mcnach

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1497871732' post='3320945'] First gig playing bass with [url="https://inisolation.bandcamp.com"]In Isolation[/url] on Saturday at The Chameleon in the sweltering heat. Learnt the full set of 12 songs in 3 weeks and 4 rehearsals. Full of deceptively complex bass lines which made me work much harder as a player than I have in recent years. Didn't make any mistakes that the audience noticed, which is always a good thing, and during some of the less taxing songs I was even able to throw some suitable on-stage "shapes". [/quote] I enjoyed the recording linked... thanks!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1498382621' post='3324161'] Hmm... Not sure if buying a strap, albeit a vegan vinyl strap, from a company specialising in leather goods is in the spirit and ethos of vegan..? [/quote] actually, Dad makes a good point...

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1498381957' post='3324152'] Here's another source - looks like quite a popular movement: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/306518-righton-handmade-straps-spain/"]http://basschat.co.u...e-straps-spain/[/url] [/quote] They have a pretty cool selection, and it seems that they'd do you a custom one if what you like is not already in their catalog... worth a shot!

[quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1498335016' post='3323950'] I own an EBS Multi-comp and it is absolutely brilliant. It gives me that nice, solid and thumpy 'oomph!' whenever I need it. I've yet to try some others but I'm going to keep an eye on this thread and see what others recommend. [/quote] I like the Multicomp a lot. It has a baked-in sound that I wish weren't there, but it's still good. I like its multiband setting when there's a lot of switching between slap/fingerstyle involved. It makes the slap sound very nice (part of it is the baked-in tone it has). The 'tube' setting is nice and thick and sounds pretty good. For more transparent compressors, I like the MXR one and the BBE Optocomp. The MXR takes a little more work to get it right, but it can be set to where you just don't know it's there and is nice as a subtle tool to round off the sound. I don't like the input sensitivity 'though, it seems I have to have it nearly maxed and my basses are not particularly low output... Dunno. The BBE one is the one I'd go for if I wanted a simple compressor that is very transparent and thickens the sound without altering much anything else. But I nearly always prefer the way my bass sounds when I remove the compressor... so I'm conflicted. I like some compressors for some things, but I don't like them for other things... Right now I tend to switch them off... but I still have them in my boards.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1498325741' post='3323893'] I've had several - never found one that didn't make a difference/improvement - lots to choose from. I quote like the Bassballs [/quote] Bassballs? Compressor?

Bands don't last forever, and it's worth reminding ourselves of that fact. Some last long, but they're the exception. My main band, for instance... it looks like it'll be over in just over a year, after 8 years together. A key member is taking a few months to go explore the world and although it wasn't announced as the end and he wants to return and for us to carry on then... it's really pretty much the end. If you stop for 6 months or whatever, people drift and start doing other things. We all have other side projects to satisfy our itch to make music... so they'll naturally take first spot, and it's hard to go back to normal after a break like that. It's life. People change their goals, life is dynamic... things happen... their focus shifts... I think it's important to keep that in mind and live the moment for what it is worth. It feels like a drag to start fresh with a new band, as we know it takes time to get things right and the right people etc... For that reason I like to have one or two 'low demand' projects on the go on the side. It keeps me interested as it adds variety, it softens the blow of any one band dropping, and it also exposes you to more people which is good for your playing but also for networking, which makes it easier to get into new projects. Don't lose heart. Remember the good times. Do you still like playing bass? Then carry on, there are a lot of great opportunities out there, you just haven't found them yet.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1498082471' post='3322489'] I've heard him give that lesson before. And now when I play the wrong note, I just slide to the right one and people think I meant it [/quote] Do it twice to remove any doubts. I do it all the time

when he's in teacher mode, he's phenomenal. Thanks for the video.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1498066896' post='3322343'] I have that DVD. I've always thought there's more to that story than what's in the film. Blue [/quote] There may be more, of course... but I would not be surprised if 'luck' was a factor why other bands in the same bill now are well established wealthy bands and they... well, they put everything they've got to be able to tour once more, and barely break even. Whatever the reasons why they didn't make it, it must sting when you know you were at the right place and the right time... and all the others but you 'made it' while you still work in a factory... I was a young 'metalhead' back then in the 80s and I remember them (Anvil) being played on the radio just like Anthrax and Metallica... I wonder if they can trace their fate to a particular decision, someone they pissed off, or something like that.

about making it, or almost making it... one of the saddest examples I know is the metal band "Anvil". There is a documentary about them from a few years ago. They were mingling with a bunch of bands in the 80s that all became big... and they did not. The main guy is still trying... It was very interesting, but sad.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1498040688' post='3322114'] nothing to add but I hope you find the knob of your desire [/quote] and so it begins...

