Count Bassy

Iggy Pop supporting the Foo Fighters at MK bowl several years go. Obviously a matter of taste, but IMHO he blew them out the water.

Is it actually the Class D technology itself that's the problem, or the way that they compress it to make it sound louder for the actual number of watts?

From my, admitedly limited, experience of modern SS amplifiers with Valve Pre-amps, the valve pre-amp has negligible effect on the tone. I currently have a Carvin BX something or other, but to be honest I can't tell the difference between the Valve in or by-passed. I've also read comments here and elsewhere about the Markbass Valve premps being "Very subtle". I'm comparing here with the wonderfull Marshall DBS system, or even their B150 Combo; both of these have blendable valve pre-amps that really make a difference, to the extent that it is actually useful to be able to blend between the two.

Are there any modern SS amps out there where the Valve Preamp has a noticable/useful effect?

43 minutes ago, wateroftyne said:

I think there's a point being missed here.

A few posts ago, someone said a reason for not playing it is because it's political.

I'm trying to say that, in 2020, it's not. The subject is no longer up for political debate.

This. The song was released 65 years ago. Very political then, not really political or even controversial now - which is a good thing as it shows how much things have moved forward.

However I still say the main reason not to play it is that it's dull.

I wouldn't perform it, but only because, for all its iconic status, it's a pretty dull song.

1 hour ago, moonbass said:

Generally well made, good materials and sturdy, but... Let down by a couple of major flaws on the ones I have. The boom lock doesn’t hold firmly enough and can slip. And some joints held together by tension can easily be pulled apart. Sometimes the simpler stands are the best! 

Brilliant, just the sort of thing I needed to know. Looks like a K&M one again then!

Title says it all really

Thanks in advance for your thoughts / experience.

4 hours ago, BigRedX said:

That's not true. There's a spring-loaded ball-bearing mechanism that holds the two parts together. And that's what failed within 3 months on the only pair I've owned. On the other hand I have Schaller StrapLocks from the mid 80s that are still functioning perfectly.

There is IME more room for user error with the Schaller StrapLocks, but once you have worked out what needs to be done to fit each part securely to the instrument and strap, they work perfectly. 

In the end it's each to their own. We stick with what we know and what works for us. None of the methods are 100% perfect or fool-proof. Having tried all the different methods, the Schallers work for me. I can appreciate that they are not for everyone.

Yes, the Dunlops do need a bit of oil/WD40 (other lubricants are available) and checking every now and then. Dirt can get in the barrel and prevent the balls and/or the release machanism working properly.

I've had no problem with the Dunlops, but then  I've never tried the Schallers.

3 hours ago, KevB said:

I used to feel a bit embarassed going to bass meetings and hearing folks doing stuff I couldnt but then accepted that I've always just learned what I needed to do to play the songs in bands I wanted to do. I can listen to a bit of jazz funk or other music employing a lot of slapping/popping but it soon bores me, hence never had any thought of looking at joining a band doing that material and as a result never bothered learning those techniques. I'm not into bass playing for abitrarily learning technical stuff, its a conduit for me to get out and entertain folks whilst having some connection with the type of music i like (mostly).

+1. Except that wher you "used to be embarrassed" I still am, which is why I've never been to a bass gathering.

On 25/12/2019 at 18:05, martthebass said:

Had an equipment malfunction the other night. A string suddenly went unresponsive....imagine my surprise when I saw that the intonation screw had gone awol. 

Anyone any idea where I can pick up a replacement?

 Cheers, Mart

 

Off the floor where you were playing? 😉

Depends on the garage.

15 hours ago, Krysbass said:

edit: actually, I see Alright Now did get a mention in a previous post - but it does strangely still seem to go down well, despite being mandatory on pretty much every rock compilation cd ever released.

Nothing strange about it. It's a good song.

Thanks for your thought folks.

I should have made it clear that I've only ever been in cover bands, and never attempted writing or recording (which might be a good reason to try it I guess).

Johhny B Goode

All Right Now

I have not been in a band for well over a year now. This was a conscious decision I made at the time having been involved in a number of start-up bands that either collapsed before any gigs (2), or played one gig and then collapsed (3). I just got tired of putting in the effort for it only to collapse in a heap. I think I can honestly say that none of the collapses where down to me. (Edited to add: I understand that it might look like I'm the common factor here).

