mep

Wow, thanks for all your replies guys. Plenty of good ideas as I would expect from BC. Yeah the bass is inexpensive but not cheap in the other sense. I immediately liked this bass. I'm glad to hear they all weigh the same, and BGM have some explaining to do, if i can ever bother to get around to that! I will not hassle DJM Music about a replacement. I will admit to using an inferior strap at first. It's a Homer Simpson strap that was too long for my sons guitar so I recycled it. I will replace it with the one off my Aria for the gig on Saturday as I hope that will help somewhat. I always wear a T-shirt at a gig and will not be putting on some woolly wseater to reduce friction I do like to have a strap for each bass that stays on all the time. I once forgot to bring my strap to a TV gig and had to use my belt and have sworn never to repeat that again. I know you what you mean about the top end. I have been rolling off the treble on the tone control and have increased the lower frequencies on my TE graphic. I'm also glad to hear the supplied strings are naff. The new Roto's already sound better at home through my practice set ups. The only time I can plug into my rig is at a gig as we plug into the PA desk for practices. If it still feels like the neck is diving with a different strap I may consider adding some weight to the strap. I feel the next gig is going to be a better one.

You can also try a FatFinger clamp on the headstock.

The idea of some mass in the body void sounds a good idea. I have had the scratch plate off and there is plenty of room. I'll have to come up with something. It really is light compared to my other 3 basses. I'm more concerned with the neck dive long term than a difference in sound, which I'm hoping the change in strings will sort out to a point. This is a lovely bass to play and I just need to get it more comfortable for me. Ths high mass bridge is interesting, but will cost money. This is a cheap bass and doesn't warrant more money spent it on it IMO. Thanks for confirming you had a light one Kennyrodg. Sorry you didn't get on with it. I'll chew on it over the weekend and see what else BC throws up before getting back in touch with DJM

I recently bought a Vintage V4MTB on-line as I wanted a cheap passive bass in addition to my 2 main active bass (Charvel & Stingray). I read some reviews and this was the one to go for, especially as DJM Music were selling them for £209 and the TBM is black with a maple neck. It is a really great bass for the price and plays exceptionally well. My main issue is the weight of the body. The bass only weighs 3Kg or 8 Ibs. I really does feel light, especially when I pick up 2 basses, one in each hand. 2 reviews in BGM for the V4 both mention that this is a heavy bass with one review saying it weighs 10 Ibs, the same as a P Bass. Amazon list is as weighing 5Kg, or 11 Ibs. Not only does the neck dive but I feel it also affects the sound somewhat, especially in a live band situation. It just doesn;t have that full sound. Ok I usually use active basses, although my Aria is passive, but maybe I should not expect this to sound and feel too similar. My other basses all weigh around 5Kg. I have raised this with DJM and they have weighed the other basses they have in stock and have check with the supplier and this is what the bass weighs. They say I can have a replacement but it will weigh the same. This is their response. [i][font=Verdana][size=2]The weight of the item on Amazon is the boxed weight and this is also the weight we are given by our suppliers. Having been down to our warehouse and weighed one I can confirm that 8 lbs. is around the correct weight for this item. I also spoke to our supplier directly and they also informed me that this is the weight of the Bass. We would be more than happy to offer you a replacement but to be honest with you, they all weigh the same as the one you already have. [/size][/font][/i][i][font=Verdana][size=2]With this information provided I will be happy to hear your thoughts on the matter and if I can be of any further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me[/size][/font][/i] Does anyone have a Vintage V4 and can confirm what it weighs? Also what is it like for you gigging? In the meantime I have changed the strings to some Roto RB45's (as my Ray) and that seems to be better, but I will not be too sure untill I can gig it on Saturday. But the issue of neck dive will always be there, especially when standing up. My main use for this bass will be home practicing and band rehersals, and using it for the odd set now and again.

For all of you inspired by Pino and don't know his bassline to the first part of the song you can download my tab for it in a previous thread [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/73841-what-are-you-transcribing-at-the-moment/page__view__findpost__p__728179"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/73841-what-are-you-transcribing-at-the-moment/page__view__findpost__p__728179[/url] Enjoy

That was well worth catching up with. I really enjoyed it. Congrats to the BBC and The One Show.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1346968082' post='1795598'] Complete bollocks. Two Tribes existed as a song long before FGTH were involved with Trevor Horn and ZTT. There certainly was a version recorded with some of the Blockheads playing on it. How much of that ended up on the actual release probably only Trevor Horn and whoever did the Fairlight programming of Relax knows. The article I remember said that while the Blockheads were more accomplished musicians than Frankie, their version still didn't have the feel that Trevor Horn was after. [/quote] Thanks for putting me and probably many others right, albeit in a very subtle way

When was it broadcast? I will watch it on iPlayer.

