Paul S

Mike got in touch with me after I broadcast a plea for a Trace Elliot 12 band footswitch - which he offered to me for a really fair price considering it is unlikely either of us will ever see another! It arrived packaged well enough to withstand a direct missile strike - even Royal Mail! - and was padded out using rocking horse sh!t and hen's teeth. As trouble-free and smooth a transaction as you could possibly wish for. It has been a pleasure doing business with you, sir - cheers!!

[quote name='silddx' post='1109528' date='Jan 31 2011, 02:57 PM']And you also realise that our very own Craig Martini is the bassist in Gilbert's band, and is the bassist in the clip?[/quote] Penny has just dropped. Serious respect.

I enjoyed it - thought the track had a Foo Fighters quality about it - don't know if you like that comparison or not! Bass was good, driving stuff. The singer's voice has a nice edge when he stretches himself, which I liked. As far as the vid goes I couldn't work out if there was anything to 'get' about the girl driver or not, don't think it mattered. Nice one!

Good name for a band, then - The Blaggers? I couldn't believe it when I auditioned for the heavy lot - they were all widdling away and thought, Christ there's no way I can hold my own with this lot. We went through the half dozen or so tracks we'd agreed then jammed on a couple more and the main guy said - so, see you next week if you want to come along? Couldn't believe it then, still can't now.

53 yr old 4 string pick player. I played guitar in my teens, stopped in my early 20s. Bought a bass in my mid 40s which I played every day for a week, every week for a month then abandoned. Then at 50 I picked it up again, started practising seriously and looked for bands to play in. Had my first gig at 50 and the whole thing feels like I have now found a small piece of my soul that has been missing all these years. I play in 2 bands - one is largely lightweight modern pop rock and we generally have a blast - a couple of the guys are fairly well connected and we seem to get some good gigs, though mainly charity non-payers. We've been going in this incarnation for about 18months. The other band is heavy classic rock covers - the kind of music I grew up with in the early-mid 70s. Only been going for about 10 months and just started gigging but playing to a much higher standard. The guitarist and drummer are both pretty hot. I don't have chops, can't read music, can just about read tab but generally don't bother. In my favour - I have a good ear, good touch, good sense of rhythm and timing, am a quick learner and have so far been able to do a passable version of anything I have been asked to. But I am seriously aware of my limitations and feel it is only a matter of time before I get found out...

Ta. I think they are fine looking instruments.

Does the scratch plate hide any routing or is it just been plonked on? And is it the same neck as the other Mats - 40mm at the nut-type thing?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westbury-Track-2-Bass-/250765848308?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a62cf2ef4"]Westbury Track 2[/url] popped up on eBay - I think you are a fan, Jon?

[quote name='4-string-thing' post='1108034' date='Jan 30 2011, 12:22 PM']Some have mentioned earplugs.... For rehearsals yes, gigs no. What does it say to your audience if the band are wearing them?[/quote] That we care about the state of our hearing? If they think anything else I couldn't give a toss, frankly.

In my limited understanding most manufacturers go through a purple patch or two. The current crop of VMJ/CV Squiers get much praise but perhaps those of 5 years ago wouldn't. Mid 80s MIJ Fenders were supposed to have been top quality - that kind of thing. It just helps to pin down exactly what is on offer.

If it is 'Bad Case of Loving You' I play E, D, B, D, B, A, B, A, G, E, E.

Just as a brief aside, I happened to be in a Sue Ryder shop this morning and the Stratocaster they had in the window had THE most amazing quilted maple fretboard - it really was 3D. What's going on? Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, in anyone is interested. I have too many guitars as it is.

Thanks guys. I had a thought last night that 'expression pedal' on the Zoom b2.1U might actually do this very thing - it does a dry/wet blend on some effects patches, let's hope it will on this one. I'll try it tonight with the AH250 head at rehearsal. In the long term I think a proper stomp box and one or two proper pedals is the way forward, though. I am finding it hard to get my head around the Zoom.

Thanks Dan. Having read the answers you have given has given me a better idea of what to look for - and a quick Google search of 'effects loop blender' throws up a few things like the Boss unit you mention, Xotic X Blender and a couple of other things that are scarily expensive! But all I have seen are either a compromise or have extra widgets like pre-amps on board that I don't need. Re the Boss pedal - I wonder if I managed to get hold of the right footswitch, which would allow me to stomp in the pre-shape, might that have the same/similar result? Sounds like I should keep my eyes peeled on the classifieds, anyway! Meanwhile I'll keep using the AH300 head which, after all, is no bad thing. In your experience is the custom made path cheaper or more expensive? I suppose better value if you end up with exactly what you want.