The problem I have is that, without having something to work towards, I have totally lost the motivation to practice (not helped by my depressive nature). To be honest, until last weekend I probably hadn't pickup up a bass for several months. It's got that bad.

I guess the obvious answer is to try another band, perhaps an established one rather than a start up, but obviously the lack of practice makes that less likely. It's a sort of downward spiral.

The other option that occurs to me is to just knock it all on the head.

Any others here been through the same sort of thing. If so, how did you get out of it?

CB.

16 hours ago, binky_bass said:

Set up is subjective, absolutely agree. However, there is a 'rough set up' that I believe would accommodate a very large proportion of people to at least give them an opportunity to play the bass without it feeling awful. We all like different things, but the majority out there prefer a low/medium low action with no fret buzz and no pitching strings, something that doesn't actually put the bass out of tune when you press down on the string in the same way a bend does.

The last bass I bought from a shop was a Dean Edge, some time in the 17th century. No idea what the strings were! If I had strings I absolutely lived by, then yes, I'd probably change them too, but that doesn't mean I'd be happy buying a bass that was so poorly 'set up' I couldn't tell it from a 2x4 with an elastic band wrapped around it. 

Your ideal set up sounds quite far from what the average person would prefer, so for you a 'general store set up' may make a bass as bad for you as these basses were for me, but we're talking in a general manner, not a super bespoke 'exactly what I personally want' manner. 

If someone who has never played bass before fancied buying a really nice bass to start out with (it happens!) they'd most likely be out right off by the set up that Ibanez had. 

Even if they offered a set up upon purchase, you have no real gauge to judge the bass properly with how it was when I played it. A basic general set up should be mandatory before they hang a bass/guitar on the wall. 

I'm with you on this Binky.

I can identify with the OP. I got a place in the band after the original bass player moved away. About a year later I was sacked from the band for various unconvincing reasons, and lo & behold, a few weeks later the original bassist was back.

I'd seen the sacking coming due to changes in the atmosphere at practices, stopping going to the pub afterwards, and the band not playing songs that I had been specifically been asked to learn the bass for.

I'd have prefered them just to say "The old bass player is coming back".

On 27/12/2019 at 14:32, Chienmortbb said:

Gold is worse than copper in many ways. The only benefit I can see is that it tarnishes less. Hopwever it is also not durable. One reason you should never use gold plated jack plugs.

Not really a problem because when/if the gold does wear away you will still have the nickel or whatever underneath. Not saying that they are worth it, just that it's not really a problem.

32 minutes ago, ead said:

It's the opposite of the motor effect (pass a current through a conductor in a field and you generate a force).  The generator effect bassically says in that if you apply a force (pick or pluck the string) to a conductor in a field (pickup magnets) you generate a current.

The bigger the force (string excursion) the larger the current.  The placement is crucial as string vibration is quite complex as if you get a node over the pickup at that particlur frequency you get virtually no signal from the pickup.

That's the simple version iirc.

Pedant alert: The generated voltage is proportional to the speed of the travel, and the mass of the metallic object (i.e. the (square of) the string gauge).  For a given pitch then a bigger oscillation requires the string to move faster, hence more signal.

You need to ask youself one very important thing............

.....Is it any good for metal?

Play the Johhny Winter version. My favourite by far.

634-5789

5 hours ago, Dan Dare said:

My standard reply to the "Can I play your instrument?" question is "Can I have the keys to your car?" They both probably cost about the same when you factor in my rig.

OR "Can I have a go on your girlfriend?"

On 26/11/2019 at 13:02, Twigman said:

I was going to nominate Tommy James and the Shondells - Crimson and Clover but then I realised they did the original of I think We're Alone Now - but was it a hit for them or was the cover version (Tiffany?) the only hit version?

 

Lene Loveitch did a version in 1978 - got to No 3 in the charts. Way before Tiffany

3 hours ago, Teebs said:

 (my playing is obviously sooo awesome that they're intimidated...or something ).

Joking apart; this can happen. THere have certainly been times when I was going to play something, but chicken out thinking 'I can't follow that!'