4 Strings

Try a Streamliner if you like valvey sounds. Lots of valves and lots of sound - especially if you go for the 900. Very potent. (Also comes complete with a hpf, Thumpinator style, to get the most of your cab(s).)

Yes, the second case is more the thing. I hate it when a groove number goes too fast, people don't really get into it to dance. Its normally early in the gig when the band has yet to settle down. We've had it the other way round too when a song slogs and the singers are giving all sorts of 'Giddy up' signals. I know the tempos are very carefully selected (there's a lovely youtube thing - only sound - of 8 takes of River Deep with Tina Turner at slightly different tempos until the producer was happy) and when things are right the performance really sits nicely.

I've been in a rock band which used a click for the drummer for some tracks to stay accurate with pads etc on backing tracks, this isn't my point. I've long held the view that I don't know how good a drummer is from his warm up but need him to hold a tempo after fills/changes etc. But, more recently, I think I must be getting old, I'm noticing changing tempo more and more and also getting irritated by songs being played at the wrong tempo. Fortunately my drummer is sympathetic (well, in that he is also irritated by it but blames me) and he has started to use a metronome (in flashing mode) at rehearsals and gigs for counting us in. This has brought me great joy. Does anyone else use a metronome for simple tempo setting or are we anal (or simply crap)?

[quote name='JakeBrownBass' timestamp='1338598917' post='1677162'] iPad has charts on it, MacBook has set list & patch numbers on it but I primarily there as a back up for the sampling & click track on mainstage incase the drummers fails. There's a mbox that goes to behind the drummer but wasn't set up yet. [/quote] Would it be cynical of me to suggest the most visual function being provided by the laptop here could be replaced by a piece of paper? Great to see a Moog, this is mainly for creating your own sounds rather than merely calling up sampled presets? (Not being cynical here, just a simple bass player!)

so, how do we embed rather than just show typed link?

[quote name='Oscar South' timestamp='1336516198' post='1647003'] Fun little jam! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxLkPCkbor4[/media] [/quote] this is brilliant!

For a budget model I'd need to look at the Harley Benton. For limitless budget - Genz Streamliner.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1338553823' post='1676247'] 2,300,000 hits a month speaks for itself, I think. [/quote] But most of those are me.

[quote name='stinson' timestamp='1338546798' post='1676051'] Cheers, Streamliner it is then! [/quote] This will be end of the ad (seeing as I had to pay full price!) but I read the thing on here about the Thumpinator. Very impressive as I've seen my cones flail around like that in the past. I also read that the Streamliner has a high pass filter similar to this built in so I asked Jeff Genzler if this was the case who said [i]"Thank you for your purchase. I’m sure the Streamliner will sound great with the Barefaced cabs. Yes, the Streamliner does have HPF circuitry in it design and the Thumpinator will be redundant. I hope this information is helpful." [/i] Watching my cones during the noise last night they could barely be detected to be moving at all clearly it has this feature and it works. Saved me £100.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1338542992' post='1675977'] I could have written that - word for word! You must be a mind reader. [/quote] Heh, one acoustic and one Squier strat here, both dusty, both reminders of why I get a guitarist in for any recording. Are we really all the same person?

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1338541604' post='1675951'] i looked up an inflation calculator the other day. now back in 1982 my jv squier would have been about £200- and was a budget instrument. that would be £650. I hear reports that my takamine originally went for about £1000 or £2300 in todays money....i think instruments ae cheaper now! [/quote] They are definitely cheaper now, especially those made in the Far East. I have always wondered that our materialism has increased with the improved affordability that while basses, for example, are cheaper we seem to be more protective of them.

Church garden party on Sunday and, oddly, a rather big street party on the 30th. We had another booking enquiry for Tuesday but our keyboard player rather bizarrely said he's not gigging on a Bank Holiday! I told him that's like a sandwich shop closing for lunch.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1338330468' post='1673024'] go figure, go work out why I have two versions of an instrument I can't really play. It makes little sense [/quote] oh, ok, thanks, americanism. I reckon you're better than you say, I'm in a worse place with 4! (Actually 5 but one is for sale) Maybe this is part of it, I'm sure people didn't have multiples of instruments so commonly years ago. I also think this is where all those missing tens of thousands of old fenders etc have gone, in people's wardrobes. I sometimes wish that keeping basses the dark made their colour fade so people would have to get them out.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1338510283' post='1675772'] Yes indeed, one only needs to boost the low end at practice volumes really... at gig levels, I inevitably find a flat EQ works best. With the possible exception of a very minimal low mid boost, depending on venue. [/quote] Totally my experience too

[quote name='stinson' timestamp='1338471254' post='1675078'] How does the Streamliner pair up with the Compact? Might go down this route in the near future [/quote] Well, its an eye-wateringly expensive little set up but, unless you're looking for Marcus Miller, I think its the perfect match. That pic was for a Motown tribute act, never need any more power and it gives dollops of Motown funk. Ease in some low mids (Streamliner has a 200Hz tweaker) and the definition is something not repeated in other rigs. For some real bite like that you'll need a tweeter, the Compact doesn't really do bite. But its great, I'm liking it more and more. Just got in from a very noisy rehearsal and used the Compact with a Midget T and, with the grunt of the Streamliner, its a very, very powerful combination and has filled me with enthusiasm - hence this long reply! If I was Alex I would be looking at building combos with the Streamliner built in, I really think its the perfect combination. If you want bite and it'd need the tweeter.

