KingBollock

Now I feel sad. My 18th birthday cake was made in the shape of my old silver Westone Raider I Bass. I wish I had the photos of it but they were kept by my ex.

I've always bought cheap strings and never been particularly happy with any of them. There always seems to be a very short period between too bright and new and dead. I have to confess that I won't replace them unless I break one, then I will change the whole set because the remaining ones won't match the new one. The last set of strings I bought I decided I wanted to try flatwounds but thought that if I wanted a fair representation then I shouldn't just buy the cheapest I can find. I bought D'Addario Chromes and I adore them. I loved them as soon as I put them on and several months later they're just as good. They're not cheap, but I don't expect to be replacing them anytime soon, in the end they will work out a lot cheaper and I'm a lot happier. Because of the price it's taking me time to get around to changing the strings on all my Basses to the Chromes, but it will happen.

My first band, that I had put together, very noisy and desperate to sound like Motorhead. It was me, my brother on Guitar and my mate on Drums. We decided we needed another Guitarist. First to audition was a girl (we were 12 or 13 years old) who turned up with an acoustic Guitar, sat down and said "Well, I think you should be a Country & Western band.". Never saw her again. Second audition was a mate of my brother's. He didn't know how to tune his Guitar and while we were playing he turned the volume on his Guitar off and pretended to play along. We split up after that. I was once asked to stand in for a rehearsal which ended up with the band asking would I join them if they sacked their current Bass player... They had two singers, neither of which could sing, an absent Drummer whom I knew and I also knew didn't own a Drumkit, and a Guitarist who could play Enter Sandman really well, as long as he was looking at the tab in the book, he couldn't play any other songs, not even from his book.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1336997899' post='1653664'] I do this with my Peavey TNT (well I run my pedals full range but anyway) I have the hi output from the crossover going straight to a guitar amp, and leave the lo output unplugged. This seems to send the full range from the pre to the power section of the peavey amp giving me full range to the combo speaker. The easiest way to test is to plug a patch lead into the hi output of the crossover and see if it drops all the high end from your sound. [/quote] Thanks! This is exactly what I'm hoping for. I shall trying as soon as I get the chance.

[quote name='Jack' timestamp='1336933486' post='1652944'] An idea would be to split the signal and have one of those split signal be full-range for your bass sound. The other could then go into the crossover, from which you only take the high output for your guitar sound. [/quote] The crossover is built in, it doesn't have an input, it's input comes straight from the preamp. I need to know if by using the crossover I'm disengaging the preamp from the power amp altogether (in the way headphones will in some amps). I've had this amp for a long time but I've never bothered with the crossover before because the manual is rubbish and I've been able to find out very little about the way it works. I read recently that to use it you run one of the signals back into the built in power amp using a patch lead, and the other off into another amp. This would suggest that the preamp is indeed disengaged or else I'd be running the full signal and one from the crossover into the same amp, which would be bad. But I don't know how much of what I read was fact.

I bought one many, many years ago. I had a thought that I'd like to put together an Irish Folk band, so I went and bought and learned to play a bunch of instruments (acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Penny Whistles, Harmonicas, Bodhran, Bongos, already had a Fiddle), then realised that I was the only person I knew that could play any of them... I got really into the Bodhran, I seemed to take to it quite well. But back then we had neighbours that made a lot of noise so I didn't mind making some myself. I did pick it up again recently but I'm very conscious of the volume of the bloomin' thing. It's a shame because I really enjoyed it.

Thanks dude, that's good to know. Thinking about it, though, I don't want to lose the high frequencies from my Bass sound, I'm happy with that as it is. So is it possible to just tap the high frequencies by running the high output from the crossover to the GX-700, or will plugging into the crossover disengage the preamp from the internal power amp? I think there are other places in the chain where I can split the whole signal, but then I would need the octave up pedal, like you said, and then run it through the GX-700. My Zoom effects unit will do that but it doesn't sound very good, it sounds a bit "digitally". But, as you say, if it won't do any harm then I can just experiment and see what happens. The trouble is that the rack is a pain in the bum to get to the back of, it never leaves my music room, so I like to get an idea before I go pulling it out. I need to get one of those tall racks on wheels. Oh! There's a project idea for the future!

