JapanAxe

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1387726850' post='2314919'] Its almost there is some unwritten law against using a large flared horn in a "bass" speaker, when surely it is the obviously thing to do when designing a flat response 2-way system ?. [/quote] Who wants one of those!?

Played a local WMC with my pop trio last night, on guitar and vocals. On arrival I discovered I had brought a 1-guitar stand instead of a 2-, no straplock strap for my Gibson - and then the lighting tripod broke. Fortunately, my bass-player had brought a double stand but only one bass, there was decent stage lighting anyway, and I had time after the sound-check to nip home for a suitable strap (and I took the lights back with me too). Strange club - I have played there 3 times with 2 different bands, and people are very reluctant to dance. This could be because it is a long room with seating at one end and a harshly-lit dance-floor up near the stage. [i]Footloose[/i] got people up and [i]Spirit In The Sky[/i] kept them there, but after that we lost them until the encore of [i]All Right Now[/i]. Oh well, we got paid.

Way too many tweeters in that cab for my liking!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1387706267' post='2314642'] So... have you considered starting a postal valve-testing service..? [/quote] In most cases it would be more cost-effective to buy a new valve!

If I am playing with a plectrum in cold conditions where my skin becomes dry, I sometimes lick my right-hand fingers to enable me to grip the plectrum.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1387651930' post='2314286'] Wow, I see what you mean... I've got an amp on its way with four of 'em in - I sincerely hope they're working OK. I assume you tested the valves with er... a valve tester..? [/quote] Yes I have an Orange valve tester - quite an expense, but it's already had a lot of use. I own 6 amps with valves in, plus it has come in handy for my friends' amps.

I do hope those pickups work because it might be a tad difficult to find something to fit those cut-outs. Have you checked them on a meter?

The Muppets Christmas Carol every time for me

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1387487940' post='2312692'] I used to subscribe to this school of thought, but not any more. Wherever possible I avoid playing sitting down! If I have my bass in this position I find two things happen: 1. My right hand (picking hand) wrist gets closer to a right angle which I find uncomfortable 2. The neck sits closer to horizontal, placing the 1st fret further away. Now having smallish hands, I find fretting the e sting on fret 1 with index finger and then fret 3 or 4 with ring or pinky respectively places stress on both my fingers/hand and my wrist goes over the 90 degree mark. [/quote] Aha! (to quote Alan Partridge) 1. I play with my right elbow lifted, keeping the right wrist straight(-ish); 2. I also raise the neck of the bass some way above the horizontal, which helps with 1, although I am as yet in no danger of morphing into Bill Wyman.

I think if I tried to level a fret it would be like Father Ted trying to knock a dent out of a car..

Belatedly picked up on this. Anyone know whether there's a discount available for MU members?

The rule is: as long as the instrument covers your navel, all is well. I now try to have my bass at the same height when sitting as when standing.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1387403879' post='2311694'] this is the most sensible post i've read about barefaced for about 3 months. [/quote] You mean there's been another sensible BF post?

[quote name='gsgbass' timestamp='1387413458' post='2311818'] Wow! Big congrats. I like the Mustang in the Olympic White. Best of playing with it. [/quote] Yep, really enjoying it. Looking forward to changing the strings to something kinder on the fingers though!

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1387396345' post='2311588'] Picato 735 strings feel very soft to me compared to the D'addarios and Ernie ball super slinkys I have used in the past I dont know if they do them in short or medium scale but I have find I like everything about them and I have been through tons of strings recently most of them were budget strings but of the "decent" brands I normally go for I am really loving the Picato strings they dont feel hard or scratchy IMO [/quote] [quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1387398201' post='2311611'] Yes, the Picato nickel rounds are also very nice, although not as lively or long lasting as the DR Sunbeams. Also half the (thomann) price and made in Wales. [/quote] OK another line of investigation for me. EDIT (after quick investigation) - again only long or short scale (anyone with pics of these installed?) but cheap as chips (£16.48 delivered for a 5-string set!) and some nice reviews on finnbass -gotta be worth a try.

