SpondonBassed

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1488856703' post='3252423'] I think it is all in your mind, 1/64th of an inch is not noticible as far as playing technique is concerned. It's your attitude and technique tweek that really made the change. So it's YOU that did the good work [/quote] Yes but you thought that. So that statement is also in your mind. Heeheehee. Joking aside, 1/64th is the difference between fret buzz and no fret buzz when basses are set low on action. It doesn't make much difference to the higher action set-ups admittedly but we weren't talking about that. High action has its place too but the OP has already been there.

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1488848129' post='3252415'] I use forScore on gigs where I need access to parts / lyrics etc. Don't know how it compares to others TBH, but works fine for what I need. [/quote] When gigging, what's a good stand for the device? The folding covers that serve as stands don't seem fit for purpose. Note: I have avoided the words "music stand". Well almost.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1488820903' post='3252079'] So is this one any good? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-BB300-Bass-Guitar-Black-/132110888972?hash=item1ec26c300c:g:NZcAAOSwtfhYtDnw"]http://www.ebay.co.u...ZcAAOSwtfhYtDnw[/url] or this? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/yamaha-bass-guitar/282383485731?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41415%26meid%3D79dec41a5ab847d4aa64164ec97ba69c%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D132110888972"]http://www.ebay.co.u...%3D132110888972[/url] [/quote] If you look closely at the second link, in a couple of the photos you can see the tiny hands of the elves that made it.

[quote name='Monkey Steve' timestamp='1488812168' post='3251962'] yeah, sounds sensible...not sure the rest of them are going to go for it. The previous bass player played a four string, so it wasn't an issue for them, and they don't seem to be feeling my pain. Don't think I'm going to win this one, so I'd probably best get used to it [/quote] Capo? [I'll get my coat]

[quote name='joeystrange' timestamp='1488787873' post='3251654'] Does 1/64" (or roughly 0.39mm) really make that big of a difference? This is a genuine question, by the way, there is no sarcasm intended. I'm just not sure I'd be able to tell with that tiny change but then I've never measured or specifically set my action. [/quote] Yes.

[quote name='LITTLEWING' timestamp='1488743333' post='3251482'] Just for the hell of it I lowered my normal setup action from 6/64ths E - 5/64ths G down a smidge to 5/64ths - 4/64ths (@17th fret) and adopted a lighter playing style and over the weekend have suddenly become more confident and more accurate in my playing. Gone are the thumping fingers, nasty string 'clack' and with it that initial momentary touch of grunt in the note when the volume's up the steamy end. Watch and listen to guys like Nathan East, his fingers are merely stroking the strings and everything is so composed and in the pocket. (God, I hate that saying!!) Re-training and new discipline after all these years, but so worth it. It REALLY is all in the hands more than the instrument. [/quote] Good man. From what I read it's not for everyone but I found similar results to yourself. In addition I had to think about my plucking to get the best out of the reduced action. Lightening the touch is, as you say, helpful for confidence and accuracy but it also showed me where I was tending to pluck the strings inefficiently. I now pluck more or less parallel to the instrument body thereby wasting less energy and causing little fret noise. It is one style of playing and it complements my developing set of skills nicely. Have you also looked at your pick-up height? There might be benefits from a little adjustment now that you have modified your saddle height and style.

[quote name='King Tut' timestamp='1488745301' post='3251508'] Coincidentally, I went for a curry in Stony Stratford today. We sat on the next table to Terry Marshall - Jim Marshall's Son. Terry is well known around here from local jam nights - he's an awesome Sax player. My son used to build amps and had made a JTM 45 copy - they were chatting about it and Terry was telling my son how the 'T' in JTM stands for 'Terry' because 'JTM' stands for 'Jim and Terry Marshall'. A lovely guy who had loads of time for us! [/quote] That's a lovely anecdote. Thanks for sharing.

[quote name='gazzatriumph' timestamp='1488732158' post='3251364'] I've given up on bands now and play for my own enjoyment, [u]I dont know what other people think[/u] but in my experience there always seemed to be one person in the bands I've been in that ends up pissing me and most the others off. I take so much and then walk, always got on well with the other band members. Also sick of playing in classic rock bands churning out the same old boring numbers but it seems that's what pays. So unless an opportunity to join a post punk/80's alternative band, my kind of music, which is unlikely, I'm going to carry on playing with myself [/quote] Honestly? I think you might be shooting yourself in the foot to a degree. If you get pleasure from playing at home to yourself - fine. Job done. Bass isn't a great solo instrument however. Even Joe Dart underpins his fellow band members for the most part. Bass is best in an ensemble situation. I don't count playalongs as an ensemble. I understand what you say about friction with other band members. It is something that seems to go with the territory. It takes a degree of maturity to rise above personality clashes for the sake of a band and even then it is no guarantee. Good luck.

There are lots of tips in the Build Diaries on BassChat too. You might get an answer to your nitromors question there. PS; I'd love to know what sort of gigs it's been used at where pot shots are taken at the band.

I like your thinking. It leaves more cash available for kebabs.

