guyl

Boost the mids and enjoy the "mwahh". And definitely enjoy the slides. Surely you didn't buy a fretless to sound exactly like your fretted bass?? It's hard to stop looking at the lines/dots, but to quote Obi-Wan Kenobi - "your eyes can deceive you - don't trust them". Intonation is in the ears! And when you 1st gig with it, take your usual fretted as a back up in case it doesn't fit as well as you'd hoped. Good luck...

It's easier to interact with the audience if you can see them.

[quote name='BOD2' timestamp='1366289010' post='2050545'] I've found that active basses require a slightly different way of looking at things because, unlike a passive bass, they can BOOST as well as cut the EQ. I'd always advise starting with the EQ set flat. On a passive bass that will be the tone controls full on but on an active bass that's usually the centre position of the controls, often indicated by a little detent "stop" that you feel as you turn the control from min to max. Where you feel a click on the control is usually where the control is set flat - neither cutting nor boosting the EQ. Once you've got that position, setup the amp/FX for the best sound you can get without touching the onboard EQ. With the amp and FX setup you're ready to play with the onboard EQ to make fine adjustments to the sound as required. The key is to keep the adjustments small, and if you get "lost" then go back to the flat EQ setting. [/quote] +1 - Sound advice

Don't throw in the towel just yet. In my experience it can take a bit of playing (and knob twiddling) before you eventually land on a tone that you're happy with. After that you'll be just plugging in and playing as before, but with flexibility - maybe you'll find two or three different sounds that work well for different songs or different venues ...

Very cool - good luck!

Didn't he always use a compressor in the Paul Young days?

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1357651219' post='1925961'] left handed firewood?? [/quote]

Really useful in a pit or a reading gig. I especially use it with fretless.

Should have spotted that - perhaps was too busy looking at Beenies chest. (although she has toned down the "tight-tops-on-a-cold-day" look that boosted viewing numbers for Property Ladder!)

+1 for the GK head for me. Sold mine to Casapete above - big mistake! Heard similar reliability stories with Warwick amps.

I had a nightmare with double bass feedback on a function gig once. Grabbed the nearest thing to hand which was a pink linen napkin, and stuffed it between the strings. It resolved the problem and I accidentally discovered a great new sound from my bass. Odd thing was that other napkins, dishcloths, towels etc never sounded as good. That aquarium filter might turn out to be amazing! Good luck!

This looks a good deal to me too. I had a 1001 RB II and regret selling. It certainly wasn't that heavy, and reading this post is making me consider buying another.

I've had one for quite a while. It is comfortable and i'm pleased with it. However, it does easily work itself longer. (I think many straps do this.) In the end I did something Billy Sheehan recommends and got it "stiched" to the optimum length.

Unfair to make it the sole responsibility of the Drummer. If the band speeds up his choices are to keep metronomic or to go with them. If the band still push, and he won't go with them, it may sound unmusical ....

[quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1329169313' post='1538390'] I have the same hight for everything. I know people who have it lower for siting, but not for arco/ pizz. I have the nut level with the middle of my forehead both sitting and standing. [/quote] I have it lower for sitting, but to achieve the same result - perhaps it depends on your stool height. (Or size when standing) Billy Sheehan stiches his electric bass strap to a fixed length. He says whether sitting or standing, the instrument is in exatctly the same postion, so his reference points are always fixed. I try to apply this to upright - always the same left hand position/instrument angle/height etc. It really helps with intonation

Does you bass have an active by-pass? At least when then battery starts to go, you can switch off the active circuit until you get a moment to change the battery. My Warwick cover clips on and off in seconds (no screws), so it really is a 20 second job to change a battery.

Dave Lunt - in Stockport. Excellent. 0161 432 9698.

I have an older SWR 350 (with a red front). Not sure how much the newer "X" changed, but mine is fabulous. Although I still use it regularly, and love it for "normal" volumes, I keep another for louder gigs. The 350 seems to lose bottom end when pushed hard.

G&L Tribute 5-ers sometimes crop up on here. Sold mine for £300-ish a while ago. Mistake! Very versatile bass, excellent low B and best value for money in Bassdom

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1323169745' post='1459956'] +1 It's all down to using the right earplugs. If you use cheap foam jobbies (such as I used to use at track days) then they protect your ears from [i][b]loudness [/b][/i]... they do absolutely nothing to help you hear things. If you use ER20's (or, for considerably more money, ER15's or ER25's which are moulded precisely to your ears) then not only are your ears protected but you can still hear everything. [/quote] +1

Anyone going to Manchester on Saturday? Am thinking of going on my own which seems a bit sad and lonely .....

I personally find that going thinner than a 30 makes the top string sound a bit like an "add on" - not part of your bass. This might be the effect you're after, but an even tone across all the strings is better IMO. I also had a bad Warwick string experience so wouldn't bother with them. Otherwise, same pros and cons as all other strings - you just don't have so much choice if you want a matching set. My personal preference is D'Addarios 030 (or might be 032) - 130. Good luck!