Skol303

Nice job! I had one of these myself and used it as a 'project' bass: de-fret/lacquer, re-spray and some new pickups. Build diary here: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/196051-how-easy-is-it-to-remove-a-polyresin-finish-update-project-finished-photos-added/ The body on mine was made from MDF, hence I decided not to strip it. PS: have since sold it.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1391216779' post='2354770'] Can I ask what that building is please ? [/quote] No probs. There's a 'spoiler' button at the bottom of the introductory post... click it and all will be revealed!

[quote name='AL-the-Bassman' timestamp='1391215537' post='2354763'] so........... whats the New Pic guna be? [/quote] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/228608-february-composition-challenge-get-recording/"]Head this way >>>[/url]

[quote name='AL-the-Bassman' timestamp='1391215026' post='2354757'] Well Done Skol. Great Track and deserves the win. Nice one , and good job to all who entered. you'll be happy to know that you won't be getting this picture in feb's comp [/quote] Cheers Al!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1391214679' post='2354754']Swindle..! This is the same building as [i]last [/i]month, from a different angle..! Any minute now and a V8 hot rod will come down the street to a banjo backing..![/quote] In fact, you can [i]just[/i] make out one of the hooded guys on top of the building if you squint hard enough... [b][size=5]PS: voting has started in the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/223452-mixing-challenge-vote-now/"]mixing challenge![/url][/size][/b] Show your fellow Rec' heads some support and please go listen and vote. Ta.

[size=5]We've got a double-header of activity in the Rec forum right now…[/size] 1) Voting has started on the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/223452-mixing-challenge-vote-now/"]Mixing Challenge.[/url] 2) We've just launched February's [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/228608-february-composition-challenge-get-recording/"]Composition Challenge.[/url] Go on, have a dabble. [i]Go on, go on, go on![/i]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1391212944' post='2354737']Congratulations Skol - a very worthy winner, once again![/quote] [quote name='the boy' timestamp='1391212966' post='2354738']Congrats to Skol.... A worthy winner.[/quote] [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1391213641' post='2354743']So..! The lad has done it again..! Well done, and of course, congratulations to all the others. Another fine bunch, eh..?[/quote] Thanks fellas! 74 votes in total... that's fantastic. Thanks to everyone who took the time to get involved this month. Especially all you lot who made the music. Cheers comrades February's challenge is now up and running. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/228608-february-composition-challenge-get-recording/"]Look busy![/url]

[color=#b22222][size=5][b]February's Composition Challenge is now underway.[/b][/size][/color] [size=5]Here's the image for your inspiration...[/size] [size=5]And here are the rules 'n' stuff…[/size] By entering the competition you agree to the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrules"]Basschat Terms & Conditions[/url] and [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/3178-forum-guidelines/"]Forum Guidelines[/url], which are designed to help ensure the forum remains free of offensive and/or illegal behaviour and material. In a nutshell: [b]1) Please avoid any content that other forum users may find offensive.[/b] If your track contains explicit lyrics, for example, then please warn other forum users so they can choose for themselves whether to listen to it. [b]2) Please make sure you have permission to use any 3rd party sounds included in your track[/b] (ie. sounds that you have not recorded yourself, such as samples of other people's music). The owners of Basschat accept no responsibility for infringements of copyright or other forms of legal ownership, which are solely the responsibility of competition entrants. If we spot any breaches of copyright then your track will be removed from the competition. For reference: here's a great source of copyright-free material, all available under Creative Commons license: [url="http://www.freesound.org/"]http://www.freesound.org/[/url] [b]3) Entries should be no more than five minutes long and written/produced during the month of the competition[/b], taking inspiration from the photo provided. No cheating! If you have any questions about the competition rules, just ask. [color=#b22222][size=5][b]The deadline for entries is midnight on Friday 21st February.[/b][/size][/color] Get to it! PS: if want to know what the photograph is of, click below… [spoiler]Michigan Central Station, Detroit[/spoiler]

[size=5]Last orders please![/size] [b]Tonight is the deadline for entries into the Mixing Challenge.[/b] I'll be launching the voting thread later on tonight or tomorrow. Well done to everyone who's entered thus far. Good work

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1391023326' post='2352424']SO difficult this month. I love them all! [/quote] Thanks for the support 'Shell! And if you ever fancy having a go yourself one month...? So far Debs has been our only female composer, so it's about time our BC Sisters started doing it for themselves, etc [quote name='AL-the-Bassman' timestamp='1391043766' post='2352746']you should produce an album of all the winners, and runners up. in time for christmas 2014 ,[/quote] Good idea, Al. The was Charic's original intention when he set up the competition... I might pick up the idea again and look to put out a BC album on Bandcamp (or similar) once a year, with the proceeds going to help support the site together with a % donated to charity. [quote name='Stephen Houghton' timestamp='1391048529' post='2352756'] Voted, great work from everyone involved, there was a couple that I favoured, but one stood out for me and got the vote Yeee Hahhhhhhh[/quote] Nice to have you back Steve! It's been too long since you had a go at this yourself. Yeah that's a big, unsubtle [i]HINT[/i]

