thebassmandave

I know this is quite an old thread, but I was looking around the web for info on this myself and wanted to share the method that helped me remove some wax residue left on the rosewood fingerboard of my Musicman Stingray. The residue was the result of wax left behind on the open pores from using a Gorgomyte cloth. I'm not knocking the product (because I've successfully cleaned rosewood fingerboards with it before), but maybe it was an old one, or the air got to it, but either way it left behind flecks in the wood grain and I researched ways of removing it, before putting the job off for a while. Until today. I used an unused soft toothbrush and Dunlop 01 fingerboard prep and a clean microfiber terry cloth. I sprayed the fingerboard prep onto the cloth and then rubbed it into the fingerboard to start to soften around the wood pores. Next I sprayed the toothbrush bristles with the prep and (gently) worked the toothbrush into and around the pores. I started working along the woodgrain, but found going gently from side to side seemed to effectively remove the wax like a splinter. A word of caution: I tried using a toothbrush on an old Aria Pro 2 bass I had and it left scratch marks - so go do not apply too much pressure (remember: Gently Bentley 😉). It took quite a while, but to me it was well worth the effort as I got nearly all of the wax out. After the toothbrush, I gave the entire fingerboard another wipe with the cloth sprayed with the prep just to remove any small debris and give it a once over. I then wiped the fingerboard with a clean part of the cloth and liberally applied the Dunlop 02 fretboard conditioner allowing it to soak into the wood pores of the fingerboard for a couple of minutes before wiping away the excess with another clean microfiber cloth. After that, I polished the frets and put new strings on. I rinsed the toothbrush bristles with washing up liquid (acts as degreaser) and dried it out so I could use it again. I know there are quite a few different ways that people have got results from this so I wanted to share mine. Hope it helps. 🙂 All The Best! Dave

[quote name='Wooks' post='243887' date='Jul 20 2008, 08:33 AM']Can you or anybody that has delt with retailers in the States recommend anybody and possibly add links here please?? And give price examples and whether you've been stung for any duty too!! [/quote] These are two of the best places I have found for buying bass strings in the US. [url="http://www.juststrings.com/bassguitar.html"]http://www.juststrings.com/bassguitar.html[/url] [url="http://store.1stopwinds.com/dextwpabagus.html"]http://store.1stopwinds.com/dextwpabagus.html[/url] I especially like the deal I get from 1stop on my D'addario strings. However, you may lose some "savings" on the postage but I think it still works out cheaper than the prices in Blighty. Personally, I have always liked the strings which were on my bass at the time of buying, and even after trying other sets, I usually go back to whatever was originally on there when I bought it as the sound and feel of the strings appealed to me. One thing I always do which helps my strings last a bit longer, is to always wipe them whenever I'm playing - even if only for a few minutes. Perhaps a bit OTT, but I always carry two cloths with me: one soft cloth for wiping the body, neck and hardware and the other a microfibre chamois like cloth which I use for wiping the strings and the fretboard. These microfibre cloths are great as they don't leave fibres stuck to the strings like a lot of polishing cloths.

I did some of the Rockschool exams a few years ago. Went from grade 1 through to grade 6. I remember on the grade 6 exam being given a piece of music to sightread and I think I had 15 minutes to look it over before playing it. This was back in 1998 and the syllabus may have changed since then. I bought the grade 8 book (there was no grade 7 back then) with the intention of studying the music and taking the exam, but I did not get around to it. Remember seeing in some of the pieces of music that there were sections left to improvise over. Again, it's been nearly 10 years and I know that the grade 8 module has changed at least twice since then, so I'm not sure what is on the current syllabus. Rockschool did have a website with the info at one point. Anyway, whether you choose Rockschool or RGT, I think you will learn some new stuff which will help you in becoming a better player. Good Luck

Great idea. How about Bell Boy and Squeezebox?

Tom Hamilton - Aerosmith

It was great. Played a fundraiser last night at a civic centre and had a lot of fun. Band was really well looked after with food and drink and the audience seemed to really like us. Nicest venue I have played so far.

