JapanAxe

For at least the last 5 years I have used flat-wound strings exclusively on all my bass guitars. Specifically I favour D’Addario Chromes and Ernie Ball Cobalts for a relatively bright flats sound. There is a certain attack at the start of each note that I think rounds can do but flats don’t. Consequently I am thinking of fitting one of my Precisions with a set of rounds - but which to get? I would probably favour consistency of sound over the life of the strings - they don’t need to be super bright to start with. I have tried half-rounds but didn’t much care for them. What can the BC posse recommend?

It would work as a humbucker in the same way as a Precision pickup or one of those weird-looking staggered G&L guitar pickups.

I like that the 802 has its treble (sorry, ‘Snap’) centred at 2kHz - many such controls are set at frequencies that have little effect on flatwound strings through non-tweeter cabs.

Still some standing tickets left for my gig tonight at the Old Court Arts Centre, Windsor:

The closest I’ve come to touring is the odd double-header where we’ve stayed in a Travel Tavern in between rather than coming home the same night as would normally happen. These have generally been relaxed affairs involving seeking out shops selling musical instruments, used kit, or CDs, and eating chips at the beach. It’s the late nights driving home from remote venues that take their toll on me. And trying to get other band members’ big/heavy kit past drunken eejits in pub doorways...

Love: Demeter VTBP M- 800D Liked a lot: Genz Benz Streamliner 900, TC Classic 450 OK, keep mainly as a backup: Markbass Nano 300 I surprised myself there, I thought I'd had more than that!

The bloke in Music Bay (Herne Bay) suggested we try the Rock Lodge in Whitstable, so after a cheeky ‘Spoons we headed over the road for the first set of the Miles Kingman Band.

Mrs Axe likes the seaside. But I’m not keen on Jazz basses!

Cheers! Just arrived in Whistable, going to spend the afternoon here and in Herne Bay I think.

Anyone playing in the Canterbury area tonight? Mrs Axe and I are having a little city break.

OK here's the poster art from the previous gig instead:

Back by popular demand, and with yours truly once again on bass guitar, Rebel Heroes are at The Old Court, Windsor on Saturday 7th March. Over 2 hours of solid Bowie material, from Space Oddity to Blackstar. We don't do the lookalike thing, we concentrate on reproducing the original recordings to a high level of accuracy. Get your tickets here. We nearly sold out the venue last time we played there (see above) - I'm after filling it this time!

From Wikipedia: “The hedonic treadmill, also known as hedonic adaptation, is the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes.” ...e.g. acquiring new kit!

I’ve spent many years finding out what does and doesn’t work for me, and trading up to the best examples I can afford. I have no problem taking this kit on gigs - I intend to play live as long as I have breath, and after all, that’s where all my gig money goes!

When I arrived the drummer's van was parked in the marked loading bay outside so at his suggestion I parked next to it and loaded in. Only when I went to load out did I realise that he must have moved it while I was setting up, so I had been there 3 hours on the assumption it would be OK. There was no ticket on my windscreen, but if they work on cameras, I am screwed. There are all-night multi-storeys a couple of minutes' walk away, but tbh I didn't want to leave my kit unattended. Just gotta hope nothing nasty arrives in the post!

Yay, can't beat 90s pub decor!

Not in Swindon! The Horn in Reading. Without doubt the most cramped playing conditions I have ever encountered.

Is that the Duke (pub)?

Dep gig on guitar with a punk/ska/rockabilly covers outfit in a city-centre pub. When I arrived at the agreed time, there wan't even room to jam my amp between the drum kit and the main door so the drummer had to move over a few inches. There was so little room in front that I soon gave up on setting up a mic for BVs, or even using a guitar stand, but not before I trapped my RH pinky in it, causing a bleed that (in the absence of plasters) I was obliged to stem with gaffer tape. There was no room for my pedal board but I didn't think I could live without slapback echo, so I pulled my delay off my board and installed a battery (which involved unscrewing the base) and stuck it on top of my amp. Then I found my clip-on tuner had a dead battery, so I had to replace that - fortunately I had a spare. By then it was kickoff time, and as we launched into the first number, I realised I was standing right in front of one PA speaker. The vocals were at apocalyptic volume (as was the double bass - visible speaker cone movement anyone?), so I moved to one side, ending up with one foot just in front of the flightcase that had my amp on it, and the other resting against the front of the bass drum. The volume there was just about tolerable through my earplugs, but anyone coming through the door still had to squeeze between me and the folks leaning on the bar. I hadn't had a rehearsal with the band (although I had watched YouTube clips and seen their gig the previous week), and the band plays everything very fast, so what with all the other factors, I can't say I gave a particularly slick performance. The crowd loved it though. I realise it's possible be too precious about 'your' sound, but this venue was a bridge too far in terms of the number of challenges to playing well. I'd probably dep with the band again, but not in that pub.

I hear banjos...

That would grind my gears too! I can think of some deal-breakers that didn't seem daft to me, but might be inconsequential to others: Band member who is obviously a passenger. Rehearsals conducted at ear-crushing volumes. Expectation that all kit would live in band van (in farmyard lock-up) between gigs.

For me, yes it is. I have used it through either a Barefaced Super Twin or Barefaced Midget, in pub gigs with rock/pop covers and blues bands, and on country gigs in some large halls. It’s never yet run out of steam. When I’ve pushed it, it has sometimes started to sound delightfully ‘furry’ - not obvious distortion, just the onset of pleasing saturation. Would it work for you? Depends! 50W doesn’t sound much these days but as I’m sure you know, a 50W valve amp behaves very differently to a solid state head when pushed. If you need limitless crushing power to do battle with Animal on drums, and guitarists equipped with Marshall half-stacks, you might need something different. I don’t know - I haven’t tried that!