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[quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1489057689' post='3253995'] Now a 2. I'd love to have the infinite time requirement for 3 but really playing bass is my hobby that loses me money, and I rarely get time to practice having a baby in the house now. I am good enough for my band but want to be better as a bassist and musician, but I don't get the time to hone my bass chops so I focus on other areas such as being a better part of the band in helping songs flow and move. [/quote] I've been there too, our youngest is five and eldest is eighteen & for those first few years of their lives things definitely do take a backseat but I've found it soon comes round again. I think the trick is maintaining what you have so when more time becomes available you're not playing catch up. Great insights guys.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1488973908' post='3253348'] I have the Yamaha BB425 and it is very good indeed. Rock solid, passive P/J with a strong B string. Then you consider how much it costs and it is unbelievable. [/quote] I have to agree, can't comment on the Ibby's though.

Great replies thus far! I'm really intrigued by how we (humans) can apply ourselves to tasks or activities in many different ways and achieve similar outcomes and how we learn new thing's. I'm fascinated I guess with the psychological aspects being musical. I was very much in the 1 camp until about eight or nine years ago when I started looking in to how we learn. I'm still no virtuoso but I do take satisfaction knowing that every time I practice it's not ad-hoc and it is leading somewhere.

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1488930219' post='3253097'] 2 for me. I'm an ok player but am more concerned with the entertainment value of the band. Today's band work was to sort a dep out for Friday after the death of a band mates family member. [/quote] Deepest condolences :-/ As for entertainment value, how many bands have we all seen who are on it musically but boring to watch?! Definitely worth working on.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1488933592' post='3253112'] I think there's a #4. 4. Those that are too old for anything to make a difference one way or the other. [/quote] I'm not sure I agree on this one Blue, I certainly don't buy into the "can't teach an old dog new tricks" chestnut nor to I think talent is naturally occurring phenomenon, but that's for another thread :-)

I'm thinking that as musicians we generally fall into three categories, please humour me here. 1- those who (maybe) have lots of ambition but may not have the knowledge (guidance) to make steady progress. Frustration is never far away for them. 2- those who are competent (or not) & have reached a standard they're happy with & just plod on never really improving. Maybe they have "Mad Skillz" or are just comfortable in their arena. 3- those with heaps of ambition & the knowledge & skills to improve, they probably have goals & sub goals & are most likely very methodical in their approach to practice. Improvement happens for these guys/gals. Obviously very loose categories & certainly not fixed but not far off IMO, anyway, this got me thinking! In one short sentence how could those in category three help or inspire those in categories one & two respectively? I thought a brief description of your goals & what you have done today to work towards them might make for an interesting thread, being as we are all into different things & have different abilities! So I'll start I guess. Long term I want to improve upon my musicianship, I have highlighted that although I'm not a bad player my ear still needs to play catch up. Today in order to take another step towards musical awesomeness I have been singing intervals, trying to identify chord qualities & tapping out rhythms on the kitchen worktop while cooking tea. & I haven't picked up the bass at all :-/ So what's your plan & what have you done today to achieve it?

I'm not sure if it qualifies as Hip-Hop but I'm throwing "Heavy Rhyme Experience" by The Brand New Heavies in the mix. Absolutely fantastic album from start to finish & featuring some big hitters, oh & the bass won't disappoint either.

I wanted to like it, I honestly did but I think my brain just prefers much less complex rhythms & music that (to me) doesn't sound like the Chuckle Brothers moving Jools Holland (& all his associated instruments) out of a penthouse apartment where the lift is broken. I did like the bass tone though.

Thanks for your input so far fellas. Tonight I have stripped the loom down completely & built it back up using quite a bit less wire than Yamaha did & the Jazz wiring diagram. When I'd put it back together & plugged in the neck pickup & tone control worked perfectly but no bridge pickup. On inspection I noticed I'd managed to knock the hot wire from the bridge pickup off the pot so I soldered it back on & quest what? No tone control & half it's normal output! I've taken it off again so I can use it tomorrow & Wednesday with just the neck pickup but I'm guessing now the pot I used for the bridge is knackered. I shall find another & try again.

