EssentialTension

Around nine frets would do me almost all the time, while twelve would be perfect. In present band I do hit a high C# at the eighteenth fret of the G string on one occasion but it's by no means essential. I can see the logic of twenty-one frets for the competed third octave. But whatever suits you is the correct number.

There's no substitute, in my experience, for doing it oneself.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1469199331' post='3096597'] I actually posed this question to set up and gather data for a future thread. [/quote]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1469198900' post='3096585'] This discussion pertains to defining a cover band at the local level. Blue [/quote] In your imagination maybe, but threads and definitions have a real life of their own. It's like you wrote the original thread but lots of people have covered it in their own way. That's life. The author is dead.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1469198475' post='3096578'] We're defining cover band not what a cover is. Blue [/quote] I really don't care if it's a cover or a cover band or if it's original (which I very much doubt) or a so-called originals band. I only want to know do I like it.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1469187145' post='3096428'] No. They had material that was written specifically for them. A cover is more specifically a song that was originally recorded (and made famous?) by another artist beforehand. ie the risk and hard work of selling the song and determining whether it will be popular has already be done. All you have to do is copy what they did. [/quote] Both Cliff Richard and even more so Elvis Presley covered songs written by and/or originally performed by other people. The first Elvis RCA album started with a Carl Perkins cover, and also included covers of Ray Charles, Clyde McPhatter and Little (no relation to Cliff) Richard amongst others.

[quote name='bassbiscuits' timestamp='1469185663' post='3096400'] For reference, I'm using an old 70s precision with La Bella flats, through a LM3 and Aguilar GS410. [/quote] I'd say there is no reason that rig can't work fine and cut through nicely. Whether it would be to everyone's liking is a separate matter. [quote name='bassbiscuits' timestamp='1469185663' post='3096400'] ... with a pick they get a bit shouty and hollow sounding - the 'worse version of rounds' sound i referred to. [/quote] A Fender with flats and with a pick is very common on 1960s pop recordings with session bassists such as (in the US) Carol Kaye, Joe Osborn, and (in the UK) John Paul Jones, Russ Stableford etc. Again there's no reason it can't work fine - but liking it might be a different matter. Bass particularly up front from 2.15 and following ... [media]http://youtu.be/06X5HYynP5E[/media]

Peerless Retromatic B2 in Ivory ...

The La Bella 760M are the 'Original 1954' bridge cables. I would not describe them as probably helping to give a bit of snap or having a bit of bite. More that they have a lot of thump and loads of tension even drop-tuned. Slightly more bite with [i]slightly[/i] less tension could be the La Bella 760FS.

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1469173096' post='3096248'] In my experience some flats will sound good on a bass some will not sound good on the same bass. I tried a set of TIs on my Overwater fretless and I wasn't at all happy with the tone. Put a set of La Bellas on that bass and it just came alive. TIs went on the ACG Finn and sound great on that. It might be an idea to try changing the strings between basses and see what happens. [/quote] Yes. No string has a rigidly fixed sound but will work and sound somewhat different on different basses ... and with different players.

I never use roundwounds but I do use a variety of flatwounds and tapewounds. I use little if any EQ on my amp. I do sometimes roll off the treble or use a different pickup (if two pickup bass) or move my right hand up or down between bridge and neck. I think if i was using roundwounds I would still be doing those same things.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1469048804' post='3095444'] I was once in a band called Brentford Nylons. We did loose covers. [/quote] Brent Ford and the Nylons perform a cover song (or two) .... [media]http://youtu.be/jUlYV4L60HU[/media] By the way, the vocalist is John Mostyn who was involved in 2 Tone records and later manager of The Beat and then Fine Young Cannibals and others.

Very nice and also nice colour. Are the stings Pyramids?

[quote name='steviebee74' timestamp='1468229615' post='3089335'] [font=Calibri][size=3][color=#000000]Bit of an odd question I guess but hoping someone on here might be able to help.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Calibri][color=#000000][size=3]When setting up basses, the usual protocol (as we all know) is to place a capo at the first fret, use your right hand to fret the low string at the point where the neck/body join, measure half way down (usually the 7[/size][sup][size=2]th[/size][/sup][size=3] fret) and use a feeler gauge etc…[/size][/color][/font] [font=Calibri][size=3][color=#000000]The question is: If a bass has a “Zero” fret, do we count this as the first fret and measure from there or do we still fret at the (regular) “first” fret and proceed as normal?[/color][/size][/font] [font=Calibri][size=3][color=#000000]Thanks in advance,[/color][/size][/font] [font=Calibri][size=3][color=#000000]Stevie[/color][/size][/font] [/quote] The point of the capo at fret 1 and finger or thumb at fret 13 is to make a straight edge of the string in order to measure the relief at fret 6 ... Or alternatively you could use an 18" ruler. The zero fret is not relevant to that measurement but if you do use the zero fret without the capo then it ought to be thumb at fret 12 and measure relief at fret 5. That's what I would do anyway.

1977, North Staffordshire Polytechnic (now Staffordshire University) ... hole opens up in stage and drummer with kit collapses slowly ... oh how we laughed.

As has already been suggested, gauge alone does not tell you tension or the need for a setup. Different strings have different tensions when at pitch due to their having different masses per unit length and that depends upon the general construction of the string and not merely upon its gauge. Hence, there's no substitute for learning how to setup the instrument yourself and it's not difficult. There are many guides on the internet, not least on YouTube. I like these ones but just find one that makes sense to you. http://youtu.be/cIzV9462xeE http://youtu.be/D4MdWzN_100

[quote name='the boy' timestamp='1468160780' post='3088906'] You could buy a capo for your bass..... [/quote] Nothing wrong with that. If you can use frets then you can use a capo.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1468069592' post='3088413'] What a cool looking instrument, [/quote] Thanks, that was my feeling too ... and as guitarist is playing the guitar below, I couldn't resist ...

I have La Bella 760M (52-73-95-110) on a Precision and tuned DGCF. It works.

Peerless Retromatic B2 ... not quite white but ivory ...

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1467986825' post='3087854'] Speaking of which, what about using chairs? ... [/quote] I have told the drummer many times but he insists on sitting down. He says it helps him to see his music stand.

What if I prefer music stands over guitar bands?

[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1467975068' post='3087688'] ... think of it as I, IV, V ... [/quote] Much better - as long as the correct key is named.

[quote name='Mottlefeeder' timestamp='1467974551' post='3087678'] ... [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]you are given the chords, but the guitarist plays it in a different key ...[/font][/size] [/quote] Either you have been given the wrong chords or the guitarist is playing in the wrong key. I can't bear when people with a capo can't name chords correctly.

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1467882842' post='3086901'] Not the usual tab vs dots question... [/quote] Surely that ought to be DOTS.