mep

WOW, I was not expecting that. Must show it to a student of mine who is a serious Metallica fan. Awesome!

[quote name='daz' post='824134' date='Apr 30 2010, 03:06 PM']im on my holiday in Torbay last two weeks of june. Dont spose theres anything going on down that way then ?[/quote] Come and see our band. We've got a couple of gigs nearby. [url="http://www.lemonrock.com/slytherin?page=gigs"]http://www.lemonrock.com/slytherin?page=gigs[/url] Also off to BMAD this weekend.

+1 for a DI box. My Speaker blew at a gig and my Sansamp got me through. The monitor is always a week link, butI stood next to the bass bins (both side by side, a great tip from our sound guy) and it felt ok.

+1 for the Rockstand

10 over 29 years. Quiet respectable I think compared to some. I've still got 4* Gibson copy Fender precision copy (got nicked) Marlin (quick replacement - what a plank!) *Charvel 2B *Clarrisa semi acoustic Music Man 5 string fretless Yamaha RXB *Aria Pro 2 SB600 fretless Fender Precision *Music Man Stingray (2 band eq)

Very nice, they look the buisness and I'm sure they feel and play great. I have a SB600 lined fretless with Seymour Duncan Basslines pup. A classic bass range by Aria.

I attended the Bass Institute during the early 90's in Acton and took private lessons every other sunday afternoon. Originally I had lessons with Joe Hubbard before he moved on and Rob Burns took over. I never really hit it off with Joe, but got on well with Rob. As well as the private lessons they arranged some great clinics. One was just for bassists and you had to learn a couple of pieces quickly and play them along with the backng tracks. One was the theme tune to Red Dwarf which Rob originally played on. Another clinic was with a guitarist and drummer. Again you had a to quickly learn 2 tunes and then play them with the guitarist and drummer (no vocals). The tunes were Heaven is a place on earth by Belinda Carlisle, and Good thing by Fine Young Cannibals. Rob also got me a set of Reflex Reds as replacement pups for the original ones in my Charvel. He installed and wired them for me during a lesson. I remember Terry Gregory being around, and standing in for Rob at times. I also managed to take in a couple of gigs around the corner that some of teachers played in. I have kept all my notes and use them for lessons I give now. Great times and good memories. The Institute helped me a lot at the time and raised by playing.

Wow, thanks for that. I had visited his site many times and learnt alot about my SB600 fretless with the fixed neck. I always though it was some weird hybrid as the headstock is red and the body is clear wood. I may even send him some photos. [attachment=46832:aria_005.jpg] [attachment=46833:aria_006.jpg]

I had a bad experience with Rotosound Steel Roundwounds many years ago with a duff E string. I swore I'd never go back. I have just fitted a set of Nickels to my Stingray (not the bass with the previous issue) and am quite happy with them. Great value at about £15 a set as well.

PUP or E string depending on what I'm playing. ALthough I will move my hand up towards the neck for a more full mellow tone for some parts.

[quote name='Doddy' post='774864' date='Mar 15 2010, 01:43 AM']Yes I was in that one I was with them for about 12-18 months around '04-'05....they're still really busy. The Half Moon in Paignton right?[/quote] Yes it was The Half Moon. Good gig. Well met after all that time. We wrapped up our tribute band after a couple of years and the others went on to do an original project (which didn't get anywhere). I've just been busy with the local cover scene and doing a bit of teaching since.

[quote name='4-string-thing' post='773569' date='Mar 13 2010, 01:09 PM']Ha ha ha... I love the idea of a gig with The Stereophonics tribute and The Nolans being on the same bill....[/quote] Glad you liked the idea. It was a student end of term bash at a college in Plymouth. A couple of thousand students partying all night. On the main stage there were 3 acts. Top of the bill was supposed to be Artful Dodger, but he cancelled at the last minute and they had some DJ's from Radio 1 do a set - can't remeber who though!

[quote name='Doddy' post='773334' date='Mar 13 2010, 02:39 AM']Which one?[/quote] We were called Stereotonics. We were based in South Devon and played quite a few places over the south west and wales (of course). The student scene was the best. This was between 1999 & 2002. There was another band with the same name around the same time. They even played at a local venue in Paignton once which I went to. You weren't in the band were you?

