Wonky2

I'd even go as far as say not only does a drummer have to be tight there also has to be that chemistry between the bass player and drummer as the two often work within a boundary that the other band members just don't get ? If its not there, your talking to yourself

Stevie ray Vaughn and double trouble .......Texas flood. Early Peter green fleetwood mac. Quality music.

Thanks guys, all comments are useful I know well that the strings will mature and are better left on, and I'll be happy to do that once I get a decent set that feels right and sounds even in tone and sustain...... The diaddrios just ain't that set. As I said, I thought I'd trial a cheaper pack to see what the fuss about flats was and it turns out i like them!!! So yes, the week before a studio visit isn't exactly the best time to do it, but I'm confident I'll have played them in enough by d day. Once I get hooked up with a set i like ill stick with them and inevitably leave them on. I have been using the diaddrios with my sponge it on some tracks on happy thumping along without too. What I found to like from the flats was the round fullness of tone but I didn't expect them to ring so clear as well, that's the part i like the most. I hear what your saying about twisted strings, I had an issue with a kingbass I had which had a dead d sting which drove me mad. I later found that my OCD approach t stringing my bass and having all the string beads facing the same way was the cause of the problem. Not so much an issue will single ball end, but when you do hat with double ball end your gonna make that string uncomfortable I know know to let them lie where they want to lie My bridge will allow through body or bridge stringing so no big deal on that and the gauge shouldn't be an issue then.... I'll give them ago. Can always string up these diaddarios again if need be.

I made the change to flatwound strings a few months ago and thought for a first try I'd start with a moderately priced set, so went for the d'addario chromed. I instantly loved the flats and wondered how I'd gone 23 years and never tried them??? I'd always used rounds and changed them quite regular too. So, I'm going in the studio next weekend and thought I try and get a new set played in this week, thought I'd give the more premium brand Labella a go to as they seem to have great reviews all round. So I'm struggling to find what I want.... Gauge wise, I've been using .045-100 and they feel nice, closest labella set i can see is .043-104.... I think I can live with the different string size but the only ones that size I can find say they are not suitable for through boy stringing ?????? Why is that? And can anyone point me to the best place to find what I'm looking for? I'd be happy enough to just go with the diaddrios again but I wanted to try the labellas . Thanks, and sorry for another string thread

Survey monkey will correlate this info for you in lots of clever ways you know......?

1. How long have you been playing your instrument? A. 24 years 2. Do you use an electronic tuner? If yes which model? A. Crappy old korg tuner but mostly none. 3. Do you tune by ear or electronic tuner? A.by ear but electronic if noise is a problem 4. If by ear how do you go about? A. Call for an open a string off guitar geek who does use a tc electronics tuner, then I tune by ear using harmonics listening to the waves. 5. Are you always 100% happy with your tuning? / if not A. Mostly 6. Why are you not happy with your tuning? A. I am 7. What disturbs you about the electronic tuner A. It's often inaccurate. 8. Do you know how to tune by ear? A. Yes 9. What is your preferred tuning method? A. Harmonics I suppose I really should get with the programme and get a reputable tuner for silent tuning but once I've tuned up i will usually tune whilst playing if required..... Sound like a smug answer, it's not meant that way I've just gotten used to making tweaks hear and there whilst playing. I think this is partly why I don't use a tuner as my ear for pitch is sometimes contrary to what the tuner says?? Could just be me thinking its in when its out but I have often used a tuner and thought " that's never in tune that ???" Anyone else or just me..? If it's just me, I'll take it that my ear for pitch is off and I'm hearing it different Me, I can't stand for anyone to be a smudge out of tune when playing, I'm almost unable to listen to it. More of a curse than a skill to be fair....

Cheers I'll take a listen, I've been using spotify to try new stuff with great results If your fancying a resonator I can highly recommend some of the new models from gretch (gretsch?) (wtf?) Any way... I wanted one for ages but didn't fancy paying out 1700 quid for a national.... The cheap alternatives were ozark at 400 ish but they were a bag of poo. I then happened upon the gretch bobtail which I picked up used for 250 quid with a pick up. It plays and sounds fantastic and has a pick up in it too !Really, a great guitar. See here..... Great eom vid of it.... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7FZWtYvFah4 The bobtail: http://www.gak.co.uk/en/gretsch-g9220-resonator-guitar-bobtail-round-neck-electro-2sb/56307 Or the cheaper aligator: http://www.gak.co.uk/en/gretsch-g2940-alligator-round-neck-resonator/77946