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1498036657' post='3322077'] Should find something here - [url="http://uk.farnell.com/c/fasteners-mechanical/knobs-accessories/prl/results?shaft-diameter=6.35mm"]http://uk.farnell.co...diameter=6.35mm[/url] [/quote] Thanks! That's a great site. Some good kn... erm, items in there scared me (US stock, add £15.95 to the order, eek!!!), but I found some interesting ones reasonably priced. I ordered a couple from the site Beer of the Bass indicated already, I'll wait and see if I like them enough 'in person' and if not I'll try here, cheers!

[quote name='Skinnyman' timestamp='1498035441' post='3322067'] Can I just congratulate everyone for the admirable restraint shown in this topic given the title? [/quote] I am very pleasantly surprised... I just did not want to say anything as I feared it would start things, so let's see how it goes now. I'm surprised Discreet hasn't found this thread. He has a 'spidey' sense for these things...

The one thing this bag was not so good at is... the bottom: there is no padding at all!!! Very strange. Fortunately, I had some very tough and dense foam from work, from the packaging of some large piece of equipment, and it came very handy to make a nice supportive bottom layer: So with that at the bottom, the back of the amp is now protected too. I use some of the remainder foam to cut a frame to fill the gap when I only carry the amp inside. It makes a good space for accessories, so I'll probably take the power and speaker cables there, and use the side pockets for other things. It could have been better... but I'm not complaining. It'll do the job nicely and I trust this with my amp, something I could not say about the original bag, which I will use as a dust cover at home.

Et voila... here's the case I found. It's a decent fit in two dimensions... but leaves enough room for another amp almost. I can fit the D800+ with the original case inside this! Which I guess is one way to add protection The extra space can come handy for things like a laptop, folders with music etc: The top is well padded and has a rigid plastic sheet for added protection. It is a pocket too, so you could insert something else there. The small sides have small pockets, and the large sides open completely and have several compartments. So there is plenty of space for cables etc.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1497955355' post='3321548'] What about these guys? Same diameter, and you can get them in black, but the flattened shape is distinct enough that you could easily feel if you grabbed the wrong knob. [url="https://www.bitsbox.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=94_108_314&zenid=0g5bpmf24n71eta7f3elanj5r0"]https://www.bitsbox....1eta7f3elanj5r0[/url] [/quote] ... and ordered! Thank you!

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1497955356' post='3321549'] I think I would be tempted to put different coloured glow in the dark sticker above each to eliminate confusion. Seems a simpler solution. [/quote] I don't want stickers anywhere. They eventually come off, leave residue... I don't want you to think I'm obsessed by knobs, but that's what I want right now... let's just stop this conversation...

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1497955355' post='3321548'] What about these guys? Same diameter, and you can get them in black, but the flattened shape is distinct enough that you could easily feel if you grabbed the wrong knob. [url="https://www.bitsbox.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=94_108_314&zenid=0g5bpmf24n71eta7f3elanj5r0"]https://www.bitsbox....1eta7f3elanj5r0[/url] [/quote] Ah! Now we're talking! I like these... I could get a black set and a cream set, in case the black ones are not distinct enough visually...

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1497946876' post='3321453'] What would make the knobs from a Jazz easy to distinguish from those on the Mesa ... which look an awful lot like the knobs from a Jazz? [/quote] size, for the tone ones... and they often come in other colours, like grey or cream which might be ok... It looks like going to electronic components shops is the best bet. Guitar oriented ones often want you to buy a whole set and charge a lot more... Actually an old style Boss pedal knob would be ideal... I just got one like that from Maplin, 69p each, a bit smaller than I wanted originally but look alright. Let's see. I kind of liked the black domed metal knobs often found on basses, with a white dot as indicator... but I can't seem to find them in the UK...

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1497945078' post='3321435'] I [i]was [/i]going to suggest tone knobs from a Jazz bass. [/quote] if I found them in 1/4" shaft format they would work...

[quote name='Crawford13' timestamp='1497455191' post='3318326'] I notice when you answered the question about how much you play, you said you don't play every day. I would recommend playing for even 15 mins everyday and you would be surprised how quickly the callouses will come on. [/quote] This. I think playing very regularly, even if some days is not a lot, helps keeping the fingertips in shape. Mine do not feel particularly hard or anything, but I play nearly every day for a bit, and I can easily play a 3h gig without noticing anything. However, if I had a period of not playing much, even after a 2x45' gig I could feel my fingertips not exactly sore, but getting there. And of course, watching the pressure. You don't need a lot of pressure against the frets, so a lighter touch will definitely help too.

Looking really promising! That's a very nice looking bit of wood... thanks for sharing!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1497913974' post='3321349'] A 1/4" slice of wide heat-shrink tubing, your choice of colour, shrunk onto the existing knobs would give 'em a distinctive look, maybe..? [/quote] They'd look distinctive but I also want them to look good However you just reminded me I needed to get some coloured shrink tubing to mark a few cables, thanks!