stevie

[quote name='alexclaber' post='486323' date='May 12 2009, 08:27 PM']Shouldn't that be Bl? [/quote] I'll ask Neville next time we go for a pint.

[quote name='dood' post='486313' date='May 12 2009, 08:16 PM']Written by Neville Thiele, 1993 in the Audio Engineering Society publication. Nicely quoted. [/quote] Thanks. Neville deserves to be quoted more, don't you agree? Good googling, by the way.

[quote name='TGEvans' post='486302' date='May 12 2009, 08:09 PM']Thanks, I think........ Seriosly though I think it should be fine.[/quote] I think you're right. As Alex said, it should be loud enough for just about anything.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='486268' date='May 12 2009, 07:20 PM']A good 2x15" at full blast might produce about 130dB SPL @ 1m which is roughly 10 acoustic watts. A decent band with good dynamics might run between 100 and 120dB at the audience, which is between 0.1 and 1W.[/quote] Just to amplify that, the magnetoelectrical performance of a loudspeaker driver is often characterized by the force factor B1, in units of tesla-meters. However, the parameter B1-Rc, in units of newtons per -watts, which can be described as a force conversion Fme, allows more meaningful comparisons of magnetoelectrical structures, while a second force conversion factor Fam, with units of -watts per newton, similarly allows comparison between the acoustomechanical characteristics of different cones. The efficiency (ratio of acoustic watts out to electrical watts in) of the driver is derived by multiplying these two force conversion factors together and squaring their product. Back to you, Alex.

[quote name='rmorris' post='485444' date='May 11 2009, 11:27 PM']I would have to say that NiMH rechargeables do tend to drop their voltage / power more rapidly than alkalines and more so as they get older. It depends on lots of things though - pattern of use / temperature etc. and is a whole topic in its own right. btw they also tend to lose charge more quickly when 'in the drawer' so don't bank on those ones that you charged up the other week still being okay. Various brands tested but I can't see big differences between them. Views welcome.[/quote] Can't say I've noticed NiMH rechargeables weakening as they age, and I use quite a few. However, it is true as you say that they 'self-discharge' over a period of between 3 and 6 months. You should therefore top them up just before you use them and remember that you will need to fully recharge them in 6 months at the latest whether you use them or not. There is no point in using them in things like clocks (or basses for that matter), where an alkaline normally lasts for years. Having said that, alkalines usually last a year in some of my meters, but I have a habit of forgetting to switch them off. That's where rechargeables really come into their own.

[quote name='jake_tenfloors' post='224272' date='Jun 22 2008, 05:00 PM']Duracell rechargeable ftw.[/quote] Yes, rechargeables all the way. You can get the top brands for around £6 each or pretty good ones from Aldi for £1.99 when they are in stock. It's a no-brainer - and you'll be looking after the planet.

[quote name='machinehead' post='484385' date='May 10 2009, 04:52 PM']So, after that long-winded introduction here are my questions: 1. What speaker should I buy to best match the Markbass B&C speaker in the combo? 2. Would this be successful if I simply copied the dimensions of the combo, including the rear port? (By this I mean would the two similar sized boxes be a decent balanced match?) 3. Roughly what sort of results should I expect by adding another 12", similar sized cab to the 121 combo? More volume? Deeper sound? That is what I am hoping for. 4. Finally, would building this cab be worth the effort based on the expected returns, sound and volume wise bearing in mind I will also have a Compact cab. I'm hoping the responses to this thread will help me decide this.[/quote] 1. The best match would probably be the same one that’s already in the Markbass cab you have. You’re unlikely to be able to get hold of one though. Even if they are using a standard B&C driver, it will have a different model number because of the different colour cone. The only way of finding out for sure would be to measure the speaker parameters, something that requires specialist equipment. It might be worth looking inside the cab just in case you can deduce what speaker is in there. B&C drivers are not cheap, however. A 400-watt neodymium 12” from B&C will cost you around £150. 2. Yes, that would be a reasonable plan. Even if you can’t get the identical driver, you should be able to find something that works reasonably well in what looks like a 35-litre box. There are a few Celestion 12s that would fit the bill. The two Green label bass speakers look OK for the purpose – the BL12-200X (ferrite magnet) and the BN12-300X (neo magnet). As there is only 1kg difference in the weight, you might want to save money by opting for the ferrite magnet one. The power handling difference will not be an issue in practice. 3. You’ll get more volume and an impression of more bass. Depending on what you have at the moment (I'm not really familiar with it), the combination of the two may well go lower. 4. The driver will cost you something in the region of £70. You could always knock a cabinet up in half-inch chipboard and No More Nails glue from B&Q just to try it and get a feel for what you need to do should you decide to build a proper cab (15mm birch ply would be good). Total cost with the wood will be around £120, depending on how you finish it. Certainly worth a go, I’d say. However, it’s quite possible you won’t need another cab when you get your Compact, as you’ll have two already. It's a decision that you have to make yourself. But as a project for familiarizing yourself with speaker building, it's probably a good one. You might like to download and check out the freeware WinISD software to model what you are doing.

