tonyf

Didn't know whether or not to stick this posting in here or in the Miscellaneous Equipment and Accessories but here we go. I've just started a new project where I want to use my iPad to store my charts, song sheets and notes etc rather than the usual "tatty uncoordinated folder of scribbled A4" approach. Does anyone used an iPad do this? If so, how do you do it? Are there any apps to organise a setlist using charts, add-hoc notes etc? T

Do I have to say this again? WOW.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1348431757' post='1813621'] I use Comfort Strapp too,but I still think it'll be a ball ache on most gigs.Also,to be honest,I don't see the point. I can see the point of having a lower strung bass on a rock gig or whatever,but changing strap length multiple times in a set seems rather excessive to me. [/quote] Why excessive? It's momentary tweak. I take longer picking up a plectrum. Or having a drink. Or walking over to the guitarist to lift my leg to "leave a little fragrant gift". Or maybe adjusting my foil wrapped cucumber as it's slipped a bit. I do a couple of covers bands. Two hours + of completely different music. I ain't gonna be sticking my foot on the monitor giving it large playing "sex on fire" or "mr brightside" with the bass up under my rib cage where it was more comfortable to play finger style or slapped in "she said" or "forget you". Ultimately, no one in the audience seems to notice or care, it just makes sense to me from a technical point of view and is a bit more comfortable for me. Each to their own eh?

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1348423551' post='1813459'] Wow..that seems like too much of a ball ache to me.Also,often there isn't enough time to do stuff like that on most of my gigs. [/quote] Trust me, no ball ache at all. It takes a couple of seconds, I simply reach behind, grab the buckle and slide down or up to shorten or lengthen it. Job done. As stated though, it's probably only the design and construction of the Comfort Strapp that allows me to do that. [url="http://comfortstrapp.com/"]http://comfortstrapp.com/[/url] T

[quote name='lowdowner' timestamp='1348390955' post='1812933'] If I saw a bassist changing strap height throughout a set i'd be in absolute awe - i'd assume he was an expert and needed to get that last 0.0001% of expression and feeling out of his playing. Top trumps to you today me thinks [/quote] That 0.0001% of expression and feeling comes in handy with the 0.0001% of talent I've got.

It's probably something I'll live to regret admitting but I tend to change my strap height several times during a set. I've got Comfort Strapps on my basses which allow me to easily and quickly alter the height. There's some tunes we cover where it's much more practical to have the bass higher just under my ribcage, as i use finger style or slap. Other tunes, where I'm giving it some with a pick and standing with my legs splayed trying to look cool, it feels more natural to have the guitar slung quite low.

I've just gone back to EBS Prolines after an unsuccessful detour into TC gear. I'm so happy again now with my sound. The Genz Benz Streamliner 900 pushes a lot of power into the Proline 410 and being very sensitive, it's a HUUUUUGGGGEEEE sound. There's a lot of attack and "click" available if I want it from the cab, but it mellows out wonderfully if I change the tone from my bass. The combination just works really well and it really sensitive to the nuances of what I'm doing in the set. The best compliment I had was from the keyboard player (who's opinion I trust implicitly) who said to me "wow, that's got so much definition and punch". [sharedmedia=core:attachments:112684]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1348310869' post='1812140'] How can Big Country even contemplate existing without Stuart Adamson? [/quote] +1

I keep forgetting to put my gigs in the diary. Mainly due to not thinking anyone would wanna see 5 middle aged duffers knocking out a set of covers on a friday night. Anyhoo (in case television suddenly stops working at the same time as every other pub in Britain and there's a ban on home-based drinking) my band The Retro Band play Woodys Bar in Hednesford tonight. We take the stage about 9.00pm, probably to be bottled off at 9.04pm. Hope to see ya if you're there, come up and say hello. I'll be the one on stage inconvincingly holding the bass and trying not to look confused. [url="http://www.theretroband.co.uk"]http://www.theretroband.co.uk[/url] T

I'll echo what Nige has said. Joe's work is fabulous. There's also Bob Barry who's also incredibly good. [url="http://www.bobbarryguitars.co.uk/"]http://www.bobbarryguitars.co.uk/[/url] T

Cheers Jez, that's a great summary of the basics of "required" kit. Just what I needed. [quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]If I buy some wood that needs thicknessing or when I want the rough outline of a body cutting, I go to one of the local handyman centres or joiners. For those tasks I think you do need specialist kit like a bandsaw or a thicknesser, the local guys are great and only cost me a couple of quid.[/font][/color][/quote] That's a great idea. TBH, it's the whole part of the job that i'd worry about, the expense of buying and actually using those big powerful potentially dangerous power tools. if you can use a local joiner to do the bigger work "properly" for a few quid, it's a no brainer. in terms of routing, guess i'd be a little nervous about making mistakes as i've not used one before but i guess that's where a few hours of practice routing pickup cavities and neck sockets in scrap wood comes in handy. in terms of the bitsa i built, i had loads of fun and it gave me a massive sense of achievement. with a scratch build, i guess if i'm prepared to have a go and accept i'll probably make mistakes but soon learn from them, there's ultimately nothing stopping me. T

I saw it earlier and like others have mentioned, there seems to be a definite bass bias. Not bad for primetime TV. I'm no fanboy but MK came across as a genuine, funny and self-depreciating chap. He seemed like great company, he had the studio audience in the palm of his hand.