To date, the following members of the Basschat community have written and recorded 145 original new tracks as part of the monthly Composition Challenges, spanning more than 10 hours of music and a whole gaggle of different genres: [b]72deluxe, AL-the-Bassman, ambient, Aresenic, BigRedX, Bilbo, Blademan_98, BobBass4k, BobbyK, CamdenRob, Charic, Crazyzeelboy, dad3353, Dave Vader, Discreet, EliasMooseblaster, Elvis Valentine, JamesFlashG, JamieMillsBass, Krysh, Leonard Smalls, Lord Sausage, Lowdown, lurksalot, MiltyG565, Mornats, paul h, Pinball, Rockford Stone, Sibob, Silddx (aka Xilddx), SimonEdward, Skol303, SpaceChick, Spoombung, Stephen Houghton, Steve, stu_g, the boy, urb, Walman, Xgsjx and Zenitram.[/b] [i](yup, I'm killing time when I should be finishing something for work… can you tell?)[/i] Anyhow. I just thought I'd share that with you all, as I found it quite amazing. Here's an archive of stuff for anyone interested: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/228445-basschat-composition-challenge-the-archive/ And a big cheers to everyone who's taken part so far!

For anyone interested I've just posted an archive of the past 2 years' Composition Challenges in the 'Share Your Music' forum. Right here: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/228445-basschat-composition-challenge-the-archive/ Ah, the memories...

[color=#B22222][size=5][b]BASSCHAT COMPOSITION CHALLENGE - THE ARCHIVE[/b][/size][/color] A collection of the various monthly Composition Challenges that have taken place in the Recording forum. [b][size=5]2012[/size][/b] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/187585-september-composition-competition-voting-time/"]September[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/190256-october-composition-competition-voting-time/"]October[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/192756-november-composition-competition-voting-time/"]November[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/195165-december-composition-competition-voting-time/"]December[/url] [b][size=5]2013[/size][/b] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/197631-january-composition-competition-voting-time/"]January[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/200552-february-composition-competition-voting-time/"]February[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/203632-march-composition-competition-voting-time/"]March[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/206094-voting-time-april-composition-competition-voting-time/"]April[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/208538-may-composition-competition-voting-time/"]May[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/210888-june-composition-competition-voting-time/"]June[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/213014-july-composition-competition-voting-time/"]July[/url] August: [i]cancelled[/i] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/217837-september-composition-competition-the-results/"]September[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/220621-october-composition-competition-the-results/"]October[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/223131-november-composition-competition-voting/"]November[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/225389-december-composition-competition-vote-now/"]December[/url] [b][size=5]2014[/size][/b] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/227997-january-composition-competition-voting/"]January[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/230387-february-composition-challenge-voting/"]February[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/232988-march-composition-challenge-voting/"]March[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/235400-april-composition-challenge-voting/"]April[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/237661-may-composition-challenge-voting/"]May[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/239678-june-composition-challenge-voting/"]June[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/242033-july-composition-challenge-voting/"]July[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/243833-august-composition-challenge-voting-time/"]August[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/246002-september-composition-challenge-voting/"]September[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/248026-october-composition-challenge-voting/"]October[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/250039-november-composition-challenge-voting/"]November[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/251961-december-composition-challenge-voting/"]December[/url] [b][size=5]2015[/size][/b] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/254191-january-composition-challenge-voting/"]January[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/256313-february-composition-challenge-voting/"]February[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/258557-march-composition-challenge-voting/"]March[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/260678-april-composition-challenge-voting/"]April[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/262763-may-composition-challenge-voting/"]May[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/264655-june-composition-challenge-voting/"]June[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/266554-july-composition-challenge-voting/"]July[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/268393-august-composition-challenge-voting/"]August[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/270103-september-composition-challenge-voting/"]September[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/271906-october-composition-challenge-voting/"]October[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/273776-november-composition-challenge-voting/"]November[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/275529-december-composition-challenge-voting/"]December[/url] [b][size=5]2016[/size][/b] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/277622-january-composition-challenge-voting/"]January[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/279691-february-composition-challenge-voting/"]February[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/281744-march-composition-challenge-voting-and-prizes/"]March[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/283725-april-composition-challenge-voting/"]April[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/285586-may-composition-challenge-voting/"]May[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/287349-june-composition-challenge-voting/"]June[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/288906-july-composition-challenge-voting/"]July[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/290587-august-composition-challenge-voting/"]August[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/292384-september-composition-challenge-voting/"]September[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/294158-voting-time-october-composition-challenge/"]October[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/295862-voting-time-november-composition-challenge/"]November[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/297427-december-cover-song-challenge-voting/"]December[/url] [b][size=5]2017[/size][/b] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/299225-january-composition-challenge-voting/"]January[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/300964-february-composition-challenge-voting/"]February[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/302951-march-composition-challenge-voting/"]March[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/304637-april-composition-challenge-voting/"]April[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/306259-may-composition-challenge-voting/"]May[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/307747-june-composition-challenge-voting/"]June[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/309279-july-composition-challenge-voting/"]July[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/310840-august-composition-challenge-voting/"]August[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/312360-september-composition-challenge-voting/page__pid__3377382#entry3377382"]September[/url] [color=#B22222][size=5]Featuring music by…[/size][/color] 72deluxe, adamg67, alibabu, alittlebitrobot, AL-the-Bassman, ambient, Arsenic, BassBus, bassinvader36, Bastav, BigRedX, Bilbo, BirchTree, Blademan_98, Bleat, BobBass4k, BobbyK, CamdenRob, Charic, Che, Chiliwailer, christofloffer, Crazyzeelboy, Dad3353, Dapper Bandit, Dave Vader, Discreet, Doctor J, EliasMooseblaster, Elvis Valentine, fingers211, Indy, JamesFlashG, JamieMillsBass, JellyKnees, Krysh, Leonard Smalls, Les, Lord Sausage, lovetheblues, lowdown, lurksalot, McBass, MikeBass, MiltyG565, MoonBassAlpha, Mornats, NancyJohnson, Old_Ben, Ou7shined, Painy, Panamonte, Pasco Jacorius, paul h, Pinball, Plunger Moderno, RalphDWilson, Rikki1984, Rockford Stone, SH73, Sibob, Silddx (aka Xilddx), SimonEdward, Skol303, SpaceChick, Spoombung, Stephen Houghton, Steve, stu_g, the boy, timhiggins, urb, Walman, WILD FROG SHOT, Wiro, xgsjx and Zenitram. Well done all

