JTUK

If your signal in is crap, then the best bass amp in the world can't do much about it. 98% ..IMO..of people's problem with getting a sound is because the initial signal in is poor. Having said that.. a poor amp and cab will not help..but you stand more of a chance that way round than a crap bass having to be cleaned-up sound-wise.

[quote name='Conan' post='1279389' date='Jun 23 2011, 09:37 AM']Me too (if memory serves - it's been a while since I did a gig with full PA support and monitors!). Sometimes I like some prominent vocals too if I'm doing backing vocals. I like to have some bass so I can compare the "out front" sound with my own backline monitoring.[/quote] If a P.A can't provide a few monitor mixes with the ability to put everything through it....I don't regard it a proper set-up.

Don't miss 24 frets at all....

[quote name='silddx' post='1276845' date='Jun 21 2011, 11:32 AM']Does anyone have ONLY bass in their monitor? I just have a decent band mix.[/quote] No... I have big bass and drums and a bleed for the rest.

ha ha !!!! Can't see that anyone will notice... but if you can't hear, you can't hear. Sort that out first.....................

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1277301' date='Jun 21 2011, 04:50 PM']OK, I've got the a*** I keep hearing the term 'self indulgence' used whenever there is any suggestion that a musician is moving away from the groove and into the area of soloing or collective improvisation. I have heard this term since the heady days of punk when the bands I liked (Yes, Genesis etc) were dismissed by the monkey-booted, donkey-jacket wearing Philistines that surrounded me as irrelevant because of their 'self indulgence'. Well, I am sorry, but I and many of my colleagues LIKE this stuff so, by definition, we represent an audience which means that, by definition, there is an entertainment element to this stuff. More to the point, I can't think of anything more self indulgent that singers telling me they are hurting because their girlfriend left them or how they are gonna rrrrrrrock - its a bit like those drunks you get at parties that bore you senseless with their adolescent meandering and who you only walk home with because you fear that they may collapse in the gutter and choke to death on their own vomit. An improvising player who is constantly searching within his playing or composition for new ideas and new sounds is, for me, something to be admired, feted and celebrated. I can't see that a soloist in any contemporary setting is any more self indulgent that Paganini or Yo Yo Ma, excellent musicians who are masters of their instruments. A musician who can take you somewhere emotionally without having to tell you in monosyllabic terms where they are going is a lot more interesting than the 'painting by numbers' drivel of most pop and rock music. Watching 20 somethings playing the only three chords they know whilst they strike a pose identical to the one struck by the last 20 year old and the one before that whilst having a crowd of thousands 'saluting' them with fists in the air, waving cigarette lighters or swaying Arsenal scarves? Now THAT is self indulgent![/quote] Entirely right.... the whole effort is self-indulgent..including this stuff from whacked out jazzers ... but less hysterical than preening posers..rock gods, 80's shredders, or shreeders in general and all the other crap...to long to be listed JFDI..!!!

Just got a nice e-mail back from Newtone...says I might want to try the Diamond series and he will make them tapered core.. So I will give these a try. I like what little I know about the company and the price is reasonable... I have some Super Steps coming in so they can go head to head with those.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1276649' date='Jun 21 2011, 08:37 AM']Yeah the few venues in London usually seem to be sorted for a decent (enough) PA. As stated though, we travel around a lot and there's pleny of places that don't even have a PA, never mind a decent one. Looking at this thread, you seem to be the lucky minority. I do wish I could take the minimum gear to gigs, I cant see it ever happening though. [/quote] Admittedly I haven't done these free town gigs for quite some while... but I seem to recall they ALL struggled for bass monitors. = The only one that didn't..off the top of my head, was The Mean Fiddler which had Turbosound as a House P.A. The others, like the Putney/South River gigs... had hired-in sound and the engr was generally good, but bass through the monitors was not the norm as the monitors wouldn't be good enough. I agree that things have moved on and you can get a really big sound out of hats and stand rigs..but the monitors aren't generally at the same level. You know you'll do ok if the sage has sidefills but I take my rig so I can hear myself and the rest of the band has that chance. That way, I don't have to flay the stage monitoring if it is slightly lacking. We are asked to provide a tech rider..you try getting one back from the P.A crew For some of our outdoor gigs this year... we are going to have to take quite a bit of our own kit..just in case. But NO-ONE has come back to me when I ask what we can expect. That might mis-communication between the organisers and the P.A hire..but I still never get it..which amounts to the same thing..hit and miss..!! potentially. I wouldn't spoil a gig for the sake of not loading my car..just as I would do that without changing strings..for example...!! But then, I do have the choice

I was looking at a DJ5 about a year ago and I liked it in terms of playing, sound and feel. There was a another bass that caught my eye and ear so I bought that. I can't say I really really looked it over like I would have had I been really serious but a friend of mine on here did and panned it..so I'll take his POV on it. I have to say there was £400 difference in the the bass I bought and the DJ5 on sale, but in terms of everything, there might as well have been over £1000 plus... On reading things on here, and my own personal observations, I don't get the impression that £1000 outlay is any garauntee that the bass will be decent

[quote name='chris_b' post='1275944' date='Jun 20 2011, 02:46 PM']I think there are 4 of us playing bass with Robin these days. He's asked me to do the Ireland trip a couple of times but I haven't been able to go. He hasn't asked yet, but say Hi when you're there, you never know, it might be me this year.[/quote] I hope you get to go, Chris..as long as they look after you with Guiness and stuff..!!