I wasn't sure where to put this, but as I think the main question is about the capabilities of my old Boss GX-700 I thought I'd stick it in here. I have never bi-amped before, but as I was reading about my Peavey T-Max's built in crossover, I thought I'd look into it a bit. I quite like the idea of trying to set it up so that I can sort of cover a basic rythmn Guitar's sonic space, say in a 3 piece band setting. If you see what I mean. The thought, from the beginning of the chain to the end, is to plug Bass into T-Max as normal, run the low frequency from the crossover into the T-Max mono power amp and out into my normal Bass cabs. Then run the high frequency from the crossover into my Boss GX-700, where I can add Guitar effects and split the signal into a stereo signal, and out into my stereo power amp and into the pair of cabs I usually use for my normal Guitar rig. I wonder if I'd be better off splitting the signal before the pre-amp of the T-Max and splitting it through come kind of crossover that would work with the signal straight from the Bass. But one of the things I like about my above solution is that I wouldn't have to buy anything else to make it work, it's all already there and even in the same rack. My biggest question is would the GX-700 take the line signal from the crossover without melting? It does have an input level adjustment knob but I don't know how effective it would be for this and the manual isn't very clear on it. Just in case these might help, there is a scan of the GX-700 manual online, here: [url="http://www.gx700.freeservers.com/"]http://www.gx700.freeservers.com/[/url] The page about the Input Level is page 11: [url="http://gx700.freeservers.com/cgi-bin/i/images/GX700manual/Section1/GX700_11.jpg"]http://gx700.freeser...n1/GX700_11.jpg[/url] Peavey T-Max manual: [url="http://www.peavey.com/assets/literature/manuals/80302264.pdf"]http://www.peavey.co...ls/80302264.pdf[/url] There's probably a very obvious answer, but, considering how long I've been playing, there are somethings I am very inexperienced, or lack confidence in. EDIT: I wonder if it might be a better idea to allow the full range of frequencies to go through the Bass side and only allow the high frequencies to go out and through the GX-700, that way I don't lose them from the Bass. My question then is can I still use the normal pre-amp out at the same time as using the crossover high out? What would happen if I tried to leave everything as it is but tap the high frequency from the crossover? Would that work?

The problem I have is with my Cort T35. I've got the neck bang on but the action is still too high. It looks like it should come down but it just rattles like a drummer trapped in my Saw cupboard when I try. I'm not going to be able to sort it anytime soon, though, as I intend to replace the strings with flatwounds (at £50 I can't really afford to do it right now) so it'll need setting up again anyway.

I'm thinking of making a stand for the hardcase it comes in, so that it stands almost upright because I don't think the Bass will sit on my Guitar rack or individual stands. That way I can keep it stood with my other Guitars and not hidden in a corner where the temptation might me to just not bother with it, this time, I'll just grab a closer one for now... With it stood like that it means I'll always be putting it back in it's case, which will be safer and considering the amount of dust I create in this room, I think it would be for the best. I think I'd only bother with protective caps for the spikes if they were already broken, basically replacing them with steel and make it look even more \m/etal than it already is.

How would a simple man like me (let's assume I'm an idiot and you won't be far wrong) know whether fretwork needs sorting, without taking it to a professional first? I'm not asking to be able to fix it myself, just get an idea if it might need fiddling with.

Anyone know if anyone makes protectors for the tips of Warlocks? I know that chipping the spikes is a common problem so I wondered if anyone had tried to remedy it, it would seem an obvious solution. As I've said, I've just bought a used Warlock. It hasn't arrived yet so I don't know what condition it is really in. If it is already chipped I might well get myself a bit of steel and make my own protectors. If I do them right, they should look quite cool too.

I once asked my wife how she'd feel if I joined a band and had to go away to play for weeks at a time, her reply was that she'd come with me! She can drive anything, from a forklift truck to a 36 foot long lorry or even a 36 foot long boat, so she figures that's what she'd do, be a driver. The only thing she's licensed for other than the normal license is the forklift, so she couldn't drive HGV. I rather like the idea. We don't have kids, though, so we don't have to take that into consideration.

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1336668490' post='1649271'] Sweet! I know it's not a bass but it's still cool. I'd love a hard tail black beauty looking one but with tidy pickups. [/quote] My wife actually picked that one. She wanted to learn to play so I bought her a guitar and let her pick it. I had almost convinced her to go for a BC Rich Warlock but she changed her mind at the last minute. Then she very nearly picked a Cadillac that had the solar system painted on it, which was cute and a hard-tail too. I hate the Floyd trem, I have no need for it and I tried to tell her that if she doesn't bother with it it's me that will be stuck with it... but she was adamant. I think she's only ever picked it up three times. I even hate the colour of the damned thing.

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1336657909' post='1649034'] Dean cadillac?! [/quote] Yup. It's a special edition, apparently, though I don't know what's so special about it. The switch is in a different place, it has the Floyd trem and the headstock is the Shrimp fork shape. Plays nice though. I'm hoping to change the pick-ups at some point, preferably for some chrome ones to match the rest of the hardware, I had to change the knobs to chrome from the original gold speed knobs, which just didn't look right. The original pick-ups are really dull sounding, so I wouldn't be doing it just for aesthetics.

