Twigman

As some of you may have seen I am now the proud owner of a EBMM US Sterling4HH bootiful Before we start let me just say that I've never taken a bass lesson in my life so I've no idea if what I'm doing is 'correct'. I've mainly played Precisions or Precision style basses over recent years. My first proper stand up play of the Sterling highlighted an issue that I had not foreseen: Where do I anchor my thumb when playing the E string? I am used to anchoring my thumb on the pickup for playing E string and then damping the E with it when playing the A and the A when playing the D etc The pickups are set low in the pickguard and the top edge of the pickups slopes,,,so no proper anchor point there The bridge pickup is closer to the bridge than I'm used to and the neck pickup is farther away. My natural plucking position falls between the 2 pickups....but there's nothing to anchor my thumb to... I never really noticed this when sat down - perhaps I'm plucking in a different spot? So what's the secret to E string standing up comfort with a MM?

What kind of paint can be sprayed on a keyed poly surface? I am planning on using an airbrush and mix my own paint/thinners combi

I check the tuning at the beginning of the set and only bother checking again if my ears notice something amiss. I recheck at the start of the encore (if I get time to) as a machine head might have taken a knock when removing the bass after the end of the 1st set.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1494264956' post='3294523'] Providing you get a good monitor mix you should be fine Ian, [/quote] I normally don't get a monitor, Loz. Most of the venues we play seem to only have 4 wedges and desks with 4 channel foldback. Being a 5 piece it's always me that ends up without a wedge. The vocalist has one for obvious reasons. The guitarist gets one - he does BV so needs one more than me The drummer gets one, for obvious reasons. The keyboard gets one coz he's plugged only into the PA and it's the only way he'll hear himself.... which leaves little old me monitor free, earwigging everyone else's monitor

Amputation

The promoter for our next shows is failing me. I do many fly away gigs. I normally take my Puma900 head with me and spec a decent 4ohm 2x12 on the tech rider. Domestically I use a Barefaced S12T or a Barefaced Supermidget - but taking them with me on Easyjet ain't all that easy. Normally promoters 'get it right' and I get a nice Ampeg or even a Berg to play through However Mr cheapskate Spanish promoter has offered me an Ashdown EVOII 1x15 500 combo to play through. I am reluctant to accept this and am pushing for the guy to deliver what was requested Tell me what they're like please..... Should I keep pressing for a cab to use with my Puma? We're playing venues of around 300-400 capacity

I need to strip and refinish one of my Warmoth P-basses. It's the wrong colour. It's banana yellow. - hooky6stringbass - you might remember playing this at Fredstock a few years ago I want it to be black... I've never contemplated anything like this before so how does one go about it? Edumacate me It seems a cheaper option than buying a new finished body...

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1494024651' post='3292778'] Whatever next? A Snake Corps retrospective? I'd be tempted by that! [/quote] You'd need to ask Mark or Liam about that, Julian - I hear Mark & Liam & Jim are doing the Snake Corps thing still these days

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1494001851' post='3292555'] Ordered, now just have to wait for the postman. Hours of listening fun in store..! [/quote] [quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1494081332' post='3293114'] I liked the first three randomly selected tunes on YT so I've ordered it. What I listened to brought me back to the eighties in a pleasant way so I think I will enjoy hearing the band's progression through the decades. Thanks for sharing. [/quote] Wow! - Thanks very much - I hope you both enjoy it. Do let me know what you think - and don't hold back! We're hoping to have another studio album out in the next few months

My suggestions: Switches to NOT be mounted to the sides of pedals - they get switched in transit and also make mounting on a pedal board close to other pedals tricky. The valve to NOT stick out the side of pedal - I have broken more than one in transit because of this

[quote name='eddiehoffmann' timestamp='1494094917' post='3293268'] I didn't know that. So is there an internal power pump now? And would it be ok to run it off a T-Rex Fuel Tank Chameleon? [/quote] I run mine off a T-Rex Chameleon using 2 of the 12V outlets combined using a current doubler cable [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/t_rex_dc_current_doubler_50cm.htm?ref=search_prv_4"]https://www.thomann.de/gb/t_rex_dc_current_doubler_50cm.htm?ref=search_prv_4[/url]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1493936674' post='3292058'] There is no way I would ever critisize a band mates playing. [/quote] c'mon us bass players are ALWAYS critical of the drummist.....you know the way they speed up, especially through the rolls - getting to the 1 a fraction early all the time....no? Is it just me?