[quote name='dc2009' post='1275932' date='Jun 20 2011, 02:28 PM']This is what I wanted to do last night, but the sound guy told me the monitors were crap, so insisted I use the inhouse backline rig as my own monitor, my sound on stage was absolutely diabolical, how the monitors could have been worse than the amp I do not know. I still had my sansamp DI'd to the crowd, so the PA sound was OK.[/quote] Knowing ..or hoping that the FOH is good is still abit hit and miss though. I run a rig so I know what I WILL sound like onstage and anything less like crappy monitoring can deflate the gig..which is not a good position to be in, IMO hence I avoid it.

[quote name='chris_b' post='1275763' date='Jun 20 2011, 12:00 PM']So you've got an amp that looks good but is too heavy to take out! What's the point of that? Most of my bands want the bass flapping their trousers. Small, loud, light black boxes do that and don't break my back. I don't care what it looks like, at the moment I'm using the lightest and most sensible rig I've ever owned.[/quote] Agree with this thinking. I have pub rig with 2 112's and I have 2 210's for a larger stage. Both push BIG air. I may add a louder amp but don't really think I need more than 400watts anyway..so it is GAS driving this need fro a DB750. I pick and choose what rig from a stage and load./carry POV but it all goes in my car. The 210 option takes a little more space but then I don't carry lights for large stages anyway. Bass monitoring is iffy on some P.As...and they may not have a mix for it anyway. The key to monitoring and mix though is to set the levels and keep to them..something that drums and gtrs don't always get.. What is the point of a soundcheck anyway, otherwise..??

Was playing in Greece and outside of Athens, the stage crews are..err...not so hot. The whole stage is littered with untidy cables. The concert start was late so we had plenty of time having a drink or a few..!! or the viola player did. The show starts and he is getting a bit manic in his dancing....and whilst jiggng around got caught up in the cables. He had a very expensive viola and and very expensive bow so when he felt himself falling he couldn't use his hands so took the full force on his chin..he'd had a few as well. Me and the drummer saw all this happening and when he went down, we were wetting ourselves and lost the song a bit.. It was recorded as well and when we listened to it we heard the crash of the viola player on stage and our song falling apart Laughed so loud...

[quote name='charic' post='1275653' date='Jun 20 2011, 10:44 AM']I've used D'addario prosteels and roto swingbasses. But literally just ordered some newtone string with a custom core for drop c tuning. Should be interesting [/quote] When I looked at their website...couldn't find a taper core. might have to give them a call.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1275659' date='Jun 20 2011, 10:46 AM']PM me the details please.[/quote] Done

Wdude, if you want a guy to look at it..I have someone in Maidstone. Very good and reasonable, but will not like the weight so you should probably have to run that by him and move it yourself...

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1275570' date='Jun 20 2011, 09:22 AM']Nah, it got sorted in the end [/quote] Result .. well done.

So, you got one after all...I thought the opportunity had gone and you left it a tad too late..??

I think the string should follow the line of the fretboard and be equi_distant on both strings. For this reason, I like adjustable rollers on the bridge. I have noticed that obviously different width necks at the nut need these measurements tweaking, so custom builds are most prone to the line up from peg to bridge being a problem. This shouldn't be an issue at all for production runs, so if these things are out, that is poor QC or workmanship, IMO.

I also had a quick scout round on e-bay and the like, for decent prices but nothing struck me as worth the import issues..potentially. For a cheaper price and local availaibilty I think Ken Smith are worth a look..and D'addario XL Pros as well. The consistant thing being I can get a tapered B on all those. But if anyone wants contributors to a bulk order..I'll be up for that.

Have ordered some Super Steps from Thomanns which is by far the best price even if you add the £10.00 post so I went for 2 sets. I prefer a lighter set of 5 and the price shades DR..which I haven't liked of late... see above

Dave, if you were at Hever..you should have taken your golf clubs as the course is worth it, IMO. :lol Lovely place

Gig was a bit lacking..although we went down well...but you know when something is missing. Poor gig for me...felt too flat or tired and couldn't prep well enough, I wonder how we were regarded after that as we have a decent name for doing well. If I had been in the audience, I would have knocked it We did get asked about a wedding in Newcastle..!!! which is as far as we could travel and still be in England. We quoted a SILLY price so if it comes off...I'll shut up belly-aching about 'poor' gigs as the punters are clueless..thankfully..!!! No excuses..move on.

How have you wired in the tuner..? Send and return loop off the amp..?? does it do the same if you just use a send from the amp into the tuner..?? Swapped round leads..?