KingBollock

[quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1405715029' post='2504731'] back to square one... a difference of opinion is not shooting down, is it? I think part of the problem here is the medium, if this were a face to face conversation our intentions would be more explicit, I mean no one any harm, I'm just expressing a view, but because it's in text things get lost.... bit like tab (I'm sorry, I just could not help myself) [/quote] As you alluded to earlier, I can only talk about me and my experience, but I am fairly sure I am not the only one with a similar position. The trouble with the way what you have said has come across is that it looks like you're telling people that, if they use tab and not score, then they can't be any good. And you may well be right in that I might not be any good for a band or orchestra that uses score, but we're talking about different worlds. I would be far more likely to be in a Death metal band than an orchestra, music which is often complex and might be difficult to pick out entirely by ear, and I can't count on finding score for it. Whether it was intentional or not, you came across as arrogant, like you were saying that if you don't read score than you'll never be able to play in the musical arena that I do, and my arena is the only real one. No one ever starts a thread slagging off score and/or it's users.

When I made the Big Muff my initial intension was to mod the bejesus out of it, but after changing a component or two I decided that I didn't want to mess with it any more as I like it as it is. But I have quite a big box for it in anticipation of the extra stuff that was going to go in it and it seemed a shame to have it rattling around in there on its own. While looking for nice mods I came across the Musket, so I have decided to build one of those and put it in the same box. Unfortunately both vero board layouts are 19 holes wide, so on the same board would be 38 holes wide, 2 holes too many. I have redesigned the layouts slightly to make them fit on a 34 hole wide board. I can't have the board orientated lengthways because then I couldn't get the jack sockets and the footswitch in. But for [reasons] my head has been all over the place recently and I am not as confident as when I built the Muff the first time and I am afraid I might have made obvious and important mistakes that I just can't see, I was hoping that if I posted it on here new eyes might spot anything that I haven't. This is the layout I want to use: The line between Q and R splits the board. The teal coloured jumper wire is just to remind me to use sleeved wire. For comparison is the original Big Muff layout that I used: And this is the Musket layout I am basing mine on. The only other difference is going to be an order switcher in the off board wiring. It is going to be tight, but with both pedals on the same board like this, and not separate and overlapping, and only using one multicoloured LED (red with the Muff, blue with the Musket and purple with both), it will all fit. So if someone could tell me whether I have completely cocked it up or not, before I start on it, that would be ace.

My problem is being told that, when using tab to learn a piece of music, I cannot play that music to a competent or even excellent standard. That is factually wrong. I understand the advantages of score over tab in certain circumstances and have no problem with that. But I personally have no desire to be in those circumstances, they aren't why I am into playing music. I don't need score, and not being able to read it doesn't hold me back in my chosen area of music. But I am being told I am wrong.

[quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1405642350' post='2504043'] It really does produce poor results, I know because I've looked.. I've taught literally hundreds of people over twenty five years up to degree standard, but apparently I'm denied access to that view by the views of others... but really you don't need to worry because in a free world you get to ignore my view, and I'm happy for you to do so. The word here is defensive, my view is just a view, handbags can really be put away, I'm just an ordinary bloke with a view, I'm not god, you can ignore my view and carry on, if at any point in the future you're interested in my view I'll happily discuss many topics with you, I simply require to be given the freedom to hold a view. [/quote] But now we go around in circles because you expressed your view in an open forum and you have become defensive because others had the gall to express their view. It looks like you went "Here's my view! Don't try to contradict it because I know I am right, I have had far more experience than you! So there!". Then, upon someone trying to explain why they hold the view that they do, you go "I don't care! I'm right, you're wrong! So shut up!". When it comes to points of view and opinions, you should practise what you preach.

Tab doesn't produce poor results. The aim of tab isn't to give a perfect representation of a piece of music. Just because you know some people that use tab that aren't the best at their instrument, doesn't make tab inherently bad. I could argue that it takes more skill to produce a piece of music from tab, because it requires that you use your ears and have a proper feel for the music, than to robotically reproduce something from exact instructions, but I wouldn't accuse all score readers of being guilty of that and wouldn't blame the use of score for it, either. And I am perfectly capable of making beautiful music, it just probably wouldn't be your kind of music.

You can't use tab alone, you have to use your ear. The tab gives you a clue as to where to start, but you [i]have[/i] to use a musical ear to make it work. I believe that isn't such a bad thing when someone is first learning, having to listen properly to the part you are supposed to be playing. Using tab doesn't stop you from using your ears, it actually encourages it. For someone that is in a rock band, who learns the tunes at home and then rehearses with the band to get them as the band wants them, there is nothing wrong with tab. I have learned to read English because I will use it, there is plenty of stuff that interests me that I can read in English. I haven't learned Latin because it would be no real use to me, I don't need it and I get by without it. If I was to take up theology I might feel that I could use it and go to the bother of learning it. It's like some people believe that their way of going about music, the way they learn, the way they play and what they do with it is the only way, and they can't understand that someone else might like to do it differently. Either that or some people enjoy lording it over the plebs that can't read score, just another way to make themselves feel superior when they really just come across as narrow minded snobs. Anyone remember the sososososososo guy...?

