flyfisher

I had just one P bass for ages and never had any problems with it, though having a spare was always at the back of my mind. I finally relented this year and bought a Jazz, which I enjoy playing more, so it's now my main bass and I usually take my P along as a spare. I've never worried about stuff being stolen, but maybe I don't play in real dives? But if I did, then I'd still be pretty pissed at having even a £200 bass stolen, so I don't think that's a particularly good solution. Just a waste of £200 really. How about a locking hardcase/flightcase and a bike-lock through the handle and around a radiator/pipework/stage supports etc? That would surely prevent any opportunist thief and there should be enough people milling around to notice anyone having a go with tools.

I'd wager a small sum that the vast majority of audio amps do exactly what I'm describing. It's an inherent part of the PSU circuitry that generates the stabilised power supply for the actual audio amp circuitry. Imagine, say, a 250W RMS amp with a 'universal' power supply that can operate on any mains voltage anywhere in the world. if I've understood correctly, you seem to be suggesting that the actual audio power output will vary enormously on either side of the pond (i.e. when operated on 110V or on 230V). I don't think that's the case. I also don't think the amplifier efficiency will change so that means that it must draw more current when operated on a 110V mains supply than when it's operated on a 230V mains supply. It's the function of the PSU circuitry to handle the different mains voltages in order to provide the audio amp with the power it needs to generate the 250W audio output.

But even if he thought he gig was 'his', what sort of musician would want to participate in a poor performance because he springs unknown songs on the others? That's what I can't understand. Still, as the saying goes, 'there's nowt as strange as folk'. I'd be just as angry and would also never play with him again.

Seems very odd behaviour by the keys player. Why would anyone want to be on stage playing with unprepared fellow musicians (unless it was a jam night)? And specifically playing stuff that others don't know . . . at a gig?! Very odd indeed. If he considers himself to be so good, why doesn't he just do solo gigs?

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1388480715' post='2322370'] Wonderful, thanks for that, Prince is fabulous, but I don't listen to him much these days, I should listen to more. [/quote] +1 I've never listened to him that much but whenever I've seen him on TV or YouTube he's been fantastic. I should also listen to him more. Anyone have any suggestions of the best CDs or DVDs to start with, for someone who has none of his material?

[also slightly pedantic]Could be so, depending on the circuit design. If the low voltage side of things is suitably stabilised to provide, say, a 300W output (I'm thinking about an amp here, but other devices would operate in a similar way) then the mains power requirement would be 300W + the efficiency factor of the PSU. Let's assume 50% efficiency to keep the maths easy, which means a mains input of 600W would be needed to supply the 300W amplifier output. Now, drop the mains voltage and the amplifier PSU would draw more current to maintain the 600W input requirement. And vice versa. You're right, of course, that there will be a limit over which the amplifier PSU can stabilise things so that in your extreme case of 1% mains voltage the amplifier would not draw a massive current, it would just stop working. But within the operating specification of the amplifier (which should certainly be the mains voltage +/-10% and probably more in practice for a good design), the mains current drawn would vary with the actual mains voltage available. Just sayin' [/also slightly pedantic].

. . . . or the days before the internet

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1388441020' post='2322121'] That's not the case with the high current rails for the power amp, which very seldom have any method of voltage regulation. But amp manufacturers build their amps to withstand fairly large voltage fluctuations, so seldom is it a problem. [/quote] Fair point - and possibly a similar scenario with the high voltage rails for valves? (I'm not too familiar with valve designs). Bottom though is that any half decent mains powered device should be capable of operating with its specification with quite a variation of actual mains voltage.

