EssentialTension

[quote name='andyjingram' post='799071' date='Apr 7 2010, 07:00 PM']Hi guys, I'm looking to put some flatwound strings on a bass. To keep the subject as simple as possible, if I was putting a new set of rounds on, I would up the gauge from 40-100 to 45-105. As it seems to be the concensus that on average the tension will be a bit higher, do you think that using 40-100 flats will give me something akin to the extra resistance of higher gauge rounds, or is the tension difference not that noticable? I'm hoping that I can get the extra stability without the hassle of tweaking the nut! Thanks, Andy[/quote] I don't know the best answer to your exact question but be aware that the tension of flats is quite variable - e.g. TI Jazz Flats are very low tension, whereas La Bella flats are much higher tension - so whether you need to tweak the truss rod won't merely depend on the gauge of the strings.

[quote name='umph' post='793833' date='Apr 1 2010, 10:49 PM']i have really bad gas for a bass VI or similar type instrument at the minute and was wondering what're my options that are going to cost under a grand. I already know about the schecter and the burns ones just wondering if there was anything else similar about![/quote] Gretsch G5265 Jet Baritone - about £300

I like it ... but I also have a Decade which looks better, undoubtably sounds better, and was a third of the price.

[quote name='Bilbo' post='791611' date='Mar 31 2010, 10:11 AM']Many of you know I work with offenders. One of the tools we use relates to enhancing thinking skills and to do that, it is necessary to understand how we think. One of the interesting aspects of this relates to the ways in which people justify their behaviour (any behaviour, even murder). There are all sorts of ways; denial, self deception, minimisation (I only steal for companies not from individuals, I only drove 300 yards, I had to get home because the kids were ill), justification (everyone does it, I drive better when I have had a drink, it was only a bit of puff etc). The important thing is that most offenders don't actually know they are doing this. Anyway, in looking at the way people think, it long ago dawned on me that these traits were not just about offending but about ALL behaviours. And, as with offenders, people generally don't know they are doing it. Think about people who diet, who give up smoking, who shop with credit cards etc. They will talk themselves into it even though they know it is ultimately harmful. Relating this to the topic under discussion, what we have here (in general terms; this is not an attack on anyone), we have a situation where many members of the musical community seek to find ways to justify their decisions so they can still feel ok about their abilities. When the likes of the Major, Doddy, Jakesbass and myself advocate for musical literacy, there are always those who respond with the 'X is great and he can't read' argument, or the 'I knew a guy who could read but couldn't groove' position, or 'readers don't play with good feel' etc etc. The arguments presented are what I would call justifications, position statements that allow individuals who haven't learned to read to justify their lack of a well established, legitimate and tried and tested skill. They avoid the simple 'I can't read because I can't read' admission in favour of 'I can't read because I don't need to', 'its a waste of time', 'it will ruin my feel', 'it will undermine my creativity', 'I don't need it', 'it will undermine my originality', 'it will make me lazy', 'it will ruin my ability to play by ear' - its all b/s. Its not rocket science. Readers who can't improvise can't improvise because they haven't learned how, not because they can read. Classical musicians can't play funk or jazz because they haven't spent time with the genres, not because they can read. There is no causal link between reading dots and any musical shortcoming whatsoever. People who can read can do something others cannot and will get gig unavailable to others - end of. It doesn't mean that others can't do something that the reader can't do; the two things are unrelated. If you can read, you can read. No more and no less. Its a skill that is worth acquiring - and, incidentally, is of considerably more use than double thumbing, tapping, raking or crimping. You wil get calls for gigs you wouldn't have got before (of course you didn't need it before. Noone would call you for a reading gig if you couldn't read). I can see NO reason why anyone who can read would tell someone who couldn't read to learn to do so so that they would be worse musicians. I CAN see why people are dismissive of the skill; if YOU don't learn, they don't have to feel bad about their own musical illiteracy and, more to the point, YOU won't get a gig in place of them. Do it. Start now.[/quote] Very neatly put, Bilbo.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='791830' date='Mar 31 2010, 01:07 PM']Glad its not my "special hand" [/quote] Ah, now we see the importance of the extra fingers.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='791179' date='Mar 30 2010, 09:43 PM']Ive just been going over some scales and noticed i never, ever use my 4th finger on the fretboard. I use my little finger, with my 4th finger on top of it.[/quote] I though the little finger was the 4th finger? How many fingers do you have?

If it's f[b][u]L[/u][/b]at then the string is too [b][u]L[/u][/b]ong. If it's [b][u]Sh[/u][/b]arp then the string is too [b][u]Sh[/u][/b]ort.

