BassYerbouti

Idly surfing while waiting for 5.30 to come and thought I'd find out what these posts about NAD amps were - I have a few NAD hi-fi bits at home and thought 'surely they don't make bass stuff too' - then the penny dropped. what a numpty!

Hello again. Well the problem hasn't gone away and came back with a vengeance tonight, long enough for me to grab a phone and record the offending noise. I've attached a sound file which is fairly boring buzzing which gets exacerbated when I pluck a strng, until I switch the amp off about 6 seconds from the end and you can hear an interesting whine and whistle before it shuts down. It did this several times in a row, all with the same sound at the end (when it's working normally it doesn't sign off with this whine and whistle). In line with advice here I have tried different guitars, speakers, swapped all the kettle leads, guitar leads, speakon cables and am 100% sure its the amp. I'd previously changed the valves too and get the same noise on old and new sets. Its going to go back to Orange no doubt but I'd be really interested to know if others recognise the sound and have any knowledge of what the problem was with their amp please. regards, Chris

Plugged my bass into my trusty Orange Terror Bass 500 yesterday for a quick practice and got a worrysome sound I'd never heard before. Like a loud electrical buzz that distorted each string and only happened when I played a note rather than being there all the time. I switched it off and on and got the same effect but after that episode haven't had a reoccurrence. I've ordered a new set of valves more out of panic than anything rational as I have a couple of gigs soon and will be f***d without it. Does it sound like valves? when a valve goes does it become temperamental and then fail or fail straight away? I've been looking for videos that demonstrate different sounds/problems with amps but haven't turned up anything yet. Does anyone have similar experience of advice please? regards, Chris

Some great advice and words of encouragement from you all - thank you.

So I've been gigging with this band for a couple of years now and we could really do with some harmonies to back up the singer. I can lean in and yell the occasional couple of words of a chorus now and again but as soon as I try to do more than that, my playing goes to pieces. I know I'll have to practice and practice but can anyone recommend any tips/short-cuts to help overcome this please?

[quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1401537873' post='2464520'] Actually, frontward band mix aside, earplugs can help a lot. The foam ones can really kill what you hear, but a reasonable set of musicians plug tend to attenuate a bit more of the highs than anything else, and of course leave the sound you are 'feeling' through the rest of your body. The overall effect, aside from reducing the volume battering your ears, is that the high end wash of guitars and cymbals is reduced, leaving a more perceptible mid and low end. It makes the bass seem higher in the mix, while in fact you are reducing the masking frequencies, and leaving the actual SPL in the room the same. Works for ol' cloth ears, over here, anyway! The real solution is in JTUK's post- a band playing correctly should be well balanced, keep out of each others frequency ranges, and shouldn't be too loud. If you can address the 'natural mix' of the band, then that will benefit not only you, but the rest of the players, and anyone who listens to you, too. Of course it can be quite a contentious conversation to have, depending on the personalities involved, but it does address the root cause. [/quote] tried the whole rehearsal with earplugs in last night and was pleasantly surprised. Although I didn't feel as 'involved' with the songs, my timing was better and could hear myself clearly without all the 'pain' of an enthusiastic drummer and lead guitar trying to outdo each other.

Cheers guys - lots of good ideas here for me to try out. thank you

As I get older and deafer I am finding it harder to hear myself above the drums and wall of sound our band puts out when rehearsing or playing gigs without monitors. I've seen singers and musicians with those in ear devices that I imagine they are using instead of the wedges I am more used to. Does anyone use these or similar to somehow monitor their own rig, maybe using the DI Out on their amps or have any other advice on getting to hear yourself without turning up your rig and drowning everyone else out?

Me and the Mrs are off to Glastonbury at the ripe old age of ahem 50 something. She went years ago and has never stopped going on about it, so thought I'd go and see what all the fuss was about. I pride myself on having an eclectic taste in music but drew the line at metal some years ago. When I saw the Metallica announcement I kind of groaned as I'd been hoping for someone I was really into, anyways as part of my homework just this morning I downloaded a copy of the black album and played on the way into work - hell I like it! I am definately going to check them out, unless of course it clashes with Pixies or Black Keys

Anyone at a loose end in London this Saturday 29th March get yerself down to the 100 Club for some classic Dad Rock with The Mighty WUB [url="http://www.the100club.co.uk/gigs/the-mighty-wub/"]http://www.the100club.co.uk/gigs/the-mighty-wub/[/url]

Played the inaugural Mole Music club at The Avorians, Cobham. Supported The Funkin Skunks after KT66. Immense sound, fun crowd. We declared it our best gig yet. Only once did we find ourselves looking at each other thinking 'how did we agree to finish this song?'

Thanks guys - the DI is my main requirement so wont get carried away with nice to have's. You've all been very helpful - thank you.

I'm looking for some backup for my rig in the event of failure and thinking about getting a nifty DI box. I've scanned various threads and become aware of lots of other features that would be useful so wondered if anyone can recommend a box that gives me: DI Headphone Output A way to connect into my mac (firewire, USB) to get the signal into Logic EQ/Amp Modelling Could be powered from my Boss 12v supply Thanks for all suggestions

I prefer my Precision for playing live and the Stingray for noodling around at home

I've owned and gigged an SP212 for last 2 years. I should fess up that I only bought an Orange OTB/SP212 rig because my first amp as an aspiring base player when I was a teen was an Orange and I loved the tone. It packs a punch for sure and is so practical for practising at home or someone else's when we are noodling. I recently added an OBC115 and used it last night for first time in tandem with the SP212 - great sound/tone. Having said all that, I have no idea what anything else sounds like as I've played nothing else.

Played to a 100 friends and acquaintances in sleepy Dorking at a working mans club which raised a grand for a cancer charity. Slightly unnerved by a drunk heckler during the sound check who explained where we going wrong on with our opening number. Kept it all together until the encore when we murdered Suffragette City. Such are the thrills and spills of our little band. what a blast

orange OBC115

Well I had a look and fell in love straight after plugging in and hearing the first 'thunk' from my E string. He/she/it is now mine and nestling at the bottom of my mini stack. thanks for all your help

All great advice guys - thank you very much, I feel a lot more confident about taking the plunge now.

Hi guys, it's a last minute rush thing - apologies. Going to check out a new cab tonight (second hand). Any advice on how to spot something that is shagged/faulty? do I inspect the cone? what would damage look like if it wasnt a hole or tear? thanks for all advice. regards, BYB

Take That and Shove It

Don't worry I found him with Google: Andy Baxter

Hi guys, I seem to recall finding a tutor who was operating out of Bishipsgate/Shoreditch in London and had a stack of lovely Stingrays for sale on his website. does it ring a bell with anyone? I know, I've tried the search button and failed

[b]Thanks for the advice chaps, on closer inspection, the duracels were not [u]exactly[/u] the same (maybe one was a fake). Anyways I had a good look inside the Nun's chuff and noticed one of the tabs wasn't springing all the way back, so released it and all was good for the gig on Sunday. [/b]

I am a recent owner of a second hand Stingray and with a gig coming up thought, I'd replace the battery just in case it pegged out during the gig. I put a shiny new duracel in to replace the old duracel but found it wasn't making contact and so I switched back to the old one which did but with a few more hours playing and another gig looming am back to square one. Does anyone have any tips for making sure the battery in the Stingray makes good contact please?