[quote name='Paulgm1' timestamp='1346962090' post='1795482'] Agree about the tone he's getting there -like that. I thought Norman Watt Roy played on some of the FGTH stuff or is my memory making that up? [/quote] I seem to remember a mag article that stated Norm & the other session guys were jamming in the studio and 2 Tribes came from that.

We have done a few of our own arrangements of songs. Mama Mia is on example. We quiet often do covers of covers, so what does that make us?

Something around the 25 to 35W range will be fine. It's amazing what cheap new amps are available if you can't get second hand. I bought this amp second hand in the local paper. It's ok and is fine for what it is. The trolley is of course optional. [attachment=117617:Practice Amp.jpg]

A O, lost on me too. Someone please enlighten us.

You should talk about this sort of situation and all agree on a response to play for mates etc. We do a special relatives rates where we do it for free but will get some beers and possibly a taxi. Then a mate(s) rate where whoever knows the person will do it for free (usually) and the others will get around £50, with possible options of beers / taxi. Then our standard rate. Unfortunately it often takes a few uncomfortable situations before an agreed response is reached. One of our last situations which prompted us to get ourselves sorted was a wedding for a friend of the singer. He had agreed to to do it for free (didn't tell us), although there was a free bar, which we didn't know about untill we got there. We were somehow under the impression we were getting £100. Our drummer couldn't make it so we got our son who deps to do the gig instead, & who will always expect to get paid. Our guitarist said he would do it for the free bar and me & our son got £50 each. We had a great gig, some free beers and got ourselves a taxi home. I knew the couple from a regular pub we gigged at. The problem was a lack of communication on our singers part as he never confirmed what the deal was. A couple of weeks later he admitted that he paid us the £100 as he agreed a no fee gig without checking. Another situation involved our guitarist who agreed to do a wedding for £100! It was for a regular visitor to a pub we gig in. She has seen us most times, but most of us don't know her. Our singer, who is from the same town said he knows her, sort of. There was no free bar or taxis this night, and again we had to get our son to dep. So, again, me & our son got £50 and the other 2 got nowt. Our guitarist admits he is highly embarresed by it all and thought she was a friend of the band so blurted out a low price without checking with the rest of us. So we have sorted out our fees and responses to avoid this happening again. I will only pay for free if I am related to that person or if they are a relative of the band, otherwise get your wallet out. Min £50, max £100 depending on type of gig.

These are my 4 basses. From left to right, and in order of purchase. Charvel 2B, Aria Pro 2 SB-600 fretless, Musicman Stingray, Vintage V4MTB. [attachment=117048:Basses On Sofa.jpg]

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1346185319' post='1786322'] He's the editor of Bass guitar magazine, not Bass Player. Edit: Would be good to read his thoughts though! [/quote] Opps, good pickup thanks. I have reduced my mag buying lately and I have not bought Bass Player or Q for a while.

Joel McIver, the new editor, has recently joined BassChat and may repsond to this thread. He came in with quite a flurry of responses initially, but I don't know how active he is at the moment.

Let's not forget Michae lAndrew "Duff" McKagan Nikki Sixx, born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna, Jr

Metronomy have made Torbay famous with their album The English Riviera. Now just round the corner up the coast is Teignmouth where I have heard a rather well know trio come from.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1345206790' post='1774968'] I seem to remember seeing this clip in some other context on Basschat, but I watched it again recently and was struck by what a great example of what is to me the archetypal Stingray sound . The full-bore attack of this bass allied to the superb skills of the guy who's playing it.makes every note punch through the mix on this performance.: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egwel8tQPg8[/media] [/quote] Thanks for posting. That is one awesome sound and a great take on the original bassline. This whole arrangement really works well. Who is the guy on bass?

I miss my first decent bass which was Jap Jodee P Bass copy in black with a maple neck - The classic look. It also played and sounded great. It was nicked and it felt ages before I got another decent bass. I have been the proud owner of a EB MM Stingray for many years and and am quite happy with it (sorry to rub it in).

I assume you have read the fixes to the MM pup for this problem? I had the same problem and fixed it really quickly and my Ray plays and sounds the biz. The trick is to push the G string pup pole pieces in so they are flush with the main pup and then you can raise that end of the pup up so it is closer to the G string and you do not catch your fingers on them as they do tend to stick out a bit. It's worth a go before forking out cash on a replacement.

Our band detunes to Eb, and one other band in the past has as well. For us it's to help with the vocals, and it works.

I have had my MM 2 band eq Ray for about 12 years. At the time I wasn't looking for a new bass as I had 3 (Charvel, P-Bass & Aria SB) A collegue at work asked if I wanted a bass. I said not really, but what is it.?When he said it was a MM Ray I said that's interesting, and he let me borrow it for a while. I fell in love and it's my main bass. He has since bought another one to replace the one he sold to me. I can't imaginge not having it. A bass playing friend of our son (who plays drums) came round recently and our son let him try my Ray out. He has played a lot of basses and said it was the best thing he's played. So there you go 2 positive endorsements for the price of 1.