KingBollock

My parents would buy music but rarely listen to what they bought, except for the odd occation when my mum and me would sit in their bedroom and listen to the country compilation album they had, I was the only one that actually bothered with any off it. Most of it was compilations of country music and stuff from the 60s and 70s. The only regular music was the top 20 on a sunday that my mum and me would listen to while cooking dinner, the Yorkshires were my job. My dad seemed to desperately want to be seen as a music fan, hence buying all the records, he was the same with books, we had shelves full of them and only I used to read them, and got mocked for it. My dad would buy instruments, too, but he never bothered to learn to play them, and we weren't really allowed to touch them. He was the reason I learned to play bass, though, because he decided he wanted to manage a band and forced my brothers and me to learn instruments. At the age of 11 I discovered heavy metal, what my mum called "messy music", and even though they hated it they encouraged me and bought me a stereo. I was a Dio and Motorhead fan but the only metal band my parents had heard of was Iron Maiden. I'd never heard of them, I had never met anyone else who liked heavy metal, but before I knew it I had Iron Maiden albums and videos coming out my ears, fortunately I liked them once I'd heard them. At 12 I was bought a bass and by 13 my dad had given up the idea of managing a band and I starting joining proper bands. It would be nice the believe that my parents bought music and books to encourage us kids, but my dad is just too conceited and ain't that thoughtful.

If you notice and you like it then surely it is enough?

Just listening to the Joe Rogan podcast and if you listen to the first 2 minutes of this one he talks about a website creation site called Squarespace. I haven't been to the site so I know nothing about it at all, but it might be worth a look. http://podcasts.joerogan.net/podcasts/kron-gracie

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1393534268' post='2381689'] how much is a website nowadays? ...and what's involved in getting one as I've no clue but we'll probably need one at some point... [/quote] It is worth checking with your ISP to see if you get some free webspace. I know I do and I use it for a few things, keep meaning to put a website together for my wife's floristry and crafts. Depending on how complicated you want the site to be it doesn't have to be difficult to learn how to do it yourself. The easiest way to get started is to find a free template site. I used to do all mine in pure HTML but can't really get away with that anymore, unfortunately. There are tons of tutorial sites out there. The more patience you have the less it'll cost you.

Mostly no. I think there are some things you can get a subscription for but I never have. You do have to pay for the Guitar Pro program, though, unless you were to get it from a torrent site or something. Obviously you have to pay for it if you get it for a tablet.

Ultimate-guitar.com It's a Guitar Pro tab, which is a cracking bit of kit, I recently got it for my tablet, too, which is dead handy, especially as it sits on my music stand and has a keyboard across the bottom to show you the keys, I'm just starting to learn to mess about with a keyboard with the looks to help with recording sometime in the future.

[size=3][font=courier new,courier,monospace] L7 - Pretend That We're Dead - Bass Tab[/font][/size] [size=3][font=courier new,courier,monospace] E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E G||--------------------------|-------------------------| D||--------------------------|-------------------------| A||--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| E||--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E 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--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| 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--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E H E -------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-----------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2--------L--| W W W -------------------|-------------------|-------------------| -------------------|-------------------|-------------------| -------------------|-------------------|-------------------| --L----------------|--L----------------|--L----------------| H H H H H H ---------------------|---------------------|---------------------| ---------------------|---------------------|---------------------| ---------------------|--/2-----------------|---------------------| --L--------0/--------|---------------------|-----------0/--------| H H H H H H ---------------------|---------------------|---------------------| ---------------------|---------------------|---------------------| --/2-----------------|---------------------|--/2-----------------| ---------------------|-----------0/--------|------------0--------| H Q Q Q E E E E E E E E E Q E E E ----------------------|--------------------------|----------------------------| ----------------------|--------2-----------9-----|----------------------------| --0-------------------|--/2-------2--7--7-----7--|--11--12--12--9----7--9--7--| -----------2----0/----|--------------------------|----------------------------| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| -------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------| --0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------| -----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--| E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------| --2--2--------------------|--0--0-------------------|--2--2--------------------| --------------0--0--------|-----------2----0--2--0--|--------------0--0--------| E E E H E W W -----------------------|-------------------|-------------------| -----------------------|-------------------|-------------------| --0--0-----------------|-------------------|-------------------| -----------2--------L--|--L----------------|--L----------------| W W -------------------|-------------------|-------------------|| -------------------|-------------------|-------------------|| -------------------|-------------------|-------------------|| --L----------------|--L----------------|-------------------||[/font][/size] [size=3][font=courier new,courier,monospace]Is that anything like it? I don't really know the song but I was curious. And I discovered I can export ASCII from Guitar Pro, which is handy.[/font][/size]

I remember being asked to play three songs, I can't even remember what they were, with an unknown bass that had no strap. I didn't know the songs but was given the music, which I couldn't read. I played leaning against a table so I could support the bass on my thighs and had the music on the table behind me. It did not go well but the crowd of pensioners we were playing to loved it and asked us to keep playing and we ended up just playing the same three songs again. Fortunately I was able to hide my face while looking at the music behind me.

[quote name='Taria' timestamp='1392309942' post='2367157'] The ability to build my own effects pedals! Oh ok I can't buy that...so maybe all the bits and bobs to try to learn...along with time and patience...and perhaps some intelligence by the seems of things! [/quote] This is what I have decided to do this summer. I have asked for a few bits for my birthday. A bench power supply (though I am considering building my own), a new multimeter (my old one is dying and I would like one that can test capacitors), some breadboard and stock up on components such as vero board and some Maplins component lucky bags, to get me started. I shall order specific components based on what pedals I decide to build. I am very happy with my current soldering iron, an Antex 18w (many will tell you that 25w is better, if my 18w ever breaks I might well try a 25w, though I have been using my current one since college), so I don't need to replace that at least. In all I will probably be splashing out about £150. But just to get started I think you can do it for less than £50. A soldering iron, a multimeter and some solder is all you need to build a kit. Any knowledge you need is easily come by on the internet for free. I think it has a nice learning curve to it, it is very simple to get started, the most important thing is to practice soldering, that and being able to read instructions is all you need. You will learn more as you experiment and experiment the more you learn. I was lucky enough to do electronics in college twenty odd years ago, but I was doing the sort of stuff needed to build pedals way before that starting when I was in middle school. There is a DIY pedal thread on BassChat that is very interesting and informative.

Anyone seen this? http://femurdesign.com/theremin/

I was given a set of the nickel roundwounds, as a bribe to teach friend of my wife's to play bass, and I was reluctant to try them for ages. When I finally decided that the Chrome flats weren't working on my Warlock (despite loving them on my Westfield) I decided to try the Fenders and love them. They also seem to be lasting a lot longer than the Rotos I had always ended up with before (because of the price).

I recently tried my stomp boxes in my amp's effects loop and they really, really didn't like it. I mentioned it on here and someone said that it might be because of the line level output on the effects loop. Today (I've had the damned thing for over 15 years!), while browsing the amp's manual, I discovered that there is a high/low switch for the effects loop. [quote]EFX LEVEL SWITCH (33) Selects the effects loop operating level: -10 dBV (3 V RMS) when in low position and 0 dBV (1 V RMS) when in high position.[/quote] Does this mean that if I set it to low the pedals might stand a better chance? I know the difference between instrument and line level, in as much as I know there's a difference, I just don't know what the numbers are. I know I should just try it but getting at the back of the amp and setting it all up is a bit of a chore.

As you say it is also a problem during rehearsals maybe you could record them. Record one song and play it back and all should be able to hear where it is wrong and be able to change what needs changing. Keep doing that until it is right. Hopefully this would help the guitarist's understanding and he'll be able to translate it to a gig situation.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1391878171' post='2362256'] KingBollock, what's that? I've found out it's not the EC-154DX, and guess it's more expensive than that one. [/quote] It's the ESP LTD EC-404. They're usually around the £700 mark, I think. I don't have hugely expensive tastes.

http://grbasses.com

Have you had a look under the nut? If it wasn't just the wrong size when fitted I might suspect an unsuitable shim has disintegrated or the wrong glue laid on too thick that has crumbled away.

It is unlikely to ever happen but if I were to have the luxury of buying another bass it would have to be one of these: Bloomin' lovely.

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1391692971' post='2360231'] Thanks for the info, I'll pick a Big Stubby up out of interest. Is your Primetone this type: http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/primetone-semiround-grip Or this type: http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/Primetone-picks ? [/quote] The second one. I ordered a pack of three of the large sharp tipped ones (bottom right in the pic) but received two of those and one rounded tip one (bottom left). Which is a little annoying because they're relatively expensive, but it sounds so different that I will probably use it if I need a much mellower sound.

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1391632839' post='2359606'] you're right, i've lost track! i tried those stubbies when i played guitar, i can't get a hold of them, they are small aren't they. i was thinking of a regular sized pick i suppose, but chunky! [/quote]You're thinking of the normal Stubbys, the Big Stubbys are much er... bigger. I recently changed from Big Stubbys to 3mm Primetones.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1391343138' post='2355927'] No controversy intended! I just can't play faster with a thicker pick, is all. [/quote] Have you tried one with a tapered tip? I use 3mm picks but if they were 3mm all over I think that would slow me down considerably, or even anything above 1mm.

[quote name='JazzBassfreak' timestamp='1391361559' post='2356189'] I can understand that, BC Rich basses are highly underrated. Not a fan of the shapes though I'm more into simplistic body styles. [/quote] I got really lucky. I had wanted one for over 20 years, yet I hadn't even ever seen one in the flesh, only in magazines and videos, let alone played one. One day one came up on Ebay for a good price and I went for it, bloomin' glad I did too.

I adore my BC Rich Warlock NT. It's beautiful and plays like a dream. It sounds good, too, yet I still have an irresistible urge to tinker with it and want to change the pickups for DiMarzio DP127BK's and the pre-amp for a John East U Retro Deluxe, the nut for a stainless steel one and the jack plate and truss rod cover for fancy cast metal ones.

I had a problem with a guitar I was hanging on an external wall. The wall would get a lot of sun in the morning and then none in the afternoon, so there was a huge temperature change. I am not sure exactly how the guitar warped throughout the day but it was enough to break strings.

Never saw the catalogue before, but it has made me miss my old Laney Klipp (p47).