Dood

My immediate thought was this. Angling speakers towards your ears is the simplest solution. I just wish that all guitarists learned this sooner too. Often, with a speaker off-axis, the top end and upper mid-range (which bassists need for pitch definition) gets lost. Guitarists with cabinets sat on the floor poitning towards their knees will then crank up the treble and presence so it sounds nice and balanced where their ears are. The audience, being 'on axis' with the cabinet have to deal with razor sharp tinnitus inducing searing top end. So many issues could be solved if their speakers were on axis with their lug-oles!!

As a teacher myself (and I say this with a huge respect to those I regard as my friends who do online lessons and courses only) I'd strongly suggest getting 1-2-1 lessons in the first instance with a really good, vibrant and well respected tutor ( if you can find one locally, that is!) Nothing beats being in front of an experienced teacher with proven knowledge, who loves what they do and is enthusiastic about making sure their students have the skills that they need and the bad habits they don't. And, that includes teaching a student skills in self-motivaton and how to learn learn for themselves. (I am sure I could have made more money if I left that out of my syllabus, but that's not who I am). I have had a student who came to me in the same position, wanting to get the solid foundations down with a view to moving to an online course later to suit their future budget and work hours. I have no issue with that and, it worked very well. He's pretty busy gigging these days!

Yes, the Z series shape is much better. A subtle reshape and it looks less like a 4 year old drew it originally ha ha!! I think the Z7 looks like a great instrument. Looking forward to reviewing them.

Following on from @Tim Chapple's superb Spotify Playlist of Basschatter's work, I thought I'd remind us all that there's this collaborative list floating about (I'll add it back to my signature soon) for a great bass line general resource! http://basschat.co.uk/topic/246416-spotify-best-bass-lines-evaaar-playlist-get-involved

I've an EP with old band mate Andy James (Five Finger Death Punch) floating around somewhere that needs to be uploaded along with a couple of solo tracks I recorded with him.

Symphony X drummer John Macaluso this time with me for rhythm section duties. Russell Allen from Symphony X also joins us along with Kevin Moore (Dream Theater) . The previous mentioned Schizanimus is included here with Gavin Harrison on drums. Amadeus Awad - All Guitars and Additional Programming Elia Monsef - Vocals as the "Necromancer" Russell Allen - Vocals as the "Pharaoh" Amanda Somerville - Vocals as the "Queen" Kevin Moore - Keyboards Elyes Bouchoucha - Keyboards Danny Bou Maroun - Keyboards/Orchestration Dan Veall - Bass John Macaluso - Drums 1. Visions 2. The Crown's Fate 3. The Book Of Gates 4. Incarnation 5. Poetry Of Time (Bonus Track) 6. Noir (Bonus Track) 7. Song For A Loner (Bonus Track)

Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) and I make up the rhythm section of this sonic soundscape epic EP that was later added to The Book Of Gates album by EON, featuring an all-star line up. I'll see if I can find that too! Amadeus Awad ~ Guitars, Programming & Keyboards Elia I. Monsef ~ Vocals Gavin Harrison ~ Drums Dan Veall ~ Bass & Danny Bou-Maroun ~ Orchestration & Additional Keyboards.

Thomas Lang and I make up the rhythm section for this massive prog production featuring The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra!! Arjen Lucassen and Marco Sfogli guest. Line-up / Musicians - Youmna Jreissati / vocals - Elia Monsef / vocals, charango, acoustic guitar, programming, composer, arranger, producer - Alain Ibrahim / rhythm & acoustic guitars - Danny Bou-Maroun / keyboards, piano, percussion, programming, orchestration & conducting, composer, arranger, producer - Alexander Abi Chaker / percussion (1,2,4,5,8) With: - Michael Mills / vocals (as Utopia) - Marco Sfogli / guitar (1-3,5,8,11) - Özgür Abbak / guitar solo (6) - Arjen Anthony Lucassen / guitar solo (9) - Jokine Solban / violin solo (2) - Yamane Al Hage / violin solo (3,8,9) - Roger Smith / cello (1,10,12) - Nobuko Miyazaki / flute (9,11) - Mohannad Nassar / oud (5,10) - Dan Veall / bass - Thomas Lang / drums - The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - The Lebanese Filmscoring Ensemble / string quartet

Thank you for the kind words!!

