Cuzzie

I can speak as a late thirties guy who took up bass a couple years ago. I did this because some guys near me needed a bassist, so I said I would give it a go, now fortunately we are all friends with kids at the same school etc. And they were patient. I try my best, i practice as often as I can, this is all of ours hobby and what has gone from me playing root Notes only, I can now do a bit more with bass lines. We have done a couple cover type gigs for friends etc. And now want to write our own stuff and see where it goes. I was fortunate that I played musical instruments before so had some idea of timings, playing in a group etc. I think the main thing is that we all get on, luckily our wives get on too. If something changed I had to play with different people it would be no hassle for me and I would rather take a solid guy, reliable who you can have a beer with any day over a virtuoso who was flaky. If it's something that's for proper money generation instead of a hobby, then there is a balance that can be struck and you don't need to be buddies, but everyone needs to buy in to the ethos

I found the flare plugs really do attenuate the higher frequencies and I think it definitely states that. The lower frequencies will vibrate through the bone better, hence you will hear your bass enough, and probably enough guitar to keep you honest. That's what I have found anyways

Agreed, awful. Not a true listing.....

Ha! Don't forget the gold teeth!

Forgot to add comfort to wear! Pro guard, OK, i found a little tricky to get a seal and stay, sometimes popped out. Alpine, softer material and pretty good. Foam for the Flare works lovely and fits nicely, very comfortable. Obviously you can get the Flare in Aluminium and it brings the cost down, and i think the difference is minimal in sound blocking

OK, A little unofficial test as I have 3 sets of ear plus. Pro guard biker - £20 Alpine musician pro - £25 Flare audio titanium - £40-50 Pro guard, least effective, but actually still pretty good, it does just deaden sound and you lack definition, but it comes with a key ring holder, so I always have a set with me if I go to gigs etc. Sound is muffled. Alpine has a cord to link them and 3 attenuators, i put it in the highest and it does a good job, better than the above, some top end leaks through, but again definition slightly muddied. Nice plastic case to carry, has a spare plug and you have the 3 different inserts to denote how much protection you want. Flare Audio - only tested with very bassy headphones but best at volume of sound, just on the Alpine, takes off more high end than Alpine, definitely hear the bass a little more and you can feel the bone vibrations compared to alpine. I did all these with both in and a combination of one in each ear and as far as I am aware my hearing is even. What i have ended up doing is having the pro guard on the key ring, Alpine in the gig bag and the flare audio loose to remember to pack, or I may put in the other gig bag. Having it loose helps me block out the kids! Cheers

Glad it was way better for you. Now with in ears make sure you have wireless for your bass and you can sit in the audience and play to get away from the horribly loud guitar altogether

We went to quiet rehearsal without a jam hub, although i looked at it as soon as our drummer got an electric kit. I use a HArtke HD25 on about 2-3 for the loudest volume in practice. The electronic kit also forces the drummer to have some of the PA at his house, as he needs it to play not through ear phones! If everyone else wants the jam hub, then all hook up to it leaving the guitarist out, he will soon learn that if he is to hear anyone else play he will have to plug in. If he feels he needs to crank his amp to get the sound he wants, go and tell him to buy a TORPEDO LIVE which means he can get 'his sound' but it will step down the volume for everyone else, but that will be at his expense and it ain't cheap. Maybe that will bring him round. I have tinnitus, fortunately my hearing is still pretty good, but it ain't fun....

To be fair, a whole heap of bubble wrap, gig bag and boxes will do it. I done that before, you may be able to pick up a guitar box from a store for feee

Done both, not on guitar though. If you are a gigging musician and maybe play in 2-3 bands with multiple songs, different arrangements even for the same song, then totally I think it's Ok, better to have a tight sound. Singers I think should not have them to engage. If you are in one band, have one fixed set, I would argue that you should know that inside out

Hey Pinball! Great vid! I completely agree with what you are saying, some of it is a getting used to thing, some of it, people will just not quite like, which is fine, but it is worth persevering in my view. When i first used the Silver bass, i used the strap extender, but then i took a punt and went native and after a while, it felt really natural, and i was not pulling up too much. The cool guy in the vid still has his bass fairly high, and i think it will therefore be no bother, mine is strapped lower, but horizontal is still cool and if i let go, the bass does not fall to the floor. If you like a playing position like Flea or Robert Trujillo, then it probably is not your thing as it will always be falling away more, rather than having a more upright starting position.

