommend? [/quote] Newtone's "Platinum" strings are supposed to have finer windings to reduce squeal for recording. They might be smoother for you without going to flats. I am getting fond of flats myself now though.

Funny, I never managed to mute the B or E with the thumb of my neck hand. It's something that my hand refuses to do. I sometimes wish I had one of those bent back thumbs that you see sometimes. You know, where the end bone of the picking hand thumb is almost bent back at right angles to the rest of the thumb. It must make slapping easy. With mine, I have trouble picking out the E and A strings without striking the adjacent ones.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1485011622' post='3220391'] I will probably always use a 5 string now. It just works for me. I can play in positions i cant with a 4, and sixers are either too heavy, and i dont use the high C. The low B is always there for the music i play and love. So the 5ver is the perfect solution for me. I use the B string as a thumb rest and a mute. Does anyone else use this technique when playing a 5 string. [/quote] Yup. Apart from playing off the low B itself. If I pick on the B with my thumb rather than fingers it saves looking for a resting place and leaves me free to pluck wherever the heck I like between the bridge and neck. On my guitar thumb plucking helps get the best from the B. I sometimes rest my thumb on one or other of the pick ups too. 'pends. Muting is more of an unconscious thing for me these days. All I can tell you is that both hands share the muting and damping.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1484826952' post='3218782'] Clean the old strings to make them get through the gig if they're dead (i don't boil my strings, i don't trust bringing steel to such a high temperature, i use a oven cleaning product that removes all the grease then rinse them with water and dry very well with a cloth) and see if you can get the seller to replace your order. [/quote] You won't damage steel in the slightest at 100 degrees Celcius. You will however risk corrosion by using oven cleaning products. Very ill advised in my opinion. A while back, I bought a small ultrasonic cleaning bath from ALDI of all places. It was less than a tenner. It is intended for cleaning jewellery. It's also ideal for cleaning guitar strings. For steel strings, use it with a 70 to 100 percent solution of Isopropyl Alcohol (my Pharmacy got some in for me) in a well ventilated space. The strings can be placed in mine in the same size of coil that they were packed. After a few minutes treatment you should see a little residue at the bottom of the bath, the dirt from the strings. When you're happy that they are clean, wipe them down and hang them from one end somewhere dry and warm for an hour or so to allow the last of the solvent solution to evaporate.

I used to be a binary person but I'm in two minds about it all these days. Try it. The worst thing that can happen is a rejection. I'd love to hear the follow-up.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1484906217' post='3219511'] This thread has got me reaching for my old JVC turntable and setting it up, in order to play my large collection of vinyl again. BTW....while doing some research for a new stylus, I came across a site which had accessaries for... a record player... and a turntable. It got me thinking...what's the difference ? [/quote] I believe the record player is a self contained unit like the Dansette that James May just assembled on t'telly recently; [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nMHhLidGVU[/media] The turntable has no amplifier or speakers of its own.

I haven't watched (listened) to the clip because it is one of those that Download Helper can't "see". I don't stream as a rule so I'll probably only hear it if it gets popular. Gutted? Christ no. JK's got 'nuff Ferraris to console him if he bombs again.

You're welcome.

You might get lucky and have it settle down quickly. I put flats on my fretless a little while back and the full section at the silk end of the E was just on the capstan close to the point of being in tune. It wasn't too bad but then I tried to keep as much slack out of the string in the early stage of winding on as I could. It behaves pretty much as normal now. How many times do you think the full section would have to go around? If you don't think you can get three full turns I wouldn't bother.

You may have problems getting the low B to stay in tune until the thicker section of the string beds into the capstan fully. This is provided you can get three full windings on at all of course. If you try it, be prepared to retune after every number. I don't think the narrower section over the bridge will stop the string from working. In fact, it may sound brighter because it is effectively a superwound. Good luck!

