spongebob

Had a rehearsal with the current band last night. It's a 5-piece, rock/pop covers. The two guitarists are both quite loud, so I have to make sure I cut through! For the previous rehearsals, I've been playing a MIM 50's P-bass. Always cut the mustard. Yesterday, I was playing my (recent used purchase) Geddy Lee Jazz. Had one a couple of years back and loved it - probably my favorite bass I've owned. My amp set-up is a Markbass Amp (121) and extension cab. I'm really bad on amp settings - most are set at 12 o'clock, with a dash more high, and both filters off. I've done a little research on settings - but unless their in 'clock' mode, I get confused!! This worked fine on the P - but I found myself buried with the Jazz for some reason. I tried turning up the mids, but that just sounded awful to me. What can I do with the amp settings to improve this? Just want a bit more clarity high-end (both D &G strings were very weak when band in full-force) and bottom thump. Doesn't help as the rehearsal room suffers with quite a muddy tone as well - but the P cut right through. Appreciate the pups are weaker on the Ged, but I don't remember having this problem before with the same gear! Any advice on this please?

I've never been more hooked than when Dirty Den got shot by a bunch of Daffs! More please!

[quote name='Stacker' post='1298175' date='Jul 9 2011, 12:43 PM']And let's not forget tail-lift!! A lot of 4001s exhibit it but so did my 4001CS, which I was appalled at![/quote] +1, on all 4 of the 4003's I had.

I've owned quite a few and they're all gone now. For me, after playing not much else for a period of time, I just found I'd kind of got a bit tired of the sound....just wasn't doing what I wanted anymore. And please don't get me started on the QC - out of 4 different 4003, I've never owned one without a problem yet. The recent ones are supposed to be a lot better - but my 2009 was the worst thing I've ever owned, and the 2010 wasn't too far behind. With a design virtually unchanged in 40 years, how can they still make massive mistakes on what they produce? Hand-crafted......by who???

Good answer!

Unless they are strung with flats/rounds....is there an advantage to owning two P-basses? Do the tones in the range vary that much? Not trying to hijack, just genuine interest as I'm new the P's, and loving them at the mo....put off by another as thinking it may be a little samey??

'Kicking Up Dust'! Bought the singe in 1990 or something after it was on MTV's 'Headbanger's Ball'!

I've never been a fan of L42, but he seems like a nice genuine, down-to-earth guy as well. Full marks for donating some really good items. More people should take note from what he's doing. What I really like is that this is the first I've heard of it - how many people make a massive PR song and dance when doing such a thing? He's really gone up in my book.

I love the look of the G&L, but after owning and dumping a Jaguar a couple of years ago, and quite worried that it does too much for my brain!

We've just stuck 'Crossroads' and 'Stormy Monday' in our set. First one may be over-done, but seems to work well for us. Love the Cream version, so why not? Last night I played 'Smoke On The Water' for the first time ever - and TBH, I think it was very cool. So under-played for so long, it sounded fab!

I was always anti-P a bit - thought it was too obvious, and maybe a bit of a rock trad. Always loved some P-players though.....and slowly, via a few Squiers, bought a Fender P....50's classic (MIM - nice big fretboard, big sound). I went to see The Stranglers in March - always been a fan (especially JJ) - and couldn't believe the sound from his P - probably the best, and biggest bass sound I've ever heard! Since playing a P full-time for the last month (sold my 2 Rics over the last 6 months) - bit of a surprise. One, how versatile the sound is - from JJ-burst to soulful thump. Two, looking on Youtube, and seeing bands - Dave Holland with Miles, Mahavishnu Orchestra - 'jazzier' players using P's rather than Jazz's. At the Isle Of Wight TV stuff the other week, it was the 'rock' players playing the Jazz! I'm not a massive jazz player (more of a fan) but really liked how these players were using their P's. I'm sure there's more!

