Clarky

I recently may have destroyed an amp through accidentally using an instrument jack-to-jack cable rather than an amp cable (fortunately I got the amp replaced). I could not have made this stupid error with speakon ended cables. For that reason alone I just ordered some nice new speakon cables from obbm

Might be able to get along, depending on family demands and how cream-crackered I am from driving to/from Gosport for the Punkfest tomorrow. What time are you due onstage Pete?

[quote name='Rich' post='930591' date='Aug 20 2010, 09:16 AM']Gents, I have an update: Si's funeral will be at [b]Canford Crematorium, Canford Lane, Westbury On Trym, Bristol BS9 3PQ[/b] at 12 noon on [b]Wednesday 1st September[/b] and afterwards at his sister's house -- PM me if you want the address. I am told that friends are welcome both at the service and the wake. Let me know if you intend to come along. It would be good to see you, and to get together and raise a BC glass to the old fella. Awaiting details for a charity for any donations in memory of Si.[/quote] I - like most regulars on BassChat I guess - will be raising a glass in Si's honour next Wednesday. Thx for update Rich. This thread is an extraordinariily moving read

thanks guy ... great minds think alike

Based on the blazing row at our rehearsal on Wednesday, this may be our swansong gig

I have half solved the problem by taking the knob off (its held in by two grub screws) and then screwing it it in more tightly and slightly off true, so that the edge grips on the surface of the bass as it turns. It doesn't spin anything like as freely as it did before, so its definitely more gig-friendly, although its still not perfect like the other knob. It will probably have to do if the alternative, as others have suggested, is an expensive brand new pot.

Have you tried contacting The Bass Doc? Just drop him (aka Howard) a PM would be my advice

Allegedly we are onstage at the relatively rubbish time of 6pm - but there are five bands on before us apparently (doors open 2pm)!

[quote name='stevie' post='929521' date='Aug 19 2010, 10:54 AM']On the other hand, I found it completely useless.[/quote] Perhaps you would like to offer an alternative learning resource suggestion to lysdexia?

I think those play-along to Metallica/Muse/whoever books are really good as they enthuse the learner - what's not to like about playing along to your favourite band? They usually come in tab too, making it very simple. More generally there are tons of learn-to-play-bass books on Amazon (eg, Hal Leonard etc) and TBH they are much of a muchness. If there is a French version (or his English can take it) 'Bass Guitar for dummies' is a better resource than most of these.

Bought some more amp cables off Dave - as usual, great products and great service!

Congratulations! Looks a blinder and well worth the "Shuker wait"

Must be something in the air today or the moon is in Capricorn. Just back from the most godawful band practice in which the drummer and I had a blazing row with the guitarist/frontman about his control freak tendencies and inability to listen to his bandmate's opinions. We were within a Rizla of splitting up until we all calmed down ... watch this space though

I've had a couple - a 1980-ish 4001 with a clubby neck, which I loved as it had really low action and cut through well and a 1990s 4003 with a very slim Jazz type neck which I wasn't so keen on. My experience is that these are very awkward to play fingerstyle, due to big sharp metal-edged gap around bridge p/u, but quite comfortable pick-style (as long as you take off the attractive but useless pickup cover). The neck variance between my two basses suggests you should always try-before-you-buy in case the profile doesn't suit. The sound is quite distinctive but can go more Fender-ish if you play with the tone and pickup selection. The body is slab and so will not be comfortable to all. Bottom line: quirky basses, probably hellishly over-priced for what they are but with an ugly-doll type charm all of their own. I just prefer the hang and feel of a Fender.

Flame me but I thought Marcus Muller was funny for five minutes and then the joke wore off very quickly Bring back Tony Goggle I say, as long as the marmosets haven't got there first

[quote name='Doddy' post='928539' date='Aug 18 2010, 12:22 PM']I'm all for playing what fits the song,but playing essentially the same thing in every song makes me think that it's nothing to do with musicality. If a player like Will Lee or Nathan East was to play a simple root note line you know that it's because it is the best thing to play,whereas with someone like Adam Clayton I get the feeling that that is all he can do.[/quote] In the nicest possible way, I hope you never come to one of my gigs! My playing is on a similar technical plane as Guiggsy/Clayton etc

[quote name='Doddy' post='928529' date='Aug 18 2010, 12:08 PM']But does a player like Guigsy or Clayton play chugging 8th notes because musically it's the best thing to play,or because they are limited by their abilities and that is all that they can play? To me there is a big difference.[/quote] Even if that is the limit of their abilities, if it fits the song where's the problem? Can you honestly say that Hadrien Feraud would improve "New Year's Day"?

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='928356' date='Aug 18 2010, 09:08 AM']Nup... but I sold a guitar to Shakin' Stevens.[/quote] Not an "old piano behind the green door" then?

Seems to me that there's a big confusion in this thread between technical ability and musicality. I would have thought an awful bassist is someone who has no empathy/fit/vibe with the band he/she plays in. Adam Clayton may be a 16th/root note chugger but what he does fits U2, likewise Level 42 would not be the same without Mark King. Joy Division would have been a much lesser band without Hooky. If someone's playing fits the music, then I fail to see how they can be described as "awful". Thats just snobbery. As it happens, I find a lot of bassists with huge technical ability (eg Hadrien Feraud) unlistenable - doesn't make them awful though, even if thats how the music sounds to me.