derrenleepoole

Couldn't agree with the OP more. I still strive for good tone, not so much for a signature voice, but because I understand that good tone helps with being heard on stage and helps with projection etc. But after years of pub gigs etc, I know that tone is purely personal and the majority of the audience couldn't give a damn or actually know what the bass is or does and simply don't care. My biggest improvement for playing came from moving to short scale bass. This brings with it it's own set of tone issues though. So while my technique is more comfortable, the quest for better tone is perhaps understandable given some of the limitations of the shorter scale.

There is currently one of the 2x10 combos with extension cab on sale on [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gallien-Krueger-MB210-Combo-Neo-210-Cab-500-watts-/280604170147?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item41554fd7a3#ht_698wt_1125"]eBay[/url] at the moment for £550 on a BIN.

I very rarely ever feel like I'm not going to enjoy a gig. As I'm now very much a hobbyist bass player doing the odd gig every month, the whole gigging thing doesn't feel like a chore so I do enjoy it more. I think this is helped by the fact that I know I can rely on my fellow band mates to deliver a good performance regardless. If I am feeling down during a gig, I always try to deliver a competent performance for the benefit of the other band members and the audience. But what I often find is, by the time were getting to the end of the first set, my spirits have lifted anyway because I'm playing live and I'm using gear that I've payed shed loads of money for! I remember why I like doing it in the first place

Hey mate, we've all had to gig for the first time at some point, and I'd be very surprised if no one on here had been what you've been through On my first gig way back in 1990, we did a student union hut gig and played to about 40 people. All the material was original and written by the guitarist. I was playing a Hohner P-bass fretless through a Laney Linebacker 150 amp and I was nervous as hell. At one point, the guitarist stood on my jack lead and pull it out of the bass. Well I just lost it with him, right in the middle of the song, right in front of the audience because I was just so nervous A lot of the songs that we were playing were actually quite delicate, subtle tunes with some great ideas in them, but the way we played them ended up sounding like a punk band - as we simply thrashed through them! There's a video of it somewhere. Based on those videos, if that's you're first gig as a bassist, you have a great future. I wish I could've played that well first off. I think everyone on here would agree that what doesn't kill you, will simply make you stronger. You'll learn from this experience and you'll do better next time, and better again after that. Every player on here has a gig story like this, and if they say they haven't they're lying

Very enjoyable

This guy is a genius and hat's off to him

I suddenly feel like spanking my plank

[quote name='rOB' post='1059500' date='Dec 15 2010, 01:13 PM']congrats, lovely review.[/quote] Cheers fella, it's just nice to know that someone was listening

Nice one. I've owned a Krappy bass too. It was a 2 string affair, and it was indeed 'krappy' - but I did pay for a very budget range one. From seeing his work of other, more involved builds, he's clearly capable of doing a good job, so it shall be interesting to see what you get Keep us informed.

We've just a had a very favourable review in 'The Local Review' If anyone is interested, check it out [url="http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-local-revue/live-cottonhouse-shakers-the-crown-darwen-26112010/168496153189156"]here[/url].

As you'll see in my signature, I'm an SX guy through and through Bought both of mine from fellow BC-ers on here, and I couldn't be happier with them to be honest. Obviously they're a budget instrument, but to be honest, you'd be hard pressed to know this. A fellow bassist friend of mine tried the 30" P-bass I use, and I asked him on what he thought the price was based on how it played and felt, and he said £300! And this guy is an experienced player, just not clued up on SX basses For so little financial outlay, it makes sense to mod them as the basic kit is so good. I'm on the look out for more SX basses and will certainly buy more in the future

That's a great looking bass

[quote name='thebrig' post='1054392' date='Dec 10 2010, 07:02 PM']If they had the old style headstock, I would probably order one. I know looks aint everything, but have you seen the new ones? I don't think I could live with it. Unbelievably awful!!!![/quote] Oh! I agree. I even emailed them about it, and it probably won't go back

I have a two shortie SX basses, and they're absolutely fab Both of mine were bought from here, so it might be worthwhile putting up an items wanted thread. It's worth noting that there's a difference between the normal SX range and the Junior range which also comes in short scale. You want the normal range. The Junior range isn't necessarily bad, but the normal range is better. If you're buying from Rondomusic they may insist on a case purchase as well for posting it in, upping the price a bit. The cases are very good quality and don't really cost that much, so it might be well worth doing it as it will save you hunting for one here. Still, the prices are so stupidly cheap that it's still very good value.

I made the move to short scale basses for the same reason as the OP, and I've never regretted it, ever. After 20 years of playing it was the right move to do. I did hover over it for ages though, but now know it's the right choice for me. I use two SX basses, a P and a J which I've modded slightly because they were so cheap. I can get all the tone I need from them just as I could out of the bigger brothers. No contest.

Thanks guys, that's encouraging indeed. The string comparison's on the Aria EUB are useful as the Stagg is a licensed copy of it. So all this is good to know. The gut like strings with a softer a touch are what I'm after anyway, so good info there too.

Just thinking out loud and musing to myself, so stick with me I'm getting a Stagg EUB for a fellow BC-er, and I was wondering about the piezo pickup on such instruments. Obviously, the EUB is an approximation of the DB experience. The Stagg in particular is just a stick with strings, so no body and no resonant chamber etc. So, my question is this: does string choice make a massive difference on such instruments? Obviously, playability is the first port of call - light against heavy, soft feel etc. But what about tone? Can piezo's on such instruments translate the tonal qualities of really good quality strings on an instrument with little comparative resonance in it's body (or lack thereof)? What's your thoughts and experiences on this?

So, you fancy yourself as a DB luthier eh? Even though this is beat up to hell, it's certainly a good way to learn how to restore an instrument. It looks like it's probably a Meinel or Musima possibly, a budget range from the 70's and 80's. I had one very similar from a school which I paid 50 quid for. For the money, or lack of it, you can't go wrong really. I'm betting that if you do mange to restore this, you'll probably have more pride in owning it as a result.

Tom is just incredible. Got to see him live in Liverpool and it was immense

Sorry mate, but it's looking like we can't help you out after all! Hope you manage to sort this out though?

I'm in Blackburn and have a blues band called the Cottonhouse Shakers. We do all sorts of stuff from Dylan, to ACDC, Motorhead, Hawkwind, BB King etc. I'll ask if the other guys are free, but it might be a bit of short notice.

[quote name='gafbass02' post='1011611' date='Nov 4 2010, 07:43 AM']What a cool idea, i looked back through my pics to check You can just spot my genz/berg rig here: [/quote] I'm really struggling to see your bass rig in that picture mate

Man, I wish I had more room at home for gear like this. I'd love to go down the whole small valve route if I could afford it

I think feel is key more than anything else. Funk playing is as much about what you don't play as what you do play. The phrasing and timing are everything. Tone is almost an after thought really. Think about early funk recordings, bassists with nothing more than a P or J bass, probably with worn strings and a big phat amp. No fancy preamps, tone circuits etc. I think many starting out musicians come unstuck with gear choice. There's a perception that better gear equals immediate improvement in tone etc. This is simply not true. If you don't know how to get the best out of the gear you have, what hope will you have with something more expensive? Don't get me wrong, expensive pro gear is great if you can afford it. But how many posts are we seeing appearing on here of late praising the likes of ubber cheap gear like Westfield and SX etc? I think getting your head around good tone from ANY instrument will help in the long run, more than shelling out for 'this' amp and 'that bass etc. If a new bass is on the horizon, the one model that will get you that 'funkier' sound is more than likely a Stingray styled instrument.