rushbo

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1452204799' post='2947699'] To have nothing and make this from nothing shows a high degree of skill and determination. I think pieces like this need to be applauded rather than derided. There is no comparison between this and people who take manufactured gear and butcher it. [/quote] I agree. This was probably put together by someone working from photographs from magazines. We take it for granted that we can walk into a music shop and come out with a half decent instrument. Some people aren't so lucky.

I'm not sure I understand the "I don't have time for effects" argument...if you've sorted out your board, it's the work of a moment to plug it in. During the tune, when the bit comes along when you need the chorus/fuzz/whatever, you press the button. I realise they're not for everyone and some multi fx are very complex to programme and use in a live situation, but there are plenty on the market that are made with simplicity and ease of use in mind.

Another vote for the Zoom B1on. I've had one pretty much since they were released in the UK and it's never let me down. It's done about 45 gigs and regular weekly rehearsals and still looks new... I don't find mine fiddly to use and I do a fair bit of patch switching...a bit of forward planning helps. The casing is deceptively robust. I transport mine in one of those Maplins silver camera cases on a board with my Line 6 wireless receiver. I've also added an adaptor so all I have to do is plug in a kettle lead and I'm off. I've had four different Zoom fx boxes and loved them all.

I pretty much alternate between pick and fingerstyle and I use a zoom B1on pedal to even out the sound. My pick playing is naturally a little more aggressive and louder, so I have a custom patch on the multi fx which tames it a little and adds a smidge of drive. Likewise, my fingerstyle setting adds a little high end to stop it sounding a bit too swampy. Works really well and they're only 40- odd quid.

"I can't make rehearsal as I've just walked straight through a glass door" "I can't make rehearsal as I've had an allergic reaction to my aftershave" Both from the same drummer.

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1451840165' post='2943885'] Just re-opening this thread with a few more excuses that are all true, and have all happened to me recently: The bassist has gone to the wrong Flying Horse pub We were due to use the basement of the rehearsal building, but there are frogs there We were due to use the first floor of the rehearsal building, but it's haunted The drummer has run out of bottled oxygen The drummer's just messaged me saying "I can't be bothered" The two guitarists are punching each other in the car park The bassist has broken three ribs playing sport. Again. The guitarist says he can't find his picks [/quote] You win the Internet. These are all priceless.

Zoom pedals are brilliant. I've used the B2, B9 and I'm currently using the B1. Never had any noise issues and I'm always amazed at the quality. Spend a bit of time taming the pre set patches and you've got a bit of kit which I'd put up against anything on the market. People can be really sniffy about Zoom multi fx, but I've tried loads, including some real high end items and for me, Zoom wins every time. Never used the B3 as they seem a bit fiddly to use live (are they...?) but the B1 is superb.

Hair Metal. These are really easy - they're not trick questions are they?

Glam. To sum up: Glam.

Has no one mentioned this little gem yet? http://youtu.be/rIAZ8unRm2c ....oh yeah. Second post in the thread. Still, just in case you missed it first time around.....

I'm evangelical about this band...even now. Those first five albums are pretty much perfect and Gouldman plays some Godlike bass throughout. I saw them earlier this year at the RAH and they were excellent-as ever. As for a reunion...don't hold your breath.

John Wetton was a member too, for a while.

I've got one of those odd Squier 5 string P basses with the twin jazz type pups. The neck is quite shallow, but very wide which I find is fine for me to get around, in spite of having small hands. I had the entry level Yamaha Attitude 5er which was very similar.

I used to have a nice Spector SSD NS 95. It sounded great, but was just too much of a handful for my dainty little hands. They're great basses and they go for sensible money second hand.

When I was working at A Very Big Record Shop in Brum, Simple Minds did an in store for us, plugging their live double album. This was at the height of their pomp and every time I saw Jim Kerr on TV, my opinion of him dropped to an almost subterranean level. The band arrived and were whisked to the managers office for champagne and nibbles...Mr Kerr however, joined us in the staff room and had a cup of tea. No star trip, no ego. A lovely affable chap. I may never be a huge fan (although their first two or three records are ace), but my preconceptions were totally depth charged by 10 minutes in the man's company.

Lovely. Restores your faith in human nature, doesn't it? Now it's your job to pass it forward...

I took out the pups from my active Mexican Fender PJ special and replaced them with Entwistles. I love them. The P pup sounds...like a P Bass pup. Big without being mushy. The J pup adds some detail to the overall sound. And they're so cheap. There are a couple of threads on here already about them and they're generally very positive. Try them.

I love gigging. It's by far my favourite part of being a Bassist. I love it because, although I'm generally a humble and modest man, performing gives me a chance to show off. I also get to hang out with my bandmates (who are fortunately, very cool) and provides me with a small but significant revenue stream. Significant because it makes my hobby seem "legitimate". Without gigging, i'd still play, but I'd think twice about spending £50 on flatwound strings... I love the experience of playing live and i don't let the occasional crappy gig put me off, but for some people, the whole thought of playing in front of a potentially hostile audience makes them actually unwell -one of those people is the legendary Andy Partridge from XTC. His stagefright became so chronic that he walked off stage at the start of a live, French TV broadcast, never to return to the gig scene. Most of us on this forum play for fun. If that fun is in front of people or alone in the bedroom (hyuck, hyuck...), then as long as it's fun - no harm, no foul. Some of the best musos I know wouldn't even think of gigging and put considerable effort into home recording projects. A LOT of effort. Often for the fruit of their labours to be heard by just a handful of people. But they love it. It wouldn't work for me, but for them it's a creative outlet that's second to none. As the French say - "Vive la difference!"

Bonkers. But quite tempting at £30...

To be fair to the man, I've seen a couple of his "modifications" recently and they've been pretty decent. This one however, looks like he's popped on a blindfold, pulled some random stuff from his parts drawer and plumbed them in to an unwiling instrument. I get the feeling that if he'd pulled out a packet of Werthers Originals, he'd have whacked it into the pickup cavity...

You can't improve on perfection.

I really like it. I've seen worse repairs! You'll need a tetanus jab after touching those strings tho'.

I love the Bass. I love the Cabs. The hat is ok and the facial furniture, I can cope with. But socks and sandals....for Petes sake man, what are you thinking about!

The bridge! The bridge! Oh my God, the bridge!