SpondonBassed

Nice choice of internal wrenching neck bolts and countersunk washers. Did you use any bonding agent with the inserts?

[quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1504129113' post='3362933'] Mrs itsmedunc would take that off me and give it to our dogs! They already rule the rest of the house anyway! Looks like it's coming along nicely though. Rehearsals at home are a great idea. We were using an electric kit and a Jamhub for a while. Worked really well with very little noise. Of course, the lead guitarist couldn't get "his sound" and felt like "a fly in a bottle". Apart from that it was a really good experience. Good luck! [/quote] Ah bless. It's like he thought someone would actually care...

[quote name='wulf' timestamp='1504023058' post='3362174'] 2. The other thing you get with tab is an indication of where to place your fingers. There are also ways of doing this in standard notation but tab does this quite effectively. One of the books I'm working with at the moment is Jon Liebman's [url="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Play-Like-Jaco-Pastorius-Ultimate/dp/1480392456"]Play Like Jaco Pastorius[/url]. Liebman transcribes several full bass parts, providing notation AND tab, and the latter is very useful to indicate the nuances of where to finger the notes (and thus where large jumps are needed). [/quote] I found that quite useful with Liebman's Bass Aerobics book. It was what got me away from looking at my fretboard constantly. You raise a good couple of points. In addition to the note values shown by letters above the numbers in ASCII tabs you sometimes find note length is indicated by the length of the tails at each number. If I'm honest I prefer tabs written with rest strokes and tails like in full notation so I'm using a bit of both, the difference being that the stave becomes a literal representation of my five strings with fret numbers. Straight away I have no need to know key signatures or watch for incidental sharps or flats. The fact that there are no dots is of great help too, seeing badly like I do these days. I can just get on and play. Lovely.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1504085645' post='3362511'] There's a local band who keep using a photo with one band member's head very obviously replaced using photoshop. It's on their posters and online promo, and looks daft. If there isn't time to take new photos, I think leaving the old member in would be preferable to that. [/quote] Be careful. I know people who look like they have photoshopped heads in real life!

[quote name='NewDad' timestamp='1503998801' post='3361973'] How do you feel about ex-bands continuing to feature you in their audio/video/photo promotional material? (The only band "exploiting" me in this way continues to pay me to maintain their website, so it's forgiveable.) What about CDs on which you've performed being sold at gigs? Would you expect to still receive a cut after you've left? Edit: the CD situation doesn't apply to me, but the band leader sold ones made with my predecessor (presumably the cash went in the kitty). [/quote] This isn't exactly an instance of direct promotion but old clips on YT can cause misunderstandings as I found out a little while back. A member here recommended a certain tribute band for its bassist on a BC topic. He didn't then have a link to an example of the current band's line-up. I went on YT to see what he was on about and found them. The clip was a year or more old and featured a different bassist to the one the OP had been appreciating. I didn't know and made a critical comment because the chap in question played some very busy lines. The current bassist, also a member here, saw my comment and made a statement to clarify the situation which put me in the position of having to publicly apologise to him for putting him in a bad light. This was unforeseeable to all concerned.

Thank you. Did you do anything with your Ibby Blazer yet? Looks like you were considering a new body last I read.

Set to record. Thank you.

Yes. They've got rid of the ad wall that used to go upstairs and there was nothing for a while due, it was claimed, to the 'net making it redundant. I think they must have had a backlash to that because it is back. Not as big as it was but there is space on the wall for informal band related advertising once more.

I'll wrap this topic up with some last photos. The bass is sounding good. I really like the tone from the neck pick-up on its own with full treble. Lovely and dry with those D'Addario semi-flats. With both pick-ups the sound is warm. The bridge pick-up gives a nicely defined sound and allows some diplomacy in the lower frequencies where the neck pick-up has a nice fat bottom end always. Thanks to whoever donated those strings to the raffle at Midlands' BB4, they're playing in nicely. There was a neatly trimmed plastic truss adjustment cover supplied and a Pit Bull decal that wouldn't fit between the machine heads. I wanted to put something of my own on it so it wasn't an issue. The plastic cover looks neat enough. There would be no problem using it with the black hardware. I am very happy with the whole project. I chose to replace a lot of the screws with stainless steel ones for my own reasons, not because I had a particular problem with those supplied. The few that I used were fine. The pick-up springs supplied were twice as long as they needed to be. Fitted, they would not allow the screw to bite more than a thread and a half. I cut them in half and they worked well enough. With the electronics, the instructions call for the hot wire to go to the short pin on the output socket. On the one supplied it was the mid-length pin. When wired correctly the socket was noisy if the plug was fully home. It would only cleanly connect with a washer acting as a spacer between plug and socket so I replaced it with a good one from Foulds of Derby. Ask for "Ferrit" if you're looking for electronics advice. He's a good 'un. I found that the roughly finished body was close enough to shape. There was no need to remove much more off it to end up with a pleasingly rounded shape. The neck was finished to size and was a neat and snug fit in the neck pocket from the start. All that was left was the finishing and assembly. I'd happily do it again. This one is a keeper though and it brings my collection to four in total so the next one has to have something special. I'm in no rush as I've got to claw back some practice time and do some house maintenance before Winter.

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1503996487' post='3361953'] Very much so. We like having keen fans - but of the music and banter You're more than welcome to come to any of our gigs. I've just posted a load this morning on our page, in the Leicester and Nuneaton area. Do say hello if you make it along. [/quote] Cheers Norris! I'd be delighted to check out the band. I've got a couple of things lined up for the immediate future but hopefully I can get before the year is out. Going to look at your web page now.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1503989121' post='3361911'] I think I typed [i]worst bass guitar finish ever[/i] into google image search. deviate away. I went to Edinburgh this weekend so nothing's been done. Having been a resident for Edinburgh for many years I forgot the number one rule - avoid during august - actually that's unfair, if you are up for the festival it's amazing.... if you're up to do things like live or visit fiends having 5000 slowly meandering tourists between where you were and where you wanted to be is well annoying! [/quote] I never visit fiends willingly. Heeheehee. Did you see anything special from the festival while you were there though?

