JTUK

[quote name='lowhand_mike' timestamp='1468431747' post='3090909'] sorry disagree with that entirely, a P bass is the last thing i want even if the song we are playing was recorded on one. if a tribute band then maybe but for covers anything goes [/quote] There is a reason why it is the most popular bass... and a lot of players would do themselves a huge favour if they had one. Especially the ones i see/hear. The one thing a P-bass really shouldn't be is weak at underpinning a band...even gtrs know this which is why when bass players have a sound problem, even the gtr player will say..get a P

If you don't know what you want, then get a good P-Bass as that is what 90% of bass players should have even if they don't know it.

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1468397945' post='3090602'] Regardless, I'd love to see a resurgence of SWR, if it might ever be possible. [/quote] SWR had their period where they were THE rig... but that was quite quickly challenged by Eden and you tended to be a fan of one of the other. Those two, had it tied up for a period of time but they lost it. By the time SWR were sold to Fender, they were finished and not a shadow of the powerhouse they once were, IMO. I forget when things changes but I seem to recall they had 5 or so years so about 88 onwards..to maybe '95. After that... they weren't the same.... and it was downhill all the way to Fender and then the demise IMO.

[quote name='bassbiscuits' timestamp='1468336296' post='3090238'] I've played with a couple of rubbish drummers in the past, and its bloody soul destroying. When you're trying to build some dynamics into songs and a baboon on drums just wrecks it all by playing the wrong arrangements etc. It sounds like a nightmare mate - best of luck with seeing it through tho. Haven't the rest of the band noticed how bad he is then? [/quote] I guess we all have drum stories but one of the first things I ask is who is on drums. Time is not negotiable.. I can play on and behind but I don't want a push either. I like to think I can make the drums work but you don't want to start from a negative position where it is as much as you can do to make it 'ok'.. I'd pass........

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1462739155' post='3045389'] IMO it's all about the construction of the neck and how it is attached to the body rather than a 1" difference in scale length. The other important factor is finding the right B string for a particular bass. What works on one won't necessarily work on another. Bear in mind that going from 34" to 35" is not even a 3% increase in length so by all means go for 35" scale if you like the longer spacing between the frets, but don't expect a single inch to make any real difference in how the B string feels and sounds. Also IME 35" scale is used by a lot of cheaper basses to try and compensate for the fact that the construction of the bass isn't really up to the standard required for a 5-string. It doesn't work. Any manufacturer capable of making a 35" scale bass with a good sounding a feeling B string will be able to make one with a 34" scale length just as well. Scale length only makes a significant difference once you go to 36" scale or longer. ............. [/quote] I'd go with this. All my current basses are 34" and bolt-on. The B's are great..wouldn't buy then otherwise and the build is the key element here.

Yep, wouldn't be my thing at all, but it is pretty..

[quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1468334917' post='3090222'] This is why I am hanging on to my SM1500. It may be the biggest heaviest unpractical beast but by god the tone is to die for, and coupled with the Goliath Snr, its a stadium ready rig. [/quote] Word.. I can't see the way to sell my SM400..they don't them like that anymore...or if they do, so much more money. Mine is 25 yrs plus ... and I feel only the last few years have a couple of amps started to put it away. But they still tend to be quality U.S made models.

Yep, that is the one thing I don't mind much, the pickups. I've got a few things coming up where I can shake the whole lot down and find out what works where but the bridge and pegs aren't be be a factor on the sound. Need the bridge asap.

[quote name='police squad' timestamp='1468144044' post='3088789'] yep, I gigged mine last night with a Who Tribute. Used mainly the neck pickup but on 'won't get fooled again' I dialled 3/4 on the bridge in. Both tone pots wide open, ampeg pf500 thru a markbass club 1x15. What a great sound. It growled like a growly thing. Lightweight, very even string response all round. I'm very very pleased with it. I can't wait for my next gig. It's not often I get excited about a bass but this a corker [/quote] Cool... I had to swap out the Fender pre on my active..as the bass wasn't passive optioned. Be good to hear this Signature. My feeling is standard Fender kit itself can need upgrades ..so bridge and pegs next..

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1467133556' post='3081407'] Yay another Fender cash cow [/quote] I guess you have to say are they good basses for the money.... OR, just as pertinently, will you cover your money as the headstock will retain that.. even despite the actual bass..??

I don't see these two as a pairing. I like the SL112 so I'd get another one and use them for most gigs. Light enough and small enough and I like the tone.

You'd have to hear it..but I'd be thinking it would be quite wolly and undefined, which exactly what the Mackie was. Not a fan of Mackie these days anyway but respect the price point. Subject to hearing, I think you need to hear a crap sub... and then you'll not waste your money.

[quote name='Mottlefeeder' timestamp='1468003467' post='3088043'] Lots of interesting comments, and just a little bit of negativity towards guitarists. Just to recap, a guitarist turns up at an open mic night with the words and chords he/she needs, and an indication of where the capo goes to get the song in the right vocal range. A bass player introduces himself and asks if he can join in. There is no way that the guitarist's notes for his/her benefit are wrong just because they do not help the bass player. [/quote] He should know what pitch he has moved it to. And he could tell the band it is this position for them, regardless of what he capo'd. If he has a capo, you aren't going to be following his hands for help...

[quote name='largo' timestamp='1468047269' post='3088219'] Our on-stage sound engineer aka guitarist insists on me going Pre which is fine. However he's saying the bass is very muffled FOH and asking for a lot more treble from the bass itself! Pretty much 3/4 to full on at all times. It's my only tone control on a passive PJ and means I now have to back to the amp every time I want to adjust settings. My back line could cut cheese with how much treble is being pushed unless I turn down to 8 o clock with 6 being off. Any suggestions? [/quote] Doesn't sound like the signal chain is very good and at some point it is getting choked... He needs to chase the signal thru if you are running toppy and he is getting muffled. Is the P.A any good..?? blown horns...? (very common as on stage people might not be hearing/testing out front) does it do that with other signals?

