Prosebass

A few threads on reading, theory and practice got me thinking about this and because I am more interested in designing and building at the moment I realised that some weeks I would only pick a bass up to either set it up or test a new design so less than an hour or two actual playing for pleasure !!!! Whats your average and do you feel guilty if you don't get so many hours a week in ? Does playing more make you a better / more accomplished player or have you hit a brick wall ? Whats your percentage of live / practice playing ? I need to play more I was a more accomplished bassist when I was 20

[quote name='steve' post='389309' date='Jan 23 2009, 09:36 AM']I'm working on my reading and theory at the moment now. I'm partial to a bit of solo Bach, and whilst some is available in tab form, it seems somehow perverse (in a bad way ) to use it, not withstanding the fact that tab is a completely deficient notation system IMHO since it doesn't record the rhythmical aspects accurately and relies on listening to the music or having notation with it to resolve that problem.[/quote] I was recently bought a Bach for bass Tab book and have found it very beneficial, probably because over the years I lost the ability to read music and lost most of the theory I had learned (large break from playing) Yes you do have to listen to the original music for the rhythmic aspects but I think for a beginner (which is how I feel again) Tab is fine and will encourage most people to move onto reading and theory. 20 - 25 years ago I had no problem but now find I have slipped into "trained monkey" mode regarding playing but then all my time and effort goes into designing and building rather than playing.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='389003' date='Jan 22 2009, 08:41 PM']In an effort to earn the 2009 'most popular forum member' Oscar.... Theory is invaluable if you want to move beyond trained monkey status. Doing it is one thing. Knowing what you are doing is another.[/quote] Trained monkeys have been the bedrock of many a good band..... [attachment=19076:Pbass01.jpg] And with comments like that I won't be voting for you in the "Oscars"....

Under the distance selling regulations you can ask for a refund irrespective of the reason for up to 14 days after purchase and just stand the cost of sending it back to them and put it down to experience, its a good lesson. The best secondhand basses by far are Yamaha's and my personal favorite Westone Thunders which can be had for £120.00 You get a quality well made , sonically good bass that will last years. Search the threads and you will find lots of good recommendations.

£770 final bid.....I hope it all works. Did anyone have a punt then ?

[quote name='rhino' post='387276' date='Jan 21 2009, 10:52 AM']The two combos you describe sound like the guitar combo. However, I have used Peterson 150watt amps over the years and they are excellent. They usually drive EV 10" units but there are combo's with 15" EV's fitted. John Entwistle tested them in the early days with the combo being hidden from sight and when asked what size of speaker he was playing through, said a 15", and was suitably amazed when he saw it was a 10". They were built by Pete Tulett in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. I had a few conversations with him and he was the man who designed and built Simms Watts gear. I did sell my Peterson 1 x 10" combo to a bass player from Bristol who was keen on forming a collection - I'll see if I can find a contact name and number and get back to you. Rhino.[/quote] That great cheers I was led to believe they were primarily made for studio work (the small cubes) although I did find this Peterson Cab and Peavey head in an old ad [url="http://www.wyenot.com/news/2006-12-20-8.htm"]Here[/url] Bargain or what ?

[quote name='Eight' post='387386' date='Jan 21 2009, 12:21 PM']We went through it all earlier. Those lucky folk who's bank love them are making a killing; if you're one of them then great. ~ I'm getting a bit sick of online shopping - if my favourite retailers haven't got an item then I've given up on searching the ten billion music retailers to find it. I'll buy something else. I've worked in web and eCommerce for a loooonnng time and the current situation and trends worry me. I'm almost at the point of saying Prosebass's prediction about everyone just buying from Thomann will come true. Maybe things will all collapse and we'll end up with three sites on the internet for making purchases - Thomann for musical instruments; and eBay & Amazon for *everything* else. But personally, I'm sick of the post office. Sick of failed deliveries and long delays before getting what I want - increasingly these days I'll look to a real shop instead.[/quote] Good on yer.... It is a shame that a lot of people have been sucked into on-line trading for everything. Not only are we losing shops but also all the social interaction and spin offs from shopping ie coffee shops, taxi , bus, fuel, pub etc.... and the general good feeling you get when your main street is buzzin on a Saturday afternoon.

