dmccombe7

Went for a gauge up 40, 60, 80, 100 but no real difference. Will maybe raise the strings a touch. One thing i did note last rehearsal was that using my AE112 cabs i get a lot of top end click when playing hard. I might have the horn attenuation set too high and i'm picking up more click high end when playing hard. I boosted the bottom end to compensate for the high end but found when standing directly in front of the amp the high end click had gone and i could only hear the lower end. This might be more down to my cabs and that's why i've never noticed it over the many yrs i've been playing. These are the first "hi-fi" cabs with horn i've had and they do tend to pick up on every little noise from the neck or fingers. Plan is :- 1. turn the horn off or put to minimum. 2. all compression removed. 3. put all amp settings to mid-point or 12 o'clock. 4. try turning amp gain down from limit point at 3 o'clock to 12 o'clock. 5. try playing lighter and let amp do the work. 6. use another bass and see if same playing at same levels 7. if not raise string height by 0.5mm across neck at 12th fret. 8. look at the neck relief and adjust if need be. Thanks for help guys and i'll post what happens after rehearsals this Sun. Dave

Depending on the set and choice of songs i've seen me put thumb over the edge of the E but more to give my hand a break from thumb normally along the back of the neck. No reason why you cant vary it to suit what you are doing. I've also seen some bassists fret the E string with their thumb. Dave

Nice song. Really enjoyed that and nice little bass melody at 2:50. thanks for that Dave

Ziggy Stardust has to be in there.

[quote name='Mike' timestamp='1429605913' post='2753006'] Hi all, I just wanted to share a piece of advice I got ages ago that is quite simple but no less useful. [i]When playing live, imagine you're recording in the studio, tape rolling. [/i] [i]When recording in the studio, imagine you're playing live.[/i] This has helped me play with more precision on gigs, and be less sloppy. It also helps with relaxing when recording and avoiding 'red-light' syndrome. I was rehearsing last night with an Elton John tribute that I'm about go out with and realised (again) that if you imagine what you're playing live is being recorded for some album, you really take a bit of extra care in playing with clarity and precision. Good advice! [/quote] Yep like that a lot and makes a lot of sense Dave

Bought an Ampeg footswitch from Alex. Superb transaction. Fantastic comms and replied to all messages instantly. Delivered almost the following day in a fantastic bubble wrapped box that was a work of art and took me ages to open. It was then bubble wrapped inside the bubble wrapped box. Excellent. No chance of damage in that box. Deal in absolute confidence. all the best Dave

There's a lot to be said for playing straight and simple bass lines. You get to enjoy the atmosphere better cause you don't need to focus and concentrate as much. You can then get into the part a lot more readily. I quite enjoy doing the simple rock stuff. Hardest part will be keeping that perfect solid bass line song after song. That can be quite painful on the fingers till you get the hang of it. I'd go for it and enjoy it for what it is. Good fun. Dave

At home its a combination of many items from jamming with fav song to running over new ones to running scales and trying new techniques to perfection. At rehearsal its a 5-10 minute run up the neck just loosening my fingers off covering every style i might be doing that day. Then its run through a song we all thoroughly enjoy. What we do find is that the last hour of a 3hr rehearsal is when we are all on top form and running at our best and things become easier to play. Not sure if that's what you are looking for ? Dave

I leave my finger nails just long enough to catch the strings when playing in rock bands and that gives me the effect of a pick. If you get it right you just tilt hand back slightly and you have proper "skin" sound finger style. I do use index finger as a pick occasionally but i find it hurts finger under the nail if played too hard or too often. I just can't get used to holding a pick. Dave

I have a slight difference but might be down to how you angle your hand in relation to the arm or wrist but personally think i have if i hold my 2 wrists knuckle to knuckle against each other i can see a slight bulge. Maybe its a sign of how much you play Dave

FM Studios in Cumbernauld. Good quality rooms, warm, carpeted (clean) various guitar amps with Ashdown bass rigs with Roland kys amps. Vocal only PA with good quality monitors & mics. Guys are helpful and always willing to chat, they have a small collection of gtrs and basses in case of emergency. Have used Berkeley in Glasgow and most people use it as the guide or comparison for other studios. Very well run. Have tried one in Blantyre, Hamilton which was pretty basic in a basement with poor gear. Few others in Glasgow with some dodgy PA's or amps. All typically £30 / 3hrs Dave

i have the TC helicon power supply and works fine. What's the advantage changing to Voodoo - reliability ? Dave

RIP Matt. Sadly missed. Dave

i just enjoy the silence

Tony Reeves from Greensleeves John Mole from Colloseum II Gary Strater from Starcastle Jason Stainthorpe from Then Jerico Dick Cadbury from Steve Hackett edit to add John Leven from Glenn Hughes Burning Japan and of course Europe. Quite impressed when i heard him play a song called Liar on the album.

i went from D'addario EXL190 to EXL170 and the difference in tension was quite noticeable with the D & G strings going from 40 & 60 to 45 & 65. E & A strings stay same but it did surprise me a little. The increased tension and reduced vibration does seem to have reduced the slight fret buzz when playing that little bit harder on occasion and seems to have cured the tone drop out issue i was having on my Jazz bass. Dave

bubble wrap and put in a box and 100% safe then. Dave

few of mine have velcro ties attached when i bought them but use the wire tape you get for sealing poly bags. You also get a dispenser reel for garden use which you simply cut to length you need and then throw the whole lot into a rucksack. Larger gigs where i'm doing lights etc i use B&Q plastic boxes that stack but that's a different story Dave

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1428048592' post='2737350'] Only if you use the wrong payment method. Not all Visa cards charge you and not all banks sting you on the exchange rate. I've got a Halifax Clarity Card. No fees on foreign currency transactions, get the bank exchange rate. About as good as it gets for foreign currency purchases. [/quote] Wasn't aware of that. ? cheers Dave

Better to be honest with them. Tell them that you'll need to work a bit on those particular songs to get them right. As mentioned before simplify the bass part to fit you. Most won't notice anyways and as long as you are still carrying the song its done. Dave

B stock does include items that people returned because it didn't suit them and its not always faulty returned items. For me i would rather have piece of mind for sake of £25. Thomann are great at covering cost of returned items and never seem to quibble but the exchange rate or using your Visa card will mean additional costs that they don't cover. Keep that in mind when buying from Europe. I can however highly recommend Thomann. They offer excellent prices and great support and customer services. GAK also have a price match system that covers european price match altho they will come back and offer a further reduction because they can't match Thomann completely. That means they will be about even in total if you remove Thomann visa or exchange rate costs. Bit long winded there but hope it helps. Dave