Mykesbass

Bump for major update.

[s]Looking for some help in getting a valve head from Bolton to somewhere a bit closer to Brighton! It's been done before on here, can we do it again? I need to go to Oxfordshire sometime in the near future, so that could be a handy alternative stopping point. Bit of fuel or beer money and my eternal gratitude on offer in return for any help. Cheers, Mike.[/s] Looks like Paul (POW_22) can now get this down to Birmingham in the next couple of weeks. I may be able to get there to meet him, but also looking for a back-up option for someone local to meet him and babysit the amp for me if I can't get there on the same day. Thanks in advance, Mike

Shocking these 'so called' artists having the temerity to record songs that have been written for them by others. Just as bad as Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and all those other lightweights who weren't the Beatles 😉

Would make for an interesting episode of TOTP!

Early Sunday Night gig in a new to us venue. Had been postponed a couple of times, then the lady who booked us told us she was ill and not at the pub so contact the pub direct. Nearly lost the gig as the landlady was considering dropping the Sunday evening sessions. Instead she put the time back from 5 to 7 which suited us. Got there at 6 to set up, only a small handful of people at the bar. All talking about music - Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett and even Joe Longthorne. The jukebox was playing some dreadful stuff, including Max Bygraves! We were there to play some pretty lively blues based stuff, so I was a bit worried. Made a quick change to the set list and started off with a couple of more mellow numbers. People were up and dancing, and out of nowhere the place had filled up. Ended up being our best gig to date! Shame it was our guitarist's last, as he has moved away, but what a night to end on! Landlady was dancing behind the bar, landlord loved us, paid straight away, didn't even have to ask, and booked back for later in the year. Landlady also said it was lovely having a band that knew what they were doing. Makes me wonder what others get up to?

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1489333512' post='3256096'] anything by Mark D Phillips. [/quote] Along with Sue Ryder and Harley Benton 😃

Only when one of the current great luthiers retire - Fodera, RItter etc.

Very sad, and far too young. One of the finest ever misheard lyrics - "we're making love in a Femidom"

One amp two cabs. I have had bad luck in the past with amps, so something tells me I ought to have a spare, but I love my Carvin and it has behaved perfectly.

As per the title. I'm in town for one night.

Going to Liverpool tomorrow which reminded be of the Cherry Boys, had a fabulous single Kardomah Cafe.

Very much down to the rhythm. In my old band we used to do CCR Proud Mary. I had to swap the call and response the Rollings with the lead singer so I sang the first one. Couldn't get the response for the life of me.

Still have problems breathing when singing and playing. Seems like I can only do two out of three!!

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1488875860' post='3252477'] Slight correction for the uninitiated - basswood is used only on Musicman Bongo basses. I read somewhere that when the bass was being developed it was found to colour the sound least of all tried at prototype stage. That said, and probably concurring with the theory about aesthetics rather than sound, the higher priced limited PDN models often feature different body wood/ trans finish, even on Bongos. [/quote] And possibly the original Subs? Sorry, I was also including guitars in this, as I'm pretty sure the Luke was Basswood, and if you think tonewood is a hot potato among bass players don't get guitarists started on the subject!!

Looking at your forum name, is the bass a lefty? If so, these are probably made in quite low numbers, especially with the blocks. Ask if they can supply one on the next production run, but prepare to be patient.

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1488838405' post='3252338'] What I am say is you cant polish a t**d. The guy is asking for ideas regarding replacement pickups to make his "dead" sounding instrument sound "amazing" He says it also sounds "dead" un amplified. I believe he should check out the rest of the bass for problems, like neck to body integrity, bridge and nut. Why waste money on expensive new pickups if the problem is something else. Throwing good money after bad is rarely a joy filled experience. [/quote] And I'd say it is very unlikely that Yamaha RBX350 is such a turd. I'd have thought a bit of modding could get this to sing.

Just had a perfect example of the difference between a web purchase and a local purchase. I can get an HDMI splitter from Ebay, postage included for under £2.00. If I wanted one tonight I could go to Tesco and pay £15.00. Pretty sure if I went to a TV specialist I'd probably get a better quality one, but I'm confident the Ebay one will be equal to the Tesco one. Those Roto's are looking better value all the time!

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1488810991' post='3251948'] If all of the tone of a bass comes from the pickups why do people spend a fortune on fancy timbers for a better sounding bass? If a bass is poorly made or badly set up or has inherent problems that show up when played acoustically then you will never get the best out of it no matter how good the pickups are, or we would all be playing cheap basswood body basses with cheap bridges.....and great pickups. [/quote] If they are paying lots purely to make it sound better they are wasting their money. Sure, if you want it to look great with the wood on show then yes, go exotic. Nothing wrong with basswood (apart from it looks boring). Music Man use it under solid finishes. Some plywood basses sound great, as do some metal and composite ones. Yes, wood and build has some impact on the final sound, but nowhere near as much as it is given credit for - that's all thanks to the marketing departments.

Whereabouts are you? In the repairs/technical section is a list of helpful Baschatters that could look at and try your bass and offer advice on set-up and make pickup suggestions.

Was amazed by how much attack he plays with when I heard this: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh3U9iPKeXQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh3U9iPKeXQ[/url]

Rotosound used to do crazy deals to retail - I think it may even have been BOGOF. May be a case of the shop previously passing on some of that discount. I don't get the "are we being ripped off" question. It is business, and there are items that can be sold at a decent profit margin (strings, straps, plectrums etc.) that help shops stay afloat when they have very low margins on their higher value items - the instruments.

ESP with LTD.

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1488543502' post='3249830'] How does the bass sound un amplified? If it sounds flat and lifeless then new pickups wont make it sound amazing. [/quote] Got any evidence for this? Most (some say all) of the tone of a bass comes through the strings and the pickups. My main bass is fretless and strung with flats. Unplugged it is not a patch on the bitsa I have with roundwounds on. Plugged in, the fretless is big, full, warm through the Nordstrand P pick-up. The bitsa is OK, but a bit aggressive and nowhere near as full sounding. Yes, it's lovely to have a bass that sings when it is not plugged in, but when plugged in the acoustic properties are quite negligible.

Did they choose based on size?

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1488369847' post='3248285'] Postscript to this - I went into the Box Office yesterday to pick up the tickets. I said to the woman at the desk "I've come to pick up some tickets for a concert in the Corn Exchange" She looked me up and down, then said "would that be for Gilbert O'Sullivan?" How humiliating! [/quote] 😃 quality. And bonus points for sharing!