mcnach

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1425557321' post='2708522'] There is a very good reason why people use[b] singles[/b] A LOT.. and by people who could could pretty much justify/afford any bass they care to choose. [/quote] singles? Sorry, I'm a little lost now

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1425555218' post='2708481'] There is a reason why P Basses and Jazzes are the workhorses they are across the industry..? [/quote] The industry is a very traditionalist one? P&J have probably been used the most compared to any other basses, perhaps purely because they got there first and grew fast. Now they self-perpetuate. They work and it's a sound people are familiar with. However, in 2015, a Stingray is not exactly the new kid on the block. Stingrays work too, and do it very well. There's a reason you can find a Stingray in any music genre

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1425492903' post='2707912'] Yeah, I said it wrong what I meant was; apparently a lot of people either change the nut, or have it readjusted on the e part of the nut to fit a b string in. With the steinberger I have, there doesn't seem to be a need to do it , as the neck is very tense. There is a little looseness which didn't bother me.) Cheers [/quote] but it's nothing to do with tense necks or whatever (what do you mean by that?) The B string is (can often be) wider than the slot for the E unless you use an unusually thin B string, so you need to widen up the slot a touch. If you didn't, then it was wider than necessary before, but as long as the string doesn't rattle about in the slot it wouldn't have bothered you.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1425425668' post='2707358'] I don't know what you mean by this. Unless you are changing from a very low tension EADG set to a much high tension one for BEAD, then the B string is always lower tension than the G string it is replacing. [/quote] This. Another common misconception. BEAD is usually quite a bit lower tension than EADG, so if anything you have to loosen up the truss rod to restore relief. Nothing wrong with BEAD, in my opinion, by the way. I don't use it because I use the G more than I would a low D. I do have a Hipshot D-tuner on my E on a few of my basses for drop-D tuning (lots of RATM, some RHCP and other stuff), as it's handy... but I don't miss the low D. I've had a few good 5-string basses but I didn't need them enough to make me ditch my 4-string ones that I prefer either, but if I did need the low B, I'd go 5-string. I can't lose that G string

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1425397063' post='2706917'] Surely, from a tone and playability point of view, a good four strung BEAD is better than a cheap five string? [/quote] define better. I don't see getting a decent 5-string being significantly more expensive than getting a decent 4-string. Five string bases are not rare anymore, and there's nothing magical about a bass with an extra string... The low B is thicker, generally lower tension, so you need to make sure your bass setup is better: things you can get away with with thinner strings you can't with a thicker lower tension one that vibrates a lot more widely... But it's nothing special, really.

Well... after a while I tried emailing DiMarzio in the US, again. This time, instead of promising someone will contact me from the UK, they simply ask me to paypal $15 and include the details with the payment: what pickup it was for, what colour, and my address. That was last week. Today, the polepieces arrived.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1425482711' post='2707795'] Cut nearly all the bass and you should be able to hear yourself better. You'll get a great tone and increase the headroom available to you since the amp isn't using all of it's energy pushing massive lows out of the speakers. Worth pointing out that the RH450 isn't a massively powerful amp anyway. I'm sure many people use them in two guitar bands but some bands are just louder! It could just be that you're struggling to be heard amongst the din of two guitarists and a loud drummer. [/quote] If you are not loud enough with a RH450 and two cabs.. in a PRACTICE ROOM... then I'd find another band. That would be insanely loud.

[quote name='big rob' timestamp='1425472369' post='2707644'] Hi All, Looking for some advice really, i have been playing bass a long time and find that in practice and live i sometimes loose the bass in the mix. I have an RH450 and Rs210 and 2x12 cabs. Its not always an issues but even in the same practice room it seems to change from week to week. There 2 guitar players in the band and a drummer but is there any tips on how to set up the band in a practice room with a PA to get the best results and any amp settings i can look at to cut through, have boosted the mid but all seems to be getting muddy and definition seems to go. Would placing the amps in a certain way help and how do we level properly, sometimes it just sounds like the guitars are taking all my frequency, last nights sound with my stingray sounded really poor to me, I had brought the 2x10 to try and get things closer to the ears and thought i had hit the nail on the head then the next week i seem to be back to muddy and can hardly hear the bass (under half way on amp volume wise). Thanks for the help in advance Rob [/quote] Ask guitars to cut bottom end. That often helps. They often like a full sound that works great by themselves, but not so much in the mix. Hopefully that helps a bit?

