TRBboy

I can play everything on a 5 that I can on a 4, plus more. Last year I made the move to playing 5s exclusively, because I figured there was no point chopping and changing any more, and I got to the point where if I had taken a 4 to a gig I would often end up thinking "wish I brought the 5!". I now don't own a single 4. I'm not saying that 5s are necessarily better, it's a personal choice, but I guess rather than feeling that a 5 is a bass with an extra string, I now feel like a 4 is a bass with a string missing!(and the neck's too narrow!).

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1363097347' post='2008381'] Done plenty of two shows a day shows, six days a week [some back to back] and had a horror of a Panto in Wolverhampton... two a day back to back and on Saturdays Three shows..... easy peasy... Enjoy the work why it's there. Garry [/quote] True, forgot about panto! Did that a couple of years running, two shows a day, 6 days a week for 6 weeks. That seemed a bit easier though because i didn't have anything else to do and it was finished at about 22:00.

Had a bit of a busy night this Saturday; first time in 15 years of gigging that I've had a gig with two different bands, at different venues, in one night! I had a gig at The Plough in Hereford with my rock covers band, Two Push Charlie, and then a gig with Hereford Soul Choir at the Jailhouse nightclub in Hereford for their Soul, Funk and Motown night. It was a great night, and both gigs went down really well, but man it was tiring! My evening went something like this: 16:00 - Soundcheck with HSC at the Jailhouse. This took a long time..... 18:45 - Pack up and leave Jailhouse, go and get changed, then... 19:30 - Arrive at The Plough and set up (and fit in a quick steak baguette!) 21:00 - Start TPC 1st set 23:20 - Finish TPC 2nd set, and pack up very quickly! 23:40 - Arrive at Jailhouse, set up very quickly (no back entrance, so I had to cart all my gear through the club) 00:00 - Start HSC set 01:00 - Finish HSC set , then pack up (again), have a drink, etc. 03:45 - Go to sleep. I enjoyed the evening, but I think it would kill me if I did it every weekend! Does anyone here regularly do multiple gigs in one evening? Here's a link to a pic from the Jailhouse on the HSC Facebook page: [url="http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/860969_10200551700971710_1776477874_o.jpg"]http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/860969_10200551700971710_1776477874_o.jpg[/url]

[quote name='tubbybloke68' timestamp='1362825454' post='2005213'] Are you as good looking too? :-)) [/quote] Depends how you define good looking..... if you're into guys with beards then yes!

Just came across this young lady on YouTube, and what a fantastic player, great Grove and feel and very technically competent. http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=relmfu&v=lEyJmR7z4ng Found her on Facebook, and it seems that jamiroquai saw her YouTube videos and invited her to join them for the South American leg of their tour!!! Maybe I need to get recording some YouTube vids.......

Another vote for a Yamaha TRB or a Lakland 55-01 here, really great instruments. Ibanez Soundgears are always good, provided t the feel and narrow string spacing suits you. As others have mentioned before, the Ibanez ATK and especially the G&L L2500 are great basses too, but be warned that the necks are pretty chunky (too much so for me). Of course, if you got lucky and found one around the right price, my top recommendation would be a Sandberg! It's worth keeping your eyes peeled......

Thanks for the tip-off as always man!

I've done: Metal/nu metal covers Punk originals Various rock/pop covers bands Other projects (inc. Kinda world music/jazz but I was playing guitar) Folk/pop originals Pit band for professional pantomime (2 years running) Hard Rock/metal originals (underlying through most of the previous too) Rock covers Soul choir + Probably more I can't remember at the moment! As long as I like the music (or it's well paid!), I'm up for anything.

I'd love to try an Esh sometime, they look great and supposedly sound monster. In general I'm very happy with my basses at the moment though and I'm (pretty much) gas free. There is a "Sandberg Love" thread in gear porn if you want.

Very nice sir! I've ended up in the same boat in a way, took a punt on a s/h Sandberg nearly two years ago and haven't looked back. Before then my main bass of about 13-14 years was a USA Jazz, and I also had a 4 and 5 string Yamaha TRB which got used a lot (plus obvs others that came and went...). The Sandberg was like a breath of fresh air, and suddenly made my ol' trusty Jazz feel awkward and uncomfortable! The Jazz was sold soon after....! I've had 5 Sandbergs now, two 4 string Basics, a California PM4 (as was) and I've now settled on two Basic Ken Taylor 5s. I liked the Cali, but it didn't have quite the same feel as the Basics for me, and was a bit heavier. When I got the first Basic KT 5, I really found "the one" for me, sold the two Basic 4s and ordered a custom spec KT5, which arrived just before Christmas. I think they're incredible instruments and massively underrated, especially the Basic series (the model name doesn't help IMHO!). When you can get a hand built instrument to your spec with such great build quality, feel and sound for the same price (or less) than a std USA Fender, I don't see why everyone hasn't got one! In would recommend anyone to try a Basic Ken Taylor if they can get their hands on one, ignore the name and any preconceptions they have, and I think 9/10 people would be blown away!

