pietruszka

[quote name='ashevans09' timestamp='1337611281' post='1662720'] That's gorgeous! And same here, great basses. No negatives I got to record through mine last weekend - both channels of my Mesa 400+ with a Sansamp GT2 between the bass and the high gain channel, into an Ampeg 810 with a room mic, close mic and DI and it sounded absolutely phenomenal. I've never been this happy with my bass tone. I was only playing simple lines - the songs needed simplicity - and it just dominated. Even pre mixing it sounded great . I'll post some sound samples when I get them [/quote] Yep! Last weekend I recorded mine to for my band's EP, I'll post a link as soon as I get it to. Dan

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1337596617' post='1662382'] but there is a 'U' in group :-) [/quote] Haha!! How very outward and considerate for the others! Dan

I still maintain the easiest solution is for one person to have the PA, theres no complication over ownership. What I won't have with my PA is for individual pieces of it to be at different houses, it all stays in the one place so I know where every part of it is at all times. Again this leaves no complication. It also allows me to hire it out as it's my PA, the other band members have use of it to if needed. We have all our own 'breakables' if you like, the singer has her own mic, the guitarist his own and cables to. The drummer a full set of his own drum mics, with cables I believe to. I have my own mic and cable. What ever they plug into it is theirs and they're responsible for that, not me. I can see the point raised of "I don't go through the pa so do I really need to financially contribute?". We'll yes, if thats the agreement. You may not use it, but you benefit from it by being in the band. For those that have called the PA a tool have described it very well, it is as much of your own gear the tools of your trade. Theres no 'I' in team! Dan

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1337095685' post='1655365'] Because they've been around a long time and don't break. [/quote] I have my dads one still, that must be about 20years old at least. Still works perfectly to. Dan

I was looking at some Sandbergs on Thomann, and I came across this little gem! http://www.thomann.de/gb/sandberg_custom_stripe_bass_fl.htm How much are kidneys these days? It's insane that more people don't stock them here in the UK. After all look at the positives; Very well made, light, excellent sound, excellent feel, and above all, very reasonably priced! I actually can't think of a negative. Dan

The bass is a basic with blue burst finish, made of ash I believe which has an open grain. I have a sneaky suspicion the stain will be deep! Never mind, it was just an idea I had. Thanks for the replies you two. Dan

I find the low end on my 102p excellent, it's had no problems filling a pub on its own! I love it, really clear, tight, punchy and more than enough bottom! Dan

Hi, I've had a thought of sanding the stain off my Sandberg bass to have it as a natural finish. I know it will take a lot of sanding, but how deep is the stain? And what type of lacquer/wax/oil will be best? Dan

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1337442831' post='1660115'] Only a luxury if you have the transport etc to do so, this is where most youngsters have problems. I think there's a perception that guitarists are very particular about their sound but that people don't worry too much about the bass sound. Also the bass is more likely to be DI'd and so perhaps considered semi permanent. [/quote] Ah! The ol' one rule for them a different rule for us! But once again very true reality 4 Strings. However, transport aside, I still find it baffling that a bass player would not have their own amp. Dan

It is a tricky one, I've just bought a pa for my band. I found the simplest way was to just buy it myself, I own it, all parts of it are in my possession. If any other members need it they can hire it from me providing its not in use. Financially it's not the most ideal but there are no complications. And if someone leaves, I still have the pa and there's no arguments. Dan

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1337433177' post='1659868'] Bringing amps to gigs is not about whether the bass player owns one or not, its about the arrangements for backline. Fine for nice big venues with space for the bands to set the backline up in front of the next band on but I can't remember the last pub/club type gig with I've been to where each band used a different backline and it was changed between each band. Where does all this stuff get stored during the gig? Does it get changed for each band during the sound check too? Must make for a very long evening with such long changeovers. [/quote] That's a very good point, but where that falls is when promotors, especially round here say "guitarists bring your own amps, everyone one else shares". Why should the guitarists have that luxury? Drum kits are understandable but we do get told that every one but guitarists have to share, bass players have to share and if a bassist turns up with an amp they're often met with "so your providing the bass amp". Dan

