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NJE

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Everything posted by NJE

  1. NJE
    I picked up a Lakland 55-02 not too long ago and have been putting it through its paces recently with a few bands. It looks like it's a keeper (until I find 3k to buy a Fender CS Pino) 😄. I was never a fan of black basses but there is something timeless about black and maple.
  2. NJE
    I thought I was pretty jolly on stage up until this weekend. I had a gig with a new band and there were some photos taken and basically I looked incredibly grumpy/miserable/moody in all of the photos and to add insult to injury I had some serious double chin going on. I thought when I wasn't smiling I had a 'into the music, serious/mysterious look' on my face...sadly its more of a fat miserable b@stard look. My wife then confirmed I always look grumpy/angry on stage. So I am practicing smiling and going on a serious diet as of today.
  3. NJE
    I looked this up recently as my new Lakland has a satin-ish maple neck and fingerboard (compared to the very glossy maple fingerboards of Fender and Squier). Lakland recommend using Orange oil, apparently less harmful than lemon oil and a good cleaner.
  4. NJE
    [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Well fair play to Aguilar, I got a really quick response from them about the -10dB pad and clipping etc, really impressed! here is their reply:[/font][/size] [color=#000000][font=Helvetica][size=3]"In regards to your Tone Hammer 350, you can absolutely plug an active bass into this amp without the -10 dB pad switch engaged. This will not do "unforeseen" damage to the amp. [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Helvetica][size=3]If the clip light ever comes on, rest assured that this does not indicate a problem. The clip light is simply a visual indication that the wave form is clipped or squared off, which is telling you that the amp is being driven into distortion. You would most likely hear that and could adjust your Gain setting accordingly - to most people it is desirable as it creates warm overtones and makes the amp sound slightly "driven". Clipping will not damage the amp or your speakers. It will not cause a shutdown or any kind overheating."[/size][/font][/color] [font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]​So there we have it, no need to use the -10db pad and no need to worry about clipping really, although I like a nice clean sound so I wouldn't clip the amp. Super pleased that I won't do any damage so I can no use the amp worry free.[/font]
  5. NJE
    [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1455883310' post='2983245'] Is there a trim pot on the inside of the bass that is set very low? Looking at the block diagramme there is an input gain pot. May be worth having a tweak of that. [url="https://www.lakland.com/tech-docs/LH-3%20Wiring%20Diagram%204-07.pdf"]https://www.lakland....gram%204-07.pdf[/url] If possible, I like to set my active level about the same as passive so there isn't a big change in settings if you have to switch over mid-set. [/quote] That is brilliant, I had a completely different PDF with the mid range settings but it didn't have anything about the gain. I think that may be what is going on here, the passive pull pot doesn't give me a huge drop in sound so perhaps the previous owner had it set up how you mentioned. I will do some fiddling tomorrow.
  6. NJE
    I have not long taken delivery of a Lakland 55-02 (Great bass but thats another topic) and the last two nights I have been giving it a run through my Aguilar Tonehammer 350 which lives at the bands rehearsal space. Last night I was not getting the normal volume out of the Aguilar which seemed odd as I was using an active bass and had the gain and master volume higher than usual. I had the -10dB pad engaged as its an active bass and that is what we are told you should do. As I had low volume I decided to roll back the gain and and put the 10dB back in to see what happened, and I got all of my volume back and no clipping of the amp. I turned the gain up and boosted the EQ on the bass and I was still nowhere near to clipping the amp even with some more volume. I can clip my amp with my passive J normally so I am a bit confused. The first thing I should say is that the bass was working in active mode but I have no idea how old it is and I didnt have another battery to see if that was the issue. I thought when the battery was no good the EQ just went, but do that fade out before going completely? could this be the reason for the low volume? If its not the battery, is there any harm in running my amp with and active bass without the -10dB in as long as the amp isn't clipping, or will I be causing some damage internally but running the amp too hot? I will try another battery when I get back to my amp next week.
  7. NJE
    Focusrite Scarlet stuff is really good and so is the Apogee, I love my Duet. As said above though, get one of the newer ones, I just upgraded to the new OS and my old Apogee is having some minor issues. Both are great and pop up used quite a lot.
