dmccombe7

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1485186214' post='3221890'] Ditto - lovely strings, currenty some 40-100's on one of my basses IIRC, aren't the Nickel windings over round core instead of the usual hex core ? [/quote] From what i've read yep they are a round core. Dave

Cracking buy. Well done. Can you not adjust the pre-amp to bring it down to the passive level. I see there are 2 small pots in the photo. ?? Dave

I mostly use 40-100 gauge and was wondering what everyone else uses. ? Some manufacturers class that as light and others as medium or regular. Dave

[quote name='Davo-London' timestamp='1485178498' post='3221774'] Massive fan of Sunbeams here. Worth a try if you are a nickel fan. Mine seems to last a long time. Even when the initial freshness has gone (ie zing reduced) they have a lovely tone. I would also say that if you generally find you are missing fatness, punch or growl - turn up the amp! Davo [/quote] Don't seem to be missing the fatness but some of the growl which i had always assumed it was down to using my fingernails for more attack. Could well be i need to reduce bass levels, add some more mids and as you say turn up the amp a little. I tend to run my amps flat with occasionally a touch of mid boost. Dave

Electricians still call a Fluke insulation tester a Megger and yep i can remember when they were huge bix wooden boxes. Think we still have ours in the substation altho its for HV only. Its the flying lead part i was missing and that explains it all. Cheers Dave

I've worked with many engineers of all disciplines over 40yr career in engineering and found that not everyone takes routine checking as seriously as everyone else. The advantage of PAT testing for me as a Manager was that it provided proof for audits that the routine inspections were being completed correctly and that we had the evidence to back it up. The audits were either by HSE, Insurance companies or internal engineering audits. That may percieved as being just a tick in the box but at the end of the day routine checks were actually done and not made up as i have found in industry where jobs were written up as completed but not actually done. (yes that does happen where engineers are too lazy to do the work) Years ago i would find plugs with earths disconnected or loose. I have come across plugs with 3 cores clamped rather than the sheath. All of these were fitted by people that were regarded as competent. For me being the person on the firing line at audits it was an easy way to show we were taking things seriously and believed in a safety first culture. I do appreciate that mental attitude to safety has improved over the years and maybe PAT testing just helped us get there. Its not perfect but it helped reduce accidents in the workplace. A visual examination if carried out correctly would have captured many of the issues tho. I don't know the intricasies of PAT testing and i'm not sure how it works but assuming its a form of megger test to check insulation. 1. How does it check continuity of cabling ie how do you know your earth cable is actually connected inside the unit ie amp in this case. ? 2. With regards my own personal equipment i check a cable with a multimeter and check earth to amp casing. I think perhaps buying a small PAT tester might be very handy. Dave

What about the DR Lo-Rider nickel strings. Anyone compared them with the D'Addarios or Sunbeams. Did see the Fat Beams but description on them wasn't clear as to what they were made from. Certainly Marcus Miller has a really nice tone on his Jazz altho its an active bass. Anyone got comparison with the D'Addarios V's Ernie Ball Slinky nickels. ? Dave

Before PAT testing people never bothered rechecking items after installation. That led to items falling into disrepair. The good thing about PAT testing is that it forces an inspection. Dave

Currently using D'Addario nickel 40-100 on my Jazz bass. Used Fender equivelants before that. Historically i always kept my plucking finger nails just long enough to catch the string and produce a nice sharp attack. As i've gotten older my nails are occasionally breaking and causing changes in tone when playing. I have since cut nails short to keep a consistent tone. My query is that i'm finding the D'Addario nickels don't quite have enough punch or growl and i seem to just get a lot of low end. Does anyone have any suggestions on strings that might help give me some clearer mids / hi end. I'm currently playing funk / blues material. I've been looking at DR's and Ernie Ball nickel strings but not sure which would be best. The DR's are quite expensive and don't really want to waste £36 on a set of strings that don't work for me. There's also some debate about DR gauge. Some suggest going to 45-105 as DR's are more flex. I've searched BC forums but don't see any similar topics in recent pages. Dave

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1485101260' post='3221104'] I`d probably go for the Ernie Ball Cobalts, they`ve enough zing to sound like rounds if required, but can be tamed down to flat-sounding, so pretty much the best of both worlds. [/quote] I've tried Elixirs on my jazz but because of the coating it makes the buzzing worse so went back to nickel. Are the cobalts coated as well. Better still i'll just google them. Dave

Trekkin and Wombles of Wimbledon song were great fun. Everything else already listed kinda falls into my suggestions of crap songs. Dave

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

Not used flats since 80's when i had fretless basses. Might give them a go on the Jazz once the PJ gets here. Any recommendations on flats for Jazz ? Dave

That's an impressive and expensive collection. Those ACG basses look fantastic. Alan isn't too far from me either and usually see him at the Bass Bash. Always helpful and always showing a great collection. I am also a fan of the early Warwicks and love that Thumb growl but they are a tad heavy. Nlthing compares to that combination of woods and electronics IMO. Nice and thanks for posting. Enjoyed it a lot. Dave

