mcnach

Yeah, you won't get the Stingray sound from the L2500. I had both a L2500 and a USA SUB5 for a short time... The L2500 is more like a Jazz who went to same competitions that Arnie used to go to. Very powerful, can be both smooth or aggressive, and it's lovely, but if the Stingray sound is what you're after then it won't be a good match. I loved both, soundwise. The Lakland 55-02 is another hybrid. Still no Stingray, but it gets closer than the L2500 when you use the top coil alone and play with the preamp a bit. However, if you really must have the Stingray sound, this won't do it either, although it's ultra versatile and sounds great and has the nicest neck I have ever played on a 5 string.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1490739802' post='3267638'] It depends how much he makes from those two gigs and how much of it he gives to her. Assuming she is sat at home alone on the Saturdays when he is out working. When I worked New Years eves, and they were hard work that paid reasonably well, on New Year's Day I'd take the family out for a meal to compensate. They wouldn't have gone out on NYE partying anyway and we'd all have been home watching TV, so it was only compensation in the loosest of terms. [/quote] Yeah, but that NYE gig is a one off. It was similar with me. My gf didn't love the fact I had a gig that day, despite neither of us being big on partying on that night but she loves being out for the fireworks etc. The money was good and we managed to run out of the venue for the fireworks, and get back in time to play again... then we used the cash on ourselves (partially, I also had a bass purchase in mind... although I went off the idea in the end). This summer coming, I already made a mistake Her birthday is on a Sunday. I got offered a good gig on the Saturday and accepted, because in my mind it wasn't her birthday, right? Of course, afterwards I realised "dang, but it's the weekend, we'd normally do something... argh, she's very nice and understanding but I bet she'll be disappointed". This was a gig in Nuneaton. I am in Edinburgh. Lots of travelling. I enquired at what time we would finish and whether they plan to drive the van straight back or stay overnight. Because I might just drive myself to ensure I'm back on Sunday morning. That's when I realised my mistake was twofold. There was another gig on the Sunday about 50 miles away from the first, which paid much better, so 'we' were staying for the night, play that gig (festival at 3pm) and then drive home. For a minute I saw my head on a stake made from the neck of my favourite bass. The way I saved it is by turning it into a miniholiday. I'll drive my car with her. We will not hang out as much with the band as I would normally (they're great guys and my gf loves them, so spending some time together is nice anyway), explore a bit duriing the day, play the gigs at night, and then take an extra couple of days for us. There are a couple of places that we can go from there, and if the weather is good (August) we can do some nice cycling, go to the beach... In the end I'd make zero money probably once I factor in the travelling and hotel costs... but I hope we'll have a good time. I blocked out that weekend in my calendar for the next two years already so that this doesn't happen again So yeah... it's got to be balanced. But guys, don't ever forget your girlfriend's birthday

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1490735807' post='3267596'] 35 years 9-5ing it was enough for me.How I lasted 35 years, I'll never know, I hated it. Life is to short, now I can "honestly" say I love my job. Blue [/quote] With a girlfriend that has said multiple times that she'd be happy to be the only 9-5er and let me take time to get into music full time (starting with a lot more practice and proper study etc), the notion is tempting. But I can't shake the feeling that if I did it full time I would end up resenting a lot of it. I'm one of those guys who love the stage time and I'm ok with a bit of the hanging about and networking bit... but the long waits kill me. Last summer I had a series of 'mini-tours' (and that's an overstatements, it was just 3 days at a time over a number of weeks), in a van, sleeping wherever, a gig every night, sometimes two. I had a great time... but most of the day was spent doing nothing. And drinking. I don't normally drink a lot, but I do like beer... and there was little else to do where we were, and free beer was hard to resist, just sitting around, chatting, snoozing, going for a walk... The waiting, being away from my bed too often... I can see myself hating it pretty soon. There are some bands around here playing weddings etc who make good money but they mostly just play weekends so they end up supplementing during the week a bit. That usually does not require a lot of time away from home. I don't know, I think I am one of those guys who the minute you tell them "you HAVE to do X", will automatically hate X Hmmm. How long have you been away from the 9-5 life?