Surely if you need an external pre-amp you bought the wrong amp in the first place?

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1387391458' post='2311502'] [attachment=150666:IMG_0635.jpg] Mine is a standard 34" scale J bass - but there is plenty of the full thickness going around the tuner posts. I've never had a problem with breakage (but have with some flats) [/quote] Cheers BassBod! Now waiting to hear what DR say...

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1387357788' post='2310948'] DR Sunbeams. Like normal strings, but nicer. TI flats are great..but a bit too floppy for me. [/quote] Just been checking these out online, but they only do long scale or short scale. The Mustang takes medium scale because of the extra length required for through-body stringing - 32¾in from nut to ball end. I have emailed DR to see which they recommend. It depends on the construction of the string - too short and the silk or tapered section will come over the nut into the playing area, too long and you end up winding lots of full-thickness string onto the tuner capstan. Any chance of a pic of a set of Sunbeams installed on one of your basses BassBod?

[quote name='Immo' timestamp='1387359659' post='2310978'] Oh, no! Now your [s]boast[/s] basses list is too long and it has to be displayed in two rows on my 1024px wide netbook screen! [/quote] Time for a bigger screen!

I was going to start a thread about the feel of round-wounds, but then I found this thread. I don't want to hijack the thread, but has anyone found a particularly smooth-feeling round-wound set? I like flats but I don't think they would suit my new Pawn Shop Mustang.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1387315903' post='2310707'] I got through a few barrel jacks on my SR505 when I first owned it. As the problem is with some manufacturers making plugs with tips that have been 'tweaked' to ensure a good contact, the final solution was dead simple. I replaced the barrel jack with a Neutriks one and replaced any jacks which weren't Neutriks branded, with Neutriks ones. That was about 6 years ago and it's still working perfectly. [/quote] Planet Waves have been implicated in this respect. Allegedly.

[quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1387309141' post='2310591'] How does it sound compared to the P I spy in the background? I imagine it being similar but with a little more thump and a bit cut out of the mids? [/quote] That's actually the Sandberg Cali VM4, which is like a P but with a MM pickup by the bridge. It does sound very P-like, and yes there is more thump, and no lack of mids. It would be unfair to call the Mustang pickup a 'mudbucker', but having tried the Mustang with half-rounds I am probably going to persevere with rounds, as I don't think flats would give it enough tonal range. (My other fretted basses have active options.) [quote name='Immo' timestamp='1387310563' post='2310620'] Don't you forget to edit your signature, now that you mentioned it! [/quote] Oh yeah! Took the Mustang off the GAS list but forgot to put it in the [s]boast[/s] basses list.

Well my GAS is currently sated by this little beauty. I undertook a fairly mammoth road trip with my mate Diz on Sunday, first heading down to pick up a Serialiser box from OBBM, then a quick toasty and coffee in Farnham before Guitar Village. Unfortunately their example of this model turned out to be faulty (hardly any output, tone control not working), so after Diz had tried out a Fender Blues Deluxe amp, we embarked on the arduous trek to Hammersmith where we parked up and took the tube to Tottenham Court Road. I had phoned ahead to make sure Wunjo had one in stock, and when we got there I was not disappointed - the bass was just as fruity-sounding as the one I'd tried there before. Within a few minutes the decision was made, and off we trotted. In the excitement I kind of talked myself out of the free set of strings that shop-chap Laurence was going to chuck in! I have officially taken possession today (it being a [i]special day[/i]), and love it to bits. As my preference is now for flats, I tried it with an old set of D'Addario half-rounds, but sadly the D string was knackered to the point that it would not intonate. Action fettled to my liking, strap-lock buttons fitted - many hours of pleasurable playing lie ahed. The pic shows my new treasure in front of its companions as listed below.

[quote name='Dave_the_bass' timestamp='1387213436' post='2309476'] I too am a pedant; and this is the best kind of pedantry, technically accurate. I doth my cap to you good sir [/quote] That would be [b]doff[/b] your cap... [/pedantry]

No mystery, just a simple wiring fix: