godathunder

Id have thought a sansamp or its behringer clone would get you in the ballpark

Thats pretty much the height Ive settled at - I still have a tendancy to drift sharp but I think its just that Im expecting the fluency of 35 years of electric playing to instantly transfer to an instrument Ive only been playing for a few weeks rather than accepting that I need to put time into actually getting the basics right first Ive put some bits of tape on the side of the fingerboard, which helps with general positioning but, again, Im frustratingly imprecise. Mine has a heel at that position, which does help as a target but which also frustrates me because I've yet to adapt to the different hand position needed to play there. The current action is comfortable in the lower positions (up to about the 10th) but becomes increasingly uncomfortable for me past there. Again, Im used to a bass guitar so I think this is primarily a hand strength issue that I expect will lessen with practice. The unamplified volume seems decent as is but I dont have a full sized acoustic bass to compare to. Perhaps Ill increase the action as I become more proficient, I generally like my instruments to fight back a bit Unfortunately, mine has a much smaller bridge size (around 80mm) so an off the shelf adjustable bridge doesnt seem to exist - possibly in time Ill add making one to my extensive list of unrealised projects........ Anyway, realistically I need to take a few lessons and get the basics under my belt before concerning myself with most of this stuff

Ive found that Im starting to gravitate towards that hand position on the higher strings but still closer to 90deg on the lower strings. My wrist injury is making it difficult to put in any serious practice at the moment though Ive paid for all the notes. Im going to use all the notes - whether the tune needs it or not. I quite like to be able to play the melodies of songs so Id like to be able to extend my range but really, Im trying to run before I can walk here Again, Im trying to run before etc.... I quite like the higher harmonics (5,4,3ish,2.5ish etc); in a couple of keys you can play occasional harmonic chords that absolutely jump out. I guess that'll stay the preserve of the bass guitar with some drive/compression. Curiously, Im finding it easier to play pinch harmonics on it than naturals. Anyway, I should probably concentrate my efforts on playing cleanly and in tune at the lower end rather than trying to be a fancy pants (note to self, must stop watching those orsted pederson vids)

Ive got nothing particularly exciting to update on this. Ive recut my temporary bridge a couple of times. The action at the end of the fingerboard is currently 6,9,9,7mm (G-E). The next iteration will be aiming for 5,7,8,9 and unless that feels substantially different to my expectations I expect that will be the height I cut the final bridge at. Ive really enjoyed playing it for the last few weeks, it's been very inspiring to have to approach my playing from a different angle (well, my hands are at a 90 degree angle from their usual position at any rate). Unsurprisingly, since Im untutored, Im struggling with some aspects of playing it. My intonation is pretty suspect and Ive a tendancy to play sharp - I wonder if lowering the endpin by a couple of centimetres will help put the notes where I feel they should be. I find that I lose my orientation a little too and (despite some helpful little bits of tape Ive stuck to the side of the neck), I sometimes have to stop and remind myself exactly where I am. Coming from a background of playing with guitar based bands, this is more of a problem in the non guitar friendly keys although I dont seem to have quite such a problem with this when playing bass guitar As for the dusty end of the instrument.......... Past around the 9th "fret" where I need to change hand position (is it called thumb position up there?) is an absolute shitshow, in terms of tone, intonation (it's more like random tone generation at the mo - past the octave I considering it quite succesful if Im within a semitone of my target note) and hand strength (Im currently recovering from injuries to my left wrist and shoulder so this will have to be taken slowly) Anyway, it's overall positive and Im thorougly enjoying myself. I've spotted a db tutor around an hours drive away so, when time allows, will try to engage for a few pointers. Probably best to do it asap before I settle into bad habits. If any forum members are based in south east ireland I'd love to meet up for a cuppa and show off my new toy edit: is playing harmonics on an upright a common thing? I often use them when playing bass guitar but am struggling to play even the stronger harmonics cleanly on this

Thanks so much for the photos, they made me much more confident about this btw, was yours set up as a 1/2 scale rather than 3/4?

