mcnach

that was great!

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1482388412' post='3200057'] So, I bet he plays with a pick like it's a guitar, he can't stop all the resonating notes and ringing open strings coz he can't palm mute and doesn't know why we use one finger on a fret to be able to finger mute the notes either. [/quote] if there's one things guitarsts can do while using a pick is palm muting!

whether you need a bass dedicated compressor or not has nothing to do with active vs passive or the output level. And let's forget that wrong notion that active = higher output than passive, for it's just not true. the output of a bass is different from a guitar in terms of frequency content, and sometimes the higher bass content can drive a compressor to tame the output across the board which may be what you're after or not. Some work really well, so why not. But a multiband compressor is often nicer on bass as it allows different levels of compression on different frequency bands. The MXR M87 is pretty cool and transparent and doesn't cost the Moon. But first I'd just use whatever I have near, and see if the result is acceptable. Also... I'd question whether a compressor is needed at all. Maybe he thinks he needs one before having tried, just assuming it would be needed.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1482405672' post='3200221'] The passive option on both active basses is like a "get you home" tyre. They'll get you to the end of the number [b]but in comparison they sound terrible.[/b] [/quote] That would depend entirely on what settings you use on your preamp. If you only need fine adjustments, then it will not sound that different. I like a preamp to tweak a good bass sound, not to create it from scratch. Others like a more dramatic effect. The passive switch does not need to make the sound terrible at all, only if the bass in passive form sounds terrible

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1482341663' post='3199759'] [b]Has that ever happened to anyone?[/b] I can't think of a way you would do a circuit where it would actually cut out due to battery death, as batteries tend to get flat, not just die. As a result, you will just start to get clipping, and as most batteries discharge quite slowly with the sort of power an acitve circuit needs. Certainly never heard of it actually happening since I got my first active bass in the 80s. [/quote] well, it happened to me in August I have generally experienced distortion with other basses, before it dies. But I have a Stingray with a John East preamp. Battery is not really an issue because I change it every year and despite getting a lot of use that seems enough. If I have some "important" gig and it's been a while I tend to replace the battery anyway as it's not a particularly expensive way to buy peace of mind. However it turns out I had forgotten to replace the battery in this bass since April 2014 (I write the date of installation on the battery). So I was merrily playing away in August when at the end of the first set I notice the output dropping dramatically. For a few seconds that felt like an eternity I checked my bass knobs and tapped the lid of the battery compartment [1], and visually checked the amp knobs and my pedalboard... then I engaged the preamp bypass switch [2] and it came back to life! No previous warning. [1] It's a 2002 Stingray, with the battery compartment where the battery just slots in and makes contact with spring-like poles at one end. I had that misbehave in the past, and tapping the lid results in either a temporary cure or at least noise. I 'fixed' it by bending the spring contacts so that the battery is held more tightly, so I thought maybe it was time to bend them back again (once every 7 years or so would not be terrible although not ideal, I admit). BUt that did nothing here. [2] It's an MMSR preamp, and I asked John to make the volume into a push/pull pot that would bypass the preamp. And I'm glad I did. A song later we went for a break and replaced the battery. Phew. Some people cite examples like these as a reason to avoid active basses. I think that's, frankly, silly. It's not hard at all to remember to replace the battery once a year or so. And even if/when it happens the solution is simple and no kittens are harmed in the process If you are able to remember to check the oil and tyre pressure in your car, I'm sure you can manage the battery in an active bass

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1482350089' post='3199854'] Could have written that post word for word! [/quote] You lazy b****r, you had to let me write it for you, eh?

"Holding out for a beer" is fantastic I'm going to be playing that a lot this summer

[quote name='Fabrocker' timestamp='1482258641' post='3199022'] Thanks, glad to hear that. @Heathy For me, Newsted > Burton! but I dont have any 'metal bass heroes'. You can guys check other songs on 'Saints'. We play everything we want, we listen to everything. Heavy metal, that's funny. Go to hell with names. Music is music. [/quote] I like your attitude as well. I'll make sure to check the rest of the album

[quote name='Fabrocker' timestamp='1482254470' post='3198952'] So... here we go. [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogtYxis5Yrg[/media] My bass-solo recorded on Status Matrix. What do you think? Greetings! [/quote] I don't usually go for stuff like that... but I enjoyed it, especially the second half. Nice!

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1482322933' post='3199530'] Some of the misunderstanding stems from the use of the term tremolo arms on guitars, they are really vibrato arms, but can't see that usage being changed anytime soon! [/quote] and the tremolo effect on fender amps being called 'vibrato'... someone got things mixed up and it spread... but tremolo is volume changes (amplitude) and vibrato pitch changes (frequency)

[quote name='only4' timestamp='1482319111' post='3199471'] I've started buying cables from "Designacable" their on Amazon. Well made with top quality components, Prime delivery too. [/quote] oh yes, I got a couple from then too... I liked that they can come in different colours but with the same quality cable. I got an orange and a red one, it makes it harder to leave them behind or for someone else to take them 'by mistake'...

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1482259600' post='3199042'] Cheap = crap Best quality/price ratio is our very own OBBM, aka RockWire cables. [/quote] cheap cables are a bad bad bad idea, especially when a good one doesn't cost so much! Cables by OBMM are a great choice. Similar can be obtained from Award-Session. Good quality cable and Neutrik plugs, in a wide range of sizes and plug configurations. My oldest cables are about 16 years (from Award Session "Cleartone"). They will probably last another 16... not expensive for around £20 or a tiny bit more.

