el borracho

That's how I have always done it. Fortunately for everybody else I sing them in my head!

I hadn't realised they were worth that much - I might have to think about selling mine

It's actually surprisingly common. A friend of mine has a nickel allergy and uses Stainless steel strings on guitar. Try stainless bass strings - they are freely available. I use them out of choice. It is a problem that also affects flute players - the cheaper ones are nickel plated.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1171493' date='Mar 21 2011, 11:02 PM']I use Herco Flex 75s. They're heavy, but being made of nylon have a bit of give to them. Different picks will give you different sounds so you really need to experiment to find what works for you. Also be aware that what sounds good on it's own my not work so well in a band context. I love the sound of hard plastic picks when playing solo, but as soon as you add a guitar into the mix the the sharp attack I get with them disappears. Go to your local music store and buy 10 or so different picks in different weights and materials and see which ones you get on best with and them refine your choice when you next purchase. It took me many years and much experimentation to settle on the Hercos[/quote] +1 Using Dunlop nylons at the minute as can't seem to find Hercos around here - they're not the same though. You get a bit of bite to the sound off them as well with the textured sides - assuming you play with the side of the pick like I do! There's another thought - am I alone in this? Does everyone else use the point of the pick?? I sometimes use the gold Flex 50s as well depending on song. I'm just getting back into using a pick after 20 years of fingers and quite enjoying it.

[quote name='gelfin' post='1170139' date='Mar 20 2011, 10:16 PM']I just plant my thumb into the space right next to the pick up (cover removed)[/quote] +1

My G&L has an area below the G string (as looked at when playing) that looks like it has been flatted. I'm guessing the previous owner played a lot of slap and caught the body there a lot??? It's right in the middle of the area a scratchplate would cover. Can't say I'm really bothered about it though.

That sounds pretty conclusive! Cheers guys.

I have one of these 9V DC power supplies that powers multiple pedals. I got it in a bag of bits years ago and am looking to use it now (if it works). It's so old it hasn't got a moulded plug on it. There is a wiring diagram on the cable showing it wired both with and without earth. Do I fit the earth wire in the plug or not? I know if I was using a single power supply the earth pin would be plastic. Don't want to blow myself up or create hum - though I suspect it may be too noisy anyway!

[quote name='RhysP' post='1168230' date='Mar 19 2011, 01:49 PM']I did when I bought my first "proper" bass thirty years ago. I was a huge fan of Chris Squire & Geddy Lee so I bought a secondhand Rick 4001. Found out pretty quickly that hero worship is not a very good criteria for buying a bass......[/quote] +1 And then again with an EB3 - Andy Fraser

[quote name='Mikeg' post='1167645' date='Mar 18 2011, 09:02 PM']Ive always been a tad confused as to why the MIA fenders are so expensive, when they have basicly the same conponents as the MIJ models. And as oposed to other brands they are very expensive.[/quote] If you compare to other MIA brands (MM/Rick/G&L etc) surely the standard MIA Fenders prices aren't that bad??? Expensive compared to other countries instruments maybe but not to rival US manufactured brands.

Just saw that it was only €25 - can't really argue with that If it plays ok and just needs better pickups you got yourself a bit of a bargain.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1167300' date='Mar 18 2011, 03:39 PM']I saw this, wouldn't necessarily assume they're related. J.[/quote] The only id on the bass is the logo on the neck plate which is the same as the VP logo inside the soundhole of this [url="http://www.guitarandampshop.co.uk/acatalog/V_P_Challenge_CH-WCE11-SB_Electro_Acoustic_Guitar_Sunburst.html"]VP acoustic[/url] Maybe the plate is the only bit from a VP but it's all there is to go on in the pictures. Got to admit it does look rather nice though.

Doubt it's Japanese - VP are sub £100 far east copies. Can't see a jazz but here's a 6 string on amazon:- [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Challenge-Standard-Electric-Guitar-Redburst/dp/B003VUVXRU"]vp guitar[/url]

[quote name='daz' post='1164720' date='Mar 16 2011, 06:09 PM'][size=5]*[/size] cant find any pictures of 3 star jumpers anywhere. Where they really so embarassing that we sub conciously woulnt let ourselves be pictured in them, even when we thought they looked cool ? Maybe their un coolness reached back through time into our dreams via tachyone transmissions and preventede us ever been photographed in them ?[/quote] Here's a Youtube clip - the guitarist is wearing one! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LU2W-pvi-A"]star jumper[/url]

I've used this method for languages before and it works. Hadn't thought of trying it on the bass. I've always looked on my inability to remember the fretboard as being similar to my inability to learn the x tables at school. To this day I have to think my way through all but 2x, 5x & 9X. You wouldn't notice if I was reciting them but in my head I'm adding as I go!! I will give this a shot.

[quote name='Krysbass' post='1163017' date='Mar 15 2011, 01:10 PM']Simple answer is that I haven't! - and I've been playing since 1982. I've tried to apply myself to learning it - I've even got a coffee mug at work with the fretbord map on it, so it's constantly in front of me, but still the motivation just isn't there to fully commit it to memory. Problem is I've never found myself in a situation where I wished I knew it, because not knowing the names of all the notes I'm playing (by ear) doesn't seem to hamper my playing. It certainly would do if I had to read music - but I don't do that either. Don't get me wrong - I'm not recommending my approach, in fact I know I should be thoroughly ashamed of myself [/quote] +1 I can work it out but past 1st position I don't KNOW instantly. I should know but .......I don't! I've played since 1984 so doubt it's going to happen now.

[quote name='The Fly' post='1152422' date='Mar 7 2011, 12:59 PM']I attended a local guitar show yesterday and picked up a nice looking Squier 5 string for a reasonable price[/quote] White one at Fed brewery by any chance??

Ibanez Blazer borrowed (then bought) off my brother. I only started as I was the singer in a band with no bass player & I was only filling in until we got a bass player. Twenty seven years later....

I bought a 5 to avoid having to keep swapping basses when a band I was in played a few detuned songs. I now play a 5 in one band and a 4 in the other. Don't really find changing a problem although I do find the 4 string band material easier to play on the 5 due to the closer spacing. The obvious answer would be use the 5 for both bands but I own one 5 string and loads of 4s so not an option! I find that although I love Fenders they have to be 4 strings - 5s are just wrong- don't know why. Never even tried one - maybe it would convert me if I did

Seen them at Cropredy about 20 times but haven't bothered the last couple of years as I found I wasn't even watching them on the Saturday night. For me they have gone downhill since Dave Mattacks and Martin Allcock left. A bit too trad sounding now. Just not my cup of tea.

My 94 Japanese Precision's pretty bad for it. Doesn't particularly bother me when I'm playing but the moment I let go of the neck it plummets towards the ground!

I seem to remember Sting being asked about this. He said that his method was basically down to practice. He would learn the bass part and vocal part separately until he knew them without thinking, then put them together. It has worked for me to some extent with backing vocal parts - just wish my voice sounded ok

Mine vary. Stingray as you say all 11mm Precision E-A 12mm A-D 12.5mm D-G 11.5mm Jazz E-A 10mm others 9.5mm

[quote name='fryer' post='1133524' date='Feb 19 2011, 04:06 PM']Now that I like. Who was Russ ballard ?[/quote] My brother had an album by him when I was a teenager which is why I remember the guitar. While he was a musician in his own right he was best known as a songwriter - God Gave Rock n Roll To You/ Since You Been Gone/ I Surrender - that's just the one's I know of.

Anyone remember Russ Ballard's Strat?? Probably not what you have in mind! [attachment=72628:ballard.JPG]