JapanAxe

I have been known to take a list of song titles with me when auditioning kit, just to propt me to play something. [quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1357924291' post='1930752'] Another blanker here, same as soundchecks, then it's comedy bassline time, Good Times, Under Pressure, You Can't Touch This etc [/quote] Err... I played [i]Good Times[/i] last time I tried (and bought) a bass - to be fair, it's a good test of how the tone changes up and down the neck, at least if you play it like I do

Is the switch supposed to work on the 2 coils of the pickup, or does it affect the phase relationship between 2 separate pickups? In the former case, both positions should be hum-cancelling. If you get single-coil hum from the bass, then either one of the coils or the connecting wire is broken, or the switch is shot. Unfortunately it's impossible to tell without having the bass in your hands. If it's not a broken coil, then it's an easy enough job to either fix the wire or replace the switch. If the latter case, if you can hear that both pickups are working in the one switch position, then again it will be a relatively simple wiring fix or switch replacement.

[b]Have you sunk or swum?[/b] Swum. [b]Has your playing and musicality improved?[/b] Yes, if only a little. I only joined Basschat late last year, but the forum has led me to replace most of my kit and to achieve a different bass sound. This in turn has re-kindled my urge to play and improve on bass, which I had mostly shelved for the last 4 years in favour of guitar. [b]Has your band done well?[/b] My own band goes out in 2 formats, one country music, the other mainstream pop, and I am the lead singer and guitarist. We've been gigging for a year now, and the hardest part is securing gigs, especially for a reasonable fee. I spend whole evenings on the blower chasing entertainment secretaries, or sending out demo CDs. But yes, we are doing better than some I know. [b]Have you joined bands you wouldn't have before?[/b] No, I've always been open to play with all sorts of outfits. I've even played bass in trios accompanying choirs. [b]Have you started teaching?[/b] No, but I've done it in the past. [b]How's your confidence?[/b] Buoyant thanks. [b]Have you been inspired to push yourself?[/b] Yes - see above. [b]Have you taken Bilbo's advice and learned to read music notation?[/b] I already read music, and can just about sight-read well enough to play stuff live that I've never seen or heard before. It's also a massively useful learning tool - I transcribe most new material that I learn, so there are 2 routes to the brain, i.e. the ears and the eyes. [b]What has being an active member of Basschat helped you achieve?[/b] Apart from flogging my old kit without coughing up X% to evilBay, I've ended up with a rig that inspires me to play.

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1352481383' post='1863701'] The Nate sig is a p bass with some body contour mods and a p bass neck and nut width but with a "slim c" neck profile. [/quote] I used to be a 'slim c', but with the onset of middle-age spread, I am heading rapidly towards 'fat c'

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1357844575' post='1929496'] Like looking at Judith Chalmers topless sunbathing ie a nice pair but very orange . [/quote] I feel slightly nauseous

[quote name='bengreen49' timestamp='1357855404' post='1929717'] Sorry for digging up an old thread but I thought it better than starting a new one. Does anyone have a problem with the volume controls on their Aerodyne Jazz? It's not a massive issue; but mine seems to increase in volume as the knob is turned until it gets to about four fifths of the way round then it sort of muffles and gets quieter. I have read about this issue before but no amount of searching is bringing anything up now. Any ideas? [/quote] Sounds like you are plugged into a low-impedance input. Can you give a full description of what you are plugged into, including pedals/cables/preamp/amp.

I love the look of those basses except for the racing stripes - aargh!!

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1357842642' post='1929464'] I like the idea of budget IEM via wired headphones - going to look into that, thanks Owen. [/quote] I looked at this when setting up a previous band, but went for Trantec IEM's - transmitter sits by mixer and can take a mono or a stereo source, belt-pack receivers for each singing band member. The PA handled vocals and a smidge of guitar (plus keyboards at one point ). The drummer had the option of wired IEMs from the headphone socket on the desk, but I thought wired 'phones would be too restricting for the guitarist and bass player (me).

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1357115306' post='1917534'] I prefer a kettle lead into power supply than a hardwired wall-wart daisy-chained......the latter tend to break much more often. Also, you can usually get a lot more MA from a dedicated power supply as opposed to a tuner. I think a Boss TU-2 can supply around 200ma, although the Polytune is more from what I remember. My Gig-Rig power supply gives me 5amps of available power. Si [/quote] +1 to that, I bought a 3-metre kettle lead to run from my plugboard at the back of the stage to my GigRig Generator underneath my Pedaltrain. I always carry spare kettle leads, it would cost a lot more to carry spare PSUs.

Dinner dance at Bicester Golf Club & Spa, playing guitar with Life & Soul (soul/disco/pop). Won't see my bed till 4am...

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1356778712' post='1913445']I think the OP has been unlucky in some of his encounters BUT I will concede that there is a core of bands/musicians that still view anything other than a Fender 4 string (Jazz or Precision acceptable) as too flash/unnecessary... says the man who has turned up to auditions/rehearsals with strange Warwicks and Bolins (goodness knows what they will make of my Dingwall)! [/quote] Funny you should say that, as one of the factors that went through my head recently when deciding to buy a Sandberg Cali VM4 rather than lay out a considerable extra wedge on a Dingwall AB1 5-er was: How can I turn up at a country gig with this weird-looking fanned-fret 5-string? So it was partly down to my own conservatism, partly down to my perception of the audience's conservatism.

Oooh! This just makes me want my incoming Midget even more!

[quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1356657482' post='1912224'] Ashdown 4x10" cabs can go stupidly loud - both ABM & MAG. I have two ABMs but have never needed to use the second one. They can take a lot of power so I reckon I'd maybe need the second one if I was playing in a 500+ seater venue with no PA support but in a 500 seater venue there probably would be a PA. I'd gig with the one first before deciding on a second cab The upside to Ashdown cabs is that you can pick them up dirt cheap cos not everyone wants to lift 37kg 4x10" cabs. [/quote] Yup, plenty of [i]loud[/i], way too much [b]heavy[/b]!

You risk having 2 heavy items to cart about! I suggest you first remove the amp from the cab and take a look at the locations of the fixing points in the chassis. You will need to keep hold of the fixing bolts and use these to secure the new sleeve. You can keep the weight down if you make the sleeve from thin ply. If the chassis will rack-mount, it might be best to use an ABS 2U or 3U flight case. Also, where will the mains inlet go? I have looked at some pics of the Five Fifteen online, but couldn't tell. It might help me and other armchair advisers if you post some pics of the semi-deconstructed amp!

[quote name='Horizontalste' timestamp='1356542444' post='1910977'] What surprised me is how simple the bass line is. Just goes to show you don't need to play all the notes all the time. [/quote] Aha! Simplicity - the essence of a great bass line!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1356287231' post='1908840'] Right - I want to see some pics NOW, or none of this is real! [color=#ffffff].[/color] [/quote] OK you asked for it: [attachment=125767:2012-12-23 22.27.46.jpg][attachment=125768:2012-12-23 22.27.57.jpg][attachment=125769:2012-12-23 22.28.13.jpg][attachment=125770:2012-12-23 22.28.25.jpg]

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1356292308' post='1908919'] My effects pedal has a fretless setting.... Never used it, I just play my fretless [/quote] Yes I've seen 'de-fretter' options on bass multi-fx units. I tried one once and was thoroughly unconvinced.

I set up a Hotmail account for my band, and set it to automatically sync entries into my Gmail account. Thus all the band have access, and I can look at it instantly on my Android phone. However, the drummer keeps losing the password...

At the risk of returning to the original topic, the random guitarist that wants to muscle into the band is not that different from the punter that wants to get up and sing. What they don't realise is that you've [i]earned[/i] your place on that stage (even if it's the corner of a pub between the quiz machine and the door to the toilets). You've carefully chosen your kit and paid for it (you may still be doing so), you've worked on your technique, you've practised the material at home, you've rehearsed with the band, you've hustled for gigs, you've had setbacks and let-downs, you've carted shed loads of kit into the venue (and will reverse the process after you finish), and now (to quote Martine McCutcheon), this is your moment. You [i]deserve[/i] to be on that stage playing, and people that wander up and think they can have a go? They [i]don't[/i]. I'll get off me soap-box now, before I fall off.

Instruments and recording kit jammed into a box room, books and mags in shelves on wall. Gigging kit in 'broom cupboard'. Before the kids left home, I had a curtained alcove in the 'master bedroom'!

I have done this on one gig (just to be clear - bass and harmonica, not bass and orchestral harp!), and it was very hard indeed. I was trying to 'fake' the brass lines form soul numbers like [i]Midnight Hour[/i] and [i]My Girl[/i]. It is indeed very difficult, but not impossible. Effectively you have to get one (or preferably both) of the skills up to 'auto-pilot' level, so you are not having to think too hard!

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][u]In:[/u][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Yamaha BB400S fretless[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Sandberg California VM4[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]TC Classic 450[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Barefaced Compact[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][u]Out[/u]:[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]G&L Tribute L2000[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=4]Ashdown ABM C115-500 combo Ashdown ABM 115-300 cab[/size][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][u]Leaving soon:[/u][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Fender CIJ '57 RI Precision[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Squier MIJ Jazz[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif](because the Sandberg covers the job of both!)[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]In other words, a complete change-around![/font]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1355695701' post='1901571'] Dingwall? I actually think they make stunning instruments so I'm being tongue in cheek. [/quote] Having just spent half a day agonising over whether to buy one, 'stunning' is right.

Eat this: [b]Country Roads[/b] [b]Jambalaya[/b] [b]Speed of the Sound of Loneliness[/b] [b]Hello Mary Lou[/b] [b]Here In The Real World[/b] [b]Good Hearted Woman[/b] [b]Stars On The Water[/b] [b]Heartaches By The Number[/b] [b]He'll Have To Go[/b] [b]Once In A Very Blue Moon[/b] [b]Mama Tried[/b] [b]On The Other Hand[/b] [b]Boot Scootin' Boogie[/b] [b]Ghost Riders[/b] [b]Folsom Prison Blues[/b] [b]Gypsy Woman[/b] [b]Cowboy Rides Away ↓[/b] [b]Ring Of Fire[/b] [b]Through The Morning, Through The Night[/b] [b]Forever and Ever[/b] [b]King of the Road[/b] [b]All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down[/b] [b]When You Say Nothing At All[/b] [b]Heartbroke[/b] [b]Achy Breaky Heart ↓[/b] [b]Guitars Cadillacs[/b] [b]Stand By Your Man[/b] [b]Walkin' After Midnight[/b] [b]Singin' The Blues[/b] [b]Chasin' That Neon Rainbow[/b] [b]Always On My Mind[/b] [b]Peaceful Easy Feeling[/b] [b]I'm a Lonesome Fugitive[/b] [b]Beautiful Body[/b] [b]You're My Best Friend[/b] [b]Rhinestone Cowboy[/b] [b]Bad Moon Rising[/b] [b]Chattahoochee[/b] [b]Bye Bye Love[/b] [b]Cocaine Blues[/b] 3x45min sets plus encore

Although I've already put up a NBD post, I can't resist sharing the Sandberg love here - can't wait to take this out on Christmas Eve! [attachment=125544:VM4Front.jpg]