Bobthedog

I certainly cannot match Gelfin's emporium but here is my study/music room from last year. The basses and rig have moved on since then and out of sight behind the camera are a couple of hard cases, a soft case, pedalboard and a shelf unit dripping with cables, wall mounts and other flotsam picked up along the way.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1462996665' post='3047741'] Ok you deserve everything you get, if you ever do this nonsense on stage. but use strap locks. Don't let this happen to you.!! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7hMUxZjsBM[/media] [/quote] Love the swimming pool one.

I have just listened to a couple of the latest Cort videos by BD and it appears they have now fixed the sound issue. At least for me, the bass is coming out of both the left and right channels. Pure coincidence or this is a Daily Mail moment where we can lay claim to making this happen? :-)

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1462968800' post='3047364'] You can always turn the amp up but there is a difference between loudness from the amp and putting some weight into the note when you pluck the string. Most people play better when they play harder. I don't mean digging in, IMO digging in too much usually makes you sound worse, but striking each note with confidence and firmness. As you're paying your tutor to train you and give you advice I guess you should try to do what he asks. [/quote] I totally agree with what you say but this was not about tone, just volume. I am able to adjust my tone to some extent for different genres, just not loud enough for my tutor. I accept I could be louder, I just struggle with the use the amp vs use the fingers bit.

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1462912411' post='3046961'] Perhaps your tutor is saying that digging in a bit better suits the style of your exam pieces. I wouldn't advocate digging in if you really don't want to, but having a wide gamut of playing styles in your arsenal is never a bad thing imho [/quote] Based on his comment that he could hear all the notes last week against the backing tracks, I think it is pure volume related but then I believe that some consideration is given to sound matching in the exam itself.

Many thanks guys for the responses. My preferred music is for slow / mid tempo blues per SRV, some Joe Bonamassa type stuff and some Benson style jazz: that is the type of music I play when not "grading". The Rockschool grades, however, include a lot of rock type stuff. I think the tutor issue probably comes with the rock stuff. Notwithstanding that and based on the responses here, as long as I have enough amp to turn up and perhaps add a little overdrive, I am going to carry on as I am.

I have been playing now for a couple of years but am still seeing a weekly tutor to get me through my grade exams. One of my "features" according to my tutor is that I play too quietly. He wants me to dig in a lot more to bring the volume up from my fingers. If I do that I lose any finger speed. I tense up with any volume, but staying relaxed means playing relatively quietly to get the speed and tone. I am sure my tutor is right but why can I not just turn the amp up? I am never going to play in big stadia or with huge great bands but do have my 1000w Glock and as of this coming Friday a Barefaced Big Twin II. When I sold one of my RS212 cabs recently the guy that bought it played each of my basses and was materially louder than I am without any more apparent effort and without changing the amp settings. What is the secret and what is wrong with just turning the amp up?

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1462897961' post='3046803'] You have to be one of the workers to appreciate the significance, you elite-ist, over-educated swine! [/quote] Thank you but it was my brother and my girlfriend at the time who where at the Uni - I merely was given tickets each year! I suppose I am therefore elitist by family.

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1462890099' post='3046672'] As with anything else I do in my life, there is only ever one justification/excuse; because I want to. [/quote] This but obviously within budget constraints.

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1462816472' post='3045958'] You have to have "done" Cambridge May Balls week to appreciate this.... A bit like being in the trenches in WW1 (I imagine) but with champers and damp sausage rolls. [/quote] I have done, as an attendee, but do not see the connection? I would not know a famous person from a non famous person, or at least when I have met famous people, I just regard them as people in a different line of business to me. Some like to be fauned over, some like just to be treated as ordinary folk.

There is at least one extensive thread on here on this very topic. Personally I prefer the Dunlop to the Schaller which I never trusted. Others will say just the opposite and others still will prefer beer bottle washers. The choice is not extensive but the opinions are.

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1462812069' post='3045879'] My wife is the champ. She spent a whole evening/night chatting to Mrs Elvis Costello in the dressing room at a gig. Was saying to me a while later how much she liked Elvis Costello and did I know his music [/quote] I may be missing a point here but Mrs Costello is Diana Krall a supremely talented pianist and singer in her own right. Unless of course it was a previous Mrs Costello.