Totally agree on that. I picked up a Epiphone Les Paul a few years back, since sold, and negotiated a nice price. Even the owner said, "never pay full price, do you?!!! I just think it would be good to have set prices, and then discount days or decent sales when required. Some won't ask, and pay full price. Imagine it in a Supermarket - "well, I can buy them cheaper at Sainsburys!"

I'm always seeing online bass forums, with users mainly in the USA, talking about how they have bought such-and-such a bargain at a music shop. Seems that the big places - Guitar Centre, Musician's Friend, and a number of others, seemingly have some great offers at times - 10% for this day, 15% for that. I've never seen anything like that in the UK - prices are pretty crazy as it is - Fender's increases in the last 2 years (£200 on a Geddy Lee!) - but with a sizable discount it might make things easier to swallow! Maybe I've just looked in the wrong places - but I've never seen any shops offering such deals, even if for one day only. Imagine how much they could sell???

I used RS for my Markbass amp and cab covers. Had them made in black and yellow to march the Markbass colours! Massive A1+ - totally superb quality. Think it was about a shade over £60 for both. Had them about 2 years now - been everywhere with me, all weathers - and still as strong as the day they were bought. Great firm to deal with, real quality gear.

I really enjoyed the Sky Arts coverage of the Isle Of Wight festival over the weekend. Even the bands I didn't like (quite a few in fairness!) were interesting to watch. Reminded me of the coverage Channel 4 used to do of Glastonbury - lots of it, and actually putting a variety of bands on to keep interest going. Presenters weren't bad either. Really like Dave Fanning - love his interviews also on Sky Arts too - really knows his stuff and goes for good questions, unlike the BBC idiots like Fearne Cotton, etc. I'm not a fan of The Script, so it was great to hear their vocalist missing quite a few notes - he sounded terrible! One thing I did notice, bass-wise, was that the majority of players were using Jazz basses - quite surprised how many. Heads up to the Kasabian bassist, who I think was using a Jaguar bass. Couldn't hear that active buzz, though!

Ellie Errikson (Erase Errata) Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) Kim Deal (Pixies/Breeders) Ellie is a proper fave of mine, other two are just only others I can think of right now!

I had a GL a couple of years back. Love the bass, but sold it as I bought a 4003, and needed the extra cash. Must say I loved mine. Played it in a loud 5-piece, and it always cut right through. Reading this thread is giving off dangerous GAS for another! But that price - about £850 now - £200 up on a couple of years ago!!! Other concern is that is it really worth the massive odds over a MIM Classic 60's/70's bass?? Just worry that a lot of the extra cash goes towards Geddy's signature on the back!

I really like his tone of the Jazz he's got now, on the studio and live albums.

I was reading recently about Geddy Lee, and the basses he's used on record. What interested me was that someone had written that some of the recordings that are commonly thought of as being on the Ric, actually were not. ....and then failed to specify which ones! Have we got any Geddy experts here on BC? I'd like to qualify a few facts! First LP was all Precision? 'Lakeside Park' was on the Precision? Then all Ric....until 'Spirit Of Radio' and 'Different Strings' (Jazz?) Moving Pictures mixture of Jazz and Ric Lastly, 2 tracks on 'Signals' were on the Jazz? I've just read some of this over time - not quite sure about some of it - especially like SOR (sounds Ric to me). Love to hear your perspectives!

Postie here - havoc of finger-based papercuts of fretting hand! Can actually be quite an issue. I managed to go over the handlebars of a bike a few years ago on the day of a gig. Totally spreadeagled on someone's driveway....bit of grazing, but managed to get through it on the night! Oh, the pains of also getting up early after a late night......

I've joined a new band in the last few weeks after leaving my last one in February. Early days, no pressure....just enjoying playing. Leaving the last one was the best thing I ever did. Even before this band cropped up, I really liked, in a sense, the freedom of just playing at home. No songs to learn, no hassle, just digging some great music and rediscovering why I started playing in the first place. Enjoy the time out, don't rush into anything. Things will turn up on time when they need to.