3below

Time to become the legal Walter White. I will have the placebos that increase my bass playing and cycling powers. Excellent programme, I have used hypnosis and found it was very good.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1392206599' post='2365890'] Another possiblity is sheer tiredness. I dont drink and play, but if I'm properly knackered after a day at work then if I'm practicing at home I struggle to remain focused. Same at a rehearsal, althought the combined energy of the band together usually lifts me through anything other than utter exhaustion. Gigs I'm generally running in a fairly heightened state jsut by playing a gig, but even then if I'm very tired it can be a struggle. [/quote] The tiredness issue is a real point to consider. I have also been affected by the same (as have my colleagues who are all in same line of work). One rehearsal was such an epic fail that we still laugh about today. We were like a bunch of talentless beginners starting out, the mistakes etc were monumental, so much so we gave up that night. Sheer tiredness.

Dr Dave has it so right from my perspective. I am 'blessed' with the ability to forget (or not even remember in first place) chord sequences (beyond 12 bar). This seems to be getting 'better' with age (ie can forget more). I can remember the fill ins, passing notes etc etc no problem. I have found tolerant band members and large font crib sheets very useful. I believe leading orchestra players use something similar, they call its sheet music? score? Middle distance reading glasses and a good ear have helped. Be gentle with guitar player is best advice.

Try and find a Warwick Rockbass fretless - they do appear on here, mine did and was an excellent buy. This persuaded me to seek and find German one eventually.

Bad Company, Boz Burrell with fretless P bass on the early albums. Pretty far removed from 1980s fretless bass. Failing that, Jack Bruce, Cream re-union, again far removed from the 1980s sound. Fretless basses - great things, not a one trick pony.

Keep looking here, they are about. Have bought two Warwick fretless basses here. Alternatively buy a cheap (yamaha, peavey, aria, ibanez etc etc £50) and remove frets (DIY). See what you think...

I assembled the kit to build a 15/6/1. This eventually ended up being designed and built for me by Shermann Sound Systems. Very good results, seemed remarkably similar to the Barefaced Big One I owned. Whilst they are great cabs the cost of components is now such that I suggest waiting for a used one to appear here. My former Big One cost less than the components and has moved on several times at a very reasonable price. When (if ever) you come to sell you will retain more value with a known 'branded' speaker.

That looks stunning, I have always wanted to be (for bass playing) Jack Bruce or Andy Fraser. Sadly my skills are a long way short. I did drop my 1958 EB2 when it fell off the strap, sometime around 1976 I guess. Bent machine head, however the headstock stayed on. That was (obviously) pre Internet days (other than at University) when the headstocks stayed on Guess I was lucky. At the time I was beside myself, Ihad dropped my best (only) bass that I owned as 17 year old. EB2s were very cheap then, unfashionable (like EB0s and EB3s).

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1391004255' post='2352139'] I've still got mine actually, all sad and lonely and looking for a new home. Not quite sure what to do with them. I might just take the speakers out and sell them separately. [/quote] I could be the home for them without the speakers - I have a pair of 3015s looking for a purpose in life. Downside is it is a long way between Hastings and Mid Wales.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1390678062' post='2348303'] That KOSMOS thing has been around on Peavey kit for a while now - it's truly horrid. [/quote] Late into the thread, however Kosmos thing - an excellent feature. On my Tour 700 It constantly reminds me that designers can get it wrong. Total waste of a knob (ooh err), which should be compressor. It is useable at settings between 0 and 0.5 (max being 11).

My experience is that too low and you lose tone. I also like being able to use plenty of string attack with right hand. Each to their own though

Relief built in to my Kramer aluminium neck bass.

Showing my age - The Who - live at Leeds, Thin Lizzy and of course Weather Report. They all seem to have a reasonable bass player . They may not be complex but imo there is much great bass playing in context.

Looking at the pickups can suggest series or parallel wiring - it rather depends on what is going on under the fibreboard base(s). It would be interesting to have dc resistances for the various pickups encountered.

[quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1387445398' post='2311934'] ............ I only really do two things now on my passive bass, full volume and full tone ....... [/quote] How did you find my bass settings [size=4] [/size][size=4]? Am currently (re)assembling a Peavey patriot somewhat beaten bass. Only control is a pickup blend. Volume and tone full on, so no controls needed.[/size]

Keep looking and waiting. Bargains do appear - my VBA 400 was cheap and I sold it on cheap. I have a bedroom use only sound city 120 plus 2x12 cab (amp has original mullards as a bonus), bought on ebay. It was a giveaway- cheaper than a peavey milestone bass... Boot sales also yield good buys. Asking around, many carlsbro, simms watt, laneys about from aging rockers who have given up. This route may take a long time however. I remember the days when Marshall or Hiwatt valve amps were dirt cheap - late 70s - early 80s. Happy days. 100W will be ok with an efficient cab. The VBA was immense - both in volume and mass

Good help from many above. Once you get into the swing of the circuits and understand what they are doing it is not difficult. Very good advice about discharging filter capacitors. I gave myself an unforgettable experience with my Hiwatt 200 in my youth. Those caps hold a lot if charge, a breathtaking amount in fact.

pmd

Time to check it with a 'known working' cab, speaker lead and guitar lead combination. If that does not work check the HT fuses which are usually accessible on the back panel of the amp. Another quick thought - while amp is off toggle the standby switch several times, one of my Fender amps has an 'iffy' standby switch, sometimes it works, sometimes not. If that does not work it may be time to visit amp technician / guru.

What strings are you using, flats, tape wound, nylon covered? Try something different, see if that helps. Next borrow a bass from a friend (or someone on forum), try this for a few weeks, then go back to your new found friend. I have gone through many basses and with most of them I sound like me. Only one bass I own makes a significantly different tone to my others. I have the same effect with guitars as well - must be poor technique GAS can be cured, you may be lucky.