4-string-thing

I am not sure about this, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that electronic items such as amps, mixing desks etc can get their internals clogged up with the sticky nicotine gunk after a while, ie, inside the pots, sliders etc. So, I suppose if your bass was subjected to a lot of smoke, the jack socket and pots could be affected?

You could consider one of these: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_gsr190ju_bk_jumpstart_2009.htm?sid=5e0c820db437424add1c6fed9906730b"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_gsr190ju_bk_jumpstart_2009.htm?sid=5e0c820db437424add1c6fed9906730b[/url] I don't suppose the amp is brilliant, but I can tell the bass is very good!

I did manage to just about sound proof a garage once, carpet is no use for this at all. It's also not much good for sound conditioning either, except maybe at very high frequencies. At low frequencies you need bass traps and lots of rockwool. A couple of big, soft sofa's will help but would probably fill your average garage thus making it useless as a rehearsal space.

The last gig I did was a year ago (almost to the day) at a bikers rally. The bikers were more interested in keeping their bonfire going outside and playing stupid games with sausages inside (I kid you not) than watching the band. I ended up squeezed in between the very loud drummer and an even louder guita....sorry, tone deaf meathead, with no space to move. When the gig was booked I was told "These are really good gigs, a big crowd and well paid" The total crowd was about 20 (loads more outside watching the bonfire though) and my share of the gig money just covered a round of drinks for the band and the guitarists girlfriend! 8 hours out of my life, no cash, damaged hearing and a feeling of total despair, no wonder I don't feel like doing it again. Having said that, I am still on the lookout for a new band. You know, one that plays music I like, only does good, well paid gigs, owns a decent PA system that I don't have to lug about on my own and doesn't enjoy games that involve buckets of cold water and salami!

[quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1325846095' post='1488541'] oh dear, oh dear oh dear. that's a shame. I think a gig is what you make it. [/quote] Trouble is as I've got older gigs have become less fun, to the point where I now wonder why I play bass at all. I was in a band a few years ago where I owned the PA, which meant I had to load/unload a lot of kit, usually by myself. Arrive 2 hours before anyone else and at the end of the night do the same again. I didn't get any extra cash at the end of the night, or even a thank you for providing us with a PA system! It all got a bit depressing to be honest.

I bought a S/H Ibanez GSR190 (mint condition) from a basschatter via fleabay for £92 last year, and I have to say it's a brilliant bass! Sounds good, looks great, is light and comfortable and has a brilliant slim neck. The Yamaha RBX is pretty good too for around £170.

As far as I'm concerned gigs have only ever been one thing to me.... More trouble than they are worth! Maybe I've always been in the wrong bands, playing the wrong venue's but I can honestly say, I don't really enjoy them.

[quote name='bickenracker' timestamp='1325535590' post='1484174'] Each to his own with looks and tone jezzaboy! The ideal mustang copy for me would be blue body, white pickguard and rosewood neck but squire are numptys [/quote] You mean like this one? [url="http://youtu.be/xz93oGirS4k"]http://youtu.be/xz93oGirS4k[/url]

Don't Squier do a VM Mustang? What about The Bronco? Failing that, there were some basses on the bay that resemble them by Wesley (I think)

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1324849232' post='1478137'] Should ignore watts all round and go directly to SPL, maybe via voltage swing for the scenic route. [/quote] Agreed. The sticker on the back of my Acoustic cabs, tells me that SPL may exceed 120db within 10ft of the cab. The amp used to power the cabs is rated at 125 watts and is over 30 years old. Out of interest, my 575w Ashdown head, sounds no louder (or very little) through the same cab... I wouldn't say that "old watts" are louder than "new watts" but wattages are: a) Probably measured in a different way. b)That manufacturers exaggerate their wattages. Or more likely. c) That the wattage of your amp makes verry little difference to "volume"

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1325450603' post='1483314'] Two things to bear in mind when trying to compare costs in this manner. First off he may also need to pay out for a transformer (unless the amp has a 240V setting) and secondly there probably won't be any warranty as it will be seen as a grey import. [/quote] Buying a transformer sort of defeats the object, as it will be bigger and weigh more than the amp itself

I'd probably do as others have said, close the case, leave negative feedback and enjoy my new bass knowing that I got it at a good price anyway (assuming that was the case) Life's too short....

