TrevorR

I keep reading these threads about dispersion and I keep wondering about it. Now, the physics around dispersion from speakers is incontrovertible. Physics is physics. Fine, I get that. My degree is in a physical science. However, I do wonder whether the way in which this dispersion issue is discussed sometimes amounts to a bit of counting angels on the head of a pin. My rig clearly doesn't comply with what the physics says will give optimal dispersion. Two MarkBass Traveler cabs. A 1x15 on the bottom and a horizontal 2x10 on top. Pretty much the antithesis of the configurations discussed. Different cones arranged off axis from each other in a triangular shape. But I've never had enough of a problem to worry about. As a baclkine only situation or as a stage monitor through a meaty PA. Sure plenty of rooms have had funny acoustics when the only place for the bass amp to go is right in a corner or in front of a glass window or a heavy tapestry or a it's a strange shaped room with a double sided brick fireplace in the middle... or whatever. But through it all I've always managed to achieve a bass sound on "stage" and out in the crowd that was broadly acceptable. And certainly adequate for any punter to have had a perfectly enjoyable gig experience. And, having auditioned a range of makes and configurations I just really like the both the sound which that set up gives me and the flexibility and portability of the rig. I do wonder in these discussions like there is a negation or an ignoring of The Pareto principle (I.e. the 80/20 rule) and that were treating acoustically very non-ideal (in its scientific meaning) environments as if they were ideal. The Pareto principle can be expressed as 20% of the effort required to a perfect result will get you to 80% of your objective. To achieve the remaining 20% will take 80% of the effort. It's a principle which is loosely mirrored ni a number of rules of thumb... exam technique - do all the easy bits of all the questions first (20% effort, 80% of the marks) don't try to get one question perfect before moving on to the next. The law of diminishing returns etc etc. If any decent cab choice/configuration produces an 80% result which creates an environment which is acceptable to both you as a player and the audience as listener any effort to optimise beyond that point may start to take more effort/convenience than the solution creates. Certainly when I look at some of the optimised systems that are posted here or elsewhere (e.g. two TC 2x10s stacked short end on short end - used as an example because of the rounded cab profiles) I know for certain that any enjoyment I might get from a more optimally dispersed sound bound be completely negated by a constant background worry that they might topple over at any minute. That stress would translate into my playing which would give a significantly reduced listening experience for my audience (even if they were listening to me with a lower risk that they might be standing in an diffusion or reflection peak or trough). For me that's an example of where "good enough" is what the words actually say... Good. Enough - that is perfectly adequate for the circumstances and completely fit for purpose. And we can leave struggling to achieve that last 20% to places like Abbey Road and RAK where it matters, rather than the Dog and Duck, or even Jagz, where it doesn't. Anyway, that's my personal Minority Report. Please feel to ignore as necessary.

Quality! (Bassassin's knowledge, that is, not necessarily the bass)

Can't find it on YouTube but the live version of Bodhisattva on the Citizen Steely Dan compilation has the most hilarious intro by a thoroughly stoned MC. You can eve hear the band wetting themselves with laughter as he rambles on for about a minute and a half...

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1494622522' post='3297479'] You want one of these... [/quote] You'd need to swap the tuners for Hipshot Ultralites, though otherwise you might get a touch of neck dive. Just a smidge.

Wunjos, Macaris, Red Dog and Digital Village all claim to according to a quick google search

Or you could get a Gorilla Pod Mini and improvise with a compact camera that shoots HD

Not spotted this before but Abe Sr as the YouTube placeholder frame... I'm so watching this later!!!

I suspect that no one makes them at all because for 99.9% of applications they would be entirely useless. Imagine trying to connect two, say, Boss pedals with a right angled male/male jack. The corners of the two pedals would be trying to occupy the same space. Just couldn't work. If you do have a couple of pedals/bits of equipment that happen to fit in this way just because of where the sockets are positioned then a right angled jack connected to a straight jack by three shortest piece of cable possible is the way to go. OBBM's your man for that...

[quote name='Bolo' timestamp='1487054496' post='3236530'] I bet it has a beefy tone! [/quote] I'd have thought it sounded a bit tinny...

[quote name='GremlinAndy' timestamp='1493939341' post='3292084'] I just did a bit of history checking... The 'Fighting' album was released in 1975 Electric mistress was first issued in 1976 Its possible that the effect was generated in the studio by the tape slowing method, but somehow I don't think so... It feels to regular, more like a pedal type effect. So I reckon it was an *earlier* effect. I know Lynott used Flanger on the '79 Black Rose album for "waiting for an alibi" But Downtown Sundown sounds less pronounced than a flanger or phaser IMHO. So I'm tending to think you may be right Higgie... Chorus methinks. [/quote] Downtown Sundown's off Bad Reputation though, isn't it? Recorded late 76, released 77 IIRC (or it could be 77/78).

