Gwilym

[quote name='Jono' post='195670' date='May 9 2008, 08:27 PM']Saw this rather excellent cellist: [url="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=212396971"]http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea...endid=212396971[/url] last weekend a couple of times supporting Gemma Hayes and now I wouldn't mind having a go... Anyone give me any advice on what price range a decent cello and bow would be in? Plus tips on transferring from bass (I do play an unlined fretless) For you effects freaks she was playing through an EHX Micro POG and Boss DD5 or DD6 delay and it sounded rather ace. plus she did some looping with a Boss RC20.[/quote] apart from anything else, I'd say the big difference is that standard cello tuning is in 5ths (C-G-D-A) IIRC, so your fingering is going to be totally different, although physically will be more managable than a double bass if you're learning. I used to play before I switched to DB/bass many moons ago. never looked back

[quote name='Muppet' post='193536' date='May 6 2008, 11:44 PM']didn't certain retailers offload a load of gear last year at very keen prices purely because they weren't ROHS compliant and wanted to get shot of the stock before they couldn't sell it any more? I'm sure I picked up some stuff as result. Interestly, I've recently imported some pickups from the States that have been stamped as ROHS compliant and also some that haven't been, though you'd need to have opened the parcel AND the packaging to work out which was which. Used gear I guess is another kettle of fish..[/quote] hi Muppet indeed, i'm worried about taking the risk on something that is of any value, even though it is used, as used items appear to be covered too. cheers G

[quote name='The Funk' post='193532' date='May 6 2008, 11:41 PM']Any law that is to have retrospective effect in this country must clearly state that it is to have retrospective effect. If you imported the bass before the Regulations came into effect, you shouldn't have any problems at all. That's not my professional opinion but this is going to be an interesting problem for a little while. I know Marshall stopped producing one line of guitar amps and replaced it with an new model so as to meet the requirements of the regulations.[/quote] hi Syed, yeah, I'm not worried about the bass I imported before the regs, as they are not back dated as far as I can tell. I'm thinking about what I might want to import in the near future

Hello all I stumbled upon [url="http://www.smithbassforums.com/showthread.php?t=271"]this thread on the Ken Smith forums[/url] The upshot being that Ken Smith do not export to the EU at the moment because of [url="http://www.rohs.gov.uk/"]the RoHs Directive[/url], and will not do so until they become compliant with the regulations, which: [quote]bans the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.[/quote] i.e. substances which might be contained in pickups, electronics etc. In the FAQ it also states: [quote]Can I import for own use? No, the EC's 'Guide to the implementation of directives based on the New Approach and the Global Approach' (the 'blue book') available at [url="http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newapproach/legislation/guide/document/1999_1282_en.pdf"]http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newapproach...999_1282_en.pdf[/url] states note (30) in the side bar of page 18 under note (30) “Thus, imports for own use are also considered placed on the market…”. Therefore it is our view that EEE imported into the EU for own use even from another branch of the same organisation outside the EU must comply.[/quote] Which basically means (i think) that the regulation applies to both new and used items, regardless of how they are imported. This includes "musical instruments", see [url="http://www.rohs.gov.uk/Docs/Links/RoHS%20Regs%20Guidance%20-%2021%20June%202006.pdf"]here for more detail[/url] Has anyone else here heard of this directive, and have a (perhaps professional) view on this issue? In practice, I'm pretty sure that it would not be a problem (or maybe not!), but I'm not sure as the last bass I imported from the US was a few months before the regulations came into effect. Basically, if something being imported isn't compliant with the regulation, at worst it could be confiscated (and even destroyed?). Any thoughts/experiences ? cheers G

nice collection - that Carvin looks really nice, and the GW too (I had to look them up [url="http://www.gwbasses.com/index.shtml)"]http://www.gwbasses.com/index.shtml)[/url] - how did you come by that one?