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1490779173' post='3267824'] At last I have a solution for combo IEM cables. See Affiliates section for more information. [/quote] Oooh! Is that a combined stereo feed from the mixer and instrument cable in one?

Yeah, now I notice the guy was almost everywhere... I love the live stuff on youtube, he does come across as a really cool guy...

I just came across this guy... and immediately I realised I had heard a lot of his stuff before, I just didn't know his name. I'm sitting at home upstairs, window open letting a little bit of shy sun in, while I'm at the computer erm... 'working' (ok, it's my coffee break ) ... and Billy Preston jst making me dance on my sit while I try hard to resist the urge to plug in my bass... love it!!! I thought I'd share some of this, and I hope you enjoy it too [media]http://youtu.be/ubIt94oLaBI[/media]

[quote name='Treb' timestamp='1490735476' post='3267590'] Ernie Ball will not sell you pickups. Big Poppa himself says so. Want a new MM pickup? Hand over the faulty MM one. [/quote] Yeah, but S&T used to until relatively recently. They used to have a menu that was not very good to navigate, and no pictures... then they improved it, and soon after they stopped selling to individuals. I suspect EBMM found out and had a word.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1490732526' post='3267552'] Being in a band is work. Whether you get paid for it or not. You are producing a service with your labour. No discussion. Whether you see it as difficult or hard work is another thing entirely. But it is work. [/quote] I could agree, I suppose. But I'd still think the guy telling his wife to stop moaning about the time he spends away with his music endeavours because "it's work" is being pretty ridiculous [1]. That is completely separated from whether his wife has a point or not, which depends entirely on each situation. [1] in that 2-gig a month band that rehearses weekly.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1490722914' post='3267417'] Thus bass already exists (US Sterling with 3 way selector for parallel/series/single coil. I understand MM do sell replacement pick ups and EQs also. [/quote] ceramic pickup and especially narrow neck says the Sterling is not for me. Anyway, guys, stop telling me what I need, I'm good with the Stingray + MMSR and the SUB wired in series! Now more seriously... I don't think you can buy a pickup. Not here anyway. For a while Strings & Things, their UK distributor would happily sell you all kinds of spares. However they only deal with dealers now.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1490711218' post='3267278'] Why "work"? One of the things that separates the good bands from the OK, or not so OK, bands is how they present themselves and behave on stage. How many times do you see a band end a number then stand around having a drink (a fag in the old days) and a chat before deciding what number to play next? If you're going out for a laugh with your mates and have some fun then that can lead to a very amateurish performance. If you approach gigs with a professional frame of mind then the band will usually look and play better. Work is just a short-hand for ensuring a better performance. [/quote] I'd agree about the professionalism side of things. There are some gigs where a looser attitude is ok, in others not so much, but I agree with treating them seriously. It doesn't mean they're less fun for that. But I guess I just don't call it work if the income it generates is not a substantial way to pay my bills. The whole 'work' comment came from hearing people acting a little superior based on the fact that they get paid to play, when they do it once or twice a month for not much $$$, as if that were something special... and call it work to legitimise spending time away from their families. If I have a family who is not happy because I am rarely at home between my day job, rehearsals and a saturday gig every other week... I can argue, if I felt the need, that it's something I need to do to be happy. But I would not dream of complaining they're interfering with my work. That's what I was going about.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1490720192' post='3267379'] I consider it work, a 4 hour shift. I don't have a regular 9-5, by choice. It's a fun 4 hour shift, but I still consider it going to work. Blue [/quote] It *is* your work, no doubt! It pays your bills. The fact that it's fun is a bonus... or, perhaps more appropriately, a sign that you chose well