[quote name='dyerseve' timestamp='1488731192' post='3251359'] Considering it could be headless as well, there really is no excuse for such a hideous head. I really like the body aesthetics though. [/quote] I feel the same way about a certain president of somewhere or other...

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1488721267' post='3251246'] It's a Laurus. Federico Malaman can be seen playing one in a lot of his videos. [url="http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Richard_Pain/media/stuff/Screenshot_20170305-133143_1_zpsemxclabf.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Many thanks. In context, I could put up with it's aesthetics, not sure about neck dive though. You have to take that as coming from someone who favours headless instruments.

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1488712618' post='3251169'] Let's not overlook a superb example of design brain-fartery (body included). [attachment=239650:Ampeg bass.jpg] [/quote] Isn't that what the americans call "adding lightness"?

[quote name='dyerseve' timestamp='1488660937' post='3250932'] You're welcome. Let's not forget this monstrosity on an otherwise very nice looking instrument: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=229305"]http://basschat.co.u...ttach_id=229305[/url] [/quote] I can't comment on the otherwise bit. Have you a photo of that too please? Maybe it's a well known brand but I don't get out much.

[quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1488678995' post='3251034'] I once lost a job because the guy took the drummer and I out and got us pissed after the audition. I never took the whole Lennon vs McCartney thing very seriously, so when he started the conversation I said ,in my inebriated state, that The Frog Song was a work of genius and Lennon was a pretentious ****. He didn't see the funny side... [/quote] Ribbit!

[quote name='gafbass02' timestamp='1488656798' post='3250889'] Sadly he is unwell with age, but he will be involved. [/quote] I did wonder. Best wishes to all.

[quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1488653916' post='3250858'] A friend of mine was given the opportunity to engineer Brothers in Arms, but he declined to work with McCartney instead. Turned out to be the Frog Song. [/quote] Ah..... hahahahahahahahaha! I'm so sorry. You wait though, it'll be hailed as a great work one day. [hides]

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1488648329' post='3250790'] And they released this. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsJ5aYK-S6Y[/media] [/quote] Yeah. Did I mention it all went a bit silly in the eighties?

Does your mate's grandad know what he's got? I'd have thought he'd be interested, seeing as it's his and all.

[quote name='bassjim' timestamp='1488649062' post='3250797'] well i did catch my first green waves. the one where i rode all the way back to shore standing up with a robot dance finish was very cool. no one filmed it though.... bit like my best bass solo in public.... [/quote] Nice.

Yeah man. I was in secondary school and forming ideas about what I really liked when this was released. Kenny Everett was giving stuffy old establishment types the hump on Capital Radio while all the other non-pirate jocks were playing it safe. In amongst the rough edged [s]punk[/s] pop of the time it stood tall. I was allowed to stay up and watch TOGWT at long last. Being in my teens Mark's style was something to aspire to. Any time a mate got a cassette of Dire Straits we'd all go to the house with the best sound system and listen to it in full. Parents were actually tolerant of it. I suppose because it wasn't "Never Mind the Bollocks" they were grateful enough to get out of the way and let us crank it up high. Five years later they released Love over Gold. I remember waking up in my rented accommodation after a nap during which the radio was on. The album version of Private Investigations was just starting. It was one of those surreal experiences that's stayed with me ever since. Then it all went a bit silly for the rest of the eighties. I was even given a set of those awful leg warmers because my mum loved the TV series Fame. Argh. I'm not sure if it was the first single released but it was certainly the one that I heard first.

I wish my strings were as cheap. £18 is still not bad. I hope the surfing trip helps take the edge off it for you.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1488567060' post='3250159'] [/quote] I actually prefer that to the headstock that the make is now stuck with. When I looked it up it appears that Fender had tried to get out of that design rut but only for a couple of years; "The Fender Performer was an electric bass guitar released in 1985 and discontinued in 1987, assembled in the United States and Japan. The Performer was also available as an electric guitar." I suppose there is something to be said for following the crowd but it didn't work for me. At the end of the day, there is [i]still[/i] a Fender at the other end of the fretboard.

Good point. I'll get my coat...

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1488548468' post='3249905'] I still think it was a ballsy move by John Hall to set up Rockinbetter ... [/quote] When I looked at one of those closely for the first time, the name put me off straight away. I have no desire for a proper Rickie so I'd never want a copy. It just struck me as a sneaky fake, the way the lettering on a Rockinbetter is close in appearance to the genuine Rickenbacker. I don't want to drag this out as I gather there has been controversy over this way before my time with BC - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/190096-so-a-rockinbetter-isnt-a-rickenbacker-a-rockinbetter-isnt-a-tokai/"]http://basschat.co.u...r-isnt-a-tokai/[/url] It's all been said by the look of it. Suffice it to say, I don't want any of the popular brands simply because popularity adds to the selling value. It doesn't automatically follow that they're any better than less well thought of brands though. In the end it depends on your reasons for wanting a given brand as to whether it is worth spending more on it than an equally good but unheard of brand. My humble opinion.