mike257

I know Easyjet specifically allow you to purchase an extra seat for instruments (within certain size limits) - you enter your own passport number and some specific text as the passenger name. Will work out cheaper than paying their hold baggage charges every time!

[quote name='EskimoBassist' timestamp='1364070682' post='2021687'] When they stopped selling them at the time there was some story about it being to conform with new EU guidelines and that at some point a redesigned unit would be available to the market. Wouldn't hold your breath as it's been a while, I'd just cough up for the Diago if I were you - I did for my powerstation and 5 years on its still going strong. [/quote] I've already got one - wouldn't have minded a spare though. Bit of a kicker coughing up £60 for the same box that cost me about £15 first time round though!

Have they stopped altogether? That's a a shame if so. I know they went through periods where they didn't always have a regular supply of them but they'd always turn up eventually.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1363958003' post='2020119'] I had one of the Indonesian Squier P specials too and also have a USA jazz. Whilst the Squier was excellent value for money and was almost as playable as the US jazz after a bit of tweaking I thought the quality of the pickups on the jazz blew the Squier ones out of the water. If I'd kept the Squier long term I'd certainly have upgraded the pickups. As it turned out I found a US P bass deluxe which made the Squier redundant and I sold it on but it was, as I said, very very good value. [/quote] I've got one too, first bass I owned and still gets played now 14 years later. I've swapped the pickups for Wizards, the bridge for a Badass II and replaced the pots but its the awesome neck that makes it a keeper, not just the sentimental value. Great basses for the money they cost.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1363631401' post='2015029'] But... which one is he? [/quote] The one at the back.... we're bass players, remember

About.me is a good one for setting up a basic profile of yourself for networking. Can have a bio, photo(s), skills tags and it allows you to add links to external sites and social networking profiles.

GStrings+ tuner is a winner for me. Use it all the time for my basses/guitars. The free version is fine but I used it that often that I shelled out the couple of quid for the "plus" version to support the developer. If you record yourself at home, there's an app called TouchDAW that can remotely nearly any recording software on your PC/Mac. Can control the mixer and everything if needed, but great just to use the transport controls if you have to be physically removed from your keyboard when playing your instrument.

I can imagine the size causing the problems. I've got a George Dennis pedal which isn't enormous but I could see myself struggling to have a decent level of control with something physically smaller underfoot.

Once you're done looking at the Diago, go and look at the Johnny Shredfreak power supply. It's the same unit sold under a different brand name at under a third of the price. I've got one and have used it to power a large board with around a dozen pedals (including thirsty ones like a Line 6 tonecore) and never ran out of juice yet!

When I've done them I've plugged straight into the PA (literally, not a DI box to be found) and got on with it. Whilst the PA likely won't be huge, you won't need tons of level on the bass in your typical open mic setup. Saying that, I always take my Sandberg for anything like that as I know the preamp will give me a decent level to the desk and some tonal control - a passive bass would probably be fine but I felt more comfortable using something active.

I'm surprised nobody's posted the infamous video of the guy trying to smash the bejesus out of one of those "fragile" plastic Behringer stomps and barely managing to scratch it. They're tougher than you might think. On my mobile now, but if it hasn't appeared by the time I'm back at my computer I'll dig it out on YouTube!

Yeah, I think the stick they get is a little unfair. It's cheap gear that generally costs a lot less than the alternative and does what it says on the tin reasonably well. Some bits (like the SansAmp clone) are awesome. I got a good 8 years heavy use out of a V-Amp 2 doing demos at home before the input jack gave out. Hell, I was doing some maintenance work for a BBC local radio station and they had Behringer comp/limiters across their DAB antennae feed! Can't be that bad....

That's what we're here for! Feel the warm embrace of BC, we'll all nerd out with you!