Just read an a article on a prototype guitar lead which uses fibre optics instead of traditional cable. http://askaudiomag.com/articles/review-iconic-sound-lightlead I know it makes a considerable difference on my hifi gear so would imagine a notable improvement in the scenario too. I'll be sticking with my 20 year old whirlwinds for now though

A more dominant bass player could do something with it I suppose but I Agree with the comments on the vox and lyrics... If you have the time give it a go and see if you can bring it to life a bit

Well done A band I played in many years ago had a half page spread on a demo reveiw in guitarist magazine...... The review described my bass playing to the opening music from grange hill (think fork on assuage era) I was happy enough with that. Click link below for nostalgia http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-SlvZF6k5bE

I'm digging this young chap..... http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eUkSTnUK_T0 As much as I love playing bass with a band i totally dig this kind of music as I also play resonator guit and banjo (but don't tell anyone, it's my secret guilty pleasure )

And a load of crap old singers. (Must add, I haven't even sen the Christmas ad.... My opinions are based purely on the little imp in general) He's got some sweet cars though.

Some great veiws and comments here... I do agree that mr holland has done remarkably well And there is obviously a market for it, but it's just not for me..... Personally I think that tyre is a very large proportion of the public who will believe something is good simply because they are told it is. in the same context I can't stand and refuse to listen to jo whiley and crew. Th bbc says its good so it must be good. Er nope. I think the shame of it is is that bands/ musicians can be made or broke because of the view of this.

German market trip sounds nice..... Whilst were hate'in.... Personally I can't stand that smug midget cock... Granted his show often showcases some fantastically diverse acts, that element is great.... But the Jules jumping on his piano to play boogie woogie at any opportunity, hogging the limelight just makes me cringe...... The news years eve show with that daft get with a head like a clock ??? Just does me head in. I go through phases were I am completely turned off by tv and really see the beauty in making you own entertainment, I wonder if I would be doing my family, my kids an injustice or a favour by removing it from the house completely. I am torn by the fact that there are many educational elements to tv aswell as incredible documentaries, dramas and some funny funny people..... But the rubbish which fills the spaces between the good stuff is controlling and literally brain numbing. Most of which insults our intelligence. What passes for entertainment is diabolical, the regurgitation of the same vote off format tv is tired yet they still churn out show after show. Injustice or a kindness? Any veiws on this?

Thanks twincam, I'm leaning that way... I have only used it as the combo, not with ext cab.... I just got the cab for live stuff but w haven't done any yet just rehersal and studio, that was always the intention of the job...session stuff that has worked well and the collective agree to continue working together... Live stuff will follow at some point... Funny thing is, they said it sounded fine, but I think they were just saying that as I was clearly distracted by it..... Trying to gt a sweet "plum" tone warm and round but not boomy and floppy at the same time.... I knew the room was poor and that's why I wheeled in the little ampeg to see if that just sounded kack too ....plugged it in and that immediate ampeg tone was there. It may be the cas that of me ,that specific and very easily identified "ampeg tone" is what I crave..... I've never owned one, just used that little ampeg rocket 100.... BUT on the other hand, dispir the mesa sound being lost the ampeg sounds thin and has less body or depth to the sound. I'll try the mesa a fw more times and if it doesn't suit me I'll just gt it lists on here. Would b a shame though, the amps reputation speaks for itself and I know making the change would be a comprise in quality by a long chalk.

The room isn't perfect, but does have thick curtains hanging on the walls..... My amp is backed against these walls but the facing wall is bare...... Could explain it.... Window openings are secondary glazed to so I guess the air space between them could boom. Drummers kit is a bag of nails but he's wicked and so how makes it sound right..... But kd skin could be an issue.... The rooms not great, good hard floor but high ceiling.

I'm gonna give it a few more go's and if I'm not better on with it I'll have to move it on.... To be fair, I just need simple. Gonna really try to conquer it but fear it will become an obsession .....

Yes I'm in tune, amp is in corner but not flat to the wall..... As I say.. Is there any thing to note with the fact that at fag break i crank the amp, find a better sound then when they return and i turn down a bit the sound is much better? Valves not getting hot enough ? We only play at a low volume, drummer uses brushes all the time.... And yes, the wooly wobbly sound continues when they stop and i continue to play/ fiddle....

