uk_lefty

[quote name='Osiris' timestamp='1500996600' post='3341621'] My band plays a wide range of covers from 60's top modern day. I tend to play with a relatively flat eq and make any minor adjustments to playing position and occasionally panning between pickups on my basses that have more than one. I also use a bit of low gain drive, usually so low gain that I doubt anyone actually notices anyway! This gives me a good 'one size fits all' sound (with some subtle variation) that works well with everything. Our guitarist and keys players have dedicated sounds for different songs, so I like to keep the bass tone relatively constant behind them, and it seems to work really well across the board. [/quote] Similar to my approach. Find a good core tone and make minor adjustments only when you have to. Guitarists have it easier to replicate tones, whereas if bassists were to try you'd have long breaks between songs as you change to the bass with flatwounds, etc

[quote name='pburrows' timestamp='1500564997' post='3338749'] Cheers Lefty, but buy which one? I'm getting bamboozled by all the different options! [/quote] Whatever you can find on here for sale or on gumtree I guess. I'm not up on the model names I'm afraid I just know I like them!

[quote name='Jakester' timestamp='1500538174' post='3338489'] Not quite the same thing, but I'm sure I've seen a fretless with a single fret right up at the dusty end to give that 'clank' when slapping. [/quote] I've heard of these too. Rather than a fret I thought it was just a metal plate set in at the end of the fingerboard.

Ah ok I jumped to the conclusion you'd knocked up a bitsa yourself.

Nice! Did you get a good deal on the neck?

The sound is the best I've ever had from any amp. I just couldn't handle the weight living in a second floor flat. Mick bought my combo and extension cab, it was an insanely loud rig but you're getting more than just volume, you get a depth of tone and a presence through the mix that's hard to get from other amps that I've used and it fits any musical situation within reason. I often think an old trace head with lightweight cabs might be my solution one day. I say buy one, unless weight will trouble you. You wouldn't lose money on it if you chose to sell on and you'd get to experience it properly.

At the moment we have the wealthiest guy in the band look after the cash, less likely to run off with the odd fifty quid that's owed to someone! Have had trouble in the past with gig fees being paid in to the personal account of one member who then can't remember if we've been paid, or can't access his bank, etc. Just creates bad feeling, far easier if there's a bank account that everyone can access.

[quote name='Bonin-in-the boneyard' timestamp='1499449718' post='3331679'] Vintage Fender https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/pxp170701311996002-698577--fender-telecaster-bass-1973-left-handed-pre-owned-401 [/quote] My absolute dream bass!! Anyone want to lend me two grand to be paid back... Never?

Used the Rootmaster 500 head and two fifteen inch Rootmaster cabs for two gigs this weekend. On a huge outdoor stage and using di it performed admirably, plenty of volume and bottom end. Playing crammed in the corner of a function room with a high ceiling we barely needed any volume at all and didn't di to the PA. This set up is excellent! The cabs give a really pleasing bottom end but definitely don't lose any top, and I have the tweeters off. Want to hold on to this rig for years to come.

Funny thing... No noise at all in last rehearsal. Had two gigs on Saturday both through my own rig. At the first gig there was loads of noise and it was coming through the di out to the PA so in the interests of saving time I agreed with the sound guys to ditch my pedals and play straight to the amp. No tuner or mute but we were playing a quick 45 min set. Also, when going to the active input channel on the amp the di signal went dead, which is odd. A few hours later and I'm setting up my rig for the night gig, no issues whatsoever with pedal noise, used the full lot all night. Absolutely baffled for what the problem could be!!

Used it on a gig this weekend. I've been experimenting with it and I ramp up all the controls to get close to a sort of organ sound for Mamma Told Me Not to Come. Works a treat. Very pleased with it

[quote name='upside downer' timestamp='1499085986' post='3329025'] My old three-piece band used to do Breathe by The Prodigy which was always well received. I think most punters love a 'curve ball', it shows you've made an effort. I'd like my current lot to try more but the drummer's a set in his ways rocker and won't have it! Would love to try something like a Lady Gaga tune or a 90s dance classic. [/quote] We do Step it Up by stereo MC's. It fits in that we play it our way so the feel remains the same (slightly funky rock) but still very recognisable to the original, but it's so far apart from the other songs on our set list that it's a nice surprise for the audience and it "hits our demographic". Always goes down well, and you can make it as long or short as you like which is handy!!

The only reference point I have to my first band is on a copied tape. My 2005 vw actually had a tape deck. It destroyed that tape. Tape must be not just dead but extinct by now surely??

