JapanAxe

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1414103155' post='2586026'] I've been visualising it using a rotating wheel for many years. The wheel sits on a circular back plate and is marked in one place. A full rotation/revolution of the wheel is achieved in one bar. Where I need to play each note rhythmically is marked on the back plate. When the mark on the wheel meets the mark on the back plate, I play a note. If I want to imagine playing ahead of the beat, the wheel keeps spinning in my imagination but I play the note exactly the same distance before the mark on the wheel reaches the mark on the back board. If I want to play behind the beat, I'll wait until the mark on the wheel has passed the mark on the back board and then play at exactly the same distance in each bar. [/quote] I have enough trouble playing on the beat, never mind imagining marks on a rotating wheel!

Years ago I learned my scales on skinny-string guitar and found that this vastly improved my ability to play by ear - and to 'sight-sing'!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1413741587' post='2581450'] ... and a (slightly) shambolic cover of Louie Louie ... [/quote] Louie Louie should always be treated to a shambolic rendition - well done that band!

Line 6 pedals do have a reputation for not playing nicely when sharing power with other pedals. So yes, a separate supply is the way to go.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1413715347' post='2581052'] does anyone push themselves to play stuff thats difficult.. [/quote] Yes, all the time. My technique for learning stuff is to do a note-for-note transcription in standard notation, print it out, and work from there. This way the information goes in through my eyes as well as my ears, and the two streams join somewhere in my brain. A lot of the material I try to learn falls more-or-less within my comfort zone, and just takes a bit of application to overcome the tricky bits. About a year ago I started to keep a folder of material that I had consistently failed to master. I started a thread about it [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/223371-my-little-brainwave-the-tricky-challenge/"]here[/url] but it died an embarrassing death! I will pick one or two pieces from it and keep going back until they have graduated to my general alphabetical filing system (oh yes!). Success usually involves homing in on some aspect of technique, or internalising a 'difficult' rhythmic motif. Having said that, there are some pieces where I can't see the point spending ages trying to crack, when I will never be called on to play them. I am currently working my way through the [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bass-Bible-Free-Audio-CDs/dp/3927190675/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413796351&sr=1-1&keywords=bass+bible"]Bass Bible[/url], and that is the reason why I skipped over the Stanley Clarke section! I have also adopted Scott Devines's tip of logging how I have spent my practice time. It is very encouraging to be able to look back and see how far you have come, and useful to see what you have been unconsciously avoiding.

'More powerful pots'? I'd like to know how that works!

There is a pedal called a Möbius (I think) which is aimed at drop-tuning metal guitarists. Might work for you?

Ed bought my octave mandola (Irish Bouzouki), absolutely no problems at all with the transaction.

I modded my own CS3 using tips I found online, making it much more bass-friendly. I also had a Monte Allums CS3, and that was maybe quieter than the original, but still left your sound a bit thin and over-squished.

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1413614575' post='2580098'] Yep, I understand this. What I don't understand is when 'proper' musos tell me that the key of Ab is different to G#. [/quote] There is no key of G# (although there is a key of G#m). I'm sure that's cleared up the confusion!

Welcome JB! No doubt you have already found [url="http://basschat.co.uk/forum/103-lefties/"]this[/url] section for southpaws. There are always plenty of bargains to be had in the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/forum/19-basses-for-sale/"]Basses For Sale[/url] section.

Yup, very annoying! Just needs a little careful enquiry, but you don't always realise until it's too late.

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' timestamp='1413373739' post='2577599'] So I was planning on bringing my usual gear kit. Bass, amp head, cab, and my regular toolbox containing straps and leads and effects pedals and spares. But, what if I travelled light? I don't need the cab, I can use my amp head as a DI box, and get bass through the monitors. Pedals, I can live without. The amp head has a built in tuner, so I can leave my Korg Pitchblack at home. I reckon I can get by with just my bass, a strap, one lead, and my TC RH450. I'm not normally a fan of compromise, but in this situation it might be my best move. [/quote] Good call. The less you take, the less some ill-prepared feckwit can try to blag the use of on the night.

Some tireless self-promotion has started to land me some gigs... so here's some more self-promotion!

Some tireless self-promotion has started to land me some gigs... so here's some more self-promotion!

Whatever you decide on - single pedals, multi, or both - try this before you gig your rig:[list=1] [*]Plug your bass into your 'board, with all the pedals de-activated/bypassed/whatever. [*]Play, and listen to the sound from your amp. [*]Quickly pull the plug from your amp's input, then take the plug going into your 'board and plug it straight into your amp. [*]Play and listen. [/list] If 4 sounds as good as 2, or better then fine. But if 4 results in a loss of clarity, bottom end, top end, whatever, you need to think again. The problem is that non-true-bypass pedals have a resistor and capacitor at the input that act as a high-pass filter. This has the effect of shaving off a little bit of low end. When you chain several pedals, this ends up being quite a lot, and it tends to be worse when putting a bass through a pedal meant for skinny-string guitars. If this does become a problem, it is worth investigating true-bypass loop pedals to switch your buffered pedals in and out of circuit.

In a previous band we played two pubs where there was a basic fee, but they would also 'pass the hat around' and add that in.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1412982804' post='2573953'] So when they talk about DIing everything and mic-ing up my cab, they are simply BSing... [/quote] Indeed they are!

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1412884025' post='2573037'] That's settings for the GK pickups. Godin use RMC pickups in the saddles. Found a thread with recomended settings for RMCs. http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3965.msg26797#msg26797 [/quote] I'm a former GK30 user, and I used it with a Godin guitar (not bass). Although the different pickup systems will most likely need different sensitivity settings, as demonstrated by that link, I reckon it will still be necessary to select the instrument type as per the manual.

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1412952701' post='2573624'] PPPS: Time for Blackstar to venture into bass perhaps?? [/quote] As I'm deeply unimpressed with Blackstar guitar amps, I won't be in the queue if they do venture into the deep end.