Bilbo

Doink. (Sound of Bilbo's head hitting the desk). (Again)

What has always turned me off high end hi-fi is the fact that, were I in the room with the musicians who made the original music at the time they actually made it, it would not have sounded like that. I always liked ECM recordings for audio quality but, after hearing loads of live Jazz, I never, ever heard anything that actually sounded like, say, Keith Jarrett's piano in real life. The closest I ever came to that, for instance, was Kirk Lightsey playing a good piano in the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay about 15 years ago (for those who don't know it, the music space in the church is a round(ish) room lined mosty in wood). The world of the audiophile is rarified but it is also a hall of mirrors designed to feature the equipment and not the music being played. If the music sounds 'better' on a player than it woudl if the musicians were actually there in the room, how can it be judged to be a 'good' sound?

Fishman Platinum Pro is exactly what you need - there are other brands etc but that is the industry standard and will do the job.

Fatback!! I gotta get me a fatback!!

You can get a set of new strings at around £70 and they go all the way up but I reckong £90 - £120 shoudl cover it. Like an idiot, I bought a five string so that's an extra £35-40 every time I change a set (which is NEVER!!! )

There is a delay between study, absorbtion and integration of theory into your playing (some say six months but I guess it depends on various factors). If you study something today and incorporate it into your Jazz playing tonight, the chances are it will stick out like a sore thumb and sound contrived. Don't be frustrated, be patient. Keep learning and it will come.

It all adds to the mojo, if you ask me. I am not at all put off by dings and dents, as long as the integrity of the instrument is not compromised. Cosmetic damage is just that, cosmetic, and I don't feel that in any way detracts from the instrument's value. I guess some do.

3/4 is the default size for most musicians nowadays - you rarely see a full-size bass outside of an orchestra and they present real difficulties for jazz players in terms of accessing the full range of the instrument. Personally, I always argue aginst EUBs as they are rarely a satisfactory substitute for the 'real' thing (most just sound like vertical fretless basses). You will get a credible starter double bass for your budget at either Thomann or Gedo Musik but the generally held belief is that you need to hold back about £300 for a specialist set-up, a new bridge, new set of strings etc so think £1200 for a bass and £300 for the work. Scour the Double Bass forums here; they are packed with advice. If you read like you do, you have a head start on most.

No surprise, there. The Fishman is a pre-amp and should come between your bass pick-up and your amp. It is not an 'effect' per se and would not really be doing its job on an effects loop. Your amp should be fine.

Don't think so

Will look next time I can get to it. Thanks for the steer!

Edirol UA-20 audio capture thingumma jiggy.

What's an o/p, bro?

I didn't pay that much (about half) but I did learn a lot. Not sure if I would pay £200+. It Is modular and each module has assessed projects.I did enjoy it.

Love it.

Could be either. What would the solution be?

I have had a problem with my recording set up for years and today had an epiphany in terms of troubleshooting the issue. I have, since I can remember, been hearing a little buzzing hum when I record which I have never been able to locate and address. Tonight, with new leads, new mics, nee everything realised that, if I hook everything up to the computer via mic/lead/pre-amp/lead/audio interface/pc, it is silent as the grave and the signal is good and solid. As soon as I open the Cubase SX software, there is the hum. Can anyone shed any light on what this may be? It appears whether you are recording or not. Do I need new recording software or will that make no difference?

If you can read eighth notes, you can read sixteenths. They are the same only quicker!! Half a bar of sixteenths is EXACTLY the same rhythmically as a full bar of eighths. You just have to learn to 'see' it quicker. It is only about practicing a little more to get to that next level.

Practice reading music - reading rhythms is easy without an instrument, reading notes accurately a little harder but you can try singing them quietly to yourself. A great skill to develop but years to really master. Learning chord sequences to standards is another 'silent' option.

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1393427710' post='2380166'] Some people like that sort of thing.... My 50s ply hasn't cost me any money since I had the soundpost glued in. [/quote] Is it still in the box?

You are over complicating things. Just take a bass and play it. No-one at these dos actually gives a s*** and will be grateful that you turn up and they don't have to listen to Jacki Two Thumbs doing Mustang Sally again.

Yes, of course, but whether it is or is not a nice tune is subjective and therefore the OP wnats to understand what influences that subjectivity. Otherwsie, we are just passive consumers and will take whatever old s***e is thrown at us.

Voted.

Beautiful? It's a pain inducing money pit

Apparently, he died of a heart attack whilst playing with his kids on a beach in Mexico. I guess, if you are going to go, that may be the best way http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paco_de_lucia