darkandrew

Good luck. It's funny but that's kind of how I got into playing bass but in reverse - started out playing keys and after playing quite a lot of synth-bass parts, took up playing the real thing. The two fit quite well together and even today I will often switch between synth or electric bass depending on how I feel.

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1488672671' post='3251008'] Might be more economic to get it repaired. Probably cost about half what new pickups would be, maybe less if it's just a bad solder joint where t h e coil connects to the hookup wires. [/quote] Replacement pickup from the States is around £50 plus import duties, etc, so not too expensive, it's just all the faffing with duty and other fees.

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1488704496' post='3251091'] Have you contacted Fender UK ? [/quote] Strangely, no. Is there a Fender UK?

Not strictly a bass question, but where can I get replacement Fender parts in the UK? I need a replacement Fender DH-1 / Atomic bridge humbucker pickup for my Fender Showmaster and can only seem to find them from US based stockists.

My main bass amp of the day was a Carlsboro combo and my keyboard amp was a Peavey - and I was very happy with them too. On the other hand, my brother gave me his Encore guitar when he got fed up with it and that was unplayable.

They certainly looked pretty enough but I wasn't keen on the neck profile. I'd never heard of them before - seem to be an American company that make their guitars in the far east to keep them at a particular price point. Speaking of which, is it just my local music shops or have most shops stopped stocking more expensive guitars and basses, concentrating instead on the cheaper end of the market? I went in there looking to PX my Gibson Les Paul Studio for a guitar with a thinner neck (it's got the 50's profile) only to be greeted by a rack full of £150 - £300 guitars. Not even a single MIM Fender (I would probably have walked out with a Tele if they'd had one).

My local music shop only seems to stock cheaper, lower budget stuff. The only thing that they have for £500+ are a couple of Michael Kelly Patriots (Les Paul look-alikes) for £549 and £599. Does any one have any experience of Michael Kelly guitars?

Just a quick question - what is the "coolest" way to play your bass? A. On your lap, sitting down. B. On a the longest strap possible, down by your knees. C. On the shortest strap possible, at chest height. D. Stood still and held almost vertically across your body.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1486103586' post='3229211'] I'd play something that I'm already comfortable playing. For me, this might be Bach's cello suite BVV1007, Kurt Elling's The Waking or Beethoven's Fur Elise. [/quote] Thank you for the suggestions. I've never played the bass in a solo context before, only as part of a band, so don't really know where to start.

I've finally gone and done it! I've applied for a new job in another school. If I get an interview it will be next week and since the job involves some teaching of music, there might be a chance that they ask me to play something. So, I'm after a solo piece for bass - 4 or 5 strings, that I could prepare just in case. Any suggestions?

I thought I'd watch my Siouxsie and the Banshees "Seven Year Itch" DVD again tonight and as great a drummer as Budgie is, I don't think I've ever seen anyone manage to look as ungainly as he does while playing - if a giraffe played drums then that's how it would look! Don't misunderstand me, I think he's a great drummer and fascinating to watch but can you think of anyone else who's become successful whilst appearing to have quite a different way of playing? Edit - actually, I suppose Keith Moon springs to mind.

I suppose a similar question could be asked about sporting ability - is the child of successful footballer or racing driver going to have a natural talent passed down genetically or is it about being brought up immersed in the sport? Eg. Max Verstappen, Nico Rosberg, Kasper Schmeichel, etc

One of the weirdest ones has to be Warren Cuccurullo, guitarist with Duran Duran during the late 80s and through the 90s, who apparently became a porn star and even produced an "adult toy" modelled on his own anatomy.

If cool is measured in how many posters of you are (or were) pinned to people's walls or how many magazine covers you've appeared on, then it's probably John Taylor.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1485378356' post='3223572'] This version of California Dreaming - the original is great, but always sounded sunny and happy, hiding the true melancholy of the lyrics. Here, Phillips age and fragility (he died before the album could be released) really shows through. Once those Mexican BV's kick in I'm gone! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDcaydHVliM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDcaydHVliM[/url] [/quote] And of course, Johnny Cash's recording of "Hurt" for exactly the same reasons. https://youtu.be/FywSzjRq0e4 Can never watch it without getting a tear in my eye.

I don't really do "musical theatre" (it's not very metal is it!) but A Little Fall of Rain from Les Mis gets me every time. On a happier (and still not very metal note) Found by The Beloved always leaves me with a massive smile on the inside. https://youtu.be/e8fBGQxjjdg

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1485113588' post='3221231'] Nick Simper, first bassist with Deep Purple became a male nurse I think. [/quote] John mcGeoch, guitarist with Siouxsie and the Banshees, Magazine and PIL (and my all time favourite guitarist ever) had given up music and become a nurse too just before his untimely death.

"Feel" is quite a difficult thing to quantify. From my own experience, I bought an EBMM Sterling that was strung with slightly lighter strings than I usually used and it didn't "feel" right- it too felt quite cramped. Changing to my regular gauge (45-105) made a surprisingly big difference.

I didn't realise this existed until I saw it on Through the Keyhole last night. https://youtu.be/DhSFrA3kMJM

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1485083528' post='3220926'] I switched from Stainless to Nickel and find they helped a lot. Not just as hard on the fingers. They don't have quite the same zing as stainless tho. When i used the Rotosound strings when i was younger i literally had blood coming from my finger tips at one gig. It was dripping down the front of the bass. Adrenalin rush meant i didn't spot it or feel it but mate who was in audience clocked it.. Those were the days of heavy metal. Now i play lighter with nickel strings. Dave [/quote] Rotosound steel strings have quite a reputation for eating frets so I'm not surprised that they ate your fingers too. My favourite strings for most purposes are DR coated strings (Black Beauties and Silver Stars) - they have punch and clarity without shredding your fingers. Other than that, as many people have said, Nickels will be less aggressive on your fingers but be aware that some people can react to nickel (which is why baby clothes have special Nickel-free fastenings).

[quote name='chriswareham' timestamp='1484701081' post='3217708'] Radiohead for me as well. Thom Yorke's voice is an irritating whine and the music shows an utter lack of ideas. [/quote] I've never taken to Radiohead either. I even bought a couple of their albums to give them a fair chance but still couldn't get it.

I had a similar problem with an EBMM Sterling that I bought. My favourite strings have been DR coated strings (Black Beauties / Silver Stars) for a few years but I just couldn't get them to grip onto the tuning post so had to go to Ernie Ball string's on that one and they grip on fine. Are your strings coated by any chance?

[quote name='GisserD' timestamp='1484147939' post='3213047'] New guitar arrived today. The wood grain is "normal" and no damage to speak of on initial inspection. Only had 2 mins with it tho as I'm at work. Full inspection and report will follow But I'm over the moon with how it looks [/quote] Quite pretty, for a Fender (ducks and runs away ...).

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1483818540' post='3210419'] A gentle explanation about each instrument needing some sonic space is in order methinks. [/quote] Or perhaps, for those couple of songs, you could have some fun playing up at the dusty end? Don't think of it so much as treading on each others' toes - more playing off of each other.

I was walking past my local Cash Converters today and had a look in the window. There right in the middle was a Squier Telecaster proudly being sold as a "Fender Telecaster"'. Thought I'd take a minute or two to pop in and point out the error to them - not interested; "Yeah mate, it's a Fender made by Squier" was the response that I got. Oh dear!