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1490709479' post='3267249'] Good question. It's not my main earner. But it (plus other bands) is the main income for a couple of members of the band. I try to treat it with the same level of professionalism as I would treat my main job. I'm not sure why that would make you cringe. I enjoy my day job equally as much as I enjoy gigging... maybe it's that? [/quote] No, I guess saying 'cringeworthy' without further qualification is just not fair. I was referring to people who act as if their being in a band made them superior to most other mortals, that kind of thing most people grow out of by the time they're 15 So no, I certainly didn't mean a 'professional' attitude is cringeworthy. Not at all. My main band is 'fun'. At first it cost us more than it produced, now it produces more than it costs... but I could not quit my day job. I have played in other bands where the main objective was making money and at least a member depended on it to pay his bills in addition to some teaching work etc... I can see that as being 'work', even if it's fun. Fun or not has nothing to do with it being work. But if it provides only 5% of your income with the rest coming from a 'day job' and you talk about people interfering with it as interfering with your work, it just sounds a bit ridiculous. That's the kind of scenario I was alluding to. Professional attitude should come by default whatever the band. If someone is paying you to play a fee yo have agreed to, then you have to behave with professionalism whether it's a dive bar, a festival or the Royal Albert Hall.

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1490696181' post='3267084'] No, my other half never comes to see my band. She's never come to my work (daytime job) either. [/quote] You consider your band work too? I don't know anybody who has a day job that call their band 'work'. Yes, it may bring in extra cash which is great and all that, but calling it a job just seems a bit of... 'over-hype' to me. It may be for you, I don't know! It's just I was reading on TB about something a week or two ago and this kept coming with people talking about their band stuff as 'work' in a manner that didn't seem to fit their largely weekend warrior (and often just one weekend a month) reality. Nothing wrong with weekend warriors, at all, by the way. I just think that it sounds a little bit cringeworthy.

[quote name='NickD' timestamp='1490687922' post='3266963'] My L5 came with a super low set up and very light strings. Playing as normal it had a fair but of buzz. As an experiment I turned my amp up and played with a much lighter touch and in the space of a fortnight totally transformed my playing... Smoother, quicker and much more dynamic control. Within a month all my basses wore a similar setup. I'm guessing it's how Adrian plays, and that's how he sends them out. [/quote] you may be right. In his videos he does seem to had a light touch, so maybe their 'standard' setup is on the low side

[quote name='JohnR' timestamp='1490685380' post='3266933'] That worries me. Given that these are effectively custom instruments shipping them with a poor setup is hard to understand. [/quote] What worries you? The low action or that it will not be set up to your exact requirements? Because no instrument will ever be -unless by chance-. Setting it up to your liking is pretty much the first thing to do with any new instrument. It's nothing to do with quality but preference: we're not saying frets or nut are cut poorly or frets need levelling or something like that. On my 3 Maruszczyk basses I also ended up lowering the pickups a little bit. They seem to favour higher positions than I do. It's like they're set for someone who plays with a gentler touch than me. But I fail to see how that can be a 'worry' as well. I have to say I never indicated anything about a setup when ordering... I actually wouldn't know how to describe the set up I like and I expect to do it myself. I specify neck dimensions, frets, even the spacing of the nut slots and a bunch of other things, but I still expect to receive a well made instrument, and when I get it out of the box tweak here and there to get it the way I like to play it.

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1490688417' post='3266967'] I'm using these on the side of my fretless fingerboard and they do the job great : [url="http://www.glowtec.co.uk/glow-in-the-dark-fret-markers.htm"]http://www.glowtec.c...ret-markers.htm[/url] [/quote] I used something similar but the glue wasn't great and they started sliding off their place, and some came off relatively easily. How 'solid' are these once you stick them? I have a couple of dark fingerboards I'd love to have some larger white-ish side markers on. Right now I just put a spot of tippex on them as a temporary measure

