Bass-ic

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='115746' date='Jan 7 2008, 08:30 PM']Cheers it's not that, I've 50GB of MP3s...and none of them work[/quote] have you checked the sample rate? Matt

Sorted! yeah!

Thoman arent the cheapest on everything, you still have to get to it and do your own research. as ever, vote with your feet. if shop can't be arsed to help you, dont spend your money there! if they dont do euro price matches, ask them to! Most retailers do these days. THis country needsa good kick up the backside on many fronts, start by telling the retailers what it is you expect as service, tey might catch on. If you chose to do nothing, nothing will change. Matt

thank you all for your help. I got a bit lost trying this, but hey with the PC, you know whats its like. if you dont know one thing, all your plans get shot out the window. tonight a mate of mine took the trouble to show me the simplest of ways, all within windows. you have to think that IT people are human after all! How ever, thanks to all the BC member s who took the time to answer! Cheers Matt (AB)

Music to sooth the savage beast.

I think ill play the 'phone a friend button. Damned if i can get it to work........

Ah right , Thanks for that! matt

Hi I know ther was a thread on here somewhere about this, but i need some advice on how to get music on to my tascam mp3. I use windows which is wma, and i cant find a way to convert the tracks. Does anyknow of a really simple way of doing this as i am not the best with PC stuff. Cheers

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='135495' date='Feb 7 2008, 09:03 AM']Not sure you should condemn a whole shop on the basis of one unhelpful bloke and a badly set-up guitar.[/quote] I stood there for ages picking up basses and trying them, not one member of staff even asked if i knew what i was doing. given the fact that some of these instruments were pretty pricey, thats fairly poor. most of the staff were not busy. Go figure I dont think i have attention issues, i just wanted some help with buying my first bass! you dont think it might be indicative of the training of the shop staff ?? As it happenes the contact i was given was after this event, and was reccomnded by some one here, but you'd have to admit, get crap service , spend somewhere else!

[quote name='PaulMartin' post='135356' date='Feb 6 2008, 10:48 PM']Yeah that attitude seems familiar. The whole lot of them don't seem to give a toss. I'm with chris_b on something like this. I'm a vindictive shopper too. I'll never set foot in the place again.[/quote] alway, always vote with your feet i say. If anyone can be blase about taking your money and doesn't care about you the person, then obviously they have too much money and should be left alone to count it. There are people that care, but it seems to no longer be the norm. I had an experience in soundcontrol Bristol recently, which was truly sad. I believe its because they didnt think i was going to spend enough money buy buying my first beginner bass there. Someone here has directed me to a particular person there, but I would still rather spend my money on geeting thereassurance of at least some honesty and genuine back up. dont even start me on the 'we need your name and address' bit before they accept your money! bastards Matt (AB)

[quote name='kdphysio' post='134701' date='Feb 5 2008, 10:48 PM']i've been told that this works well with GAS, but haven't tried it yet. www.gas-x.com [/quote] Now thats funny!

So! Ive been looking around to get a decent bass combo to start out with. has anyone used the fender B-DEC combo, just how useful is all that stuff on it, or is it a gimmick? Matt (AB)

Umm, i think its more of a personality aquired syndrome, more than a gear aquired thing. its not just basses, its most things if you think about it. If you question anything, and lets face it many people dont, then you will always think that there is something better or more complimentary to your life. my bas colection is poor, bui know what i want in the long run, same as with amps etc, but in reality , i also have some of the finest climbing gear in the world, and im alway slooking for more. see, its about your pesonality type! Matt (AB)

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='132057' date='Feb 1 2008, 05:02 PM']at a pub in Hertforshire, I took a dodgy pint of real ale back to the bar, and sitting at the end was Craig Charles. Nice bloke. He walked past me on a train a few years later. In Disneyworld in 1989 I was on a walkway, and saw Fred Coury (drummer in Cinderella) walk past. In Brighton a few years ago, I met a bloke who claimed to be a promoter, and that he was the person who first brought The Hives to England. His opinion of my (then) band was 'well it's harmless' [/quote] Craig charles??? a nice bloke, are you kidding me??? what a complete stoned tosser! IMHO!

[quote name='OldGit' post='131933' date='Feb 1 2008, 01:58 PM']Ahhh... OK Got a picture? That sound like a nice wall bass (as oppoesed ot a WAL bass) but you really need something that can be adjusted. That way the bass will help you play and not present so many challenges .... Yes, a Yamaha or Ibanez and a few lessons would be a very good investment ..[/quote] There are no pictures of this bass anywhere. I dont think there ever will be! Matt (AB)