[quote name='thinman' post='189231' date='Apr 30 2008, 08:59 PM']Probably a bit basic but... When playing disco-style root and octave, what's the best technique? We play Pulp's Disco 2000 and the bits in the verse where its just F and Bb root and octaves kills my left (fretting) hand. The right hand seems OK - I've tried both index and middle pinky plus thumb and index without problem but I think the notes shouldn't ring so some left-hand damping is required. I do that by lifting-off slightly but that really knackers my little finger when repeating for any period. (I, probably wrongly, use my middle and little fingers for root and octave). Should I keep the notes fretted and use a different damping technique?[/quote] in addition to what everyone else just said, (but also not knowing how you wear your bass) you might want to try shortening the length of your strap (if it's slung low), as it could be a major contributor if you're getting pain in your left hand. other than that, keep your hand relaxed and try to not exert too much pressure with your fingers. see how much you can ease off on your hand pressure whilst still getting a clear sound. or get a five string bass and play it at the sixth fret

+1 for Platypus, I bought my old Roland Cube 30 combo from him a couple of years back in the days of Bassworld. Nice and easy deal all round...

your g/f ?

sweet bass - i had a 4 stringer for a while, and it played really well. my only criticism was that there wasn't a great deal of space between the end of the neck and the neck pickup to get my fingers in there for a bit of slapping. if it'd been a 5-er like yours, I'd still be mine

Just saw this, which might be of interest to any Wal owners on here? [url="http://www.gumtree.com/london/70/22766970.html"]http://www.gumtree.com/london/70/22766970.html[/url]

the first thing that sprang to my mind when I saw it was that the whole song was a bit overplayed and messy. it certainly did not sound tight to me. i enjoyed the song but am not familiar with it, and it seemed to me that they were playing it at a much faster tempo than what I would have thought was the \"optimal\" tempo for the song. was it much faster that the recorded version? i think then that because everyone (probably) still tried to play all the same notes as they would have at a more moderate tempo, but at that speed there was just less space, and it came out sounding messy and groove-less. just watched it on youtube (after I wrote the above) - it sounds a bit more relaxed, and the arrangement is far less busy... which is a good thing IMO [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-ACCeo9v0s"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-ACCeo9v0s[/url]

well there were certainly a lot of great bass players around in the 70's. Jaco may be the winner, and it's predictable for a reason - he probably was the best (electric) bass player of the 70's. In fact he was just a massively talented musician that luckily chose to play bass. Saying that, I don't like his tone much - way too nasal sounding on a lot of his music. It seems to me that "best bass player" is equated with "the best bass player in your favourite band" or "the bass player that played your favourite bass line". Each to his own and all that, but Jaco is the man. I'm not a Jaco evangelist either, but you gots to recognize! Ultimately these kind of polls are tedious and meaningless anyway, and who really gives a toss. Just shut up, dig the music & play the bass (even if it has more than 4 strings). I'll chuck in a late vote for Rocco Prestia too as I haven't seen him mentioned.

mxm just bought a Sansamp Bass Driver DI from me. quick and easy deal. cheers! G.

hi Gilmour - that's looking great - contgrats! How easy is it to move around, lift into the car etc? Do you know how much it weighs?

if you're going to own a bass you might as well play it? my main bass that I'm using at the moment is pristine, but i practice on it, play it at rehearsals, and will be doing my second gig with it next Friday. it would be a shame if it got marked, but you have to be pragmatic about these things. ultimately, they're made to be played, not sit in their cases or hang on a wall looking pretty. what's the point in owning a nice instrument if you're too scared to use it for the reason it was designed and built in the first place? whether it's a £200 or £2000 bass - if you're afraid to breathe on it, then sell it. I know if i dropped a few quid on a Fodera or a vintage Fender, it would be to play them!

+1 beyer dynamic (dt-120's). i use with my korg pandora, and combo. they do distort if I push them too hard, but by then they're probably too loud anyway. if I keep the levels sensible, then I have no problems with them and they're very transparent with good bass extension.