thisnameistaken

[quote name='burno70' post='504765' date='Jun 3 2009, 03:47 PM']Sorry, when I said design your own bass, I didn't really mean the shape so much as the woods, pick-ups, pre-amp, neck, fingerboard etc; you know -all the cool choices you get to make when you call Jon and ask for one of his custom basses.[/quote] One thing I've always wondered about 100% bespoke instruments is whether I actually know enough about what I want to ask someone to build it for me. Frankly I don't think I do, despite 20 years of playing bass. I pick one up, if I like it I buy it, if not I put it down again. I don't really put much thought into why. If I wanted to make sure I liked the neck I suppose I could say "Make it like a Jazz" but then why not just buy a Jazz? And stuff like pups and preamps I'd be completely stumped - I've no idea what most of the stuff on the market sounds like.

[quote name='hubrad' post='504693' date='Jun 3 2009, 02:09 PM']+1 to all of that! I've played everything from folky and jazzy vibe to heavy rock. Choice of bass helps here[/quote] Norwood used a Thumb fretless on most of the heavier stuff on Reality Of My Surroundings, check out Sunless Saturday or Fight The Youth. I think Pressure might be fretless too.

[quote name='1976fenderhead' post='504615' date='Jun 3 2009, 12:51 PM']Thanks guys, all great tips. So do some of you use a fretless as main bass, i. e., playing standing up in a loud gig, fast heavy-ish tracks, moving around on stage etc or mainly jazz, ballads, slower quieter stuff?[/quote] When I played fretless full-time I used it in a baggy/indie band, then in a large funk band, so there was often quite tricky parts to play and/or silly dancing to do. Once you're in the habit of playing fretless you don't think about it any more. If you play it exclusively then you'll find bass guitars will start to feel awkward because of the lumpy frets getting in the way, etc.

[quote name='Zoe_BillySheehan' post='504335' date='Jun 2 2009, 11:12 PM']Could someone explain this pickup style to me? [/quote] You mean the single pole-pieces? That's just what Delano pickups look like. Check out the Sandbergs, they use them too.

[quote name='mathewsanchez' post='503964' date='Jun 2 2009, 04:49 PM']Personally I dislike the Kaiser Chiefs and find their music annoying (no offense to anyone who likes them). What I don't understand is why such a mediocre band would need such a high end instrument. I'll probably get a bit of stick for what I just said but it's how I feel.[/quote] You should approach Jon Shuker, point out that you are a talented instrumentalist who could out-slap Simon Rix easily, and see if he either offers you your own signature model. Might give you a bit of much-needed perspective.

Apparently my ska band's first gig in August will be opening for a fairly big (literally) old UK ska band. Nothing like getting thrown in at the deep end. At least we've got time to get the horns up to speed.

Is it one of the original, hard-wired mains cable ones? The reissues were all power jacks.

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' post='504198' date='Jun 2 2009, 08:52 PM']Have 2-3 drinks beforehand(no more).[/quote] Don't drink before you play, you'll play a lot tighter. Any nerves will disappear during the first tune anyway. Most important: Remember to enjoy yourself. You're supposed to be entertaining people, if you're having fun and it'll rub off on them. Incidentally it's always singers who book shows before the band is ready. Always. Swines they are.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=16288"]I once bought a really cheap bass from Germany on eBay[/url]. Quite apart from what a pain it was trying to get the guy to cough up, when it arrived it was a total waste of wood. I think they were bolting together parts from China. Wouldn't be surprised if this guy's doing the same, or even if it's the same guy.

You mean like a little Caterham or something? Can I have second go?

I don't think I could[i] listen[/i] to 34 songs in 2 hours.

[quote name='budget bassist' post='503349' date='Jun 1 2009, 10:08 PM']that's the only photo in which i've found a warwick p-nut to be an attractive bass....[/quote] P-Nut's got his own signature Warwick now? I remember when he was playing Thumb basses 'cos Norwood played them. Like me.

[quote name='Kongo' post='503414' date='Jun 1 2009, 11:14 PM']Never use just distortion, kills the low end.[/quote] It really depends what the guitars are doing (or even if the song has guitars). I get away with pure fuzz quite easily because our guitarist doesn't really use distortion - he's usually using harmonisers and delays.

Lots of options, nice! Thanks everybody. I'll check out the free package first. I never knew how expensive Sibelius was, but my girlfriend's a performing arts teacher so maybe I could use it at her school if I need to.

[quote name='rslaing' post='503278' date='Jun 1 2009, 08:39 PM']Just write it out manually? From your description, it's probably the best way - but,[/quote] Asking me to write score cannot be described as "the best way". [quote name='rslaing' post='503278' date='Jun 1 2009, 08:39 PM']If you want a great program to do it [url="http://www.sibelius.com/home/index_flash.html"]you can't get better than this[/url][/quote] Ah. Good news!

I figure there must be software out there that does a passable job of converting MIDI data to notation, but I've never heard of any (I can't read so I've never really needed score before). It doesn't have to be all that sophisticated - all I need to do is provide some written parts for horn players. I won't be troubling it with chords or anything messy like that. I'm not even that fussy about the quality of the score - we'll be rehearsing them anyway so nobody will have to sight-read anything. Does this software exist? If it works with Pro Tools that would be really handy.

Loose as in wobbly, or just too "wide" for your plugs? The planet waves cables have a little flanged/sprung section that grips into jack sockets. Some people moan that they stretch their jack sockets and ruin them, but those people are insane.

Try the MXR Bass Blowtorch. It doesn't sound like anything special on its own, but it works great in a band situation. It doesn't do full-on mega-fuzz, but it is very versatile tonally, and has a wet/dry blend too. I often wish I'd kept the one I had. Most practical distortion pedal I ever used I think.

I bought a Squier jazz on here last weekend, stuck some La Bella flats on it, wedged a chunk of mouse mat under the strings by the bridge and it sounds ace with the front pup soloed. Plays nice too. £110. Bargain.

Do you have any joint pain in your fingers doing anything other than picking bass? Could be some sort of arthritic thing.