JapanAxe

You're dead right [b]iconic[/b], the bass guitar is a solid-body adaptation of the double bass, which is a member of the string family of the orchestra. The double bass is the odd one out anyway, as it is tuned in fourths (E-A-D-G low to high) whereas the rest are tuned in fifths (e.g. violin G-D-A-E low to high).

The judges are not looking for the same things that you or I would be, say as musicians auditioning a singer. For them, and for Simon Cowell in particular, the ideal winner will make the programme format owners lots of money by:[list] [*]Selling records on the back of their looks, personality etc; [*]Not questioning the contract they have to sign; [*]Recording formulaic songs fed to them by the organisers' writing team (and not pester Simon with their own compositions, no matter how good); and [*]Generally doing as they are told. [/list] In short, they are after a product they can sell, and a publishing rights revenue stream. If the contestant can more-or-less sing, so much the better! When I criticise contestants for going off key, Mrs Axe always claims that I am not qualified to do so because I'm not performing in front of millions on national TV. I always reply that I get paid for my performances in less prestigious venues, and as a jobbing musician for over 20 years I am perfectly qualified to assess whether or not a singer makes the grade!

I would recommend [url="http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/"]WD Music[/url] - there is a huge choice (from OEM to budget), prices are reasonable, and so is postage. EDIT: If you go to somewhere like Screwfix, you are unlikely to get the correct screws!

[quote name='Bobby K' timestamp='1354359689' post='1885118'] Nothing like clear, crisp images to help with your sale [/quote] That's right, they're nothing like clear, crisp images!

Hi kybo, my first bass amp was an old 100-watt combo (Laney I think). This was fine until I started gigging, them I found it was way under-powered. The good news is that old combos like that can be picked up pretty cheap on this forum and on eBay, and you therefore won't lose too much value on it when you move from home/rehearsal/jam to live performance.

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1354310122' post='1884800'] Is foam better than springs? I suppose it would be as once you set the height you don't really need to move them again. I need to replace the mounting screws on one of my Basses, as they're too long, and I was going to mount them with springs. Can't find anywhere that sells the screws I need at the length I need, though. They're either too long or too short, bloomin' typical. [/quote] It's a little-known fact that the SI unit of excess and/or deficiency is the firkin. It is normally quoted as an even number, e.g. '2 firkin long".

[quote name='surfguy13' timestamp='1354304125' post='1884718'] I hadn't even considered the possibility of making a cab but......why not?! Can you buy empty 90 litre cabs? Appreciate the details for Wilmslow Audio, I'll check them out. Likewise the nod re the driver - again, haven't a clue when it comes to bass drivers! Thank ya kindly sir! [/quote] You might find it cheaper to snaffle one of the many used cabs that come up for sale on Basschat at reasonable prices. With many people (myself included) going over to light-weight kit, it's not hard to find something old and heavy - the weight shouldn't be an issue once it's in your music room. DIY can be surprisingly difficult/expensive to get right once you start thinking about edge radius and a decent finish.

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1354231482' post='1884041'] Just home...went allright. Apparently only went out of key on one part of superstition (had played through once before) It was experience I suppose...people never complained so I shall take it as a "you were allright" [/quote] There will be no stopping you now mate!

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1354284316' post='1884439'] Huh. It says Mo[i]i[/i]st. [/quote] I hardly dare ask what happens to your girlfriend if you press this button

Guitar player since 1978, and made a positive choice to take up bass in 2000.

The spec says it has a 32" scale length, so medium scale I guess.I'm GASing hard for this, but I would worry about the balance, considering the strap button is sligthly 'in' from the 12th fret. EDIT: (next morning) D'oh! The shorter scale length will stop it being too head-heavy. Genius!

Ok deep breath... Singer is likely to be centre of attention, most if not all of audience will not notice the odd wrong bass note. I expect the rest of the band will be fairly realistic in their expectations too. Practical steps - far too little time to learn set but listen to songs, note keys, structure, and especially any stops i.e. where it would sound obviously wrong if you kept playing. Then just enjoy it!

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1354192322' post='1883297'] Well, the Promethean and I have gone through my CD selection and we've decided on Joss Stone's latest CD. We're going to play that this afternoon through the CD player on the TV and then I'll use the combo for the first time. Is that what you meant?! [/quote] Tough call - 25Hz rumble or Joss Stone's latest?

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1354121748' post='1882372'] Dude, you can't for that song. play it and you'll see. [/quote] I'll get me coat...

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1354182012' post='1883060'] Any accountants out there want to form a band? Mick Jagger did quite well out of it. [/quote] I don't think Mick Jagger ever stopped being an accountant <pedantry>....although I don't think that was his subject at LSE...</pedantry>

Pardon?

I'll chip in for Guitar Guitar in Epsom. I called in on the way back from Gatwick to check out some guitar gear (Egnater heads, TC pedals), and they were happy to let me sit in the booth and try what I wanted without hassling me. After I decided that Egnater was [i]not[/i] for me, I had a wander round the Gibsons and got talking to another staff member who clearly knew what he was on about. Also their returns system is very efficient if kit you've bought suddenly dies on you! Over the years I have also spent a fair few bob at PMT in Oxford, and always got good value and service. It's been a couple of years since I visited so I don't know how they are now. If you are looking for a first instrument, you could do worse than come to my home town of Swindon. There are 3 independent music shops (Kempsters, John Holmes, Rock'n'Roll) that all do loads of entry-level kit. The downside of this for me is that I now have to visit other towns to find stuff I am interested in! Denmark Street gets a lot of stick (not least because most of the shops belong to one company), but two of my favourite purchases ('57 RI Strat, '62 RI Precision - both fiesta red!) came from Regent Sounds. Both times I dealt with Crispin - he is a roots'n'rockabilly aficionado with appropriate hairstyle! A final thought - if you are in serious purchasing mode, it is usually best to avoid Saturdays. That is the day for penniless teen wannabees to practice their metal riffs and mangled RHCP licks on gear they can't even afford the case for. I once was that teen, but if you are planning a serious spend, go on a quieter day when you can enlist a staff member's help for your quest.

If you're going to move about on stage, you need to rehearse it like any other part of your performance. Play along with some of your tracks in front of a mirror and see what looks good and what looks naff. But as others have hinted, it is perfectly acceptable for a bass-player to be immobile on stage!

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353961008' post='1880332'] Physically impossible... that run isn't in the song, otherwise i would have [/quote] Ok my bad - anyway, there is a 3-note chromatic descent which you appear to play with the same LH finger. It won't cause you any medical problems, and there are times when you may want to do it for effect, but otherwise I would try to use different fingers.

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1354095425' post='1881896'] The only thing I'd suggest with a midget is a stand, or wedge to point the speaker at your head. [/quote] Best stand for a Midget is a matching Compact

Time to weigh in with my BB400S. An ugly-looking beast, but plays like a dream and sounds sweet. Barely a ding despite being 28 years old! Oh and cheap too... File uploader is screwed, so here goes with a link: [url="https://www.dropbox.com/s/pgflzdk7kbxvovv/BB400S.jpg"][/url]

Also cheapo foam camping mats (from all good cheapo shops).

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1354103512' post='1882018'] agreed,i'd really love to see her in her birthday suit [/quote] Tough, her birthday isn't until June