[quote name='James Nada' timestamp='1503833588' post='3361093'] Ha ha, I love that guy. "Big bass, great for hiding tit sweat"! Nice axe too. [/quote] I bet it works for finch sweat too. [i]'k off, it's hot![/i] That's a really nice looking guitar. Good to see an old head and cab too.

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1503959023' post='3361879'] The Harrow in Thurmaston on Saturday Actually I think she might be getting the message slowly. Taking some time to respond to the messages to the page helps to slow the momentum [/quote] I imagine you are walking the line between politely keeping her at a distance and upsetting her. Diplomacy test or what?

[quote name='fftc' timestamp='1503952623' post='3361836'] Have you seen the photos? [/quote] [quote name='KevB' timestamp='1503951319' post='3361819'] That settles it, I'm deffo going along to Norris's next gig, anyone else in east mids up for it? [/quote] I've just been doing a bit of Cheeze stalking just now myself! I found a few clips on YT. On one of those videos there is a large woman giving it her all beside a fruit machine to the sound of Radar Love. Those are the sort of gigs I like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP2Hxk_6rMY This year I have been making time to see some of the bands that BC members are in. The Cheeze looks entertaining enough so it's now on my short list.

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' timestamp='1503930905' post='3361628'] Lets just calm down and eat some Avogadro [/quote] Can't. I used all of mine to condition my beard. I can't afford a new one until I'm solvent again.

[quote name='The Jaywalker' timestamp='1503831590' post='3361082'] Yeah, cellist pal of mine has often walked into a pop session with a string section where the band have played them the track and and asked if they wanted to record straight away or have a few run-throughs. Band always very confused to be asked for the string parts... My friend has a neat line in extending her fee by composing/arranging/writing the parts in the studio. Ultimately, by not being clued up on this kind of thing, the bands end up paying more than expected for the string section and for extra studio time. [/quote] No doubt they make beautiful music together anyway.

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1503831070' post='3361075'] I absolutely reject the notion that "intelligence" is an issue here. I, like millions of other people, could read music before I was ten... not because I'm clever, but because I went to music lessons. It's not difficult... it all comes down to wanting to do it and being willing to put in the practice. If it's not relevant to you, then fine. But I would suggest to kids who have a dream of making a living as a professional musician that learning to read might be a good idea... it opens some doors in terms of paid gigs. [/quote] Ah. You've taken my remark about intelligent people personally. That was not my intention but carry on. I have already mentioned above that I had music lessons in Primary School where we'd just started using the stave. I don't really like to repeat stuff but in this instance... I was taken out of that environment and put into one where music was more prevalent than before but where lessons in reading and writing came later in the school curriculum. You could say that I've seen both sides of the same coin. I have made a choice to not waste my time with score because music is more accessible to me without. What's hard to understand? Edit: I didn't say that intelligence was an issue BTW. My comment was about small minded thinking on the part of folk what have big brains.

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1503770874' post='3360843'] As for the quality of modern tools, once upon a time we used to make stuff in Britain using quality steel. These days they are usually made in the far East as cheaply as possible. Premium quality tools are available but tend to cost premium prices. You get what you pay for. However with things like planes, as long as the body isn't cracked or the blade chipped, one made e.g. in the sixties is just as good as anything you can buy new today. It is after all a hunk of metal. Even some of the vintage wooden ones are still perfectly serviceable - it's a flat surface with a blade poking out [/quote] I just looked up "Sheffield Steel" and got a company in Ohio! [quote name='samhay' timestamp='1503775104' post='3360873'] A No. 4 is a good size for jointing using a shooting board. [/quote] Samhay's suggestion got me looking further; http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/Setting%20Up%20and%20Using%20a%20Shooting%20Board4.html

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1503775701' post='3360877'] I really have to address this. It's bullshit IMO. [/quote] Thanks for the sentiment. I stand by my words though. You have reinforced my opinion.

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1503752582' post='3360720'] ...TAB is no more EVIL than Notation is '[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]incomprehensible gibberish'...[/font][/color] [/quote] Thank you.

Ta

[quote name='TCsBass' timestamp='1503707071' post='3360504'] Humour... an Earth concept. It... is... not logical, Jim! [/quote] It's spelling Jim but not as we know it in Milwaukee.

I think you need to accept that having a stalker or two is a milestone in your musical career. Well done Norris! How you cope now will determine how the rest of your career goes. No pressure. Heeheehee - Bunny boilers. First world problem or what?

[quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1503748883' post='3360678'] Seeing as you answered my comment... that reads of "chip on the shoulder" frankly. I don't know why. I'm far from the best bass player in the world. You're almost certainly a more skilled bass player than me. Does that make you elite? I happen to be able to read notation due to the background I happen to have. I find it handy. Lucky me. Does it make me 'special' - no, I don't think so. [/quote] I didn't write it that way but you can take what you want from it. It was merely an answer to your comment so I see no need to be personal about it. I'll leave it there. Enjoy your weekend.

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1503736077' post='3360579'] ...Unfortunately old planes are collectors items too. I was lucky enough to pick up an old Stanley jack plane that someone had spent ages reconditioning and repainting - killing its collectable value in the process It's a lovely thing to work with having sharpened the blade [/quote] Fortunately I have all of my granddad's and my dad's woodworking tools still. I am neither a collector nor a speculator so it's a win win situation for me, liking hand tools as I do. I like machine tools as well you understand but it's hard to put any soul into your work using them.