LewisK1975

These for me:- [attachment=219955:Capture.JPG] Still give a nice attack, but not as snappy as a thinner pick. They give a nice thick tone somewhat like using fingers, I find them a good compromise..

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1464091712' post='3056461'] ....I've compromised.... [/quote] Therein lies the solution! If everyone is willing to compromise somewhat, then everyone is generally as happy, or as unhappy as everyone else is. Sorted!

Saturday's gig was a blinder for us. Venue we've played twice (I think) before in the Newport Valleys. Shockingly bad load in/out (stairs to concert room and then carry through crowd), but we knew that anyway.. In the covers band, we have a primarily modern pop setlist, so we usually go down better where there's a youngish primarily female crowd, and try and keep most of our gigs to venues that are populated in just that way, for them as much as us... This particular venue we played on Saturday night has an older crowd, very much a workingmens club really. We've met with everything response-wise there, rapturous whoop-whooping, through to polite applause and even complete indifference. We've obviously noted that for the venue concerned and we made an effort to learn a few (and I mean a few, 3 actually) older songs. Don't know if that's what made the difference (we didn't play them until the 2nd set), but they went mad for us this time, my particular favourite moment being during 'Jealous' by Labyrinth. We play it with just the guitar player and a very subdued, thumb stroked bassline, and let the vocals shine through. During the course of the song, you could actually hear the conversations stopping and the attention turning fully to us (well, our singer anyway!), it was one of those moments a regular gigging working band gets every so often and it'll stay with me for a while I reckon. Even made the load out quite bearable!

I think it's a case of everyone being flexible when it comes to this. In our band, if we turn up at said gig and the space is smaller than expected, we all just work together to make it all fit, I've even seen our drummer just go down to Kick / snare / Hi-hat and 2 cymbals, to help make it fit, Cabs go 'on-end' etc...I've long since gone past having the patience to deal with egos in bands. I do realize I'm lucky to be in a band with other like-minded people though..

Met Dan yesterday having bought a stunning Yamaha Attitude 3 from him. Excellent dealing with Dan from start to finish, no problems at all, very responsive to all communication beforehand and very welcoming even though I turned up earlier than expected! Thanks again Dan, pleasure doing business with you!

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1463561436' post='3052255'] I think it's very easy and reversible to change wiring around / get some different pots. I'm going to change my jazz from VVT to Master Volume - Blend - Tone once I've worked out the easiest way of doing it [/quote] The '75RI I recently bought had the east j-retro fitted, but didn't have the original control plate with it unfortunately. I'm really considering changing it back to passive. If I do it, I'd like to go vol / blend / tone as well, can't be that difficult surely? EDIT: Or maybe even Vol / tone & a 3-way switch? Controversial?

Look at it this way - I had a Fender Steve Harris sig and a Geddy Lee recently, both of which had BAII's on them and both had the saddles filed coming out of the factory. That's good enough for me!

[quote name='AndyF' timestamp='1463412883' post='3051136'] It is indeed the same CRS - under new management since the Ezra days but I remember them well (before I became involved with the organisation I was a regular CRS punter and played for them several times). I have the first CD on the Cyclops label...my band at the time were signed to the same label! [/quote] Small world. I shall pass on to him that the CRS is alive and well and in good hands! What band were you in?

[quote name='AndyF' timestamp='1463403603' post='3051038'] Prog? In Yorkshire? Surely not! :-) Have a look at classicrocksociety.co.uk - as the name implies we cover "classic rock" as a whole, but for the 25 years of our existence our remit has always been to give as much support as possible to bands that would otherwise receive very little coverage..there is a thriving community of new prog out there. Despite all of us being dotted around the country, historical reasons mean the CRS is based around Rotherham. In the past we've been responsible for giving bands such as Spock's Beard and Mostly Autumn their first breaks and we continue to promote gigs as often as we can (on a voluntary basis - none of us take any money from the CRS). This weekend we've got a sold out Pendragon show, and we've had Magenta, Steve Rothery, Renaissance and Arena in the past few months as well as more obscure artists like Franck Carducci and Lazuli. Sorry for the advert(!) but if it's prog you want....check out the CRS! [/quote] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Hey Andy, Not sure if I'm barking up the wrong tree here, but if I've got it right, is it the same CRS that welsh prog band Ezra used to do shows for back in the 90's?[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]If so it might interest you to know that the drummer of 'Last Flight to Pluto' (who I've mentioned above and put youtube links up for in post#31) is none other than Daz Joseph, of Ezra fame. [/font][/color]

Blimey - That guy makes some beautiful Basses don't he?

