Martin E
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I've been gigging with an SB14 for the last year now. I've fitted Marvel straplocks which work well. I keep the controls flat on my LM2 just using the bass to make adjustments. Even after a year's use I'm still undecided on the sounds produced by the pickup selector switch though! I have the superior model in red - which of course sounds better
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Yep, without realising it for years I constantly tap with my left foot and my weight is on my right leg. I'm getting a bit long in the tooth for all this rock and roll malarky and was wondering why one knee was getting painful after a long evening. I had to make a conscious effort but have now mastered two footed tapping - another skill for the aspiring player.
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Apart from his looks etc. I think he sounds alright. He does seem to have half a mattress stuffed under there though... Can you palm mute if you play finger style? Am I missing a trick here?
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For sale – Stagg EUB in black (solid not the sparkle finish) Everyone knows what these are.- huge fun for the money and a great bit of kit to try out upright bass. I've had this a couple of years, I've done a little work to the nut and adjusted the action and it plays beautifully, the notes really sing. And yes when set up properly they do play in tune with the dots on the neck. Comes with both body brace things and the standard carrying case which is quite a substantial bit of kit. I've done a couple of gigs with it and played it off and on at home but it's just not getting used compared to my guitars hence the sale It's in good condition, some micro marks on the glossy black finish as you would expect but no major dings or scratches and the electrics are fine. I'm asking £180 (I think I paid about £230 for this two years ago) Sorry there's no way I'm even going to contemplate mailing something this size and shape, especially knowing my luck with couriers. So collection only please – I'm in Horsham, West Sussex. At least you can view/play before you buy. Lastly, I'm not interested in any trades at the moment thanks.. -
I've always played roundwounds in a light gauge - 35 to 95. I struggle with anything heavier. I latched on to Stadium Elites many years ago and have never changed – their light gauge set runs 35,55,75,95 and I use them on both my fretless and fretted basses. I would really like to try some flats but am struggling to find anything in the same gauge. The nearest I can see is D'Addario XL's which can be bought as single strings in some slightly odd gauges. I really dont want anything heavier. I've tried many times to use thicker strings but I can't get on with them and I really don't want to start re cutting nut slots either. Anyone got any recommendations please?
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Sorry apa, I don't recall what it was. Just something cheap I got got off ebay last year.
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As an experiment I bought some really cheap slug repellent tape (less than £2 a roll) thinking I would have to solder the joins but in fact found the adhesive was perfectly conductive. Of course they may not all be same but it's worth a try as some of the stuff with conductive adhesive can be expensive. Another unforeseen benefit is that my control cavity has been completely free of slugs since the installation.
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scalpy and Count Bassy sum it up very nicely. We're playing at a surprise 60th birthday party soon and have been asked to play............ a couple of Shadows numbers!
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Just for lightness and size alone modern amps and cabs get my thumbs up. Changing all the old heavy gear I'd used for donkeys years was the best thing I've done but strangely it doesn't seem to have improved my playing one bit...
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'I just want to get back what I paid for it'
Martin E replied to Martin E's topic in General Discussion
Yes, I'm sure most people on here are honest and my limited Basschat dealings have all been with people who have been perfect gents. You all have good points,Warwickhunt in particular in that you could look at the phrase from another direction and obviously something like a vintage P bass will have a value which will not vary no matter how many times it changes hands. I'm really talking about amps, cabs, average basses and things which suffer wear and tear and gradually depreciate in value. Of course an item is worth what it's worth. What a seller paid for an item is not that relevant and I would base any offer on the condition of the item and my estimate of its value against the asking price. If he/she breaks even or makes a small profit I'm not too worried, they may have bought it at a bargain price and good for them. OK it's probably me but I just find a seller declaring up front they want their money back tends to put me off any potential deal right from the start, even if the price may be absolutely fine. -
Firstly, no offence to anyone but I'm just curious. When browsing the For Sale sections here the phrase ' I just want to get back what I paid for it' seems to crop up quite a bit. When buying and selling anything I'm sure we'd all like to do that. But is it unique to musical equipment on Basschat that you can pass on something now at least second or third hand after a few weeks, months or even longer use and just expect to get your money back or am I missing something?
