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guyl

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Everything posted by guyl

  1. guyl
    A ticket over here too please - great idea!
  2. guyl
    Markbass bass holder - so simple yet effective - why did no-one think of it before?
  3. guyl
    Basschatters are saying good things about 12" speakers, so need to review in 2009. Would like to improve my upright sound. This probably requires new hands or fingers, or at least a load of practice. Of course I won't bother with this and 2009 GAS list includes (but is not limited to) new bass, new pickup, new loud and light amp and cab!
  4. guyl
    +1 on the critical fit thing. Had similar problems with the tiniest pickup movement making a massive difference to sound and output. Can be difficult to avoid if you're putting a cover on and off the bass regularly. "Shims" are the way forward - cork from a wine bottle is easy to cut to correct size. The cigar wood sounds very classy! Don't pack it too tight though, because this kills sound and stops p'up working properly. Also, the very small signal that comes from these pickups can be prone to other issues that affect signal loss. Perhaps it would be worth investing in a quality lead - as short as you need. You could even change your 1/4" jack connector for a phono or locking xlr type connection to reduce signal loss at that critical point. I don't think you'll get hard and fast answers to your questions because every bass is different. You might have to experiment a bit!
  5. guyl
    Thanks Beedster - great point!
  6. guyl
    Hmm - you'd want to try before chopping holes in your bridge!
  7. guyl
    +1 for the Tonebone although a little more flexibility on the EQ for both channels would help. Works great for swopping between upright and electric. Obviously lugging two instruments to a gig is an extra effort. I suppose only you can decide if it's worth it. For me it often is, by I try to keep the juggling to a minimum - eg 1 bass change per set.
  8. guyl
    I quite like it. Obviously pointless as an instrument, but if you turn it over, a fabulous ironing board. Perfect for shirts
  9. guyl
    Castors will need to be a reasonable size to be practical, and this can create other awkwardness when getting in and out of the car or stacking. I'd sooner go for a folding handcart.
  10. guyl
    [quote name='jakesbass' post='354592' date='Dec 14 2008, 09:19 PM']Just feel I should point out that a five is a four..... with another string..... You can use it if needed and not if not. Is that too too simple?[/quote] Jake sums it up nicely here. No harm in having an extra string for resting your thumb, firing arrows, flossing your teeth or whatever you like! You can play it occasionally too, but no-one will force you to. I wouldn't travel without a 5-er (or even 6), because I love the extra versatility available ....... and it's really handy for resting your thumb on.
  11. guyl
    Me likey likey too - nickels for preference
  12. guyl
    I wouldn't be too dismissive of a 15" speaker. Isn't the "box" on an upright acting as a bass speaker anyway? And that's about 2ft wide. Never played through a cab with a rear facing speaker. Doesn't that cause trouble when your playing in a corner or against a wall?
  13. guyl
    [quote name='alexclaber' post='343151' date='Dec 2 2008, 04:10 PM']Thanks for the very comprehensive reply! Interesting that you need both VL110s to be loud enough - do you play any gigs where one cab is sufficient?[/quote] Don't get me wrong - 1 cab alone sounds great and would be fine for low volume gigs. Two just sounds better - fuller - bassier. On many gigs I do, I'm not exactly sure what the set up will be before leaving home. (eg how loud, PA support, background noise, other musos etc). I've turned up with only one cab and been underpowered before. Hence i always use 2. Feedback isn't a problem with the EA's. I can't say i've never fed back through an EA cab, but I would blame the pickup or amp settings rather than the cabs. I think the EA transparancy and even response make it easier to fix feedback with a decent eq than a cab like the markbass. What's your plan Alex?
  14. guyl
    [quote name='alexclaber' post='342954' date='Dec 2 2008, 12:59 PM']Have had some bright ideas recently about a better cab solution for double bassists and am curious to find out what everyone currently uses, what they like about their current rig and what its limitations are. Would be good to know what amps you use and also what contexts you play your upright bass in (big band, piano trio, swing/jump, etc) Thanks! Alex[/quote] The perfect cab would be a "one-fits-all". Doesn't matter what music/context it is, I wish my amplified upright could sound warm and woody for small groups/low volume, but be capable of flapping trousers if required. Of course the perfect cab would also be small and light! I use 2 EA VL110 cabs (10", 5" and tweeter) when the gig is smaller. (One doesn't cut it on its own) I love their clear sound and built in "stand" to angle back. They don't "punch" through on loud gigs, and are a touch heavy for their size. The EAs also seem to suck power. You end up driving a medium sized amp quite hard, which doesn't sound as good with upright (IMHO) For louder gigs its a markbass 4x10. An easy carry and far louder than anything you could ever want. However - it's a real compromise sound-wise, with the midrange "bump" making the upright sound a bit too electric and rather prone to feedback. I know EA make larger cabs, but I'm not sure how portable they are and they also fail on one other "perfect cab" requirement ....... they're bl00dy dear!! Oh, and I double on electric. The cab needs to sound good with both!
