dmccombe7

I struggle to play with a plectrum after playing fingerstyle for 40+ yrs but what i do find a lot easier is holding my index finger as a pick and that seems to work for me. I've tried many times to get used to a plectrum but i just can't get the same ryhthym going as i can with my index finger. If i had no choice i'm sure i would adapt as i'm sure you will if required. Wish you all the very best for a good fast recovery and hope it doesn't come to you having to change playing style Dave

At rehearsals we all know what the official stop time is but when playing our singer tends to have a fair bit of audience participation and if going well he signals us behind his back with similar gestures as James Blunt or maybe holding one finger up to indicate repeat that section one more time. We do however practice that kind of event at rehearsals just to be safe. I think you get to know the people in the band and most tmes can follow what they are doing or thinking just by their look of panic. 😁 Dave

My older Toshiba laptop from 2012 has had the power socket fixed twice and the keyboard surround facia replaced as parts had cracked. I had the on-going Curry's warranty at £8 / mth. It also covered accidental damage and that's why they replaced the facia for free. My new Asus cover from Currys at £6 / mth only covers breakdown or technical assistance but no longer accidental damage. My old Tosh is pretty solid built and apart from the battery being a bit dodgy it still runs ok albeit a bit slower than the ASUS I need to get the TOSH power socket repaired again and its annual service and clean up and then i'll stop the monthly cover. For years i had forgotten all about the monthly guarantee Dave

I'd have to say that 18mths for any laptop failing isn't wear and tear in my book no matter what the manufacturer is. I expect any item i buy to last a bit longer than 18 mths and i think Amazon are chancing their arm with that statement. Did you speak to Trading Standards or Citizens advice. I was under the impression that anything made for the UK market must be expected to last a minimum of 5 yrs oor there abouts even tho guarantees are 1 year. No idea where i got that from tho ? Dave

Nice. that will be fun.

Darn it i just bought an Asus laptop in Nov last year. Looking at all the reviews it came out really well tho.

Had a Sony tv too and eventually bit the bullet and just threw it out to get a flat screen. Cant even remember how many yrs i had it. Never had an issue with it at all. Dave

Playing along with Joni Mitchell album Wild Things Run Fast. Not my usual style of music but its easy to listen to and the bass player Larry Klein is exceptionally good.

I was of that opinion too and it's why I went for a 212 cab but having heard the mesa subway 15 v the 12 I found the 15 had more clarity across the range and it has surprised me. Could well be the cab design but both cabs are same design just different sizes. I'm still unsure whether I would go for a 15 or 12 cab if I change.

Tried one of them in a rehearsal room as part of a MB rig which also had the 410 on top. I had the opportunity to try both cabs separately and i was fair impressed by it. Dave

Another Peavey BW user. Had a custom cab made with a 15" and a 12". Used it for many years with different amps. That was my one and only 15" speaker come to think of it. Dave

Would have thought with neck dive you would add body weight rather than go skinny. Will that not make it worse. ? Dave

Must admit if i was buying a bass at that price i would expect a perfect balance on the strap as part of the build. That's really surprised me and its something i never gave any thought to when looking at the Alembic basses. Kind of throws a whole new light on them. Dave

Stunning and cant wait to hear this when finished. Dave

That suprised me about the neck dive. You wouldn't expect that from Alembic. Good to hear the negative side too tho. Dave

Lucky enough to have bass cave and cats not allowed in there. No kids to worry about tho.

Leave the expensive bass out and lock the kids away. Just throwing in other options @Cuzzie 😂 Free advice :- only do this when wife is out. Dave

Think we are at different levels in how we approach bass playing. For me its always been just a hobby that i enjoy. Did a lot of gigging in 80's / 90's then took a break until 2010 and now busier than ever before but i still view it as just a hobby. I like to gig once or twice a month and no more and don't want a band to become a job as such. Because i view the whole thing as a hobby i often indulge myself with something expensive and nice. My Overwater custom fretless 6 is the best example. Its probably more sentimental value as my wife bought it for me when i turned 50 in 2010. I just enjoy picking it up and playing some fretless bass at home. I went 6 string to push myself to learn new techniques and improve my general playing. Its a bit heavy to play a full 2-3 hr gig but i have used it in studio projects on occasion. I think (and its only my own impression) that you are more a working bassist and your bass is more a tool for the job (albeit an expensive tool) so you have a different viewpoit of bass ownership than me. Maybe i'm wrong there ? I would add that if i had bought a £3k bass that worked in my current band i would probably be using it. Think i've just contradicted myself on this post 😂 Dave

Listening to that clip i posted i'd def agree that it looks and sounds like a very good active Fender. They look nicer than Fenders tho. I liked the sound and if looking for a new active bass they def look like a good choice. Quite rare tho so the chance of being able to try one up here is gonna be limited. Dave

Had a look at Carmine Rojas clips but oddly enough the talking ones where he was talking about different songs he had a different Fender bass in each one. Obviously not his as the labels were still on the headstocks. 😀 Did see his clips with Bonnamassa and it sounded ok but not a lot different to many other active basses. From what he said in one clip with an Xotic bass they are "beautifully made" basses. Without trying one its hard to judge what the bass can do. Think this thread is being hijacked on a different topic so i'm gonna go to bed and hopefully let it get back on track. My apologies to the OP Dave

Know what you mean. Compared to other passive J basses my Geddy CIJ jazz has felt and sounded better than many more expensive passive J basses i've tried

Just had a listen to an Xotic J bass and it definitely sounds very nice. Very sharp and clear sounding on the bridge pick up. For me it has the sound of many expensive boutique basses including my Overwater 6er. A modern clear almost clinical tone. My Fender J certainly doesn't give me this tone but its not active.

Off to have a wee listen to some of them and maybe check out youtube reviews just to see what they are like. I have a wee notion for an Alembic at the mment but probably won't and will end up buying a Vintera P bass as its stuck in my head. If i do decide to buy another bass that is.

First thing i judge a bass by is how the neck feels then the general feel of the bass in total.I do that with any bass, cheap or expensive. If it doesn't feel right on the neck its a no-goer for me. Then its how it sounds. I generally have an idea how a bass should sound before trying it. Talking about your typical Fender / Gibson / Ric basses rather than the boutique style basses. Never tried an Xotic bass. Can't even say i've heard one. Are there any famous bassists that you could point out to me for a listen Pete.

Might have been skyline basses i've tried but not 100% sure.