[quote name='AL-the-Bassman' timestamp='1391018031' post='2352353'] Good Idea but your band could enter this comp anyway , doesn't have to be solo comp's i think if u have the facility to record, Do it , enter and have fun , its not a test for berklee !! [/quote] Absolutely! Although I think the task of composing and recording a track in three weeks is maybe better suited to individuals than bands for logistical reasons. But you're right that bands are welcome to take part. In fact we've had a few in the past. I've been involved in one (sort of) and it was a huge (and sleepless!) effort, but worthwhile

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1391016271' post='2352316'] a competition to find the "Basschatters Band of The Month" would be fun, say like 5 or 6 bands entered a month, we all vote and that band is the band of the month for february... maybe an obvious link/advert on the main page could be a prize maybe which could give people an incentive to enter... i dunno just thinking out loud [/quote] Like it! I'll float the idea in the General Forum next month and set some wheels in motion..,.

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1390985545' post='2351885'] seconded, i struggle to find the time to listen to 5 or 6 sometimes. i also think its fair to suggest that not everyone has their own recording set up, i think the ones who do and are into it hang out on this section of forum as it is. in terms of people voting, i did also consider whether it comes down to taste maybe... a lot of people here play songs in the standard form and the compositions on here tend to take the form of a piece of music rather than a typical song... maybe thats why some people don't come over here [/quote] Aye. In fact, we've had feedback during some of the larger competitions that people find it hard going listening through all of the entries. Again, that's a shame but very understandable. I was thinking that during some months we could do a 'special' and limit the length of each track to a minute, or thereabouts, as both a fresh challenge to the entrants and a more 'quick fire' experience for the listeners. Just an idea. I've also been toying with the idea of a 'Battle of the Bands' event at some point in future: a one-off, separate to the composition competition, showcasing music recorded by BC members' bands (as a way of involving people who play in bands but don't record music themselves). All food for thought

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1390939041' post='2351594'] We could have a competition to see who comes up with the best name for it. [/quote] Nah... a good ol' fashioned knife fight would be more inclusive and less passive-aggressive. Winner gets to choose [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1390939180' post='2351596'] Meanwhile, here's the 'teaser' you've all been waiting for. If this doesn't bring 'em in in droves... [/quote] Genius or insanity... it's a fine line between the two Douglas, a fine line

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1390937871' post='2351571'] +1 here, which is why I always use the term 'challenge'. The competitive aspect isn't the motivation, it's the challenge (to oneself, for my part...). [/quote] I've often wondered whether we should call it the 'Composition Challenge' instead of 'Competition'. Happy to change the name next time round unless anyone objects - ?

