Lfalex v1.1

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1365586023' post='2041303'] Mmm, not sure I agree. For a bassist, the two are pretty much equal in their necessity. Any intermediate bassist should be able to apply those two qualities to their music with equal panache. [/quote] +1. But I'm not sure about applying French shandy to my music...

[quote name='morsefull' timestamp='1365585439' post='2041291'] I suffer with this problem and AFAIK it's due to the plucking finger "following through" onto the next string and pressing it onto the frets. Rounds clank, flats thump. I've tried for ages to change my right hand finger style to be less aggressive and pluck more across the string rather than down and through but when I get exited I just revert back to bad technique. I suppose I could force the issue by turning up loud and having to play gently but it's just not me. Any other tips on how to overcome this? [/quote] Yes. But it may require a change in your technique! It can still allow you to attack the strings if you want to, though I would advocate (and am working towards) a lighter right- hand style, as it makes playing less arduous and allows greater speed if required. A good tip is to try turning up the gain on your amp, but playing more gently to keep the overall volume level the same. This may force you to alter your attack such that the thump is less obvious or disappears altogether. After that, you need to look at damping strings to reduce unwanted noise. If I were playing any note on the A string on a five string, I would damp the G and D strings by gently laying my fingers across them whilst still physically fretting the desired note. They shouldn't be struck by my right hand, so the chance of harmonics being generated is small. Assuming I'm still playing the A string, that still leaves the E and B to damp. I'm alternating strokes on the string with my index and middle fingers, following through into the E. I damp the E with my third finger, by resting it on it. I rest my thumb against the body of the bass or a pick up, but leave it touching the B. The whole position translates downward/upward with string changes, and you end up leading with your third finger leading to damp the string above the one you're about to strike. The thumb can follow downwards, or can stay put. You need to move it clear of the B string if you're plucking that! The only downside is that this style precludes the use of the third finger to pluck. Otherwise, it's quite sound and stops a lot of unwanted string noise.. Sorry about the long reply. Someone else has probably suggested other alternatives by now!

I got pulled up by the police when carrying one bike whilst riding another...

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1365538770' post='2040972'] BAH! It says the country on the back of the headstock. I would only be interested if it was Korean anyway. [/quote] S'alright. You're safe. It's Chinese...

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1365537999' post='2040952'] Tell me about this OLP! What country was it made in? [/quote] It's an MM3. Don't know what country it was made in. Unfortunately, its new owner is coming to collect it on Saturday. Done on EBay. No-one on here ever seems to want what I'm selling. Except today, it seems..

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1365467021' post='2040091'] Why not burn them yourselves. Get printable CDs, http://www.amazon.co.uk/CD-R80-Inkjet-Printable-pieces-recordable/dp/B00AR0WOY8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1365466888&sr=8-4&keywords=printable+cds and print them as well on a printer that prints CDs like an Epson photo R220. You might as well print out the back covers and inserts for the jewel cases, http://www.amazon.co.uk/100x-Jewel-Cases-Black-Tray/dp/B0011YDXPI/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1365466968&sr=1-6&keywords=jewel+cases while you're at it. It's a lot cheaper so more profit for you. [/quote] It's what one band I was in did. Turned enough profit to pay for the next recording session and covered its own costs in terms of production, too. All we did was pay for rehearsals and travel to venues (which we shared in two vehicles)

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1365410305' post='2039025'] CAPTION ? [/quote] Should have gone to Specsavers?

Thanks to all for the contributions so far. Staying off bass as it plainly exacerbates whatever I've done. Ironically, nothing else seems to affect it. Struggled to sleep because of it last night, but seems okay in general use....

