mep

In the January issue of Bass Guitar Magazine there was a vey good article on setting up your bass. It was very well written and very extensive. I photocopy the article and give it to all my students so they will always be able to set up their bass in the future.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='860933' date='Jun 8 2010, 01:05 PM']I honestly didn't see that 'til now. [/quote] Neither did I. I shall have to '[i]Service'[/i] my Hipshots in the same manner!!

[quote name='thodrik' post='859077' date='Jun 6 2010, 05:40 PM']Pretty awful show with pretty rubbish experts and guests. My favourite moments: [color="#FF0000"]Jonathan Ross having no real idea on who Tony Iommi is.[/color] Copeland trying to argue that Sting was the best bassist because he had strong fingers Mark Ronson arguing that Jimmy Page basically invented hip hop and Hendrix didn't really come up with many memorable riffs. That it took Vic Reeves to mention that Jeff Beck belongs in the short list of best guitarist kinda sums up the show. Jonathan Ross almost seemed annoyed that Led Zep won best band rather than Queen or the Beatles. The show really said more about the presenters and guests rather than the people and bands nominated for any of the 'awards'.[/quote] This shows what plank Jonathan Ross is. Tony Iommi was featured and interviewed in the episode on guitarists. Clearly Ross has not watched the series and was drafted in to host the live show in order to fullfill his BBC contractural obligations.

Stick with it. You never know what's round the corner. Some years ago I went through a dry band spell for longer than I can remember. I seemed to meet the wrong sort of people and bands. One band advertised for another bassist without telling me. I only found out by reading the add in the local paper. I phoned the singer and left a message. She phoned back when I was at work to leave a grovelling appology on my answer phone. Another band I tried to form had issues with the drummer so we found a young talented drummer and got rid of the old one. New drummer never showed up again and always had excuses not to come to rehersals. We found out he treats all bands the same. A pity as the singer / guitarist was excellent and I was really looking forward to gigging with him. Needles to say it all fell apart after that. 2 1/2 years ago I finally managed to join a band of like minded musos. We have gone from strength to strength, and I'm having fun.

[quote name='cetera' post='859809' date='Jun 7 2010, 01:10 PM']I NEVER lend my gear. Only exception would be a friend who I knew & trusted implicitly.[/quote] +1 for that, the rest can go whistle.

[quote name='hubrad' post='859089' date='Jun 6 2010, 05:49 PM']The best Bass Player joke I heard so far - 'How many bass players does it take to change a light bulb? None, [color="#FF0000"]because we're not afraid of the dark.[/color]' We dropped Sky TV when the box started malfunctioning. Got a Freeview box.. it's amazing how much less telly we watch now! [/quote] I thought it was none because the keyboard player did it with his left hand - hey at least we can take the pi55 out of ourselves! I thought the program was fairly naff and the fact that bass players didn't get the same voting and debate format as the others was disappointing but not suprising. While I'm still annoyed about it I may actually contact the BBC and complain about it. I would like to hear why they side lined bass players and re-inforced the original stereotype that bass players are the poor relation in the band and should be relegated to the back. Maybe next time they play some music they should turn the bass down. It won't matter which band it is, or which singer, guitarist or drummer is in the band it will sound empty (like their heads). Rant almost over!!!

Some years ago I had a TNT150 with the Black Widow speaker. It served me well for sometime and was a great pub rock combo. I upgraded and got the bi-amped bright box for it which really lifted the sound, and got some some good comments. It was enough for the places I played at the time, and sounded great. I have a young student who has a TNT combo, but with the cheaper (and nastier) Sheffield speaker. It's crap and the speaker feels like it's struggling even at low gigging volumes. I wouldn't touch it. Get a decent Peavey combo and you'll be ok, maybe add an extension cab if you need to.

Hi, welcome aboard. Now you will have to set a limit on the number of forums you join. Keep the count to one hand if you can!

I have a Series 6 AH200 from the late 80's which I bought 15 years ago. I had a minor issue with the DI and had to get it fixed by GM Audio. They are built well and seem to go on and on. I've flight cased it and added the rack UV light so it weighs even more, but being just a head is not an issue. I've ran it with 3 different speaker set ups. I now have it running at 4ohnms into 2 cabs, a 15" & a 12". For rehersals I just bring the 15" and for gigs both. Average level is 1.5 on the output which can still be really loud!! (both the drummer & guitarist said I was too loud at our last gig). The 12 band graphic is really flexible if you want to play around with it. It 's the nuts.

Back in the day the worst guitarist did get the bass job. Thankfully that's all changed over the years. I must admit to wanting to play guitar when I was a young teenager, but I saw an add at school to hire the bass and that was it for me - a real light bulb moment. Fantasies of playing the 6 string were gone overnight. Bass was not my first instrument. I started on recorder, then tried piano and went for trumpet. Now it's bass, although I can play a bit of guitar. I have an acoustic and an old electric that my 10 year old son is in to.

[quote name='lojo' post='843571' date='May 20 2010, 09:32 PM']thanks guys Not really interested in doing this long term, just need to do it for this gig Main question really is, is it ok for the instrument without adjusting the rod? If you can fit a flick of the switch D tuner, then I guess it must be ok? [color="#FF0000"]Do many people really use these?[/color][/quote] I've got Hipshots on both my main basses. It's just so handy and suprising how many cover songs need it.

[quote name='bottomfeed' post='841786' date='May 19 2010, 10:14 AM']It sounds fatter with distortion & a touch of octaver [/quote] Definately. Use both if you can if not then an octaver is a must. It's in standard tuning starting on D. There are 2 main patterns with a small difference between them, and then the guitar solo bit with another pattern. I found the notes out easily from some tab site and went from there.

I have been using the smile eq setting with my TE AH200 for years. I changed the eq for a practice and a gig to boosting the lower mids and then trailing the eg off back to 0. What a difference. I've been dubvious before of using too much mid eq as it tends to sound nasally, but in a band situation it really worked and cut through. I could cleary hear every note I played and reports from out front were very favourable. Another satisfied customer.

I've got some Nickel Rounds on my fretless, sound great.

[quote name='Doddy' post='829240' date='May 6 2010, 01:20 AM']I asked,only to be told that she didn't want bass guitar because "It's too low for my voice,so I only want a normal guitar"[/quote] So what does do with the songs on CD which (I assume) have bass on them? Does she turn the bass eq down or does she have a Tascam Bass Trainer and cut the bass out! What is normal about a guitar?

[quote name='Earbrass' post='823084' date='Apr 29 2010, 03:28 PM']Wow! Great job, and some tasty "bass-faces" too. [/quote] +1 for the "bass-faces". Good to see some action other than from the hands. Too many bass players (me included) find it hard to move around or look interested. Go for it!!

[quote name='Kraken' post='824765' date='May 1 2010, 12:51 PM']mep, if you are about sunday afternoon, come by and check TFT out and come say hi![/quote] Kraken. I went down Saturday afternoon for a few hours, so missed you. I hope your Sunday gig went well. It looks like you and a few other bands had to travel, so trust it was worh it. Our band is planning to get a slot at next years (if we are lucky).

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]