Marc S

[quote name='prowla' timestamp='1485638248' post='3225560'] ....Incidentally, I've just had an idea: I wonder if it's possible to get holographic logos made; the ones which have one image if you look from one angle and a different one from another. [/quote] Now that would be neat! - I'm sure someone could do it

Hello and welcome to BC Mr Cathode Follower. I'm just over the river, in Cardiff. I'd not heard of these full-moon / music events. I'd like to come along one day - sounds great. I do like Bristol a lot. There always seems to be something musical happening there, and the city seems to have a good "vibe" about it I've not noticed or experienced any "beneficial" injuries myself. Personally, I'd say you have been very fortunate to have experienced any such "benefits". I think mostly, from an injury, you would expect the opposite of benefits (whatever that is? lol). Yes, alcohol can indeed lead to much silliness - perhaps that is where you have been really unlucky Maybe stay clear of "The Apple" - which is a cider bar, situated on a boat, moored at Welsh Back, in Bristol Re your first injury, namely the blisters. I developed blisters early on in my DB playing. It got worse when I switched to Innovation nylon type strings. Although the Innovations were easier to play from a tension point of view - I think it made me play a bit harder, and the fingers of my right hand suffered friction type burns! Rather than this making me play "properly" I found a product which someone linked to on here - it's called Double Bass Finger Tape. The stuff is like magic! I found I could even play with injuries on my fingers.... and the tape doesn't come off easily, like plasters do Anyhow, hope you don't suffer any more injuries - take care when drinking large amounts of alcohol, and hope to see you playing when I next visit Brizzle

This is a great build diary indeed Shell Pink is a colour that has really grown on me. A few years back, I wouldn't have wanted a bass in that colour. Now I think it's the coolest of colours ever. Love that finish, really like the attention to detail on this bass - top job. Well done matey, this is one hell of a bass

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1485523321' post='3224608'] The best reviews should cover most styles/techniques.Like most I'm after how the bass performs. Not how there ego performs. But there needs to be a capable bass player playing. As usual with most things. Balance is everything. I've seen some amazing slap bass. But it's just slap, we don't all slap so it's not a bass review. [/quote] Absolutely spot on

As others have said - sorry to hear you are giving up bass playing, and there is no need to quit this forum However, I feel there are other options for you to continue playing bass. If it's the standing & having a heavy bass guitar on a strap that are a big issue, you could try a really small, micro bass - like a Tanglewood Elfin or Samick Corsair type bass (The Corsair is now marketed as some other brand). Or may be try a Kala U-bass. These are tiny and very lightweight - just a thought... I realise that there's still the business of lugging heavy amp equipment around - but are there any music clubs, jam nights or open mic nights anywhere near you? - I'm just thinking of events where they would already have a bass amp set up... After all, if you're playing other instruments like slide guitar, you'll still need amplification.... Anyhow, it's obviously your call, I just want to suggest that there may be other options. It's always a shame to hear someone who has a lot of experience, and has had a lot of enjoyment from playing, is going to give up. Good luck with your jam sessions, and with learning those other instruments

I'm not much of a bower. I try now & again. I currently have a set of Silver Slaps on my EUB, and am fortunate to also have an acoustic DB - so they've usually got different strings on each - for different styles of playing. There is indeed, a horrible sound when bowing the Silver Slaps. I thought it was my poor technique at first, but I can get a much better sound out of other strings. However, the Silver Slaps are the best strings for Slap technique IMHO. I tried others - Weedwackers got me started in building up my Slap technique, but I found the E string too weak. Once I'd been playing those 4-6 weeks, I shifted over to the Silver Slaps.... but I couldn't bow either the Weeds or the Silvers Perhaps TheRev's suggestion of roughening the strings may work, but I think I'd be reluctant to do this personally. Would this weaken the strings? Or would it be off-putting or too rough for when you're slapping? - You do hit the strings quite hard with that technique. If you do try this - please let us know how you get on

I started my foray into the world of Double Bass with a Stagg too. It was a good, inexpensive first step and I'm glad I did it. My next DB purchase was an acoustic DB, but I did like the portability of an EUB - so I saved up and got myself an Eminence... It's great, but more pricey than say an NS design. But it does have a small body, with an acoustic "chamber" so it can sound more like a true acoustic DB. The NS design basses do seem very popular. Less expensive than the Yamaha SLB's. Not played either of those, and would like to - but that may give me GAS, rather than solve anything My advice would be to look out for local bass bash events / DB bashes, and see if you can go along & try as many as you can. Good luck with your search