[quote name='goblin' timestamp='1337381971' post='1659283'] I'm a very stingy one myself. People have used my stuff in the past, sometimes without even asking, and althoug no damage ever done, I still don't see it as worth the risk. The one that hacked me off the most is a gig I played a year or two back and there were a couple of bands on, guitarist snapped a string so I quickly drove him to get some, and left my lead on top of the amp, in my open kit case, neatly coiled. Came back to find the other band using it, and once he'd finished with it he yanked it out of his bass by the cable, and just scrunched it up. Needless to say, he got the bollocking of the lifetime! The one I'll always remember is a battle of the bands final, got a phone call from the organiser pretty much telling me that I had to lend the other bands my amp, and if I didn't the night couldn't go on as they couldn't get another bass amp. At that point I politely told them where they were going to stick it, and questioned how four bands could make it to a final, with only one of them having a functioning gig rig. By the time I got to the bottom of it, it turns out that one band had blown up their bass amp, the other band just didn't have one (???!!!) and then the third band had just got a nice new Mark Bass rig and didn't want to gig it. Needless to say I told them they can find an amp elsewhere and that I will not be providing my bass amp, and will DI into the PA if I have to, then proceeded to turn up with my rig just for myself...... I wonder why we didn't win that one then [/quote] This is what I don't get, bands who don't have an amp? That's insane! For me, I'm not sure what's worse, other bassists expecting to use your amp or promotors telling them they can use your amp. I just have a very stingy 'no one uses my amp' rule, it's not very nice I know, but I don't have the money to replace anything so I'm fairly certain they won't either. And if they have then they would have their own amp. Ba humbug! Dan

I'd personally go with spalted maple, I absolutely love the look of spalted maple basses. Dan

That blue is amazing! That's the perfect blue, one of my bikes is that blue. I'd be inclined to get a maple scratch plate made for it, that would look the balls!! Stunning purchase and welcome to the Sandberg club. Get some pictures on the Sandberg porn thread. Dan

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1337331719' post='1658138'] I blame promoters/management. I have recently been turning up to multi-band gigs where I've been told it's an in-house rig, or a share, and at no point has anybody pointed out who's rig it is I am using. So no thank yous, and I am sorry for that, I am nice to rigs though, don't even move the knobs much. Thanks to the guy from Saturday Sun on Tuesday night though, your orange rig was lovely, sound engineer didn't point you out to me though. [/quote] Yep, and that's kind of the problem, how many times I've turned up and been told "oh you've brought an amp, right everyome will use that". No I don't think so. I'd also like to add that I have used another bass chatters rig, I'm sorry I don't know your name and it was very kind of him to let me use it. Dan

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1337253332' post='1657823'] No. The discussion was good natured, no harm done. [/quote] No worries, I was curious as my band are playing that one and we just managed to get expenses driving from Newcastle. Dan

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1337252000' post='1657764'] Over my cold dead body [/quote] This. Over the last couple of years I have been more and more strict on my gear being used by someone else. And it's a simple case of not trusting other bass players, but not trusting inexperienced bassists. Some one who is inexperienced won't know how to use the gain correctly, ie the gain isn't the volume knob. And smaller rig is about £1,400. I did share my rig with the Soul Jazz Orchestra, but then they're professional musicians touring the world. Plus, they politely asked a week before if we wouldn't mind, thanked us, gave us a cd and shared their beers with us. As a rule of thumb, I don't share, less hassle for everyone if something goes wrong. And anyways, guitarists all bring their rigs, why can't we? Dan

