Stylon Pilson

I can understand why you dislike it, but I have to say that I find that so much more appealing than a bog-standard Precision. S.P.

Could you also ask him how he's getting on with mine? It's the one with the lime green fingerboard and the genuine badgerskin pickguard. S.P.

You could try [url="http://lilypond.org/"]Lilypond[/url] or [url="http://www.musescore.org/"]MuseScore[/url] S.P.

[quote name='M4L666' post='343379' date='Dec 2 2008, 07:13 PM']I have had my bass for ages now, and have never considered how good it really was. I am wondering if any guys know what woods it's made from, the scale, all that stuff. It is a Tanglewood Liberty Starter Bass. I love it to bits, so knowing more about it will be well nice.[/quote] You can measure the scale yourself using a tape measure. I'd expect that it's a 34". I see from the picture that it has a two-octave neck though (24 frets). I assume that it uses passive electronics, and there is no space for a 9V battery. Can you put it on some scales and see how much it weighs? S.P.

[quote name='Paul S' post='353814' date='Dec 13 2008, 07:17 PM']Musky - that has confused me, not that it takes much. I thought you got [i]more[/i] Watts if you added the second cabinet, not less.[/quote] You do. You're not getting the full 300W with the single speaker. I can't remember the exact number, but it's probably in the 220W ballpark. So when you add the extension, you get fewer watts to the integrated speaker, but more in total. S.P.

[quote name='Golchen' post='353357' date='Dec 13 2008, 09:01 AM']In the light of all the details I would have to say no, but I don't think it's great form pulling out so late in the day. Anyway, you could do your band more harm that good, it doesn't sound like it's going to be a fair representation of your sound but no-one is going to know that.[/quote] I agree, a part of me feels like scum for pulling out at the last minute. It's not something that I'd normally do at all. But I wouldn't change my decision if I had to make it again. I've sent the band leader a text message asking him how it went last night, but I haven't had a reply yet. S.P.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='353237' date='Dec 12 2008, 11:03 PM']If the "trio" turning up are technically proficient and can fill all the gaps, then why not? I always go on the fact that if you're booked for a gig, you show up, you do the job, you don't complain or make excuses & you get paid. End of. If two of your members aren't showing, still make the effort. I'd consider anything less as unprofessional, like the missing two members.[/quote] I was hoping that someone would say this, because it's on my mind too. I don't think that we would have been able to fill the gaps as a trio - I feel that a lot of the interest in the music comes from the violin, who is the one who pulled out in the last couple of days through illness. I guess when I discovered that she wasn't going to be coming, that was the point at which I had my doubts that it was worth going through with this. I've always tried to act professionally, and I know that pulling out of a gig on the day is considered unprofessional, but until we start getting paid for gigs, being professional is not at the top of my list of priorities. If I'm not doing this for the money, I'm doing it for the pleasure. I have no bones with the two missing members. One of them realised a week ago that he had double-booked, and told us straight away. And the violinist hasn't been feeling well for a few days, and I believe that she gave the band leader a bit of advance notice (though he did not pass this information on to me until this afternoon). S.P.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='353011' date='Dec 12 2008, 07:11 PM']Don't see how it's a case of pulling out at the last minute, when you didn't know about it till he told you. He asked if you're available. You aren't. Rather than say yes to the promoters, his response to them should be "I'll get back to you" End of problem.[/quote] Ah, now, I must clarify here, this slot has been booked for a few weeks now. So yes, I am pulling out at the last minute. But it's on the basis of information received at the last minute (and I get the impression that the band leader has known for a few days that we had a couple of drop-outs). And this situation is just so preposterous, there's no way I'm going to go ahead with this while I've got a wife at home who has been feeling poorly for a few days and would really appreciate my company. If we were being paid for it, or if we were representing a more significant portion of the evening's entertainment, or if the venue was closer, or if I was actually playing my chosen instrument (the bass) then my decision would be different. I don't consider myself to be the unreliable sort. But there are limits to what I will tolerate. S.P.

Oh good. Just checking that I wasn't being unreasonable. I sent a text to the other 2 and immediately got a phone call from the band leader. He's a bit disappointed, but he still wants to go ahead. Additional points of note that I didn't mention before: 1. It's an acoustic night, so I wouldn't be playing bass anyway. I was going to be playing bongos for two songs, and the bottom two strings of an acoustic guitar for the third. 2. There are 12 acts on the bill. 3. It's tonight. I told him that there were a multitude of reasons why I don't want to do this. He told me that he thinks it is bad form to pull out at the last minute. I told him that my decision was made on the basis of the fact that there would only have been three of us, and he didn't let me know this until this afternoon. He said that venues tend to remember about bands that let them down, and will be reluctant to book them again. I told him that if he is worried about that, he should tell the organisers that I am poorly too. I'm sure that the organisers won't care if one of the 12 bands on their lineup doesn't turn up. Maybe my band leader has delusions of grandeur. I wonder if the other guy will pull out too. Might back my position up somewhat. S.P.

So, would you travel an hour each way to play 3 songs, given that only 3 members of your 5-piece are able to make it? S.P.

I've solved the problem. I replaced all the dimmer switches in the house with standard on/off light switches. The first clue was when I noticed that my other basses were developing ground loops too. And all my amps. And it didn't make a difference which wall socket I plugged them into. I thought that this was a bit fishy. S.P.