I'd never done it until about 12 months ago - had always played original music. One of my regular clients in my splitter van was a function band and they asked me to do a couple of dep gigs on lead guitar, then to join the band. It's actually massively improved my musicianship as I'm learning and playing things I never would have before, and the gigs are enjoyable as the band are such nice guys to be around that it's a pleasure to do. The end result has been that between the function band, my splitter van and some other odd jobs, I've been able to take a redundancy package from my increasingly depressing day job and I now make my living entirely from music. I've got slightly less free cash (but surprisingly not [i]that[/i] much less, so far) but get to spend a lot more time with my young son, and I'm a lot happier for it all round. I'm still writing and recording original music and will be throwing a new band together soon to play it, but I also get to play music to appreciative audiences with good people whose company I enjoy, and improve, learn and grow as a musician while I'm doing it. I appreciate that it's not for everyone, but it's working for me right now!

I love the black/maple combo, even if it doesn't pass the Nigel Tufnel "How much more black could it be?" test. Every time I see a Sandberg pop up in that awesome blackburst finish they do I start googling "Where to sell a kidney". Having said that,the two black basses and two black guitars I own all have rosewood boards. Not a fan of black hardware though, I think it looks kind of cheap and tacky.

If you're up for spending a grand, I'd consider looking for a (used, because they're no longer made) Yamaha SA2000. It was around for a few years in the late 70's/early 80's before being replaced with the SA2200 which is reportedly a lovely guitar too, but not [i]quite [/i]as lovely as its predecessor. It was Yamaha's top-of-the-range effort to show Gibson et al how it was done and is a stunning piece of kit. My brother acquired one and I've pinched it for a few extended loans ("Yeah, sure I'll bring it back at the weekend" ) and done a few gigs and recording sessions with it. It's the nicest guitar I've ever played bar none, and gave a great showing when compared to a mates recently purchased Gibbo Custom Shop 335. If you can find one, it'll be near enough on your £1k budget, but definitely worth a look. You'll be glad you did!

Got to agree with some of those recent posts - in most gigging contexts, the band is there to entertain whoever happens to be in the room. If they feel that they've been suitably entertained then we [s]soulless clown-whores[/s] entertainers have done our job. You can be your own worst critic, but if Joe Public had a good time then you've done it right - [i]even[/i] if you know you could have done it that little bit better. EDIT: I seem to have completely and udderly missed the dairy jokes while I was typing this!

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1363721321' post='2016588'] I am also lucky enough to have a music room , we are in the process of refurbishing it , we have bought a lot of brick faces and are 'tiling' a couple of walls to give it a blues club , cavern type feel , I will post some picks up when I get some work done [/quote] That sounds really cool! Look forward to seeing some pics of that.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363714624' post='2016462'] Nice! Where's the hot tub going? [/quote] I took the photo sitting in it

So, the house move madness has died down and in an unexpected twist I got a music room [i]all to myself[/i]! It turned out that the previous occupiers had knocked up a rudimentary loft conversion, so I've been banished up there. Gave it a fresh coat of paint and a new carpet, a bargain futon off eBay and it's looking awesome! And to satisfy Discreet, here's a panoramic view to prove it*: [attachment=130511:2013-03-19 16.18.00.jpg] I just need to find some time to get up there and use it now! [size=2]* [b]Disclaimer:[/b] loft nowhere near as big/wide as fancy panoramic photo app makes it look![/size]

Might be overkill for your needs but have a look at Caustic. It's a complete electronic music production tool with synths, drum machines, effects - basically Reason but running on a phone. The sequencer allows for pattern or song modes and looping and pretty sure you can import your own wav files so should be capable. There's sure to be a simpler solution available but if the extra capabilities are any use to you then it's worth a look!

This thread is making me miss my sadly departed T-40

Twist and loop. Drummed into me when I was a 15 year old tape op at a local studio. It's the only way!

I can't help but wonder how many of the private sellers he pursues have aspired to owning a Ric, owned a cheaper copy for a while and decided its time to trade up to the real deal. "I'll whack my copy on eBay, put the cash towards the bass I've always wanted.... wait, what's this? An email from the man himself? Awesome! Oh.... bollocks to that then." I imagine this is a scenario playing out all too frequently. Would put you right off!

The "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" documentary on the Funk Brothers is a tremendous watch.