4 Strings

I'm in two. One for the money (Motown tribute) and we have great fun doing it and have given hundreds of people a great time. The other is a Christian band which gets used for bridge building and outreachy type events. Similar soul and Motown music, everyone loves a groove after all. and so use well known songs to attract. That's why I play covers. I'm looking forward to the Christian band becoming more established to give us an opportunity to generate some original material. Three of us used to be in a band for years in the 80s doing our own stuff.

This is all clearly from my time as I had a Wem 4x12 too! It was 200W and would take anything thrown at it. I used it with a HiWatt 4x12 (only 100W) and a Sound City style HiWatt 'One Hundred'. My goodness, I wish I was able to have kept it all!

Believe it or not I had croc skin! It was a little Futurama, had an elliptical speaker and I think was 3W! All valve, even had a tremelo. I remember putting the speaker output of a friend's amp into it to overdrive it. It was great, really howled! I ripped the speaker covering off to reveal the black wood and speaker making it look more 'pro'. I can't remember what happened to it. It certainly wasn't a powerful device but generated lots of complaints from the neighbour.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1363780276' post='2017401'] Selmer were really far from built to the standard of Hiwatt. [/quote] Really? Ok, you know way more about this sort of thing than I. Certainly less expensive, what was the difference, choice of components?

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1363772725' post='2017207'] Nowadays, being the bassist, I`ve had people who have been watching the whole of the gig ask me what i thought of the band... [/quote] Surely you told them how the band were not only incredible but how brilliant the bass player was and what a fine chap he is and how he holds the whole band together and arranges all the music, in fact if you want to buy him a pint I'll make sure he gets it.

Here's mine, hard working little rig, at rehearsal and at a rainy festival last year. That's not me, it's the keyboard player of course, but was the only pic which included my little rig! I gambled on such a tiny set up for a large open air stage but it took it in its stride with ease. Plenty loud and fat enough. Could have cropped the picture but wanted to show it's size in context. (Red flight case is not mine)

Amp - GB STL900 (but a £20, one sided SuperFly for practice at home) Cab - Barefaced Midget (but a Compact for Motown) Bass - EBMM Stingray (but a P with flats for Motown) Does it count if I only actually USE one rig, as I have other stuff I don't use? No, doesn't does it. I need to sell stuff.

Wow, that looks great! I remember when these things used to turn up all over the place at gigs etc. I once did a series of concerts (wouldn't say 'tour'!) with a theatrical outfit and used a T&B 50 with a Selmer 1x18. Wasn't mine, and the owner insisted the cab always remained upright in transport in case the speaker tore away from its suspension. A utility amp, rather sneered at in those days by little jerks who (like me!) hankered after a HiWatt, but built to the same sort of standards. Would love one now!

Are bassists not loved because they are bassists? Or are bassists not loved because of the sort of people who become bassists?

[quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1363708457' post='2016292'] Sadly I don't know! Though from looking online, I think the fact that it was in blonde tolex dates it to the early '60s - so you're right, it would probably only have been 50W. (Not sure where I got 200 from!) The weight could likely be an issue, though - apparently the head is almost as twice as heavy as the 1x15 cab I've been eyeing up! I know a lot of people would suggest an Orange Tiny Terror when this question is bought up, but I have to say I wasn't blown away by the one I tried. And unfortunately the Ashdown Little Bastard only comes as a 30W (last I heard the 550 was only a limited run). On the other hand, for those gigs where we're actually bringing all/most of our own gear, we'd probably throw it all in the car anyway. So perhaps a 36kg head becomes less of a problem then. Thinking out loud now, feel free to ignore me. [/quote] Oh, go and buy one! (I won't mention Matamp though)

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363707622' post='2016265'] Those were just residual names still in the system. [/quote] Mmm, Residue

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1363707765' post='2016272'] Was that another? [/quote] Mmm, Residue

Still Warm

I'm mostly aware of the intervals, I'm often aware of the notes. Mainly, I think, because I play mostly by ear and have to form lines and choose notes from the chord and chord type (major, minor, seventh etc). If its a rehearsed song I aim to be on auto and so don't think about it.

No question Tal's looks and seeming pleasant disposition helps to generate popularity among the men folk, but, like everyone(?) on here, I believe she's earned her place through hard work and being up to the job. She is amazingly talented but there are no short cuts to being able to play as well as she does. I suppose it may be considered sexist to admit that all contributes to a bit of a soft spot, but how could it not? Bit of a different image to those who accompany Cee-Lo Green. No idea what the bass player's name is, never bothered to find out.

[quote name='hen barn' timestamp='1363418185' post='2012430'] I have gb streamliner and I'm trying to get best sound? I play status basses and I never know where to set the gain and the volume knob? And the the master? I find I seem to get the peak light on at quite low volumes? Any one help? How do you set yours?? [/quote] I'm not sure I use mine properly, I have all the knobs pointing straight up, because they look nice! I set the gain so that I'm clear of any overdrive (should I want any I dial in how much I need - usually none), straight up works; the second volume is a little redundant to my mind and I just keep it half way, straight up. The last one I use to control how loud I need to be, normally around straight up is about right! I have also changed the V1 valve for one with less gain as, like you, I found overdrive coming in too early to be useful. I now have loads more volume before it starts to overdrive, although slightly less in overall output but much more useful. It also means I can use the 'Gain' button without loads of distortion, without any in fact until gone 12 O'Clock. It seems to make the amp outrageously loud! I use it as a sort of 'Hi/Lo' power button. Always on Lo. Tone controls are always 'flat', ie straight up, although I have added a little 200Hz mid for Motown (P with flats).

