PaulWarning

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1489138193' post='3254600'] That's approx where my action was but decided to try dropping it and playing safe i dropped it to 2.2 on the E at the 17th rather than 12th fret as per Fender guidelines. Did check at 12th fret and not much difference in height to be honest. If ok at next rehearsal will drop to 2mm on E. Fender guideline is 2mm (+/- 0.4mm) on all 4 strings. Bass def feels a lot easier to play at home and no fret buzz altho i am playing a bit lighter than at rehearsal. Dave [/quote] I'm assuming you're all using a steel rule to measure string height, well I can't tell .2mm accurately even with a magnifying glass, if anybody's using a different method please tell, as said before I use a pound coin under the 17th fret, different coin widths are available.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1489137234' post='3254586'] Final bump to say that 1. Tomorrow night's gig (Mar 11th) has been cancelled 2. I'm no longer in the band [/quote]sorry to hear that Kev, can you discuss what happened on here?

the only reason anyone gets upset when they're insulted about anything is because they feel inferior about it, I don't feel inferior about being left handed so it doesn't upset me, in fact I often use 'cack handed' and 'I hold the guitar the wrong way' on myself, why should any left handed bassists bother about it when we've got Macca as an example?

[quote name='EliasMooseblaster' timestamp='1489050911' post='3253928'] Is it just me or is this a problem in studio mixes as well? I don't know if some engineers are still trying to work an addiction to gated reverb out of their system, or something, but the drums on some modern albums seem to be brought up in the mix to the point that they're almost killing the groove. Not just on rock records, where there still seems to be a fetish for triggered samples rather than actual drum sounds - the drums on a lot of modern blues albums seem to be mixed far too high. I know a lot of blues guitarists are trying to ape Stevie Ray Vaughan still, but did nobody point out that if you look past his guitar playing, the mix of the rhythm section on some of his albums is dire? On the other hand, I'm listening to a recent Nick Cave album this morning, where the drums have a much more modest space in the mix, but have not lost any of the drive or punch. The whole ensemble is much more pleasing on the ear. [/quote]no it's not just you, fashion come and fashions go, at present kick drums (as well as the rest of the drums) seem to be mixed loud, in the 80's/90's it was the snare that was ridiculously loud, trouble is listening to a track years later it stands out like a sore thumb, bit like someone walking around in flares these days

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1489049856' post='3253917'] I find that as well, if I am not loud enough TURN IT UP! seriously, I have found that I needed to dig harder but that was because my bass seemed underpowered (either EQ or more commonly just volume) turning up a bit fixed that everytime. Digging in is good for effect here and there but if you need to wrestle with the bass for a whole gig that just makes playing more difficult, for me. [/quote]problem with that is, just because you can't hear it doesn't mean you need to turn up, I'm sure we've all played gigs where it's difficult to hear yourself but out in the crowd you're well loud enough (had one of those myself last week) under those circumstances it's very difficult to stop yourself playing harder

it all depends on playing style mines quite aggressive with a 1mm pick, don't like fret buzz coming through the amp so I use a £1 coin under the 17th fret which makes it 3.15mm, have tried lower actions, can't say it makes it easier to play, mind you I very rarely venture beyond the 5th fret, so unless the nut isn't set correctly it doesn't make that much difference

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1488920801' post='3252986'] Saw The Musical Box at Pompey Guildhall last year and the bass player's Rick was clear as hell across it's whole range. I wonder if the crew try for a '70's mix.' And while I'm on it (climbing onto soapbox), all this kick drum nonsense has led to pub drummers insisting on it being amplified however small the venue is. [/quote]yeah, our drummer mics up his kick drum, (there's me thinking a drum kit is an acoustic instrument) fortunately we get feedback from it if it's too loud

I enjoy doing Slades Merry Christmas, we only do it about 3 times a year which is probably why I don't get fed up with it, lovely walking bass line, I also enjoy the intro to Swords of a thousand Men, because it's a bass intro and I don't play a shuffle beat any other time

another one here that doesn't do big gigs anymore, last one I went to was the Quo reunion tour, yep, kick drum louder than anything else, really pissed me off as Alan Lancaster and the mix of the pre Rocking All Over the World Quo albums were the reason I got interested in bass (listen to Down Down, especially the album version), I've watched to the DVD of the Wembley gig from the same tour since, yep perfect sound, we're going into the recording studio in a week or so, I've already told the engineer I want a big fat lower mids bass sound, fingers crossed

you'll be amazed how many gigs you get where there's flight of stairs involved now, even at best how many gigs are there with no steps?

