guyl

[quote name='Buzz' post='183279' date='Apr 22 2008, 10:31 PM']You can fashion small tubes from domestic piping (the narrow ones, screw cap at the ends, seal one with silicone), fill 'em up with ethanol/meths and use them for dunking your strings and leaving them hanging over night. Just make sure you put a screw hook or similar in the cap that unscrews to attach the string to. /shamelessly robbed from someone who posted about it on BW. It'll be better than boiling as the ethanol will dissolve the dirt from the windings, rather than expanding the string so the dirt falls out.[/quote] Sounds complicated. +1 for the ethanol/meths though - I used to put a bit of ethanol onto a cloth or kitchen roll and wipe the strings. Worked a treat!

[quote name='Rich' post='181748' date='Apr 21 2008, 12:48 PM']Y'know, when I first glanced at that I was sure it said "Isn't he [i]overplaying at[/i] the Jazz Cafe soon?" :lol:[/quote] Ha Ha! Possibly both! Stanley Clarke is an innovator - some of his early stuff might sound dated now, but back in it's day it was imaginative and original and paved the way for loads of modern players.

My Bridge Cetus sounded great with a bow. In fact it sounded great with everything! Was a bugger to play though - body was too big to stick on a stand and too small/slidy to get a good grip when swinging away

Please put me down for a read if the book is still travelling! Thanks

[quote name='jakesbass' post='165828' date='Mar 29 2008, 01:58 PM']I think you've quoted me a little out of context there Guy, If you read the whole of my post I am clearly expressing a taste and am not, as you seem to suggest, blinkered enough in my thinking to assume that high Cs are for soloing only. I also state that I have no problem with 'others taste for it' Its just not for me' So don't assume I'm like anything, or 'probably think' like anything especially when using an out of context quote for the evidence to support imagining what I am 'like'. I have encountered prejudice in studios all over the country (and wider) regarding my use of a low B, when producers think that basses should be four strings only. And I repeat and elaborate, to me the tonal qualities of a high C enter the same frequency range as that of a guitar and [b]IMO[/b] don't sound very good. Now my saying that neither undermines nor denigrates your enjoyment of the same, so you can be a little less defensive. And you can think again before you line me up along with the 'stereo typers' I am not one, and neither could that conclusion be drawn from my reasonably stated taste and opinion. Jake PS. For the record I can noodle just like the next bloke, check tracks 4 & 5 of my MySpace. 16th note bass countermelody at 116BPM played on a 5 string bass. (Ironically recorded at Cavalier Studios in Stockport)[/quote] Apologies Jake - no offence meant and bollo*king accepted. I should have added that being stereotyped as a "noodler/frustrated guitarist" tends to make ERB-ers over-defensive and tetchy. Rockin' out on my old fender (4) on tonights blues gig will probably help! I'd still recommend anyone trying a 6. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to find a high c that doesn't sound like a "sh*t guitar".

[quote name='jakesbass' post='165666' date='Mar 29 2008, 12:25 AM']....the high notes on high C strings sound to me like a sh*t guitar....... ...Anthony Jackson, and do you know what I've never heard him do a solo.[/quote] The main problem with playing a 6-er, is that from the moment you pull it out of the case people assume you're a noodler that wants to play a million notes a minute. People like Jake probably think you bought a 5-string bass with an extra string to solo on. Or maybe you went to the music shop to buy a Fender Strat, but got confused and ended up with a 35" scale bass? Think in piano terms: a 4-string would give you 3 octaves (ish) of piano keys - a 6-string just extends the keyboard. You don't have to use those extra high or extra low piano notes, but it's nice to have the option if the musical situation permits. I own a 4,5,6 and 7, but the 6-er is my main gigging bass. On some gigs the extended range hardly gets used - it's not required. Occasionally though it's great to get right under the band, or to comp a few double stops higher up. A lot of great players (other than Anthony Jackson) tune their basses "tenor" A-D-G-C and it's great to have this facility without carrying two basses. Also, if you sightread, 2 and a half octaves in one position is really handy. You have more opportunity to play "shapes/patterns" anywhere on the neck, which also makes life easier. I totally recommend a 6. You can still play one note a bar, or play simple grooves as on any bass, but you have more options if the fancy takes you. A pianist doesn't use every note on the piano - he can choose! The only difficulty with 6 is dealing with "stereo-typers"

I love(d) my B-Band Statement. It wasn't cheap new 3 or 4 years ago but it sounded brilliant and flattered my technique and inexpensive bass. No "honky" or "boomy" piezo sounds - just gobloads of bass and (feedback-free) clarity! BUT ..... Recently it's become pretty rubbish. It has been repositioned a few times, but is now mid-honky and feeds back big time. The whole system has an earth buzz and the bridge foot pickup feels like it has a loose connection. Having paid £400 I'm not ready to bin it just yet - it must be serviceable? Couldn't get a response from B-Band by e-mail and am not sure where else to turn. It's a long shot, but does anyone else use B-band or have any advice?

