T-Bay

It's a minefield for the unwary for sure. They may well be happy with it until they come to sell it on, or may think Fenders are cheaply made rubbish! (Cue others making their own jokes on that one).

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1495036460' post='3300752'] Was it Mark King? [/quote] No, he worked for the gas board, not McDonalds I'll get my coat.

[quote name='Chris Sharman' timestamp='1494970812' post='3300153'] sit down with your guitarist for a while and ask him about his gear. Focus especially on his effects pedals and why he uses "this setup for this track" etc. After two hours of listening to him drone on about that you will find it easier to ignore any other noise he makes! (it's a service I provide this - NEXT!) [/quote] You have obviously met our guitarist then? [quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1494990223' post='3300223'] do you have a graphic equaliser in your setup? Try boosting the bass and cutting the high frequencies. can you tell us what the song is? [/quote] It's learn to fly by Foo Fighters, stupid really as it's such a simple song. I think it's partly because it's one of my favourite songs, I just get lost in the chorus. I played again last night after posting this and not sure if it's the guitar or the vocals that are throwing me. It just all goes a bit sex pistols live free for all style. I can play it 100% without thinking on its own. I will give the ideas on here a try and keep at it.

Another late starter here and also in the West Midlands. This is a great forum with loads of very experienced and helpful members.

Thanks guys, will,give the ideas a try.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1494965479' post='3300089'] I can't recall seeing any preamp that doesn't use the jack to switch it on and off? For anyone interested it's a clever way of doing it imo, they use a stereo jack TRS, (tip, ring & sleeve) but where a stereo end plugged in would contact in the three places a standard phono we use on our leads shorts out the R & S (ring and sleeve) to complete the power circuit from the onboard battery, simple but effective. T-bay I presume you are testing from a battery terminal with an inline ammeter? As the amplifier circuit isn't amplifying anything the drain will be minimal, I bet a stingray will last for months plugged in if you don't mind buying 2 or 3 batteries a year instead of the 1 most of use Ray players use? [/quote] Yup, that is how I tested it but also did continuity tests and got a signal with it on but with it off. My mate is an electronics engineer so I will ask him to have a look the next time he is around. I have no idea of the preamp make but it's on a pcb and not a home made type and it's not the original. Maybe it is draining a tiny amount but if it is then the battery has done a few months so far.

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1494965466' post='3300088'] Maybe try practising the part without the backing track until you get it down? [/quote] That's what I always start with, I can play it 100% every time on its own and it's not hard (which I think is part of the problem in some ways). I guess I just need to keep at it until it's completely fixed but was wondering if others had any techniques that helps in these circumstances.

Got a load of new songs to learn for our extended set and stuck on one despite an easy bassline. My problem is that when it gets to the chorus it's very catchy and I find my fingers ignoring the rhythm I should be playing and sort of badly joining in with the lead. I have been at it for about an hour total which is usually way more than enough to lay a bassline over the rest of the song for me. I will keep practicing but was wondering if any of you have any secrets or tips for overcoming this sort of thing.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1494958977' post='3300010'] It just means your basses have a preamp that don't require a lot of power... the batteries are still being drained. [/quote] I have put my multimeter on it tonight and there is no drain with the power off, at least not within the range mine can test. And even at micro amp levels it would be dead after a few months. it's an aftermarket preamp so I will investigate what is happening as it may be useful info for others.

Without giving too much away, I put small marks in obscure places and photograph them. So I may put two numbers from my postcode or similar on the back of a pick up cover or behind a tuner etc. Nothing massive but it helps to make identifying it definite. I had the misfortune to have some motorbike parts stolen a few years back and got them back because I had had to adapt the exhaust hangers and had written a measurement on the back of one in marker which I could describe to the Police so now do something similar routinely. On the Capri I am restoring every single part is marked in one way or another and some identifying marks are sealed/ welded in. It's a pain but worth the effort.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1494881863' post='3299324'] Doesn't matter if you turn your wireless off, if you leave a jack plugged into your bass, it will drain the battery. Si [/quote] That's odd, it doesn't, or at least I have been doing that since January when I got it so don't think it can be. I assumed it was breaking the circuit so switching it off. I guess I am just lucky, will have to have a look into it and see why that's happening.

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1494876050' post='3299262'] I find it annoying you can't leave it plugged in , I like leaving a bass set up in my office [/quote] My actives are fine on the smooth hound wireless. I just turn that off.

Agree with ^^^^ unless you are in a 60s cover band in which case I think they are supposed to be placed just under the chin aren't they?

[quote name='BobVbass' timestamp='1494829418' post='3298704'] If you're getting motion sickness all the rather than just the day/ morning after taking methotrexate then you should definitely get it checked out and look at options - that's really not a normal response. MTX has been about for about 50 years now and while an effective immunosuppressant there are done far better options now. If you're dead set on MTX you should st least get your consultant to review the dose. All the best! [/quote] I only get the motion sickness if I get driven anywhere, fly/ boaty stuff, play computer games, watch quick moving handheld footage. Otherwise I am completely fine. I respond very well to the methotrexate and have been in probably 80-90% remission for a decade now hence the reluctance to risk a change. The ear thing is quite new though but I have recently got a new set of customs, maybe the old ones were a bit worn so a looser fit. Sadly the reason I got the new ones is that I managed to lose the old ones.

How many points do get per set of strings? I have 600 points but can't remember how I got them!

Thanks for the suggestions guys, it is methotrexate and I have been on it for about ten years now but the motion sickness used to be tolerable but has got progressively worse. I am reluctant to change to something else though as it has completely negated the effects of the arthritis (not RA but similar and a bit more aggressive). Strangely I don't suffer the usual side effects of severe nausea and sickness normally! I get scopolamine patches to use if I need to go anywhere e.g when we fly or have been on a cruise and they work perfectly BUT I can't use them every time I have a gig. Thanks for all the suggestions, especially about the acs travel sickness ones which I didn't know about.

Perhaps the most surreal eBay listing I have ever seen.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1494695868' post='3297964'] Might be worth talking with ACS to see if they can come up with an alternative. They are based in Banbury and are very approachable. Not too long a drive from Tamworth. [/quote] I never thought of that, it's a good idea and worth a try.

Just got back...... From taking my daughter to her Brownie event, hope everyone had a good time and I hope to make next years one.

I have used ACS custom earplugs for ages but am having problems with them at the moment. I am on medication for my arthritis which has the joyous side effect of the most horrendous motion sickness I have ever suffered (I can't be driven 400yds without feeling ill or watch any handheld camera footage). When I use the earplugs I am also suffering the motion sickness after 5-10 minutes, presumably because they sit in the ear canal. I have tried my Peltor over ear ones and they don't affect me in any way so it must be down to the in ear canal design. So what I want to know is if anyone knows of any earplugs that just sit in the outer part of the ear but don't protrude. The type that allow a normal conversation/ transmission of a reasonable representation of the sound would be preferred. I could wear the peltors on stage as they are electronic but it would be a strange look and the alternative of not using anything doesn't appeal either.