I don't need yet another Jazz, but this one is a beauty and I like what they've done with the headstock. Anybody knows anything about these Revelation basses? [url="http://webshop.cashconverters.co.uk/auction-item/823251/bass"]http://webshop.cashconverters.co.uk/auction-item/823251/bass[/url]

[quote name='stubass' timestamp='1425316154' post='2706145'] Well the precision arrived today, just had a quick 5 mins with her but she's in fantastic condition, finish on the neck is lovely and the film was still on the mint green scratchplate. Feels unused. Serial number checks out as being a 2012/2013. Really happy with it, quick delivery too. Will get pics up later. [/quote] cool! glad it was a good one, even if some feel the need to try to rain on your purchase some people

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1425151992' post='2704584'] I use Hydrogen, you have to programme it yourself, but once you've figured it out it helps you understand what a drummer does, it's great for demos to show other members what you've got in mind and it's free, converts the drum pattern to wav form so you can load it into audacity or something like that, and record vocals /bass/ guitar and whatever else you want on to it [/quote] That looks pretty cool too!

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1425150342' post='2704564'] Nice post . Think I'll have a look. 😉 regarding recording, what do you use? [/quote] I'm using a Zoom R16, 16-track stand alone machine. Really easy to use. I used Cubase on the PC before, but I just like the simplicity of a stand alone separate machine. It can record 8-tracks at once, so potentially quite useful to record simple live demos, and it has built-in stereo microphones for those moments where you have come up with an amazing riff that you just need to record before you forget: easy, turn on, select a new project and press record. Of course, when you listen back to it the next day you'll realise that amazing riff is actually crap, but maybe one day you get lucky Well, no, I'm sure your ideas will be pretty good, but I rarely like mine when I listen back

I've owned a a drum machine a couple of times before, but crucially I was not playing bass yet, only guitar. I had a Boss DR550 and an Alesis SR16, which I used to record things at home etc. I was mostly a bedroom player. Recording was fun. I occasionally jammed with others, played a couple of gigs but nothing special. Then I discovered bass. A few years have passed since. I played in a number of bands, gig regularly, never record anything anymore. I got a multitrack machine and decided I was going to start recording ideas etc to use in my main band, and I bought a Zoom RT-123 drum machine to help me add some rhythm. The RT-123 is an old machine, it's basic but sounds reasonably good, easy to use, and cheap, second hand. And it's a hoot! I can literally spend hours playing along to it, just browsing the pre-programmed patterns... It's like my own personal drummer, but one that doesn't fart or goes away for a smoke, and doesn't mind playing the same beat for hours on end. Ok, no, I actually prefer my live drummer, he's lovely and nothing compares to playing with a good drummer, but it's 1am and you don't want to go to bed... get your headphones on, plug in your bass to the aux input of the drum machine, and just play along! Brilliant! I love it, and the little RT-123 is really quite good, if you're after a simple and cheap machine. It has a "bass" accompaniment too which is hilarious So, do you play by yourself much? Get a Zoom RT-123 for £40 or so and get ready to see the hours go by without realising!

[quote name='Jonnyboy Rotten' timestamp='1425044442' post='2703344'] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW-Ll4Ii3h4[/media] [/quote] genius!!!!

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1425024484' post='2702952'] It`s funny, given that compression is probably used on many, if not all bass tracks, that virtually all of the bassists in the named I bands I play with don`t use any compression at all live - unless there`s compression on the FOH. And they all sound fantastic. For them it`s just bass/lead/amp. Apart from tuners I`m yet to see any pedals at all. Now admittedly the scene I`m on, punk, is not known for its finesse, but given how compression is so widely used on bass in recording, I was a tad surprised to see no-one ever using it live. [/quote] I think it's probably used to a very subtle extent by most, and probably only really noticed onstage by the player. Remember the recent thread about the sound of bass at gigs from the audience's perspective? Not exactly the best aural experience. A player could use a Jazz bass or a Stingray and the final result, from the audience's perspective, is not going to be hugely different... but it is a BIG difference for the player... When I play, if I like what I hear it encourages me and makes me enjoy it more, and in turn I play just a little better... The compressor on my pedalboard probably has the same effect. Like I said, I play about 50% with an EBS multicomp, 50% without it... It's not that big of an effect at the end of the day! (It shouldn't really be, right? we're talking icing on the cake, really)

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1424986948' post='2702761'] I knew you'd be along to describe the significance of the machine It sounds cool. I want one, but for cookies. [/quote] hmmmm, DNA cookies... extra magnesium chloride for those if you like them savoury

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1424978571' post='2702588'] Fantastic! It's really good to know that the money goes to something really useful, [b]like the DNA copier thing.[/b] You've put a lot of effort into this, James, and the rewards are there to be seen. You've raised loads of money, and I think that BC as a whole is proud of that. Perhaps someday in the future, people will be able to shrug-off a cancer diagnosis as "no big thing". Well done [/quote] They are really useful!!! One of ours broke this week and it'll take a few weeks to get it back. We have two more, but we're all panicking, that's how cool they are!

