uncle psychosis

Zvex fuzz factory has many levels of craziness. If you can solder you can also build one cheaply: http://www.musikding.de/product_info.php/info/p2192_The-Factory--germanium-fuzz-kit.html I've done it. Well worth it, especially if you're looking for mad sounds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S8xRiOqXtc

I mainly play with a pick and in my experience the thicker the pick the better. I'm currently using 3mm big stubbies and they do the job very nicely indeed. Am currently trying to learn more fingerstyle though---want to increase my repertoire a bit!

[quote name='bremen' timestamp='1321377032' post='1438452'] Wooten may only have chosen the colour but he's damaged his reputation by allowing his name to be associated with that wretched bollocks. [/quote] Thats my take on it too. I've always wondered how the scientists/engineers who work on this kind of thing feel about it. Do they really believe their own press releases?

The question which I've often asked audiophiles---and none of them have ever answered---is why high end scientific equipment doesn't come with these fancy conditioned power cables and directional leads and so on. You can buy oscilloscopes that cost £10k (or more). They're for measuring signals with the utmost accuracy and minimising noise and so on. Why aren't scientists making the most of this awesome power cable technology to improve the accuracy of their signals? Why do pieces of scientific equipment costing into the hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of pounds not come with fancy power cables?

[quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1321306264' post='1437693'] Have you ever tried a test of the Naim powerline and a standard mains cable? [/quote] Don't need to. It doesn't work. If I told you that making a pot of tea with 15 teabags would make a brew that, once drunk, would allow you to fly unaided to the moon would you insist on a test before you dismissed my claims? Anyone that buys a power cable and expects it to do anything beyond placebo effect demonstrably has more money than sense.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1319576630' post='1416094'] As well as JJ Burnell, probably the only current bassist whose tone I`m fairly confident of recognising is Duf McKagan. And possibly, Mike Dirnt. [/quote] I'd be confident of spotting Matt Freeman from Rancid too. Very distinctive sound/feel/style for a punk bassist.

I'm lucky enough to have played with some great drummers. One of my old band mates is currently playing with Tim Minchin---he's also played with the likes of the Streets, Massive Attack, Newton Faulkner...to say that I'm jealous would be an understatement! The drummer in my current band is also great (not that I'd ever tell him that!!). It makes such a big difference having someone good behind the kit.

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1319227305' post='1411672'] Just wondering if anyone can advise on thickening the sound up. [/quote] Everyone else has given bass-specific advice. I'll give some guitar advice! Get your guitarist to get a second amp and run a stereo setup. Having two different guitar sounds (even if there is only one guitar part!) makes the sound huuuuuuge. We do this in my 3-piece and it works really well.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1319197563' post='1411119'] I think the only thing to be aware of is that the equipment is generally not built like the proverbial tanks that some manufacturers achieve and therefore they can't be thrown around by roadies; p****d or p****d off band members; adoring fans jumping onto the stage; etc; etc in quite the same way as some of the others. [/quote] Dunno about that... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QL-6eTHSHQ

After many years just playing by ear I'm finally trying to learn Bass Clef. I can already read treble clef well --- does anyone have any tips specifically aimed at learning to read in a different clef?

Hey guys Many thanks for the replies---managed to get a hold of the Standing in the Shadows transcription. Its a monstrous bassline---much harder than I thought it was at first! Think I've got the notes down now, just need to make it sound good

It certainly appears that many of the Behringer pedals are cheaper versions of other companies pedals (not just Boss---there are MXR and Line6 ones too, and probably more I've forgotten). Some of them are really great pedals, others are really terrible. Are there any in particular you are interested in?

Doesn't Mark Hamilton from Ash only use 3 strings on his bass? I'm sure I read once that he'd snapped one when he was a teenager learning to play and couldn't afford a replacement so he's played like that ever since!