[quote name='OldGit' post='131905' date='Feb 1 2008, 01:17 PM']What sort of bass are you using? - ie make / model.[/quote] My dad got a bass player mate of his to make a bass, its a full size bass, but i got it when i was 5! thats quite some time ago. I have no idea what its made from, but it is a single pick up passive bass ,21 frets, wood finish , well varnished it is! it works and doesnt sound too bad . However there is no adjustment anywhere on it hence the action question. The fingerboard gets wildly out of tune as i work my way up the neck. I am blessed with a good ear, so it sounds like a night-mare to me! Ill never get rid of it as it raises a smile evertime i see it, but as an instrument it has its flaws. Wouldnt want to take it out in public! I will probably get a yam/Ibanez to start me off and get some lessons. at least these might be closer in tune with themselves! Matt (AB)

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='131775' date='Feb 1 2008, 10:16 AM']I've never noticed a difference in tone if I raise the action... how can a high action equate to better tone? Looking at the physics of it (with 27 years playing experience), having a higher action can't give you more/better tone than a low action! If you mean that when you play you are having issues with the action and you have to raise it to get it to play then that is a different matter but if when playing a bass in your normal style you can do so with a lowish action, you won't get a better tone by then jacking the action up and playing in the same manner. That's silly talk! For me a bass that plays nice is one that gives me a low action with no buzzing or choking for my given technique/style. I've always had my pups jacked up as close to the pups (without inteference) to get the best output and so that it feels comfortable under my fingers. At the end of the day it is what you are used to and like but I've never had anyone play my bass and say that it was a terrible set-up whereas I have on occasion picked up instruments (particularly in shops) that I find horrendous to play.[/quote] [quote name='chris_b' post='131791' date='Feb 1 2008, 10:30 AM']How hard do you hit the strings? If you have a low action you need a better set up, straight neck, level frets etc to get a better tone out of playing softly. If you play hard then you can get a better tone out of a high action, but you need a lot of left hand strength and you don't really need any set up at all.[/quote] Ah Ok. This is good. Im probably hitting the strings quite hard, although i try not to, b8t have arranged some lessons for better guide lines on this aspect of my playing! I hear both of your points. THe previous , and possibly ludicrous height of the action prior to my engineering masterpeiece was making my left hand ache a lot, so ill see how the new setting goes. Ill seee how it all goes. Cheers Matt (AB)

[quote name='OldGit' post='131731' date='Feb 1 2008, 09:08 AM']Ha ha sorry Just look upon it as a chat in the music shop with a few helpful people .. Tangents a go-go Re strings .. There's a load of discussions on the forum about that already - do a search ..[/quote] Am laughing. Being the sort of handy , (possibly logical) person i am, i removed the bridge and made a new one. It is a simple bar affair, but it sems to have helped a bit. Am now down to a 4mm gap. Its started to buzz a bit tho. Hmmm

fellas! Umm, originally , i was trying to find out just how far my strings should be from the frets, as i could almost get my fingers through the gap on mine. This has been covered here , which is great, and many thanks for that, but i havent got as far as strings yet! what are you all on about!!! Strewth! cheers Matt (AB)

that doesnt surprise me in the slightest! LOL

[quote name='OldGit' post='131400' date='Jan 31 2008, 04:55 PM']Sorry I should have explained, he deosn't work for Sound Control (though they do have a good bloke called Joe on basses in there. Seek him out for help next time) Eltham just rents the space from them. Call him first to book a slot and make sure he's there. Don't just leave it with the SC people. You need some hands on time with Eltham so he can sus what you need. 07971 240296[/quote] Ok, thats really helpful, thanks very much for that. Matt (AB)

[quote name='OldGit' post='131371' date='Jan 31 2008, 04:21 PM']Seek out the Welsh Wizard, Eltham Jones in the back of Sound Control in Bristol. Tell him I sent you and he'll be gentle. Go along and play in front of him. He'll then have a very good idea of what kind of action you may feel comfortable with. He can also gove your bass a once over to make sure the nut and frets are all working with you and not against you. I have very low action and very light strings. Works for me but I don't mind a bit of rattle.[/quote] Ah, right many thanks for that. although i must say, the last time i was in SC I asked for some help and didnt get any! No one was inetersted in selling me a new bass thath i really cant play very well yet! they probably work on commission were my thoughts, and i wasnt going to spend enough. however, they are still very close to me and do have a wide selection..hmmmm

[quote name='bremen' post='131363' date='Jan 31 2008, 04:06 PM']I've just switched from 040-100 Red Labels to Roto 045-105 and I'm happier with the sound, and they do seem to buzz less on the 5string (after adjusting relief to compensate for greater tension). It is hard work playing chords though. Does anyone use those spring thingies, hand exercisers, that rock climbers use? Any use?[/quote] i use one, or at least i used to, but it didnt do anything for my climbing!

[quote name='misrule' post='131327' date='Jan 31 2008, 03:11 PM']What's CP? Close protection? Cheers Mark[/quote] indeed it does, but mostly it means you drive people about. I worked for a |TV company so it was huge amount of fun. geena davis is very very tall. fantastic!

I used to do CP work for a lot of 'names' god theyre all dull! Hiding demi moore was bloody funny! AB