[quote name='lateralus462' post='352826' date='Dec 12 2008, 03:46 PM']it's at home waiting for me Might have to duck out of work early today!!!!! And the scratchplate I ordered arrived today. I love it when a plan comes together.[/quote] You only ordered it two days ago - that's prompt service! Where did you buy it from? S.P.

According to Google, your bass is actually a PD TRANSFORMER MODULE made by Tellabs. Hope this helps. S.P.

[quote name='slobluesine' post='352835' date='Dec 12 2008, 03:51 PM']is there any way to power my stagg from the xlr input on my LM11? i want to loose the PP3 batt,[/quote] Theoretically, yes. But I don't know of anyone who has tried it. S.P.

[quote name='lateralus462' post='350845' date='Dec 10 2008, 03:23 PM']I think Jazz basses without the pickguard look fugly, so when I recieve mine I will change it (and surely even if I decided to take it off again the screw holes that are left would make it look more "Jaco" anyway?[/quote] The same thought had occurred to me. S.P.

[quote name='Linus27' post='350710' date='Dec 10 2008, 01:54 PM']Just make sure to remember to play on the lines and not inbetween them.[/quote] Ish. Play it so that the edge of your fingertip is on the line. If you play it with your finger centred on the line, you'll be sharp. S.P.

[quote name='gary mac' post='350550' date='Dec 10 2008, 11:55 AM']For example: E sus2. What would be the choice of notes other than the obvious root note.[/quote] For your specific example, to turn an E (E G# B) into an Esus2 you replace the G# with an F#. To turn an E into an Esus4 you replace the G# with an A. S.P.

[quote name='lateralus462' post='350636' date='Dec 10 2008, 01:09 PM']I thought that would probably be the case. Can't wait (although I'm probably going to find I'm sh*t at fretless and sell it almost straight away after it arrives!!!!)[/quote] Probably best to hold off on the scratchplate until (a) you decide to definitely keep it and (b) you decide to use it at a gig. Having screw holes in it will probably harm its resale value by a few quid. S.P.

[quote name='lateralus462' post='350542' date='Dec 10 2008, 11:49 AM']I've just ordered one - should be with me at some point next week which is good BUT..................... I'm not sure I like the whole scratchplatelessness of them - how easy would it be to get a scratch plate to fit this? (I'm thinking tort would look nice)[/quote] I imagine that any Jazz scratchplate would fit. You don't have to worry about the holes lining up, because the bass doesn't have any! You'd need to drill the pilot holes yourself. S.P.

[quote name='coasterbass' post='349360' date='Dec 9 2008, 08:54 AM']Why can't we have remote control amps, which would work like a home hi-fi/tv, to adjust the tone/graphic ?[/quote] I wouldn't want an amp that could be controlled by someone who wasn't stood right in front of it. As you said, if you can have the control for the guitarists amp, then he can have the control for yours. Shudder at the thought. S.P.

I think it's this: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CUSTOM-BUILT-BASS-GUITAR-L-K_W0QQitemZ180312541359QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item180312541359"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CUSTOM-BUILT-BASS-GU...tem180312541359[/url] S.P.

[quote name='Musky' post='348593' date='Dec 8 2008, 01:41 PM']Although 200-300w is a good size to aim for you can gig with lowered powered amps, especially if you've got PA support - though in my experience you can't always rely on that at all gigs and monitoring might be less than perfect (ie you can't actually hear your bass ).[/quote] In theory (usual caveat: in theory, theory and practise are the same. In practise, they aren't) if your amp is loud enough for a small gig, then it should also be loud enough for a big gig, as your stage volume should be exactly the same (with the PA providing higher volume out front). As you say though, if there's no PA support for the bass, then you'll be glad that your amp has a bit of extra room-filling ability. S.P.

Of those two options, I prefer the traditional straight line, but have you considered packing them further towards the bottom of the bass, something like this: [attachment=16968:DSCN5071b.jpg] S.P.

An unexpectedly good gig last night. Played a jazz gig as a favour to a drummer friend of mine at the South African Commission in Trafalgar Square. I was fairly nervous in advance, being as it's such a huge departure from what I normally do. I was anticipating that it would be my first and last jazz gig. Didn't go too badly though, and if he asks me to do it again next year, I think I'll probably say yes. As I was shifting my gear in, the resident technical guru scoffed at my Ashdown Electric Blue 12-180, saying "speaker that size won't fill this room". I contemplated turning the volume up just to show him quite how adequately it would, but the professional in me kept it at about 4 all evening. I played my Aria Sinsonido as I (and my drummer) like how its tone resembles an upright. It was one of those nights where there's a lot of travelling, gear lugging and sitting around, and not enough time playing, but I didn't mind the sitting around because I hadn't met 3/5 of the band before in my life, so it was good fun getting to know them and laughing together as they spilled their dinner down their white shirts. I also found myself quite envious of how little gear saxophonists and trumpet players have to carry. I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend - I haven't had much chance to sit down and unwind for the last fortnight. S.P.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='344275' date='Dec 3 2008, 04:01 PM']You'll have to buy me a drink first![/quote] Oooh, playing hard to get, are we? S.P.