[quote name='John Cellario' timestamp='1361011394' post='1979674'] Judging by the 'artists' on the web site using Sandbergs, would it be true to say the brand seems to fall into the heavy rock genre. I'm trying to play in a more sort of Jeff Berlin / Scott Devine / Jaco style ....obviously, any style can be played on any bass, but do you know what I mean?... P Basses/Rickys fall in into this rock area whereas as say a Jazz bass is more sort of funk/ jazzy if that makes sense. Image matters!!! [/quote] Personally, I think that you should just play what feels and sounds right to you, not what other people tell you is the right instrument for the genre. I can't understand when people put image above feel/playability! It's not that I'm not concerned with image at all, I just like what I like, not what others like. I've played a Jazz bass in a metal band for years, and a Warwick Thumb 5 in a punk band. Probably the wrong person to talk about this!

[quote name='BigBeatNut' timestamp='1360975103' post='1979462'] Here's a taster ... [/quote] Thanks man!

Just realised that I didn't post my NBD just before Christmas in here. Having the usual trouble uploading pics and that, but here's a link to the thread in bass guitars: basschat.co.uk/topic/194793-nbd-my-new-baby-has-arrived-at-last/page__hl__my%20new%20baby

[quote name='John Cellario' timestamp='1360954380' post='1979056'] I visited PMT in Manchester today just to see and get a feel of Sandberg. I think I'll go for a TM4 in Lake Placid Blue with ebony fingerboard, block inlays and matching headstock...am unsure to get the 'soft ageing' thing or not! Here's a few observations which maybe someone can comment on:- Am I right in thinking the TM4 has a neck measurement at the nut of 38mm. same as a Jazz, which I really like, and the TT4 is slightly wider? The action was slightly higher on the TM4 I tried which threw me a little...I know the basses are set up to exacting standards at the facory...if I lower the action does it comprimise string volume output? The neck also had an oily finish rather than varnish which felt a bit sticky, but I suppose I'll get used to that. The other thing which I've had on my last 2 x Jazz type basses, was that they suffered from the G string being slightly quieter in volume compared to the rest. I know Musicmans and Rickys suffer from the same problem. Maybe my ears are going but in the shop I swear the G was quieter on the TM4. Somebody PLEASE tell me I'm imagining this! Overall though, loved the tone, especially the back pick up boppy Jaco sound...it's a quality piece of kit. [/quote] Glad you got chance to try a couple! Don't think I've ever had chance to a/b a TM and TT, but as far as I know the neck profile is the same, but obviously the VM and VS are different. It's worth remembering that the necks are all hand shaped, so there will be some subtle variations. String height will affect the output quite significantly, to far from the pickups will result in lower output, and too close the pickupmagnets can pull on the strings causing a reduction in vibration and sustain. FWIW, I've played Sandbergs in PMT Birmingham which were appallingly set up! Had I not already owned a couple, I would've concluded that they were horrible to play. Sandberg usually set the pickups with the Bridge pup about 4mm from the strings, and the neck pup about 5mm. Not sure what to say about the stickiness, maybe a previous player had been eating donuts? Seriously though, the neck finish on a new Sandberg is usually a silky smooth satin finish, so not quite sure what's going on there. I've always felt that the string response/output is very even on Sandbergs, much more so than other basses I've had, but maybe it's related to your concerns about the setup/string/pickup height. Personally I wouldn't go for the ageing, but that's all down to personal taste. Any more questions, fire away!

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1360872734' post='1977804'] Thought I posted in here. Brought TRBboy's old natural 'Berg basic and I'm still in love with it, always been a little unsatisfied with a little low mid hump that has been more prominent in the studio so investigated to find that it's wired in series, so will be looking into how it sounds in single coil and parallel. Although it's not been a deal breaker as I've played it exclusive since having it off him, with only wanting to give it up for a dream bass. Played it so much it's got a wear mark from my grubby thumb near the pickup lol! and a vid from a gig. [/quote] NOOOOOO!!!!! You've marked the finish!!!! Glad you're still enjoying it mate, if I hadn't decided to switch to 5ers full time, I would definitely not have parted with that one! My first Sandberg, and turned my perception of what works best for me upside down. I haven't looked back, and can't see me rocking anything else now. I know what you mean with regard to the mid range response, and I strongly recommend you try one of the High Gloss (Alder bodied) Basic Ken Taylors if you ever get chance. Personally I think that the alder gives a slightly warmer, more even response, but you still get plenty enough snap and sparkle on the top end. Obviously the dual pickups give you a broader tonal response too, and a lot more flexibility dialling in the sound you want. Hit me up if you're ever in my area, and you're welcome to have a blast on mine! Take it easy man.

