Lfalex v1.1

Liking this. But.... how far is said (ex)garage from civilization? What security arrangements have you in mind in case it attracts any unwanted attention? And last (and worst of all) Have you gained planning consent for change of use from a garage? My neighbours fell foul of this one. Which had no connection at all to their installing a gas flue spilling unburnt gas into my garden. Or their refusal to re-locate it. We can all play that game. How are your relationships with your neighbour/s, BTW?

[quote name='TRBboy' post='1336353' date='Aug 11 2011, 12:59 PM']I've always felt that a case which is a very snug fit is worse than one which is a bit loose. If it's a very snug fit, a serious impact will mean that the force of the impact is transferred straight through to the bass. If the bass is a looser fit and can move a little, the force will be dissipated more quickly and allow the bass to move instead of absorbing all of the impact.[/quote] I agree, [quote]Hiscox STD EBS cases are great (and pretty much industry standard) but not shaped at all inside. Never heard of this causing a problem.[/quote] And with this also. I have two, and can fit any of my basses in them. Except one. Alas, the Fortress V's horn is [i]so[/i] protruberant and its tip so bulbous that it simply will not fit without that fit being too "snug". This in turn causes abrasion, wear and discomfort. I think my 5 must be wider than yours, lobematt. Is yours a 4? I really must stop this. NOW.

Fill the voids with polystyrene beads from your younger brother's favourite beanbag. How the venue owners will curse you when you open [i]that[/i] case.... I have the opposite problem. I have such as protuberant horn (well, actually a Warwick Fortress 5 does) that it's going to spend it's life in a (decent) gig bag... I'm not butchering my Hiscoxs for it (they have to transport other basses, too) It's easier to pad out than cut back, that's for sure!

[quote name='gary mac' post='1333622' date='Aug 9 2011, 02:35 PM']Stash your cash until the GAS returns, you know it's never all that far away [/quote] This.

No. Don't sell the Pre-EB. If, as you say, the SR5 all but replaces the 3EQ 'Ray, then lose that. I certianly wouldn't buy a Classic 'Ray 5 with the funds. Variety is the spice of bass! Of the Bass Direct stock you posted, only the Clover floats my boat (and not because of the paint job!) I'd sell the 'Ray 4 and sit on the funds. Save up and play lots of interesting stuff. Scan the ads in For Sale, and go try some of those, too. You know what you like and what you don't. I certainly do by now! Pick a good 'un, and grab it! But try some weird stuff you wouldn't usually look twice at along the way, you might be surprised...

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1335179' date='Aug 10 2011, 03:31 PM']Unfortunately unless it sounded fantastic and was dirt cheap it'll only ever sell to a couple of weirdos on here like you and me and that would be it.[/quote] I'll take that as a compliment!! [quote]A Lightwave-based instrument would be a better start from the PoV of capturing as pure a signal as possible, but IMO they still need to make the bridge units more user friendly. I think until that happens a piezo based system which can be unobtrusively fitted to your base design of choice is still going to be the best.[/quote] That's why I listed manufacturers who specialise in composite technologies who could "tune" their designs to give the desired result, namely, as clear and uncoloured a signal for the DSP as possible....

This is good news. The full site is a bit hefty for mobile use. Lo-fi is ok, but limited. A slick halfway house would be super. Thanks guys.

[quote name='dc2009' post='1334936' date='Aug 10 2011, 01:11 PM'][/quote] I'm not sure what that means, but I thought he'd done quite a good job. Shame about the lack of sound samples or comments on the results.

I tried a Variax with a view to buying one. It felt ok, I suppose. The sounds were alright, but didn't seem to have much of a depth of tone (I'm struggling to find precise words to define what it lacked sonically). The 8 and 12 String modelling was fun for a quick blast of "Jeremy" which made everyone in the shop turn around and look . I then made the mistake of A/B comparing it with a 2EQ Stingray, MIA S-1 Jazz and a Corvette 5 (ash, J/J) with the Variax on the closest settings and then some others. It got mugged, which was a pity, as I'd wanted to like it. I bought the Fender evetually, as it bettered both the 'Ray and th Warwick at their own games. Wasn't expecting that, but when you get a good 'un turn from Fullerton/Corona up, it's silly not to buy it. I'd like to see someone with some "proper" manufacturing ability; Gus Status Vigier Basslab Even Ritter (!) team up with a company with some serious electronic know-how; Roland Akai Korg And make a serious (If expensve) stab at this concept. Might be interesting to move away from piezo-based technologies and try lightwave or a collecion of multi-element magnetic pick-ups...

