Paul S

Been listening to a lot of Los Lobos recently. Talk about a talented band - they aren't all about La Bamba! It seems they can turn their hand to most styles just perfectly. Here some gorgeous jazzy blues.

The thing is - it did work and now doesn't. And it does work in some circumstances such as playing my bass through it or in Jamkazam. But playing back music has now stopped. No previous one, only the sound card that was installed in the pc. And when I change to the Behringer it just freezes when trying to listen to music. Thanks for this. I've found a few references on Google for 'Create Aggregate Device' so will investigate.

Thank you, Tony, that is a kind offer and one to consider when the time comes I think for the moment I'll continue to enjoy the old pup in there.

I'll start by saying I have no idea what I am doing. Right, got that out of the way. I have recently started using a Behringer UM02 as my audio interface. Got it plugged into the back of my pc via USB and I downloaded the right Behringer ASIO driver. Seems to work just fine with Jamkazam after some tweaking. Got it connected to a powered speaker unit and use this for home practice, either with the speaker or headphones. I also have the original powered speakers that I was using with the pc. At one point I did some recording in Audacity and that worked. Also, at one time, I was able to play back music files/YouTubes on my pc via the Behringer - could switch between this and the other powered speakers. Useful as I could listen to mp3 files and play along on headphones via the front of the Behringer. But the last few times I have tried to play music/YouTube or record all I get is white noise. The music or video kind of stutters along while it crackles. I go into my settings and change the default back to the pc speakers, no problem. Go in again, change the default to the Behringer, there is the problem again. Does this sound familiar? Is there an easy fix? Can it be explained in words of one syllable or less? Muchas gracias!

Just downloaded it - didn't know such a thing existed! Thanks chaps 😊

No better recommendation, thank you ToneRider it will be.

I've not tried Toneriders but they absolutely read as though they might be a good choice. Not expensive, either. How would they compare with, say, Entwistle PBXN which are my current favourites?

What I think I will do is enjoy the bass with these pickups fitted until such time as I decide to move it on and then swap it out for something else and sell the Fender pup. Possibly. 😄

I have TI flats on mine. Their shortscale are 32".

Brian will make you one and he is a/ quality and b/cheap. An unusual combination. https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/earlpilanz/Pickguards/_i.html?_storecat=19640124010

Can't you just twiddle the knobs until it sounds right?

32" scale Precisions do exist but you'd probably do best looking in Japan for one. I managed to get one from someone on here then imported a couple more. All gone now, of course. If you like the precision look and sound but are considering 30" scale then you could do a lot worse than a Harley Benton PB Shorty. Almost unbelievably mine sounds like a vintage Precision bass. Played and set up well straight out of the box. I was intended to mod it when I bought it, upgrade various elements but, actually, once I started to play it I realised I don't need to. Don't be put off by the ridiculously low price.

Enjoyed this. Same outfit as your Level 42 tribute?

I learnt with a pick and default to a pick for faster lines or where I want more precise control over the notes. Dunlop 1mm black nylon. Sometimes I'll use the fat end of the pick for a different attack. Increasingly I am using my fingers, especially in my blues band. Often with that 'typewriter' type style for funkier blues. Very occasionally I'll use my thumb. Sometimes my fingernail. Depends largely upon the song.

I certainly hope they come over again. I was astonished. SSJ 'emptied the tank' as they say, couldn't have put any more effort into the performance. I still wouldn't be interested in sitting down and listening to a studio album, mind you - it is all about the live energy.

Aren't they! Mrs S had seen them some years back and when they were last over here (2019?) I went along to keep her company. The only tune of theirs I knew was Springsteen's 'Fever' and I was expecting to be bored rigid. It was actually one of the highlights of the year, they were absolutely fantastic.

Mrs S and I were at a Level 42 gig at the Indigo2 on their 30th anniversary tour when they recorded a DVD that night. Front row of the balcony. We bought the DVD, didn't catch a glimpse of us.

I got it back today after needing some wiring issues sorting out. This is the first time I have had a go on it with my favoured strings - TI Flats. Sounds fantastic, got some real bite to it.

The variable for me is the bass I'm using. Other than that everything else is pretty settled now. Fingers or, usually, Dunlop 1mm tortex pick. One of any number of basses, all passive, all strung with TI Flats. Boss WL50. TC Polytune 2 TC Spectradrive with 'clean boost' patch and stock compression. Then either DI into the desk for the PA or, for home/rehearsal, into ART 732A

That's quite exciting! I wonder what it is doing in there?

This is the pickup out of my recently acquired 70s Antoria Precision. It has an ink stamp on the back of a serial number. I sent the pic to Jon @Bassassin to see if that made any sense as far as dating it was concerned but he has just come back to me that he doesn't believe it is a MIJ pickup as he doesn't recognise the way it has been stamped or the serial number. Does it ring any bells with anyone? Muchas gracias

This sentiment is all well and good but how about the clothes we all wear, the smartphones we all use, the pc/laptop/whatever we all look on the internet/run most aspects of our lives with? Pretty much any consumer goods will tell the same story. This is all hard baked into society now and there is pretty much nothing to be done about it - we, collectively as consumers, don't want to pay. There is nothing that any of us individually can do about it so this guilt rant serves no real purpose.

Can I add my 3 runners up? Thin Lizzy, Live and Dangerous (OK, bits of it weren't live...) Humble Pie, Performance Rockin' The Fillmore. UFO, Strangers in the Night Wishbone Ash, Live Dates. That may have been 4.

Deep Purple, Made In Japan.

Lamb Of God, who were supporting Heaven and Hell. A few years back, might have been Wembley, can't remember. A huge wall of noise, I went outside in the corridor until H&H came on. The one and only time I have seen Ronnie Dio live, what a character he was!