I am very tentatively feeling my way with just the one multi-effect at the moment - a Zoom B2-1U. My use of effects is very, very limited and, if it wasn't for one or two tracks with either band, probably wouldn't bother. Probably just as well I guess my best 'for instance' would be one thing I actually want to do. I have my amp set with the EQ level and the pre-shape switched in. I have a particular fuzz patch by way of a 'Muse' type of effect which is ok but on its own is too harsh and you seem to lose a lot of the 'bass sound' - don't know how else to describe this. When I route the pedal via the effects loop I can use a switch at the back to click in what they call 'parallel mode' and use a knob to blend the wet/dry balance. This gives me back the 'bass sound' but with some of the fuzz with it. So it is this that I want to try and replicate in the other head - this blend of wet/dry. Ideally I would additionally like to be able to switch this in and out with a stomp switch - so using my Musa example and when playing Hysteria, the bass starts on it's own with the wet sound - which is fine. But when the guitar/drum come in it becomes lost so I would want like to switch to a blended sound which gives the 'bass sound' back and the added depth. Maybe additionally a wet/dry balance, too, so the levels could be easily matched without arsing about with the pedal - although I have no doubt that may be easier than I imagine, I just haven't found a way yet. I don't know if any of that makes any sense but it is the clearest I can manage. I know what sounds I want, just don't know how to describe it properly!

Showing my ignorance here Dan - if full wet means effect only then, yes, that is exactly it. I don't understand the way the insides of an amp work to know the best way to route it - within the effects loop or just daisy chain the lot from the input jack? Certainly the set up in the Ah-300 head is just what I want to try and replicate - having it available at my feet would make it more useable, too.

I have a Trace Elliot AH-300 12 head that has an effects loop. It is possible, via an in/out switch and blend knob to have just the effects loop sound or, with the switch cut in, the effect sound blended with the post EQ sound with no effect. I think that is what is happening, anyway Whatever is going on, it is pretty useful and gives, for my own particular purposes, a better souund. I also have a Trace Elliot Ah250 head that has an effects loop but none of that other gubbins to combine the effect with the post EQ 'plain' sound. I actually prefer the sound this amp makes but miss not being able to blend the effects. Is it possible to get a stomp box of some sort that would enable you to have click on-and-off-able a/ just the effect sound and b/ a mix of both that can be blended? (c/ I guess a by-pass as well) I am sure it is, but have no idea what to look for.

It fetched £240 in the end, which I think was excellent value.

There's a Westone Thunder III on eBay [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220727014659&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]here[/url] finishing in 12 hrs, bidding currently at £165. I was having a little think about this myself but changed my mind. The Thunder IIIs have been going for around £350 just lately so it will be interesting to see where this ends up.

I sold my Thunder Jet for £75 recently so, yes.

[quote name='Krysbass' post='1097467' date='Jan 21 2011, 01:27 PM']Being able to master both styles is ideal. But I began playing with a pick back in the '80's and then switched to fingerstyle. Now I only play fingerstyle. I'd like to be able to do both, but I don't have the time to do the neccessary amount of practice to do them both well, so I'd rather be good at my chosen style than poor or mediocre at both. My choice of fingerstyle is based on my personal view (ie not expecting everyone to agree) that this is more versatile across a variety of musical genres.[/quote] What he said ^^ except with a pick - I started on a guitar in the 70s and I have stuck with pick. I'd love to master finger style but need to devote what time I have to keeping my pick playing right. Doesn't seem an issue for players in bands - you see footage of people like, say, Geezer Butler - who has that trademark finger style right up at the neck - playing with a pick on occasion. No big deal.

I think 'keeping it simple' almost defines the role of the bass guitar. Personally, I don't see the bass as an instrument for complicated soloing or showboating but to be a foundation for the fabric of the song you are playing. Bassist who are busy all the time wear me out, frankly. With the caveat that I say that from a position of technical incompetence

No, Jon, I haven't taken off the bridge. Knowing my luck I'd drop something important - I'm extremely cack-handed when it comes to stuff like this. Gary - what can I say?....

I'm getting a message here about the pup covers... Jon - nothing anywhere as far as I can see on the bridge or tuners. Whatever it is the bridge is nice - I recently fitted a Gotoh to one of my Fenders and I think this is just as good or better.