TRBboy

Rotosound SM665 .040" - .125" I know a lot of people say that they dull quickly, but I've only just (last night) changed the set which I've had on since June, which I think is pretty good going! They weren't completely dead either, some folk would have kept on much longer. D'addario was my favoured brand for many years, but when I decided to move to a lighter gauge, they didn't do exactly what I want (only the choice of Rotos or Elites).

Think I'm gonna have to give up and move mine on....... I understand it better now, but it's just too involved for me, too many different parameters and layers to go into, it just seems to take far too long to adjust anything and find the sound I want. Might get a B3 instead.

So.... Just wanted to check I'm right in thinking that you basically select 3 stompboxes per patch, and you just adjust them with the knobs like you would with a real stompbox? If they're that easy to use, I think I'll have to offload the B9.1ut I got for Christmas and pick up a B3. The B9.1ut is great, but it's just too involved for me, too many parameters to adjust, I just want to be able to twist a knob!

[quote name='iconic' timestamp='1357508984' post='1923867'] I thought yamaha OE strings were D'addario? Mine had tag saying as much when i bought my Bb414....although yours is a 425? [/quote] Yeah, I believe they're still using D'addario Prosteels: they may be Yamaha branded, but they're made by D'addario. Congrats by the way to the OP, great basses!

From what you've described as far as requirements and the sort of feel, etc, you're after, it sounds like a Sandberg California TM or TT would be right up your street! Definitely worth you trying one if you can get your hands on one.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1357124197' post='1917651'] Its all a bit pointless, anyway. Music isn't a competition, its an enjoyable experience. There are only two types of music, music you like and music you don't. Worrying about who is best at it seems to miss the point somewhat. [/quote] BIG +1! The only way you could conclude that one bass player is "better" than another is when talking about a specific song: if you asked two players to play a song as per the record, and one could play it note for note and the other couldn't, you could conclude that one was better than the other in THAT scenario. However, the guy that couldn't play it might be an accomplished jazz player who had never played the song in question before, whilst the other may have been learning the song for months but couldn't play anything else! So its all BS anyway! AAAARRRGGGGHH! I'm arguing with myself, I think!? Anyway, all I know is I've heard some great music made by musicians with seemingly poor technique and battered gear, and I've heard music made by so-called virtuosos that's left me cold. Technique and theoretic knowledge is obviously desirable to help you realise your full potential as a musician, but its only one factor to be considered. This equation sums the discussion up; A-B7(%13)+462-DX9/X12*DD¿ coconut$. Nonsense.

[quote name='gsgbass' timestamp='1357096211' post='1917493'] Hi, What Nylon tapewounds strings did you string on it? [/quote] I believe they were GHS nylon tapewounds. I think I chose those because I wanted something that was a lighter gauge than the Rotosound strings (they were responsible for knackering the nut on my old jazz bass), and this was before the D'addario ones existed I think. As far as I remember they were brilliant! Edit: These [url="http://www.ghsstrings.com/strings/bass/tapewound"]http://www.ghsstrings.com/strings/bass/tapewound[/url]

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1356984691' post='1916156'] Nice one, glad it was that simple. I wish I had a gig tonight, the first time in 9 years I'm not gigging. Have a good one. [/quote] Ah,sorry you haven't got a gig! Ours went well, same pub as last year but not quite as busy. Still, everyone who was there enjoyed it and so did we (and so did the landlord!). It seems I've got another issue with my new bass, when it arrived it had a duff battery, but note it seems the battery I put in a few days ago is dead now too..... Hopefully I just need to check out the writing on the jack socket and adjust as necessary. Happy new year BTW!

Looks like it might not have been a duff battery that came in it....... The one I put in the other day is dead now! I'll contact them later in the week.

Just soundchecked and there's about the same level from both basses now. Thanks for your help guys!

Well there's no trim pot inside, but there was a good 1.5mm difference from one to the other. I've adjusted the old KT5 down, because I felt it was too close, rather than the new one being too far away (the B sometimes hits the pole pieces when we do "Killing in the name of"!). Dave, just last week recieved my custom spec KT5 (thread in bass forum) and its awesome! Sold all my 4s now, just got the two KT5s and an old Yamaha BB605 as a backup/living room bass.

At our gig on Saturday I had a guy come up to me afterwards and say "you don't really use that 5th string at all do you?" I answered that I do on most of the songs! It's not just about thudding away on the open B....... I definitely started using 5s again for economy of movement, added versatility, and of course the extended range.

[quote name='nugget' timestamp='1356965906' post='1915734'] Hi Oli - might be a bit daft, but are the pickups low? even a few millimeters has a big effect on output [/quote] Hi Dave! Yeah might try giving them a tweak, it just seems like too much of a difference to be that. I've never had to crank the input gain so high, even with a passive bass. I'll compare them properly to my other KT5 in a bit. Thanks for the suggestion.

Will be rocking in the new year with Two Push Charlie (link to FB page in Sig) at The Victory in Hereford. Probably be 3 x 1hr sets again! Good deal this year, free entry, free hot buffet and free soft drinks for designated drivers! Can't wait!

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1356956218' post='1915502'] Only thing i can think of is does the pre amp have an internal trim pot that can adjust the volume level? [/quote] Well I didn't think that they do, but I'm gonna whip the back off and have a look in a bit. Thanks.

