chris_b

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1498210160' post='3323108'] I bought one from Maplins about 3 years ago. Unfortunately one of it's wheels fell off last weekend during a trip to Bath and Bristol for gigs. [/quote] You didn't have a backup with you?

Primarily he's talking to the people in the room so his presentational focus is there. In education you go at the speed of the audience so, again, that's the call he's made. VW's presentation will probably be new to the guys in the room, but film it and you're going to see subjects repeated. That's not VW's fault. VW gets booked on Bass Days to be the showman and play the party tricks. So it's hardly surprising that's what you get on a film of a Bass Day. When he's working with the likes of Bela Fleck, Chick Corea, Keb Mo etc you get an ensemble player of fantastic skill and ability.

I've owned Mk2 and Mk3 5 string Wals and the Mk3 was my favourite. It balanced well and just felt right.

Best be safe and have an AA van following closely behind.

+2

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1453166091' post='2957120'] Lozz. . . my Lakland/GHS flats have been on my P bass for 4 years and I wasn't planning to replace them, ever! [/quote] Well never say never. . . . I did change them out for a set of TI's. I've had several pats on the back for my sound since putting the TI's on.

Victor always makes sense. . . . [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UzYhyodvfs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UzYhyodvfs[/url]

[quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1498035467' post='3322069'] I'm sure that most top-end manufacturers put a fair amount of thought into their choice of OE string gauge/construction for a given design. I'd replace with the same gauge from the same maker unless I had a good reason for doing something different. [/quote] I think you're giving builders too much credit. Boutique bass builders might have strings they prefer but they will know that their customers will put on a variety of strings and will build accordingly. Volume builders? Strings are just another commodity to be bought in by the truck load. Give them the best price and you've got the contract. It has never occurred to me that there are players who will think they have to use the same strings that came on the bass for ever! That is a very strange and limiting outlook.

A car designer doesn't care which make of tyre you put on his car, and a bass guitar designer doesn't care what strings you use. To that end he'll design a bass that will have multiple adjustment points. Manufacturers will choose a generic string size. One that most potential customers will be happy playing when they are looking at the bass in a shop. Use any strings that get you the sound and feel you prefer.

Some guesses: I'd look at string height and technique before I'd blame the strings. Lower your strings and don't grip too tight. How are you holding the bass? Try not to have sharp angles in either wrist. Don't over stretch your fingers when playing. Are you playing regularly? Playing a lot but infrequently will cause problems. Play a little and often to build up strength.

I believe Mesa controls the pricing pretty tightly, at least they did when I bought my Mesa 400+ about 20 years ago.

[quote name='CameronJ' timestamp='1497961784' post='3321627'] Unless of course the sound guy was genuinely terrible and a d*ck [/quote] They do crop up. Maybe it's luck but in many years I've only ever encountered 1 totally incompetent sound engineer. Unfortunately, if you're unlucky enough to bump into one of these guys there's not a lot you can do about it. For your own satisfaction you have to make sure that, whatever happens, you're going to be the absolute professional to the end.

With the light weight of these cabs. . . there probably is no reason or advantage to adding bolts.

I don't do multi band gigs, but on a festival, I meet the sound guy and introduce myself, get his name, shake his hand and have a chat about the sound. I have great DI's in all my amps. I give the FOH post EQ. I have never had an issue, problem or confrontation with a festival sound crew. I always thank the guys after the gig.

There are sought after versions of Strats and Les Pauls that have been up around this level for years. About 10 years ago we did a gig for a corporate lawyer at his house (we set up in his ballroom) and he showed us his "collection". A room with about 40 collectable and vintage guitars set up on stands and many more still in their cases. He reckoned it was all worth about £10 million. "Collectors" work to a completely different set of rules.

[quote name='neilp' timestamp='1497872332' post='3320954'] With regard to upgrading amps/cabs, to what end? [/quote] The end that, while you seem happy about all your gear and sound, you still seem to want to buy "something" more. Rather than us throwing suggestions around. . . what problem have you got that you think more gear would fix?

I was told I had to DI on one gig. When I got there I discovered it was to keep the neighbours happy as the gig didn't have a music licence!

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1497875409' post='3320998'] One thing about the D800+ is... you'd expect that if they give you a carry case for it, they would give you a decent one especially for the price. The case is very thin and the handles don't inspire much trust, even if the amp it light. [/quote] I use one of these for all my D Class amps. . . . http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/flight-case-with-foam-n70ap .. . . make the hole the size of the amp and there's all the protection you need.

In the US you know you are going to sell hundreds of units so you can price accordingly. Unfortunately, over here, you're going to sell a couple of dozen units. Economies of scale don't work as well at those levels.

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1497853678' post='3320806']Any suggestions. . . . ?[/quote] Turn up and play lighter, take the action up and carry on or, as long as it works, don't worry about it.

She's learnt to [i]interpret[/i] music from the dots. In a musical sense these guys are extreme athletes. They are very talented but they can only expresses what is written. If you tell someone who has had this training to "make it up" they can't - because they have never been trained to do that. I used to know Stephane Grappelli's drummer and he (and the band) used to dread the gigs when Yehudi Menuhin used to get up and play, because he couldn't play with them. They had to play with him and it wasn't Jazz. He was in perfect time, which ruined everything straight off, then his "solos" were all worked out and, while being musically perfect, sounded terrible with no feeling and no swing.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1497862066' post='3320859'] . . . . but maybe a pedal(s) would be more flexible and a bonus would be the extra sounds that will become available.[/quote] Carrying a pedal would make you independent of the amp for your sounds. You could then change amps without affecting how you sound. Edit. . . . I see we're all thinking along the same lines here.

In a multi band environment, it's entirely reasonable for the sound guy to want to simplify things. The speed of change over will always be what he's judged on by his boss and probably the audience. He'll be used to working with some dubious characters who don't have a clue and just want to make noise. So of course he'll want to minimise any stupidness. It's also right that you fight for, and achieve, your sound. IMO either of your options (pedal or post EQ) would work and I don't believe that either would cause the sound guy any issues. Can you try these options at rehearsals and see which one you prefer? The post EQ DI (the post DI button) requires no extra equipment so would be my preferred option but maybe a pedal(s) would be more flexible and a bonus would be the extra sounds that will become available. Edit for spelling

Deps will probably use charts and regular players may or may not. It isn't about good or bad, better or worse. The difference is rehearsals and band policy.

Better basses? Mike Lull, Sadowsky, Lakland, Shuker, ACG, Overwater. But really it sounds like you're bored. . . . do you gig? You've got a bass you've loved for 30 years and a Wal. . . . apart from a Precision you don't [i]need[/i] another bass. Looking at your sig, though, I could suggest upgrading your amps and cabs.