RockfordStone

if you are dabbling in recording, get a license of reaper. its cheap as chips and is a really good intro into home recording

i don't like playing too loud, but usually dictated by the drummer and guitarist. i wear ear plugs all the time these days, whether it's playing gigs or watching them.

all at once for me, and i clean the neck polish the bass etc. i probably change my main bass every 3 months as i don't like the bright sound but don't like it when they sound dead. other basses maybe every 6 months if they need it.

never had any issues with them, one time the sent me the wrong item and it was replaced the very next day. can't fault them.

i guess it depends on your availability and commitments. if you are only available weekends and you already have gigs on friday saturday and sunday then there is no space for anything else. i am available 7 days a week, and around here i could get a gig or practice on any night of those weeks. my wifes work schedule is such that i don't see much of her in the week, and as such if i wanted i could probably play in multiple bands using the full week. i don't however because i find getting people committed to one band is a mission in itself, let alone more than one

gigging is my main aim, i do everything else just to reach those 25-45 minutes of stage time. recording i love doing, i find practicing a drag a lot of the time unless it is geared towards a gig or recording session.

i can't offer direct advice, but when my amp went i searched a local repairer and he fixed it for me. unless its under warranty i'd find a local guy who can do it. will probably be less hassle

sam smith is pretty "meh" anyway imo

had it on in the car the other day... its not rubbish, but it doesn't stand out as anything special to me

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1442994176' post='2871154'] With a .ca domain? That doesn't stand for "California". [/quote] they way he talks says words like "about" would make me believe he is canadian

talkbass only managed 8 pages.. think they saw sense earlier than we did

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1442334790' post='2866161'] Everyone justifies the purchase of something before they buy it, unless they have some kind of habitual purchasing habit. [/quote] i don't mean to be rude milty, but every time someone says something you have a contradictary response for it, its akin to a child saying "but why?" to everything his parents say. the simple truth is we are human, and we have human nature and will. we play what we want, regardless of where we play it. we don't need to justify it to ourselves. if we want it and can afford it then there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't play an expensive instrument down the dog and duck, regardless of whether the crowd notices or not. how long is this thread going to keep going in circles?

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1442333003' post='2866133'] So you don't justify your purchases (to yourself) before you buy? That seems a bit strange. [/quote] why should you need to justify something to yourself? if you wan't it you buy it, unless you can't afford it then you don't? or am i thinking too simply?

after my band split up i stopped playing for a while, save for some noodling at home. when i got back in a room with other musicians it was like i hadn't played bass before. i think there is an element of what sportsman refer to as match fitness. its ok to practice at home but i think if you have time away from playing with other people you lose a bit of sharpness.

[quote name='CH161' timestamp='1441841857' post='2862328'] +1 Get the right strings on this VI for a start. I have a 1965 with the right - heavy - strings. La Bella's. It can be set up like a normal guitar with no issues. [/quote] i had originally tired a set of specific strings for it from d'addario and found the e string to be the issue. in the end i put a new set of d'addario's on with a seperate string for the low E. this with a shim and flipping the bridge has made a massive difference to both intonation and playability. i have gone from wanting to sell it to enjoying playing it now.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1441723652' post='2861214'] FACE A is a bit of a funny name for an album isn't it? [/quote] Testpressungen is a good band name tho

not totally taken with this album. some good songs on it, much better than their last one tho which i couldn't even finish. not overly keen on the production, sounds weak and some songs feel like they have been cut and pasted together.

i haven't got it on vinyl but i did think that the production was a bit off. seemed to me to lack balls, and the bass was quite clanky and the guitars seemed low in the mix. i also noticed that some of the section changes in the songs seemed very clinical. almost like they had been recorded in sections then slotted together. could just be me tho.

i have shimmed the neck and flipped the bridge which has made the world off difference. i am going to restring it with a single .095 string at the bottom E. if this doesn't work for me i will just set it back to normal and sell it. i don't use it enough to be spending money on new trems and bridges. thanks for the responses tho

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1441587724' post='2860090'] A lot of bands still like the "wall of amps" look, but use rack mounted amps for handiness, so then they just use replica heads and cabs on the stage that are actually hollow. [/quote] I think that is more to do with the overall show aspect of it and filling a big stage. a band at wembley stadium for example would look a bit naff if they turned up and had a a small amps and 2x10/12's on a big stage.

[quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1441565429' post='2859898'] Yes, there is the PA option, but if it's a small pub gig with a vocal only PA and you have a stroppy singer who isn't keen on putting a bass through his 12" cabs.... [/quote] well if he wants the gig to happen he'll have to also, quite often you share cabs with other people, so i'm sure if you're amp died one of the bassists would lend you theirs for a pint

not got this one yet, but i have heard a lot of positive reviews of it

[quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1441564407' post='2859879'] I find it quite interesting that lots of people think it necessary to take a spare (quality or otherwise) bass to a gig, but very few have said they take a spare amp. I'd be much more worried about an amp breaking than a bass (even one of my cheap, crap ones) Especially as the advice dished out on here in every "which amp?" thread is always "buy second hand, you'll get much more for your money" So, many of the people who only use expensive basses because they're more "reliable" quite often advise others to buy second hand amps... [/quote] I used to carry a spare amp, but thought it was over indulgent. i do have a sansamp so i would run that through a PA if i had a big failure

asking for individual songs would be expected for a wedding, but to reinterpret them into a funk style.... surely you'd be asking for a funk band to play your wedding? i suppose you would be within your rights to ask for additional fee's as you are going over and above your standard service... if i asked a company to paint a bass or car a colour that wasn't standard i'd expect to be charged extra, don't think a functions band should be expected to act any differently. if you are desperate for the gig suck it up, but if you can take or leave it i'd ask for a fee adjustment

i played a gig once and my nut snapped. i had no spare bass. i now play gigs with 2 basses, 1 will be played, one will be at the side of the stage. both are more expensive than they need to be for the venues i play, but that's my choice.