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1363538455' post='2013778'] Not necessarily a case of need, but I thought the Midget & Compact together sounded great, each complementing the other. [/quote] Well, putting it another way, I have no intention of parting with either. I'm secretly developing my bass playing career to a point where I can regularly play gigs warranting them both. This is the first time I've been so completely satisfied since may Jaydee/Trace rig in the 80s. That would satisfy no longer (would sound great but humping those cabs around was less than satisfying!)

Well, that would be the obvious thing but being a 'ray its just a tube. Just one of those things, I'm not worried by it.

Both at the bridge. The first one was a Roto, the last one was a Newtone. I've no reason to believe it was the string's fault, I do dig in quite a bit though.

One of the things I have learnt from this forum is there are other bass sounds apart from zingy roundwounds. I find it refreshing that on this forum there appears to be more discussion on strings than on so-called 'tonewoods' for our instruments. I find variations in strings fascinating. Flats are great, use them for Motown, perfect. For the funky band I needed some zing sometimes so I thought I'd try a set of Newtone Platinums. Came out of a request to Malcolm Newton regarding halfwounds. (He doesn't do those but is looking to add flats to his repertoire). He talked me into a set of Platinums on a round core, I ordered a set of 46-90s. They use a finer gauge of winding wire, apparently to give a smoother sound and a focus on the 'fundemental note' and are a 'balanced' set. Expensive but, I don't change strings anywhere near as often as I used to. They were fine, very good I thought and I got on fine, they gave a solid sound with the treble wound off on my 'Ray and plenty of zing for slap with the treble boosted. I had a mind to try Rotosound Solos next. Last night during some recording I snapped the 'A'. Replaced it with an I-don't-know-what roundwound (no silk, wasn't a Swing Bass) and I didn't realise what a difference a string could make. A nasty, clanky sound; a flappy, serrated feel; about half the output. I hadn't realised how good the Newtones were and how much I relied on their tone and equal output and how the important tension is. Another session today, I have swapped the 'A' for a better string from my arsenal of old spares, but it is still not the same, weaker, thinner sound. I'm now in a slight panic as I'm recording again today and March is a wonderfully busy month for music for me and I don't have a full set of Newtones. I realise this sounds like an ad but I have just ordered 3 sets (and 2 spare 'A's - no idea why but I've broken 2 in a year) which will hopefully be a couple of years worth (paid for by a gig next w/e!) as I'm now scared to buy anything else. I can recommend them out if its a mellower sound you need but with more life than flats, but until I reverted to other strings, I didn't realise how much I can recommend them.

A while ago I bought an old Precision, it had been used for an old fashioned dance band and was fitted with flats. I tried to use them but they sounded rather stodgy and indistinct. So I bought a set of Trubass (as I was playing some American Song Book type jazz and wanted to sound like an upright) and a vast improvement in distinction of note and the tone was also a great improvement. They also look fab, especially with the gold silk, for what that matters. Recommended.

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1363356545' post='2011723'] I have absolutely no need for another cab, asI have a fabby little Midget already (with foot reglued ) but I'm still gassing like mad for a 2X12 or a Compact. Help! [/quote] You probably don't need it. I splashed out on a Midget T and a Compact, but have yet to come across a suitable use for them both together and when I think the Compact is required find the Midget will still do it. Needs a powerful amp but I've yet to find it's limit.

[quote name='77precisionblackmaple' timestamp='1362650329' post='2002620'] just an update on the super 12 : it just gets better,so good that I have sold all of my old gear including my beloved twin trace stacks from when I had my deal back in the day. I may have to buy another s12 to have a 'rest of life' back up. It is the best Ive encountered in my career. [/quote] Haha, I sold all my other cabs (Trace, Hartke, Ampeg..) too! Partly to help pay for the Barefaced cabs but mostly I knew I'd never ever use them again, absolutely no reason to. I miss them not one bit and appreciate an extra room in the house.

[quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1362860380' post='2005547'] The feet however are a niggling point that we're still working on - [/quote] I have lost a foot each from my two cabs. They don't get dropped but shoved around quite a bit loading etc and I think the some decent shear force tears them out. Barefaced replaced them (x8 in fact!) when I mentioned it to them and I have gone around with a spot of wood glue in the screw hole of each of the feet and they've since been fine so far. I have a Midget and a Compact so the size of cab doesn't bare relation to the feet coming off. Maybe the tee-nuts would be appropriate for all. There has been no other effect on the finish, grille or anything else from regular (2-3 times a week) use and movement. - edit; I keep them in Roqsolids and there's been no effect on those either. Regardless I am still becoming more and more delighted with my cabs, the Midget in particular although I recently filled a large 340 seat auditorium with solid, deep Motown bass from the Compact with little or no pa reinforcement receiving flattering comments about the bass sound from the theatre sound crew. Impressive devices.

[quote name='iamtheelvy' timestamp='1363256540' post='2010454'] A couple from our most recent gig: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33PIfbgsZw0[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hXNskCezsk[/media] [/quote] Great bass tone for Baba, and playing too. Best bit!