[quote name='Rumple' post='783372' date='Mar 23 2010, 02:13 PM']$85 plus $15 postage. Easy as that, thanks EssentialTension [/quote] Good result.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='782005' date='Mar 21 2010, 08:47 PM']I believe one way Lakland do stop people making a Skyline look like a US is that US necks don't fit Skyline bodies.[/quote] Having given this claim due consideration I have decided I was talking b******s (again). Thank you.

Steven Stills auditioned for the Monkees but got rejected.

[quote name='Sean' post='789861' date='Mar 29 2010, 08:22 PM']I thought it was all Carol Kaye and Joe Osbourne. interesting stuff. What's really interesting is how much they actually did themselves, especially Peter Tork.[/quote] I expected more Joe Osborn too.

[quote name='Kirky' post='789855' date='Mar 29 2010, 08:15 PM']I know Larry Taylor's work with Tom Waits. Didn't realise he was with Canned Heat. Great player. Monkees had the of session guys on their records.[/quote] Larry Taylor played with John Mayall too.

[quote name='OldGit' post='788859' date='Mar 28 2010, 08:48 PM']Squse me but when is it the promotor's responsible for providing backline?[/quote] When he's telling the other bands that they don't need to bring any gear.

[quote name='Doddy' post='788494' date='Mar 28 2010, 01:43 PM']There is no way I'd buy a shiny new amp and let other bands use it.[/quote] +1. But, anyway, if the promoter is hiring the backline from you then how much are they paying (on top of your appearance fee) for that service?

[quote name='Oggy' post='788021' date='Mar 27 2010, 05:11 PM']Hi Basschaters, As a relatively new, self tough, electric bass player I've never heard of the '1fpf' rule / advice. I've read through the thread and found it fascinating - thanks to you all. I've only been playing for 4 years, no formal training or tutor advice, just me, the bass and a CD player or Tascam-BT. I'v occasionally referred to on-line TAB but not for 'which left hand finger on which fret' positions, only for the fret position. My first bass was a Fender Precision (1987), wide neck, 34 inch scale length and action you could drive a buss under. I eventually sussed out that perhaps the action was a little high and had it set up; what a difference that made. Without knowing the 1fpf thing I applied it anyway, sort of made sense. My next bass was a Fender Jazz, slim neck, 34 inch scale length and great action from the start. I've had several basses since and can say that they all gave me problems when playing down the neck and applying the 1fpf rule / advice thing, Oh the cramps...... I did during the above period think about buying a, dare I say it, a Short Scale Bass...Aggggggg, but was always put off by other players telling me that they were for kids or girls with small hands. 'I have small hands', yes I admit it. I've put up with the sore wrists and cramps when playing repetitive riff's down the neck and stretching - but no more! I've bought a Short Scale and cramps and sore wrists have gone away, I can stretch enough to apply the 1fpf thing and play riff's down the neck all day long. My advice would be to anyone, after a lot of pain for the gain, is - if the finger stretching 'or whatever the technical term is' is giving you cramps, a sore wrist or any hand discomfort just try a Medium 32 inch scale or a Short +/-30 inch scale - Just don't buy a PINK one. I'm just a tad disappointed that the choice of Medium and Short scale basses is so limited. What about a Short or Medium Fender Jazz (MIJ Fender do a Medium but they can't sell it outside Japan). I've settled on a Gibson SG Short and I'm looking for a decent Fender Mustang (the choice is very limited), as much as I'd love to be sporting a Jazz or a Precision I just can't do the pain thing any longer. Oggy [/quote] But don't forget that, as several posts here have suggested, 1fpf is not necessary in the lower positions - try Simandl. And, as you've discovered, medium and short scales are not just 'for kids or girls with small hands'.

[quote name='KiOgon' post='787563' date='Mar 27 2010, 12:09 AM']Yep they do New style packet, but the strings remain the same [/quote] Nice headstock.

[quote name='bartelby' post='786563' date='Mar 26 2010, 06:38 AM']I used to do my own with an old slide projector, some slide glass, food colours and paint stripper. It was fun, if a little bit dangerous...[/quote] Ah, yes, I remember doing that same thing too. After the first time we carried a fire extinguisher.

[quote name='4 Strings' post='787307' date='Mar 26 2010, 06:39 PM']Really? Thanks for that, the old Precision I have is '78 and was fitted with flats with green silk and I wondered what make they were. From what you say, perhaps they are the original strings. I put them back on yesterday.[/quote] They could be original. I think the Fender stainless flats still have green silks today.

In 1976 I bought a new Precision and it came with factory fitted flats with green silks.