[quote name='Fisheth' timestamp='1482188985' post='3198400'] I may have sent another email... Oh dear. [/quote] You're almost making me look sane!

what do you mean it's only been one month since I placed my order??? It feels like aaaages!!!!

My hands are small, yet I have no issues with a bass and I actually prefer big chunky necks too. However, when I started out, after years of guitar, I gravitated towards Jazz basses because of the thin neck. With that in mind, I'd ask how interested are you in playing bass. If you just want simple basslines for demos, and you don't really care too much about learning the instrument, I'd go with what feels most comfortable right now that does the job. However, if you want to take up bass a bit more seriously, I'd go 34", purely because there's just so much more to choose from. Do try the bass first. Despite having the same scale, some basses feel like they have a very long neck compared to others, which is just due to where the neck meets the body and bridge placement. The neodymium Entwistle pickups are probably some of the best cheap pickups out there. They have a very big powerful sound, so I'm not surprised they make the bass sound bigger.

My RH450 died on my third or fourth gig during soundcheck. White smoke. That was a Saturday. On Sunday I was able to get a response to my query, and they arranged for me to receive a new one at my local dealer. On Wednesday I walked in with my dead amp and walked out with a fresh one. Impressive service.

Nylon tapewounds on a Precision fretless give you a very nice 'woody' type of tone, but it can also give you a nice low growly sound (Model P pickup on mine)...

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1482047169' post='3197120'] Not knowingly tried J Retro but I do love the Audere preamp. One of the few cut/boost circuits where the maximum travel on the controls were still in musical usable tone territory. But never lacking or too tame either. [/quote] I guess that's there are so many different products in the market, as different people prefer different things. I had an Audere and I just did not like it and ended up being replaced by a J-Retro. I have two J-Retros and a U-Retro (same thing, just flexible links to fit in other basses not just Jazz)... and I love them. Yeah, at maximum travel you have quite a dramatic boost/cut... but you don't need to turn the knob to max, do you?

That Ultimate Drive is pretty sweet. My only 'complaint' is that a slight tweak of the gain/level knobs go a long way, so adjusting levels on the fly has to be done with care, and if you brush against the knob with your big clumsy feet you're likely to effectively turn the thing off or make it extremely loud... masking tape advisable when playing in dark places or by clumsy players Sound-wise, 'though, I love it.

[quote name='Mister RLP' timestamp='1481988721' post='3196807'] Did you have any trouble putting them in? Are they an exact fit? [/quote] Well, the pickup covers have the wider 'ears' than Fender/DiMarzio etc types, so you either file the pickguard a bit or get a set of pickup covers with smaller ears. I just got new pickup covers, which I preferred also as I don't like the big lettering (model number) written on the original pickup covers. It's only about £4. [b]Edit:[/b] these pickups are deeper than most others, but I did not have to remove wood in order to accommodate them. I put the PBXN pickups in my Mike Dirnt Squier too: Again, the routing is the small ear type and I was not going to chip away at the wood, so new covers was the thing to do, white in this case:

[quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1481971943' post='3196637'] Not meaning to hijack the thread, but you did ask... :-) [url="http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/lowwregisterhead/media/IMG_7115_zpsn2rq2cal.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote]

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1481915674' post='3196311'] If the bass is faulty, and it seems like it is if it won't tune up then it needs to go back. He told them he wanted a new, different bridge. Why on earth would a shop do that for free? Does this mean if you buy a cheap bass that's neck heavy you can ask for a set of Hipshot ultralites to fix this ;-) [/quote] I can't say it clearer than I have, so... "ok"

a few years ago I was offered a bass I was after, after putting a 'wanted' ad. Fortunately the bass was just a cheap Squier Jazz so I was only out £95... but it still bothered me a lot. I started suspecting when the communication went quiet and the bass did not arrive when indicated. I googled the bass then and sure enough, I found the pictures he sent me on the first page of hits, only it belonged to someone in Ireland, not the 'seller'. I had paid with Paypal, not gift. I could go to Paypal, but I decided to investigate further. A number of people had checked his profile here. I checked and they all had posted 'wanted' ads. I contacted them and the ones that replied had all bought something from him and were waiting. We all used Paypal, but one guy used Paypal gift. The mods here quickly banned him, but of course that doesn't get us our money back. At that point I decided to bluff, as I sensed the guy was not the brightest. I made up a story about my partner working for the police and that she had friends dealing with internet fraud who I was sure they'd help. At that point I had an idea of his general location, so I took a gamble and told him I knew already his address in XXX city. I tried to be calm, but very firm, stating that I was not going to let it slide especially now that I knew he had done the same to several others. He told me a sorry story, about how his financial situation is bad and he was desperate etc etc... and he seemed genuinely afraid of the consequences of my letting the police pursue this. The more he wrote, the more clueless he appeared. Which is good. For me. So I bluffed a bit more, and described possible scenarios. One, just let the police deal with it. Two... he could refund ALL of us, and I'd let it be (I wasn't going to let it be). Three... I was actually going to visit a friend of mine in his city in 2 weeks, so we could come round and just refund us in person (I made it sound non threatening, I knew that the idea of facing someone in person would be very unappealing) Of course he said he'd refund us... but of course he didn't have enough money yet. He needed time. I said that the only way for me to believe his word would be to at least refund one of us, the guy who paid with Paypal gift. And HE DID!!! As soon as he did, the rest of us opened up a case with Paypal, and we got our money back. Paypal said they were going to investigate further and get the police involved and told us that we may be contacted by the police about the case etc etc. But I never heard anything else. Best of luck to the OP. It really stinks to be in that situation.