bassist_lewis

Hey guys, just wondered if people have recommendations for phasers for bass. I used to have an EBS DPhaser years ago but just wondered what else was out there that was worth looking at. Cheers!

I went through the exact same thing last year so I have a good idea how you're feeling, though I didn't end up going away as I my career really took off last year. It's definitely a good time to do it, no responsibilities, no ties. It's a little easier to get on the cruise ships if you're in an established band but still work on your reading - quick tip, get a bass clef version of the real book and read through a few tunes one after another, gets you used to reading stuff you don't know rather than just learning the tune by heart. One of my friends has been doing the playing in bars abroad thing for about 2 years. The agency put you in a band, it's a steep learning curve but you don't have to be able to read. Couple of things to be aware of: you'll be with the same 5 or 6 people every day for 6 months, which can be pretty hellish if you don't get on; playing 6 days a week is a big stress on your body; going away like that makes it near impossible to establish a stable long term career. The up side: you meet a lot of great people playing all over the world; you can work on your chops; you get to see the world!!! You can party hard and you'll have a ton of stories when you come back. As for getting your career going at home, if you live in or near a big city then you'll have lots of opportunities. Check out jam nights, answer ads on gumtree. Try and make your own opportunities, play with everyone you can, practice practice practice! You get work based on contacts and reputation so turn up on time, have a good attitude, learn the material, play for the song, diversify - don't turn your nose up at any work or any one (you never know who'll give you your next big break) and don't rely on any one thing for your income. And learn to drive.

The luthier of my bass very sadly died last month making said instrument now completely irreplaceable - I had hoped to have a second one built as a spare in the future. It is currently insured for £2100, the price it would have cost to buy a new one but with that now being impossible do I increase the amount it's insured for or just leave it? Thanks

I've tried googling this and I guess I don't don't what word to use because I can't find anything. I have a Lehle basswitch DI, and while it doesn't come with a power supply, it does come with the endpin plug bit so you wire that to any power supply you want. Currently I'm using a power supply from Maplin with the changeable fixtures and it's a bit wobbly so I'd like to change it bit I don't know how to wire it, anyone out there who does know? Thanks

I saw/read an interview with VW and he said himself that when he goes on stage as Victor Wooten the audience is expecting him to play a certain way. So he plays in the way that's expected of him in that role.

A pro keyboard player friend of mine thinks nothing of leaving his gear in his car because he has insurance that covers it (Allianz, apparently). I intend to do the same but insurance isn't much use when my cab would take 6 weeks to replace, my bass would take a year (assuming he was still building) and the company that made my amp doesn't exist anymore 😮

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1463558503' post='3052216'] That's extremely kind of you mate, look forward to hearing/seeing it and thanks for the info on your strings too Eude [/quote] One of my bands did a live session. There's bits of low B all over but particularly at 1:30 onwards. https://youtu.be/6WGWKcTD_CM Better late than never!

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1463483462' post='3051657'] Hey mate, have you got any sound/video clips of the bass in use, especially the low B? Also, what strings are you using, have you gone custom, or are you going off the shelf? Cheers, Eude [/quote] I do not currently but I'll throw some together in my free time this week. I think Tim put standard DRs on it, not sure exactly what type but they're rounds. The low B is D'Addario.

I have a Callowhill MPB short scale 5 string and, to my ears, it's the best low B I've played. its one of the few Bs IME that's useable beyond the 4th fret. There's nothing special about the neck construction (one piece maple, maybe quartersawn?), the luthier said it was to do with angles at the bridge and nut. The only thing I've done is test a few gauges of low B (125, 130, 135) and, not surprisingly, the 135 was the best.

I don't know the brand but they're the ones that came with the bass from thomann

When I'm bowing I've noticed that sometimes the note will change pitch slightly (semitone or a bit less) and back again. Before you ask, it's not my left hand shifting. I've also found that the strings constantly go out of tune after a day or two, could these be related? Thanks

We'll I've gone and bought it anyway so I'll just have to find for myself!

It's all in the topic. I'm looking at buying a double bass and one thing is holding me back: if you don't have a car how do you get your double bass around town? The bass trolley? The wheel that goes in the end pin hole? A roadie?!

Phil Jobes big head. Quit expensive but all you need us your instrument cable and headphones. They also come with a few cables to plug into the auxiliary input (iPod, phones etc)

The demo is OK but as with most YouTube videos you don't get the best idea of tone (not the most helpful comment!). I'd personally be interested to hear how those 50 watts translates into volume. Legend has it that valve watts are louder than solid state ones. I want one. http://youtu.be/kwAFAgZF7rc The bass doesn't actually sound that great to me but I think that's the player, his technique is sloppy.

The phil Jones big head headphone amp is very clean and hifi (IMO) as is all of their stuff but be prepared to pay for it! The concept of a truly "clean" or "flat response" amplifier/speaker is practically speaking a fantasy. All amplifiers and their preamps react to different frequencies in different ways, as do speakers and speaker cabs. Take into account also your fingers, your pick ups, your strings, your cables, the wood used for your instrument... Add audio interfaces, USB connections, plugins, DAW software and the variables are I practically endless!! Just go with what you like and you can't go wrong 😁 AND uncoloured speakers like those for hifis, PA systems, monitors etc often sound pretty s#%t with bass. IMO

I play in probably 10 different bands, wedding, jazz fusion, soul, disco, ceilidh, theatre, etc etc. I could do all of those gigs without a single pedal if I had to (I use a clip on tuner to save space and for acoustic instruments) but pedals add an extra dimension to the music, like a bit of crunch when I use a pick or an octave pedal to add some beef. I only have an octave, overdrive and an envelope filter on my pedal board but IMO that's all that is necessary for bass guitar. My feeling is that the bass needs to keep the foundation solid for keys, horns, guitar, voice, etc to go wild on top, whether that be meldoically, harmonically or timbre-ally (??).

Opted to print it all out. Can't find a compatible page turner and there's no point spending the money for one short run. Also, I can add notes, cues etc.

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1448320149' post='2914524'] I use the iPad with OnSong for music at church. Nothing as complicated as a score but using a bluetooth pedal to page turn and scroll up and down is a real boon - I'd say pretty much essential. If you invest in something like an AirTurn pedal I doubt that you would regret it! [/quote] The Airturn is the best option for portability and price but it only works with iPad 3 and above, I have an iPad 2 so it's off the cards. Everything else is £65+ and bulky (by comparison)

I looked through the score and there are quite a few instances where I wouldn't be able to turn the page (on iPad or with paper) without stopping playing. I'm looking into page turners but I don't know if it's worth the investment as there's no guarantee of more work

I'm playing in the pit for a panto in December. The MD has sent me the parts in an email and said I'll need to print them off but I have an iPad with ForScore so in my mind that seems a much easier way to read through the show and to save a small tree (or a bush) in the process. However, I've never played a show with my iPad so I wondered if anyone out there had and if they'd recommend it. Thanks

I'd recommend Louis Bellson's Modern Reading Text in 4/4. It has every possible permutation of rhythms in 4/4 from the very basic quavers and crotchets up to highly syncopated semi-quaver rhythms. In my experience you learn the notes pretty quickly, but learning to play rhythms at a glance takes much more practice. I also read somewhere that you can fluff the notes/pitch and most people won't notice but if you get the rhythm wrong everyone will notice.

My name sake is correct, it is a Streamliner 900. I'd be curious to hear the One10 with something more 'hifi' like a Tecamp Puma, a TC or Markbass