Bottle

Hehehe - actually I play in a church P&W band, and I'm playing on the next few Sundays with my full stack (yep, that's a 4x10, 1x15 and a pair of 1x12's ) Well, I did it (1) to prove a point that the Squier P-special with the Jazz neck can take a thick B-string (and the bridge as well!!) and still sound good, and (2), because sometimes I miss having the low C/B to play on the four-string (even downtuned to DGCF), and those notes sound an awful lot better fretted than played open. So the low A I'm not too fussed about, but the rest can be right handy, and I've kept the tuning in fourths as well, so the standard patterns still work, albeit shifted up and down the neck. Oh, and (3) thin G-strings are for chicks HTH, Ian

Howdy all Having a quiet afternoon, and needed a bit of inspiration to get me playing bass. So I found a set of Hartke strings I got at the SE Bass Bash last year and decided to chuck 'em on the Squier. Bit of nut-modding later and Eh Voila - a lovely low A!! Strings are Hartke bass strings - hex cored - 070/085/105/135 Intonation and action have been adjusted (and I've kept the old strings just in case I go back to DGCF :/) Set up the full stack in the spare room, and, boy, does that rattle some windows!!! I'm a happy bunny HTH, Ian

Nice stuff there, Mike. Listening to it on crappy laptop speakers at the mo' which doesn't do the bass any justice, but I'll give it a serious listen when I get home and can push it through some decent speakers. But I'm liking what I'm hearing. Cool Ian

Have got just the two - the Ibby and the Squier. Ticks most of my boxes. Doesn't stop me GAS'ing for a couple more - maybe a Squier VMJ fretless and some kind of MM - a modded Squier VMJ with a MM pickup (DIY) or a Sandberg Cali JM4 (that earlier thread got me cooking for one!!). Oh, and I'll either get into 5-stringers again, or get my self a cheapo Jazz, and string it BEAD/ADGC - I'm missing those low notes atm. HTH, Ian

Used to be Wednesday nights and we'd hire a local school hall for 2 hours for our worship band - started getting impractical with two drummers (one drumset), two bassists, at least four guitards (of various descriptions - two acoustic and two electric), keys, lots of vocals etc. We now have enough people to fill every position in the band twice-over . Have now switched to all day on a Saturday (10am to 6pm-ish), and a changeover between players at lunchtime. That way we all get to play and rehearse the songs, and no-one ends up clashing over each other (it can sound particularly bad with keys and two bassists - me on a four-stringer - and the other on a five-banger, all trying to vie for the same sonic spectrum ) We'll see how this works when we meet at the end of September - I'm playing three times between now and then. HTH, Ian

[quote name='crez5150' post='935631' date='Aug 25 2010, 08:50 AM']GK500MB2 into either Purple Chilli 4 x 10 or Aguillar DB112 x 2 here[/quote] I've got my GK MB500 pushing air out of an EBS 4x10 (or occasionally an EBS 1x15) - both are 4-Ohm cabs so can only use one at a time HTH, Ian

Oh, bugger!! That's given me GAS for that JM4 in natural - looks like an awesome bass and an absolute steal at 900 quid - shame I don't have anywhere near that kind of money at the moment. Credit card is groaning enough this month Dammit Ian

[quote name='throwoff' post='922465' date='Aug 12 2010, 11:00 AM']Right. I have been reading through this place for some time now and it seems to me that if we all HAD to play the same bass starting right now it would be the following - Squier VM Jazz Badass Bridge Wizzard Pickups John East Pre Who on BC would accept this bass as their one and only if forced to give up the rest of their gear? Also what is the BC amp? I was thinking little bastard but not so sure.[/quote] Fairly close to my ideal bass - especially if I had a fretless version as well. Only changes I'd make would be a different bridge (maybe a Gotoh or similar), Delano SC pickups, swap out the John East for an Audere pre, and add series/parallel switching. But it's mighty close Amp-wise, well, probably some valve amp and an Ampeg SVT810E - that would rock my world HTH, Ian

Reaper for me - just started using it in anger. Haven't used the other packages as I don't own/use a Mac.