I have two PJBS basses that I have modified, the third is still stock. I love these basses! They really are fantastic and, even better with custom electronics, they can really come to life if the onboard pre isn't your vibe. There are many drop in solutions, you're in luck! I am running an EMG active PJ set in both basses. They are currently tied to a 3 band preamplifier but they are a little different. The first bass is using the included pan control, the second I retained the three way switch set up that we'd have on the stock PJBS. It might seem an odd choice, but it was down to having the first bass refinished and I was in the lucky position of having the existing holes resized to suit the preamplifer I wanted to install, whereas the second I have had to stick with the current lay out. I did use a tool to very carefully widen the hole that had the (small) switch in so that the final control pot could fit in. You could do the same of course. So, I have, Master volume, Pan, Bass, Mid & Treble. The pan is a 'zero drop' type, so there's no change in volume in the 50/50 position. Bass number two doesn't have the pan as mention, I bought a high quality three way and installed that too. The current set up for both has a pull-up switch on the master volume to bypass the preamplifer, an alternative to using a separate toggle, but, a good suggestion for utilising the small hole without drilling. On the subject of EMG, they do offer a wide range of preamplifer configurations including two and three band types, stacked controls and even 'bass and treble on one pot' (EMG EXB) that could be a useful too. https://www.emgpickups.com/bass.html?cat=324

Here ya go then!! https://www.bassgearmag.com/bassic-review-cort-space-5-headless-bass-guitar/ Full video review included Dooooooood...

It's finally here, my full video review and write up for the new Cort Space 5, this one's a peach!! Like all Bass Gear Magazine reviews, here's the free to read review :- https://www.bassgearmag.com/bassic-review-cort-space-5-headless-bass-guitar/

https://www.bassgearmag.com/bassic-review-cort-artisan-c5-deluxe-bass-guitar/

In all honesty, given that the bass side isn't so catered for as the guitar side of the QC, and I am only using it live for bass, currently in a band that doesn't need monsterous effects, maybe it is overkill here too. However, I need to spend some time dialling in some fat bass-pedal type sounds, in which case it will be very useful! QC has a basic tone generator on board too, so it's possible to also create a very rough Taurus pedals 'thing'. (There's a fun default patch based on the chords of Shine On You Crazy Diamond intro on QC)

I'm using QC alone in a set up that, like my previous Helix and other gear has replaced silly amounts of rack gear. The signal path now is relatively simple outside QC. I'm in the luxurious posiion that the sounds I have created on QC are "FOH ready" and my backline and IEMs, when I use them receives exactly the same signal. (There's some tweaking that goes on around my IEMs but that doesn't change the output of QC). The path inside QC is based on a template that I edit per needs as there are some aspects that I don't change much, so if I switch from one patch to another, levels are relatively the same. Top rows are for "preamp sounds" and the bottom rows I like to use for modulations and time based effects (except when the preset has to be wildly different like, building a 3-4 band multiband compressor - which leaves little space for much else ha ha! I guess at the moment I'm not doing much experimental stuff, but its nice to know I can if I want to. Using QC is a breeze, no issues there and for me, the form factor is important. I love Helix LT, but QC fits in the same bag as my amp, which is bonkers! Touch screen and rotary controls is a big yes for me too as I like the tactile approach and hate scrolling through lengthy menus. I've not much to add in terms of manipulating CC's and other parameters, I've had QC for a while, but I still haven't got that far yet ha ha!!

I’ve just added all my reviews from Guitar Interactive issues 5 (when I started there) through to 40 to my playlist. Yay! Loads of very young Dan ha ha! I will update the lists and links above when I get time. For now, get cracking with checking out some really cool gear!! {EDIT} 312 videos in the playlist now, so I have a bit of admin to do!!!

Thank you! I think because it's a Deluxe C series model they have added some extra touches, a bit like the Fender Player Plus jazz has noiseless pickups, active preamp and a satin neck with rolled edges, yet i think the next model up doesn't? Either way, it makes it a solid purchase at the price point.

Just published, Cort Space 5 coming soon too..

New version of the play through track:

Here's my full written review of the new for 2024 Cort C5 Deluxe 5 string bass! Let me know what you think! https://www.bassgearmag.com/bassic-review-cort-artisan-c5-deluxe-bass-guitar/

For sure, those used to really light gauges will find these both a higher tension and, if a bass has been set up for light, it will most likely need adjustment. My geometry is pretty flat with a low action. Lower tension strings tend to flap and rattle about, whereas for faster picking I don't want the string bounding about too much.

I used them on my Fender Power Jazz Bass Specials, but I'm back to standard now and haven't touched the nut at all! Maybe I was just lucky as I ahven't tried them on another bass - that said, one of my other basses I had a second nut made and it clips in when I want to change from F#BEADGC to BEADGCF !

I’m slightly embarrassed to say that I have been meaning to put my thoughts on a Monza in to words on these very pages, alas I have been weathering some persistent health obstacles.

Although it wasn't a bass I'd owned the longest, it was definitely one I regret letting go. I'd love to know where it ended up, the last time I heard about it was when I tried to buy it back and it ended up in a studio in Suffolk somewhere... I just don't know which one!