The earner set up ready to go. Genz Streamliner 900 and BF Compact, '76 Precision with Trubass strings. [attachment=109132:25052012(005).jpg]

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1338446106' post='1674570'] I wouldn't worry too much about that. It's just the TB tinkerers. Reading into that thread carefully, you can see that any valve changes in tone are minimal in reality. Mine certainly is pretty much perfect with the standard valves. What is more important with the streamliner is to [u]not[/u] match it with a boomy and/or mid-scooped cab. The amp puts out so much thick bottom that with a cab that is not tight and well-damped in the bottom end, things will become boomy. To clarify, the amp is not boomy, but a cab that cannot cope with much bass will be. The amp also potentially can be a bit hi mid-shy unless you EQ it appropriately. To pair this with a hi mid-scooped cab is not going to be ideal to most folks. [/quote] I proudly showed our guitarist my Streamliner at a Motown gig, all pointers vertical. Flat tonally, but coincidentally the volumes vertical too (ok the mid frequency was at 11 O'Clock but its a 3 position switch!), into a BF Compact with flats on a P. Couldn't have a more natural sound and it was right on the money.

[quote name='longtimefred' timestamp='1338325212' post='1672899'] personally i dont like these little car stereo sized amps. i have tried a few now and yes they seem loud enough, but compare to a big ol iron lady SS amp or a valve amp they seem (to me) to lack guts. I know gozillions of people on here swear by them but they aint for me. I have never seen a touring band or have been on tour with anyone using these. They are always big industrial sized amps. i wouldnt listen to me though! im probably wrong. [/quote] I think you make fair points. However, touring bands probably don't benefit from tiny size like us plebs who have to lug gear around ourselves. I think you have to check them out yourself to see if they lack anything. In the end, its the power section which has been mostly reduced in size as opposed to the tone creating parts. I'm happy with my Streamliner, bit difficult to say if I've lost any guts from the HA5000, both are very powerful.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1337970150' post='1668273'] and strings... I have two basses and two guitars. I like playing bass and don't really have a clue yet how to play guitar. But still have two. go figure [/quote] Go figure? What does that mean?

[quote name='paul torch' timestamp='1338311539' post='1672571'] I was going to say something along those lines. It is a traditional song that isn't credited to anyone apparently. This is one of the earliest versions and one of my faves: The "supergroup" may have been better-off doing purple haze or voodoo chile IMO. [/quote] Would have been better off buzzing off and letting someone else do the job

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1338243860' post='1671656'] There is no words I can possibly say that describe how awful that lot are. I thought it was a shred at first. They'd all been at the hospitality bar/drug dealer for a long time beforehand methinks. But then I always thought Mitch Mitchell was crap anyway. Edit: Yup pissed out of their tiny minds [url="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/neilmccormick/5713308/Mitch_Mitchell_where_you_going_with_that_drum_in_your_hand/"]http://blogs.telegra...m_in_your_hand/[/url] [/quote] Just took a minute to read that. So this performance was rehearsed and part of a tour! Unbelievable! Certainly Winwood should be in better company. Shame about Mitch.

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1338247133' post='1671729'] Had to stop at 1:50 mark because of my dislikeness (is that a word?) of Slash. I do fairly enjoy the tone whoever that bassist has though! [/quote] Yes, fairly, but his playing is not sympathetic of the song at all. ps, if there is currently no such word I believe its coining with respect to Slash is acceptable. (Why do I always think of a steaming stream when his name comes up?)

[quote name='MOSCOWBASS' timestamp='1336753719' post='1650573'] I gig with the Midget t most of the time, takes all I can throw at it with a Streamliner 900 or Shuttle 9 (500 watts into 8 ohms). It can push louder and cleaner that the EA NL210 i had. Compact gives a bit more depth and trouser flap, but doesn't have the same top end bite. Using both is very impressive! I couldn't do without the Midget now, it's so easy to move about. [/quote] Exactly this. Even down to the Streamliner 900. Gig, rehearse and practice with the Midget T all the time, use the Compact on its own for Motown gigs as it just hits the spot perfectly with that amp and a P on flats. Rarely get the opportunity to justify using both. I do chicken out sometimes and take the Compact or both if I think the Midget going to be too small. When I have both I almost always do a song with the Compact unplugged and have yet to find the Midget unable to cope on its own. Its size belies its performance but it takes a while for it to sink in. Prefer the Midget on the floor and standing away from it, 3m or so if possible. I don't really find a 'barky' effect but then my sound is a rather warm one.

I use a foam insert from a cycling helmet. Adjustable from max damping (the treated side) to not max damping (the foamy side). Stuff it up the ashtray under the strings and bingo, instant perfection.