JapanAxe

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1399123810' post='2441284'] ...when someone asks me whether I play lead or rhythm guitar, I usually answer by telling them that I play whatever the song needs at that time... [/quote] When someone asks me whether I play lead or rhythm guitar, I just say YES.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1399197062' post='2441894'] How about some 'before and after' pics? [/quote] +1

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1399064076' post='2440725'] Yes, I understood, and asked you whether you were satisfied with how that worked out, or at least I [b]tried[/b] to ask you that. [/quote] Okay! Yes, I was satisfied, but I won't know for sure that my settings are right until I take the amp out on a gig.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1399065322' post='2440750'] Once again because they could. What so many people seem to forget is that back in the 70s these were just mass-produced instruments and the Musicmaster was Fender's "budget" line for people who needed the Fender logo on their instrument but who couldn't afford a Precision or Jazz. They weren't any big deal and relatively cheap and therefore ripe for "customisation" and modification as it took the owner's fancy. [/quote] This. They have never been highly regarded, and it is only recently that their price has started to creep up, simply by virtue of them being old (or in ad-speak, 'vintage').

I can't help with a MM but I do have a G&L 5-string with a humbucker in the 'MM' position. You are welcome to try it if you fancy a trip over to Swindon some time - but it's not for sale!

I'm guessing this is more to do with stuff being rattled by the speaker's 'wanted' output than by the floor resonating, but Mr Snickers' suggestion should help you.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1399048477' post='2440495'] How did that work out, do you find? I'd guess that it was a pretty great compromise when one doesn't have live circumstances at hand. Haven't tried it yet though. [/quote] What I meant was, the sound of a bass/rig on its own tells you almost nothing about how it will sound in a band. Playing along to recorded music (at volume!) at least gets you some of the way there.

Mrs Axe is currently enjoying the company of one of her sisters, and as I type, they still have not returned from their shopathon. Seizing the opportunity, I set up my recently-acquired SVT 3 Pro atop my BF Compact, and engaged in some not-particularly-serious bass-swapping, knob-twiddling, and button pressing. My aim (loosely) was to work out how to optimise the settings for each bass. Setting up a sound on a bass and rig on its own is pretty much a waste of time unless you actually go out as a solo player, so I put the stereo up loud and played along with the following: David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust Albert King - Born Under A Bad Sign The Animals - The Most Of The Animlas Fortunately it turned out to be quite easy: Bass and treble flat-ish, mid-boost at 220Hz (position 1), graphic off; Gain at 9 for Precision and Sandberg, 6.5 for Mustang and G&L (hot humbuckers); Bright switch engaged for Mustang (for definition) and Sandberg (which is slightly polite otherwise). What else did I learn? - The G&L [i]loves[/i] that Ampeg, but the Sandberg prefers the Genz Benz - The Compact has more treble available than I had realised - The Mustang is a hooligan - I love my basses! EDIT: I take shockingly bad pictures with my phone camera

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1399036868' post='2440306'] In my band (link below) NO band member gets to just play whatever he likes. A song is talked through, and for each tiny segment, we reach agreement about the terms for each individual player. That way, we never have to tell people to play less or more busy or whatever. Each one has their part, and we just put all those parts together. Works a treat, or should I say ...? [/quote] Very good, couldn't help myself and had to follow the link. Oh well, here's a nice picture:

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1399028024' post='2440105'] Yes, it's happening to me now! I'm considering basses, techniques, amps and numbers of strings that I have always dismissed out of hand for the last thirty-odd years! Maybe it's the water, or cosmic rays or something..? [/quote] Time for a tin-foil hat

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1399034649' post='2440260'] Interesting thread in that if the shoe was on the other foot, i.e. a guitarist "suggesting" to a bassist what or how he should play (regardless of whether the "suggestion" was warrented or not) lots of people would be up in arms with things like..."tell him where to stuff his suggestion.." and phrases to that effect. [/quote] Actually the OP is at a bit of a loss what to say to the guitarist - the suggestion is that the guitarist should listen and come to his own conclusions. But yeah I see what you mean

[quote name='thefruitfarmer' timestamp='1399034587' post='2440256'] [/quote] Seriously, people forget that the performance of a song is more than just reproducing its constituent parts. Also, if anyone uses Sausage Machine Fallacy as a band name, I want 10% of any money they make.

I own 2 Fender basses and 1 Fender guitar (among others) - does that mean I'm 'hip'? It would be a big improvement over 'predictable'. Anyway, we are prolonging artisan's agony by keeping this thread open

[quote name='lowlandtrees' timestamp='1399012676' post='2439875'] Which high end amps have 2 inputs. Looking at Genz [/quote] Why do you ask?

[quote name='thefruitfarmer' timestamp='1399034031' post='2440244'] ... He is not listening to enough of the type of music. ... What did seem to work was getting him to play with the left hand dampening the strings for a section so he was playing the guitar more like a percussion instrument, then he could hear himself drifting away from the pulse. [/quote] Sounds like he is not listening to the rest of you while he is playing. He may be a victim of the sausage-machine fallacy (bear with me!) i.e. the assumption that if you put all the musical parts into the performance, the song will automatically emerge (like sausages from a machine - see what I dod there?). No, we all need to listen, making micro-adjustments to timing as necessary.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1399030753' post='2440162'] Standard Sei Flamboyant Offset shape. [/quote] Yep. Move along, nothing to see here

IMO rhythm guitar is the noble art compared to lead playing. Danny Kortchmar once said he could teach his grandmother to play lead guitar! Many guitarist never learn to play rhythm satisfactorily. Assuming you are playing covers, it is a good discipline for a guitarist to listen closely to what is being played on the original recording, and to try to transcribe it as accurately as possible - it helps if you can read and write music notation of course. Pay attention to chord voicing, accents, muted strums, syncopation (playing across beats) and anticipation (playing across bar lines or chord changes), and [u]rests[/u]. This can become a lot harder if you have to sing too! Without wishing to embarrass anyone, perhaps you could record your next rehearsal and post a clip in this thread?

I use a little bit of delay and reverb on my vocal. I find it helps my pitching.

[quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1398977896' post='2439729'] Eh? Too right its unique. Its bizarre! Or perhaps I'm showing my age... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1974-Fender-Precision-Bass-Guitar-/251516635245?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a8f8f486d"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3a8f8f486d[/url] [/quote] It's been Craptonised

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1398858365' post='2438301'] I'd like to have seen a view from the other side, but larger/ better heatsinking and ducting on the output transistors would probably do it. [/quote] Yes that heat sink seems completely inadequate, despite the fan.

I occasionally dep on bass for a band. The regular bass player is fine with this, as he leads a very busy life and needs the occasional break to mitigate his over-commitment. strangely, the rhythm guitarist in the same band is definitely [u]not[/u] happy to be depped, by me or anyone else. I [i]think [/i]this is because he reckons it just won't be the same band without him. When it comes down to it, it is the drummer's band, but he doesn't want to upset the rhythm guitarist by taking more gigs and depping out that role. Very odd!

andyonbass and I both attend a monthly jam session, and I've really enjoyed them on the whole. Best thing: You end up playing a song you vaguely know from the radio with a random group of people. Worst thing: 'Let's do a 12-bar' - na-[u]na[/u]-na-na-NA

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1398795524' post='2437712'] [attachment=161611:20140429_185424 (Large).jpg] [/quote] Hmm... I'm a bit concerned you may not have enough speakers there