Greggo

I've used Reaper using WINE in Ubuntu and it works absolutely fine. Arguably performance was better than when I used windows 8, presumably because the O/S uses less resources.

My first bass was a red Encore from 90s and I've started to miss it despite not owning it now for 13 years! Was a great bass for tracking recordings as the tone just seemed to sit perfectly in the mix. Been getting all nostalgic listening to tracks I recorded with it and realising despite owning "better" basses I've never had a better recorded bass tone. Even with my Yamaha BB414, can't quite get the same sound even though it has a p pickup.

Bellended off due to lack of responses

Thanks for responses. For now I'm going to continue straight to PA through my bass v-amp which seems to be loud enough for now and will look for an amp As far as cheapness, well I've been looking at ashdown electric blue 180's - seem to be had for around 100 and seem a nice size too. Anyone got any thoughts on them?

[quote name='Bill' timestamp='1385774516' post='2292206'] I would have to say yes for me, it definitely has that effect, Gary Willis and Matthew Garrison, tend to have an upwards fingering technique. [/quote] My techniques seems to be more diaganolly so when I raise my pups my fingers come to rest on pickup and stops me getting any weird overtones by inadvertently tapping the string below. I can't do the upwards technique very well

Quick question for people that use a ramp or play over a pickup raised high - after you pluck the string does your fingers tips follow through into the ramp which is how it stops you digging in?

As our band are now having to pay for rehearsal rooms including amp hire, I'm finding myself in a position where I may need to actually buy an amp (last place rehearsed for free and I had a 350w combo to play with) The amps I've hired have been woefully underpowered in our new preferred rehearsal room so my questions is this - Guitarist uses a 50w valve combo, what power would I need to match it at a minimum? (bearing in mind I'll likely be using solid state as cheap as I can afford) Using PA works a treat as a work around but may not be feasible long term if gigs come up etc (in the past I could borrow the combo from rehearsal room)

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1385335511' post='2287220'] You should never need to get used to a bass! If the 5 feels better, why not just keep that? Doesn't matter if you don't use the low B if it feels right! [/quote] I do like the sounds from both though to be fair. I've made a few adjustments to bass and managed to get it feeling /sounding good again. I lowered saddles again and managed to get the sweet spot of being easy to fret but still a full tone so happy with it. I think also as the strings are fairly inexpensive legacy strings as they are wearing in they don't feel particularly nice on the fingers either which probably didn't help matters.

To be honest I think I'd rather just have one bass rather than waffling about with two, problem is I've got a 4 and a 5. If I play the 4 I miss the low B but then when I play 5 long enough I think I don't use the low B enough to justify a 5! I probably just need to get used to yamaha again. I am planning on going down the flatwound route so thinking a set of 40 - 100 status hotwire on the yamaha.

5 string is a Vintage EST96, and is strung 40 - 125. Both basses 34 inch scale. Yup thinking it must be the difference from one to the other. Also the difference in string spacing from 4 to 5 has changed my perception of the comfort of the 4 perhaps.

Bit weird but over summer I swapped a bass for a Yamaha BB414 and once set up with new strings and all adjustments made was a wonderful instrument to play. However I've not been using it in the band as have been playing 5 string and is set up with lighter strings than the 4 string. I went back to playing yamaha but of late it suddenly (for want of a better word) plays like ass. The action feels higher and strings tighter, A string has gone dead and generally is not as good to play. Tried lowering action a bit and now the strings feel a bit clicky on the frets so I've put it back. What the hell has happened? Is it because it feels crap compared to the 5 er or is it possibly related to the winter months kicking in and affecting instrument? It's been on a stand in spare room and I guess heating has been on low in that room. I've checked relief and that seems to be the same, although I guess wouldn't hurt to maybe give a tweak to lower it a bit.

Wedgie rubber picks are great, really comfortable and give a good halfway house tone between fingers and plectrum (more attack than fingers but with a nice round tone). Unfortunately even in light playing they degrade like anything on roundwounds strings. Does anyone know if flatwound strings would be kinder these type of plectrums?

Are the MM pickups made by Artec do you know? (that isn't a bad thing if it is, the Wilkinson pup in it now is Artec)

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1384459072' post='2277074'] Chris is a personal friend of mine;) He supplied me with my 6& 8 string basses ..and my jack daniels bass! Tbh, all of these are ch pickups and are loud as f@@k! Great sound. Great bloke, so buy with confidence. Btw; the jd has musicman pickup on it. Band members preferred that bass sound to my steineyes and washburn status . [/quote] Ah nice one cheers! Think I'm going to go with them and get their 5 string musicman pickup as a replacement.

I currently use a Zoom PS-04 which is a portable 4 track and has an onboard (albeit mono) condensor mic. However after reading and looking into some of the suggestions on this post, I am now really fancy one of these portable mic-recorder devices as these may be more fit for purpose when it comes to recording a rehersal room demo. Theres something about listening to a good quality rehersal room demo that is often more exciting than a polished mulititracked recording IMO.

Anyone ever used the pickups from chguitars.co.uk? Thinking of getting a musicman style pickup because the output is a bit lower than the one currently in my Vintage 'ray copy so hoping might be a bit less aggressive. They are not too expensive either so thinking maybe worth a punt.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1384182235' post='2273626'] Unless you really want a new bass, wouldn't it be safer to go for a second hand Vintage EST96? They're easily available second hand for about 100 notes or so. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-EST96-Stingray-Bass-/190895390563?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c72407f63"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2c72407f63[/url] And they're proper active Stingray copies. For less money, there's the Westfield copy. Here's one on here which was sold for £30. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/215582-westfield-musicman-style-bass-sold/"]http://basschat.co.u...tyle-bass-sold/[/url] (albeit with bent, though working, tuner). The no-brand ones could be decent, but I think the Vintage EST96 in particular is likely to be a safer bet. Edit: The seller has sold hundreds of the basses, with seemingly few left in some models. [/quote] I actually have no interest on getting on of these clones just pointing them out as per the ebay weird and wonderful in case they may be of interest to someone. I've got a Vintage EST96 myself anyway and that does the trick, I suppose second hand you could get a lot of better things than this ebay page for 100 quid but if someone finds it of interest it may have been worth the post.

Cheap stingray a likes on this ebay page. http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=140911768366 With the exception of headstock I think it looks like quite a nice ray-alike for just over £100 notes. I assume passive as no mention of preamp.

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1383509577' post='2265318'] I've been playing a 5 for 13 years only to discover I actually much prefer playing a 4 string. I have used the low B as fair bit, but in all honesty I play better on a 4. I kind of want to get rid of my last 5er but part of me thinks as I've only one of each now whether there is reason to or not. But I do play it and wish it had one string less, even though it sounds good. [/quote] I'm so fickle. Did one band practice just using a four. Turns out I massively missed the low B. It makes a better thumb rest than a pickup, my playing style is definitely better and I use low strings it far more than I realised..

[quote name='bagsieblue' timestamp='1384077317' post='2272408'] Still Gassing for a Stingray Greggo?? [/quote] Comes and goes. I've got my 'ray copy to sound as close to a ray as it will funds allowing with its clone preamp, and it just cuts through so much better in my band situation than my summer acquisition (4 string Yamaha BB414). But thinking it would sound a bit sweeter with flats, but no reference as to what it may sound like.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1384019770' post='2272027'] If you go to Ed Friedland's You Tube Bass Whisperer channel , he does a review of the Stingray Classic ( May 2010) with flats on it and plays it with a pick at one point. [/quote] Ah yes I've found that will have a proper listen in head phones, cheers.

Cool would be interested to hear - is it on yt?