The more you fiddle, the more your aware of people watching you at it.... Straight at the controls the second a song is over, making tweaks at any given pause in the music..... DEMENTED! Hahhahahha

Good point, there's a drummer (mostly brushes), acoustic guitar and strat being flat picked and slide (quite clean a sound) Its deffo me as the sound even begins to wobble. Sounds mad but yes, it wobbles ! Wha Wha Wha Wha Wha Wha....... If that makes sense ? Boomy and wooly..... I like deep bottom end with clear punch.

I used it in a studio last week, di'd out the back and the recorded sound is great. (Not sure if the id is pre or post eq?) Will persevere for now and I'm sure it will come right. My fear is using it in a gigging environment and having such a floppy sound.... I'd be mortified !!!! I've searched the net on more detailed instruction of how to use the parametric eq.... Not much out there, a video would be really good. My next step is to get someone else to play my bass whilst i make adjustments on the dials as its hard to do just let titling notes ring out.

Thanks for the very useful comments guys.... My bass is a fender jazz with flats on. I got rid of the status as again the controls were just too complex for my liking. The room is a bog standard rehearsal room with a solid floor, but poor sound in general. I haven't used the ext cab yet. The sound I'm getting even with everything set flat is wooly... Even slight adjust Kent can mess up the frequencies so bad the sound is "wobbling" ??? Honestly, sounds like a Leslie rotary cabinet at times... What I have noted is that when the band goes out for a cig, i stay and try to find a better sound. I tend to give it a bit more well as its just me in the room. After this the sound improves...... Do I need to get any valves hot perhaps ? Last night after switching from muffled and wooly to wobbly and out of shape, then clear and middy but all bottom end lost.... I lost patience and plugged into a cheap ampeg rocket bass 100. Instantly the tone was spot on and easily shapable. I understand the need for patience but its just got me so frustrated...... I tried sweeping through the frequencies individually untill I could hear a prominent increase in the sound/ frequency, then i cut the volume to that dial. Have I got that wrong? Bottom knob frequency t nob cut/boost? The status i had was my dream bass I'd wanted since being a kid but when I got it it just did my heD in, great bass, to complex for me tho.... This amp may be the same. At home, I've got some absolute wicked tones from it... But with full band its a mess.

I recently splashed out and bought myself a mesa walkabout 15 and matching mesa wa15 ext cab. I had landed myself something special and was really chuffed with it. Fantastic bit of kit in every way. But having lived with it for a few weeks I'm really struggling with the parametric eq and literally dementing myself with the sound. I end up fiddling with it all night. I'm frustrated to death with the fact I have a great bass and a fantastic amp and yet I still find it hard to dial in a simple tone!! It's me, not the gear, it's got to be......I think if just got hung up about it now..... I have dialled in the example tone settings set out in the mesa manual , tried my own variations, but still seem to be continually fiddling with the parametric EQ... Tonight I have literally done my own head in with it and fear that this amp is not for me..... The tones which it will produce really are rediculasly good but I seem to be unable to dial out the unwanted frequencies and when I try to sort them out I just end up making it worse !!! I think it may be because I'm only running it at low volumes ? Guess I need simplicity. May go back to ampeg which is not nearly as "full" or rich a sound, but just so simple to dial in tones. It's not the amp its me. Anyone else struggle with this or am I just an idiot? (I'll accept suggestions that I am an idiot since the amps reputation is that is is one of the best combo' money can buy) Edited to show new signature - ad to follow shortly.

Its possible? I took a real critical look at it all last night. Amp set flat. The issue with the tone pot having very little effect until two thirds of the way down and then all of the adjustment in the last third of the rotation....... Well, the volume pots are the same !!!!! Turning each pick up volume up from fully off there is a SIGNIFICANT increase in the volume on the last third of the rotation.??? The first two thirds being audible but low but having no real increase or decrease within that two thirds of rotation , other than off. This is the case, individually on both vol pots and the tone? I've never noticed untill a sat down and critically examined the effect of the rotation of each pot against the effect it gives. When there all open full it sounds great and they are all working. Not creaks crackles nothing. The bass is a brand new 2014 model american standard, the amp is a mesa walkabout and the leads are whirl wind. So not exactly crappy gear..... Anyone, any ideas? Returning the bas for inspection would be tricky as it was bought on the hush as a fender staff sale (A favour from an old friend)