MoJoKe

[quote name='stefBclef' timestamp='1338156007' post='1670278'] Do any of you just take the one bass? [/quote] Nope, never! [b]Always [/b]take two. I always carry at least one spare guitar lead, one spare kettle lead, fuses, and if backline is provided I'll want to know in advance what that is, and I'll still put my MarkBass combo in the car. If I'm off to do a gig I don't want to be the one to let anyone down. Remember the seven P's...

Resolved! The foil strip in the control cavity had earths from the bridge and pickups, but this wasn't connected to anything else! A quick soldering job to earth it to the jack socket ring (via one of the pots) and the probelm is solved.... However, why the guy who did the final checks on the bass before it was shipped didn't spot this heaven only knows!! In investigating it I compared the wiring from my older Bart pickup'd 55-02, which was beautifully neat and tidy, the newer bass wiring is an absolute mess by comparison. Rather than being encased in plastic like the older one, the preamp has two strips of insulating tape on to stop the PCB shorting on the foil of the cavity plate, and the wiring is a tangled mess.... not impressed...

Thank you for your help. I have just tested the setup with my other 55-02 which is fine, so it looks like its the Bass...! I've had the cover off and there doesn't appear to be an earth connecting the foil strip (which has bridge and both pickup earths connected) to the rest of the earths, and certainly not the jack ring. Is this correct? I have poked around with a meter and getting 1 or less (with meter set to 2000ohm) on all other earthed components, but 90 or more when between jack socket sleeve and the bridge earth. That cannot be right?

Can anyone help please? I posted this in the amps/cabs sectioin yesterday, but perhaps should be here... Lakland 5502, new planet waves lead into a Markbass CMD151 with a brand new power lead. If I touch the strings I get earth buzz. Yesterday at rehearsal I connected my HTC phone using spotify, to the practice room PA with a microjack to 2 phono lead, and when I picked my phone up while holding bass with fingers on strings I got a small but significant shock. Both MB amp and PA amp on the same ring main.... Ouch... hheeelpp!

Can anyone help please? Lakland 5502, new planet waves lead into a Markbass CMD151 with a brand new power lead. If I touch the strings I get earth buzz. Yesterday at rehearsal I connected my HTC phone using spotify, to the practice room PA with a microjack to 2 phono lead, and when I picked my phone up while holding bass with fingers on strings I got a small but significant shock. Both MB amp and PA amp on the same ring main.... Ouch... hheeelpp!

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1337699069' post='1664141'] Is that a selector switch, then? Or the guitar equivalent of a third nipple? [/quote] Is the poor thing just pregnant with the Devil's child???

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1336757114' post='1650692'] Cocktail sticks are harder wood than matchsticks and so, IMO, provide a more substantial and lasting result. [/quote] OK, thats a good point will try that next time. On a broader note, my Laklands both had fatter, coarser screw threads on the button screws. Yes, the schaller ones are everso slightly longer, but not so as would make much of a difference IMO... I guess if you never want them to come out again (and arguably why would you?), you could try using cocktail sticks, use an epoxy glue (Araldite type) and screw together before the epoxy goes off. that'd work pretty permanently, but I suspect I'll get a slap from someone for suggesting it!! I suppose it depends on how much you value your bass! I'm not sure I'd do that on anything other than a really grungy bass!!

Rest in Peace. What a legend. I learned so much of my thing from his playing. I read on the BBC he played two gigs in Tokyo and died in his sleep. Can't think of a better, more peaceful end...

With most of the schaller style straploks the screws always have a smaller (thinner) thread than the originals. When fitting them I cover a match with wood glue, gently tap it in as far as it will go, then carefully trim it flush with the body and let it dry throughly before screwing in the new screw, which I have also pre-coated in superglue. This way they stay put for a good long time!

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1336035455' post='1639683'] You can also undo a screw with a butter knife at a pinch but why would you want to? [/quote] Smaller toolbox? ....though they don't do philips/posidrive very well, and you wouldn't stand a chance with allen or hex (I'm now trying to think of an analogy to bring back to the subject, but failing miserably! I think you've made the point well!)

