thumperbob 2002

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1331831430' post='1579643'] Spot on. [/quote] unfortunately I never go out front so to be honest could sound terrible. Have had some good comments though, both recently and 30 yrs ago so might be doing something right!

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1331812026' post='1579197'] Works for me too. Never ever had someone say "ooh that song was crap cos the Eb was too high" And its less to carry/worry about. When i see the guitaritst fiddling with his pedal board i quietly chuckle to myself knowing that he will be doing a balancing act all night trying to press the right pedal at the right time, stressing over miniscule changes in wah or chorus etc. [/quote] strange enough Superstition never sounds right with The normal Eb on a four string, so I add a lower Octave with my sub pedal- job done. Believe you me, very noticable. More noticable when this was played on the B string of a 5- so I just need that little extra.

Still love the XT Live but got to a point where I was constantly changing, and fiddling with my tone. Would rather be learning cool songs and lines. Take it from me, used sparingly these things are awesome. Obviously in a chart covers band you will need a bit of colour, but for what I do it is overkill.

I have just come to the conclusion that anything other than you and your bass just gets in the way with playing music ( live that is )

Hi All In recent years I have been using all sorts of basses, amps, strings, effects and so on and so on..... I play in a soul band with brass etc- doing mainly standards and have gone back to a simple 4 string Jazz- Roadworn and an Ampeg PF500 combo. I just use an Ashdown Sub Pedal for those pesky songs in Eb that need lower than an E- dont like tuning down so a little octaver does it. I must have spent hours fiddling with my basspod to get "that" sound or tone or whatever you could describe it as and whilst it sounds absolutely fantastic solo, as normal no -one in the audience would notice if I used it or not. I went back to a four string in the last couple on months, mainly for the look as the bass and how it suits the band, but it is like coming home- really enjoyable to play. Overall the way the bass and amp/ combo looks is so old school it is untrue. Now I am going back to the way I always use to play, Bass, combo and me. I use a cleartune app on my Iphone which is the only bugbear, waiting for that guitarist to stop playing for a few seconds whilst I tune up! Taking too much time and energy over tone is a waste of valuable playing time.

I used to gig with a 60s hofner violin bass and a hofner senator ( still got that one ) Feedback city. Now I gig with a Fender Road Worn Jazz- looks old but is not- best of both worlds?

That's my rig. You will not be disappointed think it the best tone I've had and I've had many many rigs in the last32 years!

I'm on year 36 and I wouldn't class myself as a great bass player. I don't think it's just about the time spent, but natural talent will quickly make itself known. However I think anyone can be an ok bass player in a couPle of years. Again, what is an ok bass player. The first ten answers will all be different.

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1331346109' post='1571801'] So, in your professional opinion, a company returned to profit in one year, with a $3.2m (which represents less than 0.005%) pre-tax profit from $700m in sales, where the sales figure has been grossly inflated by massive product price hikes in the last year or so, shouldn't, in any way, be concerned about carrying $246m in debt? And you wonder how the western economies got themselves into the state they're currently in. [/quote] Hi pal. I would give no opinion about a company where I have not spent many hours of research. I certainly have not done this but simply made a point that debt is not the whole story. My point was that I would not invest , or indeed look at a company where there would be a measure of emotion involved. I manage over £60 million of assets in my own investment company FYI.

To be honest being unhappy or unsatisfied with how good you are at something will give you motivation to improve. Otherwise we would still be living in caves, or playing in rock n roll bands!! Ooops.

Many companies have debt much more than that pal- certainly doesnt tell the whole story- revenue up massively in the last period. However I would never invest in something where emotion would get in the way. I play a Fender so of course it would. I do this for a living by the way...

Looks brave, but I dont get it.

[quote name='jmstone' timestamp='1331043076' post='1566727'] Sensible advice.. Any videos you'd like to share? Superb stuff! I am not worthy!! Actually I really like that foot shuffle you got going on there! Looks quirky and suits the music! Great sound too! [/quote] All blue eyed soul boys have the same dance dont they? To be honest I found that clip as I was searching the net for info for some bands I was in- to be looking at myself 25 yrs ago was a bit of a trip- thought the sound was terrible though.

Always got nervous when I started playing- but then I was 14. Cannot remember what it feels like to be anxious or nervous to get on stage as 1000s of gigs later I always feel as though I live on stage. Stick a bloody great camera in front of me though.......... I changed career some years ago and as this was something that was new to me I got rather nervous giving presentations, though that went away fairly quickly. I found that not taking these too seriously helped. I have seen many band members freeze with stage fright- especially playing big gigs- seen it all, tears, vomitting- band members going missing-the lot. To be honest it always made me laugh which is not what you want to hear.

This is me in 1987- note how my dancing skills are honed to perfection. Look and learn pal:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjJ_j2NNy28

Let your playing do the talking pal. Stage experience will come in time. Try not to force it. The crowd will know. Just be cool and confident and be yourself. Do not try to add any gimmicky nonsense unless it's original - and it won't be as it has all been done before. Oh and don't look at your instrument and look as though you want to be there.