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1463401362' post='3051000'] Don't think it's completely an age thing. I'm 31. In good health. No issues carrying weight, but if i have the option not to, why would i? My lightweight rig is as good as anything else i've played through. If you want to analyse it, i'm sure some people would say it isn't "because x or y" , but to almost everyone else, in a gig situation, it does a cracking job. Weighs less than 10kg. So i just don't need to have heavy gear. [/quote] This! Apart from being 31. I'm not 31.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1463390224' post='3050867'] Didn't know this was your band, had the album a while and enjoyed it. Lots of prog bands with female singers though - Mostly Autumn, Karnataka, Touchstone, Magenta, Panic Room to name a few of the current ones Then there are those from yesteryear but still working like Renaissance and Curved Air... [/quote] Thanks Kev, you learn something every day! Good to know, I'm relatively new to prog music (Rush & 70's Genesis apart). I got to know the guys after the lion's share of recording was already completed, but it's all me on 'House by a lake', and large chunks of 'Heavy situation'. Some other touch ups here and there too. I think it's a top album personally and I hope after the Prog magazine feature comes out, that it gets more attention than it has just yet..

You might also be interested in this - 'Last Flight to Pluto' It's a new band I'm delighted to be part of, album has been released and is available on itunes now, tasters available on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh-Ea8ZpQm0 - 'See you at the End' - album taster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs3YK-xuGVQ - 'Heavy situation' - First track of the album in full We've a 'limelight' feature in the next issue of prog magazine, so we hope to get some good exposure following that. Not many prog bands have a female singer, we hope that'll cut us apart from what's already available!! Hope you enjoy..

I recently sold my SH sig (same as yours, a 2009 model) and I had retro fitted the SPB-4 (it had the SPB-1 as standard), I thought the SPB-4 was a MUCH better pickup, better balanced in the mids / highs (the SPB-1 sounds more scooped to my ears), but still very strong and articulate. My bass went to a lovely chap called Peter (username SH73 on here), perhaps drop him a line and see what he thinks, he's had it a while now and was also having the pickup dilemma......

I'm in whenever this is arranged for!

[quote name='Stu-khag' timestamp='1462001118' post='3039395'] You're meant to say from in between Bridgend and Porthcawl! (cefn Cribwr boy, living in Cardiff for last 10 years) [/quote] Oh, only been 'between Bridgend and Porthcawl' for 7 years....

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1461766135' post='3037426'] ......why is EVERYONE covering Purple Rain in tribute? The guy recorded 17,000 songs (maybe) and EVERYONE is doing Purple Rain. Stop it. Somebody pick another song. Please. I'm going to lose appreciation for the song. I get it. Big power ballad. Dead guy. Emotive. But please - somebody pick another song to cover. Sorry, it's been bothering me for days now. [/quote] It's because it's the easiest Prince song for a guitar/bass/drums/vox band to cover.

Well done mate - I remember my first time back performing after a lengthy lay-off from 'public performance', shaking like a sh1tting dog I was.

My '78 precision - changed the pickup for a quarter pounder and it has a BAII bridge. Still have the original parts as well. Will never be sold. [attachment=218064:78p.PNG]

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1461684943' post='3036747'] .....and Lewis seems a great guy too. [/quote] Cheers Marc, although I do know a few who'd argue that with you! I'll keep an eye out for a meet-up too, sounds fun!

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1461673371' post='3036608'] I can't find a manual for a 1715 combo. Closest are 1215 or 715 combos. Are you certain of the model number? Does the combo have a socket for an extension cab? In general, amps work down to 4 ohms and cabs (or combos with external cab sockets) are 8 ohms. Amp ratings are specified into their minimum ohm loads. Thus, a 300W amp will drive 300W into 4 ohms and somewhat less into 8ohms (typically about 2/3rds, so 200W in this case). So, a 300W combo with an extension cab socket will likely be an 8ohm speaker and will develop about 200W when used alone. Adding an 8 ohm extension cab will create an overall load of 4ohms and the amp will then deliver its full 300W. BUT, all that is general and there will be exceptions. We can only be sure by knowing the full details of your combo, which should be stated in the operating manual. [/quote] This is the 100% correct answer to the OP's question.

Another Bridgend here (well Kenfig Hill, but let's not split hairs)...

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1461584788' post='3035815'] I'm another who lost their bottom-end virginity to a Marlin Slammer. Still got it, mine is red with white scratchplate, maple (or "maple") neck, single P-style split pickup. Bought from St Mary's Music in Southampton in late 1989 for maybe £70. I'm not sure why they get the grumbles I've seen when googling around, mine is nothing great but plays fine, has ok action and the hardware is in good nick. I'm about to move house so am thinking of selling it on as it's just a sentimental keepsake at the moment. Interested? [/quote] Not really looking to buy another Slammer but thanks for the offer! - FWIW I think you should hold onto it, like you say it's a sentimental keepsake for you, which was really what my original post was about...I think it's great to be able to look back at your first Bass..