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1467964501' post='3087554'] Im trying to recall how we used to do it Bill, as I remember [b]we used to speakon out of the power amp to the the passive tops and then xlr daisy chain to the active sub[/b]s rather than a dedicated line to each (now) active speaker from the mixing desk, would that make any difference? [/quote] No, that can't be right... unless the signal out of the passive tops is a line signal.....??

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1467903161' post='3087201'] Don't they make all our PA and bass gear in Italy? RCF, Markbass.... I'd have thought there wouldn't be too great a problem hiring gear there. [/quote] There wont be..so much, depends what you can spend. 3k to 6k in the U.K with Engr from £350 to £500 depending on kit etc etc ... Assume Italian prices are much the same.. so you still need backline and kit. And then you have travel and accomodation. The friend might be keen to do this for free... but unless he is a very good friends of the rest of the band...the issue of 3 days work/travel needs costing. Friends on mine did this for a party in a ski resort..they stayed there a week admittedly.. and the cost was £10k. fortunately the guy paying didn't think it was much of a problem Until this project gets a budget, it is a non starter, IMO

[quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1467927349' post='3087453'] Really? Any links? Not surprised though. It seems to me that Angus is the controlling one . Look how he treated Brian Johnson after all these years of service. [/quote] Not sure about that.... they were committed to the gigs and they were going to do them. The fact that BJ couldn't honour that part of it meant a replacement HAD to be found. I don't think it is a harsh as people make out... he couldn't do the gigs. No one wanted him out but they had to get in a replacement.

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1467975276' post='3087696'] Why do we spend so much on that particular speaker cab, then go out the DI and bypass everything you have spent ages on, perfecting that sound? [/quote] Because that is the playback sound you and the band are going to be playing to.

Hmm... if he tells me that he is playing such and such chord but from the second position or whatever, that is going to put me out..which is no biggie to transpose as long I know, but he is just making hard for himself and others. If he says A from a capo on the 2nd...it isn't going to pitch as an A.. Personally, I wouldn't be inclined to play with people that didn't get the issues this causes and you would expect people to be aware of what they are doing. Of course there are advantages to Capos, for sure, but if they don't realise they have put it into another pitch for the other instruments then..WTF..!!!

[quote name='sharkboy' timestamp='1467919276' post='3087366'] I'd heard from a pretty sound source that Brian's departure was as much about money/gig receipt arguments with Angus as it was about his hearing loss. Cliff's decision makes me think that Brian's return to the fold is probably pretty unlikely. [/quote] As in the ball was rolling and there was no way it could be cancelled...if he couldn't do it, then they'd get someone else. The penalties would have been horrendous..which was probably the same trick they used on Rose.. the penaties for cancelling would have be at his door if he had caused any gigs to be cancelled. Plain old business lock down when there is so much money at stake..

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1467917493' post='3087337'] I think I had the great Louis Johnson covered with Larry. Not much changed in the 30 year gap besides bass guitar not being as prominent in a lot of the more commercial tunes as it was in the 60s and 70s. Blue [/quote] You did, but stylistically..and IMO, Larry Graham is more relevant that LJ.... and that is because LG is just inherrently funky..whereas the style of 80's slap bass is pretty dated so it couldn't really be used a a lead instrument anymore. If you looked at vanguard slappers today..it is light years away from what they did then..which was basically LH pat around triplets. Very clever at the time but eaten up alive today...and probably only Mark King could still stand up with them now...?? I'm just saying that bass moves on..not surpringly and if your groove is stood still...then..??

I'm thinking Angus Young will do what suits him..altho since he can't need the money..?? so he will continue if he wants to? They couldn't pull out of the tour when Brian Johnson couldn't continue... so the decision will be purely financial and since it is such big business, I'm sure there will be a lot of pressure to do another one.. If people didn't buy tickets it would stop right now,.... but people are buying a lot of tickets. Mind you, they must all be over 70 now..??? and who is left anyway..?

You still need a budget... have they given you any idea how much they'll spend..? Tbh.. unless your band is worth £1500 a gig... best you just attend in person as a guest..and he books cheaper locally as that is what he will probably paying for flights for plus gear hire and poss hotels..? And if you hire a van... and do 2000kms, with foreign cover. tolls, crossing fuel, mileage etc etc and a day and half each way driving..which means 2 stops overs on the combined trip..??. And that is probably with no fee added..? Nice idea but all getting a tad silly...and not cheap.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1467858799' post='3086785'] Most of the folks I consider influences are on average 10 years older than me. Paul McCartney Chuck Rainey Larry Graham Stanley Clarke Francis Rocco Prestia Jaco Carol Kaye Sorry, nor accepting any new applications at this time. Don't get me wrong, I know Billy is a 'killer" bass player. Blue [/quote] Ok,,, answered my own question with this quote. "Sorry, nor accepting any new applications at this time." The problem I have with that ..well, not really a problem for me.... is that that is a very insular set of references. I agree some of them may be required listienng... but you've rather missed out 30 yrs plus of bass playing so I think it would/may be hard to evolve your own playing if your references are only of that period...?? For example... Nobody listens to Louis Johnson ..who was probably THE 80's bass player with his work with Quincy Jones for slap as the style has moved on so much.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1467824637' post='3086567'] I know he's a great player, but he's not relevant to me, wrong generation. Blue [/quote] Why so..? who do you listen to?