  15. guyl
    Manufacturing has been killed off in the UK, so retailers have to buy abroad. The weak pound has hit hard as everyone is buying Christmas stock. Being able to recover 2.5% is a pittance compared to the pound weakness against prety much everything, but especially USD, EUR, RMB, JPY etc. I don't expect many to pass on the entire 2.5% - prices will still rise wherever possible. The chancellor is just getting the UK into more debt with the VAT reduction so the pound is likely to get weaker still. Personally speaking, my main overheads are a mortgage (banks not passing on interest rate cuts), and petrol, food, booze, house bills, so the rate cut won't much help save for GAS attacks.
  16. guyl
    Just sold my Conklin to Finbar. A very smooth transaction and a lovely bloke. Cheers Chris!
  17. guyl
    Why bother - it would be false economy if you ripped your bass apart and found out that it sounded rubbish! Why not sell your fretted and use the money to by a fretless. At least that way you can make sure it sounds good/suits your needs without the danger of a repair bill.
  18. guyl
    Sold to Finbar, pending payment etc!
  19. guyl
    Cheers Ol! (I promise I didn't pay him to say that!)
  20. guyl
    Thanks for the kind words guys! [quote name='thedontcarebear' post='331305' date='Nov 18 2008, 10:24 AM']Swap it for a Vigier? :brow:[/quote] Please don't tempt me - GAS is bad enough as it is! [quote name='tayste_2000' post='331395' date='Nov 18 2008, 12:08 PM']Can I come try it with no intention of ever buying it [/quote] You're more than welcome Steve. Not sure I'll have a strap long enough for you though!!
  21. guyl
    I'm no expert, but I'd guess that the sound is far more important than the size. If you get a great sound AND it fits in the car - that sounds like a bonus! You can change the endpin to suit.
  22. guyl
    I bought this Conklin from ABC Music after reading about it in Bassist Magazine in Feb '98. It is the exact model reviewed. [attachment=16070:Conklin_...ssist_98.pdf] It is an awesome instrument. Don't let the 7 strings put you off: It is extremely playable and very well balanced. The body cutaway and silky smooth neck profile makes for easy access to every note. The tone is amazingly even across the entire range. Sound-wise it is simply the best bass I have ever played. The variety of tones from the custom Bassline pickups and onboard preamp is superb. In the real world, it will punch though any mix. (or blends into the background if silky smooth is your thing!!) There are a couple of very minor dings to the headstock. Not visable unless you are close up. Otherwise the bass is in great condition and comes with the custom Conklin case. The good photos are taken by my friend at work. (The others are your's truly in the kitchen!) Even my friend (non-bass playing, non-musical, non-appreciative) described the bass as "beautiful"! Don't take her word for it though: You're welcome to see for yourself. I'm in Stockport, South Manchester. Price: £1,250 [attachment=16073:Conklin1.jpg][attachment=16074:Conklin_2.jpg][attachment=16075:Conklin_5.jpg][atta chment=16076:Conklin_8.jpg][attachment=16077:Conklin_9.jpg][attachment=16078:IMG_0723.JPG][attachment =16079:Conklin_3.jpg][attachment=16080:Conklin_4.jpg][attachment=16081:IMG_0725.JPG][attachment=16082 :IMG_0740.JPG][attachment=16084:IMG_0745.JPG][attachment=16085:Conklin_6.jpg][attachment=16086:Conkli n_7.jpg]
  23. guyl
    [quote name='Annoying Twit' post='328507' date='Nov 13 2008, 05:07 PM']By the A'addario 6 set, does a previous poster mean these ones? [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=3478"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product.asp?id=3478[/url] I have been told that nickel wound strings are more mellow than steel strings, and I like mellow. Is this likely to be true?[/quote] Oh bugger - you found them for 2 quid cheaper than I just paid at String Busters! Actually I use a slightly lighter gauge EXL170-6 - but yes the same. And also yes, you seem to loose some metallic harshness with the nickels. Personal choice. Stringbusters are helpful with "unusual" single strings. They once sent me an addario Low F#. Didn't have a long enough scale to get decent definition though, so it didn't last long. Now i use it to tow broken down lorries!
  24. guyl
    The only string I ever snapped was a warwick. (a "D" out of a 6-string set). D'addario 6 set is my recommendation for life, tone and price. EDIT: I didn't mean only change your strings once in your life - just meant d'addarios seem to last longer!
  25. guyl
    I tried Newtones a few years back. As a company they were helpful and accomodating but I found that the string life was poor. Also when they "died" - they really died! It was a few years ago, so designs may have changed ...!
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