[quote name='Jabba_the_gut' timestamp='1348068385' post='1808829'] Finally cut the neck pocket - turned out quite well. Time for the fun bit shaping it now! [/quote] That looks absolutely fantastic. Seriously impressed! Even more worrying, I'm starting to get a bit of a hankering for clearing the shed out and having a go myself. As well as the build diaries on here, I've been looking at loads of build vids on YouTube. I've built a bitsa but obviously starting from the ground up is a total different story. From your own experience, what's the minimum kit you need (ie hand router, drill, jigsaw etc). T

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1348063976' post='1808735'] Oh, I would definitely advise this. I know most of the vintage dealers, and they know when i call about something, it will start with a very silly offer, normally a sensible meet in the middle is found. remember, with the rarer stuff, particularly stuff that hasnt shown itself for a while, there's no real benchmark, and I dont begrudge dealers starting off punting things highly, they also know this, so start silly, and go from there. Ultimately, they hold the cards, and will keep saying no until, unsurprisingly, they say yes, which is hopefully at a point the buyer is also happy with. I also find a pile of cash on their counter in elastic bands can also be a very large pursuader, especially on a Friday lunchtime after they've had a sh*t week of sales!! Play them at their own game! And it [i]is[/i] a buyers market out there at the moment. [/quote] +1 The old saying, "cash is king"

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1347975931' post='1807480'] My honest opinion if you are looking to invest? Buy old Warwicks. Pennys at the moment and they will be worth more one day in the future. [/quote] TBH, that's not what I'm finding at the moment though although it could be Warwick model specific. I really (I mean REALLY) fancy another Thumb (had a four- and a five-string NT a while ago that I stupidly sold) but the one's that come up for sale are all north of the £1000-£1100 mark. I think I got rid of mine during the "unfashionable" period but still got near enough what I'd paid for them. T

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1346937028' post='1795025'] I regularly perform songs I don't know without any rehearsal and no charts; just 'one, two, three, four... it's in G'. Its amazing how much you can pick up in real time if you keep your ears open; including stops, arrangement etc. I guess it depends on whether you need the performances to be accurate to the nth degree or whether 'good enough' is good enough. Watching the guitar players hands (unless he is playing a cavaquino which is not tuned like a guitar and confuses the ass off me) often prevents any major trainwrecks. I find most songs are 'of a type' and you kind of get a feel for things over the years. [/quote] +1

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1346771960' post='1792985'] Personally, I don't like it. If you are going to relic, I prefer the subtle look... [/quote] That's lovely......

My Euro 4 LX had a boost only Tonepump with no gain control so it was always soooooooo hot. In the end, I replaced it with a EMG BTS which IMHO made a huge difference. Not that the Tonepump was good or bad, I just found it didn't work for me with the "start from hot and get hotter" thing. Like you, I'd ideally want to have a master vol and pan rather than two volumes so I'd be interested how it pans out <BOOM TISH> T

Bought a rack adapter for my Streamliner from Gilles Brilliant comms, promptly dispatched and really carefully packaged. A real gentleman to deal with. Enjoy recording in Bath Gilles, I used to live there and it's a lovely part of the world. All the best Tony

For me, the boot's on the other foot. I've had a couple of NT's but never owned or played a BO so I'd be interested in comparing and contrasting too. Both of mine were 1990's, a four string fretted and a five string fretless which I stupidly had fretted because I wasn't playing fretless in the band I was in at the time. OMG, it was the best fretless I'd ever heard or played, something really special about the midrange from the wenge/bubinga. Hindsight eh? Post-fretting, the five was still a spectacular bass. One of those instruments (like a Precision) which sometimes sound out of context in isolation but usually make perfect sense in a band situation. The midrange bark ALWAYS cut through and was never overwealming. The two band EQ again was no more than was needed to manage the top or bottom. Want one again. Quite badly. :-)

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1343807422' post='1755384'] Trouble is moving it [/quote] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0015NNON6/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=9550944669&ref=asc_df_B0015NNON6"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0015NNON6/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=9550944669&ref=asc_df_B0015NNON6[/url] Job done T

Nuttin wrong wiv em bro! Back to using an EBS 410 Proline after a couple of years of 210s and 212s. Loving it. Huge fat sound, lots of grunt from a sensitive cab at 4 ohms. As Shizznit says, they're a bigger lift but for me, not a problem as it's one trip back and forth to the car on a trolley rather than two smaller cabs and two trips. Hey, each to their own, works for me.