WalMan

I have arranged the courier a few times now - mainly because the item is too far away, probably initially listed as collection only, and on here from someone with good feedback so I have trusted the forum member, oh and I get a rate through the courier work uses. I must admit I perhaps haven't thought too much about packaging, knowing the bass was in a bag or case and would be boxed, and trusting the description and photos listed by the member in terms of checking over the bass. Not had a problem, but perhaps I've just been lucky

Last night at the latest local venue to be closing in the next couple of weeks an ours for just after it's due was pulled forward. Packed night ... so WTF have you been previously? Not out supporting your local venue that's for sure!. Ah well you never know what you've lost 'til it's gone. Gig went OK I suppose and ended well but I am getting really pissed off with the sh*te sound we are getting out front. Last meeting we had I'm sure we agreed (at last) to stop relying on FOH for levels , drive the backline better and get light & shade from there,not expect Mr Sound to deal with it just leaving FOH to handle vox & some enhancement of acoustiv things like the kit. Tonight? The first set was IMV a feckin embarassment. Bass rig was running as intended and sounded good & punchy, but the guitars backline was down, going through the PA, and again IMVwith a sound that was all over the place You might have said 'why no soundcheck?' Well we did line checks and a quick run through and it's not as if it's the first time we've played there, but by the time the first set started the sound was not right and stayed that way, or worse, it seemed for the whole of set 1. Drummer was muttering in the break that all the backline was too loud and I had to say 'NO IT ISN'T' in fact if anything the guitars were to low. What he was getting & moaning about was what was coming through the PA and off the back wall. Set 2 got better and ended with plenty of crowd participation and people coming uop asking where we are next. The answer to that is a couple of gigs mid/ end August and that is now it for the year. I ought to try to find new gigs, but really canot drag myself to do so knowing what the sound will be like if / when we do get new places & show up fot the first one. It frustrates & embarasses me at the moment and I sadly donbt the band will continue much longer unless we can get something to change For tonight crowd reaction to the gig would be 8/10 my satisfaction with the gig and where we are 'at' , however, struggles to even make 1/10

I think someone has mentioned Lettuce, and this vid was posted previously http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va3eqsO_ErA or the album version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGvUkHFzIZ8 Trotted off & found the three albums for download from eMusic shortly after they were mentioned before

Just had an email from eSoundz about a deal they have on for Sampletank at the mo. I really like it and this deal is for the full version plus extra sound libraries. You can find the details [url="https://www.esoundz.com/effects/sampletank-2-5xl-2-free-sampletank-libraries-/5027.html"]HERE[/url] [quote] [b] WIN a Free SampleTank Gold bundle! SampleTank 2.5XL with 2 Bonus Libraries just $39.99[/b] This week we have a very special ONLY at eSoundz. We have IK Multimedia's SampleTank 2.5XL on SALE for just [b]$39.99[/b]. This is the top-of-the-line-version of SampleTank with a huge 9 GB library. And of course, at eSoundz we always raise the deal, so to make this offer even better, with this purchase we are giving you [b]TWO bonus individual expansion libraries[/b] of your choice for SampleTank selected from our SampleTank Instruments and ReTank libraries (see below). And it gets even better. If you buy SampleTank 2.5XL with the 2 free bonus libraries from eSoundz this week, you will automatically be entered into our drawing where one lucky eSoundz customer will win a [b]FREE SampleTank Tank GOLD bundle[/b] of their choice: either the SampleTank Instrument Expansion Gold Bundle or the ReTank Expansion Gold Bundle. And of course the winner will still get to choose their 2 additional free single libraries on top of that. [/quote] ...and if you should happen to go for it my username at Esoundz is AlEebee when you get to the checkout and it asks

A3 Sportback fits BF Super12 + leads case & bass pedals in the boot - with space for small bits & bobs dotted around in spaces - then twin bass bag, Roland A300 keyboard & synth, case fr the LED par bar & amp bag across the back seat. Went for a smaller car than the previous Laguna estate as I was cutting down gear - yeah right ! - and most of the time it's just me in the car too & from work

[quote name='Thurbs' timestamp='1372072185' post='2121158'] Played at a dive on Saturday night for the first time, the sort of place where the bogs are full of people doing lines of coke etc. Didn't get stabbed, or the van nicked, or a drunkard falling over expensive gear so all is well. Managed to miss a verse from Sultans of Swing though, but knowone else noticed! [/quote]By the sound of it never has the phrase '...still nobody died' been more relevant. :-)

