Jack

At the end of the day, you're only limiting yourself by not using a pick. Saying 'Oh, picks aren't for me' is fair enough but (as has been pointed out) maybe the song actually would sound better with a pick? People tend to be as opinionated with picks vs. fingers as they are with valve/solid state or 4 strings/extended range when the truth is it's nowhere near as serious. They're pennies to buy and are a very useful tool to have in your arsenal. You're a bass player, why limit your technique to a small facet of that? I assume you can slap? On the other side of the coin, is someone ever seriously told me to use one technique (rather than a friendly helpful suggestion) he'd find my fingers being can be used for stuff that isn't strict pizzicato. I'm the bass player, thanks.

You only get one set of ears. 24dB!

I've always wondered if manufacturers actually know what they're doing with strings designed for their own basses. I love Fender flats on my Fender (admittedly it's currently sporting Rotosound flats) and nothing gives me the bright zinginess from my 'Rays quite as well as EB Slinkys.

Aside: I love Dave's stuff but I wish it would be a little more restrained visually. Would he do you one in solid black with typed letters if you asked? I just think they look more 'homemade' than 'handbuilt' which is a shame considering their quality.

I was considering selling my MXR M80 box recently but didn't because it's not worth it for me, they can be had for £50 used. Moral of the story is it might be worth looking at those preamp/pedal/di boxes that you can get these days. Most places hand me a Samson DI that's pale blue (circuit diagram on the top) and I know for a fact they're pretty cheap. I've never had any problems with them but then again we don't really hear our own FOH sound so I'm finding it hard to properly recommend them!

We did a family shot between me (Stingray, Fender P, Squier P, Uke, and the classical acoustic and half of the Tanglewood Curbow), my brother (the other half of the Tanglewood and the Steinberger) and my dad (the rest of the guitars).

Either a 30ft or 20ft, and both Planet Waves.

[quote name='Mog' timestamp='1320838661' post='1432013'] P or J or P or J type? I've never turned up to a studio or session gig with a Fender bass. Most of the time I used a cheap Yamaha BBG5 and got nothing but good words from engineers. Most of the session musicians I know use Sadowskys or Custom builds. One in particular has an original 60's jazz and wouldnt dream of using it in a studio setting. [/quote] That's the point I was making (albeit not very well!). You really need a P or J type bass, and if Fender doesn't do it for you then this way we have options.

I'm auditioning for bands at the moment, and I always take the Fender P. It's just more accepted, and a P or a J is ESSENTIAL if you want to do session or sideman work. So, assuming that you have to own a Precision or a Jazz (which, IMO is wrong but there you go) this way you have a choice. Your alternative would have 90% of the bass playing world on fenders, this way we have a choice of Fenderesque instruments from different manufacturers.

Battlestar Scralatchtica or Are You In? - both Incubus Want You Back - Jackson 5 Boys and Girls - Blur Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen Brandy - Originally Looking Glass but I mean the RHCP version even if the basslines are largely the same. They're just the ones that jump straight out. By no means the most show-offy, complicated, technical, but some of the most fun.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1319714251' post='1417555'] You know, I'm sure i've seen a light blue burst ricky before but I can't find pics! [/quote] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RICKENBACKER-4003-BASS-2007-LIMITED-EDITION-BLUEBURST-GORGEOUS-CONDITION-/270842049952?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f0f71b5a0"]Here's[/url] a few more pics. (Not my auction)

Just bought some, cheers for the heads up.

Was it someone on here who made himself one? A digital module in a small case similar to the AI Focus? I remember he wanted passive but had to add a fan .......

Yeah I wish there was either a separate eq for the distortion channel or if we could just turn the colour switch off. As it is, I have it as clean and then colour, don't use the distortion unless I'm using a different (or no) DI, then I just have the MXR set up a distortion pedal only.

2003 MIA P - No hole on the body.

Meh, none of TCE's heads do their rated power output anyway, so I wouldn't worry about buying one that is 'too much' for your cabs. To be more helpful, I love the sound of the classic, and that would get my vote based on what you've stated as far as your sound preferences. I've only tried it at shop volumes though, so can't comment on reliability/volume/longevity etc. Personally, I'd go for a Markbass head. The rocker is possibly my fave smaller amp ever (although a tad more expensive that the TC heads or the LittleMark) , and is definitely the one I'm going for if I ever decide to leave my GK. And hey, at least you'll be giving your money that tells the truth about it's products.

They cant be the dimensions, they're way to big for any bass head. Mine's 435(W)x230(D)x100(H) in terms of millimetres including controls and feet. I'm being generous with the depth measurement but it would be hard to be exact and I figure a few mm spare is better than a case that's too small.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1317911657' post='1396121'] I'm sure Jon could make you something that you would love (probably the guy I would consider making the closest to stingray type basses). [/quote] Who is this Jon and what is his website? Is he a basschatter? Hope you get your bass sorted out Gareth.

That would be £190 for a head and 410 with a couple hundred watts. Cant go wrong IMO. Hartke is pretty blegh soundwise but they'll forever be one of my favourite manufacturers because if you have a problem you can call Larry Hartke himself. I have a Gallien Krueger for the same reason, Bob Gallien is a nice man and eager to sort out any problems. Definitely look around used, a gigging rig for under £500 is sooooo easy to come buy it's ridiculous.

What's your budget? What do your guitarists use? Any other instruments in the band? What kind of bass players have sounds that you like? There's a Hartke HA2500 for £100 and a Hartke 410 for £90 in the for sale right now. And that was only 2 mins of searching.

One day you'll get it.

Just went to pick Dave's Steinberger up from his house. Nice guy and a pleasure to deal with. :-)

I don't know if it was actually the smallest but we played the Durham International Brass Festival a few years back. A proper, outdoor, festival-sized arena. The hotdog stands at the back must have been half a mile from the stage. And they got front row seats. Seriously, there must have been 30 people there in an area the size of a football stadium. Certainly felt like the smallest audience I've ever done. Largest may have been the Sage or maybe the 02. I'd guess about 1000 maybe. The best are always the stripper bars or the university parties. For the same reasons actually.