Cheers Rob, I've put the same advert on Partysounds and Joinmyband, but tbh, I'm not holding out much hope. It all seems to be the same old, same old!

Ok, new year, new start! Bass player with BV's is looking for an interesting new band after taking the last year off from gigging. I've played all sorts of stuff over he years and will do pretty much anything except out and out metal or funk! Ideally it would be classic 70's rock 'n' roll (Bowie, Alice Cooper, T Rex etc) Folk-rock (Fairport, Thompson etc) Or rockabilly/skiffle type stuff. I have pro gear, transport and SOH etc. Reliable and enthusiastic. East Mids based.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1325176118' post='1480611'] You really deserve a slap for that! [/quote] I was being serious.....

Not bass gear, but a really nice baritone ukulele... much more fun than one of those bass guitar thingies! At last, I can now form my ukukele-based U2 tribute band "Uke2" (copyright: 4-string-thing)

[quote name='bumnote' timestamp='1325001746' post='1479012'] hang your head in shame [/quote] Still got the originals though, and when my replica cab is built, they'll be going back in! Mind you, the solder won't be original and I'll have devalued my cab....

I've only ever used T.E stuff in rehearsal rooms and tbh, I've never managed to get a good sound out of them (always sounded thin and harsh to me) Then again, I've never managed to a good sound out of anything by Ampeg or Peavey either! I suppose when it's in a rehearsal room though, you just want to get set up and going as quick as you can and not worry too much about finding a good sound, time's money after all.

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1324733164' post='1477426'] Maplins used to do a very reasonable price on an Eminence Delta 15. you may get lucky with putting a speaker in & find that it doesn't need tuning; I did exactly that with a Marshall 2 x 15 cab, even though it was then 4x the wattage. Can't find online what the wattage/ohmage of your cab is, but the Eminence is 400w at 8 ohms. Switching over is as easy as a screwdriver & possibly a soldering iron for two spots at the most. [/quote] I replaced the 2 15's in my old Acoustic cab with 2 Eminience Beta's to increase the power handling. I know nothing about tuning ports or anything. My ears couldn't tell any difference, and I can rest easy knowing that my Ashdown head won't blow them up! If I ever sell the cab, I will replace the original speakers.

I can't tell the difference between my basses, let alone paint finishes! I wouldn't worry too much....

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1323471347' post='1463839'] When music stops becoming enjoyable just move on and find something else. There's no fundamental reason why it [u]has[/u] to be pursued. Agonising over such things is the route to unhappiness. [/quote] I have other interests, but to be honest, I can't get inspired by them either! Mind you, compared to some of the previous posts, I really don't have anything to complain about....

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1323467185' post='1463808'] Well what I said to Rhys applies just as equally to you mate. Many relationships ago I foolishly got manipulated into stopping playing for about two years. I stuck my amp in a cupboard and my bass under the bed. When she finally left, digging that gear out and playing it again was like a rainstorm after a drought - much needed, refreshing and soothing to my parched roots... Whatever life throws at me, I'll always have 'something' tucked away for when things improve. [/quote] My Precision has already spent too many of its 34 years under the bed! I just don't find music inspiring anymore....

[sub]I was in an 80's glam/hair/metal band for a while, I used a Yamaha BBG4. Great sound, looked like a "Super-P" Flame maple (photo) top under a see-thru green finish, gold hardware..... Suited the image perfectly and I got mine for less than £200. Wish I'd kept it actually.....[/sub] [sub][attachment=95007:yamaha.jpg][/sub]

I spent most of the mid 90's feeling pretty miserable and sorry for myself (I realise now that, in comparison to some peoples problems mine were a bit petty) So, I went out, started a band and along with the guitarist/singer wrote some pretty good songs, recorded some of them and played some pretty good gigs. 15 years later, I now also feel pretty miserable, same pathetic reasons but this time round I don't have the energy or enthusiasm to start/join a band or to write anything. I can't remember the last time I even picked a bass up to play it. I very rarely even listen to music anymore (Richard Thompson is the exception) I'm with RhysP, on the verge of selling my gear and calling it a day!