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If you have a tuner tune the E string to D, one tone below. You could play the D octave, 5th fret on the A string, and tune down the E string using that as a guide. Or do as I do and install Hipshot D tuner in place of your E string tuning head so you can just flip to a low D and back really quickly and quietly. There are quite a few songs ou there with drop D tuning, so now you know. The low D really feels good compared to E. check it out and enjoy - get those trouser legs flapping!

[quote name='dumelow' post='749897' date='Feb 18 2010, 03:56 PM']bum note = brown[/quote] Ha Ha, that's class! About seeing notes as colours is anyone watching the latest series of Heros on BBC? There is a new deaf character who can see notes as colours.

[quote name='bigjohn' post='745720' date='Feb 15 2010, 12:02 PM']I agree (although there's 200w and 200w -[/quote] My 200w Trace head blows yer socks off and is more like other 350 - 400w heads. It's always more than enough. Headroom all the way! I always get a good stage sound that we are all happy with and then let the PA take care of FOH.

[quote name='WWRRSS' post='744694' date='Feb 14 2010, 12:23 PM']If the PA is being used it'll just be for the bass drum and vocals.[/quote] This is generally my case as well, but with the (one) guitar going through the PA and monitors as well. My 200w Trace head runs 2 smallish cabs at 4ohms and usually does not have to go past 1.5. It's got plenty of headroom. I may have to turn up to 2 in some place (this is rare) and a bit more for an outdoor gig to fill the stage even when it's going through a PA & monitors. Every place is different and you have to be able to deal with the acoustics. Some places the sound is swallowed up and we will have to put me through the PA a bit to fill the sound out.

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='703654' date='Jan 6 2010, 11:22 PM']How long's a piece of string?* Seriously, you're likely to get as many different answers as people that reply - rather like strings It took me ages & much experimentation before I settled on Jim Dunlop 1mm Black Nylons, so I'd suggest a hunt around on Ebay, get an assorted "grab bag", & see what suits you best. From what you've stated I'd probably tend towards the heavier/stiffer picks, as I guess you want to enhance the edge & clank. Slightly thinner/more flexible ones are good for high-speed "drilling" - for me anyway. Pete. [size=1]*twice the distance from the middle to one end[/size][/quote] I'm one for Jim Dunlop 1mm Black Nylons too. I play covers and will use a pick if it was used on the original recording. I'm first and foremost a fingers guy but love rocking out with a pick. Never really took any advice or lessons, although there were some usefull lessons and exercises in Bass Guitar Magazine. You will need to put in some practice to get up to speed. One trick is to use a lot of up strokes as they are more powerfull. I have an odd way of holding the pick, I hold the thinner end and pick the strings with the fat end, opposite to guitarists, or a lot of bass players I pressume. It works for me. Find what works for you and got for it.

This is my Musicman Stingray 4 with 2band eq. It's an early 90's model in honeyburst with a clear acylic scratch plate, and a Hipshot D tuner. It has a custom flightcase. [attachment=42011:stingray.jpg]

Looks worse than my first bass! It's in the bass bargain bucket alright. Might make an interesting project to see what you could do with it, if that appeals to you. You should try it, but don't expect too much. Not worth anymore than £50 at a push.

I bought ones of these of a gazgaskell, a great ebay shop some years ago for my precision. The original was rusted and needed replacing. This is a budget option, but better than the original. It was a direct replacement. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BAD-SS-STYLE-BRIDGE-FITS-MOST-P-J-BASS-GUITARS_W0QQitemZ350310825262QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item519026fd2e"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BAD-SS-STYLE-BRIDGE-...=item519026fd2e[/url] [attachment=41773:bridge.jpg]

[quote name='RhysP' post='728220' date='Jan 28 2010, 10:53 PM']Go on, show us your mullet! [/quote] [attachment=41447:Mullet.jpg] Well if you don't ask you don't get. Against my better judgement I have dug out this photo from 1992 when I was 25 with my mullet, about as bad as it got! I'm now 43 and shave my head weekly with just the clippers, ie less than grade 1. Oh how times change. But hey, I've still got my bass. I not aware of a mullet thread on this site, and am not going to start one. Granted, the 80's Charvel guitar range went hand in hand with mulleted axe men, so this is where I'll leave it.