Let your playing do the talking pal. Stage experience will come in time. Try not to force it. The crowd will know. Just be cool and confident and be yourself. Do not try to add any gimmicky nonsense unless it's original - and it won't be as it has all been done before. Oh and don't look at your instrument and look as though you want to be there.

I'm the second one to choose used to be a pro bass player. Was always semi pro from the age of 16 to early 20s and pro for a few years ( until I got married and had kids). When I was pro I never practiced as was playing 28 nights a months with 4 week tours abroad. I come from starting in the 70s and learnt everything by ear. Obsessed by jamerson from an early age and can thank him for my taste. I now practice more than I have ever done probably 2 hours a day. Mostly learning new songs. Not for my band but mostly for pleasure of working stuff out. Really enjoying playing in my band though as we are getting more busy have a friend who deps for me 2-3 gigs per month. I only tend to play 2-3 per month ( nothing at all really ) Still love it though.

Sorry pal. Gas is a terrible thing!!

Gigged with the rig last night. Very quick set up. Quite a hot signal from the di on the head but easily sorted. Sounded really great. Though my sound really comes from my basspod so the amp is not doing too much. I was a little concerned if this rig would be loud enough and with the amp just through the 2 x10 portaflex cab it was easily loud enough for monitoring for me and the band. To be honest this rig could easily do most venues without foh support. With the 1x15 it would be pushing 4 ohms so would be a monster low cost small rig. Overall really happy with it. A fine purchase. Lots of good comments too from audience members. Obviously chin stroking musos. May be selling a Schroeder 1212l soon enough.

[quote name='woodyratm' timestamp='1330599109' post='1559948'] Must resist the urge to buy one. I was tempted by the same deal on Andertons. How loud can the 210 go? Eg could you monitor only with that? [/quote] Its probably loud enough to do small gigs- but easily loud enough to use as a stage monitor for the band. We`ll see on Friday...... [quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1330599880' post='1559968'] Nice looking rig! I'd be careful storing leads and things inside the cab. The pics I've seen show that the rear of the speaker is exposed and you could damage the cone with stuff rattling about in there. You could put your stuff in a zipable bag (like a mic case) and secure it to the rear or bottom of the cab with Velcro or something though I suppose! [/quote] Yeah- theres a zip bag at the bottom of the cab that is velcro`d in as standard. So no problem.

My backs hurting just thinking of this- god knows what I would feel like at the end of a tough gig knowing I had to lug that home- take all the enjoyment out of it methinks. My Marshall 4 x 12 VBA cab was amazing though.

[quote name='woodyratm' timestamp='1330596693' post='1559866'] Not a bad price On a more serious note:- I really fancy one of these with the 2x10 cab. Seem brilliant and exactly what I need. [/quote] Devils in the detail pal- post edited

Hi All Just got one of these from Andertons [attachment=101412:5352540512_3e703bc8f7_s.jpg] Got a 2x 10 Ampeg portaflex can from another basschatter so I have the pf 500 amp, 2 x 10 and 1 x 15 cab. I have been using a Schroeder 2 x 12 light and a Markbass Lm II for my gigs though as I go through the FOH I use it only for monitoring. Use a Basspod XT Live for my tone so really the amp/ cab is just there for me to monitor myself. Always use the amp flat. As I play in a fairly retro soul/funk band I thought the Ampeg would look really good and would be more suited to the bands image. Guitar uses a sound city/ fender blues and we have a very trad looking drummer plus our keys had a great retro looking keyboard. Visuals are everything I suppose. First impressions- Through the 2 x 10 only there is a vast difference in perceived volume between this and the Schroeder/ LM2. The Schroeder cab is 4 ohms- the ampeg 8 so the Ampeg amp is pushing half the wattage through the Ampeg. However the volume issue is not too bad until I have tried it at a gig- then we will see how it performs- I think it will be OK- the Schroeder cabs were to be honest much too much for me- very light and amazing clean volume but really not needed. I will be using both the 2x 12 and the 2 x 15 as subs for our band- they sound great!! Very portable- the amp flips over and is stored in the cab, together with cables etc.The Ampegs are smaller than you would think and a little heavier than the Schroeders but still nowhere near like a trace combo or valve amp. Easily manageable and the cabs come on castors where I tend to remove the back ones to point the cab at me. Really happy with the cabs- much warmer sounding than the Schroeders- probably the best sounding cabs I have heard- prefer the 2 x 10 to the 1 x 15 but both are very similar. Having both cabs plugged in, whilst this would be used at some gigs I do, for monitoring it is a bit of overkill. I always go through the FOS- without pa suppost the two cabs would kill, but just one I am unsure of- until Friday which is my next gig. The amp I have left more or less flat- sounds very good actually- quite warm and not at all SS. The thing that has impressed me most was the price- great deal at £314 for the amp and £312 for the cab ( got a special discount of 25% off the cab if I bought it with the amp) so it was £234- bargain. Overall really happy with it- but we`ll see on the gig on Friday for real.