TheRev

[quote name='ped' post='410641' date='Feb 15 2009, 11:55 PM']Had exactly the same issue with mine mate, I ended up having to sell in the end anyway but the buyer agreed it was a dry solder joint and fixed it himself eventually. Great amplifiers when they work! Cheers ped[/quote] That was me! By way of an update though, the problem hasn't completely gone away.... Initially, my repair bloke believed the problem lay with the FX wet/dry mix knob on the back. he replaced it and the issue was indeed solved for a while. After a year or so later I was back to thumping the bloody thing to get it going. I still think the problem is dry joints but in the speaker out jack sockets - giving them a wiggle seemed to produce more output and less crackling. I moved to a Markbass head (I went lightweight) soon after so I never got round to replacing the speaker sockets to see if they were indeed the problem.

Hi Nik. I can do the pick up etc. no problem. Just give me a shout when the acution ends. Dave

The hybrid Slinkys (nickel ones..) do seem to be the strings to get the Musicman sound. I once tried my Sterling with a set of Rotosounds but took them off after a day as it just sounded all wrong. Having said that, I've had a set of DR Sunbeams on for about 6 months now and they're really rather nice - not as agressive as Slinkys but they still have a bit of growl in them - just a bit more mellow.

Judging by the the audio clips on the website they have a pretty good DB sound, have to admit I'm pretty tempted.

I did exactly the same thing when I went to see Pendulum in Newport. The sign saying that the car park closed at 8:30 was about 6 inches high, dark blue, covered in grime and half hidden behind a lampost in the shadows. We ended up having to sleep in the car until the carpark opened again at 6am. And it was bloody freezing.

Welcome to the club mate! You'll never look back plus you'll be inundated with offers of gigs. There is something that is just so satisfying about playing upright bass - I can't quite put my finger on it. It's just so much more involved - all your effort and concentration goes into making each note sound just right.

The Fender BG32 has a 30" scale length and isabout the same size as yer average acoustic guitar.

Rufus Reids' book 'The evolving Bassist' is also very good. However I would recommend you book a lesson with a bass teacher to explain some of the techniques properly as it's more effective to be shown how to do something properly by an expert rather than trying to work it out from a book. I was in pretty much the same place as you when I started playing DB a few years ago. I got Rufus' book and started working through the exercises but I didn't really 'get' how he explained thing like proper stance and plucking techinque. As a result, I started to get pains in my right shoulder, forearm and little and ring fingers - not good... I ended up booking a one hour lesson with a proper bass teacher - he corrected my stance, my plucking technique and my fingering and gave me about 3 years worth of practice material - all for £25. Now, about a year later, I'm still working through the practice material and the pain has gone. it was probably the best £25 I've ever spent. Good luck! Dave

Chris Larkin will do a fretted version of his Blen EUB [url="http://www.chrislarkinguitars.com/blen.htm"]http://www.chrislarkinguitars.com/blen.htm[/url] Or Alter-Ego have a 'well tempered' option on their EUBs [url="http://www.alterego-instruments.com/well-tempered.html"]http://www.alterego-instruments.com/well-tempered.html[/url]

Free to good home: A pair of passive 12" wedge monitors. They look homemade and are loaded with Celestion drivers (IIRC). They're a bit tatty looking but they work fine. They sound OK, more suited for vocal monitoring than full band, they were used in our rehearsal room for years (we inherited them from the previous band) but have spent the last 18 months taking up space in my flat. Collection from Bristol. Cheers Dave

I'm playing tonight in my local - no money but I get free beer so technically I'm £50 up on a normal New year's eve. I'm really looking forward to it, all I have to do is stay sober enough to make it to the end of the gig!

I use a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ so I haven't got that many controls to mess with, but I find compression set at 10 o'clock and the depth at 2 o'clock give a nice even sound.

[quote name='Andyalfa' post='364711' date='Dec 28 2008, 11:26 AM']Should it be an octave lower than my bass guitar though? Sorry to sound ignorant, but this is my first foray into the upright world.[/quote] No, it's the same pitch as your bass guitar.

A Fishman Pro EQ Platinum Bass pre amp/DI box and 'The Inner game of music' book. Result all round.

Just recieved this pic from a recent gig in Bristol Quite classy looking - who says the camera never lies?

It beats the sh1t out of me too. I think they quite like it over on TB though. Weirdos.

[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='356691' date='Dec 17 2008, 09:58 AM']Thank your lucky stars you're not trying to emulate your hero bassist and looking to purchase a set of Olivs ... they'll be pretty much the same price as your stagg [/quote] Or a set of Velvets......

[quote name='slobluesine' post='354710' date='Dec 15 2008, 12:02 AM']thx rev, just ordered a set, £92 ouch![/quote] Yeah - it puts the £30 odd quid for a set of decent electric bass strings into perspective. I don't think you'll be disappointed though, the strings that came with my Aria (which the Stagg looks to be a copy of) were pretty stiffand although the bottom end was nice and solid, they were just too taut and glassy sounding and didn't have any growl. Switching to the Helicores made a huge difference in feel and tone. Did you go for the pizz, orchestral or hybrids?

I don't have one..... Try D'darrio Helicores - the medium tension ones should suit you nicely.

Hi Jeff. The volume on my Aria is fine - maybe it just needs some switch cleaner? I fully concur with all your other observations though. After almost a year of trying to make mine sound like an acoustic bass i've realised that its' 'big fretless' sound is actually very well suited to the songs we play. +1 on the compressor as well- it gives a more organic 'breathy' sound. I'm using a Tech 21 compressor at the moment but I'm going to treat myself to a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ following a number of recommendations. I'm also considering bypassing the onboard EQ entirely and just using the Fishman (when I get it...). I think the bass was originally designed as a silent practice bass to be used with headphones (explaining the huge output level from the onboard preamp) so I'm wondering if using a preamp specifically desiged to go into an amp will get more out of the bass. It's interesting that you don't rate the Stagg as they look almost identical! Dave

I sooo wanted to be Ali McMordie when was a bass neophyte back In Northern Ireland. Glad he's back with SLF - good though Mr Foxton is, it just didn't seem right.

Just play more.

For small gigs (vocal only thru PA) I use a LMII and a BFM Omni 10.5 and I can get a very nice defined sound. For larger gigs where everything is going through the PA I find that the Omni 10.5 is drowned out by the PA and monitoring. Adding a second 10.5 gives a sound that cuts through the mix but can be a bit bassy for my tastes. It's also added hassle so for those gigs I just go into my preamp and then straight into the PA.

I'm up for it (gigs allowing, etc). Brizzle is best for me though I'm happy with Bridgewater or Taunton. Venue wise, an alternative to the Drum Bank is Room 4 Studios in Whitehall (east Bristol). It's got three decent sized rooms plus a 'common room' type area with a pool table and tea and coffee facilities and they do food (burgers etc) as well. Parking isn't great though....

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='344259' date='Dec 3 2008, 03:52 PM']Eugenes not working there any more. Met him in Aldi, he still says 'bass' most words though.[/quote] That's a shame - he was always a truly helpful bloke - no bullsh*t