[quote name='Beedster' post='387316' date='Jan 21 2009, 11:22 AM']I get nearly everything I need from a) Basschat, ebay and c) online suppliers who have stuff that the first two don't. The only things I have bought from a shop (i.e., real not virtual) in the last year were two books, which were impulse buys, and a set of EB strings, which was all they had in stock for bass and I didn't want to go to a rehearsal without a spare set. The latter were woefully overpriced and tonically dead, having sat in the store no doubt for a couple of years. Bottom line is, if you make a business case for music retail, a shop will nearly always be a far worse option that a website. Too many shops now simply serve as a place to try the options before buying far cheaper - and sometimes in far better condition and playability - online. Chris[/quote] This is a good point by Chris and cheap storage space ( or a garage and bedroom) is always going to be less than a shop in terms of rent / rates but setting up on-line trading and looking after a web-site is not easy. It is still essential as a "shop front" to have a web presence even with a traditional shop. The thing is everyone is going down the line of web-based business and all this will do is drive prices down and we will all end up buying everything from Thoman and if they haven't got it tough. As I said earlier a shop with living accommodation is the best bet if you are determined to have a "real" shop but you have to be realistic about it. A small shop costing say £7000 PA + rates and running costs means £10000 a year . With a markup of 50% you need to sell £15000 PA just to cover costs and £25000 to give a wage of £10,000. If you sell online the same £25,000 gives you £16,600 !!!! a big difference from £10,000 Don't let people put you off and the main thing you need is enthusiasm and commitment and if you are realistic, work you costs out properly and want it to succeed it will. But don't expect just to open your front door and watch the floods of people roll in as it won't happen. Most successful business owners are very single minded and put an enormous amount of work in and believe in what they are doing no matter what others may tell them.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='386938' date='Jan 20 2009, 11:06 PM']I'm not interested but can pick up and store if needed.[/quote] Cheers Wayne , very generous offer from you again !!!! Looks like you are becoming the basschat Fairy Godmother

[quote name='yorick' post='387265' date='Jan 21 2009, 10:42 AM']If these have a natural wood cabinet, they're the same as one i used in the mid-nineties. Very good sounding combos, but bl@@dy unreliable and prone to overheating. I would say they are overpriced as well.[/quote] They are indeed the same with the wood cabinet.

I popped in SAI in Chorley yesterday and they had 2 Peterson Bass combos in that were square cubes (approx 15") and very expensive at £500 each !!!!! (Mind you he had a beat up old Peavey 110 at £200) Does anyone own any Peterson gear or have any info on them as they seem perfect for high quality home use and recording which I believe the smaller units were designed for . I've trawled the threads and can find very little about them other than a reference to Pete Tulett and Simms Watts

[quote name='josh3184' post='386679' date='Jan 20 2009, 08:28 PM']hmm, might be an interesting proposal actually- plus its an impromptu bass bash AND chance to meet my current favorite new bass builder (more arse licking on request)[/quote] you flatter me sir.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='384932' date='Jan 19 2009, 01:28 PM']For pickups I'd have a look at [url="http://www.q-tuner.com/"]Q-Tuners[/url] - alexclaber has them on his bass so he'll be able to give you a good idea of how they sound, I'd also look at the ACG pre-amps for Wal-type tones, especially the 01 model if you're going for a two pickup bass which gives you the most flexibility, however that means getting Alan to build the bass for you as it's now the only way of getting this version of the pre-amp.[/quote] +1 on that. I have used Q-Tuners in several builds and I think they have the "pianoesque" clarity and depth you may be looking for Kev If you need some sound files I'll try and find a few I have. I have a copy of Erno Zwaan's book on Pickup and bass building if you want a read of it. It has a very interesting section on building necks as Erno will not use truss-rods or any reinforcing as he firmly believes it ruins the tone and creates "dead spots" on the board. His method is to machine the neck slightly bowed so that string tension alone pulls it into place. A lot of hand finishing and trail and error but the results speak for themselves. And it helps if you use ebony for the whole neck.... [attachment=18983:Q_Jazz001.jpg] This sounded amazing , way better than any Fender I have heard , they are excellent pups and look the business.

