Thor

1 and 2 for me too! Mainly 2 to be honest - I do like to see people clearly having a good time as a result of what we're doing as a band, and the audience participation that goes along with it. Although as others have said it's also nice to earn a bit of cash to pay for strings/gas related articles as well.

[quote]To be honest if "being lazy" is not making things unnecesserally hard for myself then I'm happy to be called that. I think it is good to be able to play both though, I've always been fine with playing a 4 or a 5 depending on what I'm doing. [/quote] What I was getting at is that I'd gotten so comfortable playing a 5 that when the time came to jump back to a 4 - that really messed me up - I hadn't played a 4 for 10 years plus and really found it difficult making the transition back again! It's good to get back to your roots (no pun intended ) - IMO.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1325513276' post='1483779'] For years, the most amazing players with fantastic techniques etc have gotten by with using 4's. The only thing that has changed now is the style of music and how it is reproduced. You should go for it if the music requires it. When I listen some contemporary rock tunes which use a 5 (or more) string, I hardly notice it as it becomes integral to the sound. But often I'll hear a piece of music in say gospel or funk styles and the bassist moves onto the B and I'll be like "oh that's a 5 string" and I find it distracting. I experimented with a 5er in one of my bands any my band-mates were like "yes, that's the sound". There was no turning back.... well... until I left the band. Then I was in a band who tuned to drop CGCF(AD) mostly, so a 5 string became utterly useless and I went back to a specially set up 4. I've seen bassists use the B as a thumb-rest right the way through the set on a 5er and it makes you wonder.... what's it there for, the (alleged) kudos? The transition is very easy.. unless you are one of those dearies who can't get on with a neck that's a smidge bigger or smaller than what you are used to. [/quote] +1 to that! I played a 5 for around 10 years or so - I have still got my Jazz Bass V (and would never sell it) - it was my first "proper" bass & has the Kubicki preamp (sounds great), I also had a Streamer Stage 1 and still have a Spector Legend 5 (though am considering moving this on). I have gone back to playing a 4 now as I found the 5 was making me quite lazy - as mentioned previously, playing in E, F or even G is easier (IMHO), but to my horror I was at a jam session and was asked to play, there was no 5 string available so when I got up to play and the guitarist said the song was in F - I really had to work hard to remember how to play in F on a 4!? I felt [b]really[/b] self-conscious and that for me was the turning point! I'm still happy to pick up a 5 now - and can play that without thinking too much, but definitely prefer a 4 string. I really do believe going back to 4 has made me a more rounded player.

What Bass are you playing? Some sort of EUB? Sounds great!

I[b] really[/b] liked my Carbon Copy - until it packed up on New Years eve! Have e-mailed Dunlop as I think it probably is out of warranty, will be interesting to see if they assist at all? Despite the fact it has failed it really has been a great pedal - I tend to use it quite subtly but it is very good at what it does and I would probably buy another.

Cool - thanks for that!

That's great advice - cheers

Evening All, I'd like to pick all you Ricky gurus brains if I may - I've just purchased a used 2004 Rickenbacker 4003 which I'm very happy with but I have a couple of queries regarding general operation and maintenance I'd like some help with please, so here goes: I've noticed that with the pick up selector switch set to the middle position both volume controls work independently, with the switch in the down position (neck pick up?) the Treble Volume pot doesn't seem to have any effect and vice versa (pick up switch up the Bass Volume has no effect on output volume) - I hope this makes sense and was hoping that some kind soul would confirm whether this is correct? I've also noticed that when playing hard (digging in) the E string sometimes will foul the pole piece on the the neck pick up and occasionally the bridge pick up pole piece as well, causing quite a loud clicking noise, the action is quite high (leaning towards high) so I was thinking perhaps I'll set it up to suit my preference, so that brings me to my next query - how do you adjust the bridge/tailpiece? I can see a couple of small allen key headed screws that look as if they adjust the saddle height and I think I can see some threads under each of the saddles (but can't figure out how to reach them to adjust intonation)? Are there any good websites out there that may give a pointer or am I better leaving well alone? I usually set up my Fenders with no worries but this seems a bit more tricky!? Many thanks in anticipation, Pete

I can relate to this, I had purchased new what I considered the bass of my dreams about 4 or 5 years ago - a Streamer Stage 1 5 string (£1700) - I'd had a 4 previously which was superb quality and sounded fantastic (should never have moved it on), the 5 in comparison was extremely heavy, sounded very dark and didn't cut through the mix at all well - highs/mids were simply lost!? I persevered with it and would always start a gig with it - however 5 or 6 songs in and I always found myself reaching for my back up bass - a Squier Jazz Bass, by comparison this sounded amazing - even the guys in the band noticed my fills and commented how good the Squier sounded. I still have it today and up until recently had always been my back up on stage - I recently sold a Marcus Miller 4 as again I was finding it would be lost in the mix and have since replaced it with a Geddy Lee Jazz - this I would say is on a par with the Squier - perhaps even marginally better. I'd picked up the Squier used for £130 - so definitely consider it budget.

Just sold a Markbass 151HR to Gary, great communications and anhassle free transaction - thanks. Would have no hesitation in buying from or selling to in the future. Best Regards, Pete

Just received a bridge cover & screws from Andy - I'd advertised in items wanted I was looking for the item and he very kindly agreed to post the goods and supply the cover at no cost! I definitely owe him a beer if/when we cross paths - what a top gentleman! Thanks again Andy.

So here's my modest board at the moment: Just need to have a rethink to find space for Brown Dog & Agent 00Funk, I've also got an old EHX Octave Multiplexer which I quite like the Sub functionality - Hmm?

Just purchased a Brown Dog of the Chunk Systems variety from Mike - seamless transaction - thanks, Pete