Silvia Bluejay

Updated list Interested in attending the Hampshire bash: 1. MacDaddy 2. JimRyan 3. Max Normal 4. Silvia Bluejay 5. Happy Jack 6. Steve Browning 7. Mickeyboro 8. Silverfoxnik 9. BreadBin 10. Rumblefish 11. PawelG 12. Jock

True. I think Duracells and Energizers are slightly oversized too, IIRC.

On my basses a dying battery causes the sound to begin resembling a fart, and the output volume decreases. Perhaps others just experience the decrease in volume. Always best to put in a new battery at the beginning of the gig, if you are in any doubt. Unless you're gigging for three hours every night, batteries do last quite a while, but do remember to unplug the lead from your bass (after muting the amp) every time you stop playing for more than a few minutes. Active electronics are connected to the bass' socket, and when the lead's jack is in, it will power them and discharge the battery even if you're not playing.

Had enough of this. Move on, nothing to see here anymore.

I would recommend learning to do it for yourself as soon as possible! Nobody knows what your favourite setup is better than you do. You may want to go to a friendly shop for help the first time, but don't ask them to tell you what to do, ask them to help you achieve the setup you want. Ignore strictly prescriptive advice about the exact number of thousandths of an inch (or millimetres ) to measure at the 12th fret and similar rubbish: while you play, find your own preferred setup - as in, the setup you are most comfortable with - and then learn how to implement it on your bass(es) and how to maintain it when the season changes and the neck relaxes or tightens. As I said, it's a matter of trial and error: you may think that a certain setup fits your playing, and then discover that it doesn't, so it's best to be able to change it on the spot and keep testing. You only need to go to a luthier if there is a problem such as a warped neck, a fret coming off, a serious dead spot, a defective machine head, malfunctioning electronics in the pickups, or similar. (Those problems aren't very common, even on relatively cheap basses.) I did my first setup on my own after googling and checking out a few links similar to the first I mention above. It's easier than it looks.

Yes, action is the distance of the strings from the fretboard, and that can be adjusted by 'tweaking the truss rod' (see link below). On some basses it's also possible to raise or lower the nut, and in all basses it's possible to raise or lower the saddles where the strings rest at the bridge. When the action is too low you will end up with fret buzz - unfortunately it's a matter of trial and error, until you find the most comfortable action that allows the strings to vibrate properly without noise. Have a look at this link And also at this one Welcome to Basschat! Keep asking questions, we'll do our best to help.

This is very intriguing, and I'm moving it to its appropriate place, Build Diaries.

Paging @Dad3353

And finally, the second part of my photoblog: Part 2 - The Exhibitors

Yes, problem is back. My profile is a blank page, and so is yours if I click on your name, and if I hover my mouse on anyone's name, mine included, I get this:

Updated list Interested in attending the Hampshire bash: 1. MacDaddy 2. JimRyan 3. Max Normal 4. Silvia Bluejay 5. Happy Jack 6. Steve Browning 7. Mickeyboro 8. Silverfoxnik 9. BreadBin

Updated list Interested in attending the Hampshire bash: 1. MacDaddy 2. JimRyan 3. Max Normal 4. Silvia Bluejay 5. Happy Jack 6. Steve Browning 7. Mickeyboro

Interested in attending the Hampshire bash: 1. MacDaddy 2. JimRyan 3. Max Normal 4. Silvia Bluejay 5. Happy Jack Until we have a firm date, though, we can't be sure.

Incidentally, I forgot to mention that the new Q2n eats batteries, so we've been using it constantly plugged into a power bank as opposed to having to change batteries twice during a gig. And, as all small devices, including DSLRs, it will record video files (.MOV) in chunks of around 3.5GB, interrupting the recording once it reaches that size and immediately starting recording the following chunk. If the MicroSD card you put in is fast enough (class 10 minimum), when you stitch the files together mid-song the stitching won't be noticeable, unless you look for it really carefully.

Yup, thought so. Learning curve ahead!

Not moving the camera around - always on a tripod, usually pointing toward the band, and very occasional zooming. (I'm talking about thre Canon SX40.) Regarding the Zoom, it was firmly clipped to the same sturdy tripod as the SX40. Regarding the Saramonic, it was on the sturdy tripod by itself, but on one occasion I was forced to stand too far from the band, on another occasion I was too much on one side, on another occasion one of the mics wasn't plugged in properly or developed an interference noise of some sort, etc... heh.

An update to this thread: we have tested the Saramonic, but the conditions at those selected gigs were not satisfactory enough for us to give an informed opinion and publish decent clips - we're still working on that. The problem with using the Saramonic is the incredible faff with setting up the tripod, the camera, the Saramonic itself, attaching microphone supports, plugging in cables and microphones, and placing the whole caboodle in the best position to take advantage of its capabilities. We only use it at one gig every 6 or 7. As a further update, I have now bought a Zoom Q2n to use alongside the Saramonic (or the Canon SX40, which is still going strong), not as a replacement but as an addition, to allow us to film from a different angle and capture, say, the whole of the room including the audience, as opposed to focussing on the band and occasionally turning the camera 180 degrees. So far, I have mixed feelings. My 'interim' review on Amazon, where I bought it, explains: We'll be testing it again this weekend.

All will be photographed and recorded for posterity!

@Max Normal try having a word with @silverfoxnik and see if he's up for joining forces? I can do the pre-bash publicity and social media (as well as the after-bash blog) for this event, but I'm too far to do the legwork, I'm afraid.

Exactly my thoughts. Unless you're starving the family or depriving them of all reasonable luxuries, why should you feel compelled to lie to them when you buy music gear? Did they not know that you were a musician when they met you? And if you became a musician after you met them, should they not support you (like presumably you support them in their career/hobbies)? I really don't understand.

Future Publishing has created a survey for those who wish to suggest improvements to the LBGS for next year: Comment here

Beginning of January 2018 - Misty Moon in Northwood Battle of Britain Club, Uxbridge - semi-acoustic, on the following afternoon. Hayes Working Mens' Club, a week later White Hart, Hemel, February 2018 Private function at Battle of Britain Club, 9th March 2018