[quote name='KingBollock' post='1332535' date='Aug 8 2011, 06:42 PM']Ha! I've never seen that word in connection with my Dad before! I'd tell him you said it but I haven't spoken to him [b]since he threw me into the back of a Fedex lorry[/b][/quote] Fixed? Seriously, though, affixing a sticker with "fragile" has a similar effect to; Waving a Red Rag at a bull whilst standing in a china shop Wearing a T-shirt with "Kick me" emblazoned upon it to the pub on a Friday night (maybe Saturday's better. It's alright for fighting, apparently) I'd just mummify the item and trust in the power of prayer. Or buy a seat for it!

Thanks for the ideas, guys. I'll take the DR FatBeams off of the VMJ, and the Elites off of the Attitude and have a little swap around... I'll put the DRs on the Attitude (which deserves nice strings but never seems to get them!) and put some flats on the VMJ. If that doesn't work out, I'll swap them over! Something tells me that the Attitude might just be awesome wearing flats. Sounds like thunder with rounds, but could do with losing some "twang". Compliant flats may be a cure....

Hi fellow BCers. Has anyone ever refinished their hardware (Knobs, Bridges, Nuts(?) and Tuners) The reasoning being that I have two Warwicks with Gold (bleugh) hardware that sweat and time have turned silvery/greenish. I know Warwick can sell you replacements, but why buy if you can re-condition? Besides, they'll only do Chrome, Gold, Black or Satin. What about other colours? Naturally, it'd all come off, be lightly "keyed", and then enamelled. I've considered using the automotive paint for engine blocks or brake callipers. That ought to be super-tough. Has anyone re-coloured their hardware, and to what effect. (I realise that saddles/nut slots/tuning posts will be subject to wear, and that the gears/worms on open tuners probably aren't a good idea!)

I'd try flats, but I don't know what bass to try them on! They just all sound so good with rounds. Here's the choices; OLP MM3 Squier VMJ with a BadAssII Yamaha Attitude MIA Jazz (I've left out the rest of the collection, as they're 5s, 6s or ultra-modern designs, which don't seem appropriate somehow) I like the look of TI! /involuntary hijack

The Vigier Excess Roger Glover Signature has Luminescent markers. If whatever you use is genuinely [i]luminous[/i], it ought to go barmy when struck by ultraviolet light...

It's horses for courses, to a degree. I own a Status Streamline, Vigier Passion 5 and a good selection of wooden instruments. I've found that all-CF basses sound a little [i]too[/i] clean and clinical- But that's when I'm practising through headphones. Out in the real world, or even in a studio environment that translates into a really clean and "measured", controllable sound. The real benefits in all-CF bodies (as opposed to necks) would appear to be; [b]Durability Stability[/b] In extreme environments [b]Consistency[/b] In terms of the finished instrument - they ought to display little variation from one to the next [b]Tunability[/b] Ask Rob Green to make you up a lighter/heavier Streamline, and he can do that for you- within limits. I don't know if anyone builds a Carbon/graphite-bodied bass with a bolt-on Carbon/graphite neck. If they do, It'd be interesting to see if they varied much from the monocoque equivalents (assuming electrics and hardware to be identical) Then there's the headed/headless aspect to consider. Ned Steinberger was definitely barking up the right tree in terms of design- chuck out absolutely everything you can. And why have a body/neck made of a stable, inert material and then have to worry about balance issues and the possibility of dead-spots caused by a headstock? Having extolled the virtues of the compact composite bass, it's interesting to note how competent my Vigier is by comparison in terms of tone. It's arguably even better, but I reckon that's down to the pick-ups, EQ and low-impedance output. I guess it's about the whole package and the overall design concept, not just the materials or construction.