[quote name='owen' post='154831' date='Mar 10 2008, 07:42 PM']The double bass world is the same as any other instrumental community. "I would be a better player with better kit". No you would not necessarily be. You would be a better player if you practiced more and spent less time reading bass forums about what is hot and what is not. I am more guilty than most in this respect.[/quote] Hits the nail on the head. I reckon Ray Brown would've swung pretty good if he ever played on my cheap doghouse!!

Well up for it! If no-one else takes one, I'll throw in my MarkBass 4x10 cab. Probably my Warwick Streamer or even Conklin Sidewinder 7 for a bit of comedy!

Billy Sheehan was describing his Attitude bass at a clinic I saw a few years ago. His explanation for the bolt-on neck was that if you damage a neck on tour in say, the Far East, "they" can send you a replacement neck by airmail, and you can swop it yourself in minutes. Speaking personally, I've never had chance to test Billy's theory, having never damaged a bass neck, toured in the Far East, or had a "they" with a collection of spare necks. Could be relevant to the poster of this topic though!

I'm sure the Allparts socket will do the job fine. It doesn't specify length though and looks a little different to the jack socket out of my Streamer. I played safe and just ordered direct from Warwick (http://shop.warwick.de/index.php/cat/c81_jacks.html)which is identical. Probably paid a Waitrose price for something Aldi sell....!

[quote name='minty fresh death' post='128131' date='Jan 26 2008, 04:01 AM']What sort of problems and did they persist, did you keep the amp?[/quote] Gremlins - could never tie down the problem. Bass Centre had it back when it was under guarantee and a local guy afterwards. They all chased around but it just intermittently conked without explanation. I had no choice but to get rid.

Can only speak personally .... Tone and power were awesome, but had reliability probs from day one.

Before all you single guys get excited, I heard she's taken! By Vinnie Colaiuta who is coincidentally drumming for Jeff Beck!

+ 5 [size=6]= 1194[/size]

[quote name='Jon' post='108836' date='Dec 24 2007, 11:01 AM']I'm putting my DB into a Hartke HA350 with a SWR 210 cab- wonderful for my electric, but I'm still getting a brittle tone from the bass with feedback![/quote] I have the same experience with an SWR head (and any cab). Awesome electric sound but not very good with upright. EA iAMP is very clean with a parametric eq - brilliant with upright, but not that ballsy with sideways! Welcome to the never ending "tone quest"!

My amp conked (at the most important/embarrasing point) in the middle of last night's gig. It's only really happened a handful of times in my playing life - but the memory of each "conkout" still turns my stomach! (Of course it's never at home or rehearsal - only on paid, pressure gigs!) It's a terrible admission to make on Basschat - which has been the source of some serious GAS, but I my sound isn't the most important thing anymore ...... it's all about reliability! I'm off to buy a meaty poweramp (output - not weight) that will never come close to hard being worked hard. Probably Peavey, which seems to be pretty reliable according to Basschatters. Will proably only use one side of a stereo, so will have a "spare" other side in case of future conkout. Spare pre/mixer etc are now on the January Sales wish list too!!

[quote name='bnt' post='106296' date='Dec 19 2007, 01:14 AM']I'm curious what people think of SWR in general, and their amps - any opinions?.[/quote] I have an older 350 (the red one) - bought about 10 yrs ago and think it is brilliant for electric bass. (Not so good with upright for some reason) It isn't quite powerful enough for me though so I bought a 750x which had that same great sound with lots of extra power. The 750x had serious reliability problems - the bass centre fixed it whilst under guarantee and a local repairer when the guarantee ended. In the end, I just couldn't rely on it, so it had to go.

[quote name='ped' post='99862' date='Dec 5 2007, 09:32 PM']Not that my doc knew his arse from his elbow, mind.[/quote] Won't be seeing your doc with elbow problems ....!

I took a bass to Sounds Great a number of years ago. It had a shiny finish, and when it came back, looked like it had been dragged across a dirty workbench - really badly scratched along the bottom edge. Don't recall the blokes name - had a shaven head and still works there now. For a while everyone in South Manchester seemed to use a chap in Altrincham. I only used him once - spilling glue on my natural finish Warwick was definately a turnoff! Trying to clean it off with wire wool when I complained was downright upsetting! Although I've had great service/advice from the repairmen at BassCentre London and the bass specialist in Mansfield Woodhouse that is now shut, the bad local experiences encouraged me to learn how to set up and maintain my own bass.

Apologies - no silliness or offensive generalisations ment. Merchants post, whilst well meaning, make tackling the upright sound as if it can't be done without a teacher, without an instrument costing at least £1,500 and without difficulty. The thread was started by Bassbloke who probably now feels a little bit daunted. I think the enthusiasts should be encouraging him and "demistifying" this great instrument. I can only talk from my experience: Although I have owned a number of basses, I am still gigging on my first which only cost £500. With a good pickup and amp and a regular service, it sounds great. I am largely self taught - a couple of players gave me advice on technique when I started, and I try to learn from gigs that I watch. I gigged on the instrument almost as soon as I started - roots at first, then roots and 4ths, then walking. I asked for music in advance if the gig was difficult to have something to practice towards. Now people phone with far more gigs than I can manage and I am paid to play all over the UK. In my opinion Bassbloke doesn't need to commit £thousands on instrument and teacher to get pleasure from the upright bass.