[quote name='Inti' timestamp='1356954209' post='1915464'] Absolutely! One tries to better his field. The other doesn't give a damn but craves recognition anyway... Ironic isn't it? As I said before: laziness and lack of skills desperately searches for justification. Call me whatever you want, nazi, elitist, fascist, snob... I love music and I'm really tired of people raping this art in the name of entertainment. [/quote] Sorry, but I think your attitude is pathetic! You clearly have some issues...... I don't crave recognition and I'm not lazy, but I do try to better myself and I do give a damn about my playing. I play for my own enjoyment and to entertain others. How does this fit into your logic? I've met people like you before, pretentious $%@#* who think that anyone without a music degree shouldn't be allowed to enjoy music.

[quote name='Inti' timestamp='1356948857' post='1915375'] One of you is a musician while the other is an entertainer. Simple. Entertainers don't like the idea though so they think they are musicians...hence the confusion. A true musician doesn't approach music from an economical or an image-fixated standpoint. A musician cares about sound and creation, not how many chicks he'll have because he looked cool or the check he may get for moving his ass behind a fender. f*** the music industry. [/quote] I thought that music was supposed to be fun and entertaining for both the player and the listener/audience? I don't care about looking fashionable, chicks, money, whatever, I just play because I love playing! Why do you play!? A musician IS an entertainer, especially from a live performance perspective; why would anyone bother going to SEE live music if it wasn't entertaining? Back OT, I've never had any trouble getting gigs playing a 5er or any of the 4's I've had, but to be honest chances are that any prospective band that wanted me to look like a chart pop group wouldn't be my cup of tea musically. If I got a call for a gig with a band that was well enough paying to give up the day job, I'd wear whatever they wanted me to and buy a different bass if necessary (although it would probably be a Sandberg California)! I'd rather be playing music for a living instead of sat behind a desk, even if it meant making a few compromises!

So I gigged my new Sandberg for the first time last night, but weirdly I had to crank the input gain on my amp right up. When I did, there was no noise or other symptoms of a weak signal you'd expect to hear, in fact it sounded great! It's just weird because my normal gigging bass is exactly the same model, so I've got something to compare it to. Checked the battery, tried going straight in instead of through the pedal board, etc, etc, but couldn't come up with anything..... Tomorrow night I'll compare it to my backup bass which will hopefully conclude whether its the bass or I have a problem with my amp. I would have expected to hear some noise or something if it was either though. I'd be grateful if anyone has any suggestions!

I needed a double bass sound when I was doing panto one year, so I bought a Yamaha BB604 fretless and strung it with tape wound nylons and it nailed it.

Well, first gig tonight and what can I say......... AWESOME! Soooo effortless to play, and sounded killer! Glad I didn't tweak the setup because its absolutely perfect. Don't know if it's brand new strings or partly the ebony board or what, but it sounded really clear, punchy, authoritative and growly, deep lows and crisp highs. In fact, I thought it sounded quite MTD-esque in a way, I felt like Andrew Gouche for a minute! Don't think he plays rock covers in pubs though...... Can't wait for my next gig with Hereford Soul Choir! The only weird thing tonight though was that the output from the bass seemed really low, I had to crank the input gain on my amp right up. It sounded great then though, and there was no noise or other signs of a weak signal that you'd expect if there was a problem. Maybe my amp's playing up, but it seems unlikely. Guess I'll have to email Sandberg and see if they can shed any light on it.....

I'll have to check out Galliano and Push, I LOVE this guys playing on Incognito's Surreal album! I'm still not bored of that album in the slightest. Great bass sound and great playing! I think if I could only pick one album to own, it would have to be Surreal.

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1356705560' post='1912679'] I think the Zoom set up method suits some more than others. TBH I needed to use the manual before my B2.1 made any sense, so I can only suggest a session of RTM while twiddling. [/quote] Yeah, I'll have another go with it this evening. Got a bit despondent last night, but I'll give it another good try before I throw the towel in.

Well I got chance to spend a little while with it tonight, but didn't get on so well...... It just seems really difficult to set up the patches I want, and incredibly complicated to use! I didn't seem to find any sounds I liked much, and it all just sounded a bit too processed and multi-fxy to my ears. Glad I hadn't got rid of my pedal board yet! Seriously considering returning it at the moment, just don't know if I've got the time or patience to see if I can coax any useable sounds out of if. Bit gutted to say the least! Clearly I'm just thick, because noone else has had any problem setting it up!

[quote name='iconic' timestamp='1356645455' post='1912074'] I'm guessing that bass was a fair sized wedge and they can't be arsed to fit a decent battery in it, I'd be erm, displeased, its the small things that matter! [/quote] It was a cheapo Chinese battery, maybe a duff box. It is a bit frustrating because Duracell Procells don't cost much to buy in bulk, so it wouldn't exactly eat into their profits much to buy some decent batteries! I'm more bothered about the strings, but being as I use stainless roundwounds anyway I thought they'd be fine. That's the cost of a set of strings gone to replace a brand new set! I guess it's all down to personal preference, but it does seem that most people decide that they don't like the Sandberg strings pretty quickly!