chris_b

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1441060247' post='2855830'] Macca played his 5-string live through the 90s. [/quote] Sounds better than that Hofner he usually plays.

Light and loud 2 ohm amps are always interesting.

I gigged all the time with my 5 string Custom Mk3 Wal (even in grotty pubs) but I didn't think it was the best fit for the Blues and Soul bands I started playing with, so I bought a Lakland. After that I used the Wal in the studio, where its sounded fantastic, and gigging in several originals bands, where I thought it's fat and warm sound worked better than the Lakland did. The sound of one bass over another is a judgement and preference call. It's just finding the right tools for the job.

Your sound can be fixed. Money and good choices will do that for you. If you want to up your game and play in a band I'd concentrate on your technique and playing stamina. Work on your timing and get it spot on. The worse thing anyone can do in a band is have bad timing.

This is guesswork, but your problem might be your EQ settings. Sounds like you've got the high mids and mids boosted. You'll need a different sound for live band work. Try boosting the low mids. Your bad sound might just be due to your amp. What are you using? You'll probably need more and better gear when playing in a band. Most string noises will be drowned out by the band but your technique could probably be improved. Don't drag your fingers on the strings. Lift and place. You could also try flatwound strings.

I'm not good with "labels". Does Brian Culbertson qualify? I hope so. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stJujuETSnI&list=PLi-Y73aIHeoOWKtECgUTjWvIDYhu-Bsl9&index=1"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stJujuETSnI&list=PLi-Y73aIHeoOWKtECgUTjWvIDYhu-Bsl9&index=1[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlEYr1dXjro&index=3&list=PLi-Y73aIHeoOWKtECgUTjWvIDYhu-Bsl9"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlEYr1dXjro&index=3&list=PLi-Y73aIHeoOWKtECgUTjWvIDYhu-Bsl9[/url]

I see you're prepared with the crutches just inside the garage door.

My only experience of the basses on your list is the Skyline. I'd also add the 44-01 and 44-02 to the list They are great basses for the money. The necks are some of the best out there and as they are plek'ed they should play very well. I was wondering why there are no Fender American Standard basses on your list. If you can find one that plays well you can upgrade the pickups to get any sound you want, from genuine vintage to modern boutique.

I think the OP is in for a big change. Selling gear you like is easy. Replacing it with another sound and getting to like that one as much is a far more difficult task. Don't think this rig will be the one. You're making the first step on a journey. My suggestion would be to replace the cabs first. Running the current amp through a fairly neutral cab, like Barefaced, would keep a lot of the old sound intact, while improving the definition, punch and tone, in a significantly lighter format. One of the BF 212's should easily match the old rig for volume.

It's very easy to find a rig that [i]cuts through[/i] better than Ampeg, but you're going to loose that "Ampeg" sound in the process. You cut through by using power and volume from a big rig or by adding more mids from a smaller rig that has clarity and definition. What's your budget? To keep you in the "Ampeg sound" ballpark, a modular Ampeg rig would be a 2 ohm amp pushing a 4 ohm 410 and an 8 ohm 210. That's 3 rigs right there. I'd went for a 2 ohm Thunderfunk pushing a 4 ohm 212 and an 8 ohm 112. Both Bergantino. If you're in the UK (I see you put up the same post on Talkbass), there's a Barefaced Big Twin in the classifieds at the moment. You could cover most of the ground you need to cover with one of those and a good 800 watt amp.

Take the gig (never turn a good gig down) and change the set around. Back in the day I used to play several weekly residencies (Bob's Goodtime Blues and the Carnarvon Castle). If you're good enough then you can carry it off. These days we usually figure on 3 or 4 gigs per venue per year, but at the moment we're doing several 2 week turnarounds. It's OK if they like you. We change the set a lot and add new numbers.

I was looking at headphones and didn't see these in any reviews. The ones I found are the Grado SR80e and ATH-M50x.

I saw Pops with the Crusaders at the Victoria Palace London in 76. They were touring the Southern Knights album. What a fantastic gig.

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1439898943' post='2846556'] Who's happy to be described as solid? [/quote] I get described as solid. I accept it as a compliment but I suppose it could be taken either way. I would much rather be called exciting, lively and innovative, but I know that's not what I do. I like to think I'm in the same league as Duck Dunn, John McVie and Bob Babbitt. An American bass player I knew called my playing "meat and potatoes". I guess that's American for solid? You are what you are. Just make sure you're better at it than anyone else.

The budget 5er that I'd start looking at is the Sire V7. Quickly followed by a Lakland 55-01.

My Lull PJ5 has a separate volume for each pick up, so I would expect there to be no interaction other than through the tone control. I have A/B'ed my bass with another Lull P5 and heard no issue with the sound when the J was turned off. I only use the P pickup on mine. IMO it just doesn't need the J to sound great.

7 lbs sounds good. . . . My lull is 8.5 lbs, which is OK for 3 sets. My other 2 basses are 9.5lbs which are a struggle for 2 sets. What a difference 1lb makes. Due to my bad back and worsening shoulder problems, weight is the prime decider when I look at basses, amps and cabs! Like your hearing. . . . never underestimate your health or strength. It can disappear quickly and it's a real pisser when it does.

Either these guys have a very dry sense of humour or they're just ignorant dicks. A few years ago our then singing lead guitarist did a dep for a friends soul band on bass He said later that he's never worked so hard in his life, "I couldn't stop for a rest anywhere, I had to keep going all night!" Many people underestimate what bass payers do and what they contribute to the music, but in the OP's case I think I'd come down on the side of this band just being ignorant dicks.

There is no argument. Matchsticks are fine. If you fill the hole so that it is small enough so that the screw can exert enough pressure on all sides and the thread bites into the wood sufficiently, then you don't need to use glue to do this job.

The Duo might work, but unfortunately the ultimate solution is a lighter bass.

Sorry about that. . . . I can't tell my scratch plate from my control panel.

When I play at home it's to run through a part for the band so the sound doesn't matter.

. . . . . when I get my Aston Martin Vulcan. . . . .

I think we need 3 lists. . . . Need To Know, Nice To Know and You're Kidding, Right?