[quote name='ikay' timestamp='1486405797' post='3231540'] A pic is worth a thousand words ... Assuming it's a BB P/J type with a three way switch, the pic below may help you to get it back to its original state. [URL=http://s1090.photobucket.com/user/iankay/media/Stuff/Yamaha%20BB%20wiring.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i370/iankay/Stuff/Yamaha%20BB%20wiring.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [/quote] Exactly that but now minus the switch :-)

I'll get a picture as soon as I get five. It's basically the standard Yamaha Bb425 pickup's minus the three way selector switch, I replaced it because I'd prefer to be able to blend rather than the all or nothing of the switch. So I wired in Vol, Vol, Tone & both Vol pots work as they should but the tone is misbehaving. Each pots live is wired correctly & each is earthed to the next if you know what I mean. The bridge earth & additional earth's from the pickups are all terminated correctly too, for a passive bass there's a lot of wiring. I'll put a picture up when I get home. Cheers fellas.

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1486400136' post='3231469'] Is it possible to swap back to the original setup and see if that works ok? [/quote] I'm not really sure I can remember how it came apart, the switch was a bit useless to be honest so I didn't pay much attention taking it out knowing I wouldn't be putting it in. I could really do with it for rehearsal tomorrow & jam night on Wednesday :-/

I have been tinkering again (always a bad idea) & have somehow managed to kill the output on my bass. The story so far, swapped the pickup selector switch on my Yamaha Bb for a volume pot, I used a fender schematic & at first managed to get the tone pot acting as a volume, then doing nothing & completely closed & now it's wide open & doing nothing & the output is real low! I'm sure I've got an earth somewhere I shouldn't have but it's doing my nut in. Is it possible I've burnt out the Cap? Suggestions most welcome.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1486304841' post='3230691'] Here is the Sledge.... [/quote] Jeez that is a beaut! Cheers for posting, look forward to the centrefold spread :-)

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1486162423' post='3229843'] [/quote] I think you may have wanted to post this in the "MUSICMAN SOFT PORN THREAD", this thread is for hardcore open case action only. (Would quite like to see that Sledge)

https://www.seventhstring.com Transcribe! It's not free but it will transform the way you practice/learn songs.

Can I play devil's advocate for a moment :-/ is there a reason you can't get back to basics with the five string? If it's not broken why not just spend the money on a set of new strings & things that'll make practicing easier, like an audio interface, transcribe software & some new headphones. Just an idea. P.s Yamaha all the way! :-)

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1481644829' post='3193983'] I saw him last week. He sorted out the wiring on my new Geddy Lee Jazz bass and made it a lovely tort plate He was definitely on good form [/quote] Glad to hear he's on good form now after ripping so many basschat member's (myself included) off!

Humans are rhythmic creatures, our hearts beat to a rhythm & we breath rhythmically so you do have a sense of rhythm/time inbuilt. To put it into a musical context all you have to do is work on it, as already said can you tap to the beat of a song? Why do you think you have no rhythm? Is it because you can't dance? Your sense of time is definitely something that can be improved, even after years of playing music.

Saw them at The Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton, we wore daft beaver hats & they came & drank with us after. Don't think I've ever been so peshed! Definitely worth seeing whatever you're into.

I thought I'd start a thread for the basses that are a little bit arty, I'll start with my Bb.

Jon Shuker did an awesome job on mine, removed all the oil, lacquered & re-fretted with stainless frets. He's in the peak district. *edit, sorry thought you said re-finish, it's been a long day :-/

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1476635653' post='3155830'] As an add on to this, does anyone have a headphone case, or just put them in a bag loose? [/quote] I case mine (audio technica) when they aren't in use, mostly because I don't have a room dedicated to music so they live with my laptop tucked away in the corner.

[quote name='bigsmokebass' timestamp='1476614099' post='3155589'] where did you get this done or how? looks amazing!! [/quote] Cheers, it's hydro-graphics & it was done by a company in Western Super Mare called Hydrodip Designs. The neck was lacquered locally by J.Davey Guitars.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1476558228' post='3155248'] That looks ace! There needs to be more white cover rays around. [/quote] Cheers Pete, there probably would be more if the covers weren't so hard to get :-/