Went to the Funk Jam in Cambridge last night at La Raza. Took my trust steed i.e. the Ibanez Jazz bass - OMG, that was a tasty tone I got. Used the house amp - TE into an Ashdown cab (probably a 2x10 vertically). House bassist had a lovely looking 'Ray - had a noodle on that the last time I was there. There's something to be said for humbuckers - next bass project will deffo be a Jazz conversion to take a 'bucker. Friend of mine also got up to play with my bass, and I was genuinely shocked at how good she's gotten recently - put me in the shade. Guess I've got some work to do to catch up! Need to 'get my groove on' - can't keep plodding away on the root for the rest of my life HTH, Ian

[quote name='SteveK' post='910185' date='Jul 30 2010, 12:40 PM']Surely, the word musician is a general term to describe someone who creates or performs music - regardless of instrument. Bass player, guitarist, pianist etc is a more specific term to describe a particular type of musician. So, I am both: A musician who plays bass guitar.[/quote] +1 I've gone from a 'bass owner' to 'bass player' to 'musician' in the last two years - having a tutor helps with the theory, so I consider myself a musician who specialises in playing bass guitar. I don't have a problem with the term 'bassist' either - it adequately describes my function within a band context( I draw the line at 'guitarist' though!! ) HTH, Ian

Listening to this: Just bought the album - love the basslines HTH, Ian [size=1]EDIT: Argggghhh!! Embedded videos![/size]

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='906637' date='Jul 27 2010, 07:39 AM']Try the GK MB2-500 out... But it does sound like you have GAS just for the sake of it since you can get bright/modern tones out of the TC and MB anyway. I know what it's like though, I think I'm finally learning how to resist the GAS. I change my mind every couple of days about what I want anyway so I may as well stick with what I've got and spend more time improving my playing instead of drooling over new gear![/quote] This man speaketh the truth Have been very happy with the GK - does a lovely job with my 4-Ohm EBS 4x10, and I can get the full 500w out of it if I give it the beans. I'd certainly audition it alongside heads of a similar price-point (around the 500-600 quid mark). I was really surprised with the head - how can something that small give me an awesome amount of volume? Well, let us know how you get on HTH, Ian

Not used Logic - I don't have a Mac - just started getting into [url="http://www.reaper.fm"]Reaper[/url] instead (it's awfully fully-featured for something that's basically free - $60 if you want to keep it after the evaluation period has expired). Works great with my M-Audio Fast Track Pro USB interface, and I can make use of all of the inputs and outputs. What attracted me to the package was the input and output signal routing - I can lay down a bass track (two channels, clean and effected DI) and I can assign an output to feed the clean bass track back through my rig for re-amping later - awfully handy if I don't like the original effected bass track, or I what to change how the verse/chorus/bridge sounds etc. Most DAWs these days have all of the above features - it's just a case of digging through all the settings to find it - I just found Reaper to be much more user-friendly and intuitive for someone unfamiliar with modern audio workstations, plus there's great online support and community stuff available. HTH, Ian EDIT: Oh, and I see you're based in Cambridge too!!

Most of the above heads are ~300w/8Ohms and 500w/4Ohms, so I'll add a +1 for the GK MB2-500 - 500 quid or thereabouts pricepoint Had no trouble getting it to fit the front pocket of my gigbag, which was a revelation HTH, Ian

Not been in an improv band [i]per se[/i], however, the P & W band I'm in at the moment has a lot of scope for spontaneity......which keeps me on my toes . Sometimes the worship leader will just drop out, and let me, the guitarist and the drummer come up with some fills and drive the rhythm. May only be a couple of basic chords, usually in A-maj/F#m, so I'll let the drummer set the pace and I'll come up with a three- or four-chord progression. Often the keys player will join in. The guitarist might then noodle over the top of this - it's all very in-the-moment - nothing gets decided in our practice sessions - just go with the flow. Best Sunday mornings are when we have no plan of where we're going with the worship. Ian