[quote name='josh3184' post='386634' date='Jan 20 2009, 07:55 PM']argh tempted now. Thank god I live up north or i'd be over this like a fly on... well you get the idea[/quote] Van hire £60.00 from Chorley and and about 12 gallons of juice = £100.00 approx and I'll drive.....worth a punt ? anyone got a spare garage at the moment ?

[quote name='vmaxblues' post='382505' date='Jan 16 2009, 03:23 PM']So, questions: 1) What do you look for in a music shop? 2) What would you ideally like to see in a music shop? 3) How far would you travel? 4) Am I mad to consider this?[/quote] 1. Neat , Tidy , well organised , clear prices , Knowledgeable / helpful staff , 2. Good selection of what I am after , somewhere to try stuff (sound booth) , good secondhand selection. Coffee and biscuits and the shop smelling nice. 3. Nationwide if they have an interesting selection of stuff I want ! 4. Not at all Do your research and stick to a couple of themes. Most shops tend to cover every base and thats where they fall down. Secondhand is good (even buying your stock from ebay) Remember not everyone can afford a New USA Fender Customer service is paramount and yes your prices will be more than the web but people don't mind that if they get the service, a brew and a natter. Read, read and do some more reading on business and how others have made their shops a success. Set your goals before you start as to what you are trying to achieve. Do your costings and business plan and go see an accountant. Set up as a Limited Company (its got lots of advantages your accountant will explain) Be realistic and re-invest as much as you can. Parking must be available either outside or adjacent to your shop (I know this through bitter experience) Ideally buy the shop if it has accommodation over it. An investment in itself long term. If you do decide to go ahead keep it under your hat until you are ready to launch. Make sure you sell my short scales when I get them organised Anything is possible and you may not succeed at the first attempt but you need the mindset and the commitment. I took a business from scratch to £250,000 PA turnover in 3 years but unfortunately our overheads were always a bit more so I would have been better off sitting at home but I learned a hell of a lot (better than Uni or a course) and as well as the basses me and Mrs Prosebass are looking at other ideas at the moment. Best of luck and if you need a list of good books to read just PM me...

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='386547' date='Jan 20 2009, 06:50 PM']Anyone want in on splitting it up? I'm sure it said 4 10x8 cabs when it first wnet up (which I guessed meant 8x10s) but looks like its been corrected.[/quote] This is the current wording ...... I'm offering my entire backline rig in 7 flightcases consisting of :- 4 x MARSHALL 4 x 10 cabinets 2 x Racked GALLIEN-KRUEGER 800RB amplifiers 1 x GALLIEN-KRUEGER monitor cabinet But their may be 2 x 15" cabs and maybe another amp (so 3) The 800RB still retails at about $750.00... What do you suggest ? and have you got a van ?

[quote name='bigjohn' post='386479' date='Jan 20 2009, 05:54 PM']Anyone know? I'm shielding the body. Is there any point in sheilding the scratch plate? As a side note - it's bloody heavy![/quote] Only if you are going to solder earths to it as I do instead of messing up the back of the pots. Its very difficult to solder ali as it requires a special flux and high temperature so I stick copper shielding to it.

[quote name='YouMa' post='386453' date='Jan 20 2009, 05:37 PM']I likled cities in dust and hong kong garden.[/quote] I always thought their version of "Helter Skelter" was good but lost interest in them in about 1981 Still a lot of good gear , be interesting to see how much it brings.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BANSHEE-BACKLINE_W0QQitemZ290288660446QQihZ019QQcategoryZ58719QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Steven Severin's Amps & Cabs[/url]

[quote name='cai!' post='383519' date='Jan 17 2009, 07:48 PM']Thats lovely! your ideas are great! thats a really interesting take on a jazz bass and brings alot of ideas to mind! is this made to a customer spec then? or are you keeping it or just a straight sale to the first person?[/quote] Bass now for sale....[topic="38583"]Here[/topic]

[quote name='chris_b' post='381427' date='Jan 15 2009, 04:01 PM']Darryl Jones doesn't agree with you! You can run the Stones down as much as you want, but, as they have pulled in a multi million, world wide audience on tour after tour for over 40 years, makes your description sound a bit like sour grapes, doesn't it!![/quote] Crowd pulling power is no guarantee of goodness, look at Adolf ?