ambient

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1399927625' post='2449129'] There's one for sale here right now [/quote] Going into your shop next week if it doesn't sell soon

A midi keyboard controller is useful, and can get bought very cheaply. I have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, it's very nice. I don't use Ableton, if you have a mac of some description, then you should have Garageband which is excellent, considering it's free, that has tons of drum and percussion loops.

I don't think it's anything to do with price, it's construction, choice of tone woods, attention to detail surely ? A lot of older basses are quite valuable but not necessarily 'high end'. Sei's are surely 'high end' basses, but don't seem to hold their price as well as something like a Fodera or a Wal. My Modulus is (to me) a high end bass, but again not as expensive as a Wal or a Fodera.

There's usually a minimum order of 500, manufacturers won't press them unless they get a certificate to say that the licensing has been sorted out.

I know it's probably a time thing for a lot of people. But if you can spare the time, you can get to most areas of the UK pretty cheaply by train or coach. It's certainly cheaper than being out of pocket by several hundred pounds when a courier has lost or broken your instrument and won't pay out. Treat it as a day out, or maybe even a weekend away . OK, so I have a YP railcard, but 2 weeks ago I travelled by train to Manchester to deliver a cab, then caught a train to Bristol to collect my new Chapman stick, then caught a train back home, all in a day, all for less than £30. Maybe meet someone halfway, or split the train/coach fare ? Virgin were offering London to Edinburgh for £12 each way 2 weeks ago !

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1399712756' post='2446847'] Never had a problem with their roundwounds, but the last set of flats I bought from Status had a dead E. [/quote] These were flats, so dead they'd fossilised and had a preservation order slapped on 'em .

[quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1399722289' post='2446985'] I tried D'addario's once and found them extremely sticky so moved them on, does that go away after a while? [/quote] Very soon, I think it's the same with all half rounds.

[quote name='Stompbox' timestamp='1399722126' post='2446981'] I've used MyHermes OK lots of times but I know they don't cover instruments, & was suprised to hear all of the above - it's a really handy service in that you can take the parcel when it suits you to a local My Hermes Parcelshop rather than waiting for it to be picked up. So it's Parcelforce 48 for me with extra insurance. [/quote] I suggest you look here, 10th one down. [url="http://www.parcelforce.com/help-information/compensation-refunds-and-claims/items-we-exclude-compensation"]http://www.parcelforce.com/help-information/compensation-refunds-and-claims/items-we-exclude-compensation[/url]

Try this shop in Watford. [url="http://www.thwaites.com"]http://www.thwaites.com[/url]

Status seem to have a problem with E's and B's, both were dead in a pack of flat wounds I bought recently. I know they replace them, but they shouldn't have to. I've got D'addario half wounds on my Modulus, they're great strings, and last for ages, they've been on for at least 6 months. Reasonable price too . [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/DAddario-ENR70-040--095-Electric-Strings/dp/B000OR89CK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1399675639&sr=8-4&keywords=d%27addario+half+rounds"]http://www.amazon.co...rio+half+rounds[/url]

I've only had it for a week or so, and haven't had a lot of time with it due to having exam prep to do, but I'm reasonably pleased with it. It's an exam piece. [url="https://soundcloud.com/ambient-bassist/be-careful-what-you-wish-for-2"]https://soundcloud.com/ambient-bassist/be-careful-what-you-wish-for-2[/url] Comments welcome. By the way, the bass used in this is for sale !

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1399628056' post='2445950'] It works for me. I have no problems with it at all. I guess it is about expectations!! [/quote] I was with a guy today who was using Sibelius 5, that looked better than version 7 that I've got. Maybe it's gotten fiddlier as it's progressed ?

Or so it says here - [url="http://www.classicfm.com/music-news/latest-news/studying-music-increases-blood-flow-brain/"]http://www.classicfm.com/music-news/latest-news/studying-music-increases-blood-flow-brain/[/url]

Have you considered that what you're doing isn't meant to have a 'structure', or follow a traditional pattern ? Most drum samples are pretty crap, though the new drum thing in logic X is pretty good. I tend to use percussion more than actual drums. Maybe advertise for a collaborator ? Wouldn't have to be local to you, could even be the other side of the world.

Logic is a lot easier than the latest version of Garageband anyway. I used Garageband quite a lot, then got into Logic 9 and then X last year. I went back to Garageband recently to answer a question on here for someone, I couldn't work it out at all .

Logic is easier than Garageband. Maybe try writing using a different instrument ? I usually use a piano in Logic, maybe electric or acoustic, and just experiment with chords. I also get excited by a sound, and mess with that. Bass is usually the last thing that I consider, but my stuff is more soundscape'ish, it's definitely not verse/chorus or anything, My latest thing on soundcloud is actually bass though, no synths, but also some Chapman stick. Just experiment, and have fun.

Personally I think they're all much of a muchness. Horror stories abound for all courier companies.

Most courier insurances don't cover guitars or other instruments, not just MyHermes. I gotta say, I've used them quite a lot and have never had a problem.

I've been to a couple at the Yardbird a few years ago. The standard was quite high, it's a bit of a hangout for the guys from the jazz course at Birmingham Conservatoire which is right next door. They used to have jazz jams at the MAC in Cannon hill park on a Saturday afternoon, they were quite informal and good.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1399535959' post='2445046'] ANother Sibelius/Transcribe user here. I guess it is a question of what you want any software to do. If you only want to write out parts for yourself and possibly a small group, then something like Sibelius First (£80) or Sibelius Academic (£200) will be more than adequate. The full Sibelius package is nearer £400 nowadays but would be brilliant if you want to write full scores for orchestras, big bands etc. Finale is another one but that seems to be just as expensive as the Sibelius options (£240). It never used to be able to play stuff back to you but I think it can now (which is probably why it is more expensive than it used to be). Musescore is a free download which may easily meet your needs but I have to say it drove me nuts and was not as user-friendly as Sibelius so I deleted my copy. As it is free, it it probably worth a try as you have nothing to lose. For the record, I am using Sibelius 2 and they are now on version 7.5 but I have never found I could not do what I wanted to on the version I have so the bells and whistles are clearly not that essential. [/quote] Not as user friendly as Sibelius, it must be awful to use then. Sibelius and user friendly are definitely not two words that I'd use in the same sentence . Transcribe is really good though, an amazing bargain really if transcribing is something you want to do. It's a bit habit forming though, especially when you start to get ok at it . I use transcribe to get the part/note/phrase and then put it straight into Sibelius.