cybertect

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1442340774' post='2866245']This is really a question for those regularly gigging bands that carry their own PA.[/quote] Point taken. While it wasn't perhaps entirely serious, I only asked because I seem to have played at quite a number of local festivals round South London this summer where the standard of stage management and available resources is a bit of a crapshoot. They seem to be usually best set up for singer-songwriters with just an acoustic guitar, although someone else has been booking bands like ours for the stage. I've become quite adept at getting the gear on and off stage in quick order; put my rig together before going and then just manhandle it to where it's needed in one piece. Bringing a couple of our own mics and stands with us has been useful on occasion, too. You just have to learn to live with less than optimal cable runs in these circumstances.

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1442321214' post='2866011'] Before Cash Converters it was much more fun checking out gear in "proper junk shops" like Roddy Boston's on Leith Walk, or the one briefly on Montgomery Street and there was another on Elm Row. [/quote] I remember when I was at university in Cardiff in the mid 80s, a junk shop on Broadway in Splott had a Gibson EB3 hanging up on the wall, stickered at £100. I had a play and I didn't get on with the bass. I reckon it probably needed a good setup; the action was awful. I was mainly a guitarist then,and besides didn't really have the cash, but I've often wondered if I should have bought it.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1442165195' post='2864823'] Bass Northwest, Seattle. Mike Lull, Bellevue, just outside Seattle. [/quote] You may have to hurry - Bass NW is closing for good on September 30th http://www.bassnw.com Edit: Evan closing Bass NW for 'health reasons' according to the 'other' forum

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1442252912' post='2865544'] These http://www.amazon.co.uk/Superlux-HD668B-Headphones/dp/B003JOETX8 As good as my silly money Grado cans. Annoyingly! [/quote] After years of mucking about with cheaper cans, I am very happy with my Grado SR 80e headphones that didn't break the bank at under £80.

Curious how the 'cable nazis' deal with a half hour slot on a bill with a load of other bands and you have about two minutes at each end of the slot to set up and break down while another band is doing the reverse on stage at the same time... Do you still take precious minutes out of your performance time to get your cables just so, or do you simply not play these kinds of gigs?

As promised, I've posted the rest of my pics on a new post on my Denmark Street project blog: [url="http://streetofsound.uk/event/event-juan-alderete-at-wunjo-bass/"]Street of Sound[/url] Here are a few more samplers

[quote name='Steve Lawson' timestamp='1441970154' post='2863342']That pic of me and him is amazing, Cybertect - thanks for taking it!! [/quote] You're welcome. A couple of people seemed to think I was you right at the beginning

Here are a couple of photos as a sneak preview [url=https://flic.kr/p/xvP7wL][/url] [url=https://flic.kr/p/xvP7wL]Juan Alderete and Steve Lawson[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/cybertect/]Rob Telford[/url], on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/ytyhyv][/url] [url=https://flic.kr/p/ytyhyv]Juan Alderete[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/cybertect/]Rob Telford[/url], on Flickr

Bluejay had one at least. When I'm done editing, I'll post some of the photos I took on my Denmark Street project site: http://streetofsound.uk (I was the annoying guy crawling about on the floor with a camera)

It wrapped up a few minutes ago. I didn't realise this wa a Basschat event too till I saw the name badges

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1441797637' post='2861820'] Hi All Some of you will have been following the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/259782-new-project-bubinga-fretless/"]build thread[/url] on this but, for those who don't want to trawl through the gory detail [/quote] But of course, since you left that link there, I HAD to read it. Kept me occupied in the bus home... Very impressive stuff

Did the first rehearsal with the band last night (though somewhat inconsiderately our drummer was off on holiday). My fretless Jazz had lines; practice over the weekend paid off and I think I have my intonation fairly well sorted with the unlined board. The other guys liked it a lot and, oh baby, I am [i]enjoying[/i] this bass Being able to dial in the Piezo for some numbers that suit it is a joy.

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1441731673' post='2861319']I went for the lighter set that was 50-65-85-105 - but even they the nut needed a little widening. I don't have any nut files so I stole my daughters metal nail file and took it slowly. They have much less tension than an all metal set of similar gauge but they sound immense - deep and plummy with the tone control all the way off, but still bright and slappable with it up.[/quote] I must admit to have been most intrigued by your note about these strings on my fretless Stingray's NBD thread. Not so sure I want to go modifying the nut to fit them though. As a band I play with tunes a semi tone flat, that's only liable to be worse if I went for a heavier set to keep the tension up (I don't like strings to be too slack).

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1441726849' post='2861255']PS. When I bought my Ashbory second-hand, there didn't seem to be any for sale in the UK [/quote] Fender (who owned the rights via DeArmond) stopped making them in July 2012

I assume it's second hand, if it's in good order that's a fair price for a US built L2000. I would perhaps expect to see it closer to £800 or more.