[quote name='redstriper' post='483274' date='May 8 2009, 08:15 PM']I would be interested in these if no one else wants them.[/quote] Can I join the queue? If anyone else would like to pass on some used flats, I'd be happy to send a stamped addressed Jiffy bag. It's a lot of money if it doesn't work out.

[quote name='Mike' post='483153' date='May 8 2009, 05:34 PM']I don't think there are any legal repercussions with midi files. Especially with something like Autumn Leaves. Post away![/quote] The system won't let me. If anyone wants it I'll have to email it.

I have a midi file with an amazing transcription of Autumn Leaves by the Bill Evans trio. Can I post it here (or maybe just ask if you'd like a copy)?

[quote name='Fitzy73' post='482380' date='May 7 2009, 08:14 PM']Hi , I fitted SD STK J1 Basslines to a jazz bass project(passive with 250k pots) as per installation guide . The problem is the volume is not as good as my other basses. have i missed something or is my pots faulty . anyone use these pick ups before or had the same problem cheers fitzy73[/quote] The volume should be around the same as a standard Jazz pickup. If it were me, I'd recheck my wiring from the pickup, then try swapping the outputs from one of the coils - just in case one is out of phase. However, it's never happened to me - so I'm not speaking from experience here.

I don't know where Jon is getting all the Quarter Pounders from, but mine arrived today, well packed and exactly as described. First-class post, too, which was an unexpected bonus. Many thanks.

[quote name='Eight' post='479194' date='May 4 2009, 06:23 PM']Is there anyone over the age of five still participating in this thread?[/quote] There are some over the age of five still reading it. There have actually been some very interesting posts from the less chippy contributors. It's been worth wading through, I think.

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='479160' date='May 4 2009, 05:49 PM']I'm a tad surprised that no-one on the side opposite the 'should read' part of the discussion hasn't mentioned the talents of Stevie Wonder 'cos apparently he doesn't (read that is - unless there is a form of braille 'notation'? - Serious query that BTW)[/quote] BINGO! I was wondering how long it would take.

[quote name='maxrossell' post='476955' date='May 1 2009, 12:57 PM']Ah aha ha. Very funny. University of Central Lancashire. Joint Honours, Bachelor of Arts in Music & The Creative Arts and Performance Technology. And you can save whatever Mickey Mouse comments I'm sure you have in store, because I'd rather you didn't unwittingly insult the former tutors and now close friends of mine who wrote the course.[/quote] OK - I'll leave the Mickey Mouse comments (tempted though I am). [quote name='maxrossell' post='476955' date='May 1 2009, 12:57 PM']And scored as in written the music for. Variously, horns, strings, percussion, keys and vocals. On a couple of occasions for an orchestra, although if by "full" you mean 100+, not really. more like 25 at most. However we made it just fine without a single piece of written classical notation.[/quote] I'm trying to imagine how you got a 25-piece orchestra to play together without any written music, although the fact that you were able to do this at all is a tribute to your abilities. But my question is - wouldn't it have been easier to have arranged the music in standard notation and printed out parts for everyone to read?

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='476982' date='May 1 2009, 01:24 PM']But again, its the Skegness Theatre argument. Good for you, but I have no desire to play those songs. The musicians I play will will never have heard of them. If I were to play them, I wouldn't play the bass line as recorded.[/quote] There's all kind of stuff out there. You should be able to find whatever music you're interested in. But being able to read - even if it's just a bit - is the key. Works for me anyway.

I wonder how many of you non-readers realize how much music is available for free on the web. There are literally thousands of midi and Guitar Pro arrangements all over the place with a full bass line. For example, following the recent thread here on Blues tunes, I downloaded the following midi files earlier today for a practice session tonight – me and my trusty laptop orchestra. Crossroads Born under a Bad Sign Thrill is Gone Into the Night Cocaine I Shot the Sheriff Lay Down Sally Tears in Heaven Wonderful Tonight Need Your Love So Bad Pride and Joy Texas Flood And while I was at it, I picked up a few others that I fancy playing. Jessica Walking in Memphis Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight Birdland And some some others including a few jazz standards and Air on a G String for string quartet. I’ve only played two or three of these before but I will probably get most of them 90 percent down this evening. I certainly couldn't do it without the dots. It takes longer to actually memorize them, of course. I’ve only been playing for two years but I decided right from the start that I was going to learn to read. It’s made all the difference. I suspect that reading from the very outset is the way to do it, rather than learning to read once you can already play. As this thread makes only too clear, it is easy to find a perfectly reasonable excuse why you need not bother.

[quote name='maxrossell' post='476296' date='Apr 30 2009, 06:58 PM']I have a 1st class degree in music. I have written, produced and co-produced four albums and a half-dozen EPs or original material all in association with exceptional musicians. I'm going on for my fifteenth year as a performing musician. I even briefly had a publishing deal. I've scored three plays and two short films. And yet I have never learned to read music.[/quote] There are plenty of fine musicians who can't read but I suspect that a first-class degree in busking isn't worth the paper it's written on. What college is it from? And what do you mean by 'scored' - written out the chord charts? Nothing wrong with that, but if you wanted to arrange music for a full orchestra you'd be a bit stuck not being able to read. Unless you were Paul McCartney, of course.