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1490559927' post='3266007'] How much would a push/pull series pot cost, a fiver? [/quote] remember the Stingray pickup does not have 4 wires coming out of it. You can stil 'tap' each coil, and while not being exactly as delicate as brain surgery, there is the possibility of screwing up a great pickup, and you won't buy a replacement easily. Hence... the Stingray remains untouched. Just in case. But it has a 3-band MMSR preamp. The SUB is good 'as is' with the original 2-band preamp. It's not like the Stingray sounds bad, just that the SUB sounds better.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1490539143' post='3265774'] Well the reason why wives/girlfriends/boyfriends/partners go to every gig, is not because they are huge fans of their other half's band, it's because they don't trust them to be away from them and having fun, in the 'dens of iniquity', that are most music venues. My sister never went to any of my brother-in-law's gigs (she was never a big fan of music) until he ended up having an affair with a regular punter. After that 'incident' she became his bands biggest fan (she didn't let him out of her sight for about 5 years after that). [/quote] That must be one of the worst reasons to go to someone else's gigs. I can understand that insecurity/trust issues can make someone do that... but acting like a 'police deterrent' is not really the way to fix anything. I've only had 3 relationships since I started gigging. The first one... she was a very possessive and jealous woman, which is a shame as she could be great fun when she was feeling ok. But she was coming to most of my gigs pretty much just to check I behaved properly. I didn't realise it at first, but when she started to create trouble because of having a female backing singer in front of me while playing at the Jazz Bar in Edinburgh (I mention it because you'll probably know it... and it's a tiny stage! That band had anything between 6-9 members, so it was pretty tight!). I started hating having her around at gigs which did not help. Eventually I broke up with her, because that attitude was present in other areas too. Not good. Second one was very supportive and loved being out and the music etc. At first she'd come to every gig. But very rapidly the novelty wore off, so she'd come only from time to time and always with friends, so it was just a night out for her where I just happened to be around, and after the gig I could join them even if sometimes I'd go home while she carried on. No pressure ever. She'd even offer to help with equipment back into my car sometimes afterwards. She got some looks when she went onstage once to take my Barefaced Compact which looked a lot heavier than it was, and a larger guy offered to help her while she just dismissed him and carried the thing with a smile as if it were made of paper. Very rarely she'd join me inn gigs out of town, but when they were in interesting places we'd make a day/weekend out of it, so that was good. She'd sometimes expressed a wish I weren't so busy with bands so that we could do more things together. It wasn't so much that I was always playing, because I wasn't... but this is Scotland. When you get a glorious weekend, you HAVE TO TAKE IT! It's so rare! So sometimes you get this amazing weekend and she'd suggest going somewhere... but I could not because I had a gig on Saturday somewhere... But she never really complained. Third one... I met her while playing in bars. She was a fan of my main band and started being there at almost every local gig. She had a very good idea of what my schedules were like. After we started dating she'd come to every local gig and often to the out of town ones unless she had already other plans. She was already friendly with most of the band too, so that made it easier. It was good. But then there'd be some gigs where she'd be there by herself while we play and she'd look a bit bored. Days when she was tired and would rather be at home but she'd come anyway. I'd ask her before hand to make sure she really wanted to be there... but she'd always say yes... Eventually she didn't quite admit that she felt she hat to be there, but that she knew I liked her around so she'd try to come always. When I told her that yes, I'm happy she's around when I am on my break and she can join us etc, but that I feel bad if I notice she's just bored by herself, and that when I'm no my break sometimes I just want to chill outside for a minute but I feel I have to give her my full attention because she was there by herself... things started to change for the better: so she now only comes when she really feels like it (which is often, but not always) and when she has other friends coming too. So no longer I see her bored in a table by herself, but if she's there she's dancing and smiling and chatting... and it makes me have even more fun when she's enjoying herself. I have to admit it's actually quite cool if there was a guy who clearly takes an interest in her and at the break as I walk out of the stage she comes to me and gives me a big kiss while the guy looks like he's thinking "what? the BASS player? Really??? come on! those guys never get the girls!!!" and as I walk out for some air I wink at her and continuing strutting like Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever towards the door. Well, maybe not quite like that, by the image does cross my mind at times So... pressure from partners? Not really. There can't be. At times yes, we'd wish we could do something else and I am busy. It's a shame. But not more than when they are busy with other things. The question is about balance. I love my girlfriend, but my life is not just her even if she's the most important. We both have a variety of interests and activities that we continue to pay attention too, but we make sure we make time also to do things together. I don't think it's any different from any other activity. The fact that mine happens mostly in bars doesn't change anything. If people follow their partners just to make sure they behave... that's a really bad sign

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1490550984' post='3265897'] That's like saying the chequer plate pick guard sounds better than a normal one [/quote] Not really. It could easily be he had one of the early SUB basses with the pickup wired in series. It is why I prefer the sound of my 2003 SUB to my 2002 Stingray.