  8. NJE
    No it isn't a JO5........Despite a few JO5 floating around used at the moment, I get swayed by a 55-02 and I am glad I went with it. I was being messed about a little with a JO5 I wanted and then made an offer I didn't think would ever be accepted on a 55-02 which should now be here Tuesday. I didn't particularly want active but my mate has a 55-02 that I played and then I remembered the joy in having the EQ available when I used to play Stingrays, and I decided it was the sound I want for a couple of bands I play with. I did think Sire Marcus Miller for a while but despite them looking incredible the EQ scares me a little and I have a massive dislike for stack knobs on basses, I'm too clumsy and have had bad experience of breaking them.
  9. NJE
    The bullet has been bitten........Lakland hopefully on the way.
  10. NJE
    I am struggling to find another bass that fits the bill for around £600 used like the Laklands seem to. I guess they aren't in fashion at the moment as there seem to be quite a few around at the moment. I am trying to arrange a visit to play and potentially buy one in the next few days and I guess I will see if the bass is what I want it to be. I have been very happy playing my Squier basses for a while and been pretty happy with them. The Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V would be a good option but I have found myself in a position where I am potentially starting a new project and despite the quality, I do feel like the poor relation in the band turning up with a Squier. No-one has said anything but I think everyone just feels sorry for me that I cant afford anything else and that I am not a 'serious player' because I don't have anything better. To be fair despite the quality of the Squiers, when you go to practice and play top end Les Paul's and custom shop fenders, you really do notice the difference in quality.
  11. NJE
    Yes, when I decided I was happy playing a 5 string I immediately sold the 4 string so that I could really get used to it. I can use a five string for every band/gig situation so there seemed no point to keep a bass I wasn't playing around. I tend to be quite ruthless, if it doesn't get played or used I sell it. That is my attitude to everything though, not just gear. I had a NS upright, and 4 basses at one point and it didn't make me any happier than just having one solid bass and a backup for emergencies at gigs.
  12. NJE
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts guys. I haven't played my mates 55-02 for a while but I do always remember the neck being very playable and although I dont play a 35" scale at the moment, I am not too bothered either way on scale lengths. The Sire basses do look incredibly good and I am going a bit weak at the knees with the white one with blocks, but I am not hugely keen on too many knobs and the EQ and all the stack pots put me off to be honest. I dont really want to hack about a perfectly good bass to make it passive or simplify the EQ. Part of the reason I am looking at the Laklands is because they are passive and if I ever have the desire for active I can pop in a East etc. One of the JO5 I am looking at seems to be the model with the Lindy Fralin pickups which seem to get good comments so that might be a little more incentive. I just seem to be looking at the right time, there are 4 used around at the moment and all different.
  13. NJE
    Just interested in the general opinions on build quality and sound of the Lakland 55-60 (Joe Osborn 5). There are a few around secondhand at the moment and I may have some money available to buy one as they seem to tick the box for a good solid 5 string Jazz bass. The only thing I am questioning is why these seem to be so cheap secondhand compared to the Darryl Jones Model. The DJ5 seems to stay around £800 used but I have seen the Joe Osborn go as low as £550. A friend of mine has a 55-02 and its nice but never been 'Wowed' by it. I am basically after a good 5 string J bass and wondering if they are worth a punt as I can't really test one out. All thought greatly appreciated.
  14. NJE
    Both all kinds of fugly! What on earth are they thinking? I love music man stuff, I thought the new Sabres in the cool colours were amazing, but these just look a bit naff. I got all excited thinking they had released a graphite neck stingray/sabre again. To be honest I would look at the new Sandberg VM5 HH now that the Sabre has gone. Great colours and it even looks similar with the new body shape.
  15. NJE
    I love the look of this, it looks like an old Bang & Olufsen hi-fi amp my dad used to have. If it is a good clean amp and not just about a range of overdrive/distortion sounds then I am am seriously interested. The only issue I can see is that it looks too pretty and I would be so scared of knocking and scratching it. maybe some kind of padded case to keep it in at gigs would be in order.