[quote name='John Cellario' timestamp='1360875221' post='1977856'] I'm thinking of buying one of the California basses and was just wondering what kind of sound difference I'm going to hear between the bridge J Bass pick-up and the bridge double humbucker type PUp. I live in Manchester ....any recommendations which dealer to buy from..someone mentioned Germany before. Thanks [/quote] In my opinion, the MM pickup is a big improvement. Don't think for a minute that you're going to get a Stingray sound from it because it's too far back. The benefit is that you don't suffer some of the weakness/thinness associated with a J bridge pickup, but it still definitely sounds like a bridge pickup just with a bit more balls. The California TM has a coil split switch for the bridge pup anyway, so you can still get that single coil sound. As always, you really could do with trying one to see if it's for you. Don't know if there's anywhere too near you though..... As far as buying one, yes the German retailers are generally cheaper than UK retailers, but I STRONGLY recommend talking to Alan Greensall at Synergy Distribution (the UK Distributors) because he will do his utmost to help you find the best deal possible in the UK, and will be able to offer plenty of advise about specs, etc too. I felt that it was worth paying a small amount more to deal with a UK seller. Alan will also be able to advise you of the nearest stockists to you, so it would be well worth giving him a call. [url="http://www.synergydistribution.co.uk/Welcome.html"]http://www.synergydi...uk/Welcome.html[/url] 0121 270 6485 I think that they're amazing instruments and offer incredible value for a handbuilt instrument with such great sound and playability. Hope this helps!

[quote name='OzzyGreg' timestamp='1360702532' post='1975150'] . Try some of the OD/Distortion/Fuzz patches here: [url="http://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B7b88q8uy5hYMFJUem5nUDNyMkk/edit?usp=sharing"]http://docs.google.c...dit?usp=sharing[/url] [i](You'll need Zoom Edit & Share installed to be able to download them and load them into your B3.)[/i] [/quote] Thanks for that Greg, having a bit of trouble with my computer at the moment though so i cant install the software. After playing around a bit more, I think I've found some sounds I'm happy with, ironically back with the MXR! You just can't set it up like you would with the real thing and expect to get the same sound. It's very useful that you can turn the "colour" off on the distortion channel too, which is something you can't do on the real thing. I've got one set up for a little grit, one for a more balls-out OD, and I'm using the Flip-top model for when I want more of a vintage/old school vibe. Apart from that, just using the Multicomp and looking for some reasons to indulge in some of the more modulation/filter/synth type effects. After practice last night, I can quite easily see that the B3 could replace my pedal board!

Hi guys, just wondered if anyone could suggest a good valvey grit/breakup/od sort of sound, that doesn't colour the tone too much? Really happy with the B3 overall, but I'm just struggling to find this sound (which I use all the time). I currently run through the dirty channel of my MXR M80, but to my ears the one on the B3 doesnt sound much like the real thing. I'm trying to set the B3 up so that I don't need my other pedals if at all possible.

Thanks for the replies guys. My phone is normally in my pocket, but wouldn't that be causing interference when I'm going straight into my amp too? When I tested it earlier I had my bass on a stand nearby anyway, not on a strap. Tried both the cables straight into the amp too to rule that out.... Maybe I'm being too fussy, but obviously it was a problem in the studio before anyway. Effect power supplies will let me return the psu because it's just inside warranty, but I'm not convinced it's the root cause of the problem now! Had a play with my zoom B3 tonight, I thought if I just use that it might sound cleaner. I like the compressors, but the drive sounds aren't really doing it for me at the moment, and i can't get the MXR M80 to sound much like the real thing at the moment.

Well, I tried the different effects on their own today, and still got the noise. I then tried them with batteries in instead, and still got more noise than if i go straight into my amp, but without the high pitched electrical hum that I get with the PSU although not much difference. Stupid question maybe, but will effects always add an increased noise level to your signal path?

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1359324878' post='1953192'] I tried the boss LMB3 & if the "Enhance" was too high, it raised the noise floor. In my instance there was a feint buzz in bypass & a shed full of wasps doing backing vocals when it was engaged. Just a suggestion to help narrow things down. [/quote] Ah, right! I read the Ovnilabs review of the LMB-3 before I bought this pedal, and I've always kept the enhance knob turned right down. It should be labelled the "hissy whiny horrible noise" knob! As an aside, until last night I forgotten what a big difference the MXR M80 makes to my sound! I basically have it on all the time as a pre I guess. I run it with just a little grit for the rock band stuff, and clean for the soul choir stuff. Adds real balls and presence to my sound, makes it sound a lot fuller and more authoritative. Still, the bass sound was great on the rough mix I heard last night with just pure Sandberg & Markbass!

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1359294647' post='1952565'] Like Shep says, most likely the PSU. Another thing to check is how many mA the PSU puts out & how many mA all your pedals add up to. Though I doubt all your pedals will take more than 250 mA, if the PSU isn't putting enough juice out, it could cause noise. I had a similar issue when I tried daisychaining all my pedals. For a couple of pedals, I use a Godlyke Powerall (same as a OneSpot) with a daisychain & have no noise issues. But the Moog MF101filter doesn't like to daisychain at all, so it has it's own PSU. Try taking 1 pedal out at a time & see if you still have the same issue. If you find removing a certain pedal fixes the issue, try it on it's own PSU or put some copper shielding in the case. If that fails, bin the pedal. Another thought that it might be... If your limiter isn't set up right. [/quote] Interesting..... what would cause the limiter to make that noise?

Thanks Shep I'll check it out!