BigRedX

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1446626572' post='2900846'] Also if you don't believe scale length makes any difference - Go to Bass Direct's Youtube channel and have a listen to a Dingwall, where the Fan-fret system means the low B can be as much as 37" scale. The B on those things never sounds muddy / floppy. [/quote] Scale length can make a difference especially on something like a Dingwall where: 1. The increase in length of the string is almost 10% compared with a standard long-scale bass 2. The overall standard of materials and construction is way above your average sub £1k instrument. The issue as I see it is that a small increase in length (normally 1" or less than 3%) on its own just doesn't cut it. The improvements in materials used and quality of construction required to make the most of this tiny change in string length mean that any decent luthier or manufacturer can get just as good results by applying these improvements to a standard 34" scale bass. By all means go for a 35" scale bass if you like prefer the inter-fret spacing, but don't automatically expect the get better feeling and sounds low strings.

These day I don't get to go to many gigs that I'm not also playing, and unfortunately my enjoyment of the other bands is somewhat tempered by the need to be ready to play myself or the fact that I'm manning the merchandise stand. However I've just come back from the Whitby Goth Weekend where I saw loads of great bands including Altered Images, Vince Ripper & The Rodent Show, The Last Cry and Spear Of Destiny. Having done a load of gigs on the same bill as Vince Ripper & The Rodent Show, it was a refreshing change to see them when I didn't have any Terrortone duties and could just have a few beers and enjoy the music.

IME 35" scale for a good B is a bit of a red herring. There are too many manufacturers at the cheaper end of the market who simply add an extra inch to the scale length in the hope that it will improve the sound and feel of the lower strings. Generally it doesn't. It's all about the construction and anyone who can make a good sounding and playing 35" scale 5-string bass can most probably make a 34" scale one that plays and sounds just as good. I've owned loads of 5-string basses with scales lengths of 34" 35" and 36". Apart from one very cheap 34" scale bass, the 35" scale instruments had the poorest sounding and playing low Bs. AFAICS the neck rigidity and neck joint construction is far more important to getting a good low B, than adding a single inch to the length - after all it's only a 3% increase in length.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1443637962' post='2876543'] Just down the road from us. Well deserved top-rated reputation. They're good. [/quote] Pressing is really good. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the packing and their choice of shipping company.

[url=http://basschat.co.uk/topic/272434-snakeoil-for-snakes-lp-out-now/page__pid__2900136#entry2900136]Album out now on Vinyl with CD or download or as a download only[/url].

At long last I can announce the official release of the first full-length album by Dick Venom & The Terrortones - "SnakeOil For Snakes". [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Cover-Montage_CDBaby_zpsuuqirwvk.jpg[/IMG] Thirteen tracks available on Vinyl with either a free download or a CD copy, or as download only from iTunes and Amazon. The vinyl version comes with 7 interchangeable front covers and a lyric sheet in a printed PVC sleeve. You can get the vinyl versions [url=http://www.dickvenom.com/merchandise.html]here[/url] Or alternatively download only versions from [url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/snakeoil-for-snakes/id1051861393]iTMS[/url] or [url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Snakeoil-Snakes-Explicit-Venom-Terrortones/dp/B0175AWBFE/ref=sr_1_4?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1445878014&sr=1-4-mp3-albums-bar-strip-0&keywords=Dick+Venom+%26+the+Terrortones]Amazon[/url]. And as a taster of what to expect here's the video for "I Can't Find My BrainCell" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd3DHTwbkJA

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1446481026' post='2899687'] This is my approach really. The only time I get technically better at the bass is when I write something I can't play, so I then I have to practise until I can. [/quote] Totally this. I find it nearly impossible to learn anything for the pure sake of learning. If it has no immediate practical application there are too many other things that I would find more important to do.

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1446048824' post='2896515'] The Lace Helix series of basses had exactly that - a helix neck, which rotated on the long axis away from the player at the nut. This was supposed to help players play better by lessening the amount of wrist pronation necessary to fret the lower notes next to the nut. Like anything else, it worked for some players and not for others. A bass luthier in Texas, Jerome Little, does essentially the same thing with his basses, which he calls a "Torzal" neck: littleguitarworks.com [/quote] The helix guitars used a very mild version of this. The basses were simply a platform to show off the alumitone pickups. Some of the early ones (like the ones on my ex-NAMM Helix bass) had very low output.

The easiest way to develop your bass playing is to join a band that is musically and/or technically outside of your comfort zone.

Actually that really is a Fender. IIRC there only 2 or 3 made, and this is the second time I can recall one having come up for sale on eBay.

[quote name='D'AddarioUK' timestamp='1446021240' post='2896155'] Regards string tension you can make use of D'Addario's [url="http://stringtensionpro.com/"]String Tension Pro[/url] tool to compare the tension of any of our strings over different tunings and scale lengths. I suspect your problems should be rectified by fitting new strings and setting up your bass. [/quote] But your handy tool shows immediately that the main problem with a floppy low B is that even with a 135 gauge string the tension is still way lower than any of the other strings in the set. Using a taper-wound string and other tricks to make the string less compliant only go so far to rectifying this.