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1390931011' post='2351466'] There may also be people who will listen to the tracks but don't see music as a competition and don't wish or see the need to favour one piece of music over another. That's certainly my position, to an extent. [/quote] Good point. That said, I think the voting is a way for people to get involved in the monthly challenges, rather than 'just' being passive listeners. Although for sure, as others have said, the real value of the competitions is that they encourage us all to make music we might not otherwise think of making. I mean... my staple output is electronica and here I am writing country music! That's not normal. And I'm all the better for it

[quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1390902789' post='2350973'] It's easy and fun too. You just need to have a listen,then press a button. I'm a convert. [/quote] Good on ya! That's the spirit

[quote name='the boy' timestamp='1390915430' post='2351179']There has to be a better way of promoting it within the website. I've no idea how but there must be some clever guy here who can work it out.[/quote] I'm all ears! Seriously... very open to suggestions for how we can promote it more effectively. Our current method is to post a thread advertising the competition in the General Forum and send out a series of Tweets to all of the BC Twitterati (courtesy of Sylvia, who always helps out on that front). It usually gets a mention on the BC Facebook page too. I'm always conscious of wanting to avoid 'nagging' people into voting, as that's likely to have the opposite effect. So for instance, I don't think mutiple threads promoting the competition would be the right way to go about it. But it might help if more of you added imploring comments to the thread in the General forum ([url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/227998-january-composition-competition-vote-now/"]here[/url]), to help keep that thread bumped and in the spotlight. I think prizes and sponsorship will help, but again, may also change what we have into a different beast entirely. So we may decide to run prize competitions in a different format and perhaps even with a different voting system, involving judges in some instances, etc, etc. More on that in due course. But for the time being, as I've said already, [i]"you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink".[/i] Well, not unless it's massively thirsty. Or a pantomime horse. Or... yeah, I'll stop now. [quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1390916521' post='2351202'][size=4]Ahhhh..but you could have taken the 'The Big Country' theme or 'Dallas' route...[/size] [/quote] Damn you Garry and your inventiveness!! Those would have been interesteting routes to take.

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1390899661' post='2350939'] i don't think that is entirely the case i only go on here fleeting during the course of my day, so i do try to make an effort to listen to the songs as they are posted... [/quote] Aye, totally Rob... I wasn't trying to be critical! I just think that the majority of Basschatters don't come here to listen to new music - they use the forum like a sort of 'online pub', where they can chat with friends about gear, technique, gigs, etc. The actual music is in the background for a lot of people. And that's absolutely fine... it's the same on every other music forum. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that we shouldn't beat ourselves up over the monthly challenges not getting the audience they perhaps deserve. It [i]is[/i] a shame... but it's also not a deliberate snub by the rest of the community, it's just that some folks are too busy nattering about other stuff. We're hoping to attract some sponsors to the competitions, which may attract a bigger audience (as they have done in the past). But I'm also keen to not spoil what we have and turn it into a 'battle' each month for whatever prize is on offer. So we'll need to handle that carefully. But in the meantime, we have a solid cadre of people who get stuck in, which is ultimately what it's all about. [i]PS: I know you know all this mate.... I'm just thinking out loud.[/i] [quote name='the boy' timestamp='1390903235' post='2350982'] Voted...... I voted for the one I thought captured the pic best as none of the tracks really appealed to me as such. Nothing wrong with them but not to my taste. Interesting how all the tracks took a similar theme. Bert is visually more powerful than we would think. [/quote] Yup, that's the power of imagery for ya! It's also the power of country music, in that even the slightlest hint of country inevitibly turns a composition into 'country music'. The real challenge this month was referencing both Escher and Burt Reynolds / "Texan in a hat" in the same piece. Escher could have been tackled in numerous different ways, but a texan in a hat is well... a texan in a hat! And not so open to musical interpretation. I think that's why everyone with the exception of Bilbo took the country route (and Bilbo himself has said that he ignored the Burt Reynolds image altogether). I can't say I'm a huge fan of country music myself, although I do quite like bluegrass. That said, I did enjoy writing the track this month Perhaps a little [i]too[/i] much

A quick aside: I'm thinking of stringing an old 70s P-bass (work in progress) with the heavy 'Jamerson' La Bella flats, gauge 52/73/95/110. I've since read that this gauge can cause problems with older necks due to the high tension (ie. causing warping). Is this just scaremongering? Or can heavy gauge strings be a concern? I normally play 5-strings and this has never crossed my mind before... but then I guess 5's are set up for higher tension by default.

That sure is an odd tuning set up. Good for drone metal?

[quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1390836608' post='2350075'] Also may be worth checking out some of these bad boys.... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/227997-january-composition-competition-voting/page__pid__2350067#entry2350067 [/quote] Good on ya! Cheers.