[quote name='Thor' timestamp='1405538823' post='2502909'] Cheers Si, I knew this would be kinda tricky to explain, the old switch has the pins mounted vertically and I suppose what I mean is that the pin currently mounted in the top left corner is wired to the input jack (the shorter terminal on the jack), I guess what I'm trying to get at is if the switch is mounted in the casing 180 degrees out, the top left pin on the switch would now be bottom right, so I'm concerned (as i don't really understand how the switch works) whether i could cause damage/further problems with the pedal. Apologies if this makes no sense, I've been up since 5am and brain is a bit frazzled, thought this would be fairly therapeutic, but instead has me worried! Perhaps I should reconsider on my day off? [/quote] I sometimes have crises of confidence so I try to make as many notes as possible. I like to draw the switch and all the links so that I can label them in a way that makes sense to me. I also use coloured pens (the kind that you use on CDs that doesn't wipe off easily) on the switch and circuit board. That way if my mind goes blank I will have a simple reference. The easiest way to think of a 3pdt switch is as 3 spdt switches stuck together side by side.

If you decide to use a screw and solder tag, as previously suggested, don't be tempted to try putting the screw into the bottom of the cavity, use the side walls, otherwise you might put the screw right through the front of the basses body, and only a complete imbecile would do that... I'll get around to fitting a switch in that hole eventually...

One of the biggest blocks to improving is feeling that you are "good enough".

I wonder if I could get Mr Methane tickets on prescription?

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1405191373' post='2499598'] You can definitely get Tri-Colour LEDs, I know as a shop on eBay accidentally sent me some instead if the Bi-Colour I asked lol. Edit: Here you go: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291092991156 Si [/quote] I know, I've got one sitting in my Bitsbox cart right now. The problem I am having is working out how to make it do what I want it to do. I will basically have two pedals in one box, a fairly standard Big Muff and a Musket, but I want them to share an RGB tri-colour LED, with a shared anode. When the Muff is on I want the LED to glow green, when the Musket is on I want it to glow red, but when both pedals are on together I want it to glow blue. As it is I can't figure out how to do it. I can't find a red/blue bi-colour LED so if I do decide that I definitely can't make it work how I want, I will still have to buy the tri-colour one and just not use the green cathode.

It turns out that I will have to put in another order with Bitsbox (bloomin' love that place!) after all, but I can't for a couple of weeks, leaving me with far too much thinking time... So I have had an idea for the LED indicator for my double muff box. There is probably a really obvious solution to it but I have started another new medication recently that has left my brain even woolier than usual so I can't think straight. Which is rather frustrating. There will be a standardish Big Muff on one side and a Musket on the other, each with their own footswitch. What I want to do is use a single RGB LED that will glow green when the Muff is on, red when the Musket is on and blue when both are on together. Anyone got any ideas? Something like this but with the third LED option. I am wondering if a relay of some sort might be called for. I have only ever used relays once before and that was many, many years ago. Edit: Looks like it I is actually as complicated as I was imagining. I have been Googling all day and asking for help has been less than fruitful. I might end up just using the red and blue parts (can't find a blue and red LED with 3 legs) so it is red on one switch, blue on the other, but when both are on it turns purple.

Gonna have to recommend the might Oaf, as I did on one of the other of these threads... http://oafmusic.bandcamp.com

Anyone remember that Rock School British TV program he did? He came across as a right tosser, as though him being there was the biggest thing in those kids' lives and that he regretted agreeing to do it. And he seemed to constantly complain about the equipment and about how sh*t the kids were. Without going through prison and sex offender lists, you'd struggle to find a more inappropriate music teacher for kids. All talk and no trousers. Literally in the case of his sex tape, which is the only sex tape I have ever watched. I only had a look because of how embarrassing I'd heard it was. It was excruciatingly awkward. I've seen Lizards go at it with more passion.

As has been said (I won't comment on some of the other stuff that has been said...) rest it, BUT don't keep it immobile. I had problems with my thumb for a few weeks and decided to put a splint on it for as much time as I could, to try not to make it any worse. Eventually I spoke to a nurse who suggested that I keep it moving and it actually started to get better after a few days. The problem was with the knuckle of my thumb. I have had problems with the base joint of my thumb since I was a kid due to various mishaps. A couple of times every year it starts to play up and becomes very painful for a few weeks. I finally got around to buying a spica for it this year, but keeping the base immobile (which did help that bit) meant that I compensated for the lack of movement with the knuckle and ended up damaging it (if I keep it immobile for more than a couple of minutes I have to snap it to make it bend again, which hurts quite a lot). So be aware of how you try to compensate for the pain in that finger, so you don't damage other things.