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1424861665' post='2701196'] I had an original V-Amp and a Pod Pro at the same time, and the V-Amp was distinctly better sounding. Having said that, this is now 10+ years old (assuming it's the original version) and modeling technology & sounds should be a LOT better. [/quote] same here, and I had both the guitar and bass versions... Quite cool for quiet playing and recording. I owned everything that came out at the time... J-Station, Vox Tonelab, various Boss/Roland, Line6... The V-Amp sounded best. edit: for guitar, I still have the V-Amp2, and I like it a lot. For bass... I suspect the Zoom B3 is better. I have the MS-60B (similar sound to the B3 but in compact form) and I think it is better than the Bass V-Amp.

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1424870961' post='2701371'] Am I missing something? Surely the point of an effects pedal is that it changes the sound when its not bypassed. [/quote] well, some people just want a compressor to compress the signal. Some compressors do just that. Some seem to have an inherent tone that they impart on top of the compression. The EBS does that. I don't mind it, because I like what it sounds like. But others do mind that. Simples.

[quote name='mybass' timestamp='1424860482' post='2701180'] I have an EBS Multicomp pedal that is good but my ears feel it alters the bass sound. Anyone had one of these and changed to something they feel is more 'true'...? [/quote] I have not one but TWO of the things, as I got tired of switching them from the small pedalboard to the big one... and I love that pedal. I generally use the multiband setting. It does change the sound, you're right. But it's a good sound, I find. I don't go for very drastic settings, but I like what it sounds like, it's an "always on" pedal for me and the fact that it changes the tone does not bother me. I only use the board about 50% of the time, so I still play a lot without compression... it still sounds good! But I like the slightly "denser" tone I get with the pedal on, especially when using the Jazz. I have tried a variety of other pedals, and some were much more transparent. The BBE Optocomp jumps to mind. It was very transparent, and it thickened the sound wonderfully, but I still preferred the EBS.

[quote name='dadofsix' timestamp='1424660171' post='2698899'] Small children can make any relationship rocky, at times. Without knowing more of your situation, I can only generalize. Forgive me if I offend in any way. Look, from your perspective, you're working hard, doing what you love, and getting paid to do it. From her perspective, you're out having fun WITH ADULTS, while she's trapped at home with two teeny weenies with all the responsibilities of a single mother when you're away. I'm not saying that it's fair that she's feeling this way but, when push comes to shove, I'm guessing she's feeling trapped in her situation without you there. Deep down, I don't think she wants you to change. What I DO think she wants is for you to recognize her sacrifice, for you to find appropriate and genuine ways of showing her how much you appreciate that sacrifice, for you to support her willingly and happily when she needs time to herself, or when she needs time with you. Marriage is hard work, to be sure. But it is infinitely easier if both partners feel that the other is pulling their weight in the responsibilities department. She's already had time to build up resentment. It will take time for that resentment to cool -- but it will. One last thing before I end this missive, never forget that she's the one who is answering your children's question: "Where is daddy tonight?" Do you want them to hear their mother tell them that: "Daddy is off working hard for us. He really wishes he could be here with us now but he can't, so make him feel extra special when you see him tomorrow." OR, do you want them to hear: "Your father is off with his friends having fun. He doesn't have any time for us." Daughters and sons learn from their father what it means to be the "man of the house." Just what are they learning from you? Make her feel appreciated. Go more than the extra mile in sacrificing your free time so she can remember what it's like being an adult without having children grabbing at her leg or feeling that she needs to immediately respond to a whiney voice. You married this woman knowing what was expected of you. You brought children into this world knowing how much would be demanded of you. I'm not saying you shouldn't pursue your dream. What I am saying is that you should do everything you can to show her how much you appreciate what she is sacrificing of her own dreams while you pursue yours. Best of luck to you and your family. <><Peace [/quote] wonderful post.

We recorded our first album in an old disused church that had been converted into a series of interesting rooms. On one of the sessions we noticed one of the guitar amps producing some strange noises. We turned it up and we could hear... people... it sounded like a cafeteria, with sound of cups and spoons... We had a break and decided to investigate. A nearby church was holding a meeting, and we went in and asked... They had their system on. They said they didn't need it on at the time, turned it off, and no more ghosts coming out of the guitar amp.

[quote name='Caledonian_Enterprises' timestamp='1424729086' post='2699859'] Thanks for discussing with your band , its still early stages as you can see, all i can say is the setup will weigh no more than 24kg (possible 20kg) and the sound range will be[b] between 94db and 113db[/b]. if you have any other contacts then id welcome their thoughts too. What band are you in?? [/quote] That's a hell of a wide range! It's almost like saying "it'll be kind of quiet compared to other cabs, or very loud, not sure yet"