Count Bassy

It's just great to see Wilko still out there gigging and having fun. An example to us all!

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1389904957' post='2339470'] The parties directly involved need to get down to some proper dialogue and compromise instead of the polarised, defensive nonsense that has gone on so far, of which this petition is part. [/quote] While I agree with this I have signed it as well, because unless the council get a wake up call (e.g. in the form of this petition), they will just carry on and effectively close the place down, because it's easier than engaging in dialogue! Over 56000 now! This sort of thing really pisses me off! It's always the complainers who get listened to. Our local pub put on a weekend music festival, with plenty of consultation and warning to locals, but because one or two residents complained to the council it will never happen again, despite the fact that there were about 300 people, mostly from the village, having a great time.

[quote name='6MinsToBass' timestamp='1389618639' post='2336120'] I have I I have spoken to Mark by phone, been into the shop, and exchanged quite a few emails over the last 6 months. Mark is a great guy and offers a fantastic service. I have bought 2 Vanderkley 212MNT's from him, a Babicz bridge, a Darkglass B7k, and part-ex'd a Markbass LMii, and 2 GK 112Neo's - all with out a glitch. Infact when I was dealing with Insurance companies following the loss of my rig Mark was only to happy to help me with supplying receipts, serial numbers etc, and helped my to replace some of my equipment. I have played Guitar and Bass for many many years, but I haven't dealt with a shop that delivers such a good "personal" service before. Absolute 100% Top Marks for Bass Direct. [/quote] Not to detract from the guy - I've never had any contact with him, but his helping sort out your insurance claim may not have been purely altruistic, he had a potential large financial incentive to help out as well.

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1389739649' post='2337512'] Clever enough, but sounds sh*t. [/quote] Beat me to it!

The thing I find with music is that "Frame of Mind" has so much to do with it. You can do exactly the same thing repeatedly and sometimes it feels great and other times it doesn't. The problem is (for me anyway) that if I don't feel its working it I start worrying and thinking "What's" wrong, and before I know it it really is going wrong!

[quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1389263436' post='2331972'] I think a lot of Paul Young's songs were covers. However, (and I may be wrong in some cases) I think Pino's basslines were new and completely different to those in the originals. In my book, these basslines are worthy of study/comment/praise etc. But hey, that's just me. CB [/quote] I know and agree! My dig was not at Pino, but at the people on here (and elsewhere) who seem to think that people who play covers/versions are somehow lesser musicians than those who play originals.

Re "Every Time you Go Away": This is a Hall and Oates song that pre-dates the Paul Young version by some 6 years.[size=4]Therefore Paul Young's version is a cover version, therefore Pino is playing on a cover version:[/size] I think you'll find that that makes it pretty worthless according to some of the "Real Musicians" here.

[quote name='FlopalotapusBass' timestamp='1389206393' post='2331393'] [size=4][color=#000000]They're both pretty mad bass lines in my opinion but I wonder if there's a song with a bass line you know that will really ensure I get an A or even an A*[/color][/size] [/quote] I have no idea of your competence level, but as a general rule for examinations I would say that it's better to perform a less complicated piece better than to play a more complicated piece less well - And m[size=4]y wife's old sax teacher always said that, even when considering one piece, slower and more accurate would get a better mark than faster and sloppy.[/size] Obviously in both cases it is a matter of degree and judgement, based on your ability, but don't fall into the trap of thinking that a more complicated piece will necessarily help get you and A or A*. A load of teenagers might be impressed by a "Flash" bass line, but you'll be being judged by professional musicians who will be judging the execution, not the flashiness. Obviously if you can do a "flash" piece really well then so much the better. I can't see the attached file that you mention, so haven't been able to take that into account in my comments.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1389028994' post='2329027'] Fair enough. What's that Sherlock Holmes saying? When you've eliminated everything else then what remains must be the actual reason, no matter how improbable it may seem! Many years (*cough* decades *cough*) ago I had to fault-find an V24 serial connection (look it up kids ) between two computers and it took me ages because nothing I tried made any sense. Long story short, it turned out that two of the wires in the multi-way cable actually [u]swapped colours[/u] within the overall cable sheath! [/quote] I had a similar problem with a multi-core (around the same time), 24 or 36 core 0.25mm, and found that it had two green cores !!

