tonyf

Played last night with one of the covers bands I'm in. They play a mixture of rock and indie tunes. I usually have such a hoot but for some reason, I had a really bad gig. Not that you'd notice because we went down a storm and got called back on for a couple of encores. I just couldn't get a decent sound on stage. It's one of those gigs where I've never been happy as it's an acoustic nightmare. Most of the time, I just grin and bear it and the crowd seem to love the band but I dunno, it just got to me last night. Maybe a combination of the sound and also a couple of p*ssed punters using the stage as a place to put their coats and bags and also knock the mic stand into my face on a couple of occasions. Hey ho. Sometimes it just goes that way I guess, can't win em all. T

Reading a thread a few weeks ago, someone mentioned some luminous fret markers by a company called Luminlay that they had installed. I did a bit of research and ordered some from the company's website at [url="http://www.luminlay.com/indexen.html"]http://www.luminlay.com/indexen.html[/url] Delivered within days direct from the company in Japan, everything was packaged neatly and I consequently cracked open the toolbox, cleared the kitchen table and got busy. [attachment=101618:photo.JPG] I ordered two types, the 3mm plain blue and the 2.5mm green with a black surround for my maple necked basses. The green one is shown. [attachment=101619:photo3.JPG] They also delivered, free of charge, a little blue LED light which helps illuminate the inlay. Neat. [attachment=101621:photo4.JPG] Basically, you drill out the existing side fret markers in the neck, glue a length of the luminous rod into the hole and then sand down flush. The first step was to take the neck off as I couldn't easily access the top fret markers with the drill. [attachment=101620:photo5.JPG] The holes were carefully drilled. Doing the first couple was, to be honest, a bit hairy but it went ok and the rest were a breeze once I'd got my eye in. I took the precaution of laying some tape over the top of the fretboard so the drill didn't slip. [attachment=101622:photo6.JPG] [attachment=101623:photo7.JPG] One glued in with a dab of superglue, I cut them flush and the gently filed them flat. [attachment=101624:photo8.JPG] The final result.... [attachment=101625:photo9.JPG] [attachment=101626:photo10.JPG] I'm reasonably pleased but I've found they don't really last that long. The company reckons a single "charge" will last up to 45mins. Mine only last 10 to 15 max. Maybe it's because I needed to drill a little deeper. The installation instructions recommend about 3-4mm. I've probably done 3mm max. I don't think the extra mm will preserve the luminance that much though. Alternatively, because it's the smaller size, the material in the fret marker with the black surround isn't really that much so maybe there's not a lot of material to hold the light. Still, gave it a go. As a non-illumated fret marker, it looks fine so it's not been a total loss of time and effort. T

[quote name='Linus27' timestamp='1330125085' post='1553248'] ...as well as Street Fighting Years... [/quote] Wow, that album is towards the top of my top one! ;-) Such a part of my youth. For me, one of the few albums that work from the first note to the last. Being able to zone out and put that on headphones has brought me through some difficult times in my life. Think I need another listen over the weekend :-) T

[quote name='nottswarwick' timestamp='1330022483' post='1551661'] I only sold mine for size reasons [/quote] Me too. In hindsight, wish I'd have stuck with them and gone to the gym a little more I had a HD350 with Proline 410 and 115 cabs and gigged with them for the best part of 10 years. SERIOUSLY loud it was and I can honestly say I never once needed it turned up to anywhere approaching max volume. I'm glad the Reidmar has come along. If I can get that blissful EBS tone in something a little more manageable, I'll be a happy bunny. T

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1329300432' post='1540130'] Folks, I have a TC Classsic 450 driving a BF Compact. I'm slightly concerned that I'm not accessing the full potential of the Compact. Would the Reidmar give me more volume for pub-rock gigs, do you think? Steve [/quote] Replacing the Classic 450 is my plan too. At present, I've got the Classic 450 running into 2 TC cabs, a RC212 and an RC210. I like the cabs a lot and they're both 8 Ohms so running them both will allow the full 250 beans from a Reidmar in a 4 Ohm load. It's not that I don't like the Classic 450. It's a great sounding amp and as loud as a loud thing but I'd love that HD350 tone back but in a much smaller lighter package. T

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1329254095' post='1539750'] My band is supporting GBH and The Vile (ex Discharge and a couple of other bands) on a couple of weeks. Last week at band practice the drummer, who sorted the support slot, informed us we had to supply: The drum kit Bass amp and cab 2 guitar amps and cabs We only have one guitarist... I might take my nice Ampeg, 4x8" and 1x15" and my Peavey MkIII and Laney 4x10". I could then run 2 rigs for our set and then pack away the good stuff after we've finished!! [/quote] WTF?! You provide the gear and no doubt do the setup, the hanging around for hours after you've played and the consequent breakdown for the "honour" of playing support? Nah. Don't care who they are, wouldn't be for me.

Lovely. I had one like that except mine had a maple board. It was a true monster of a bass, thunderous B string and a tone like a Precision on steroids. Yet another of those "why on earth did I sell that" basses :-( What's the neck profile like Jake? Mine was pretty substantial but still surprisingly playable. T

Time to invest in a Gramma Pad? ;-) [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1327998964' post='1519954'] Maybe put the cab on doubled over carpet ( better still an Auralex Gramma pad) and position cab near wall pointing in to the wall or a corner so the sound is part absorbed by the wall and not bouncing around so much? [/quote] +1

I had an Ampeg 810E and used to get it into my Mk III Fiesta 3 door. Bit of a squeeze but once you work the knack, becomes surprisingly easy. Pushed the passenger seat forward a bit. T

W.O.W That is stunning.

Erm. Why? I've used EMG pickups and circuits for the best part of 20 years. 9v or 18v, battery life has never been a problem and lets face it, unscrewing the control plate of a jazz bass every 6 months is hardly a trauma. Dunno. It's solving a "problem" that doesn't really exist IMHO. In my situation, it's hardly practical. I use wireless which means I'd have to plug the unit inbetween the transmitter and bass, stashed somewhere on my person. No. Not for me. T

Calling Mr Dood.....

Stunning.

[quote name='Linus27' timestamp='1325347184' post='1482372'] EBS Reidmar 250 amp [/quote] +1 Gonna be getting myself one of those once Christmas bills have been paid. Not that I need one. The TC Classic 450 is a super amp but just missing the EBS tone I had with my old HD350. Bass-wise, pretty happy. T

Spotted these on youtube. [url="http://youtu.be/nwY5mbRyWMU"]http://youtu.be/nwY5mbRyWMU[/url] [url="http://youtu.be/OlOqnnv-zzw"]http://youtu.be/OlOqnnv-zzw[/url] Sounds the dogs....

[quote name='Linus27' timestamp='1324475003' post='1474675'] Mmmm interesting. Not so keen on the two colours of the skyline but maybe there will be more options. [/quote] +1 The grey is a real "marmite" colour. T

[quote name='GeeCee' timestamp='1323392356' post='1462977'] It was in Musical Exchanges in Birmingham for a number of years too. [/quote] Yeah, I remember it from when I worked there. Sooooooooo many hundreds of hands have been over that bass over the years because of the novelity value of a twin neck 4 and 8 string. Whilst on the subject of Ex-Sound Control....good to see Gaz Chapman getting it on with Cryer ;-) T