I buy mine from here: [url="http://www.kablonline.com/about.html"]http://www.kablonline.com/[/url] Good quality, quick service. The guy who runs it posts over at musicradar---good guy.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1318868119' post='1407147'] Its nothign to do with them, its HMRC nailing you for tax and duty. [/quote] Copied and pasted from the Guitar Centre website: [list] [*]All prices in pounds sterling [*]Duties and VAT calculated at checkout [*]Low international shipping rates [*]Guaranteed landed costs (no additional charges at delivery) [/list] So I assume they are dealing directly with HMRC on your behalf.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1318867773' post='1407139'] And handling fee: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/157785-you-import-vatparcelforce/"]http://basschat.co.u...vatparcelforce/[/url] [/quote] Guitar centre are claiming that their price is the delivered price (including duty) and that there are no fees to pay on delivery. Presumably they are included in the price.

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1318321779' post='1400372'] All of theses basses look like something Bilbo Baggins might play bass solo versions of stairway to heaven on. Dreadful. That is all. IMO [/quote] I tip my hat to you sir. Top work.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1318324716' post='1400438'] I renewed my house contents last month. It was £120 for £30K of cover which covers all music and photography gear inside the house. That includes an extra £30ish I paid to cover my gear outside the house. I've never bothered with seperate insurance for music gear, and when it's this cheap with house contents I don't really get why you would? [/quote] You might find that if you're using your equipment in any professional capacity (ie do you get paid for your gigs) then suddenly your home insurance won't cover it. Or maybe it won't cover things left in an unattended vehicle. You'd need to read the exclusions carefully. But to be honest I'm not sure---its a good question. My exisiting instrument policy runs out in a few months, I'm going to do a lot of digging before I renew!

I would imagine that if anything has killed the "vibe" with regards recordings and tunings its modern electronic recording techniques. Loads of old recordings are slightly off pitch (ie the whole recording is in tune with itself but is not in "standard" tuning) because they recorded it and then changed the speed afterwards. Modern technology lets you do this without altering the pitch. I imagine that this has killed "the vibe" a bit.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1318247223' post='1399581'] The Behringer BD121 is a great piece of kit. Then, taking into account the price, it becomes a seriously great piece of kit. I`ve recorded with it and the recorded sound is very good. I`ve a DHA VT1, which doesn`t have DI on it, and that is a fantastic pedal, so would assume that the DHA DI or EQ should be equally good. [/quote] I'm seriously considering the EQ-Bass-Drive which is a VT1, EQ, and DI box all in a box (with some other goodies too). My only concern is how "clean" it can go. I'm into reggae / Motown / jazz so want a really nice clean sound. Do you ever run your VT1 just as a clean preamp? How does it sound? Thanks

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1318238921' post='1399445'] Phil Jones Bass Buddy? Nice sounding preamp with DI, also has mp3 in so you can mix it into your headphones for learning new songs, I love mine! [/quote] Looks great but its a lot more than I was wanting to spend...£150 is about my limit.

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1317918535' post='1396274'] The rest are just parts bin variations of essentially those. Look at say A Ford Focus. There are 5 basic models and then all the optional extras. All the different variations of a Precision are nothing more than the basic model with various optional extras. [/quote] I'd say that the problem then is that its too hard to work out which model you need to buy to get a particular set of specs. Instead of having eighteen different precision models listed on their website they should have two or three, and then have different options available for each one. The current way is really confusing (for me, at least).

Hey folks I'm trying to find the right combination of DI Box / Preamp / Practice Tool for my needs. At the moment I don't own a giggable bass amp. In the three years that my band has been gigging I've never needed one---either the backline was provided or I've gone DI into the PA. However, I don't own a DI box of my own, so I reckon I should get one---and this is where the problems start. There are so many options out there, and I'm not which would suit me best. I want something that will let me go straight to the PA and still sound good, as well as something that I can also use as a practice tool at home for headphone practice (I have a small mixer, so I can go DI to that and then use headphones...or better yet get something that will go straight to headphones). If it can also make whatever generic amp I'm using sound better at the same time that would be a bonus. I'd prefer to just buy one unit so that there is less gear to lug around. So far I'm tempted by: DHA DI-EQ DHA EQ-Bass-Drive (what are the clean sounds like on this? I don't use a lot of overdrive) Behringer BDI21 Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks

Beautiful... I was on gumtree earlier and saw an ad with a very familiar bass in it... Are you selling this now?