Good afternoon Frank / Bogart, and hello from South Wales I'm sure you'll find some good conversation here mate So please join in. You must have quite some experience too - so please answer some questions and offer advice, as well as asking questions. I'm sure your English is better than most of our German on here - so no need for apologies Cheers / Prost / Hwyl

What did you trade for the Flea? Not your (fairly) recently acquired Roadworn Jazz? Over recent years, buying, selling & trading basses, I have finally found the ones I really like playing, and cannot fault In other words, I've whittled it down to just 8 or 9! lol ....hmmm, shall I take a quick peek at the marketplace?

Ah, you've bitten the bullet too eh Lewis? Nice to know I'm not the only one along the M4, who has way too many I really need to trim the herd - but I just can't bring myself to do so I mean, which should go? Not my fender Flea Jazz, not my RW Jazz, not my RW P, not my Squier CV P/J, Not my US fretless P.... Not my Shaftesbury, not my Double bass.... not..... lol

Yes, those stacked knobs do look a little off-putting to my eye. Other than that, they do look great basses. Never tried a Sire, but wouldn't mind trying one of these

Glad to hear you got on OK with the new strings. If I'd read this thread before your gig, as others had said, I would have advised against changing strings just before the gig. I prefer strings that have been "played in" a bit before I gig them anyway. Hence my "need" for several basses I actually don't like the sound of brand new strings anymore - I know this might sound odd to some. But I also don't like the fact that new strings can take a while to settle & stretch, especially during gigs. Some string manufacturers / brands seem to be higher tension than others, even of the same gauge, and I think that may mean you are more likely to have to tweak the truss-rod. I recently picked up some Neon strings on here, they're nice, but slightly higher tension than the strings I have been using

No, I'd follow the advice of others on here and do the pre-amp first. I'd say it's best to make one upgrade at a time - that way, if you're not happy, you know whether to swap back. If you do both at the same time, it's harder to judge what each upgrade is doing - so if you're still not quite 100% happy, you don't know which change had what effect, and which to change back - or both! Like Lewis says above, I'm not a fan of active basses either. But if you are set on fitting the retro pre-amp - do that first. Personally, I use a Pre-amp pedal, and I get all the additional control / frequency boost I want from that. This way, I don't have to add a pre-amp to each of my basses (I have too many, I know!) But also, I'm only concerned with having one spare pre-amp battery. And if I sell a bass on, I don't have to start retrieving components I want to keep.... I did change the pickups on my Roadworn Jazz - the stock ones were fine, but someone locally was selling an old 70's / 80's set of DiMarzio J pups -so I thought I'd give them a whirl... and boy, are those old DiMarzios very nice! Great, punchy sound, high output, without any additional noise, and still sounding vintage... Obviously, it's your choice & preference, but I find the Pre-amp / D.I. Pedal works for me Good luck PS. Nice basses those 70's R.I.s

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1484742184' post='3217952'] ........Having the second horn repaired then turning the top end down might be worth consideration. Pleased you got a happy ending. [/quote] [quote name='Painy' timestamp='1484749792' post='3218067'] Funnily enough I had been thinking exactly that myself. [/quote] Yes, this can work well. I have 2x Epifani 1x10's. Each has a dial control for its' tweeter - you can set it to zero. So I often set the bottom cab tweeter at zero, and dial in the top cab's tweeter to suit - works a treat Glad to hear it was an easy fix Painy

Hi David, Don't worry that you're not gigging so much - as long as you're still enjoying bass, that's the main thing. Personally, I couldn't imagine not gigging now - I do enjoy it when a gig goes well, but of course, it's each to their own. I wish I had some time to do some bedroom recording & arranging lol I also have an EA amp, which isn't my "main" amp. I found it a bit too clean & hi-fi-like, but it does work well, and sound better with my 2 Epifani 1x10's. Love those cabs (both bought separately from BC members) Don't linger too long in the BC marketplace - or you'll end up spending too much and owning too many basses, like me! Do join in with discussions, and answer questions as well as ask them. I'm sure you've learned a lot in nearly 50 years of playing Welcome to BC

