Muzz

I've got the ACS PRO 15 filters. Fine for me, and I have tinnitus, so I'm quite sensitive to high sound levels.

I've got the ACS custom filters, and I went for the T15s just before Xmas for a real wireless IEM solution. They work really well, the single drivers are more than enough for me to hear everything that's going on, and I'm not as deaf as a post by the end of a gig (and for days afterward). They're a little fiddly to get in place, but once they're in, it's all good. I think if you have multiple drivers to listen to music already, you might notice the single driver in the T15, but I don't, so I don't, as it were. I like the option of being able to use the filters at other gigs, too - they really are good: your Dad's right, you can have conversations with people perfectly well while they're struggling with the noise...

For a real spread of sounds, a secondhand Variax might be worth a look, tho the basses themselves aren't as good as the electronics. I've always fancied trying one in a band context.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1388404525' post='2321530'] Lets face it. You're the one up on stage playing and he's the guy without a gig on a Saturday night. I wonder why? [/quote] This. This is the bottom line - if I ever get any of that sort of attention (which is very very rare), I smile, nod and go and do something else. Anything else.

[quote name='bobpalt' timestamp='1387738344' post='2315108'] Played my last ever gig with the band I've been with for 13 years yesterday at the local Golf Club's Christmas party, before I retire to go travelling with the good lady. Brilliant! The guys made it into just the best night ever, changing the words of half of the songs in the second set (when the audience were well oiled) into anything that remotely sounded like or rhymed with "Bob" or "Sue" or "Bob and Sue"! (Sue is our lighting lady as well as having suffered wedded bliss with me for the last 37 years, so will probably be missed as much if not more than me by the band). Our front man must have told the audience half a dozen times that I was leaving that night, and in turn I was showered with hugs, kisses and adulation (!) from them. I dug my lucky bass players pork pie hat out of retirement, played the Pedulla Sue gave me 12 years ago on our silver wedding and don't think I made a mistake all night, and we all went back to one of the guy's houses for cheese, biscuits and whiskey afterwards. They gave me a big photo blown up onto that canvassy stuff to remember Breeze by, and its now in pride of place in the hallway, just in case any visitors don't believe I was once a 59 year old budding rock star...... Life just doesn't get any better than this, but as one door closes a new door has now opened to our latest phase of life as travellers, something we have wanted to do for ages, and now we are both retired and waiting delivery of our motor home has become a reality. Have to go now as I'm starting to well up writing this. Cheers to everyone here and have a great Christmas. [/quote] Great to hear you've signed off on a high Bob, all the very best for your travels in the New Year

P. I've had several Rays, I like everything about them except the sound live. I've also had a few Precisions, but I stopped swapping as soon as I got the right one (a PJ, but that's a whole other thread). I don't have a Ray at the moment. Both my main keeper basses have split-coil pickups and are essentially P-sounding basses.

Sold a small Roland amp to Geoff, thoroughly enjoyable transaction, he's a gent, deal with him in confidence.

So, we're playing the the Lancashire Fold last night, down to a trio as the guitarist's hand had ballooned with some odd infection, and we're bashing through a modified set list, including a reasonable facsimile of Not Nineteen Forever, when I look up, and there's two of the Courteeners standing watching, luckily smiling. Slight clenching, but no lasting physical effects. It's not the first time, either: a couple of years ago, I was playing in a band of mostly deps in a bar in South Manchester, cheerfully murdering Sit Down, when a small kerfuffle broke out in the (mostly seated) crowd. Tim Booth was in. Given the quality of the rendition which was being perpetrated, it was one of the longest 3:24s of my life...and possibly his, too... Anyone else faced the original artist with a nightmare vision of how their material could have turned out?

Cheers Dave, but Elixirs get a bit beardy once I've been at them with me pick for a while... Managed last night, but I'd really like some for Thursday...off to the Net again.

One of the basic principles of my domestic life is "It is easier to seek forgiveness than ask permission". Well done.

Sh*t already slapped outta dem: didn't achieve much, to be honest...

Ok, sooo I've got a gig tomorrow night, and I've got the main bass out, and the strings have died overnight: long gig last night has finished them off. I've noticed this with DRs: they last a good while, but when they go, they seem to go very quickly. Does anyone know where I can pick up a set of DRs (Lo Riders for preference, but Sunbeams will do) tomorrow in Manchester/the North West? I'm struggling to think of anywhere that carries any stock... Cheers, Muzz

I had a B20-8 a long while ago, and it had the most vicious neckdive of anything I've ever picked up, plus a really odd v-shaped neck. It broke strings quite a lot - there's some serious break angles where they've run the strings to get all them on. That said, I'd probably have another, just for the nostalgia... I've got a Dean Edge 8-string, which is very well built and sounds great - well worth looking at.

Erm...a US Stingray doesn't have a 'thin and almost jazz-like' neck - quite the opposite, in fact. A US Fender P is more than a grand new nowadays, I'd say they were in the same price bracket...

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1387376273' post='2311241'] Something like this you mean? [/quote] Aaaaaarrrrrggggghhhh!!!!! I'm completely happy with my basses, I'm completely happy with my basses, I'm completely happy with my basses, I'm completely happy with my basses....

I've had five Rays - I love the idea of them, the look of them (especially the sunburst/maple), the design of them, even the sound of them...when other people are playing them. I recorded part of our album with one, but live...not for me. Whenever I haven't got one (like now), I'm always susceptible; even after five, I know damn well if a nice sunburst and maple turned up, I'd be all over it...that's GAS for you...

EB make a Ray with a narrower neck, it's called a SLO Special - they're not exactly common, but you can get them. The Sterling has a narrower neck, too.