TheRev

[quote name='Rich' post='197863' date='May 13 2008, 12:07 PM'][list] [*][u]Nemesis #1: bass-phobic venues[/u]. There's a venue in Bristol -- I won't name it, but if I say it's on Gloucester Road and the name rhymes with 'Bomb', folks will know where I mean -- which has problematic neighbours and, as a consequence, a real bass phobia. Turning one's backline up to anything remotely audible is met with a frown and a barked request to turn the bass down. I have played several gigs there without being able to hear a single note I've played all night. I would sympathise with them on the neighbour thing, were it not for the fact that the owner of the place is a sad arrogant twonk who seems to think he's running Carnegie Hall, not some jumped-up wine bar in a dodgy part of town. My least favourite venue to play, in the known universe. [/list][/quote] It used to really hack me off when The Bomb' repeatedly refused to book my band simply because they'd 'never heard of you'. I thought that if we played lots of gigs in the same area, got the name about a bit and generally built up a reputation for a solid, reliable band that we've be in with a chance of playing 'Bristol's best live music venue'. You know what? Did it f#*k. I don't even bother with them now with the exception of their rather good breakfasts.... My personal bane: Support bands that overrun and then wander off stage after their set without bothering to move their gear out of your way and then get arsey when you move one of their guitars. I also grew to hate playing gigs with my last band. The singer/guitarist would pretty much ignore what either myself or the drummer were playing and drop whole bars, speed up/slow down, forget whole sections of the song, forget/change the lyrics (making my backing vox, ropey at the best of times, sound like a sack of toss). He also had a great habit of turning up at gigs and saying 'Didn't you bring the PA? They don't have one here'

Have a look on Talkbass.com or Rockabillybass.com for their weedwhacker strings thread - I think the weak A and E strings are a common problem. Maybe a mixed set of weedwhacker and nylon cores will sound better?

Reading through this thread, it reminds me of when I first started playing and the idea of [b]one[/b] decent bass would make me moist. 20 years later I'm in possession of four basses (out of the total 8 that I've ever owned), each of which does it's own particular job. So: Musicman Sterling: My first and only proper, decent bass. Does everything I want it to and will never, ever be sold. Bass Collection fretless: used for the acoustic band I used to be in and for the Pearl Jam numbers in the rock covers band I was in. Fender acoustic: Bought for my acoustic band, is now an in front of the TV noodler. Very handy for those moments when you have an idea but plugging in is too much hassle. Aria SWB Lite electric upright: This is currently my main gigging bass, simply due to the style of music we play. There was a time when I took three basses to a gig - the Sterling, the Bass Collection and the Fender, simply for the different sounds they provided. Now, the Aria is the only bass I use live and at home gets about 80% usage, then the Sterling approx 15% with the rest shared between the other two. I sometimes think I should sell the Fender and the Bass Collection as they rarely get used, but I don't need the money and they may get used in the future and I'd miss them if they weren't there. As for the Sterling - I fell guilty that i don't play it as much as I used to, but on the one day a week that I pick it up, I remember just how good it is and if I ever play in a rock or funk band again, just how much I'd miss it if sold it.

The distributor in the UK is SMART distribution but they're very thin on the ground in shops. Thomann are probably your best bet.

I quite like driving to a place I've never been before to pick up a new piece of gear - if you really want the rig and you have the time then make a weekend road trip of it. Do you know anyone in between you can visit/crash with?

[quote name='dabootsy' post='185087' date='Apr 25 2008, 09:36 AM']Another one for me is that when our guitarist tries to explain something like an accent at the end of a chorus he seems to have to play through whole song on his own , i think he just likes to hear himself play[/quote] They all do that. Every single one of them. I hate them so much. Does he do that thing where if you ask him what chord he's playing, he plays it (usually very loudly) and says: 'that one'?

[quote name='OldGit' post='174033' date='Apr 10 2008, 05:27 PM']What's puzzling me is why there's a strap peg on the heel ... Maybe for hanging it up?[/quote] My Aria's got the same thing - a button on the heel and another roughly behind the bridge so if you were that way inclined you could strap it on and play it like a bass guitar. Feck knows why you'd want to though.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='172119' date='Apr 8 2008, 11:36 AM']www.thomann.de do reasonably priced bows, both German & French.[/quote] What's the difference? I'm humming and haaing about buying a bow but frankly don't know where to start. Plus, the guy I bought my SWB from said it sounded terrible bowed so I'm reluctant to shell out on a bow if there's apossibility I'll never use it.

[quote name='tiffen' post='172125' date='Apr 8 2008, 11:44 AM']Hi I play this in our band and the guitarist reckons the bass should do the fill bit I dont seem to be getting the right sound I have been playing B A F# E E starting on the A string and Finishing on the open E string. Do I play it an octave higher or is this quite wrong. Do any body else play this if so how do you play it cheers[/quote] I always played it an octave higher. It's played on keyboards in the original track so you might want to try using a synth pedal to get the right sound.