@phil.c60 Look at my earlier post on page one and you will see the silver solid body complete with extender, sorry it's only a thumbnail. To me anyway it's not that ugly and barely noticeable. I found my solid body has more neck dive, but I think it is specifically because it has a thick number 7 neck which is like a baseball bat. My semi hollow has the thin number 8 neck and less neck dive. Granted it goes horizontal but to me the dive is over stated and it's not digging the floor. I'm not dUg Pinnick but I have fairly long arms so it's not a problem. When I first played it I thought the dive was terrible, but trust me persevere and you will not notice strap extender or not as it looks super cool and that semi hollow just sings. You won't get that in an L2

Just sat through that with the wife showing my eldest daughter for the first time a 'classic' movie. I'll show her Spinal Tap....

Was that an ASAT Semi 5 banger?! If it was a solid I know one went through the bass store in Manchester which is now closing, could be the same one, but then the trail dies. I think I found someone on bassesbyleo who knows where it is, or I think it may have been the guy, but he was holding firm. How about this one though if you raid the piggy bank... https://cartervintage.com/collections/basses/products/gl-bass-asat-prototype?variant=19792759939

ASAT 5 is a rare beast, probably about 10 made in the world, bassist from Skunk Anansie had at least 1. There was one for sale recently but it was in the states, although there may be about 3-5 in Europe hanging around. Don't think there were any semi's though. I'll just have to stick to drop tuning mine...

That Wunkay is pure drop dead beauty

Good man Scalpy, although we should not shout too loud or we'll stop being an exclusive club

Well,you have seen my ASAts, silve and black which i love colour wise and the honey burst is pretty handsome for the other. We have had lots of love for L2s, ASAT, JB, SB series, is there anyone out there with a J or MJ willing to testify?!

Can't argue with you there in looks, but an ASAT is pretty darned good looking too!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1482778804' post='3202694'] I love the EQ. Dials from north to south, 1. Volume 2. Treble 3. Bass. Switches from north to south. 1. Pick Up selection (parallel & series) 2. Bass boost 3. Treble boost. Blue [/quote] Dials are correct, switches nearly there *sorry to be pedantic* 1 is pick up selector, Neck/Both/Bridge 2. Is for the poles on the pickups - Series (bass boost)/parallel (bass cut) 3. Is passive/pre-amp on/treble boost Hope you don't think i am too geeky! What are your other basses the ASAT is blowing out the water?

@blue has it completely right, and to me all that talk about neck dive for the ASAT is overrated, granted its a bit more horizontal, but it balances fine and i have used it with the extender and without

Whilst I am obviously an enthusiast, and am happy to talk about my experiences and learn from others, from those not in G&L land yet, what I will say is that if you are a chronic bass flipper in the U.K., G&L may not be the bass for you. They take a while to re sale, but they are not just for Xmas and most people stateside that flip flip for another G&L

@TheGreek, thank goodness I don't still live in Herts or you'd be in real trouble!

@baggyman the L2K series has one volume, one bass, one treble knob which should suit you. The switches are for pick up selectors, series and parallel and for passive or active configuration. LB-100, Kiloton, SB-1 are all 1 volume and 1 tone. M series is a different pre-amp completely active and does take some time to dial in, but they have less hot pick ups and give a different tonal palette, probably a bit gentler (tho I hate that word...). Here is the current range: http://glguitars.com/instruments/USA/basses/index.asp But also remember there is the L1000 or 'Wunkay', El toro, interceptor and there were E models, slight differences between 80s and 90s models. @TheGreek you have to try one, you really do. You may not love it (although you probably will) but you won't hate it one bit. Admittedly I found G&L early in my bass adventures having had a Kramer D-1 (awful) Fender Cabronita and Fender Starcaster, and played a few others. You know you want to!

Oh and don't sell one, keep them all. If you think about it when you are playing one, the others keep each other company and nestled together as a 3 they are a happy family.