bigjohn

I use an Alembic fx-1 pre which gets its tonestack from the Fender Showman. That into a barefaced compact gets a Fender sound. Though I do blend in an Ampeg SVP through the fx cos I'm greedy

Don't lumber yourself with driving home. Or if you do, lumber yourself with a fridge full of beer for your triumphant return.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1435568382' post='2809994'] Ok thanks, that's what I want to hear. Although I should say that I am not using the Bass VI as a regular bass and I have never used any effects on a regular bass. [/quote] That's where I'm at too. I had a play around with a chorus some years back, but never took to it.

I don't want to hijack your thread, but I'd be interested too. I've been playing my Bass VI through my Ampeg BR50 Rocket, which gives it a really nice clean sound, but I'd be interested in using some chorus, trem, delay and reverb with it. Does anyone know of a good multi-effect pedal which would do this? Ideally with some loop functionality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNkPn0JrTFQ WT actual F. Is this real?

Does anyone that wants a 4Ohm cab have any experience of feeling underpowered with higher impedance cabs? I can't tell the difference between say 350W @ 8Ohm and 500W @ 4Ohm. In fact I've struggled to tell the difference between 4Ohm and 16Ohm cabs using the same amp.

I carry spare strings but only gig with one bass. It's a passive Precision though, so what can go wrong? I take a Leatherman and there's always gaff tape about, I reckon I could fix anything that was wrong with it bar snapping the neck and it's in a hardcase. My rack has two preamps in it, although I use one through the FX loop of the other, I could easily make do with one or the other. I don't bother with spare power amp or cab obviously. If a gig is that important, there'd be enough PA. I had had issues though. I've blown a power amp before (with no proper PA support either) and have snapped a string only to realise I had no spare A. These times are not good, but they're not the end of the world and certainly not worth losing sleep over.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1434917540' post='2803870'] Try as many things as you can and dispose of what doesn't work for you, that way you'll sound like you and not a clone of, whoever. Today I was using a pick with my fretless and was loving the sound. I may do it some more on other songs. There are no rules as such, just music. The modern bass guitar is only around 65 years old, so who is to say what's right and what's wrong? [/quote] Yeah, but the quick way to decent fretless playing is to listen to the masters of yore, use 12" speakers and avoid valve amps. Get with with the programme.

[quote name='Hellzero' timestamp='1434912263' post='2803811'] Forums will always be forums. [/quote] Aye. Don't use anything but 12" speakers and forget about "tubes" Forget about musicality as a personal expression. Don't do too many slides and use effects judiciously

[quote name='Hellzero' timestamp='1434908424' post='2803764'] I think that when anyone writes "do it your way without bothering if you're doing it correctly"... [/quote] See instructions below... [quote name='Hellzero' timestamp='1434793376' post='2802837'] For the playing itself : use open strings to hear if you are still in tune, make slight longitudinale finger movements to increase your growl (no bend on fretless instruments), play on the neck if you want to hear all the power of fretless and think slow and articulate, don't tend to overuse slide effects... let the notes ring and develop, use external effects like chorus or reverb or octaver or whatever with parsimony...low midrange is the key to that fretless sound you certainly want to hear. Prefer 12" speakers and forget tubes. If your instrument is passive, use the tone to sculpt your sound. Prefer the closest to the bridge pickup, but don't neglect the neck pickup. [/quote] And remember kids... [quote name='Hellzero' timestamp='1434908424' post='2803764'] Talent is nothing without work... [/quote]

I recently got a fretless and have had no difficultly with it at all. It's just a bass, in fact in find it easier in some ways as there's no frets in the way of where you should be putting your fingers! My advice, if you care to take it (and want to make it easy on yourself) is to get a freless with a neck on that's the same as a fretted bass you're already familiar with.

I've done gigs without a drummer In fact, we booked gigs and did them without a drummer. Ours had left. Blues / Rock band. Full on. Stuff that's much easier with a drummer. That's how we got new one. He walked up to us after a gig and asked if we needed a drummer... well duh. It's quite good fun rehearsing without too. Give it a go. What have you got to lose?

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1433496061' post='2791474'] This is a completely different option but what about a maple neck and a new pickup for the mex precision you have in the cupboard? the Fender basses are the easiest to get parts for and a breeze to work on. Matt [/quote] That's what I'd do. I once had a Mex P that I put a Mighty Mighty maple neck on and fitted a Fender Original 60s pup. Was clank central.

Hmmm, I play my US Precision most of the time, though I have recently built a bitza fretless and bought a Squier Bass VI so I've been on the newuns. I've not gigged or rehearsed anything but my US P since I got it a few years back.

I like shell pink, but I'd have to have it tort and rosewood. But then I'm a bit like that with all my basses

Sez it's private...

You need to buy some butter.

I'm a bit of a chav. I wear a watch. The very idea of having to know what time it is makes me realise how easy some bastards have it.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1428316798' post='2740079'] My Schroeder cab is 61cm, so it would protrude 4cm each side... not a deal-breaker for me. I might go for it, if only to test Bugera/Behringer's negative reliability reputation. [/quote] I used a Superbass with a 1212L for a while. Was a good combination.

[quote name='dadofsix' timestamp='1430320605' post='2760261'] Help a poor fellow out who lives on the other side of the pond . . . Hand, Foot and Mouth disease???? Whassat???? [/quote] I hadn't heard of it either. Sounds like another reason I'm glad I've not had children.

You could think about a microhead and a cab on wheels. Or something like a Barefaced Super Compact? I've used public transport (buses) with a couple of set ups. Once with a Barefaced Big One and amp and two basses, though that took two of us, with one bass it wouldn't have been impossible on my own. I've also caught the bus a few times with a bass and my Ampeg B100R which isn't light, but it's doable. There are other combos that are lighter and more powerful. It doesn't matter how small and light something is if it doesn't do it's job well. You need efficiency for that in a small cab and that's a lot complicated than chucking a speaker in a box.

Ahhh, happy days.

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1429532116' post='2752284'] I've never had a noisy P bass at all. As long as the earth wire from the bridge to the back of a pot is soldered effectively, that should be all that's required. (I was told this by Sims Customs actually when I was ordering a '64 P body and asked what they recommend for shielding. They said they don't, even on their own builds as it doesn't matter on a passive bass. As long as said bridge to pot wire is connected.. It did surprise me at the time but so far no probs on my last two P's, one of which I put together myself). [/quote] Yep, I agree. There's no reason for a passive split coil humbucker to "hum" other than it's not earthed correctly. Sheilding does nothing for 60 cycle hum from single coils either. It's different with active electrics obv. The only benefit a passive circuit is shielding from external electromagnetism.