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1484847033' post='3219076'] We are normal and we love Bert Weedon! [/quote] Oh thank you. A proper blast form the past. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utjLlBbXCdg

Hahahahahahah!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1484823137' post='3218719'] Oh God, you're right. I want a second BF Two10 and an Ampeg VB4. I need help. [/quote] Aw, bless. Now that you're back posting, would you like to try aversion therapy for GAS? I could arrange for a small team of trolls to leap out and mug you every time you cross the bridge into GASeous territory. Joking aside, it's good to have you back mate. Rock on.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1484748567' post='3218048'] This is so true. My point arrived quite a while ago with a 76 Precision, a USA Ampeg SVT CL and 8 X 10. That remains the best sound I've ever had. But it's just too impractical a rig for 'normal' use. I'm trying to stay with what I've got, but there's always that little voice in your head which says, 'If you just get this [i]next [/i]bit of gear you'll be sorted and you won't need anything else...' And round and round we go. Currently I'm fighting the urge to buy an Ampeg PF50-T... [/quote] Told you so... Denial

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1484656452' post='3217189'] I have started setting myself goals and tests to be achieved before GAS can be unlocked.....so it may be go through Lydian Scales up and down the neck, particular Chords all over the fretboard. I try to make to goals difficult so that if i do unlock the GAS at least i've learned something and anything new in the Armoury has been earned P.S. i'm a lazy practicer / learner so unlocking the GAS is a slow process :/ [/quote] Knob on! This is what I do. No reward without an achievement to precede it.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1484594796' post='3216678'] I think I may finally be over in my search for tone nirvana. I`ve already found that the Fender Precision is the bass for me, and realised that the Sansamp is the preamp for me. Amp-wise I`d been nearly there but not quite and then realisation hit - the way it seems to at times - that every time I`ve used an Ashdown as a provided rig I`ve loved the "slam" that they give, as well as the tone. Additionally this seems to be irrespective of whatever cabs they`re hooked up to. Think the combination of Ashdown/Sansamp works really well, and contrary to belief, nowt woolly at all, no sheep in my sound. [/quote] Yet more denial

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1484582828' post='3216485'] Theoretically I agree, but sometimes it's nice to own nice things isn't it? As long as you're not putting your family on the street due to your uncontrollable spending on basses, what's the harm? [/quote] Acceptance

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1484570304' post='3216350'] Came to exactly the same conclusion only quite recently. The idea of acquiring gear is to improve your sound, it's a constant process of upgrading and refinement, right? Only it's not, because your playing suffers as a result. The best way to improve your sound is to improve your playing. After a certain level (and it's a surprisingly basic level) better gear makes not an awful lot of difference. After decades of playing, decades of GAS and many thousands of pounds spent, I'm finally down to one bass, one amp and one cab. I do everything I need to do with those - and the time I previously spent trawling the internet for (gear) porn is now spent playing instead. Having said that, I still appreciate pics of nice gear - I just don't feel the urge to press the BUY button. And I'm not having a go at the GAS community - the heart wants what it wants - and if your bank balance can stand it, it's OK with me. [/quote] More denial

[quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1484559685' post='3216242'] I recently commented on a topic listing out previous amps I've owned. I also commented on another talking about letting gear go and realised that while better and other gear exists, I probably have what I need for my uses. My band are now doing more gigs where we need to provide PA and we don't currently have bass bins so this morning I bought a cab. I also lusted after some basses and cabs and amps on eBay, gumtree and in the ads here. So this morning I deleted the eBay and gumtree aps off my phone. I need to stop spending on gear and concentrate on my professional exams coming up and the time spent lusting after and researching gear could be spent thinking about either my exams or my playing for upcoming gigs, like memorizing parts of songs. I also need to refurb my house so that's where my cash should be going. I'm now renouncing GAS. it's a destructive force that never satisfies, just fuels itself. A dangerous addiction. [/quote] Denial

Your big break eh? Break legs.