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='171966' date='Apr 8 2008, 12:31 AM']yes boycott all chinese stuff because of their awful human rights record, tibet and Sudan. boycott all american stuff because of the injustice of the IMF and World bank screwing the developing world through trade, illegal wars in the middle east and general policy of going around the world killing folk who disagree over the last 50 years. boycott all UK stuff for following US on the above, being a major player in the arms trade, failing to put anysort of commonwealth pressure on mugabe or china (for the above), or turkey, or israel...... don't ya just love our western-colonial cultural moral smugness?[/quote] This has got me thinking about how hard it is to shop 'ethically'. I have basses made in USA, Japan and Korea (south, obviously), amplification & cabs made in USA, Italy, China and UK.... but where do all the components come from? Regardless of where a product is built/assesembled, the chances are that it will have components (screws/wire/capacitors/casings etc) that come from the cheapsest possible source - probably China.

Welcome to the EUB gang mate.

I'm using the Thomastik acoustic posphor bronze strings. They're nylon core with a phosphor bronze winding so they're nice and mellow with a decent sustain. They're not cheap but they seem to last forever.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='168612' date='Apr 2 2008, 05:30 PM']Thanks Lee... and everyone else of course Well I may be one step nearer to taking the plunge as an old playing mate from way back spoke today about a laid back acoustic style band and it has me seriously considering it.[/quote] Just do it mate - you won't look back. Moving to upright has totaly rekindled my desire to improve my playing, I play more gigs that I ever have and it looks well groovy. Aside from reproachful looks from my neglected Sterling, it's all peachy.

It's also worth considering the Aria SWB Lite one. Thomann have them for about £750. Whether it's better than the NS Wav is probably down to taste but what I like about it is that it has a body rest and endpin (the Wav uses a cymbal stand type thing I believe) so You're not rooted to the spot.

[quote name='andy67' post='156117' date='Mar 12 2008, 04:01 PM']so close for me! Andy Fraser Neil Murray Phil lynott Dennis Dunaway Cliff Williams/Ali McMordie - such a dilema[/quote] Ooh, Ali McMordie - mainly cos he was a local lad for me. Good to see someone else who noticed Neil Murray, I'm suprised he doesn't get namechecked more often.

[quote name='nick' post='156049' date='Mar 12 2008, 03:10 PM'][attachment=6361:s2_les.jpg] [b]Les McQueen ; Crème Brulee[/b][i][/i][/quote] Les was a guitarist wasn't he? Played a Strat

For me it would be: Andy Fraser John Deacon Peter Hook Neil Murray (early Whitesnake) Dennis Dunaway Spanning the full decade there I think.

I've got a Hartke 3500 for sale if you're interested? I used it for years in my Indie band but now I've switched to Markbass, it's surplus to requirements. I'd be a bit wary of using a single 210 with a full band though, especially if you're used to a 410 or a 1x15 in rehearsal as you may find yourself struggling to be heard over the drummer. There are 210s that will cope but they won't be cheap. If you're a bit handy with a saw, you could do an awful lot worse that buying some Omni 10 plans from Bill fitzmaurice (www.billfitzmaurice.com) and building your own. Dave

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohmSPv-rtSQ"]Victoria[/url] I think I'd have to prise it from Danny's dead, cold hands first....

Hey Bassbloke. Have you checked out the Double bass forums on Talkbass - there's a wealth of information on there concerning buying basses and strings etc. I've certainly found it very useful. On the subject of lessons/teachers - there are a number of very good books out there, (I'm using 'The elolving bassist' by Rufus Reid) which will point you in the right direction technique wise. Personally, I feel that taking lessons are A Good Thing, provided you can find a teacher you can get on with, which as some have pointed out, isn't always possible. If you're not aiming on becoming some sort of DB virtuoso then I reckon a good tution book, regular (and to begin with - gentle!) practice and getting as much information as possible about technique (to avoid RSI/carpal tunnel syndrome) will be enough to get you started. Lessons can come later if you hit a block. I've no wisdom to offer concerning buying basses - I play electric upright and am therefore a lower form of life Oh, and listen to Danny Thompson. Lots of Danny Thompson. And Ali Friend.

I have beta 10s in my Omni 10.5s and i reckon they sound great. The general opinion over on Finnbass is that the deltalites have a more pronounced midrange compared to the Beta 10s. The Omni cab designs are quite strong in the midrange as well, so putting the two together may be too much if midrange isn't your thing... As Merton said, it's all down to personal taste but if the weight saving isn't an issue then I don't think you'll be disappionted with the Beta 10s

+1 for Bassmousemans Takamine - it's the best ABG for the money that I've ever tried. Much better than the Crafter.

[quote name='BassBod' post='135846' date='Feb 7 2008, 04:20 PM']So glad to see someone else hates the Prom. That's made my day.[/quote] *cough* There's LOADS of blues jams around though. They do vary in quality quite a bit so it's best to check a venue out first.