D'addario are all that I am using at the moment. Nickel wound XLs on the Roscoe, Stingray and Jazz with Chromes on the Pbass

Whilst not my usual flavour of music, I do enjoy playing this in the car with the sunroof and windows open: [url="https://youtu.be/Kr0tTbTbmVA?list=RDKr0tTbTbmVA"]https://youtu.be/Kr0...t=RDKr0tTbTbmVA[/url] and whilst this may not be in keeping with what you are looking for, I have this playing at the moment - it certainly swings and is good for a summer mood: [url="https://youtu.be/unnL4taoCUM"]https://youtu.be/unnL4taoCUM[/url] PS ignore the unfortunate address ending, it is perfectly safe for work!

Not a P but close enough to say black:

I have yet to learn how to play with a pick even though I should - for the songs that require it. Whilst at the LBGS this year I was offered a free pick as I went into see Robert Trujillo. When I passed on the offer the guy said "Oh, so you are not a bass player then". That alone has delayed any interest in learning.

MXR Micro Amp (MX133) for me too. Seems to do the job.

I am not sure what you mean about "around London" so will throw in Andertons in Guildford. They have a dedicated bass room which is reasonably stocked and appear to have Rumbles of all types in stock. Alternatively PMT have just opened up in Romford, which they describe as East London.

PJB Bighead. Superb bit of kit. Thread closed. :-)

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1461520304' post='3035359'] I think the trick is to stop thinking of the tone of your bass in isolation and start thinking of the tone in the context of a band. I can only really judge a bass, once I've listened to it in the mix at a gig or rehearsal. [/quote] Agreed, but in this instance I was just hearing another bass player in isolation and comparing that to my sound. The point of this thread was not, however, really meant as a gripe from me but more of a validation to me of how much difference the hands can make through the same kit. Sometimes we are keen to change the kit, when in fact, just a change of touch / technique could make all the difference . What I know for sure now is that the four basses I own are more than capable of carrying a superb tone and should I sell any of them, it down to my shortcomings, not the bass!

Guys, as i said in my post, there is no "plunge". Although I have yet to test it, the site states and others have pointed out elsewhere, there is a 30 day trial period, which appears to allow gig play as well. Try it, if you do not like it, return it. Other than some inconvenience t send it back, I do not see there being an issue.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1461499364' post='3035131'] I take my hat off to you for "retiring" them. Most folk sell and buy another almost identical bass to the one just sold. Not that it achieves anything much, but it keeps evilbay rolling on. [/quote] [color=#0000cd]I have never been especially happy with my tone, whilst it is "adequate" it does not have that pro type clean hit about it and at times is just not right in the mix. I have two amps to choose from with plenty of knobs and switches and 6 contact points (four left, two right) on the strings but cannot replicate what I hear live or even on electronic medium. I am not a golf player, but having heard friends, even good golfists, hit a ball and also hearing a pro hit a ball, the point of contact noise is very different.[/color] [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1461500419' post='3035144'] I think I would go nuts if had a particular sound in my head I was chasing. To me all basses sound "bassy", otherwise they're pretty useless basses! That may sound infantile in its simplicity but I have a pretty broad spectrum of what "good" sounds like to me, because when it comes to playing with other musicians, in different locations, through different rigs if using house gear/gear share, to various quantities of people/room meat, with the FOH sound not in my control anyway - all that carefully researched and planned sonic calculation goes right out the window! As long as the basic tone of the instrument has some bassy heft to it and I'm able to get a bit of twang out of it for note definition and general "being heard over the ruckus" (thus eliminating some more old school designs - got shot of a Fender Starcaster after playing 1 gig with it for instance - plenty bass but not enough top even on the bridge pickup) then I'm happy. [/quote] [color=#0000cd]I think the different locations, room sonics and rigs is a good point, I have very little experience of that. Thankfully I am not after a specific sound, just not happy with what I currently have.[/color] [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1461498731' post='3035119'] If you've retired a Precision, a Jazz and a Stingray because you can't get the sound you want out of them, I can understand why you're depressed! Those three basses must between them be on pretty much every pop and rock record from around 1957! [/quote] [color=#0000cd]Exactly![/color]

I have four basses (P, Jazz, Stingray and Roscoe Century) of which I have semi retired the first three on account of not quite getting the sound I want. A guy came over this morning to buy one of my RS212 cabs and asked to have a go on my basses (he brought a Warwick thumb with him). Wow! What he got out of all of them (other than perhaps the Stingray) was a tone and sound like nothing I can produce. Unbelievable, if not slightly depressing. I know that tone, fingers etc have been discussed many many times but next time you think a bass is not ideal, get someone else to have a go and see what that bass can do! This guys tone was unreal and also perhaps gave me a cure for GAS. The funny things was his favourite was......... my cheapest bass - the Fender P with D'Addario Chrome flats!

I have a Big Twin ll on order. I do not know if it will work for you but worth a 30 day trial perhaps.