IF you fancy something more classical we had William Waltons "Crown Imperial" fro the bride's entrance, and Widors Toccata in D for the exit - both worked really well. And to entertain the troops during the signing the other three members of the Ceilidh band we were both in played a medley of appropriate folk tunes. (By appropriate I mean "Haste to the Wedding", followed by "Tripping Upstairs" followed by "Cuckoo's Nest").

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1388963989' post='2328303'] Another thought is that perhaps the negative connector (not the 'stud' like one) on the battery had been deformed? It's possible (though pretty unlikely) for the 'petals' on that connector to be opened out a bit so that the mating 'stud' doesn't make a physically tight contact and in an extreme case it's possible for the stud to just lie inside the 'petals' and not make any contact. A quick squeeze with a pair of pliers would fix such a problem. [/quote] That was my first thought, but I definitely had to press hard to engage each stud, especially after I had pinched them up tighter. I even resoldered the wires onto the connector part, but nothing changed until I actually tried a different battery.

Just thought I'd share a really odd problem that I've just had: I was getting irregular and very loud pops from my active bass. To cut a long story short it turns out that I had an intermittent contact [b]inside[/b] the PP3 battery (or another internal problem giving these symptoms). This was Duracell, so not a cheapo, with loads of volts left when checked with a meter. Changed the battery and everything is rosy again. Because I'd never come across an internal battery fault like this before I spent quite a bit of time messing about with everything else (Battery connector, wiring etc.) before trying a different battery. Doh!

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1388692917' post='2324994'] Owning two sig basses, I actually feel mixed about them. In principle, I find the idea of owning a replica of someone else's bass odd (unless you're in a tribute band or a HUGE fan!) so I went for the whole 'go in and try as many as possible and buy the one that is best!' idea. Both times that turned out to be the signature model. There isn't a jazz bass I've played with a neck quite like the Geddy. For me, I loved it and wouldn't have had that profile on a standard production model. Similarly, I went for the Nate Mendel precision because the neck profile is so different to the other standard precision neck profiles and the addition of the bad ass bridge, quarter pounder and nitro finish swung it. I suppose the feel and sound rather than the signature on the headstock made the decision for me. [/quote] My sentiments exactly, except in my case I have the Fender Stu Hamm Urge Mk 1 because it has the 32" scale (and other things), and I have the Ibanez Garry Willis GWB 35 because it is a five string lined fretless at a sensible price and Ibanez build quailty. In fact I'd never heard of Stu Hamm or Gary Willis until I bought the basses. I also find the idea of wearing a band's merchandise to that band's concerts a bit "odd", and never do it myself, however much I rate the band or artist.

Well the clip sounds OK, but hardly the "Ground breaking" that they claim.

Sad to say that part of my plan is to spend much less time on Basschat! [size=4] (This post is a good start [/size][size=4] i[/size][size=4]sn't it [/size] ?[size=4])[/size] [size=4]But a lot more time playing [/size] [size=4]And the band I'm [/size]practising[size=4] with should have our first gig in February [/size] [size=4]And buy myself a light(ish) weight amp (Possibly an LMIII) (while retaining the DBS 7400).[/size] [size=4]And move on some of the basses I don't play anymore .[/size] [size=4]And on a wider scale: change my job.[/size] [size=4]A happy New Year to all.[/size]

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1387912355' post='2317199'] A generous interpretation CB, I would have said - stress or no stress - "thanks for bringing your bass here to have the work done" and I might have been thinking as I said it "despite our extremely high prices for relatively simple jobs and despite the fact it takes our technician over a month to rewire a bass and despite the fact that even when he has the controls don't work properly and I have to ask him to sit down with the customer and let him explain how to do the job". [/quote] Well I've said and done few "off" things in my time (largely due to depression and stress - but not always), so try to give benefit of the doubt, or allow for what might be going on someone's life (or head) at the time, where possible. However he might just be a twat! PS: I still love the fact that Twat gets through the filter! Doesn't even recognise it as a word, let alone a rude one. Twat Twat Twat (just because I can)!