[quote name='Luulox' timestamp='1445958647' post='2895704'] I decided to sell my custom made Letts bass because i hadn't played it for ages, been using a E series Jazz that i love. Plugged the Letts in to test it out and absolutely blown away with how great it sounded and it also played lovely! Decided within about 2 minutes that It is definitely staying with me. It is light, perfectly balanced and as a range of tones that are all usable, feels like it was made for me (which obviously it was lol). I cant for the life of me remember why i stopped playing it! Very bizarre. Any one else had this experience? [/quote] Not me.

Nothing wrong with the bridge. It's just not the right one for that width of neck.

[quote name='stevebasshead' timestamp='1445962416' post='2895734'] Does the string break angle over the nut (and therefore also at the bridge) have any effect on string tension? I have basses with headstocks at various angles but I don't know why there is such a range of difference between them. [/quote] Not on tension, but it does affect the compliance of the string which is how "stiff" it feels.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1445936956' post='2895462'] Increased scale length also helps, but I have played 34" basses with better B's than some 35" basses, so it's not a cure-all by itself. [/quote] IME you have to go to at least 36" scale length before it makes a significant difference to be worth while and of course then you have tension issues with the higher strings and I would imagine even more so on a 6-string with a high C.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1445868993' post='2894839'] Try a nylon pick, they never snap. [/quote] But they sound completely different.

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1445664891' post='2893177'] Also, big bands like to throw pics to the audience [/quote] Rarely the ones that they actually use to play. Promotional picks are cheap and easy to produce, but I wouldn't want to use one to play my guitar or bass.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1445638648' post='2893118'] I use Herco Flex 50 Gold and they just don't wear out. So the only time I need to buy new ones is when I eventually lose 'em all, which generally takes about six or seven years. [/quote] Really? I use the Silver Flex 75s which I believe a the heavier versions. If I don't loose them they last less than a month before the point has become too rounded to give me the desired feel and sound when playing.

Eventually you will want to upgrade to a better bass. IME you need to spend at least £1000 new to get a bass with a decent low B. In the mean time there's a couple of things you can try to improve matters. 1. Heavier gauge B. If you look at the tension figures (for those string manufacturers that supply them) the B string is always the lowest tension of the lot. I wouldn't bother with anything lighter than 130. 2. Try a taper-wound string. However to get the benefits of this you need to make sure that the taper is the right length so that the string actually sits on the saddle.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1445705700' post='2893628'] The blockheads played many of the rhythm tracks for FGTH. [/quote] [url=http://basschat.co.uk/topic/195136-are-there-any-super-bands-with-poor-bass-players/page__view__findpost__p__2890573]But their performance weren't deemed good enough to use on any of the records[/url].

Thanks for that info Kev. We recently did a review of the various aggregators to see if we could get a better deal for our forthcoming album. AWAL came second out of all the ones we looked at, so it's disappointing to hear that they now have some sort of vetting policy. Right now AFAICS provided you expect to sell at least 50 copies of an album as digital downloads through iTunes and Amazon (by far the biggest source of our download sales) then [url=http://www.catapultdistribution.com]Catapult[/url] appear to offer the best VFM. Having said that were you make your sales very much depends on what kind of a band you are who your audience is. We gig a lot and sales of recordings at gigs are 3 to 4 times greater than all the other sources combined. Next best is directly from our website, then Bandcamp and finally download and streaming via our aggregator. Finally - if you are a PRS member you don't need any of the performance royalty collecting services that a lot of the aggregators seem to be pushing now. None of them offer a better percentage than the PRS, and while in the short term if you aren't already a PRS member it might look like a good deal, in the long term you are better off with the PRS.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1445498719' post='2891851']This geezer the moment he saw me enjoying that PRS he kept nagging to me about special tax free deals for overseas clients, as apparently New Jersey has no tax so ordering from their NJ store and have it delivered anywhere in UK meant no tax just retail cost and shipping its all you had to pay. To be honest a good deal if you really want cause UK prices are much higher compared, so if I was really interested the deal is no doubt worthy of substantial saving ££ [/quote] You'll still have to pay VAT and import tax (id applicable) when the gear arrives in the UK. Actually if you are buying new stuff form outside of the EU you shouldn't be paying local sales tax on it at all.

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1445512000' post='2892001'] It would just have had to make do with Rodney Matthews... [/quote] Or Patrick Woodroffe.

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1445463818' post='2891750'] Tidy-looking Antoria Precision, looks like the more accurate late 70s version & appears to be wearing an original BadAss bridge. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161862243328"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161862243328[/url] Currently at £50, collection only from Derby. J. [/quote] Worth £50 just for the bridge.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1445510824' post='2891986'] Am I really the only one that would use a P bass for rock covers? I'd want to be using the bass 90% of the songs I was replicating were recorded on. [/quote] But are you 100% sure that it's a P-Bass on all those songs? My recollection from seeing bands in the 70s on TotP and TOGWT as well as at gigs was that there were as many Gibsons and Rickenbackers in evidence as there were Fenders. Besides in a band mix with a decent versatile bass and rig you can get something that sounds right without having to replicate the gear used on the original recording. I had a bassy sound and brighter version each with 2 different levels of drive on them and that covered pretty much everything I needed in my covers bands.