Agreed. Besides, although the mains input voltage may vary by +/-10% and still be within specification, the actual electronics of the amp (or whatever) are powered from a lower, voltage-regulated voltage controlled by the amp's power supply circuitry. So, [u]even if[/u] the mains voltage is 207 volts (i.e. -10%) or 253 volts (i.e. +10%) or anywhere between then the actual amplifier circuitry voltage supply will still be operating from the same fixed, lower-voltage voltage it was designed for. If the OP is buying an old amp then some care might be needed (though unlikely) but if it's a new amp then there really is no excuse for it not working correctly. Here's some interesting reading for musos: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul03/articles/mainsproblems.asp

I'm pretty sure that electronic circuits work OK in space

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1388425341' post='2321858'] That's a good point actually. Is it possible to amplify a sound in space? Of course, you still wouldn't hear it, but in theory, would it work? Would everything work the same except not being able to hear it? [/quote] I don't think you could amplify a sound in space because sound can't exist in a vacuum and you can't amplify nothing. But you could certainly amplify a bass guitar and feed the resulting signal into a big cab and make the speakers move about.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1388418639' post='2321755'] 90 days is utterly ridiculous tho..... but if you agreed, then you've agreed. [/quote] . . . and since you also agreed previously and have come back for more, why would the hotel not expect the same arrangement?

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1388324904' post='2320736'] Well it's the courier they chose to use to fulfil my order so I won't be buying from them again [/quote] Fair enough, but might be worth telling the shop why, otherwise they may never get to know how their chosen courier is performing and won't do anything about it.

I agree and wouldn't worry about a little bit of the capacitor material breaking off, as long as it really is only at the base near the wire legs. As a point of interest though, the use of sockets is generally discouraged in electronic assemblies for all sorts of reasons, especially if the design/performance/stability is critical. I'd guess this is not too important with an audio device but a socket will add some additional capacitance to the circuitry - only a tiny amount, say a few picofarads, but since you're using a 30pf capacitor then the socket could easily be contributing around 10% of the capacitor value. Not necessarily a problem, of course, but when experimenting with component changes it's sometimes helpful to understand what's really going on in the circuitry. As for the Storm Troopers - you're on your own there!

I'd liken Fender to a Land Rover; groundbreaking at the time, a bit dated today, but still widely loved and admired and, when the going gets tough, pretty much unbeatable. An undeniable, hard to beat, design classic!

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1388234478' post='2319729'] Wouldn't it just change the way gravity effected the strings, not remove it ? [/quote] In theory, yes, but I'd bet the actual effect is almost impossible to measure and certainly inaudible (well, except for those people blessed with 'golden ears' ). We can easily imagine a horizontally held string having its centre point pulled down by gravity and therefore exerting some small amount of tension. This would, presumably have some sort of damping effect and also affecting its pitch. Moving the string to a vertical orientation would remove this effect but do we really think that the sound of that string would be affected? I don't.

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1388215850' post='2319486'] The answer is yes, proof attached. [/quote] A weightless Stacia would be something to behold . . .

I'd be surprised if weightlessness had any perceptible effect on instruments. If that was the case, wouldn't playing them at different orientations down here also have an effect?

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1388176772' post='2319244'] I'm just me, being a bassist is simply a part of that. [/quote] Agreed - along with a whole bunch of other things. These sorts of classifications are really for the benefit of others aren't they? We seem to love to pigeon-hole people - hence all the working-middle-upper class or ABC1 nonsense. I guess it's all part of our tribal history, but I reckon that, in general, it does more harm than good.

Any reasons given?

Didn't Beethoven write a lot of his later music using just pen and paper on account of being deaf? He seemed to be able to express himself fairly well. I'd say people should use whatever tools and methods that give them the end result they're seeking.

FF junior surprised me with a rather nice Canon 28-135 Image-Stabilised L-series . . . . . . . . . . . . . mug! [attachment=150951:lensmug.jpg]

[i]. . . . a hammer[/i] . . . . damaged in transit. Priceless

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1387953166' post='2317464'] Yes first priority is get the issue sorted. Regards to the bass. I think anyone who is going to judge you on how short or long your bass is are going to come from the same kind of people who judge musos on strap length, or if that jazz is by 'squier' or 'fender'. And as such not worth the time or effort. [/quote] Spot on. There will always be people who will judge you for your choice of bass, or amp, or cab, or haircut, or shoes or whatever. Ignore them. You're a bass player so choose the gear YOU prefer and do it YOUR way. Best of luck with getting the fingers sorted!

Wow! Total respect!