Looks like it was well worth the effort

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1441469398' post='2859102'] Lovely! Stick some La Bella Black Nylons on it and use the piezo for some ace almost DB sounds. [/quote] I feel some experimentation with strings coming on…

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1441472788' post='2859122'] That is nice - I hear pau ferro makes a really growly sound for fretless too! [/quote] Yes - it's utterly different to the VM Jazz with its ebanol board, which was a lot smoother, though I did have Chromes flats fitted to that.

So I'd been looking for a new 5 string bass better than my OLP MM3, and was also thinking about a new fretless to upgrade from a VM Jazz. Then Wunjo Bass on Denmark Street in London got this beauty in which seems to cover both basses (forgive the pun ) MM Stingray 5 with a piezo pickup, pau ferro unlined fretboard, apparently about a year old. The previous owner had it new as a custom build through Wunjo and then decided he didn't get on with it or something. I'd rather always had a hankering for an unlined fretless, so that was a bonus. Coincidentally, I already own a natural '79 MM Sabre that I bought in the same shop on Denmark Street, back in 1993 when it was the Bass Cellar. I'd gone in to look at Stingrays, but they were a little out of my price range and it was love at first sight with the Sabre anyhow. In the intervening two decades, I still hadn't managed to acquire a Stingray and this was the perfect opportunity. As soon as I got my hands on it, I decided it was the one, and a little negotiation with Laurence and Tom got me a nice price. Tempted to name it 'Louise' in honour of Lou Duffy-Howard who played a black fretless Stingray with the Red Guitars when I was in my teens back in the eighties and made me want one of my own ever since. I had a brief exchange with her on Twitter before making the purchase and I'm blaming her for egging me on to buy it. It took me a couple of weeks to get the money together and now the bass is mine. Spent yesterday evening putting it through its paces with headphones at home and I'm still chuffed. Rehearsal with the band on Tuesday.

[quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1439473002' post='2843141']Which he freely and openly admits, and - to paraphrase McCartney, (or was it Lennon?), he's not even the best bass player in the Foo Fighters, as both Dave Grohl and Chris Shiflett are very handy.[/quote] It was neither Paul nor John, but actually Jasper Carrott who came up with the line in 1983.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1428588835' post='2742760'] That shop had a Revelation LP bass in today. I had a go on it, and I liked it a lot. Not perfect but a nice action and it was comfortable to play. One of these: IMHO it looked nice up close. [/quote] I just had a play with one of those at Hands Music in Kingston-upon-Thames. It's a nice little bass for the money and certainly something different to another Jazz or Precision clone. As you say, comfortable to play. I wasn't convinced that I'd be able to use all of the tone options it offers, but the ones that worked, worked well. The example I tried seemed to have an intermittent earthing problem, though, which was a shame. Not that I really need yet another bass…

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1441290283' post='2857615']They are great for folk who are starting out and want to 'have a go' but for, people who are experienced pros, there are better ways to spend your time and to make connections.[/quote] Maybe, but we've picked up quite a few proper, paid gigs off the back of our appearances at open mike events and it's a low-pressure space to try out new material in front of an audience. And you can have a couple of beers and not worry too much about it

[i]Free For All [/i]by Michael Penn - Mr Aimee Mann and brother of Actors Sean and Chris Penn Far less successful than his debut, [i]March [/i](RCA's lack of support for the release led to a bust up that kept him from releasing anything else for five years) but it's a beautiful study in great songwriting [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxqekFB9lZs[/media]

FWIW as I happened to be in Wunjo bass on Tuesday, I asked one of the Toms if they ever carry any Ampeg gear these days. He told me that they dropped them a couple of years ago because they simply had too many problems with their quality control. Apparently, the numbers coming back with failures of one kind or another was getting ridiculously high, more so with the cheaper end stuff, but even with the SVTs. To compound the problem, they weren't getting any support from Ampeg's UK distributors over the issues they were experiencing; nobody was replying to their emails and telephone calls. From what he was saying, that was before Polar took over UK distribution in 2013, so that latter aspect may have changed since then.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1441236395' post='2857231'] I'd not call this a modern phenomenon, either. Classical, orchestral works were (and still are...) seldom played with the exact make-up that the composer specified, and so were re-arranged to fit the bill of the day. That's part of the job of the conductor/chef d'orchestra. Similarly with folk, and most other idioms, such as theatre pit orchestras or palm court tea dances. No different today, I'd suggest; if the players aren't there, adapt to suit what's available. If one gets close to the original, all well and good; if not... Well, that's the way it goes. It'll be different, won't it..? [/quote] Quite. People like The Stones and Clapton directly took old blues songs and riffs and put them into the context of what became blues-rock with electric amplification. One of the covers that my four piece band will slip into a set in ELO's Mr Blue Sky. Nobody complains that we don't have the orchestration of the original; it's always very well received and we've even been asked several times to play it again straight after or as an encore.