  16. NJE
    Sold!!
  17. NJE
    [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I have a 12 month old Squier Vintage Modified Precision V in very good condition. It is a superb bass and incredibly well made, even more so that a lot of basses I have played costing double the new price. There is a huge amount of praise for these on here and even more so on Talkbass.[/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I bought this with the idea of modifying it for fun. I was going to upgrade the bridge and pickup but when it arrived there was just no point, it was perfectly good stock and it seemed a shame to mess with it. The pickup is great, it sounds like a good classic thumpy Precision and was great for the soul band I played in. The B string is good but sounds like a P bass, don't expect bell like clarity like you would get from a modern active 5 string. The B string was very useful as we had to change the keys of a lot of the soul songs for various vocalists. [/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]This is my third Precision, but as much I love the look and sound for certain music, I just don't feel that comfortable playing them and have to stop buying them, I'm more of a Jazz/Stingray person and I need to get used to that.[/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The bass is in very good condition, no dings or scratches or any tarnishing. There are two very thin hairline cracks near the neck pocket that are too small to get on my camera. I will try and take some on another camera to see if they show up. These were present when I bought the bass new from a large internet retailer and are incredibly common with fender style guitars and basses apparently, particularly white ones it seems (maybe just more noticeable with white finish). The neck is rock solid and its purely cosmetic and in the finish, and I certainly wouldn't have even noticed them on a red or sunburst finish.[/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The company I bought the bass from said it happens a lot with certain finishes on Fenders and I was offered a £20 discount or another bass, but to be honest it didn't bother me at all so I kept it. They haven't got bigger and never affected what is a superb bass.[/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I paid about £300 new, but the current price is £269 online new and I'm looking for £195 ONO. I have my eye on a couple of replacements but I would consider trades, just not P basses, PM me with any offers or questions.[/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I am happy to ship the bass as I have original Squier box and outer shipping box still, but I only use good couriers and would need to get a proper quote. Alternatively, please feel free to come and collect, I'm just outside Cheltenham near Tewkesbury.[/font][/color] [attachment=210023:Squier 11.jpg] [attachment=210024:Squier 1.jpg] [attachment=210026:Squier 3.jpg][attachment=210025:Squier 2.jpg] [attachment=210027:Squier 5.jpg] [attachment=210029:Squier 7.jpg] [attachment=210030:Squier 8.jpg] [attachment=210031:squier 9.jpg] [attachment=210032:Squier 10.jpg] [attachment=210033:Squier 12.jpg] [attachment=210034:Squier 13.jpg] [attachment=210035:Squier 15.jpg]
  18. NJE
    Was it the custom from Bass Direct? I think we had a chat about it over PM. I am a Fender fan, had lots of them over the years, but I do think that there are very small differences between the top end fender and CS team built stuff. If I was into 4 strings I would go for a American Vintage reissue, I played on in Wunjos and it was incredible, superb feel, lovely detail and sounded fantastic. I recently tried a couple of the more expensive 'modern' Fenders, one was the Adam Clayton Jazz and I just felt incredibly underwhelmed by them. They were all hovering round the £1100 to £1400 mark new and I thought they were going to be amazing, but I put them down very quickly and had way more enjoyment playing a £270 Squier Dimension bass, it felt better in my hands which I found really difficult to comprehend. Have you thought about a real change in direction and go for Sadowsky Pickups and preamp as an upgrade? I liked the preamp in the Sadowsky I played a while back, not too extreme but usable.
  19. NJE
    Did you go for an American Deluxe Jazz? If the bridge and pre are poor it sounds like you would be better off selling for something that works better as it is. Secondhand Mike Lull?
  20. NJE
    They arent cheap and I have read some serious mixed reviews about them, but Nash do a relic 5 string Jazz. I think Chicago Music Exchange may still have some on their site.
