mybass

Would anyone have an idea where the new MXR 288 pedal can be obtained in the UK/Europe market. I can only find USA sources at present.

[quote name='mybass' post='430040' date='Mar 10 2009, 12:18 AM']Ta very much for the offer Hubrad. I did a few bow passes with the german one and noticed straight away, as you say, the easier and stronger pressure available. I'm likely be looking back in blighty now for a german bow.[/quote] THE SAGA CONTINUES the Chinese asked me what postage would cost back to them. Putting the full bow back into the hard plastic pipe they sent it in and posting would cost well over £30. Too much they say, " We had someone else sending a bow back to us for just £6". (Why, with all their "top quality" wood and skilled bow makers are we sending stuff back?). Hence the email requesting that only the tip. frog and button be returned so they can say it was broken and give me a refund. Postage cost now down to £1.70p. Now the wait for delivery to them and my refund. Gnashing of teeth etc etc. I've also sent a Shure Beta 58 back to a UK seller because.....thats another story!

[quote name='xgsjx' post='433299' date='Mar 13 2009, 09:46 AM']I've had my ibby SR1000 for about 20 years & as of this past couple of years it's been giving me a sore wrist when trying to play chords or octaves (I posted something about this in the general forum). I've checked with the doc & there's nothing there, so I went to my local (music shop) & tried a few different basses just to hold my fretting hand on & spent about 45 mins in the shop doing this with Fender & Cort basses (all he really has in) and I never got any pain in my wrist at all. That leads me to conclude that the very shallow neck is the culprit. So now I'm thinking about getting rid of my bass (which I don't wanna do ) and replacing it with something else with a thicker neck (about 90% of other basses I recon!). Problem is, I've no idea what it's worth to sell & what sort of money I'd be needing to spend to get a bass of similar quality. The bass has quite a few chips in it but plays like the day I bought it & has been ultra reliable, I've never had the need for a backup bass. Any help on pricing what I should sell this for (if I do) & ideas on manufacturers to replace it with would be very much appreciated. Cheers, G[/quote] My osteopath has treated various musos, bass and drummers. He points out that we sometimes vear towards adopting a bad playing position. I had a problem many years ago on double bass where my teacher at the time simply altered the angle I held my wrist AND elbow height. This completely "cured" the wrist angle pain I had been suffering. With electric bass, I see my osteo every 6 months or so to get me bones "rejigged" back into alignment but he always asks that I wear the bass higher rather than lower. He reckons that in his experience, the arm/wrist/shoulder action is better helped with a decent height held instrument. You stated that you felt okay in the shop playing bass but if were you sitting then you may well have been playing with the bass at a different height/angle than your normal standing position. Also, angling the bass neck upwards a bit may help.

[quote name='Clockworkwar' post='429404' date='Mar 9 2009, 02:33 PM']Well I just bought a nice Trace Elliot cab from Stevie, I got it out the packaging and put it on its side and heard a rattle. I immediately thought DHL had been throwing it around for sports. Until I got a small torch inside the cab and realised it was a 5p, luckily my hands are small enough to fit in the port holes and I got it out. Has anyone else has this before?[/quote] Well in the old old old days, house owners placed coins and button within the window frames of their cottages for good luck and keeping out bad spirits. Can't actually say if 5p would do the trick on a TE cab though.

[quote name='hubrad' post='429693' date='Mar 9 2009, 07:23 PM']Ebay.. China.. say no more. On a brighter note I also switched from French to German bow; started with an inexpensive one second hand and in need of a rehair. Got this done by a friend who's skilled in these matters. Convinced me to go fully German. Great for me, as one can get a far stronger stroke, especially on the lower strings. This is to an extent (considering my skill level ) at the extent of speed and fine control on higher notes. Still liking it though, and inspired to use a much higher quality bow these days. Go for it! If you're ever 'up North' you're welcome to a go on mine.[/quote] Ta very much for the offer Hubrad. I did a few bow passes with the german one and noticed straight away, as you say, the easier and stronger pressure available. I'm likely be looking back in blighty now for a german bow.

I've had a french style bow for 25 years. Cost next to nothing really but is still straight and true. It snapped about six years ago in the car, the noise frightened the life outa me! I glued it up with Titebond and it is still okay. I've never been great at bowing so I decided to try a german style bow. I went for a Chinese one on ebay. Hmmmm. Advertised as top quality brazilian wood etc etc. About £50 all in. Bow arrived, took it out of the plastic tube packing. B.... bent! aaaarrrrgggghhhh. Company asked for pics to prove it was bent, a difficult task but dutifully taken and sent, refund available but postage back in the original packing is £36!? This is too much fro them to refund me so the company now asks me to break, yes break the bow and send only the frog, button and tip with hair back for a refund. I've double checked this too. Lesson learnt. Three weeks of emailing. Buyer beware.