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1365427083' post='2039376'] These days I tend not to worry about badges. Chinese rockbass £100 sounds just as good as my 'best bass'. Then again my best bass is only a copy precision, says something like made in Fullerton CA USA by Leo Fender on the headstock. Have had the why do you only have a copy comment several times. Seems like a waste of time trying to explain G&L to the uninitiated. [/quote] SB-2?! I'm not a badge whore at all. I buy what I like. I'd never heard of Vigier when I bought mine. I had sort of decided on a Thumb 5, but tried everything in the shop in my price range. Off of the wall came "the black one over there" and it never went back. I DO own an American Jazz. Jazzes suit/fit me very well. The one I bought felt and sounded better than a Warwick j/j Streamer and was nearly as punchy as a Ray on some settings. I own a Squier VMJ, too. Cracking bass. Super neck, and some better pickups will make it really quite formidable. Have funds? Try it. Like it? Buy it. Colour, style (unless that causes ergonomic issues) and badge aren't really part of the equation.

Had 3 Escorts. All did heavy band duty. The 1.3 ohv was the best. Basic as you want. Got myself, guitarist, singer and all gear everywhere. Now own a Puma, which is a bit of a statement of intent about my gigging future.... There isn't one. Even if I could find the time, there's no space!

I'm gently downsizing. Selling off cheaper instruments like an Ibanez, Ovation electro-acoustic, OLP and potentially Hohner B2A, whilst keeping more useful/ better instruments. Figure I'll keep the VMJ, MIA jazz, Vigier, Yamaha and two of the Warwicks. The fate of the Streamline and Infinity are undecided. In place of the 4 or 5 that go, I'll likely invest in an EUB. Has to be a fiver, though!

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1365367375' post='2038711'] Do you know for sure it's tendon issues? About half way along the outside of your forearm? [/quote] Almost. More like two-thirds of the way to the elbow and outside edge / slightly below. Only other thought is tennis elbow, though the pain isn't in/around the joint..

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1365361146' post='2038572'] What i can't understand is how a courier puts a hole through several layers of packing AND plywood. Was it a drill hole? [/quote] Forklifts. Stable, robust, powerful devices for a tough job. When clumsily (or mis-) used, the damage potential is simply enormous.

Thanks, and it's ok, I'm only canvassing for opinions and experiences. I'm not going to sue anybody over it!

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1365339052' post='2038174'] Surgical spirits is good stuff for skin & strings, you can kill 2 birds at once by cleaning your strings off after every session with sugical pririts on a cooton pad or soft cloth, getting it on the fingers & strings at the same time + it will clean any dead skin & detritus out of the strings making them cleaner & healthier to minimize contamination or aggravation of any dermatic condition. First thing I do with new strings before fitting them is to rub them hard along the length with a pad soaked in surgical spirits, you might be surprised at the black muck that comes off some brand new strings, depending on the manufacturing processes, oils etc. used. [/quote] Or use coated strings.... Provided that you can get on with them in terms of feel or tonal qualities. Fortunately my job entails lots of manual work. My hands seem pretty tough and heal in two days when split/cut.

Whilst trying to remove a seized sump plug today (long story), I've found that I've strained some tendons in my right forearm from repeatedly applying a lot of strength when laying at a funny angle. Hadn't particularly noticed it until I picked a bass up, but now it feels like that arm (plucking, I'm right-handed) is on fire, especially when I play. That, and I've heavily bruised my fretting hand just from gripping something too tightly. I'm no weakling, nor am I Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I can't comprehend my ability to apply more force than my bones/joints/tendons can take through muscle power alone... Any ideas on recovery times. Fortunately I'm on holiday from work for 2 weeks.

[quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1362498997' post='2000214'] Listen to how Frank Sinatra sings well known songs, and how they differ from the original... that's 'phrasing', that is. [/quote] Or remember how the cylons in the original Battlestar Galactica spoke? Monotonous, without inflection or emotion? That's a complete lack of phrasing!

