chris_b

Put me down for a ticket.

OK, I'm splitting hairs. . . a bit. I'd class playing along the lines of satisfying, gratifying, rewarding etc. The bands I've seen "having fun" have usually been pretty hit and miss. Which is why I was trying to emphasise the difference. But, true, everyone to their own. On the other hand, fun is what we all definitely had after the gig. Party time? Oh yessss!

Just trying to make the point that the best music is made by people who are not having "fun". Bob Dylan, Charlie Parker and Mozart were probably having more fun than we've ever seen, but not when they were making their music. I'd say that fun, enjoyment and satisfaction are very different things and probably shouldn't be mixed up when you're playing in a band.

[quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1500668688' post='3339573'] Do you know if the humbucker is series wired? A parallel wired mod might help, costs little if you can solder and is reversible. [/quote] This would be my first plan. 2nd plan would be to replace the humbucker with a good vintage 51 style single coil or even a split P bass pickup. I wouldn't start chopping the bass about until I'd discounted either of those mods. In fact if I was unhappy at any point (including right now) I'd look to replace the bass with one I preferred.

Bill Shankly was right when he said, "Someone said to me 'To you [i]football[/i] is a matter of [i]life[/i] or death!' and I said 'Listen, it's [i]more important than[/i] that'. Sorry to be boring, but anyone playing a musical instrument just for fun could find a dozen easier ways of amusing themselves. You can have as much fun in your life as your body and mind can take but IMO when the gig starts the focus is only on one thing. Return to your fun after the encore.

#4 If anyone is making money out of my bass playing then I'm going to get paid as well.

Love all of this. Pimps, Zooz, DDBB love it.

Darryls House is a great idea. Amazing players just jamming. I've watched them all and many more than once. Stewart Copeland has a similar idea out at the moment. . . . at Sacred Grove.

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1500625665' post='3339139'] I would settle for just looking like Daryl, [/quote] Not bad for almost 71. Edit - cos I can't add up!

Very nice bass. Yes they do come in solid wood bodies, so that looks like a regular mk1 Custom. Sorry to hear about your hand injury. The only 2 guitarists I know of who had hand injuries and developed great and unique styles around those problems, were Tommy Iommi and Django Reinhardt. Good luck for your recovery to guitar playing greatness.

[quote name='Si600' timestamp='1500541697' post='3338539'] One thing i have noticed from the Midlands Bass Bashes is that when someone else plays my bass through my amp it sounds exactly how I want it to sound. When I play it, it doesn't.[/quote] That has also happened to me. So buy good gear and trust yourself to get a good sound out of it. Check with people that they are hearing what you want them to hear and be happy because unless you really are tone deaf, you [i]are[/i] sounding good. Most semi pro players sound good. That wasn't the case when I started and the crappy gear most of us used would really drag the sound down. These days any bass playing problems are usually in the playing and mostly in the timing! You can sound as perfect as you think you can get but you'll piss all of that "perfection" up the wall by playing out of time!!

[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1500158337' post='3336029'] Is anybody 100% happy with their tone? I've spent many years and lots of money on different amplifiers, different cabinets, different basses, different strings, countless hours on my technique, and the closest I've ever got is a tone that's just ok, one that I'm fairly happy with, but not one that totally satisfies me. I wonder sometimes if I'm just chasing something elusive but ultimately unattainable - subjective perfection? [/quote] IME there's no such thing a a perfect sound. Maybe some of the best bass sounds can be achieved in the studio and they have probably been achieved by going direct. On a gig? I don't think so. I don't know what music you're playing but while aiming for "perfection" might seem like a good idea, it will probably deflect your focus from the real job of being a better player. On the other hand, I'm very happy (100%) with my sound. . . . because I don't slavishly try to attain a mythical "sound in my head". Every time I change the amp, cab or bass the sound changes, but that doesn't matter because these days good gear always sounds good. I don't have a unique sound and don't use pedals, but I do buy good gear and try to get the best sound out of it that I can. Then I try to work on my playing. IMO that's where a player can aim for perfection and get results.

You said the P was great, presumably without "zing" and the J got lost in the mix, but that's a different problem to wanting more "zing" and a tweeter. If you're lost in the mix that's a problem with the mids not the real high end. The symptoms seem to have changed. You can just as easily get lost in the mix with any amp or cab, even one with a tweeter. It's all down to how you EQ the mids. I still think that's where your problem is. Do you have both volumes on the jazz full up? Try rolling off the neck pickup a little. That usually boosts the sound.

When you're playing at this level your mates are that good. Zev Katz New York Session player on bass. Some seriously cool playing.

Yep. You're working not socialising.

I'd say the clue is that the P bass "punches through the mix brilliantly" using your rig and then the J doesn't. If you get a problem always start by looking at what just changed. In this case it's the Jazz. What Jazz is it, what pickup does it have, is there a preamp, what strings are you using and how do you EQ it. Then again, what is the rehearsal space like? Small box room with everyone playing at "big stage" volumes? Does the jazz get lost on a gig? I use an Aguilar TH500 through 2 Super Compacts, which is the modular version of your cab. I don't even change the EQ when I switch from a P bass to a Jazz and they both sound huge.

Not good news. +1 Get well Norm.

Nice bass. . . . but they forgot the frets!!

What is the guy you're replacing using?

All the reasons for him being there in the first place is why he gets the mention, is the focus of so many news stories and is included in the trailers. I'm not for or against. Like a lot of stuff, it just is.

We used to do Stitched Up. Great song. Everyone on that album puts in a stellar performance. Reggie McBride on bass on Love Comes To Town.

Ed Sheeran is a spectacularly successful world wide brand. GOT will probably increase it's appeal and reach into audiences that currently don't watch. It's business. Beats me why anyone should have negative thoughts about this or be bothered one way or the other! Popular shows have always cameoed well known people and things. With things it's called product placement, but either way it's always about increasing revenue.

Audio taper pots and linear pots for even increase or decrease over the whole range of the movement.

I've got all the CD's, seen them twice and shook Cornell's hand at their 100 Club gig. What talented guys! Sadly looks like I've missed them this time!

Good move. What amp are you using?