BigRedX

How do the DDT strings work? Do you buy a specific set for a specific tuning?

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1458764523' post='3010714'] I'm a little confused. I was under the impression a 5 string would take care of all turnings , except maybe low g or something . [/quote] Sometimes you need those "unconventionally tuned" open strings in order to be able to play the bass lines.

Two ways you can go on this IMO. 1. Whenever I've played with guitarists using different tunings, I've always stuck in standard because it opens up more possibilities for doing something less obvious with the bass line instead of just following the guitar part. 2. However if the bass lines are better if they do follow the guitar and matching the tuning is the best way to do it I'd be looking at a custom set of strings to achieve this.

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1458741706' post='3010401'] From what I've heard, and of course it's only hearsay The newer Tokai instruments are not as good as the 1980's equivalents But then, I've heard of a few people who like their relatively "new" guitars too [/quote] It depends where they are being made. In the 80s all Tokais were MiJ and the quality was exceptional. These days they are made all over the place. The MiJ models are still exceptional but we rarely see them in the UK and they are no longer the relative bargains that they were back then. Most of what turns up here (especially the basses) is from the cheaper end of the range, mainly made in China, and unfortunately of about the same quality as any other half-way decent instrument from that country.

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1458733630' post='3010248'] Where is our Beatles loving colonial cousin? He never gets tired of telling us how old he is. [/quote] Probably asleep. It is night over there right now.

I have a couple of right angled plugs but they are all made so that the cable exits either top or bottom which is generally the most useful as normally a sideways exit would obscure other sockets. However I do have some really old DIN plugs that I got from the army surplus that might allow sideways exit, but I'll have go and check...

Do you need it to rotate after it has been made up? And what angle do you need the cable to exit - sideways or up/down?

If you time your auctions carefully you shouldn't have to pay any listing fees. I've been selling stuff on eBay for about 10 years now, And I don't think I've ever had to pay a penny in listing fees, as there are always list for free offers.

I've managed to snap a low B. It can be done. Although IIRC the one that gave up on me was quite old.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1458644153' post='3009279'] Are you looking at originals bands? A lot of those are still aiming to "make it" so want young fresh faces, funky dance moves, fashionable beards and hats worn at just the right angle... [/quote] Actually anyone still sporting a beard is already painfully out of date.

Speaking from experience anyone in their 50s, provided they are still in good health, is probably a better bet in terms of drive and commitment, than most past their early 20s. I'm in my 50s and the rest of my band are half my age, but I have noticed a drop off in interest on the part of some previous members as they start looking at settling down, buying a house and having kids, building a career etc. That's nearly all behind me, so I have plenty of time to devote to music and IMO the fact that I'm still writing songs and play should say it all. I know my current band appreciate that.

[url=http://www.classicfm.com/discover/music/essential-life-hacks-for-musicians/dents/]And one for fans of the relic'd look[/url].

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1458469323' post='3007762'] I tend to work off recommendations and people I know of, so I can ask a few questions before it gets too far. I wouldn't expect too much from randoms...tbh. [/quote] Apart from my first band which was a bunch of school friends, I've always been a random. And I think I've done pretty well out of it.

I don't really do playlists either. I have one for long distance travelling and another two of favourite singles of the 70s and 80s, but these are all massive and go on for hours. Normally I'll just stick iTunes on random play and skip anything I don't feel in the mood for at the time.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1458633896' post='3009184'] Ha ha, that's the problem. I was the default band leader in my last two bands. I've also chaired a major political organisation, stood for parliament etc etc. Say it quietly, I'm a bit bossy. I have an organisational tendency.That's probably why my band fell apart, I intended for once to be a passenger, play bass and let others take the load. I found I can't hold back once things start going wrong. Nobody loves a smarty pants. [/quote] I think I am quite like you in the organisational aspect. I've been lucky in that the last 3 bands I've been in have all had strong leaders that knew what they wanted, were prepared to put in the work required, and I could simply show up play the bass and contribute my musical ideas to the songs. However in previous bands I have been responsible for almost everything except writing the lyrics and playing the other instruments on stage and it can get pretty wearing. In a previous band (in the late 90s) that was starting to attract management and record label interest, had been featured on a handful of compilation albums and was usually rehearsing twice a week, with gigs at least fortnightly, during a quiet spell when I was getting more a little annoyed with the way the other members were happy to coast while I seemingly arranged all of their musical lives; I simply stopped letting them know what was happening. No more phone calls to arrange rehearsals or to check gig availability. It was over a month before any of them got in touch with me to find out what was going on!