Aria SB... mine (an SB700) was bought in 82 (although the serial no says it's strictly an 81). You own Wals, Rob, so the fact that they're built from ash-effect lead shouldn't be an issue!

[quote name='Brams77' timestamp='1494053291' post='3292831'] @ TrevorR that's not an easty to obtain instrument as they are very very rare! [/quote] True, but they're bl@&dy lovely and I wish they still made them and any excuse to post a photo of one.

Played Robin's Reverend Rumblefish at the SE Bass bash. Masonite construction like a Dano so super light but a proper bass, with a proper scale length. Sounded amazing too. For those who've not come across them they look like this... Love the retro styling.

I really liked River City People but one hit, two albums and au revoir!

[quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1493913866' post='3291817'] Often thought of this as a nice to have... I'm an 84 man so suppose that's Aria SB? And it would have to be lefty also... Not a lot of choice. [/quote] But what a great choice!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1493909827' post='3291768'] Or the five string Stingray he used for some tracks on BSSM, if the Wal was so good why didn't it get on tour? Maybe they are crap live [/quote] He's quoted as saying it was too posh and boutique looking for a hard man of rock like him to be seen with on stage... #invertedsnob

[quote name='BassApprentice' timestamp='1493885486' post='3291472'] Just to buck the current trend of dates....1991, anybody think of a particularly special bass from that era? [/quote] [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1493894094' post='3291556'] Got to be a Flea era Stingray, black and rosewood complete with the proper 'Flea' bridge? [/quote] Well given that BSSM came out in September 1991 a "Flea era Stingray" is actually spelled "Mark II 4-string Wal bass"...

A '64 Jazz bass would suite me just nicely. I suspect it would suit my wife and my bank manager rather less well!

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1493856686' post='3291393'] Regarding strings, I've found the best ones for my Washburn AB20 are Elites bronze, which I think are 40-60-80-100 gauges. Seem to last a good while, and stay a bit zingy too if that's what you want. Fender bronzewounds are okay too, similar gauges I think but for me go off a bit sooner. Cheaper than the Elites though, so you pays yer money etc. [/quote] Yeah, I'd not want to go above 100s on an acoustic bass, just in case. Personal thing but you can't be too careful...

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1493118074' post='3285710'] Thin Lizzy and The Black Star Riders are pretty similar, probably due to Scott Gorham being in both. [/quote] Well to be fair, BSR is effectively the band Scott has been touring as Lizzy for some years since he and John Sykes last parted ways. IIRC they went into the studio as "Lizzy" to record the first album as a new "Lizzy" album then decided half way through that it was a bit crass and disrespectful to Phil so decided release it under an separate band name and came up with Black Star Riders.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1491808066' post='3275418'] Fantastic. I bought the DVD of the live show and its a fantastic VID with the storyline running on large screens and occasional actors / singers coming on stage dressed as characters from the movie. I actually thought the live show storyline was far better than the movies. It was set in a different time era... [/quote] Rather it was set in the correct time era and stayed closer to the original story than either film version. The events of WotW all took place near where I live. My parents in law live a few hundred yards from where the martians landed. The bit where the journalist gets knocked into the water and separated from the Artilleryman is a short cycle down the Thames and since He gets trapped in a house by the black smoke in Upper Halliford I always imagine that was in the scary looking house round the corner from the garden centre!

Trying to remember how to play the bass line. Does anyone know the way? There's got to be a way! I'll get me coat...

Fabulous album. Saw the show when it first toured (twice!). They had Chris Spedding, Herbie, Justin Hayward and Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's Earth Band) from the original album in the band alongside Laurie Wisefield (Wishbone Ash) and Hugh Burns (everybody!) on guitar. Quite a band. One heck of a show!

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1491632549' post='3274391'] Randy Crawford and Joe Sample worked so well together. http://youtu.be/U05sFAvKoI8 [/quote] They did a cracking version of Respect Yourself on their No Regrets album. Sadly can't find a version online.

Which begs two more questions... 1. Why don't those particular forums appear when you're not logged in? Why those and not others? 2. Why shouldn't those count towards the post count? Presumably there was a particular logic behind those two decisions, Over to you Messers Mod.