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1484609538' post='3216890'] I need to try some more Squier basses. I tend to overlook them as "just copies"...... [/quote] They are copies, but the important thing is that they are approved, designed and backed by Fender themselves. I'm sure that in order to put the Fender brand name on the instrument, it will have to meet a certain standard. As others have said, they are also very similar in terms of dimensions and sizes of pickups, bridges etc - making it easier to swap or upgrade parts. As for 2nd hand JV Squiers - they were made in the same factory as japan Fenders, and they are much talked about and are of very high quality and standard. They have become very sought after and collectible - hence their perceived value increasing... As for the Classic Vibe Squiers, these are made in a different factory in China, to other China made Squiers, and they are quite different in terms of quality and price. I've played several Mex Fenders, and though some are superb, I'd still go for my CV Squier over any I've played - other than the Fender Roadworn series (of which I have 2). I prefer my Mex made Roadworns over any US Fender I've ever played. Again, this is personal preference & taste of course Good luck with your search. And also try out some Indonesian made Squier Vintage Modified (VM) basses - less expensive than the CV's, but also very good quality and value. As if you didn't have enough to try out already

I'm in my 2nd spell of bass playing, having taken a huge break from playing (getting married, having my son, work on house, mortgage etc) During my first spell, I had a bit of a "thing" about Rickenbackers. (Runs for cover!) I wanted one, but there was no way I could afford one... Anyhow, at the time, I'd managed to get hold of a Shaftesbury 4001 faker, and it was brilliant. I'd sold all my gear after my band split, as I needed cash for lifes other priorities. After said huge break in playing, I decided I'd like either a genuine Rick, or another Shaftesbury - or at least I'd like to try one again. Anyhow, it took nearly a decade for me to get my hands on another Shaftesbury! Partly because of the whole thing with Fakers and buying / selling them... I also owned a genuine USA Rick, which I've since sold... but the Shaftesbury is going nowhere! No way I'd sell it - it's that good, plus I't be another 10 years before I managed to get hold of another one....

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1484580695' post='3216464'] Well that's several cans of worms all put into the blender! [/quote] Yes indeed, it's several cans of them When you say you've seen several Squiers for more than a Fender original, I take it you mean the like of Japan JV Squiers? These are certainly well regarded by many who own them, and many more who wished they did! As for the "originals" i.e. USA Fenders - these do tend to vary in terms of quality. You get good batches and bad batches, not so good and not bad batches, as well as excellent batches etc. You may also be comparing Squier prices with Fender Mexican made basses? These tend to go for less than a USA model, and again vary as much in quality as any other instrument can. Re newer Squiers, I keep talking about them - so at risk of repeating myself, the Squier Classic Vibe series are absolutely stunning instruments, I owned a Squier CV P bass at the same time as a rather good US P bass. The US P was one of the best I'd played - but it wasn't hugely better than the China made CV P bass - honestly. These are going for a relatively low price - maybe a third or even a quarter of the price of an "original", yet they are just as good, or often better than some US made examples.... Are they that good? - Yes, some of them really are Is it just snobbery to buy a Fender instead of a Squier? - I think sometimes it is, but it's your bass, so you buy the one you want. There certainly was some snobbery around when the early Japan Squiers came out.... I know, cos I heard some people's opinions at the time.... It really shouldn't matter about what name is on the headstock - if you like it, and it's comfy to play and you get the sounds you want from it, and it's reliable - well, who cares about the brand name? Try a few Squiers though - you may be surprised

Fair enough. I like to have one or two differences between my basses though - so I'm more comfortable with different basses.... Perhaps that's a bit odd on my part, but I think I'm more comfortable on other peoples basses than I used to be

I really like the chunkier style of bridge on the CV's. They seem more of a high-mass type. The brass saddles seem really solid too. I don't know about changing the bridge. Personally I'd leave the original bridge in place, in preference to the more standard BBOT bridge. At £215 - I'd go for it! That's a really good price for one IMO. Just change the knobs back to the more standard Fender P type You'd be hard pushed to find anything else that even comes near touching it for that sort of money Hell, if you added another 150 quid to the price, you'd be hard pushed to get anything as good....