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1458549940' post='3008385'] if people don't reply forget them, they'll always be unreliable, I don't expect a reply then I'm not disappointed, and if you get to rehearsals and they haven't learnt the parts dump them, if people aren't enthusiastic at the beginning of a project you've probably got no chance with them [/quote] Unfortunately it is very much this. Anyone who can't get their sh*t together enough to reply to an email is likely to be the sort of person who'll tell you they can't make a rehearsal at short notice, who won't have learnt the songs and who will constantly have other things they want to do on gig nights. Weeding them out at the beginning has got to be a good thing, even if it means it takes a while for things to get going.

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1458578423' post='3008768'] Not necessarily. As a matter of fact, the tensions are actually geared with most "balanced" sets to the tension of the G string. For example, scroll down to the bottom of D'Addario's page to see that the string tension on their XL "Balanced" sets in all three "standard" gauges, i.e., 40, 45 and 50, is adjusted a bit on all of the sets a bit to equalize everything, especially to keep the low E from feeling floppy: [url="http://www.daddario.com/balanced_tension.page?sid=ca8402ef-45f4-45f3-9f06-3339d9cf48c0"]http://www.daddario....06-3339d9cf48c0[/url] [/quote] But they still haven't managed to make a 5-string set.

If you don't want to play songs you don't like, then I suggest you learn how to write some of your own.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1458578208' post='3008766'] some basschaters might look down their noses at this but it's got me out of trouble on dark stages (it's luminous sticky tape btw) sorry it's on a Fender [attachment=215171:DSCF0203.JPG] [/quote] My Warwick Starbass is currently in the process of having [url=http://www.luminlay.com]Luminlay[/url] side markers fitted. Hopefully no more out-off tuneness on even the darkest of stages.

IMO improvements start as soon as you move away from bolt-on neck construction.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1458561647' post='3008531'] This, it's very difficult to move around and not look at the fret board unless you're really familiar with the songs [/quote] This is why you practice isn't it? ;-) [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1458568286' post='3008622'] All well and good and I broadly agree, but everyone has to make a big effort to learn the material to the point where it can be played back to front, upside down and on one leg while facing east - underwater. What I mean is, [i]without having to think about it or look at your fretboard[/i]. Otherwise any, er... 'stagecraft' is likely to compromise the quality of the performance. [/quote] TBH the vast majority of the time no-one in the audience will notice. I've played half a song a semi-tone flat on more than one occasion because the on-stage sound was terrible and it was too dark for me to see the side dots on my bass with my mirror shades on… Not a single person has ever come up to me (or any of the other members of the band) to complain about poor playing, but we get plenty of compliments about how impressive the performance was!

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1458311933' post='3006504'] Right - try and shoot this one down [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQB2-Kmiic[/media] [/quote] That one definitely counts! Did you know that Denny Zager is now a luthier specialising in acoustic guitars?

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1458311773' post='3006499'] I did look it up It was VH1's all time one hitters [/quote] And that's where you're going wrong. VH1 is an American channel and while Carl Douglas was most definitely a one-hit wonder in the US he wasn't here in the UK.

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1458311046' post='3006487'] er...? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TgoF-ccdGM[/media] [/quote] Surprisingly not... [url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/15092/carl-douglas/]You can you this stuff up you know[/url] ;-)

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1458308291' post='3006451'] That book is in both German and English translation. In truth, so much of it is strictly factual (photographs with legends etc.) that even schoolboy German would be pretty much sufficient. Any time you're in London, give me a bell. [/quote] Thanks!