Dad3353

Here is my contribution to the November 2018 Basschat Composition Challenge, inspired by a picture chosen by last month's winner: Lurksalot. An all Kontakt soundscape, using solely the 'Factory' orchestral woodwind and percussion, and a synth for a couple of sounds. Please keep your pets protected when playing this, as some could be upset by the sounds. I would advise against turning up the volume too much, too. Thanks for listening, if you already have; if you're about to, enjoy.

It's maybe a question of virtuosity, or lack of it..? For the stuff I play, the physics of the instrument are of little consequence, as that's not what prevents me from being any good..! Fat neck, thin neck, string spacing and/or number... I'm not likely to be putting any pressure on Stanley Clark any time soon; they all get played with a similar degree of incompetence. As I play guitar as often as bass, I've always been used to not getting locked in to any particular configuration. Downsides..? Certainly, but far greater freedom to being able to play (modestly...) pretty well any bass, or guitar. I would have more issues swapping drum kits, though, as I've always played mine, pretty much exclusively, for fifty years or so. S'what one is used to, s'all, I reckon.

To be fair, there is a potential ambiguity in this phrasing. One could read 'I'm not sure, but my instinct tells me that it must be traditional', or, 'It is mandatory that it be traditional'. It would appear that some have read the former when your intentions seems to have been the latter. Hope this helps; a simple misunderstanding, s'all.

True BC spirit at its best; good man for offering. @Jezyorkshire: Don't forget the packet of biscuits if taking up the offer..!

Our bass goes directly into the Hiwatt head, then to an HH cab, for rehearsals or gigs, whatever the venue. If the size of venue requires it, the bass will go either through a DI box, or the cab will be miced; occasionally both. We use no Fx at all, and our bass is not turned up loud (t'would crack concrete if we did..!), so, to us, we hear no difference between rehearsing at home or playing a festival. The FOH will be in proportion to its needs, if one is needed. S'not an issue, ever. (We play covers, such as Radiohead, AC/DC, Soundgarden, Muse, RHCP, REM, Noir Désir, Bashung, dEUS and much more...)

Unless one is playing only 'open' strings, the 'sweet spot' and 'string node' positions will change as the string length gets shortened. There is no one spot for every note, so it's a matter of best compromise. One option is to provide for a movable pick-up (s'been done before, on sliding rails...). If you're building from scratch, I'd suggest doing a 'plank' mock-up, and moving a pick-up around until you find the spot that pleases most for the styles of music to be played. Shouldn't be too difficult; worth a shot..? Hope this helps.

For me, reliability is a factor, if playing professionally, or aspiring to. I bought my drums in the early 70s; they cost a lot of money back then. I've played 'em ever since, in most styles, and they sound as fine now as they did back then. I have no hankering for any other drums, as I've already the best (for me, although the review that this self-same kit got in the drum mags of the day rated them as the 'Rolls-Royce of the drum world', too...). For practical reasons, I'd like a good electronic kit, but the expense, nowadays, prevents this. Other than that, I'm done, and have been for nearly fifty years. Spendthrift, me..? Nah, ta very much...

One could use the same 'reasoning' over one's transportation ('spensive cars, raucous motorbikes..?). Hifi systems, for the television, even, whilst sounding off about how rubbish the programmes are..? Coffee machines, anyone..? Diminishing returns, probably, and very far from the stuff, in any of these 'genres' enjoyed in the '50s, where folks had exactly the same concerns about their apparat, but didn't know what was to become 'indispensable' a few decades later. T'will all change in a year/decade/generation from now, as other stuff comes to the fore as being 'indispensable'. A lot of it is, it seems, to me, the 'grass is greener' effect, and emperor's new clothes. Maybe folks, despite 'austerity', have too much disposable income..?

Think yourself lucky that the drummer doesn't go round the kit checking the tuning..! Could take hours..! Explain that to the guitarist, to help him understand the issue..?

Good morning, N, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. (S'all we needed, a backward Norwegian..! ) ...

Good afternoon, B&T , and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

Fixed.

Good afternoon, Alex , and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. (Dirt pedals..? Ugh..! Shivers...)

I certainly agree that Linux is not for everyone (but, then again, Apple is out of financial reach of many, myself included, despite its qualities...). Depends, too, on one's usage. My humble PC is a fine platform for the modest stuff I 'produce', but would not suffice in a professional recording studio, or even a top-drawer home studio. Linux can work, however, for those with limited hardware, provided that the effort required for passing the learning curve is accepted. There are snobs available at every corner of t'web, it would seem..! Luckily, there are many sources, so one may choose the most convivial, depending on one's temperament.

Hmm... I'm not a Linux user. I did, however, manage to download stuff from the Airwindows site, simply by clicking on the link helpfully provided beneath each video. Seemed simple enough to me. As to the other list, of 'native' plug-ins, it may not rival other platforms, but there's still a fair few to get one's feet wet, no..? Disingenuous post ^^, I'd say; not your usual helpful quality. A bit 'snobbish', even.

From the UK Customs web page ... Bringing goods into the UK ... ... Allowance for other goods... You can bring in other goods worth up to £390 (or up to £270 if you arrive by private plane or boat). If a single item’s worth more than your allowance you pay any duty or tax on its full value, not just the value above the allowance. ... Declare any goods over your allowance. Your goods could be seized if you don’t declare them. ...

Good evening, Luca , and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

Good gracious, no..! Whatever gave you that idea..? Almost libellous, to boot..! Retract, I say; retract or face the consequences.

S'been over fifty years, on guitar and/or bass, and have never managed to use one of those plectrum thingies. Not much 'cop' with fingers either, though.

Good evening, Jif, and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

Nowt special in France, that I know of...

Good evening, RM , and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

Good morning, SS , and ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. Hope things are looking up for you.

All my ex-floozies Did me down low But now I see clearly I'm past that, and how..!