ambient

Why not use someone in this country? Martin Simms for example. I can see this being a nightmare with customs etc.

Read the small print of whoever you go with, often musical instruments aren't covered in the insurance, though they'll still take your money.

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' timestamp='1491828116' post='3275639'] It will be interesting to see if You can find someone who can supply the Hi F (is it a 20?) string in flatwound. Have You considered halfwounds? maybe more options? Brendan [/quote] I think I'm using a .022 for my F, the .20 was a plain steel that I didn't like. Half wounds would be fine, I used them on my Yamaha JP 6 string. I've emailed Picato to see if they can put together a set. Whatever I get needs to be flexible, some flats are way too high tension.

If you're recording why do you need to 'learn' the song. I doubt anyone will be bothered if you're playing it from charts.

I think the bass player was Herbie Flowers.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1491751352' post='3275150'] You could try Picato, they're made in the UK & they do flats. [/quote] Thanks, I'll drop them an email 😊.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1491726074' post='3274970'] Newtone Strings. British and custom service. Can't post links on my vintage phone - newtonestrings.com [/quote] Thanks, I've sent them an email.

I really don't like round wound strings. I want a set of light gauge flat wounds for my 7 string. Similar in tone and feel to TI flats. Is there a maker in the U.K.?

Depends what software you want to run. Macs come with Garageband, or it can be bought for a really silly price from the app store, it's pretty amazing for the cost. Logic Pro is simply stunning, and costs a little over £100, way cheaper than ProTools. These only run on Macs.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1491329078' post='3272193'] I've got a Hercules Mini stand. The only use it ever gets is to hold a symmetrical bodied guitar when it is in my lounge. It's simply too small and insubstantial for any other use. [/quote] That's what I've found too. It's used in my room, but only just, on a gig the bass goes back in it's case when not being played. The body on my bass is bigger than usual, it's a 7 string after all, and it's a 35" scale bass, the Hercules is really too small.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1491298170' post='3271857'] Yikes. That would be much too wide for the Ultimate. How on earth do you play such a thing? [/quote] I don't find it a problem tbh. I've had 6 string basses that were only a little smaller. My old TRB6P instantly springs to mind. I don't think that would fit in a neck grab type stand.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1491147975' post='3270812'] How wide does it have to be? I have an 'ultimate stand' that accommodates my 5 string with loads of spare. [/quote] At the nut it's a little over 6cm, and at the 12th fret it's a little over 9cm.

[quote name='dyerseve' timestamp='1491222130' post='3271293'] What's not ideal about it Kevin? I use a similar stand for my basses and it is perfect and nicely portable. I cant see how the width of the bass could be a problem for these types of stands... [/quote] It's partly me being paranoid about damaging it. The body of the bass is quite large, and upright part of the stand is quite low, so it doesn't sit right on the stand. I use it at home, but would prefer something else. I certainly wouldn't use it at a gig. I put the bass back into it's case in between sets.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1491116723' post='3270532'] Did you find anything in the end? I had one of those ones that dood posted for a while but I was always worried about clattering basses against each other... I'd really like one when I can hang my wide necked basses from the headstock. [/quote] I'm using a Hercules mini, which is far from ideal really.

[attachment=242179:17264478_660842724123992_8138447103069228277_n.jpg] [attachment=242180:17352271_660842720790659_2037096519601743857_n.jpg] [attachment=242181:17352312_660842717457326_400666850389081328_n.jpg] [attachment=242182:17361981_660563857485212_119757903235182095_n.jpg] The most amazing bass ever.

What's blues fusion?

You do need to 'shop around', and find the right tutor. This may depend on what it is that you want to learn, and improve on. I had the one guy from when I was about 15. I used to travel to London once a month with my parents, and have a 2 hour lesson with him. He then became the programme leader on my degree course, and I continued having private lessons from him. He's still a very good friend of mine. When I started to get more into soloing and more advanced styles, and 6 string playing, then I sought out another tutor, this was Steve Lawson, the guy who ended up having a major influence on my playing.

I'm very fussy, bordering on OCD about hygiene. The first thing I do when I get a new instrument is take the strings off, bin then, give a bass a good clean and fit new strings. Many people have no idea of hygiene, hand washing etc. I just don't want someone else's skin cells and bacteria all over my bass.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1490796820' post='3268112'] I accept your point here. If a guy does not want to accept guidance, then there is nothing you can do about this, except to give him what he requires. I am talking about the scenario where a guy buys a bass for the first time. Next day he goes for lessons expecting to be the next Jack Bruce over night. The teacher needs to incorporate a a balancing act to.. 1. Keep him motivated and interested enough to come back for more lessons. 2. Keep him on the straight and narrow road towards his goal. [/quote] Exactly. 'What do you want to learn', could equally be phrased as 'what do you want or expect to get from having lessons'. Or, 'why are you here sat in front of me ?' There's a new guy that started with me yesterday evening. Like most people I ask, he said, well I've been playing for X years, and really don't have much knowledge of how what I'm doing works, I just learn a bass line from a recording or YouTube, or TAB. I would then ask more questions to try and discover what they do know, which is often more than they think.