Fionn

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1396911609' post='2418784'] Probably the one that sounds good to your ears my friend, what I like you might hate. [/quote] This

[quote name='el borracho' timestamp='1396689626' post='2416394'] Because I don't have that sort of money these days. [/quote] Fair enough. That's a good reason

[quote name='el borracho' timestamp='1396687789' post='2416375'] I was tempted recently by this one on ebay - but not at £600 + carriage + import duties! [/quote] Why not? It is far superior to a great many basses which sell at that price. Very unusual too. I would say that it was worth it.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1396368329' post='2412772'] Bear in mind you will probably end up singing bad arrangements of pop songs you've never liked. [/quote] Haha! The world of Gaelic choirs is ever so slightly different. ... We're currently working on a 15th century Hebridean bardic war song

[quote name='Mr H' timestamp='1396472094' post='2414172']apparently there is a "national shortage" of tenors [/quote] Absolutely. It's the same in Scotland. I'm a baritone, naturally, although I've had to train my voice so as to be able to sing as much of the tenor register as possible. Such is the seeming scarcity of natural tenors. Suffice to say that a good new tenor is always made welcome ... Basses and baritones are ten-a-penny.

Man, you've got to give it a go!!! Sounds like you'll take to it well. You've obviously got a fair amount of musical comprehension, so don't worry about sight reading too much. The necessity of learning complex new material will have you sight-reading before you've even realised you can do it. Not all choirs are full-on about that kind of thing though.

Go for it! It's a great thing to do. I love the huge sound, big, complex pieces of music gradually coming together. When it locks together it is spectacular. You're right there in the heart of the sound. It's powerful and moving. Other benefits are that it has sharpened my comprehension of music theory and brought on my sight-reading by leaps and bounds. It made me confident in voice. So much so that I now sing as a soloist. That's something that I would never previously have imagined doing. Then there is the camaraderie. being part of something so big, done well, is very rewarding ... it's all good. If you're doing it seriously it's a BIG commitment though. I sing both baritone and tenor, in two different (Scottish) Gaelic choirs ... Coisir Gaidhlig Mhealbhaich and Coilich a' chinn a tuath. I've won a National championship with the later, performed and competed nationally and internationally. It has become a part of my life that I couldn't imagine being without.

[quote name='JuliusGroove' timestamp='1392630131' post='2370703'] Any advice/tips on improving reading? [/quote] I struggled for years, trying to sight read whilst playing bass. I got quite disheartened with it and kinda gave up. Then something unexpected happened. I joined a Gaelic choir. Sight reading became a necessity, although it seemed to be easier to sing whilsy reading, as opposed to playing bass. About 3 years into that, I turned my efforts back to bass and it was there. I suppose what I'm suggesting is that you try a different approach. Seperate it from the bass somehow, then go back to it. It worked for me.

Sorry to hear about that situation, but you're right enough to get the hell out of there. No one should let themselves be taken for granted.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is "that british sound"?

[color=#ff0000][b]DANGER! DANGER! [/b][/color]... Avoid!

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1395868316' post='2407508'] Said it for me, exactly as above but with Corvette Rockbass fretless 5. Not yet moved it on though... will be a bargain for someone. I was amazed that with 40+ years playing (bass, guitar, double bass) the few mm difference has thrown my playing. I just gave in and got German Corvette 4 string fretless [/quote] You do know that you can adjust the string spacing on a Warwick bridge, aye?

A question for the community ... What basses do you know of that have a relatively tight string spacing at the bridge, or are fitted with a bridge which allows you to adjust spacing? I'm just asking because string spacing at the bridge has become critical to my comfort and technique, and I'd like to know which basses are designed as such. I only ever realise quite how much it affects my playing when I pick up something like a Fender. Are those 19mm? The strings feel miles apart. I play an old Aria SB, which has a spacing of 16.5mm, and a Warwick with an adjustable bridge which I have set to 17mm. That's about perfect for me. Nut spacing isn't so critical. the Aria has a 45mm nut so the strings run almost parallel, whereas the Warwick nut is 38mm (or thereabouts).

If playing with others is working for you, then I'd strive to continue doing that. I found that when I was in the early stages of the instrument, that playing in bands gave me motivation, inspiration, the vital context within which to really appreciate how the instrument works, and the input/playing/ideas of others can be good for making you think outside the box. My playing has always improved faster in band situations than otherwise. If you think the band is worth resurrecting, then give it a go. If that's not possible, maybe try to retain as many of those familiar musicians as possible for a new band ... or join something completely different ... or start something yourself? However you do it, keep at it If you want to improve as a bass musician I would say that working on theory and technique was advisable, whether you're currently playing bass in a band or not.

I reckon that the angled tuners are great, both aesthetically and as an ergonomic consideration. [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1395043389' post='2397894'] It took me a good couple of months to get used to the angled machine heads on my Warwick Star Bass, and I'm still not 100% comfortable with them when changing the strings. TBH I find the whole paddle-shaped headstock completely ugly and if I had the cash to get it done properly the bass would be off to a reputable luthier to have it changed to something more in keeping with the look of the rest of the bass. [/quote] I love the paddle headstock. The design is neat and it suits a Streamer, Dolphin, Corvette, Fortress, Infinity, or a Thumb Bass Perfectly. I know what you're saying though. The Star Bass is so far removed from the traditional Warwick vibe that they maybe should have thought it all out a bit differently .... Send the Star Bass back to Warwick and get them to attach something more appropriate to the neck! The same could be said for the Vampyre, grrr!!!

It will track better if placed after the compressor. That should improve matters, but an Aguilar Octamizer is never going to track the low stuff perfectly.

... and one a several youtube videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiEQ63r3Qsc

If you head over the water to Fife, my good friend Rory (Taran Guitars) will do whatever repair that you need. He is firstly a maker of top-end acoustic guitars, but he does all manner of repair work too. He is an extremely skilled craftsman, and his work is of the highest quality ... http://www.taranguitars.co.uk/

I'm loving these guys. Fantoosh!!! ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XCJ6p18UJw

We're learning Black Betty (Ram Jam), for this weeks practice. Nice tune to play. I'm looking forward to hearing it with the band on thursday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0OFF3q4Pxk

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1395100580' post='2398827'] I set the volume to what sounded "bloody loud" to me stood in front of it and it sounded absolutely pounding loud and clear and punchy and just right. It was great. Then I find out that volume is on just shy of 3 out of 10 with the input gain just under halfway. Wow! I asked someone in the audience if the bass was too loud and they said it just sat right in the mix. So I'm a happy chappy. I don't even think I'll need an extension cab if I've got PA support in bigger venues (if only bigger venues would invite us lol!) [/quote] I too was blown away with the live impact of the combo alone, although I'll definitely get the extension cab. Not because I'll need it all the time. I just want control over my sound in as many scenarios as possible with this kit. I'd prefer not to use PA if I didn't have to. I don't like being completely at the mercy of unknown sound guys.

Regarding synthy filtered fuzz tones, aye, the MXR works really well with fuzz . I've got my filter before the compressor in the chain (to milk the dynamic input), with my fuzz after the compressor for a nice smooth and even fuzz tone. I find that when the MXR filter and the fuzz are used together in this way, the tone is very synthy and usable. It's the best method that I've found for a useable and good-sounding synthy filtered fuzz tone.