I decided to muck about with R2 to try to tame it a bit, it turned out that I had made a rather rookie mistake and put a 3.3k resistor where there should have been a 33k. So I went looking for the resistor I had obviously swapped it with. It was R4. Swapped 'em 'round and it sounded crap. After some experimenting I found I preferred R4 at 8.2k. This tames it while still allowing some volume boost, though not nearly as much, but that's fine by me. So, I have got it sounding great. Bollocks! Now what mods am I going to do to it? I've bought a huge box to put this thing in, imagining it festooned with knobs and switches and stuff. It could go in a box half the size, but where's the fun in that?? Edit: I think I'd like to add separate bass, middle and treble knobs. Also a clean blend. The only clean blend circuit I have been able to find has a Jfet that I don't have. Anyone know of any other ways to add a clean blend? Edit#2: I have spent all day trying to think of how to mod it, but I like the way it sounds as it is, so I might just not bother. I am now considering building a Musket and housing them in the same box (because the only box I have is big enough for both and I have everything I need for the Musket without having to put another order in) for the Fuzz Box To Rule The All Mwahahaha...

Finally got around to putting together the board for a fairly stock Big Muff. It was supposed to be based on the '73 Ram's Head, but it's a pretty loose interpretation. It's an absolute monster! I don't know why I was so worried about it not being the Bass specific one, this thing has more balls than a marble world championship! The only thing is that it doesn't like an active Bass, need to figure out how to lower the input slightly, and it does only have to be slight. Going to have a play with some mods before I box it up. I have been looking at the Musket, too. Oh, and an added bonus, it worked almost first time... Should, have labelled the input and outputs properly, but that was me being a bit dim rather than a dodgy circuit.

I can't read music. I did try some simple stuff when I took up the penny whistle but I could never get it to stick. I use tab sometimes to get me started and fill in blanks, mainly because I struggle to learn by ear alone. The thing is with tab is that there is nothing to learn, it is just there and very obvious. It is like someone pointing at the fretboard telling you what notes to hit. I think it does require some musicality, though, because the music isn't in the information given, that part you have to work out for yourself. But to be fair to something someone said earlier, I don't call myself a musician.

So someone that reads music, which gives instruction right down to the last detail, is a musician, but someone that reads tab, which requires listening to the music and working out how it works, isn't? What about someone that uses tab to learn other peoples' music, but also writes their own music?

Uncouth savage that I am, I am perfectly fine using tab along with my ears to learn songs, thankyouverymuch.

Sounds fishy to me. I am so so sorry, I couldn't help it!

Is this the wrong place to ask for advice with stupid questions? Is it more of a finished pedal thread than a building one? Would I be better starting a new thread? I hate starting new threads when there are others that I can shoehorn my questions into, but sometimes I inappropriately end up using a crowbar.

This is getting really frustrating. I gather that just about all versions of the Big Muff Pi are basically the same, with just some capacitor and resistor values changed. I have found tons of schematics but I cannot, for the life of me, find one for the Bass Big Muff, I have been looking for weeks. As it is I will have to do a lot of experimenting, but it would be nice to have a bit of a clue as to where to start for the Bass version values. The specific version I would like to copy is this: Can anyone help?

Same thing happened to me when I was 17. I mentioned to the boss's son that I played bass and he said that he had one that he never played and offered it to me for a tenner. When he brought it in and I tried it he was surprised that I really did play and told me I could have it for nothing. It was only a Satellite bass but it played and sounded nice. When I used to fish a lot I would often end up helping out beginners, teaching them how to plumb the depth and unhook fish and stuff, simple things that people don't know to think of before they set out for their first time. I would usually end up giving them plum-bobs and disgorgers and stuff. Things that only cost pennies, but meant that they didn't have to pack up early just because they didn't have the right equipment. I don't think it really matters much what something costs, often it really is the thought behind it.

Just done an order switcher. Turns out you [i]can[/i] get four jack sockets and a DC socket all along a 111mm edge after all. I measured everything with precise digital callipers and plotted it all out on graph paper, there was no way they were all physically going to fit... Then I looked at a jig I had made for holding stuff while I was working on it and realised that I had already done it. So I decided to ignore the numbers and get on with it. Bloomin' tight squeeze in there and I had to make sure I put everything in in the right order, but it's in and done. Glad I don't have to waste a bigger box for it, especially as the only bigger box I have is destined to be filled with Muffage.