I had to upload some photo's of my lovely black 80's Charvel. I passed on uploading some photo's of me with my 80's mullet!! I bought this new when they first came out about 22 years ago. It's quite road worn and has travelled well. I love this bass and will never sell it. It's more comfortable than your favourite old slippers, as they say. Rawk On!! [attachment=41394:charvel_006.jpg] [attachment=41395:charvel_007.jpg]

I had to transcribe Pino's bass line on Paul Young's Whever I Lay My Hat. I couldn't find anything on the tab sites. I wanted to teach it to a pupil who I had lent my fretless to. I tabbed it out, does that still count? It's only the first (really well known) bit of the song. [attachment=41393:WILMY.jpg]

I've had a Series 6 Trace Head for years now. I have plugged into a couple of Ashdown amps and they are fantastic. If I was to change amps it would be for an Ashdown, not sure which one as I'm not ready yet. My trusty Trace is still going strong. It seems loads of pro players are using Ashdown as you only have to watch some band on tv and there in the background is that distinctive cool black & blue rig. The word on the street is that the new Trace stuff is not as good as the good old green heydays of the eighties. Can't really comment on Steve Harris as I'm not a big Maiden fan. I'm sure he will like whatever rig he ends up with.

I had a similar experience last september. I bought some tickets for the Muse gig in Teignmouth. I met the guy and paid him cash for them. He then asked if I could leave positive feedback by logging on his pc righ then. I duly obliged, but it seemed odd. He said it was to do with PayPal. Great gig though!!!

That looks like the 3B model, which should be the thro neck and have active electronics with the liitle switch. If not it's the 2B. Either way it's a serious bargin. Check out the reviews on Harmony Central [url="http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Charvel/3B/10/1"]http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...Charvel/3B/10/1[/url] I've had black 2B for over 20 years and have put active electronics in it. It's built like a brick out house, is very loud, plays really well and is just a great all rounder. I'm currently using it over my Stingray at the moment for gigs and have just ordered a Hipshot D Tuner from the Bass Centre for it. Rock on!!!!

It was a gay bikers night at a local pub, so we all dressed the part. As well as being a bassist I am also a biker, but not a gay one. [attachment=37686:slytherin_1.jpg] [attachment=37687:slytherin_2.jpg]

[quote name='OldGit' post='669750' date='Nov 30 2009, 08:39 AM']It was the Paul Young Album "Ne parlez" that made the general bass playing public aware of him, though I am sure he was around before. When "Wherever I lay my hat" jumped out of the radio and TOTP we all went "Wha???! What is that and who is that guy?" That was in 1983... The TOTP youtubes generally have idiot DJ's talking over the intro so here's a complete version. To my mind he took the Jaco fretless stuff and refined it for a more general audience.[/quote] I recently learnt Wherever I Lay my hat on my fretless as I wanted to teach it to one of my students (a great 16 year old bassist). I even lent him my bass for a few weeks to explore. What a track, what a sound and what a bassist he is. I clearly remember Paul Young in the early eighties and Pino's basslines really jumped out at you, even if you were not a bassist.

Not so much a pedal board as my effects loop which sits on the stage / floor. The tuner is in the loop and sits on my amp head. [attachment=37589:effects3.jpg]

This is my trusty Series 6 AH200 which has been rack mounted along with the UV light. [attachment=37586:Trace_head_007R.jpg][attachment=37587:Trace_Head_013R.jpg]

[attachment=37584:Bass_001R.JPG][attachment=37585:Bass_005R.JPG] Here's my 1992 honeyburst Stingray, with clear acrylic scratch plate (no I don't where to get on as it came with it when I bought it second hand) and custom flight case.

[quote name='basshead56' post='665413' date='Nov 25 2009, 06:11 PM']+1. Also, go buy a Stingray! [/quote] I've had my 2 band ray for years now. They are fantastic and not a one trick pony that some people think they are. If i had to to take just one bass to a gig it would be my ray. I checked out the new Ray 34 bass at the Mansons guitar show last month. It's almost half the price of a new full on stingray. There are a couple of basses in that range. Check them out. Me & mate (who also owns a ray) both thought it was brilliant. We couldn't tell where they made the savings.

Fire by Kasabian. Never been too sure about them in the past, but this is fun, quite easy to play and damn catchy. Good rhythm in the beginning of chorus & then get those octaves going at the end of the chorus!

I have had 2 MM Stingrays and both have had dead spots. On my current one I have started using a fat finger on the headstock to increase the mass which improved things slightly. I have also tightened the truss rod which helped quite a bit. I also use an Ashdown dual band compressor which helps. The G string will always feel quieter, although when playing through a PA it sounds fine. On my 80's Charvel there is no problem anywhere. These basses are loud, sustain for ever and are built like tanks. If I had more room in the band van and strung it more often with fresh strings I would use it on some songs where I play on the mid to higher part of the G string just ot get over the issue.

[quote name='7string' post='645877' date='Nov 5 2009, 12:02 AM']Very cool Was it Mansons Guitar Show and not the Masons? Could be a totally different event with weird handshakes and all that. [/quote] Thanks for pointing out my typo. I have edited it and must be off to bed now as it's late.