[quote name='MatthewKeys' post='1329377' date='Aug 5 2011, 11:09 PM']Just tried the one of my jazz, doesn't fit! Do you know where I can buy a replacement quickly? I don't think I can wait 2 weeks for yamaha to send me one, as i'm trading the bass in about 7 days![/quote] If it's a MIA it'll have imperial Heads and Threads, mine does. My Squier is metric, I'd guess MIJ might be metric, too. Dunno about MIM. Yamahas will almost certainly be metric. (and I should've read the previous post...) Any guitar/music shoppe that's any good should be able to help (Yamaha dealers?) Take the other grub screw (don't lose that one, too!) for comparison. Or even the whole bass. I took my MIA into a tool shop when hunting for an Allen key for the truss rod. They were rather pleased when I popped the case open (!) That way you'll know it fits..

Two salient points (outside of the taste/talent argument) Where'd he get the bass / pay for strings / pay for lessons (if applicable) There's some sort of advantageous scenario behind his ability. Will he still be able to do that when he has a considerably larger right thumb. I can lay my thumb parallel to the strings on an instrument with 16.5mm spacing, and cover 3 strings with it. That ought to be useful, but it ain't. Hope he manages to keep going and enjoy a career in music if that's what he wants in half a decade's time.

[quote name='lowdown' post='1328196' date='Aug 5 2011, 06:46 AM']Sting did a few times i think. Garry[/quote] Well I thought it was funny!

[quote name='RhysP' post='1306531' date='Jul 17 2011, 11:49 AM']Second coolest. This is the coolest space craft ever IMO: Awesome! [/quote] +1 on that. Best SpaceCraft design ever. And a dodgy SW quote; "You play bass on [i]that[/i]? You're braver than I thought"

Tune it CGDAE?

As a long-time headphone practiser, I have to say I've not experienced this. If volume is skewing your pitch perception above a certain level, keep it below the certain level for critical performances if possible (?) I find headphones a good way to practise. Leaving aside the lack of noise, (good, proper) headphones can give a transient response, harmonic distortion, dynamic range and frequency response that loudspeaker designers can only dream of. Add in a lack of time-smear, no room interactions or any real phase issues (due to lack of a crossover) and they're streets ahead. Negative issues? A few. No visceral, "monster", "I can't breathe!" bass reproduction. Can be VERY revealing of playing misdemeanours! Long term comfort can be questionable You can easily damage your hearing by wnding up the volume without realising how loud your headphones really are.

Sold one on here, and God did they get a bargain. No feedback. No Nothing. Tried to sell another two. No Luck. Did better elsewhere. Bought one. Great Transaction. Put a downpayment/holding fee on it ASAP with the seller's consent and then met up, tried out. Liked, and thrust the readies into he vendor's sweaty mitts. Everyone happy. No Haggling. I was happy and so was the seller. Good transaction Generally, buying on here is a good experience. There's some lovely people out there. Selling, less so, but that's a reflection of the times rather than BC. It really is a buyer's market right now, and may well remain so for some time.... Anyone remember an errant Warwick a year or so ago. Funds were exchanged, but alas, no bass. BC gently leans on vendor, and all is well... Ideally, meet up and hand over cash. Not much to go wrong there...

[quote name='chris_b' post='1325816' date='Aug 3 2011, 04:13 PM']Whirlwind from the late 80's. Still used every week.[/quote] Not to be underestimated, these. I've had 4. 1 mislaid/lost/stolen? 3 still functioning. 2x2 metres- Since 1995. 1x5metre- about a decade old. Not a hiss, crackle, pop, bang or complaint from any of them despite being bashed, smashed, burned, used as a weapon, tugged, stepped-on, lent-out and frequently connected to/ disconnected from amps/basses and miscellaneous stuff. +1 for these. They make some of the Fender-Branded ones, too. Arthur Harris would have found them frustrating, as they are Bomb-proof. I expect them to outlast me. And they're nt even that expensive..

There's some interesting stuff on there. Where are the prices, though? Did I miss them? And why? Why? WHY?! (Delilah!) would you want a twin neck 4/5 [b](both fretted)[/b] tuned GDAE and GDAEB? At least have the 4 as a piccolo or something!