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1364830364' post='2031375'] Learn to press the strings with lighter technique. You will probably find you working harder than you need to and slowing yourself down as a result. [/quote] As true for fretting hand as for picking/plucking hand. Strike the strings more gently, and turn up your gain/master if you're losing volume. Makes damping (with plucking hand) much easier and stops the string being "elsewhere" when you come to pluck it again... And I didn't read Damonjames' post!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1365007615' post='2034088'] Are you sure it's long scale? [/quote] Jesus! If you look at the image, it depicts an instrument with 3 pickups. Yet the spiel lists it as having 2. If they can't figure out how many pickups the bass has, what chance do they have of getting the scale length right? It's not like either of these are remotely important, anyway

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1365082864' post='2035015'] I would probably be more wary to sell now. I understand the site needs funds to run, but personally I don't sell or buy that often. I agree that the buyer should be charged some/all of the cost of the advert. Many WON'T agree with that though. There are certain basschatters who have, in my eyes, abused the for sale area and basically got 'tat' for a good price from Cash Converters/eBay/seller with less knowledge, then sold it on here for a good profit. I disagree with that. It isn't a shop. In fact, one item that was in no way tat was on here about a year back, I almost bought it, then realised it was actually on a gumtree type site for £150.00 less from a totally different seller in the same area. I found evidence that it was exactly the same item, pointed it out to the seller on here, and then it vanished apart from the advert on here. Literally as soon as I pointed it out. I mean, who honestly has 10 or more old Trace amps, one a week or so, and sells them on here. They were bought for profit purposes only, (I use this as an example). [/quote] I'd have thought that the mods might have spotted that and dealt with it... Will they be less likely to in the future if it generates income for the site?

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1363080722' post='2007906'] I see where you're coming from ( ), and I hear what you're saying ( ), but I'm struggling to see how I'll lose sleep over it. If the consequence is that a small number of people who only ever wanted to use Basschat as a cheap alternative to eBay decide to stick with eBay, that's their problem. [/quote] That's a big "IF". I've tried to sell 3 items on here in the past. All at what I felt were good prices (which was reflected in similar items being similarly priced in the BC Marketplace) One sold in the worst transaction I've had. Ever. The other items attracted offers which were simply not acceptable. Off to the 'bay they went and sold for the amount I asked for them. To local bass players (I don't do shipping) For my most recent sale, I didn't even bother listing it here, fees notwithstanding. [b]Edit- and now a second one has sold on Ebay almost immediately, for a little more than I'd anticipated. I strongly doubt it'd have made as much on here.[/b] So.. In my experience, Ebay works better for me. Why would I try BC first, pay £7 per item (for those previously described) , have them not sell, be forced to withdraw them, pay Ebay listing fees and sell them there? I simply can't afford to use a medium that doesn't work for me when selling. I have bought one item from here, and it all went swimmingly. From a philosophical point of view, why charge the vendor and not the buyer? If I were buying an item for, say, £200, I'd gladly pay a 5% surcharge. Maybe I'm alone and it would render the marketplace uncompetitive in a broader sense. The logic being; If I'm selling, I need the money, or I'd not be selling When I'm buying, I have the funds available, and there's always a few percent of "stretch" in the budget...

Graphite/carbon composites [i]can[/i] be lighter than traditional materials in many applications. They don't have to be, though. The primary goals in a graphite neck design might well be Rigidity Stability Adjustability - which will determine if a t-rod is used Profile Weight If I were manufacturing replacement parts, I'd aim to make them as close to the original in every way, including feel. Just better.

You'll need to be sure it's what you want. It's an expensive exercise otherwise. How much is the neck? £350/400? Bear in mind they come with blank headstocks- you've got to drill them for your choice of hardware. Or they'll do it for you. At a price. Factor in possible issues with fitting it to the body and it might hit £550+ if you're unlucky. That's another SUB's worth and then some! Would it be an improvement? That's a very subjective question. Have you tried one?

Mine's falling to bits! I treat all my instruments with great care, yet my Streamline's fretboard is delaminating and a hole is forming in the fretboard. Cracks are appearing beneath the tuners... It's not good. Getting strings is a pain, Setting the intonation is a bigger pain, and those symmetrical strap buttons are no good if you use Schaller locks, because the bass won't stand straight. Ergonomically, they're great, and they're east to transport. They play well, but sound a bit bland compared to basses with more "character". Good in recording environments, but ultimately, they seem to lack absolute bottom-end. I've had mine for about 3 years, and it's spent most of that in a cupboard.

Hope yours fares better than mine...