What about the 2 Ashdown pedals. The Drive Plus or the James LoMenzo Hyper Drive. I hear they are good, and cheap. [url="http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/section.asp?section=pedal"]http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/section.asp?section=pedal[/url]

I meet Nick Cave at Terminal 5. We were both on the same flight to Stuttgart, him going to play a festival and me to Legoland Germany (work related). I got his autograph for the wife. He signed my copy of Q which had him in it. I was in a Stereophonics tribute band and we were followed on stage by The Nolans, complete with younger daughter & Niece - with 2 of the original members. I managed to get a photo with them in their dressing room as we knew the guy who was doing their backing tracks. [attachment=44683:nowlans_4.jpg]

Are you gonna go my way - Lenny Kravitz Rocking!!!

That's a great service story. Others could be be really funny if you didn't check the contents first, even if they delivered to the wrong address. Adrian is a top bloke. I live in Torbay and have seen loads of music shops come and go. Exeter is the nearest city and Mansons has a huge reputation and are always worth going to.

[quote name='mep' post='765562' date='Mar 5 2010, 08:10 PM']Here are some photos with the G string more over the pole. The bits of plastic are not easy to see, which is what I intended. One more tip is to roll off the bass eq a bit. If you can't increase the level of the G string much then at least try this. I also wonder if different strings make any difference, as old ones certainly do. I'm going to have another go at pushing down the pole pieces as suggested by funkgod after reading a bit more about it. I guess I was to delicate at first and couldn't get them to move. Won't have a chance to try it out at a practice or gig for a week ot two.[/quote] Well, I managed to lower the 4 middle poles as funkgod recommended. I managed to do it with the pup in place! Now the poles are pretty much flush with the pup and I have adjusted the pup height so suit. I have a Trace head and the G string is showing a good input level and matches the A & D. The E is allways a bit louder. Combined with my string alignment and new strings it feels and sounds fantastic. I can't wait to gig my refreshed Ray. Funkgod, add me to the list of satisfied bassists. Thanks a lot!!

Let's get back on track after I mentioned Jeff Berlin! Look out for Stu doing a Beatles meets Beethoven piece - Mind blowing.

[quote name='green' post='764530' date='Mar 4 2010, 10:00 PM']mep, let us know if it worked. and if it did, could you please post a closeup photo of your bridge after your modification ?[/quote] Here are some photos with the G string more over the pole. The bits of plastic are not easy to see, which is what I intended. One more tip is to roll off the bass eq a bit. If you can't increase the level of the G string much then at least try this. I also wonder if different strings make any difference, as old ones certainly do. I'm going to have another go at pushing down the pole pieces as suggested by funkgod after reading a bit more about it. I guess I was to delicate at first and couldn't get them to move. Won't have a chance to try it out at a practice or gig for a week ot two. [attachment=44218:MM_Bridge_012.jpg] [attachment=44220:MM_Bridge_015.jpg]

I've started to use my Aria Pro 2 SB600 fretless again for a few songs. It's easy to get stuck into the chorus laden slow song with vibrato and gliss, and I am guilty of this on our version of Angels when we do it (not very often). I have looked at other songs and the lovely organic tone I get out of mine with it's Seymour Duncan Basslines passive pickup makes for a great change in tone and feel. Mixed with an ocatver (no chorus - I promise) and you can get deep synth like sound. I use nickel coated roundwounds. It's a very inspirational instrument that gives you a different perspective on playing and coming up with basslines. I'm suprised no one has uploaded any photos, so here's mine. [attachment=44122:aria_006.jpg] [attachment=44123:aria_005.jpg] [attachment=44124:aria_015.jpg]

What about the Ashdown Envelope Filter. I read a review and it's the business, and their best pedal. [url="http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=154"]http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=154[/url]

I went to one he did in Exeter that Mansons organised last year with 2 of my students. What a great night, and what a great guy. He tells some great stories and plays some wonderful bass. It's all solo stuff with no backing. He seems to have a bit of a grudge with Jeff Berlin!. Go if you can. You won't regret it. Oh & ask him about Jeff if he throws in a few comments.

[quote name='farmer61' post='763818' date='Mar 4 2010, 11:57 AM']Only issue I can see is Sweet Child as I believe it's downtuned on the E?[/quote] Good luck with that one at short notice. It's a great bass line, but not easy at first.

I was looking at my 4 string Ray last night. I changed the strings to Roto Nickels which sound and feel great. I didn't have too much luck with Funkgods idea of removing pup and pushing the 4 middle poles dosn and re-installing with the G string end set higher. What I have noticed is that my G string is not central to the poles. The bridge and string saddle design has changed over the years (well documented on the web). I therefore forced my D & G string saddles over by inserting a small folded strip of plastic between the circular ends of the saddles. The G saddle is now as far over as it can go and is stopped by the circular piece next to it. This looks discreet and has made a bit of a difference to the G string. I need to try it out in a gig setting to see if it really works, but for now I'm happy.