Getting there. I picked up a cheap cello tailpiece and steel strings. The bridge Ive picked up is laughably outsized but I should be able to cut it down to suit. In the meantime Ive knocked up a temporary one from some offcuts from the scrap pile. This is currently 8-10mm or so too tall but I wont feel bad about hacking at it until I settle on a height that suits. As it hasnt been under tension for at least 25 years Ive tuned it a tone flat to let it settle in. Ill give it a few weeks to acclimatise before I bring it up to pitch then after another few weeks Ill start experimenting with the bridge. Initial results are quite promising - it's surprisingly loud and full given its diminutive nature - the E string sounds rather underwhelming compared to the other three though and feels a little under tensioned. Perhaps due to the low tuning, probably because theyre cheap strings - more than likely, a combination of the two and no doubt compounded by my lack of technique. Pickup hasnt been fitted yet, Ill take a look at it when Ive fitted the permanent bridge.

most amplifiers will be unhappy to see a speaker load below 4 ohms (there are exceptions obviously) consequently theyll offer half of their rated power into an 8 ohm cabinet with the option to add another 8 ohm cabinet (wired in parallel) meaning the amp will deliver it's full power into the resulting 4 ohm load, with each cabinet receiving half of that power. very few people run more than 2 cabinets so this is usually the most effective setup

The bass has been rehomed and is now with me in Ireland awaiting my attentions after 25 years sat in a dusty corner. It's in need of a tailpiece, bridge and strings. A quick glance at amazon/ebay suggests that an aluminium alloy cello tailpiece looks to start around 20 euros, adjustable bridge 45 euros and a set of light steel strings 40 euro. While Im not expecting sonic wonders at this price point should I consider spending a little more? The tone Im looking for is jazz/rockabilly influenced and Im unlikely to pick up a bow at the moment All advice welcomed

Multichannel mixes only appearing in overpriced box sets has been a constant gripe. Unfortunately, its a relatively small customer base so the record companies seem to be aiming for low volume high pricing rather than trying to encourage more buyers into that market.

There are just too many classic, hooky driving lines to choose from. Today Im going to go for the 2 note line that kicks in at around 4:20 on Heaven & Hell - simple and perfect

Therapy? in Dublin Olympia on Halloween. Outstanding energy from both them and the support band, Enola Gay. Good sized venue (1600) for some jumpy up and down rock so I jumped up and down a lot - intense enough atmosphere for me to foolheartedly venture into the moshpit for a while. Evidently a bad idea because lots of my 52 year old carcass hurts now. My kids loved it though Bass player was solid and affable. Would recommend

Ive got a 7.1.2 system and it sounds really good on that. Detroit Rock City is the showpiece and it sounds as good as you'd hope it would. I reckon its the best Ive ever heard the album sound. Wilson has a golden eared reputation over on the quadraphonicquad.com forum. All of the multichannel remixes of his Ive heard have beeen outstanding, particularly his work with king crimson's back catalogue

Does this count as 1992? The awesome bassline is actually sampled from a 1977 track, Bamba In Dub by The Revolutionaries

Still one of my favourite basslines. He was excellent at glastonbury that year too

My daughter was a big fan a couple of years ago - always seemed somewhat manufactured teenage angsty outrage to me but she convinced me to watch his glastonbury set - hell of a performer. Was impressive and he seemed much more sincere (if rather gushing) live

Hopefully he's jamming with JB somewhere.

Rammstein in Dublin There was a bass player there somewhere but for some reason he wasnt the focus of my attention

I took the kids to see Orchestra Baobab at the Bray jazz festival a few weeks ago. Great vibe and got a primarily grey haired audience up and dancing. The bass was never flashy and just grooved solidly but the rhythm guitarist was an absolute beast - just relantless Not my vid but from a gig a week later

Its a shame you already have a bass player, sounds like great fun. Drop me a line when you have a gig and I'll take a trip in from the culchielands

I remember seeing them at the naval club in tonypandy - 1988 at a guess. Rocky ran down the tables, knocking loads of people's drinks over in the process. He was taught some manners come load out time apparently. They also didnt have enough material to fill their slot and were ordered back on stage, where they played an awful 12 bar for about 10 mins. It was, oddly, a really fun gig

now, some three plus decades from my teens, almost all of the bassists posted have been influences on my playing however, someones mention of sisters of mercy reminded me: Patricia Morrison had a huge influence on me in my late teens, admittedly not in terms of bass playing though edit: possibly in terms of right hand technique.........

whoops, missed one

whoops

ah, come now, you cant tease without putting a link to them playing Freebird there. I'm pretty sure this was the version I saw on a best of the old grey whistle test show late one evening when I was a teen - absolutely blew me away - although, in retrospect, Id pick Tuesday's Gone as my fave Skynyrd song The OGWT video for Led Zep's Trampled Underfoot was also on the same show - was a very educational evening