It's not quite everything, there's a new (well, and old one I've since repaired) pedal that isn't there. And a couple of acoustic things that are in the conservatory, and a new Bass which was put in the post to me today. I shall take a better pick once it's arrived. But. other than the missing bits, that photo includes my Guitar rig and my little PA rig.

I love having my stuff in a rack. I do have a multi-effects pedal thing and a separate Distortion/Chorus pedal (for Guitar, not Bass), but they both sit on top of an amp so that I can fiddle with the knobs without breaking my back, they never sit on the floor to be used as actual pedals.

I have ordered from GAK and not had a problem, the item came quickly and was in the condition I expected it to be in. It's not had any faults (go Behringer!) so not had to return it for anything. However, last year I was going to buy one of the Hartke 4.5xl cabs from them but under shipping it said to phone them. I don't like talking on the phone, so my wife called them for me. All she said was that we were interested in that cab and that it said to phone them, and whomever it was on the phone basically said "Well it means it's out of stock, obviously." he might as well have added Duh! at the end for the way he said it. And he made a huge fuss about looking up when it would be back in stock. I ended up buying a Peavey 4x10 off Ebay instead. Not saying I wouldn't use them again but they definitely lost that sale for themselves.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1336469380' post='1645915'] The odd thing has happened, as my hair line has gone back I obviously look older and therefore more likely to buy, the amount of shops that I'll walk in and be offered to play things I'm looking at rather than having to ask. [/quote] I've got a very expensive looking leather coat (it wasn't massively expensive, it was only £185) and if I know I'm going to be popping into somewhere where I feel I might want proper service I always put it on, with some nice leather shoes, and it works every time. The fact that I don't have a lot of money and have been wearing the same coat and shoes for over 10 years... Well, they don't know that. When I was a kid I worked in an independent Guitar shop. It was staffed by some very knowledgeable and talented people (and me), but I'm sure the boss only had the place because his playing career was dead. I remember being very frustrated because every week we had two people come in, one had ordered a tambourine (we had a Drum and Percussion shop too) and the other had ordered some kind of oil filled snare drum skin. The boss had said he would order both but never did and those two people came in every week for the whole time I worked there. The boss managed to start a band that has had some success and the shop turned to crap. You'd go in and the place would just be full of his own gear that he was storing there.

I have to admit that I haven't been to a Chiropractor. I do suffer with a bad back and have done for almost 20 years. One day my wife mentioned the idea of going to see a Chiropractor to my GP. My GP, whom has earned my trust, gave me a very withering look and said "Well... [i]Some[/i] people think it helps...". After that I did all the research I could as before that I had believed it to just be a type of physiotherapy. I, personally, wouldn't touch it with someone else's wonky spine and certainly never my own or someone I cared about.

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1336411444' post='1645269'] What a great thread. Thanks Shep. I've started thinking through how my back problems began. Not sure that a Chiro can actually deal with my symptoms, but I think I'll give it a go anyway - what's the worst they can say..."no, I can't treat you...". [/quote] [url="http://whatstheharm.net/chiropractic.html"]http://whatstheharm....iropractic.html[/url] While Chiropractic is still largely woo filled, I will say that there is a new school where they don't bother with the woo stuff so much and the stuff that helps is where they overlap with what a physio or proper massage therapist would do. Which is fine. It's when they go telling people they can cure your baby's Colic by performing dangerous procedures and altering it's "subluxations" that I have a problem with them. [url="http://www.randi.org/encyclopedia/chiropractic.html"]http://www.randi.org...iropractic.html[/url] Just be aware.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1336344190' post='1644387'] You need a stripper like this for ribbon cable: You'll need to strip the ribbon back in 1/2" sections along its length but this sort of stripper is easily available and you don't have to pay £100+ for a proper single pass ribbon stripper. You might want to have a practice on an old PC ribbon cable just to make sure you've got the tension set right if you go for a manual version (the manual ones have a knurled tension screw on the back of the head - but then, don't we all... ) [/quote] I've got four of those damned things sitting in draws and none of them have ever worked, no matter what I do with them. I've got some of these: which work well. Anything they can't do my teeth usually can. Also got a bunch of crimping tools that also claim to strip wire but never can.

They look lovely, but I don't understand why anyone would limit themselves in such a way. I move all over the strings with my plucking hand to get different tones depending on what I'm playing. It's probably a completely wrong technique, but it works for me.