[quote name='Hector' post='405367' date='Feb 10 2009, 02:24 PM']Hi Guys, Was wondering if anyone had any good practices for arco technique? Having come from an electric bass background, I've found my arco technique is somewhat lacking. I can use a bow fine enough (classically trained up to grade 8), but I just don't feel at all comfortable with it. My tone isn't fantastic, and my speed is very limited (both of which I think are a product of poor bow control). I play in several orchestras, so I get a bit of practice from that, but I play mostly jazz. I'd love to have my arco as comfortable and fluid as my pizz though. Also, was tempted to get that Rabbath DVD "The Art Of The Bow", since I can't afford to get a classical teacher as well as a jazz teacher. (Plus Jazz is where my heart really is, despite me not seeing any real difference between the two styles). Anyone had any experience with it?[/quote] Lessons dear chap, lessons. If you are playing in orchestras you must be of a decent standard already. There IS a correct way, a lot to do with the elbow moevment too, wished I had kept up double bass lessons. The few years I had seeing a teacher (not often enough due to lack of funds) are still with me when I do pick up the bow. However, double bass playing did make fretless bass playing a lot easier. Find an experienced player and take a few lessons now and then.

[quote name='grimbeaver' post='425797' date='Mar 5 2009, 09:19 AM']Hi Guys, I have never owned or wanted to own a fender J or P After lots of different guitars I have settled on a Warwick $$ and a Gibson Thunderbird through all Eden gear and am very happy. However.... I have a new project that I am about to join thats a UK punk & pistols tribute and have to have the look as well as the sound. a big white flag covers my beutiful Eden gear so thats ok but I need to get hold of a white fender with black scratch plate. Having never owned one I am a bit baffled by the whole range USA, chinese, P MIMN???? so what would you recommend? The Tbird has a slim neck as does the $$ so should I be getting a Jazz? do they look the same, do I get upgraded pickups etc as I couldnt do with a crap sound, I love a new string clanky crisp sound through 10" speakers and only play fingerstyle. Do I get a lakland or something that looks the same (mega bucks I know) I know I will get some good advice from you guys so thanks in advance[/quote] I believe Tokai have started their line of basses again. Well made stuff usually. Also, Fender "Roscoe Beck" bass hass two big passive humbuckers with plenty of sound options via mini switches. Nice necks to play too.

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='421594' date='Feb 28 2009, 11:43 AM'][url="http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk/instruments-for-sale/five-string-bass.html"]http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk/instruments-...tring-bass.html[/url] Looks interesting but I don't have a clue about double bass playing - what do you guys think? Gimmick or good idea?[/quote] No gimmick this. 3/4/5 and 6 string double basses have been around a long long time, yes, long before the "modern" electric bass thought of going 5 and 6 string. Some DBs were also fretted, I think gut string was used. I had lessons from Thomas Martin many years ago when he was in Ealing. I think he started out in big bands in Canada, eventually playing and teaching more classical in London. A very nice person, I'm sure his basses are made with absolute in depth knowledge and care.

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='422288' date='Mar 1 2009, 11:47 AM'] Straight to the point. I'll give upright playing a go in a few years after I get to grips with a blank fingerboard fretless.[/quote] You will really get to grips with a fretless bass if you take on double bass now. Using a bow, your ear training will accelerate. The reason being that as soon as you play a bowed note that is out of tuning, you'll realise just how keen your ear has to be to play any fretless instrument in tune. The double bass will also help strengthen both hands and bass guitar playing will become more effortless.

deleted

[quote name='markdavid' post='407335' date='Feb 12 2009, 09:44 AM']Ive heard of people doing this to bring strings back to life , what type of Alchohol is used to do this (i take it its not methylated spirits) and how do you do this?[/quote] Cheap bottle of surgical spirit from most chemists. Er, don't drink this stuff, possibly make any string sound good to you afterwards! Boiling strings works too. Sometimes on a gig if they sound a wee bit dull, slacken off a string a few inches, give a few good pulls like trying to shake the grit outa them and retune. This can help brighten up enough for the gig, (that was on my nickel strings).