This weeks deep. Somewhat more rehearsed than last as I had rather more than four hours notice and a couple of run throughs. Funky disco stuff, so NOT my usual but fun all the same - I just love playing. Took then DSI MoPho and keys as well so did keyboard bass to a couple, which was different. No major foul ups and a fun night with the Wal. Even managed my cackhanded version of 'sort of' slap, pick attack up on the Wal sounded lovely through the rig & got compliments generally on the sound. I just love getting out & making music. Don't really mind much what the style is. I can be such a whooer sometimes :-)

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1371157400' post='2110751'] If you like zingy coated strings, try DR Strings. Though it seems roundwound strings have doubled in price since I switched to flatwound. [/quote]Funny how strings suit different people isn't it. I am 99% sure it was DR coated's that I tried a couple of years back in a LBGS deal, and absolutely hated

Possibly, but I do like them and the only other coated set I've tried I hated & were a complete false economy as they came off the bass almost immediately. Not sure whether you'd call EB Cobalts coated - I think the answer must be no - but I've also tried a couple of sets of those and still ended up back at the Elixirs. Elsewhere there was a quote from Roger Sadowsky that the majority of coated strings (Elixir included) lead to hum on the bass as the coating meant that the earth through contact over the bridge was disturbed leading to ground hum. Tested it on the L2500 last night in the village hall r/h room - allnoisy flourescent lights - and not a peep in either active or passive mode ... so who knows on that score. It may be something to watch for if you use coated strings and start to get earth buzz/hum you never had before, but that is not my personal experience.

Another +1. Have had covers for the old MB combo & Epifani cab, and now the BF S12T. They also made a great cover for my Roland PK5 bass pedals after a very prompt response to an initial query through the site and exchange of emails with dimensions. I had the custom bag, which I think was added to the site as a previous custom option, within a week IIRC

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1371119896' post='2109991'] Pick!!! Or fingers if you must [/quote] Fixed it for you Though actually, of course, it's whatever best suits to job at hand

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1370947009' post='2107721'] I do sometimes when I can find some TAB but they are always more complex.. I haven't done any transcribing yet :-0 [/quote]I always find TAB completely confusing as 99% of the time there's no real indication of note length, added to which most of what I have found on t'internet is utter blx.

[quote name='mushers' timestamp='1370941792' post='2107620'] fight back by playing a 5 string that really gets the guitarist going if their trying to follow you [/quote]better still get a Hipshot D-tuner and do the odd song tuned DADG

[quote name='Jellyfish' timestamp='1370896613' post='2107205'] Here's a reason not to use them too, at least. [url="http://btpub.boyd-printing.com/display_article.php?id=1115676"]http://btpub.boyd-pr....php?id=1115676[/url] [/quote]Never experienced that & IIRC it was the D’Addario I tried & hated. Hey ho

I still have a couple of sets in stock, and they do last a long time. I did try a different coated brand a couple of years back but they weren't a patch on the Elixirs. IIRC the price is possibly gettting back towards where they started years back. I still love'em and think they have the edge for me once you take longevity into account. A set that lasts getting on for twice as long come out the same as two sets of another brand if you look at it that way

Just got an email from Strings Direct - see [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co/stringmails/june2013/Elixir_Price_Rise/Elixir_Price_Rise.html"]HERE[/url]

For getting on for 20 years my Pro1 was my only bass and came to all the fleapits & dives we used to gig with - to date & please God without tempting fate - no problems. It has always been insured, though as a passive->active conversion hybrid Wal I think I would have a virtually impossible job to replace it. It had been semi retired, but just sounds so good and plays so easily that it's been going into the twin bag for gigs more & more again recently. Gigged with a chap recently who had his prized basses and his pub gig basses, the latter being bargain buys on Ebay

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1370811468' post='2105947'] I can't work out what the car has got to do with the story. [/quote]Oh good. I'm glad it's not just me

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1370638028' post='2103934'] Yep.... It's either a brilliant idea or completely mental....can't decide which.... But it'll certainly be an experience We have the first slot on the Friday night, so if we stuff up there will be others behind us..... But in fairness, I hope we will go down well... Everyone is working hard [/quote]You've got to start somewhere, so why not - mind everything thereafter will be an anticlimax