[quote name='BigRedX' post='900792' date='Jul 21 2010, 10:40 AM']I'd agree that getting a good low B is more about the construction of the bass and the right choice of strings than the scale length. I'd take a well constructed bass over simply an extra inch of string length every day. I also find that a low B with tapered windings over the bridge helps.[/quote] Good point. Having said that, I'm really impressed with the build of my Squier Precision special (OK, the soldering is a bit, well, [i]agricultural[/i], shall we say, but it's a beautifully finished bass otherwise), so I'm not so worried about whether a Squier VMJ will be up for it. Doubly-so if I'm going to gut it of the passive bits. Second point: I've got a set of Hartke strings from a 5-string set so I could bin the G-string and try those (non-tapered, though). I'll check the packet, but I'm pretty sure it's got a 0.130" B string. [quote name='Davo-London' post='900916' date='Jul 21 2010, 01:09 PM']I tune my Acoustic Bass DGCF ie a tone down just because that's the tension I like on the TI flats, I'm sure you could take a 105 or 110 E string down to B if you want too. Playing low tension strings requires a lot of good technique and so you can throw this into the bargain.[/quote] I like my Squier now I've down-tuned it (DGCF as well) - tension is just about right, and it holds its intonation well. I've left the stock strings on it, not had any problems to speak of - standard set of 40/60/80/105's. Wouldn't want to drop the tuning any lower than that, though, or things might get a bit sloppy . My left- and right-hand technique could do with some help anyway, so this would force me to get out of bad habits. Ta for all the advice!! Ian

[quote name='Rich' post='897293' date='Jul 17 2010, 02:14 PM']I reckon a Jazz would be fine with BEAD tuning. After all, Anthony Jackson has had his tuned C-F-Bb-Eb for years.[/quote] Interesting!! I was really concerned that 1) the bridge and saddles wouldn't be far enough back to allow decent intonation of a 0.130" gauge B-string on a 34" scale, and 2) if I could actually get a 0.130" gauge string through the bridge anchor. Well, guess I'll have to try it!! Thanks for the info! Ian

[quote name='Balcro' post='896983' date='Jul 16 2010, 11:26 PM']Hi there Bottle, I don't have any knowledge to advise on low tunings on 4-strings, but I've got two ideas for doner basses. If 4/s 34" will do, try the following:- Have a look at the Cort GB34a at euroguitar.com - available new, in red metallic for a silly price of €199! Lots of routing & pre-drilling done already. Unfortunately you can't change the fretboard colour. The curve in the scratchplate looks suitably accommodating for a jazz style control plate. Second-hand? Ebay? As an alternative there's the Squier VMJ in natural. The neck's the right colour but you'll need more woodwork and body refinishing. Alan.[/quote] Howdy fella!! Hmmmm, lots of good options there - quite like the Squier VMJ idea. Woodwork isn't a problem - I now have access to a router, so I'm confident I can do the necessary to enlarge the bridge pickup rout. That price for the Cort is unbelieveably low - looks like a really good deal Ta, Ian

Well, I'm getting inspired to play my Jazz bass more (the Ibby), but I'm looking for something slightly different in a Jazz. Having had a go on Balcro's Cort GB74 at the London bash, and having serious GAS for a Sandberg Cali JM4, what's a guy to do? I'd also like to look at alternative tunings, having used DGCF for a while and found it very handy. I'd like to get back to using a low B tuning again, but on a 4-banger - which would entail a restringing for BEAD or ADGC tuning. How would a standard Fender/Squier Jazz Bass cope with this tuning - i.e. any BC'ers who've gone this route? I'm thinking that 34" scale is a mite too short for an authoritive open B, but I'm willing to be proved wrong! I'd also like to make the following changes, based on the Sandberg Cali JM4 arrangement: Replacement Jazz pickup in neck position MM-style pickup in bridge position (plan on taking out the jazz p'up and re-route the cavity) Drop-in pre-amp plate (Audere?) with Vol/Balance/2-band EQ - modded with coil tap switch for MM pickup (series/parallel) Delano pickups (again, not sure on these - people seem to love them on the Sandy's, and I like the aesthetics with the big ol' pole pieces on show) Gotoh bridge (eventually - how would the standard Fender 'bent tin' bridge cope with a 0.130" B-string?) Oh yes, [i]has[/i] to be in Candy-Apple Red with a maple fingerboard Ideally I'd like to keep costs down as I'm on a budget (say 500 quid or so), so second-hand market for a donor bass & pups. However, I'm open to suggestions for pre-configured basses on the market i.e Traben Array Attack etc (Sandbergs are a little outside my budget for the moment) So, feel free to weigh in with any comments - I'm looking for some guidance, and any help avoiding pitfalls would be greatly appreciated! Ian