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More wise words. Thank you all again for taking the time to answer my original query in such detail. Much appreciated and I'm sure of interest and use to others on here as well. Martin
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Thank you all for your replies. very interesting and informative and some things I hadn't thought about. We're playing several sets during the day at a large village fair/fete type event so lighting won't be required. Just the amps and PA to power fortunately. Cheers Martin
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Some way ahead yet but we've just been booked for an outside gig where we will have to use a generator as no power is available. Unfortunately I have a vivid memory of watching a band last year using one of these things where the power or voltage? would dip and the PA would cut out momentarily which ruined their set. Anyone got any practical advice on what we should be looking to borrow or hire please to avoid this problem. Thanks
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Kev Just seen your post - as it happens I have an old Trace Elliot head I keep as a spare. An SM7 -7 band graphic head I've had since new. Originally part of a combo it now lives in a sleeve. The amp is the 300w model (into 4 ohms) and is in in very good condition indeed as I've looked after it. Its currently housed in a very solid 18mm mdf sleeve where the controls are recessed and out of harms way. The sleeve has few knocks but has done its job in protecting the amp. I hadn't thought of moving this on to be honest as its been so reliable but another lightweight head as back up would be tempting. If this is what you are looking for please give me a shout. If I'm a bit slow to respond please forgive me I'm a bit busy at the moment. Cheers Martin
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Geoff thats very helpful - I'll register and see if I can get in touch. icastle - I don't believe it has a fan as such. Thanks guys
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My Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 makes a brief squeak/ screech noise with just a tiny momentary dip in power from time to time Nothing to do with driving into clipping or input as it can happen when not even playing. Maybe a couple of times during a three hour practice session. Its not getting hot or doing anything odd otherwise. Any clues anyone? – I've been ignoring it so far...
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I really can't knock this clip. I'm a very old fart who plays basic stuff in covers band – I can't do anything fancy like slapping or tapping to any degree but can lock into a groove If this young lad has worked out all that out himself over a pretty basic rap tune then all credit to him. Sure it's out of time and rather fumbled in parts but hey we all have to start somewhere. At least he has his baseball cap on the right way round.!
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It works a treat. I have a custom fretless bass with a precision width neck were I cut the nut slots to (almost) jazz width. When I made the thing many years ago now I read that the extra mass of a wider neck improved the sound of a fretless - hence my wide neck but with narrower string spacing. As you only in theory touch the back of the neck with your thumb with fingers curled around to touch the strings you feel the string spacing but the width of the neck is only apparent when you grasp the neck ( am I explaining that properly?) I 've always thought that if you don't like say a Precision width neck there is plenty of scope for adjusting the nut as you suggest without resorting to changing necks. Yet this option never seems to be discussed. Just my thoughts...
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I think that's a neat idea to use a pound coin as a quick reference - which I see is 3.15mm thick. A quick Google reveals we all have a handy pocket full of feeler guages which in descending order of thickness are: £1 – 3.15mm, £2 – 2.5mm, 10p – 1.85mm, 50p – 1.78mm, 5p – 1.7mm and 1p – 1.65mm
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Fretless basses are great – I've been playing mine since I made it in the 80's. (Bought the neck, carved the body) My neck is unlined and has the side dots where the frets should be – which works for me and made sense when starting out. Then again I'm just an average player and the dusty end of the neck will always be a challenge. I think unmarked necks look cool but probably some lines would help up there! Going from fretted to fretless was fairly painless – the geat 'leap of faith' is playing that first gig on fretless particularly on a dark stage. I would spend some time finding the right instrument (not necessarily expensive). The fretless sound is elusive and the instrument has to be well set up. I use light gauge roundwounds and the resulting action giving that wonderful mwah is very low indeed which is another plus. Good luck.
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I agree she's made some great well produced songs. I've always got the impression though that she's a singer with a very very limited vocal range. In fact not even a range as such - just a few notes where she can hit that certain distinctive sweetspot.
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Over the summer I acquired a pair of S/H Epifani UL112 cabs from two guys on here – both in used but good condition. At home the cabs sounded good but with each I was unable to hear hardly any difference with the tweeters turned fully up or down. I initially put this down to my lack of HF hearing at my age and enforced domestic volume level. Our band hasn't played for a few months and I first gigged with them only this last weekend. We played for about three hours at a fair old volume and I gave Epifani's their first good workout. Plugging in the amp and speakers today at home for the first time since Saturday's gig I can't believe I'm hearing the same speakers. Loads of obvious treble from the tweeters in both cabs and a noticeable difference when turned up or down. They really sound fabulous now great slabs of bass if needed with a smooth treble over the top to add definition. Surely they must have been 'broken in' by the previous owners so why should a good belting suddenly improve the sound quality? Can anyone explain this?
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Well, as a relative newcomer I was unaware of their reputation and bad feeling on here and just phoned them up and had a perfectly acceptable transaction with them and a good price. They explained that as an online shop they didn't have a showroom as such but I was welcome to call in and try an instrument at their office which seemed perfectly reasonable to me. Unlike most people on here it would seem I'm not constantly changing or buying new gear so am a bit out of touch with dealers – in fact this was the first new instrument I'd bought since 1997. Coincidentally I've used Elites ever since I can remember but usually get them from Stringsdirect. Can't say I've noticed a drop in quality over the years and they are half the price of many brands.
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Well, I bought a Sterling bass from these people recently and they were fine. Their online price for the colour I wanted appeared to be wrong and a phone call confirmed that. At the same time I queried the delivery time and ordered it there and then. So not strictly online but my dealings with them were fine. The delivery time was as promised and they phoned me the day before to check I was in. To be honest how many suppliers keep their websites totally up to date? Not just musical instruments – anything. I always phone before ordering online to check if it's in stock.