Jeffb28451

I hope others have found their customer support better than I did. I had another PG product for a few months and needed some simple ears for it. They had listed those as options when I bought it. I purchased the amp about a year before they discontinued it. In a few months, I wanted to rack the unit and PG did not have any ears. It was clear that they were not going to support a product that was no longer current production. They seemed to be devoting all of their time and energy in promoting the Spark, which was still many months away from selling. The way they treated their dealers during the protracted “introduction” of the Spark and pre-paid orders, etc. left a bad taste in my mouth. They seem to be easily distracted by “the next new thing” that they get interested in marketing. I say marketing, rather than making or selling because of their behavior during the “introduction”of the Spark I have few manufacturers that I will no longer deal with: PG is one. Neat products …until you need something. Shame, as one of my guitarists has a Spark (among an arsenal of good amps) and it’s a great little piece. Maybe they’ve gotten better. I don’t care. I’ll never look back to their line. I sold the amp before it could break since I did not have faith in the company anymore.

Of course. I have a nail bed that leaves a lot of nail exposed at the end of my fingertips. I also have strong nails, but they will chip and get ragged. Every two weeks for full over-haul: cut and shape with a glass file. In between, I keep emery boards around and tweak them.

I'm also a big fan of Ampeg. I've owned several types of amps over the years, but yes, the crushing weight of a "real" Ampeg has become just too much in my 60s. I've gone to an Arkham Oracle pedal pre (maybe something hard to source in UK, etc) with Ganz and other pedal board amps. Gets close, uses tubes and reminds me that although I've used many other amps over the years, Ampeg still makes my basses sound like they are supposed to sound (in my head, at least). Was using SansAmp RBI, but it sounds really "solid statey" to me, with no dimension. Very versatile, though and may fool 99.9% of people hearing it live, anyway. I am using gear that responds to me and have for the last 20 years. Modern pedals do a pretty good "morph" job, but I've only found a few that actually respond to me as a player the way I want.

I'm in the States and have seen quite a few Nashes. Almost all of them were over-board and just trying too hard to be a "relic". They play well, but this relic idea from Bluesman, Xotic, etc. seem to strike the balance much more to my taste. Admittedly, I'm an old guy and generally take care of my stuff, so maybe I miss the idea of charging extra for beating up a bass, but most Nashes I've seen (live or in pics) seem to be like the kid in the neighborhood who is just trying a bit too hard for cred. btw, I met a lot of guys like that when I was riding motorcycles, mostly on Harley Davidson bikes. Not all, but a bunch. Again, nice products, but trying a bit too hard to buy a "life-style" product.

I am going to try the LaBellas. I have used TI for a while, and until recently, been pretty satisfied with the strings, but now I have an issue with factory communications and quality/responsibility.. Long and short, no local dealers, so I bought a set off Amazon. D broke before it was close to in tune. Amazon refers me to Manufacture, who is quite slow but responds to my second email to their “contact” number after a week. They then say (1) they never received any messages from me (including one from over a year ago when another string broke on another bass): (2) I should be patient because they “have a lot of people traveling” (and…so??) , (3) it’s not their responsibility, they don’t sell on Amazon, etc. (but I think maybe they have a retailer who does that they should know/inquire about)… I’ve been changing strings for over 50 years, so, this was NOT my issue. I got a defective product and have now been stone-walled by either or both Amazon (you decide) TI now wants me to provide them with a history of my emails to them. That would usually be fair enough, but they’ve already given me excuses for tardiness, then denied any responsibility…. So it looks like no matter what, they’ve already stated their position. NO problem, I’ll just save my time and kiss TI good-by. I work for a living. I don’t have time for this game. If I am going to deal with any manufacturer, I expect the response to be ,” we have a problem, let’s solve this together.” Do we not do that honorable practice anymore? Good sounding strings, but I understand other people make good sounding strings, too, AND stand behind them, even if their product is sold through one of their retailers who won’t step up. Is this new version of “pass the buck” a common practice in this day of on-line retailing?

I've gone through several preamps but the John East pre (after whatever good pickups suit you) is the best money I've spent. They're about $230 in the States, if that matters, but (I know, I know, up to a point) good sound costs money, so I put my money down and was very pleased with Mr. East and his superb customer service, even across the pond.

Enough to bring out my highs, but not close to the current "ideal" of the Darkglass boys who seem to dominate YouTube these days.

Yeah...pretty much seems that way. Not smart enough to venture a guess as to why, though.

Boats, kids in football, school, job travel...some of my friends and I have "quit" for 10-30 years at the time. That's real life for most of us. That said, played in a horrific jam session last night, with my mates from my Monday band and some old fart with a harmonica, flip flops and dreams of adequacy. Practice tonight with another band and Friday with some folks a County over doing acoustic fretless stuff. God....I love retirement!!

Think I'd just call the dog. He likes my playing and hates the cat.

Is there money involved if I play it...?

Been playing over 50 years and never heard of string swapping: almost certainly simple metal fatigue. I mean, I don't CARE if string swapping works for you, but, this will never NOT be a problem.

Funny you mention that. I've been playing a while and have run into a "signature" bass line that is giving me fits. "Marie Levau" is how old (?) and I have been shown (in no uncertain terms) that my liberties a la Little Feet, etc,. are not really appreciated. I thought I had it down, until one of the guitarists sent me a link to an 80 year old woman at a bass lesson trying to do it, banging and clanking, etc. I still think he's making fun of me but, in fact, she has the line and I still can't get it! I learned it wrong and now I have to unlearn it! I've heard quite a few versions of the line, but my young friend is bound and determined that THIS is the right one. I'd like to think he's young and inexperienced, but I'm just the bass player and if we're going to do unisons and harmonies, then I guess this must be the "REAL THING" and I'd better get it down by the next practice!

OP listed EXTREMELY important lessons for the real world. Dark necks, wrong keys, issues with stage lights, guitarists who, well, play like guitarists, etc. These are all very real and ever present issues, among others and jam sessions are better places to learn these lessons than auditions or paid gigs. Wish I'd have gone to more when I was younger.

Rude, course and cheap...just the qualities I appreciate in a Wife... Seriously, a great string for the price. I have them as back-ups in both my gig bags. I prefer Roto and DR but nothing wrong with WW Reds, just not my go to but certainly more than serviceable.