jwbassman

I'm playing through an EA iAmp 200 at the moment - by far the most portable and punchy amp I've ever owned - use to have a trace 1x15 combo and 2x10 extension - to big and heavy - also had a small trace combo, can't remeber the model, small but really heavy... The EA stuff is not exactly cheap but it is an awesome package - I'm currently thinking about changing my set up to a pre/power amp and cab so might be selling the EA if your interested... I'd need to clear about £500 for it though - it's in very good condition and sounds great, done everything I've ever asked of it, they are £1300 new and very limited availability in this country as far as I know only available from [url="http://www.overwater.co.uk"]Overwater[/url]

All the dates can be found here [url="http://www.swingshiftbigband.co.uk"]www.swingshiftbigband.co.uk[/url] Highlights will be the Southport Jazz Fesitval Gig with Liane Carroll - early next month Cheers John

Hey Well, here goes - uploaded a couple of full mp3s of me playing with band... [url="http://www.swingshiftbigband.co.uk/mp3s/splanky.mp3"]splanky[/url] [url="http://www.swingshiftbigband.co.uk/mp3s/basiecallySpeaking.mp3"]basiecally speaking[/url] if you're interested more about the band can be found here... [url="http://www.swingshiftbigband.co.uk"]www.swingshiftbigband.co.uk[/url] and a couple of the small band (My Blue Seven - Miles Davis Tribute kinda band) [url="http://www.swingshiftbigband.co.uk/mp3s/soWhat.mp3"]so what[/url] [url="http://www.swingshiftbigband.co.uk/mp3s/flamencoSketches.mp3"]flamenco sketches[/url] again more on this can be found here... [url="http://myblueseven.co.uk"]www.myblueseven.co.uk[/url] Great credit for all these recordings needs to go guy and girls in the bands a fantastic group of musicians and friends - I thank you all I'm really happy with the bass - both the sound and most of the playing, particularly on the My Blue Seven tracks... Feedback - more than welcome Cheers John

Hi guys - I'm thinking about changing my EA iAmp 200 combo into a pre/power amp setup... Currently the EA is a great hi-fi sounding setup and very light and compact to boot, which is ideal as I have a stack of PA gear to transport most of the time too. I'm liking the idea of a valve pre amp but wouldn't know where to start, my main gig is with a bigband, I play a fretless 5 (don't even own a fretted bass although this may change if I can get some cash together) so most of the time guess I'm looking for a woody sound but with enough punch to drive the rest if the band forward and the ability to get a more modern sound for some of the funkier and contemporary charts we also have in the pad. Any experiences, thoughts on the pre/power v combo set up much appreciated... i've been reading up on the BBE BMAX F, but I really know nothing about preamps... help! Cheers John

Like I said sounded great - the closest I guess I come to that for solo exposure would be the arrangement our keyboard player did of Three Views of a Secret - opens up with a bass solo... no pressure then! We've gigged it a couple of times and it's a great chart to play, even if I was a little worried at first... I'm giggin' with the big band on Sunday night - really looking forward to it... following a great rehearsal last weekend - it's a good programme with some real tricky stuff, a couple of Goodwin arrangement, Jazz Police and High Maintenance and some more commercial material, we've got a D Day gig coming up and whilst we're not in the habit of playing much Miller stuff we do have a couple of his more obscure arrangements which sound suitably cheesy and will keep the older element of the audience entertained... If I don't remember, remind me to post a track of the band so you get a feel for the sort of stuff I do.

Welcome, enter, even come in... I guess it's a case of the more the merrier Cheers John

I'll second that - only registered yesterday, or was that this morning, it was very early/late depending on your point of view and already feel like part of the furniture

Welcome - glad you're on board

[quote name='BassJase' post='1042' date='May 18 2007, 12:17 AM']A lovely me; At Rehearsals; [/quote] Hi mate - what's the bass you're playing in top photo?... looks really cool...

I was always taught 'right or wrong play it strong' if you make it sound confident the crowd will believe it is right anyways ... give it to them!

Shaping up nicely - there's something really special about seeing your bass come together like that - nice one, looking forward to seeing the end result.

[quote name='Merton' post='1576' date='May 18 2007, 04:44 PM']Yes. Cracking basses![/quote] Good, so I'm not the only one who thinks so

Hi Mike Indeed a small world... and fully agree Falmouth is a very beautiful part of it. I spent 3 good years down there and I guess it's got to me to where I am today A jazzer I guess but also play some blues rock, even done a bit of soul and classical in my time ( I also play bass trombone) and have a very wide spectrum of music tastes (?) and influences... My approach to bass playing is most certainly one of fundamentals - I fully agree with our mutual friend Victor that the groove is where it's at, I'm not much of a soloist and couldn't get anywhere near the stuff you put down, so much respect. There are a couple of mp3 clips of me playing with the big band on the website, if I get round to it I'll pick a track and upload a full one here. Thanks for the welcome - I'm new to all this but so far so good Cheers John

Other - Overwater Progress III Fretless 5 - guess this could also be considered custom as I selected the woods and hardware etc, with a bit of guidance Have any you guys heard of Overwater?

Cheers, thanks - will do...

Hey - nice work... and compliment your man on flute and keys too - fantatic, all sounds great I've been into quite a bit of Victor myself just recently, not that I can play anything like it just appreciate what he can do...

I've been looking into mics for use with the big band - ended up with a set of sm57s for the horns and an sm58 for the vocal mic, but seriously considering getting a Audix OM6 - been reading a lot of good things about these recently, a bit more than your shure's but worth it by all accounts check this link - [url="http://www.westernliveaudio.co.uk/sales/browse_manufacturers.php?mid=1&manufacturer=Audix&s=24&np=3"]audix mics at a decent price[/url] - and then the Audix website for more, also some reviews on Harmony Central...

Felt I should take a minute to introduce oneself... I'm a complete newbie so be nice John aka jwbassman My main bass is an Overwater Progress Fretless 5 - an absolute beauty, was lucky enough to get it just before getting married and buying our house! Paired with an EA iAmp 200 also from Chris and the guys up in Carlisle. Regular gig is with the Swingshift Big Band, who I've been with for 5 or so years now, I also do the live sound for the band - not quite sure how I got involved with that, but still... checkout the website [url="http://www.swingshiftbigband.co.uk"]www.swingshiftbigband.co.uk[/url] (I'm responsible for that too!) for a bit more about band and me... Also play with a number of other local big bands as and when required, as well as for the local shows and the odd small band jazz and function gig. Currently selling my backup Squire Fretless 4 on ebay complete with Ritter gig bag (I'm planning on replacing it with a fretted 5 as some of the more modern big band arrangements need a bit more edge than I get with the fretless), and thinking about changing my amp - dangerous thoughts, I know Was considering going for the valve preamp option but not sure... your thoughts very welcome... Well guys, that's me - great forum, mental note to self - must make an effort to keep visiting this one... Later