Is this festival the one in June at Monmouth? Dan

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1337186268' post='1656890'] Firstly 'road tax' is not hypothecated and roads are maintained from the general taxation pot. Secondly, I agree such a tax should not be emissions based, as such. Thirdly, I agree with the principle of charging more tax the more miles you drive. Where we seem to disagree is how to apply this tax. My point is that tax on fuel meets all your requirements - it can't be evaded and the more you drive the more tax you pay. What could be simpler and fairer? The added benefit is that cars would become expensive to run rather than own. At present, the fixed costs of owning a car are so high that there's every incentive to use cars instead of public transport in order to got your 'money's worth'. If it wasn't so expensive to leave the car in the driveway but fuel was more expensive then people would be more likely to use trains and buses. [/quote] Now it's clearer! And yes, it makes perfect sense. This would of course rely on the current road tax system being abolished. And we all know that's not going to happen and something will come up in it's place. Johnston raises a good point to. My bro races karts, and fuel is insane in one of those things. Dan

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1337173590' post='1656602'] Surely the real fact is that we should all be driving electric cars by now. And the bods should be making life hard for petrol users. [/quote] Yeah I suppose we should, and it's a pretty decent idea. However the reality to this is the cost, again, I drive a small, 10 year old, 1ltr used car because it's all I can afford. Not everyone has the money to be able to buy one sadly. Dan

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1337170870' post='1656512'] But that's completely incorrect isn't it? Damage to roads is dependent on how many miles you drive (and possibly the size of car). Emissions are also more highly linked to how many miles you drive rather than engine size. For example, a mum using a big 4x4 to take the kids to school (might as well use a stereotype ) and doing 3000 miles a year in the process will be doing far less harm damage to the roads and environment than her saleman hubby doing 80,000 miles a year bombing up and down motorways in his rep-mobile. [/quote] I don't think it is incorrect, and you've backed up my point. If someone has a car which is road tax free, they are still using the roads, in fact, they could use the roads more than me and I'll be paying road tax and they won't. Which is why I feel that all cars should have some level of road tax on them. They use the roads no matter how many miles they do. They shouldn't be void because they have lower emissions. As someone said previously, perhaps a revision of the system whereby we band the miles we cover like the vehicle tax bands. For example, drive 2,000 miles a year pay £30 road tax, drive 20,000 miles a year pay £250. It makes sense in the world of car insurance. Just a thought. Dan

[quote name='goingdownslow' timestamp='1337170467' post='1656491'] But they are still using the road that has to be paid for. The biggest polluters are already paying by having to buy more petrol to polute with. [/quote] Which is my point, all cars use the roads (who'd have thought!) and so should pay a road tax, surely that's what it's for? The upkeep of the roads. Dan

[quote name='goingdownslow' timestamp='1337168455' post='1656441'] Just a reminder that the car tax banding was brought in by a Labour government. Since they did that I now only tax and insure my MX5 for 6 months and then SORN it. Last year the tax was £143 for 6 months and I did less than 800 miles. Some cars pay no road tax and do 1000s of miles. It's staying in the garage this year as I can't afford/justify it. [/quote] Yep, this is why I think all cars should pay a road tax regardless. An electric car is more road damaging than a bicycle, yet neither pay road tax. I'd like to add that this plan is just an idea think tanks have. It has not been put through and I very much doubt it will. Dan

[quote name='jonsmith' timestamp='1337162695' post='1656326'] Besides personal driving, I drive about 2500 miles a month for business. I am on call 24/7 and could not utilise public transport and do my job effectively. I work for a small office and we have several people spread throughout the UK in similar roles. OK, we can claim it all back and there might be a bit less road tax and fuel duty to pay, but it's a significant extra cost to for my company to consider & I suspect that the upshot of it would be a redundancy or two (and a severe drop in service level). I'm sure that this would be the case for many businesses, so I'd expect unemployment levels to rise and service quality to plummet as a result. Just what the UK needs! Goodness knows what will happen to the price of anything you can think of when hauliers suddenly have to charge massive rates just to make a small profit. [/quote] This was one of the points raised on the Wright Stuff. It's not just those who commute or use the car for leisure, it's the self employed (like myself) and of course businesses. Namely small to medium businesses. Dan

[quote name='EdwardHimself' timestamp='1337161811' post='1656314'] Probably. Btw this should be in off-topic. [/quote] I did wonder. I thought general discussion might have been the place to do it and it affects musicians, I don't know. Mods! Move it to off-topic if need be please! Dan