[quote name='Frusty' post='891568' date='Jul 10 2010, 08:22 PM']I've had this book for years, and I've started to go through it again in my attempt to get back into practising regularly - the only thing is that I can't for the life of me find the second CD! Managed to find CD1 but CD2 seems to have disappeared. Would anyone who owns this book be able to rip CD2 to mp3 and make it available for download, or make me a copy? You'd be helping a fellow bass player![/quote] Lemme check my copy when I get home and I'll PM ya Ian

Never changed the strings on my Ibanez jazz bass - still sounding good two years on (and that was with regular playing and practice up until last October) Had the P-special since then, and again, not changed the strings on that either. My old Ibanez 5-er did have a string change after about three months - only because the original Elixirs were absolutely f***ed (they musta easily been three or four years old when I got the bass second-hand last February). Once I moved the Ibby on, I gave the new owner a set of the Hartke strings I won at the SE Bass Bash last year - they're still on the bass now, and sound magnificent every time I hear the bass being played. Anyway, I guess I only change the strings when they need doing. They do get a clean after every session - rub down with a cloth to remove any sweat and gunk, that'll kill strings really quickly in this weather. HTH, Ian

I drove all the way from Burwell/Cambridge to get the GK head from Darren at Bass Merchant in Colchester - deffo a good guy to do business with. Got to try out other heads in the store and plenty of bass goodness hanging on the walls. Going to head back there soon as funds allow me some GAS relief. HTH, Ian

[quote name='silddx' post='879592' date='Jun 28 2010, 09:49 AM']Thanks to everyone involved in organising the Bash, especially to Tom (essexbasscat) it was a great day, I really enjoyed it! Great to meet you people in meatspace I'll get some pics up tonight. My favourite bass of the day was molan's Sadowsky Jazz (cherry sunburst) the neck and set up felt perfect for me, glorious in fact, apart from the neck dive. Loved the GBs too, Tom's 001 is lovely, as is his rig, I had a great time pumping some dub on that! Bernie tweaked my Warwick for me and although he reckoned I had set it up well, he made some minor adjustments and it felt like a new bass, amazing! He's a real character too, really cracked me up a couple of times He brought a couple of EBS rigs and the new EBS pedal range, he was playing through the chorus and doing volume swells which sounded sublime, really inspiring, that chorus is a beautiful sounding pedal, totally lush. Great day, thanks all.[/quote] +1 And that Warwick - 'tis a thing of beauty - thanks for letting me have a noodle! Sounded immense through the EBS rig (both of them!!) Got a GAS-attack for more stuff: 1 Fretless 4-string (possible a Squier VMJ fretless - they're a bargain at the moment) 2 Jazz/MM hybrid - loved the Cort GB74 that was there - in Candy-Apple Red 3 Chorus pedal of some description 4 A BFBass Super Twelve - JackLondon's was waaayyyy huge sounding and very ickle Great opportunity to meet up with everyone and give it the beans on some seriously tasty basses See you all at the SE Bash Ian PS have got some piccies - will try to post up the good ones later

Watched the whole set - thought the showmanship and musicianship were top-notch. Pity about the BBC's live mix - Oh, boy . Drums sounded all wrong - no 'snap' from the snare, toms mixed [i]waaaay[/i] too high, muddy kick sound etc (and a big IMHO added to all this - I'm not an experienced live sound engineer, but, well it sucked on my TV). Bass was mostly MIA in my feed - couldn't really tell the basses apart - sounded like they'd all been EQ'd to sound the same, which is a pity, 'cos Chris gets a killer tone, particularly for songs like 'Hysteria' and 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Great to see The Edge come on for a number - not a big U2 fan, but 'Streets with No Name' was well executed IMO. Woulda been nice to get a couple more songs from their back catalogue like 'Sunburn' and 'Space Dementia'. I liked 'Citizen Erased', and I guess time constraints meant they couldn't segue into 'Micro Cuts'. Also would have been good to include 'MK Ultra', but again this is all down to my preference. Ian