  21. NJE
    I'm only a part time gigging functions band player but I do have friends who make a living from playing guitar and making music. We discuss the joys of being a musician and lot, and also discuss all of the people we have met over the years and how careers are developed. The main things that seem to be key to making a living as a musician based on the people we know are: 1. Be flexible - Play every style and be willing to play anything if the job asks for it, never say 'thats not my thing' 2. Have reliable solid gear - You don't need 4k worth of Fodera or PRS but know how to use your gear and keep it in good working order. 3. Have the 'right gear' - This may be a contentious issue for some, but my best friend is a session guitarist as well as writing and scoring etc. and his main guitar that he defaults to for work is a Parker Fly Deluxe. He has Gibsons, Fenders, Ibanez, MusicMan and many more, but loves using the Parker for a lot of work because it sounds so clean for recording. He has had issue whereby engineers and clients have pulled faces when he turns up with the Parker before they even hear it and plug it. Rather than argue, he has to read the room and pull out a Strat/Les Paul/Tele to do the job to keep them happy. 4. Be a decent friendly human being - This is the big one, all of the 'pro' people I have met are nice friendly people with a good sense of humor. They get work because they get on with people and are easy to work with. They admit a lot of the time they are not the best players but they work hard, listen to comments and criticism and know how to get the right sound. They get lots of work through contacts and referrals which wouldn't happen if they were di*ckheads. I'm sure there are more, reading helps for some areas of work, a good jazz background helps in other circles but the above are general points.
  22. NJE
    Star Now is a good site and there seem to be a lot of semi-pro singers, actors and musicians that us it to find work. Someone I know had 20 responses when looking for female vocalists for a soul band. They had paid work lined up which I think helps.
  23. NJE
    John Mayer has had some serioulsy good players on board over the years. I love what each of them has done at each stage of Mayers career although I do lean towards the first few albums than the last two. I am so excited to see what comes from the trio being back in the studio. I read an article about John Mayer and he said that after doing very 'relaxed and chilled' albums he has a hankering to go and do something loud and bluesy, so heres hoping.
  24. NJE
    Another vote for Elixir strings here. They are expensive but if wiped down they last me 4 times longer than Ernie Balls which I loved. Even if I don't take care of them they last me 6 months and longer, and my sweat is lethal! I killed a set of Daddario nickels after 2 gigs in one week in the summer. Even boiling them didn't resurrect them.
  25. NJE
    Apart from a few exceptions, there are not really many bands/acts, that sell huge amounts of records and achieve 'god like' status of the bands of the 60's, 70's and even 80's. There are so many genres and sub genres of music now and so many varied types of musicians that I think people follow and love a huge range of music and bands. There are some seriously good players out there in bands, but because the bands aren't huge like Led Zep, Yes or Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the players don't achieve that huge level of public awareness and fame. At 32 Im not young but not quite achieved grumpy old fart status yet either (getting there though). I love folk, electronic music, metal, country and just love listening to interesting music and take inspiration from that. Here are just a few 'young' bands players that inspire me and I know a few younger people who cite them as influences. 1. Michael Todd - Coheed and Cambria. His lines are so beautifully woven into their music and very clever. I know a lot of people who love what he and Coheed do. 2. James Leech - Sikth. In their genre they are basically gods and James Leech is a phenomenal bass player. 3. Tom Doyle - Don Broco. He is doing some really interesting stuff on his 5 string spector, really groovy intricate clever bass playing at the forefront of their music. 4. Ben Epstein - Does loads of session work and plays with PB Underground. A great player and really inspires me to want to be better and pick my bass up. 5. Sean Hurley - Ok hes older, but still younger than the likes of Sheehan, JPJ etc. Great player and does some beautiful stuff with John Mayer. 6. Joe Dart - Vulfpeck. What an incredibly funky groovy player, amazing stuff. We might not have new bass superstars that cross over into the non-muso world like Flea and Lemmy and JPJ, but there will always be musicians around to create music and young poeple will find inspirational music and players to inspire them to want to learn to play. I never latched onto a bass hero when I started playing, I just had this instrument and wanted to make beautiful noises with it. Music inspired me, not musicians, that came later on when I discovered Pino, Flea, Nathan East, Stuart Zender and probably one of my biggest influences Sting. But in the beginning melodies and music in general was my reason for playing.
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