More of 'in the last week or so I have been learning/scoring/jotting notes for' this little lot for a dep. The list is from the dropbox folder of the songs run through at a r/h for the dep last Tuesday: 01 - Turn On Tune In Cop Out 02 - Super Duper Love 03 - Do You Want The Truth 04 - I Try 05 - Valerie 07 - Young Hearts 08 - Do Me 09 - Living For The City 10 - Superstition 11 - Not That Kind 12 - Love Foolosophy 13 - Signed Sealed Delivered 14 - Somebody Elses Guy 15 - I Want Your Love 16 - Rehab 17 - You Can Keep Your Hat On 18 - Come Together 19 - Master Blaster 20 - Teardrops 21 - Long Train Running 22 - Moves Like Jagger 23 - Mr Big Stuff 24 - Play That Funky Music 26 - Money's Too Tight 27 - Forget You 28 - Cosmic Girl 29 - Celebration 30 - Le Freak 31 - Seven Nation Army 33 - Sex Machine 34 - Disco Inferno Nothing too awkward, except possibly the run in Master Blaster. Some more fun than others, for example 'Moves Like Jagger' is possibly the most tedious bass line that I was at some points playing hammering on to the bass & doubling on the synth Got my disco flairs & glitter on for 7, 29, 30 & 34 Seven Nation Army was a busk having not heard it, or the version (from Jools) to be covered - my busk was[u][i]nothing[/i][/u] like the track when I finally came to hear it - more Madness than slappity funk - but hey it sort of worked though I need to go back & work on that

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1370451449' post='2101142'] They should have paid you.... [/quote] well probably, but it's the usual thing; it was a guy I've known for years, might get a call again so don't burn bridges, but mainly I'm a pushover

Resurrecting this thread this thread, it's been a day of changes. Last night I had a run through the 30+ songs I have learnt up for a dep coming up with a funky function band. Went having been through the songs and written out notes to varying degrees - some just a scribble of the basic chord pattern, or even just the first note / key, and others where I had scored out at least the main verse & chorus riffs and a rough map of the song. I know/knew I should have done a bit more, but it's not a style I normally play (that being classic rock & prog) and for some of the songs it's really just a two bar riff ad nauseam and more down to groove & feel, so for learning them it was a bit boring at times. Had a DropBox full of live versions of the songs as they do them, but in some instances I had not listened all the way through (I KNOW!) so there was the outside chance I had missed a change. I played with the keys player years ago, and the drummer is in my classic rock band who I have played with since we were 17, so as a unit we are generally pretty tight. Anyway, went along last night and, bar a couple of songs I knew I had to work more on and going back over a couple of bits, we played through the whole of both sets and it went pretty well. All seemed happy enough. Cut to this morning & the drummer copied a note he'd had from the keys: [quote]Hi Kev, great rehearsal last night and it was so nice to play with Al again. If he hadn't put in much work I'd like to see him when he has! Great choice and good on you for suggesting him[/quote] Nice to know & gave me a bit of a boost having been to the GP's this morning about the shoulder that has been giving me gyp recently (not helped by lugging the Wal for 3-2 hours last night) and my lower back pain that the physio has not sorted and which has been grumbling on for a month & a half now.

Both of the last two auditions I did I was given a list of no more that 8 IIRC and 'pick a three from the list and we'll go through them. I did actually work through all of them, but mainly because 1) it was stuff I enjoyed; and 2) varied. 25+ does seem a tad excessive. I while back I to learn 25 or so for a dep, that actually fell through (was asked as "our bass players's dicking us around", learnt them, then having been drawing a blank on confirming the dates & a quick run through to top & tail, was told "sorry we don't need you now" which was a bit of a pisser) and have recently had to learn up 30+ for another dep, but those are deps with a view to possibly more work & not just an audition!

Mine may join the throng, along with the case I got for it. Good unit, and I downloaded the editor and spent some time fiddling with patches trying to get a set of equalised patches for gigging, but in reality I'm too lazy to put the work into getting it all set up for what I want, and I am currently happy with my rig 'sans effects'. Presently keeping it because I sold the BOD a few months back and it [i]might[/i] be useful for some recording for the amp & cab sims, but even then I have IK SVX on the Mac so even there it is probably surplus to requirements