My goto bass is my Jazz but i def find in many band situations it doesn't seem to cut thru the band mix. More noticeable in bands with kys. Sometimes it depends on the style of music. In a 3 piece originals band with a Cream / Who type sound the jazz just wasn't suited and had no mid punch to cut thru. On the other side of the coin a 5 piece Prog band it was great during the quiet sections but when full band really going for it the bass was "just ther" with no clear definition. I've just ordered a Precision Deluxe to hopefully give me best of both worlds. Currently playing Funk / Blues and the jazz works in some songs but not others. Dave

That seems like a good buy. Dave

Francis Dunnery with It Bites were brilliant. Met him when he was support for Robert Plant at Barrowlands gig many yrs ago. He's a really nice guy and was more than happy having a beer with us in the lounge. An absolute gent IMO. Enjoy the gig. Dave

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1484412075' post='3215328'] Back in 1989 I was asked what my perfect bass would be. But the bass I described didn't exist at the time, not as I had described it. I believe BC Rich started making them in 1999 and stopped in 2009. I finally got mine in 2013. [/quote] What was it ?

Nice collection of 5 stringers. Now what about the 4's and 6's. Are they in a seperate room. ? Did you secure the hangers to the wood supports behind the insulation boards. Some people have had a few near misses with wall hangers. I put up a strip of wood attached to the wood supports behind plaster board and secured the hangers onto the wood. Dave

For me anyways RHCP - Stadium Arcadium Bought it, played it once and thought it was boring same old stuff all the way thru. Just could not get into this album at all. On the other hand if i hear the occasional song from it on radio i enjoy it. Weird or what ??? Dave

[quote name='phil.c60' timestamp='1484999899' post='3220260'] Deep Purple's "Come Taste the Band". Most Purple fans hated it as there was no Richie, but I liked it and still play it from time to time now. [/quote] Agree. This album was never rated when i first got into Deep Purple but recently it was recommended to me and it has some amazing tracks on it. Also :- Glenn Hughes early solo album Hughes & Thrall Tommy Bolin Teaser To a certain extent Rush albums are generally slated by mainstream music media yet they are renowned amongst musicians. Dave

[quote name='josie' timestamp='1484947090' post='3220017'] Yes see GP, but they won't always take it seriously. My physiotherapist has a bass player ex-boyfriend and takes my RSI problems completely seriously. She spotted early signs of arthritis (in my knees) when I was 56 or so - and said anyone over 50 is likely to have some. Seriously, try soaking your feet in warm water with epsom salts for 15 minutes every day, or every other day. Magnesium deficiency is a major cause of arthritis. And the body takes it up better by skin absorption than through the stomach. My knees have been like new since I've started doing this. And it feels good at the end of a hard day too [/quote] That's a good tip. Might try it if i start getting problems but have passed it onto a guitarist friend that suffers a bit. Dave

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1484934554' post='3219894'] Trigger thumb/finger [url="http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Trigger-finger/Pages/Introduction.aspx"]http://www.nhs.uk/co...troduction.aspx[/url] [/quote] Got it now. Not something i had heard of before. Cheers. Dave

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1484921620' post='3219749'] Sure, possibly/probably .. However having had a mallet fracture in my right hand and now suffering from trigger thumb in my left hand, I do have lots of sympathy.. I've managed to play around these conditions. but the interim period is really frustrating.. [/quote] What is trigger thumb ?? [quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1484921422' post='3219747'] Yes...possibly, though the OP could be pressing down on the fretboard too hard using his thumb on the back of the neck. Likewise, he could be pressing down too hard with his thumb on the pick up when plucking. I do agree with seeking medical advice. [/quote] That's exactly what i meant and have suffered this personally on both thumbs. Remedy for me from fellow BC'ers was to turn the amp up and play lighter. That certainly sorted my issue. [quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1484932256' post='3219857'] Just turned 55 Dave [/quote] I know some health conditions are not specifically age related but at our age (I'm 56) it can have an influence on what is happening. Did it just start all of a sudden ie was it there before you started the gig. If no other signs before hand then its possibly just strain on the joints. I would suggest GP as he can do checks for athritis etc and will take blood samples to determine if its rhuematic or arthritis. I've also had the tests and came back ok. I couldn't move my finger joints and thumbs for approx 4hrs following morning. Doc examined my hands and said hands or joints will feel warm to someone else's touch if its rhuematic and reckoned it was a strain and should clear in few weeks. Took a bit longer but he was right enough. Blood tests confirmed. Don't put it off as either of these conditions can be treated early to prevent inflamation and joint damage. Dave

Is it possible you are maybe physically playing too hard. I mean that you are getting into the music and anchoring your thumb harder to allow more pressure with your fingers on the strings. I used to play very hard on my strings and would get aches on my thumbs but taking advice form BCers i eased off a bit and all is well. Would agree with others above to get it checked out with GP. What age group are you out of curiosity. ? Dave