Spike Vincent

As an engineer I always prefer to DI the amp, if it has that option. As a bassist I tend to go with the engineer's preference because I know how stressful a job it can be...

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1390388255' post='2344719'] perhaps I should have said audience, is there a singular for audience? [/quote] Girlfriend Or if you're really good,Roadie.

Depends where you are, I can recommend a highly skilled luthier who specialises in refinishing and relicing in the Forest of Dean?

Always wanted a Thunderbird. Even before I started playing, I wanted a Thunderbird. Playing left handed limited my options somewhat, to basically none. When Tokai finally condescended to make a few lefty Thunderbirds, I finally achieved my decades long dream of having a Thunderbird. It looks nice.

I've just switched fro Herco Flex 50's to Jim Dunlop nylon .73mm.

I have a pair of Basstations. Wonderful things.You can't stack voices as such because they're monosynths but you can stack both oscillators for added fat.Especially when one is detuned very slightly.

[attachment=152621:beard.jpg]

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1389890906' post='2339195'] Ok I'm coming into some money in the next 2 weeks or so. Currently I play a epiphone eb0 which to be honest I love. It's goodlooking, has a nice thin neck, it's a nice weight. But it's tonel range is very limited and the 3 point bridge apart from looking cool is a pain. And I guess if being honest I would like something with a bit more street cred. I'm looking at getting a Gibson sg bass or a fender mustang. But do I really need a better bass?. Or am I just wanting to spend money for the sake of it. [/quote] Do you NEED a new bass? No. Do you WANT a new bass? Welcome to the world of GAS..

Band practice I use the few effects I use,because we're practicing the tunes. Solo practice is accoustic, when I play for fun I use loads of effects. Because it's fun.

Soundcloud for streaming, Bandcamp for selling.

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1389775095' post='2337666'] There's an art to 'plodding' away holding down 4's or 8's. Anyone who thinks it's beneath them as a bass player to play these kind of parts is serioulsly missing out. The notes may be simple but it's all about making it drive/swing/groove/bounce (delete where applicable) which is where the skill and fun comes in. [/quote] Yes.In my case it's more belting along at 360 bpm and playing chords and diads to make sure the roaring noise doesn't get hollow when the guitarist does a solo, but that sums it up for me. Conversation at a recent local pub gig ,bassist is all widdlywiddlytwangwiddlyoverhanddoubletapYEAHwiddly, and someone in the audience shouts out "Play me something I can dance to".

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1389572760' post='2335783'] Assuming it's the weight of the bass on your leg that is the issue can you assist your strap so that it doesn't rest on your leg at all? [/quote] It does seem to be the weight of the bass on my leg,I've switched from a 78 Fender to a Tokai which is much lighter. Must admit I hadn't even considered using a strap at all......I'll give that a go, if I can find a strap short enough. Thanks all

[quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1389571302' post='2335761'] Tried that, the smell was awful. [/quote] You, Sir, are my new Hero.

Sitting up, back straight,right leg back, left leg forward,bass (Precision) on the left leg. I should remind everyone I play left handed so you normal folk will have to reverse that.It's a fairly genteel pub type of thing (doing a few numbers with my Folky mate). It could just be I'm not used to playing sitting down.I could take the easy option and stand or lean, but I will look a bit out of place.Would one of those little foot rest thingys help?

In total contrast to my excessive strap length issues, I now find myself contemplating a gig where I will be sitting down playing.The problem is......I can't play sitting down. I get numb leg and pins and needles within minutes.Any handy hints on how to avoid this would be welcome.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1389544740' post='2335303'] Secondly, how , why and with what validity did it pass into folk law that wearing a guitar slung low is cool , anyway? Is that assumption universally adhered to, and if so, why? Do the majority of people really believe that, and if they do, why do they do so , are they right to think that way , and should we all subscribe to that belief ? [/quote] Interesting. From a musician's point of view, I would suggest that one's musical heroes and influences would be part of that. JJ burnel and Paul Simenon ( both of whom seem fairly dextrous with low slung basses..) mean I think low slung basses look cool. If your hero and influence was for example Mark King then you might think high slung basses look cool. How that translates to the non musician fans of bands, I haven't got clue. The point I was trying to make,not referring to any individual's posts, was there seems to be an assumption that it's harder to be dextrous with a low slung instrument than a high slung one,and that low slingers are sacrificing ability for the sake of looking cool, and that, quite simply is not my experience.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1389544740' post='2335303'] Firstly, regardless of what is" cool" , for most people slinging the bass very low on a strap makes it harder to play with good technique. Whether you play fancy, widdly stuff with that technique is up to the individual, but you will probably have a better chance of playing any style of music properly and with greater ease. [/quote] That's never been an issue for me, I personally find harder to play with a high instrument, but as I've mentioned I have freakishly long arms..

At risk of alienating myself (again) to suggest that bassists who have low slung instruments can't play and having a high slung instrument means the bassist can play their instrument and go widdly widdly all over all the frets which is in some way seen as better,frankly, is outrageous snobbery.

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1389471169' post='2334591'] My Shergold still has it's original bridge cover. See posts #1 & #5 of this thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/222814-shergold-marathon-couple-of-questions/page__p__2286564__hl__shergold%20marathon__fromsearch__1#entry2286564"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry2286564[/url] [/quote] Ah, you don't need a bridge cover mate, you should give it to me.......

8 string basses aren't common but they've certainly been around for a long time.Check out some of John Paul Jones solo stuff using a Manson 8 string.

I wouldn't worry too much about the plastic bridge cover being missing, I can't recall ever seeing one on a Shergold. Reminds me I'm supposed to be doing a refinish on mine..

The one in my profile pic is Olympic White,albeit aged 36 years and slightly darker.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1389363291' post='2333349'] As my dad once said, if he was that bloody sensible he wouldn't look like that... [/quote] True, but I don't thinking he was expecting an over enthusiastic fan to crush one of his bollocks on stage..

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1389362185' post='2333321'] I would have to disagree with this. I want my bollocks to be easily accessible to the general public when I am playing. [/quote] Captain Sensible may not agree with you on that....

Something that hasn't been mentioned : Arm length. Compared to my limb length, I have a short torso. Which means I have long arms.Compared to Ian Savage's picture,for example, my hands are a good 6 " closer to my knees, which means it's far more comfortable for me to have a low slung bass than it is for me to have it higher up.Just a thought.