IN: Ibanez SR605 Vanderkley 112MNT OUT: Nothing (Maybe next year)

[size=4]I remember hearing Elton John say that he could never to the big chords due to his hand size, and had to adapt what he played accordingly. He seems to have done all right at it, and a[/size][size=4]s others have pointed out, there are some excellent small handed players out there, so it's not insurmountable, but you may have to adapt your style and technique to suit your hand size.[/size] [size=4]As someone put it me regarding something completely different: "You have to play the hand you have, not the one you wish you had". A card playing reference, but it seems particularly apt in this case!![/size] [size=4]At least as bassists we have the option of different scale lengths!![/size]

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1387565146' post='2313508'] The owner of a music shop ranted at me a few years back for having the audacity to buy an old bass on eBay and then bring it into his shop intending to pay for a decent checkover, setup and rewire (he didn't appear to understand that I wasn't interested in buying any of the £100-£150 instruments in the shop). He performed his rant on a Saturday morning about a week before Christmas and in full view of about 6 potential customers and their mums and dads, all of whom left sharpish. He went out of business a few weeks later. [/quote] Not excusing his behaviour, but if he knew that his business was on the way out (which he must have done if it went a few weeks later), then his stress levels must have been Sky high when he ranted at you, and if that was the case then I feel for him. Then again he may have been a regular ranter, hence the business collapsing in the first place.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1387752307' post='2315344'] I don't understand why the red one has tuners at both ends. [/quote] Does it have detuners at both ends like that mannring bloke has?

Assuming that my lack of talent is not a problem, then Family. Simply because they were/are my favourite band ever.

[quote name='Immo' timestamp='1386869800' post='2305758'] I tried the RockCable by Warwick RCL 30205 D6 C coil cable. Previously I used Proel Bulk cable. It may be psychoacoustics, but I think that coiled made my bass sound even better - a bit more clarity and a slight volume boost. It's elastic, so I can move around. And looks utterly cool. As for now, I really like this cord. [/quote] It's not psychoacoustics. Its because the curly cable means that the electrons are going round the same way as the earth's rotation, which makes them flow more easily. Unfortunately this means that if you have a gig in the southern hemisphere you have to use a cable that is coiled the other way round. Straight cables are fine if you're near the equator.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1387447195' post='2311955'] Yes and thank you for the suggestion, I know that would be an option but not one I want to do, because my idea is to keep upgrade reversable in case I sell the bass and the buyer prefers to have all orginal parts. Cheers [/quote] Yes, but if you modified the new bridge rather than the original bass, then it would be reversible by simply refiting the old bridge. The holes in the bass would not be affected.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1387229993' post='2309734'] Nigel the problem is not the spacing but the foot pring of the bridge is not standard size I have a few aftermarket (Fender replacement ones) and none fit without me having to tap the screw holes and redrill new ones which I don't wish to do because I intend to keep everything else as original and reversable to standard status. Thanks [/quote] In that case could you take a new "Off the Shelf" bridge and drill additional holes it it to match the existing screw holes in the bass? A custom made one will be very expensive compared to off the shelf.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1387274416' post='2310017'] Personally if I was going to do it I'd probably go the other way---rounds on the E/A and flats on the D/G. I think this would give a much better balance of timbre across the instrument. But why not give it a go? It could sound ace. [/quote] Yeah, me too, make the B/E a bit more lively with rounds and the A/D/G a bit less harsh with the flats. Of course there are half rounds to consider, all the different gauges, different materials (as mentioned), and all the different manufacturers. The possibilities would be almost endless if you had the time (and money) to experiment with them all.