[quote name='highwayone' timestamp='1484817037' post='3218630'] Changed my mind after seeing this�� [/quote] I'm so glad you said that. It is what stopped me from advancing when I got my first guitar aged 11 (the seventies). I didn't pick an instrument up again other than to pose with until I was 19! Even then I was reluctant to tackle an instrument with more than four strings, hence my start in bass. I suppose it must work on some level but I couldn't relate to ANYTHING in it. Now we have six (or more) string basses I have found these diagrams to help me understand the relative tunings between standard guitar and standard six string basses; [url="http://www.guitar-book.com/index_htm_files/standard-guitar-tuning.png"]http://www.guitar-bo...itar-tuning.png[/url] Guitar [url="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/0iu-evUwUrE/maxresdefault.jpg"]http://i1.ytimg.com/...xresdefault.jpg[/url] Sixer Bass

[quote name='Basszilla' timestamp='1484805702' post='3218546'] So yeah I got it working but i've still got the inconvenience of adjusting two volume knobs on the speakers and not having a single control to do this. I may have to bite the bullet and go the traditional route and invest in a separate amp and passive speakers to get the best out of my set up. [b]However I'm interested in getting a decent pot as mentioned above purely to save on the outlay at this time. If anyone has any further advice[/b] feel free to chime in �� Thanks again everyone ✌️ [/quote] Good man! Separates are always the way to go. The ultimate separation being;[list] [*]turntable [*]phono preamp (make sure you know what preamp works best for the cartridge you have - ceramic vs moving coil vs moving magnet) [*]dedicated preamp for all sources (balance, eq and filtering is applied at this stage) [*]two independently powered valve power amps - usually available as a unit with a common output volume control [*]speakers. [/list] The only drawback (apart from expense and large "footprint") that I can see is that separates based systems lend themselves to upgrading in small increments and that can lead to the dreaded GAS. [url="http://www.rfpotts.com/en/"]http://www.rfpotts.com/en/[/url] (R F Potts is the name of the founder of the business and not a pun. The shop is "old school" in the best possible way but is digital savvy too). These guys run a shop in Derby that is reminiscent of "proper" shops where [i]nobody[/i] says "go online" when asked a technical question. All the staff are knowledgeable. It would be worth telephoning them for some "real-time" advice and [b]they will recommend an inexpensive but functional trimmer box if you really want one.[/b] Can't see why you would though. I hope it connects well for you and blows your socks off, metaphorically speaking. Enjoy.

Connect thus; Turntable - phono preamp - line in on amp (in this case the unbalanced RCA on your active speakers). This should be a purely analogue set-up so the Tascam is a bit of a gooseberry. If you want to do ADDA conversions take a separate line out to the Tascam after the phono preamp. As soon as you digitise your phono signal you will loose its character and you may as well chuck the money you spent down the nearest bog. The Tascam is an impediment to pure analogue listening.. Follow each manufacturers recommendations for set-up bearing in mind that they are only guidelines. Overall, I'd say you have a reasonably capable system for playing from vinyl. One change that I would make is to replace the speakers with a dedicated integrated stereo amplifier just for analogue use and a pair of good quality passive speakers. Then you can add other "goodies" like tape transports (for playback and recording) and tuners[color=#ff0000]*[/color]. Also, get good quality cables and end fittings. I used to make my own but you should get decent ones at a moderate price. Separates are usually better (more flexible) if you can afford them. With integrated systems such as active speakers there is always a compromise. Much like the Combo vs Head plus Cab scenario. [color=#ff0000]*[/color]Chances are that FM radio transmissions will be phased out one day. This has been threatened time and time again since the nineties but analogue radio still hasn't been shut down. Personally, I prefer it to DAB but then, I would.

[quote name='Dave_the_bass' timestamp='1484778362' post='3218462'] Not guaranteeing anything this far out, especially as I'm on holiday until a couple of days before, but; I'm hoping to make it this year! If I am coming then Spondon's transport issues will be solved. [/quote] Noted. Please give me an update when you can confirm?

Do they still do Bert Weedon's Play in a Day? Edit; Oh yeah. They do! http://www.bertweedon.com/playinaday.htm