The green is darker and deeper than it looks in these pics - I suspect my phone over exposes. I'm fairly certain that my bass is unique in UK.

After several months waiting I have at last got my hands on my brand spanking new EBMM US Sterling 4HH I've not yet got myself home - I stopped off at the office on the way home to post this...so I've not yet heard it....but I am in love. And it is surprisingly light - I suspect around 8 1/2 pounds..... I might post some better than phone pics later.

I use a Puma 900 as my main amp. I take it to my fly away gigs in my hand luggage (it's really light and only the size of an average hardback book) and marry it with whatever cab the tech rider has in store for me.. Whatever cab it's hooked up to I can get a great noise out of it.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1493846189' post='3291299'] A 1965 P-Bass would suit me very nicely. [/quote] Fight you for it Never really understood the YOB bass thing....65? Is that still pre-CBS Fender? Didn't CBS come in late 64? What other choices are there? And all at silly money... My oldest bass is currently an 82/83 (one or the other - never taken the neck off to establish date)....and tbh it's the bass I pick up least.

I once got sacked from the band I'm in at the moment - many years ago but due to a whiskey fueled incident with a spotlight and plectrum orientation, I got the job back.

My wait is so nearly over.......got a message yesterday that my new bass has arrived at the dealer.....they're cutting a custom pickguard for it and I should be able to collect it by the weekend!! NBD imminent...it's been a long wait!!

SO this month Sad Lovers & Giants are doing our thing in Spain.... 19th May - VALENCIA Rock City [url="https://www.ticketea.com/entradas-concierto-sad-loverrs-giants-en-valencia/"]https://www.ticketea...ts-en-valencia/[/url] 20th May - BARCELONA Salamandra2 [url="https://www.codetickets.com/salamandra/es/codetickets.com/1196"]https://www.codetick...ickets.com/1196[/url] SO if any of you are on your holibobs and are bored of the hotel bar, come check us out We're going to try to take a multitrack of the Barca show perhaps for a future release.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1493802182' post='3290707'] I'll be getting one of those sometime in the next week. [/quote] WOW! Thanks very much....

[url="https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/where-the-light-shines-through-1981-2017-5cd-box-set/#sthash.9QTXp5T3.dpuf"]https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/where-the-light-shines-through-1981-2017-5cd-box-set/#sthash.9QTXp5T3.dpuf[/url] We've got a box set out....an anthology of the first 36years of SL&G......... Reviews: [url="http://louderthanwar.com/sad-lovers-giants-light-shines-1981-2017-album-review/"]http://louderthanwar.com/sad-lovers-giants-light-shines-1981-2017-album-review/[/url] [url="http://www.discussionsmagazine.com/2017/04/sad-lovers-giants-spaz-reviews-where.html?m=1"]http://www.discussionsmagazine.com/2017/04/sad-lovers-giants-spaz-reviews-where.html?m=1[/url] [url="http://bigtakeover.com/recordings/sad-lovers-and-giants-where-the-light-shines-through-1981-2017-cherry-red-records"]http://bigtakeover.com/recordings/sad-lovers-and-giants-where-the-light-shines-through-1981-2017-cherry-red-records[/url] The reviews seem surprisingly favourable. Is this a result of the internet? and publications wanting linkage? Historically the press have hated us. Does nobody give a bad review anymore?

Turn the volume knob off zero?

I didn't buy anything in 2016! hang on I did - i bought a Fender CE300 Acoustic bass....that's not gear though really is it? - I did order something though....and got told today that it, at long last, is expected to land in the country next week...an EBMM USA Sterling 4HH RW Black with MH....oh and a custom 4ply green pearl pickguard.... After that I suspect the coffers will be empty for a while.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1492701210' post='3282528'] What I've discovered is that it doesn't seem to matter how much of your audience is made up of skinny hipsters, only L, XL and XXL people seem to buy band T-shirts! [/quote] Don't gig in Italy then - they only seem to want S and M tees.....and most want to try them on (eeeewww) before they buy!!

We always sell all the CDs and vinyl we can take to gigs. Due to weight we don't take many - most of our gigs are fly aways on Easyjet/Ryan Air. We sell lots of t-shirts too but the punters always seem to want the sizes we have least of!