So, lesson to isteen; if you want to stir up a firestorm ask about TAB!!! +1 to MrTaff above, we all want to get better, and some, me included, would say TAB is a part of that process.... This is why I think tuxguitar is so good. Leave the score visible and it [i]absolutely[/i] shows you what you're missing if you only use TAB!

I agree with "learn to read music", but it takes time and commitment as implied by Bilbo , and I'm still on my journey! I found using and playing with an app like TuxGuitar (open source, Win/Mac/linux) really useful as it helps you to see relationship between Tab/chords sheet/Dots. If you take some of your fave basslines and use it to create your own music, it'll really help you progress... Well, it did me anyway!

Hi all, I just had a call from the American Circus, looking for a bassist (and keys) for their 2012 season, touring until November, cash in hand, living in a trailor... If I was in my 20's I'd have leapt at it, but I'm personally looking for a band gig so not one for me. If you are interested send me a PM and I will give you the contacts and all the details have...

I suspect he who smelt it, dealt it!!

So, all of a sudden I found myself out of a day job in a career I have been working in for the last 20 years since I was last a Pro bass player... If life is going to change I'll do it properly, so best to get back to what I know and love then! If anyone knows a band looking for a permanent bass player for a US, Europe or World tour (haha, or even a really good, busy pro function band!!) I would be really interested. I live in Devon at the moment, but with plans to move closer to Bristol/M4 corridor. I do Soul, Funk, Blues, Pop, Rock, Country, I don't sight read, but learn incredibly quickly (I've kept very busy doing, and always loved the challenge of, depping). More info on my Lemonrock profile [url="http://www.lemonrock.com/kevinfairburnbassist"]here[/url] ([url="http://www.lemonrock.com/kevinfairburnbassist"]http://www.lemonrock.com/kevinfairburnbassist[/url]) and can be contacted on 07815 111385 Thanks guys!

[quote name='vsmith1' timestamp='1333211373' post='1598816'] Wouldn't it be easier (and cheaper) just to hire a small generator? [/quote] Oh, now thats what I like... lateral thinking... That could work, though its a "quiet music in the background" forest wedding, so not sure if that could be silenced adequately... I'll check with the organisers. On the same basis, If we could get a car close enough I suppose we could also use a power inverter and leave the engine running, though not sure I would be happy to trust the output to be constant enough not to damage my markbass amp?

Thanks for the thoughts guys, though for one half hour gig even the Roland is expensive!! Anyone got one I can hire?

[quote name='dmz' timestamp='1331026046' post='1566336'] Swapped my unlined maple fingerboard equipped fretless Lakland 55-02 for Kevins Wal fretless mk I with significant funds going his way (ouch!). [/quote] but worth every penny, I know you'll agree!!

Heeelp! I need a battery powered amp... I have been asked to do a "one off" outdoor gig on 19th May in Devon, miles from mains power so I need some amplification I can use in the woods! Is there anyone out there who has something they can lend/hire me, or does anyone know where I can (very cheaply as it'll probably only get used once!) buy such a thing? Many thanks!

I feel compelled to put it out there for D'Addario and Planet Waves products!! I have several custom cables... Great quality and a lifetime guarantee... and they mean it! Just before midnight on Thursday I contacted them through their US website as my favourite three year old Custom Series 20' cable had gone crackly at the angled plug end. They replied at 2 minutes past midnight (!!), asking me for the batch number and whether it had compression springs or a switched jack.. A brand new cable arrived this morning... Absolutely STUNNING customer service!!! Couldn't recommend them more highly! Thanks Guys!

I have a collection of OBBM leads, but I'm also gonna put it out there for Planet Waves. Great quality and a lifetime guarantee. Just before midnight on Thursday I contacted them through their US website as my three year old Custom series 20' cable had gone crackly at the angled plug end. They replied at 2 minutes past midnight, asking me for the batch number and whether it had compression springs or a switched jack.. A brand new cable arrived this morning... Absolutely STUNNING customer service!!!