Rosie C

I've decided to get back into MIDI. In the 90s I used it a fair bit with player pianos, but not since. Our band varies in size from 2-4, and when there's just two of us I end up playing intros on descant recorder, then switching to mandolin. I'm hoping to set up something with MIDI where I can have my iPad play the intro through MIDI. The first arrivals came today... Roland SPD-6 drum pad. We used one of these last summer - a recording session in a narrowboat, and heading towards 'vintage' now, so I've been looking for a good example. I like the instrument sounds, and as a bonus, it's compatible with the Boss FS-6 pedal I already had, adding high-hat and kick. Behringer UMC204HD to add a 2 channel interface and MIDI ports to my Mac. Early days but it all seems to work as expected. Ah, this takes me back!

I was thinking capo, but didn't like to share that idea But actually I'd probably take two basses, maybe with a Boss LS-2 pedal to make the change-over easy.

I tend to connect my pickup to a Boss GEB-7 EQ which works as basic pre-amp / impedance matching and I can turn down the very lowest band to stop feedback.

I use a Realist Lifeline. It does need an adjustable bridge, but it's fairly quick to remove/replace. Before that I had a Realist Copperhead which goes under a bridge foot, which sounded just as good - though I read there are only so many times it can be removed & refitted.

Likewise, I'm tempted by a rebec or viol...

Sadly I have allergies to most of the exotic woods, but I have a pearwood rottenburg treble. It doesn't get played so much though since I bought a descant/treble pair of Adri's Dream recorders in pearwood/boxwood. Lovely recorders with renaissance style wide bore. Perhaps not so good for ensemble playing, but great for solo or leading a band

1. Rich - Trace Elliot TE-1200 amp, Barefaced Super 12T cab, earplugs , Shuker custom 5, other stuff TBC. 2. Woody - Rickenbacker 4004-L5, maybe Sei Flamboyant, Same old basschat 12" with some amp, other stuff TBC 3. Pinball (tbc) - some interesting basses 4. Stubsy - Joyo BadASS, GRBASS AT212 slim - only 50W but that should give 120dB at one metre 😇. (or I bring my TE 1110 combo). Some fun pedals. Perhaps the AVII 1960 precision, the Sire P10 and maybe the Fender Performer and something unexpected... 5. Sean - Mesa 400+, Laney Nexus Tube 400 , MJW Taranis 200 (Matamp clone with extra channel and EQ), 2 x BF TWO10, Spector TBD, Valenti #005 Super P, Yamaha BB2024x, plus a mini walk-in bass surgery if interested 6. Rosie - likely I'll bring my upright, set up for bluegrass/folk/jazz if anyone's not played upright before and fancies a go

Is it perhaps an analogue pedal, and the new versions are digital? I sold some old Boss pedals and some went for more than I expected as they were (apparently) analogue, and considered better than more recent digital models.

Thanks Bill, I'll give it a go and report back!

I have a need for a small battery powered bass amp to supplement my double bass. I expect this wouldn't work but here goes... I was thinking about making the basschat speaker cab project, but with an extended cabinet for a 12v battery powered amp. Then I got to thinking about the elderly Crate TX30 battery powered busking amp I have. I'm guessing if I just plug a bass in I'll blow the speaker very quickly. I could swap the speaker for a bass one, but is that likely to work? e.g. is the cabinet size different for lower frequencies, or does it need a port?

Room for improvement though 😉 Though on a serious point, I think the most significant work on my bass was changing the tuners as that weight is right at the end of a 1 meter lever arm.

You'd be wanting Mercury on a string for that.

No, I don't think it changed the fundamental sound of the bass.

No, it came back sounding great.

I have a jazz bass that I was kinda attached to, and yes I had a massive route done under the scratchplate. Along with changing the tuners for alloy lightweight ones and changing the solid bridge for a 'bent metal plate' type - it knocked a pound or so of weight off and made it very playable. Whether it was the best option is debatable - I love the bass and I'm pleased I kept it, but I'd probably have been better selling it and buying something else.

Well, it was his car and he was driving [1] so he didn't get any complaints. [1] although I'd promised to share the driving I fell asleep

did my friend win?

Oh yes! On 15th April, 2003 I had no voice as I'd screamed so much at the Duran Duran reunion tour at Wembley the night before! We had the strangest drive home too - heavy fog on the way back to Devon, and my friend who was driving played Kraftwerk all the way.

I'm going with "The Switchblade Dog Experience" 👍

No longer listed on ebay!

I started with Garageband and a little Berhringer 4-channel mixer with USB. A cheap way to get into digital music, though I found Garage Band a slippery slope to Logic Pro. Reaper seems pretty good though - we have to use it next year at uni so I've been starting to use it.

The walls in my practice room are painted Harp Strings. The woodwork is Inky Prose.

I visited a recording studio last week to help a friend out. I was meant to just be playing mandolin and accordion, but as his band was 'between bass players' at the time I was asked to dep on bass guitar too...

Hmmm... 🤔 However, this one isn't bad...

I would robustly disagree with "musical genius"! You're right though that the skills from viola & mandolin have the possibility to combine to make for a really good start on violin. But I have two reasons for getting a teacher - I'm hoping a teacher will help address issues quickly and speed up my progress, especially as our band has some summer gigs that I think would benefit from some fiddle-playing. Also, I've been convinced that folk is better learned by ear from a folk musician rather than from reading dots. My teacher does 1-1 lessons but also hosts group Zoom lessons, which is a nice way to learn and I expect after a few months I'll just do the Zoom sessions.