The demise of the cd was well in progress before the big music companies got on the vinyl resurgence hipster bandwagon. Ever tried buying CD storage these days? You just can't get anything half way decent. Since moving house my six hundred odd CD collection has remained boxed in the loft. What's crazy is having the option to buy a download album at 10.99 or buy the cd with free instant download for 4.99. Am sure in ten years my daughter will be excitedly asking me "dad did you have a Sony minidisc? Got any in the loft? They're sooooo cool!!!"

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1496924545' post='3314717'] Billy Connolly phrased this one rather well, and we've nicked it before now: "Don't tell me how to do my job. Do I come to your work and tell you how to sweep up?" [/quote] I'm pretty sure another comedian has a similar one but the place of work is the docks and the task is not sweeping but something involving sailors.

One thing I still do after 15 years of gigs is write "cheat notes" on my set list, so I know what chords the bridge of certain songs moves to, etc. Even some of the no Brainers. It's a good backup for those moments where you are not fully sure and it can be hard to see the guitarists chord shapes. Helps me wing it anyhow!

The beauty is in the simplicity. Very nice!

I know from recently fitting one to 90's MIM Jazz there can be slight differences in the layout of the screw holes. Makes no sense to me but 90s MIM machine heads are slightly different in measurement to other fender direct replacement machine heads. No experience of the Squires but you could potentially have the same issue so you may need to do some minor drilling to fit the xtender. I had my set up guy do mine because I'm useless with these things.

Doesn't have to be a band, why not find a singer song writer type who wants to jam a bit? Work up from there! There are online collaboration things where someone records a beat or something then you submit a recorded baseline and people build up a song, that could be a good way of getting back in to it? Don't give up, just find a path that you can follow at your own speed and gives you the enjoyment you want! Best of luck!

I haven't seen this year's Glastonbury set yet but have heard more negative than positive. For a long time radiohead were my absolute favourite band and I enjoyed the change of feel from album to album, it's a nice concept and movement over time, but when you just want to put on one song and crank up the volume or relax or whatever, you go for one of the first three albums only IMO. I saw them live about twelve years back and they were excellent, amazing presence and great musicianship. I can see why they're not everyone's cup of tea. I do t listen to the radio or read music mags so I didn't know they'd released anything recently, but there isn't a fire in my pants to go and get the album, unlike Kid A which I pre ordered and legged it from college to buy as soon as I could. I think they just spoke more to me as a teenager than they do now.

I have one built in to my ashdown amp head and I have it on pretty much all the time. I also have a boss limiter enhancer on my pedal board but rarely use it, though using it as an enhancer with my fretless bass I can find some benefit. I used to have a line 6 tonecore guitar compressor that had three settings plus the dials, it was very good for bass. In general, if you spend the time tweaking one you'll likely find something useful but unless you have serious dynamics issues I wouldnt worry too much.

[quote name='LeftyP' timestamp='1498252703' post='3323493'] I was taught to use a knife and fork in the conventional way (knife in right hand) and have never had a problem with it although if I'm spreading butter onto bread I use my left hand. When I go into cafes I immediately re-arrange the cups and side plates to suit a lefty and turn my dessert spoon around so that the handle is on the left side - that confuses every body! [/quote] 33 years of lefthandedness here and I've only just realised I do the same! Knife and fork used conveniently but knife only is a left hand activity! Learning something new every day. Welcome! Playing left handed shouldn't affect Tue progress as much as a teacher with a defeatist attitude in my view.

Thanks for all the advice so far! Rehearsed last night and noticed something else peculiar... With no pedals on everything was running fine and the VU meter on my ashdown amp was peaking at less than half its range. However, engaging either my hartke di box to change tones or add some drive, or engaging my Jim Dunlop bass wah all made the vu jump in to the red! With input volumes less than half. Quite concerned by this. Think I need to have my boss limiter engaged to protect the amp?

[quote name='Tony p' timestamp='1497953370' post='3321520'] Has anyone else here just played the set twice when they've used up all their material.... ? [/quote] Yes! It was our first gig in my acoustic duo. My first gig as a singer too. We made it clear to the venue we would do two forty min sets but it would be the same set of songs. They were ok about it and booked us in again

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1497946577' post='3321451'] Another option of course would be to ditch the tuner and replace it with a TC Polytune Mini - I've not had any noise issues with mine on a daisy chain! [/quote] Good point, but there's always another pedal to buy! Want to resolve the problem at the root of possible