Very interesting post. A lot of good advice on here. I have found a combination of working stuff out on my own, taking lessons and playing in a band is really helping me get the most enjoyment out of playing bass and improve my playing. I found playing in a band invaluable experience as it's not only a case of learning tunes, but also learning people skills and how to be part of a team - it's also a great way to try out ideas you may have practised at home and see how they work in a band situation. I also work on playing along with the band's setlist at home; to tighten up certain sections I may not be too familiar with or to practise an idea I may have for part of a song. I found a great bass teacher who has the patience to work with me and knows how to challenge me by giving me ideas to work on which are fun, stretch my playing, improve my musical knowledge, but at the same, time break the info down into manageable pieces so is challenging but not too overwhelming for me. One thing I found really useful which my teacher suggested, was to play along with the radio. This is great ear training for me - there are loads of internet radio sites (I use Yahoo). I select a style of music and spend some time playing along with the tunes. The great thing about internet radio is: 1. The clarity of sound. 2. You can pause the track. 3. No interuptions from the DJ mid track playing their jingles. I play along with the song and try to get as much of the bassline as I can. Sometimes, I only get a few notes, sometimes most of the bass part. I feel like it's a bit like casting out a net and seeing what you catch, but instead of fish (bass? ) it's notes. Anyway, what I can cop, I cop and what I can't, I try not to get too hung up about it and move onto the next tune. I know I have rambled on a bit (you should see one of my LONG replies

OK. I sort of stumbled on it by accident when looking at tv shows online. Was really impressed with note choices in bassline - really makes the song IMHO. I know it's cheesy ........ but I really like the bassline It's FAME by Irene Cara :blush:

[quote name='gypsymoth' post='162646' date='Mar 24 2008, 07:25 AM']I think the "bass exchange" link is the place I was thinking of - only been there once.[/quote] I thought you were referring to the same place - thought I'd add the link just in case.

Never tried a 1 X 18 cab, but our rehearsal studio has an Ampeg SVT Classic Head with the SVT 8 X 10 cab. That is "the sound" for me.

Congrats. If you get the chance once in LA, a really cool place with some nice basses and amps is the Amp Shop/Bass Exchange. [url="http://www.bassexchange.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=94&osCsid=cf3cc689017889dda722d45aff284913"]http://www.bassexchange.com/catalog/index....722d45aff284913[/url] Some of their basses are expensive but (I still think in terms of pounds) compared to the prices in Blighty, are still a lot cheaper. I've found basses in the States to be around about half the price they are in England. With the pound being so strong at the moment, I'm sure you'll find a great deal somewhere. I bought a new lefty USA P bass for $800 - the one in my avatar. I have also bought a G&L L2000 Tribute which go for about $500. I love that bass and for that kind of price, you can't go wrong. If you get a chance, check out the G&L basses as I think for the money, they offer great value. Don't forget to add in about 8% to the tag price for sales tax. Carvin Store is on Sunset Blvd, really close to Sam Ash and Guitar Centre. They've also got a Mesa Boogie store close by which has some nice basses and there are one or two vintage stores also in the area. The vintage basement in the Guitar Centre is something else - expensive, but really cool vintage Fenders on the wall. Good Luck! Dave

Interesting. I didn't know they were made by Ohm. I remember only seeing one other amp the same as the one I had and that was at Joe Hubbard's flat when I went over there to take a bass lesson. Sometimes get a bit nostalgic...... There was a music shop in Walton-Upon Thames called Twangs which was where I got my first bass and amp. I don't think it's there any more. I often wondered if it closed down or moved. Seemed a pretty magical place to me at the time.

[quote name='pete.young' post='85433' date='Nov 8 2007, 05:31 AM']Despite the fact that it says 'stocked by the Bass Centre' on the site, it isn't. In fact the last time I went in there, the staff hadn't heard of Back Door or Colin Hodgkinson.[/quote] That's a bit odd. I saw Colin play a bass clinic at the Bass Centre a few years ago. It was when they were still in Wapping though, so maybe new staff/management?

Forget Me Nots - "Ready" Freddie Washington.

I had one in 1985 - first bass amp I bought. I think it was a 10' speaker with a 12w output. Seemed quite heavy and bulky too as I reacll. Anyone heard of, own or remember these?