spongebob

I love the Pigpen era, odd bits after that. For me, Pig was their anchor, and when they lost him, the band certainly moved in a different direction. Alarmingly, the studio albums certainly dipped in quality as well post-72 IMHO. Everyone hears things differently, and I think that's the best thing. Some may hate the earlier stuff, and gravitate to the mid/latter period. They were uber-cool, and such a great unit....as seen on the Festival Express film. I do like Blues For Allah in places.....but I think they really suffered as Garcia's heavy drug use got worse. From the books I've read, around '74 or so, when he was making the GD film....coincides when they leave my realm of interest. I'd recommend Europe '72 as a good starter. Nice mix of the jamming, blues, and pretty much what they did up until that point in time.

'The Low End Theory' is the standout of that day for me - the other 3 leave me a bit cold, TBH. I'm still digging out new-to-me jazz albums now where I'll catch a snippet, and realise that I first heard it on TLET. Introduced me to a whole world of stuff I'd never have otherwise been exposed to.

Lou is definitely an interesting player. Seen them a couple times, in '09, and I think, '12. Can't quite remember! Excellent in both instances. They came back, and haven't tarnished their legacy one bit, and continue from where they left off. A rare feat! Haven't listened to the new album yet. My only gripe with their post-reunion output has been J's productions. The bass is simply buried and pretty much inaudible in most of the records. Live, it was totally different, bass really powerful and 'out there' (if you excuse the Dino-pun!)

A shame, I think we'd all like to buy from somewhere over here. The recent Musik Productiv offers with the Ashdown stuff, of which I purchased, was crazy. I'd have paid a bit more from the UK if it could have got near.....but to be cheaper from a British brand overseas? No wonder places are in trouble!

I do like some of their stuff, although I've never really dug past their first few releases. Keep meaning to listen to the Steven Stills 'Manassas' record - heard so many good things about it over the years.

I stopped playing in November '19, only started again in June. Bit rusty at first, nothing major - been playing a bit most days since. First new band meeting this month, so should be interesting! I think if you've played for enough years beforehand (about 27 in my case), you do fall into it quite quickly, just the stamina and the fingers need a little TLC.

I started on a P-bass Sunn Mustang, now a US P after spending ridiculous amounts on many Rickys, and other similar things. I was chasing a tone in my head, took me years to come to the conclusion that a) I am me, not player x/y/x, and b) Loads of the bass tones you hear on records aren't always what you think they are. I want bass x because of that record, only to find out it was something else entirely! Upon returning to the instrument, my reasoning is to do what works - tools for the job and all that. Can't regret the journey, all part of the process. Just wish it hadn't cost quite so much!

Few years ago, they put out a Ramones 'Road To Ruin remix, stripping it back. Heard it, hated it. It just wasn't 'real'. For me, the original - albeit flawed in places - is, quite literally, what it is. You can't rewrite history.

Think I'll definitely be sticking to my tried and tested pick style. Restrung the P with some Rotosound 77 flats, and with a pick, it sounds like a beast through the combo alone. Shape in, slight mid boost, and a dash of compression. Compared to my old Markbass stuff, the presence is simply unreal!

From all you RM500 users..... Any settings suggestions? I'm using Rotosound 77 Flats. Would like to know ideas of with and without a pick....whaddya got? Like the shape idea, but worried it would buried in a band situation?

Very sad. The Stone that kept it all together. RIP Mr. Watts.

Thanks Lozz! I assumed that's what they may be, but the manual doesn't make any mention of it! Nice to finally know for sure. I've not had the chance to put it through band volumes (next month), so have been experimenting at home so far. I think I've achieved a nice tone.....

Silly question........ Could someone please explain the 240hz and the 1k5hz knobs? Are the simply low and high mids?

I think I'm also fed up with being caught up on frequency wars with guitarists! I've just become more interested in the low end, rather that the treble bite I've always chased. I've always been guilty of 'attacking the instrument.....rather than less is more. Playing 1000 notes a minute. Another aspect has been my learning to re-appreciate the groove....bass on Miles' 'Jack Johnson', for example. Really solid. Made me re-evaluate where I was, and wanted to go as a player.

When I started playing bass, after drums, at about 18, my main aim was a tone that was bright, aggressive, and as cut through as possible. I stuck with this for years. However, after a small break, I find myself being to bass in it's truest form.....I've been going towards really deep bass tones, probably flats, fingerstyle, I've always done rounds with pick. Am I simply maturing as a player, or becoming one of those people I used to loathe? I always considered myself different to the 'plonky' brigade.....now I want to become one??

I used to always buy from Dave. In his absence, I used Designacable (previously bought a hi-fi cable from them) last week for a speakon and regular lead. Totally recommended. Go for the best you can (I did on the speakon) and it's superb. My hi-fi cable was also super quality. Best I've found. Wouldn't look anywhere else....customer service also excellent.

Very sad news. RIP MB1. We did a deal once, and his feedback for me was as expected. Just re-read it, and it still makes me laugh! Brilliant. Basschat legend indeed.

I love VH's first 4....Fair Warning is such an underrated classic. I saw a clip the other day of Diamond Dave literally, obliterating 'Dance The Night Away'. It was painful. I know singers can have off nights, but my word......! Sad to see. Never the greatest singer (but what a frontman), I wish I could un-see it! I read a while back how producer Ted Templeman had wanted the band to dump Dave from the off. He suggested Sammy Hagar.....imagine how history would have changed? Sammy is fine, but DLR is such a part of those first 4.

@lancerI honestly have you to thank for this - I would never have known - and I would have been much poorer buying similar from over here! 👍

Following my recent Ashdown deliberations, I finally made the move last week, as mentioned in the topic about Musik Productiv and their (almost too) cheap offers. I was going for a RM500, and two 1x12's. However, with things going so fast, I had to make a change, Instead, I opted for the 1x12 combo, and the remaining 1x12 cab. Same thing, I guess, just in a different package. Ordered last Friday evening, delivered by UPS today. No extra charges, nothing sinister - it was all new, sealed, well packaged. I can't try the cab until tomorrow (speakon in the post, sold my OBBM one when I stopped playing for a bit), but the combo alone is a beast. It has much more heft to the tone than others I've owned. With the cab, it's hopefully all the 500w I'll ever need. Any more, and I'd want to be DI'd, as I wouldn't want any more volume behind me! Bad photo attached to prove it's existence. I'd call this the cheapest 500w rig I've ever bought - £460 all in!

Sadly, I've never liked The Cure....even the earlier stuff, which was suggested to me as I like me some bass-driven post-punk. Just never clicked with me, just didn't have the impact of their contrmparies. We all hear things differently! Biggest shock for me was reading Glenn Hughes' autobiography, in which he discusses his being great mates with the aforementioned Lol Tolhurst! Both live in LA. How does this happen?! Either way, always sad when a long-serving member leaves a long-standing band. How many times have we seen it, when it's only the 'main' man left?

I absolutely love that!

https://www.81guitarworks.co.uk/ Simon at 81, just outside of Maidstone. Fabulous job setting up my US P. Got the action super low, better than I've ever played one before!

https://www.designacable.com/live-stage-leads/passive-speaker/2-pole-speaker-leads.html Scrub that, just ordered a 4mm one, and a new lead as well. In yellow, obviously....

Designacable speakon cable....think the 2 pole is Ashdown friendly? They come in a 1.5 or 2.5 guise.....I was never aware of any difference! Is there a better choice?