If I hadn't personal experience I'd probably thing the same negative thoughts. But I have. A few times. It does seem ridiculous to use cheap switches/sockets when you go to so much effort and detail with other parts like bridges, pickups etc... and especially the build and finish. To be honest, the build on the whole is where it's at -and it is flawless- and a stupid socket is not going to make me change my mind. But it does seem strange. My latest, the Jake/Jazz came with Schaller straplocks, and they always include the gigbag and a very nice leather strap... it just doesn't sound like the operation who would compromise quality to save 2 quid, you know? My first Jake (P/JJ) was ok. I replaced the P pickup because I wanted something else, so I saw the soldering work etc... no problem there. Pretty tidy. The reverse P Jake I am installing a MMSR preamp in, so I removed the electronics... again they look just fine to me. I haven't checked the Jake-Jazz one, but I know it's the lightest sweetest Jazz with the best neck (I specified dimensions and finish) I have ever played... If I have to replace the socket one day, I will. I'll be thinking "really? come on", but I'll be enjoying a superbly made bass. Do try them before dismissing them for the sake of a couple of quid (I am pretty handy with a soldering iron, I have to admit, do none of that is an issue... it takes minutes)... remember they can make exactly what you want. I am sure if you want a switchcraft socket from the beginning you can specify it. Anything I asked for was possible. Some of my options did not add anything to the price, and others were minimal. You *can* get what you want. If you ask.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1490343276' post='3264374'] In that case you just ask the person to wait while you chat. When you're negotiating contracts at work that's perfectly acceptable to have private chats before sealing any deals. [/quote] It's a possibility, but not what we like to do. Feeling you have someone there waiting is not ideal, and it doesn't work if you had 2-3 people playing with you that evening. Having a couple of drinks afterwards, relaxed... I certainly prefer that. Often when you find the right one everybody agrees right from the start so a decision on the spot can be made. But in a 6-8 piece it's not unusual to have someone who is not 100% convinced about something and different people pick on different things. It's good to talk. There was a trombone player that seemed great. We all liked him. Except one of us thought he knew about this person, and it wasn't a good thing... so we chatted and decided to make a couple of calls to verify. Nah, I don't like to rush for no reason.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1490319743' post='3264323'] I had to audition 3 times before I was offered the job as bass guitarist with my current band of 5 years. IMO, if your offered the job on the spot, chances are you haven't been offered much. Blue [/quote] Unless we're talking signing in with a band with the income of Metallica... a good bass player would be already gigging with another band by the time the second audition came along. If you know what you want, you grab it when you find it.

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1490310467' post='3264291'] I did a rehearsal/audition with a local country band where the previous bass player turned up with all his gear half way though because when, at the previous gig when he'd had a flounce, thrown toys out of the pram and announced that he was fed up with the band and didn't want anything to do with them any more... they'd actually taken him seriously... That was a bit awkward... [/quote] and that's why you never quit a band in anger. I had a girlfriend once who was a bit unstable... the first time we had a disagreement (it wasn't even a big thing) she hinted at breaking up. I was very sad. We made up, and things carried on ok. Soon it became clear that she'd use the threat of leaving me as a weapon everytime she'd be upset at something. When things were good they were very good and I was crazy about her, so I tolerated it for a while hoping for a change. I told her it was not a good thing to do, saying she wants to break up, unless she means it. Especially because after the third time it only serves to annoy me rather than controlling me. One day she was angry and she 'broke up' with me again. I just looked at her in the eye and said "yeah, I think that's the best we can do". The look in her face was priceless. She said she didn't really mean it. However I did. There are so many similarities between bands and relationships... and throwing tantrums and insulting a band and walking out saying they're over seems to be something that happens from time to time. Crazy. Never make a serious decision while angry. Calm down, and then sharpen your axe slowly while you ponder about which limbs to cut off first

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1490305176' post='3264246'] I'd expect to be told there and then if I fitted. Whenever I've auditioned people I've taken the first person who ticked enough of the boxes that matter. Another audition in 3 weeks? The other guy must be really keen and available then [/quote] We've never told people "there and then", because we want to have a chat among ourselves first. But we always contact them within a day or so. If it's the right person, then why wait. If it's not the right person, why delay? Once you find someone who fits, that's it.

personal preference... They don't sound the same, or feel the same, they just have some common DNA but they're quite different.