Babylons Burning, by the Ruts, Segs Jennings plays it all downstrokes, there's no way I can play it that fast, I can do it (and do) using up and down strokes but it's not quite the same

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1488378145' post='3248403'] That's just the media though. Those no win no fee solicitors are quite particular who they take on. Real solicitors usually outline exactly how much a case is likely to cost and the likelihood of winning during the first (paid) consultation. A solicitors letter is cheap, following up on your threats isn't. Try and sort out any problems amicably. [/quote]they can egg up the likelihood of winning though so they get the gig

I've had a couple of Jazz VM(lefty's natural finish), first one I wasn't happy with, the neck was maple satin finished, the frets stuck out a bit and I got fret buzz at my normal string height, the second I've still got, maple gloss neck and finished off well and the action is the same as my MIA P, I suspect my current one is an earlier model (hasn't got seymour ducan on the pickups), so I guess, as always try before you buy if possible. Regards the wood they do vary depending on the finish, the Black VM's are light basswood but the natural finish ones are heavier alder, I think anyway

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1488194922' post='3246598'] I'm having a [i]Deju Vu[/i] moment - didn't we do this recently?? [/quote]did we? must have missed it, ignore me, then I'll go away

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1488194281' post='3246587'] Is that important or impotent? Just asking. [/quote]bloody hell, Freudian slip there if ever there was one,

[url="http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/science_says_the_bassist_is_the_most_important_member_of_a_band"]http://www.altpress....ember_of_a_band[/url] not sure how true it is but useful when the guitarist says you're too loud or you want to be higher in the mix when recording (always)

I tend to put a demo of any of my songs onto soundcloud in case of any copyright issues then register it with the PRS, not sure if this covers all the basses (see what I did there ) or not

[quote name='BassBunny' timestamp='1488015848' post='3244988'] I have the same problem with SOPM. Having worked it out it just didn't seem to work with the band and then I realised it is due to having a very busy Drummer and Guitarist in the band and there really was too much going on. Had a listen to the Joss Stone version which is much simpler and works better with the "busy bees".. [/quote]I have this trouble with Monkey Man, can play the fast bass run on my own and with a drum machine but with the band I always struggle, mind you I've watched 3 bassists with other bands playing it and they all cheated. I'm currently trying to learn Rancids Time Bomb, it's a very fast walking bass line, I can manage it on 15% slower at the moment, hopefully muscle memory will kick in soon

[quote name='interpol52' timestamp='1488022025' post='3245080'] I am a Fender fan but this is one price hike too far in my opinion. I played the new Jazz in Dawsons in Huddersfield. It was good, but not £1500 good. With so many excellent second hand Jazz deals around I don't ever see myself buying a new Fender again. [/quote]I would never buy new, and I'm a lefty, not only is it very upsetting when the first ding appears you're also paying 20% VAT, thankfully not everybody shares my opinion

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1487635402' post='3241465'] You want to match the bass to the song and you don't want to look like a plonker? Hmmmm, how can I be diplomatic? You must realise that no one (not even another bassist) will care two hoots whether the sound of different basses will match different songs or not. The sound of your best bass will match every song you play, as long as you sound good, play well and don't hit too many bum notes. [/quote]as Meatloaf might say "you took the words right out of my mouth" I once saw a band where the bass player had 4 basses which he changed round regularly, they all sounded the same, crap, or perhaps it was because he had the treble at 10 and the bass at 0 on his amp, I was shaking my head in disbelief, still do when I think about it, *Shakes Head*

I see the listing has ended????? the guy also has no feedback, very suspicious

if you're just after thickening up the sound a Behringer BDI21 is worth a punt at £25, I use a Zoom B1on same as KingBollock mentioned, infinity adjustable, from just thickening up the sound, my standard setting, to full on fuzz for ace of spades

oh yeah, if you are going to speak between songs speak clearly and slowly, too often the audience haven't got a clue what's being said, (mumbled)

[quote name='Shonks' timestamp='1487673350' post='3241637'] not suggesting or jesting ( unfortunately ), stating my experience over the last several years [/quote]just after a guitarist joined the band we got asked to play Happy Birthday, do you know I says to him "yeah no problem" so off we go with me playing it in A and him in G

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1487670159' post='3241601'] Non watch, music stand. clip on truner related comment. Waffle. That bit between songs when someone has to do something to avoid the awkward silence. As an audience member I can happily do without a few of things. Band in-jokes - Keep them for rehearsals. Personal non gig related stuff - I don't need to know about your life. Originals bands - I don't want an in depth analysis of what the next song is about. In fact any big gap between songs that stops the flow of the gig. I used to be guilty of this too until we played with a band who went on before us who went on endlessly 'This songs about the time I was at low point in my life. My cat knocked over my beer. My aunty had a hip replacement...Hey Gary on drums could do with one of them....etc." I saw myself but much worse. I limited myself to very brief, relevant intros. The drummer moaned about not getting enough time to wipe his sticks but it was a much punchier gig. Obviously as with all gig things context is king and working an audience is an asset. But if I'm watching a band I don't want to know if the clutch on your Astra needs replacing. [/quote]we always find that me and the singer insulting each other goes down well, a brief description of an originals song is fine as long as it doesn't turn into a monologue, you can go too far the other way, one song after the other with no interaction with the audience is bad as well