paul_5

I’ve never needed a spare bass in nearly 30 years of gigging. I used to go out with a couple of basses ‘just in case’, and occasionally I’ll take a second bass for a change of sound (mostly it’s fretless Jazz, but occasionally it’s nice to dig into a P with flats) depending on the band and the set list. These days it would be nice to have a gig to go to; my first one of the year is in July!

Glad to hear you’ve taken your first steps in Zappa’s immense (and intense) body of work. as a newcomer I’d recommend: Broadway the Hardway Apostrophe Sheik Yerbouti as the most accessible ones. The Yellow Shark Project is worth a listen too - FZ’s masterpiece of orchestral writing.

I watched a video of one of these the other day - sounded great!!

A preamp should be able to do both. whether you choose to use it to just change the eq, and set the output to match bypassed signal is up to you. I’ve got a Dave Hall valve unit that I used to use as a preamp direct into a power amp - much like other BCers who run into the effects return socket of their amp; these days I just use it as an overdrive pedal, so I dial back the volume and that’s what it is. Tone shaping is much easier (and safer) to do in the preamp stage, as the signal is significantly smaller (typically less than 1v) when compared to the signal coming out of the power amp stage, so that’s why it gets done at that particular part of the amp.

Put me in mind if a Pearly Queen. and not in a good way.

Could’ve as simple as a dicky switch - it’s a mechanical device as will fail eventually!

Everything’s worth repairing!

There’s a little plastic cover on the headstock; it’s under there. 😄

I’m no Derek Smalls, but...

“TLC needed”. I think that ship may have sailed, time to administer the last rites.

It’s 5 parallel clipping stages, each tune to *very* close frequencies. Messy and chaotic, but in a really food way.

You might be correct; true 'bit crushing' is only possible using digital audio, so it's probably the most recent invention.

An excellent choice. Today (and yesterday) have been very 80s for me, in a Kate Bush, Prince and Erasure way.

For that track I think the CAR bass is more appropriate, personally I prefer the other one though; it’s just got a bit more bite to it.

If only there was an Oscar Wilde quote about being talked about versus not. Stephen could really do with one at the moment.

Lamb of God. They were on the same bill as Anthrax and Slayer a couple of years ago, and I was looking forward them as I've got a couple of albums and quite enjoyed them. Anthrax were on before them, and were amazing. LOG didn't look like they were even trying. They sounded tight, and were obviously well rehearsed, had a stage set up but just stood still throughout their recital (not a performance). Funny thing is, Slayer did pretty much the same thing, but were just more entertaining. Go figure.

I’m a huge fan of the Waves Rhapsody piano plugin, wait for a sale though, as it’s quite pricey! Just had a look and it’s $35 from the waves US site, not sure if it’s a similar price on the UK site.

They're Red Hot - Robert Johnson (& RHCP)

Night Fever - BGBGBG

Mmmm, 60/40. 🥰

Didn’t Motley Crue used to do warm up gigs as the ‘Four Skins’?

Classic rock = Dragons and shagging, denim and leather. did I miss anything?