uk_lefty

So some progress... Replacement knobs arrived from the USA. Brilliant. I just couldn't get the old pickup out so again had to go to the tech. He had to break it to get it out. Brand new Armstrong replacement pickup in, great. I've collected the bass today, and plugged in. Everything works.... But. The A and D strings are just so quiet. E and G strings are loud and punchy. I tuned it. I tried two different amps. It's not the pickup height, that's really low on the E side and high on the G side, and it's hump shaped towards the middle anyway. I'm at a bit of a loss. Got loads on with work today but will have to investigate more later... Really wanted to be playing this at rehearsal on Thurs. Learning a lot through this process... Sadly not exactly what I set out to!

Sounds a lot like an EHX Battalion? As in your descriptions make it seem similar in function, not that I've heard the Fender pedal with my ears. How does the Fender hold up with active and passive basses? I had a Battalion and it was great for a passive P, not suited for an active jazz.

I'm watching all the Helix news with interest. I currently have a Boss GT10B which is bl00dy huge and very heavy in its flight case. I went from separate pedals where I could never get exactly what I wanted and all the issues with noise and cables to the Boss. However, I want something smaller, lighter, and it would be nice if it worked for guitar too. What I'm seeing with the Helix range is that unless you spend mega money then you don't get an XLR out (my pedal is basically my backup if my amp fails or supplied backline isn't up to scratch), you can have effects but no amp sim, or amp sims and limited effects, or no expression pedal. .. There's just not quite an "all in one" that could replace my Boss, which does infinite more things than I'll ever use, but I know its all there in a single package if or when I need it. And weirdly, though I love chorus and a bit of drive and now octave, my most often used effects are EQ / amp sim type effects. I'll keep an eye on the developments with these in case something comes up.

I like the simplicity of the bass. Looks in great condition too.

Has anyone used these? They look quite clever. Small format pedals that clip on to a pedal board so you don't need a mess of patch cables and power cables. You can also add other brand pedals on to the board by plugging then in to a little adapter. No idea what they sound like or how good the system is, just looked clever.

A lot will agree with you. Some will say that the vibrations from the string reflect off the board and different board woods and finishes affect the sound. My view is worth next to nothing in the matter and I can't get in to the science of it because I'm not qualified to do so, I just hear other people's reasons and a lot sound plausible, even the contradicting ones. But I've had two maple boarded basses and they have a brighter, snappier sound to them. They've both been jazz basses though. I've had a rosewood board jazz bass and it wasn't as bright and snappy. Had different pickups in it though so you can't call it a fair test. Best people to ask would be a selection of builders for why they choose different woods.

They look great, but no idea how they play. A while back I saw a lefty online that was in a shop on Denmark Street that has since disappeared. It was about 500 I think just a year or two back. I'd like to get hold of a Hayman for sentimental reasons more than musical but the prices on ebay are crazy.

Love a Kramer!!

Hi everyone. I play mainly bluesy rock type stuff and a lot of 80s songs in my band. I've always played in that style, however as my band tries to get more and more wedding and function gigs (pre lockdown) I want to broaden my palette to be more funky to give more of a dance like boost to the songs. My question is whether there are scales or modes I should focus on? I know to accent the 1, octaves are good but when I try fills and other embellishments I can often take the funk out when I'm trying to put it in! If that makes sense? Any guidance greatly appreciated.

All of my guitars could be described as upside down by most... My Kramer fretless here being gigged when it was new in my teens and still being gigged two years ago:

Mods feel free to delete or remove this if not allowed... I have no connection whatsoever to the seller or original owners but thought this too good a spot not to share. I was on cash converters website looking for hidden gems as I sometimes do and saw a 1975 Hayman 40 40 with what appears to be its original pickup covers, £899. It's in a Bristol shop apparently. Looked really good, I know these are rare with the covers so thought I'd share.

They did the bass and six string guitar in lefty. I like them and would happily have one if the price was right.

He's only famous because of his dad. To paraphrase Carl Pilkington "you could say the same about Jesus..."

Why not? My kids used to get Black Sabbath sang to them as lullabies when they were babies. Some of the bass lines hummed gently really worked! 😊

Here's something I know someone once did... Please don't take offence. But try twiddling the knobs on the bass, if it has volume knobs for each pickup you may have both turned right down...

My daughter is a bit younger but she loves the Trolls films. The first one got her in to some classic disco music and the sequel has a bit more rock. OK, it's not all original artists and words are changed but you can easily go "if you like that then you'll like this..." So Gwen Stefani plays the DJ in the first film which got my daughter dancing along to some No Doubt the other week. Other than that if she likes guitar music then anything that has Orianthi or Nita Strauss could be good.

Set it in fire as an artistic statement. String it upside down and gig it... I don't know. I don't think I could justify keeping one.

These look great, would love to try one as they made lefties in stealth black that come up from time to time and tend to sell for next to nothing, yet its a solid matsumoko built bass! Hope you get the popping sorted.

My in laws have a small independent pet shop. Through lockdown they opened less hours and did tons more trade. People wanted something to keep their kids busy or were at home so much more they treated their pets to upgraded toys and so on, also people didn't want to go in to the big national chain stores and support the local shops. Long may some of those attitudes continue when we are out of the woods with the virus.... Though the people on minimum wage in the big national stores need to pay rent and eat too....

Replied to my wanted ad for Fender ashtrays and delivered immediately for a very fair price. As with all BC'ers I've bought and sold with, an honest and friendly fellow bassist. Can't ask for more! Thanks again 😊

Too much choice isn't there?! Also, for everyone raves about TI Flats I personally didn't like them, but maybe I just had a right handed set 😉

It can be an expensive purchase so some may find this article useful... https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-best-flatwound-bass-guitar-strings-how-to-choose-the-right-flatwounds-for-you

Believe me storytime is a MASSIVE part of my life, and one of the most enjoyable.

Used to buy Q in the early 2000s but only if there was a decent free CD. Found the content a bit smarmy and "you won't have heard of this band but I'm better than you so I like them but you won't" and I remember a reader letter moaning that all music now is by private school kids (who had grown up and left school so jot that relevant) when referring to Keane and Coldplay. It's sad that it's gone but I think the digital age is perfect for someone like me who can only read or look up things in between work calls and while on the loo. Otherwise I'm either on work calls or stopping my kids electrocuting themselves so I haven't had time to sit down and actually read a magazine for nearly four years.

Any money I earn from gigging goes in to savings for my kids, I have a full time job that has not directly been affected... Well, I was employed by a company that was already doing badly and will have to shed jobs soon but I was already in the process of jumping ship to a company that will be more secure in these times. Anyhow, my wife doesn't work for the time being and without childcare available for many months it's been hard. Aside from music life has just been tough, I know many have it worse so I'm not saying "poor little me" but managing working at home and keeping the family going has been emotionally hard and tiring. I've barely played my instruments, though while on the crapper I've picked up some new toys on ebay and BC by selling off toys I don't use. I was getting a it tired with the band, the drummer would only play gigs for people he knows and was really awkward if a random person made an enquiry to the band. I got us set up with a promotion company for gigs this summer to spread our wings and landed a dep spot in a similar band that plays in different towns to my band. Then lockdown hit. Now we are trying to get a rehearsal going and the drummer doesn't want to, no real explanation except the drum kits in the rehearsal rooms are crap. Usual complaint but he's refusing to play our rehearsal and it's too late to cancel the room booking. I've tried to rally the lads around to do some recording, everyone says "I'm keen" then doesn't do anything. It's my only real social activity, not having it has been quite tough. Also the kids savings pots aren't really going up by the gig money which used to be good over summer.