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msb
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Everything posted by msb
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Welcome , I’ve been mostly using short scales for some years now and have acquired about a dozen of them , but I’ve hung on to the older long scales for now. I’ve got some classics and don’t want to part with them. They still bring me joy.
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Welcome! There’s a strong chance of becoming a gear nerd hanging around here. That’s not such a bad thing.
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Well over forty years now , hard to believe. First I had a cheap Zen-On guitar that had bass strings. I was asked to audition for a touring band (local circuit) and nobody else turned up at the audition , so I got the spot and needed to find a bass fast. A friend sold me a slightly used 72 Pbass and I was off. For many years it was the only bass I had. Today I have a medium sized pile of them and have come to prefer short scales. So I often bring a Dano Longhorn to gigs , often accompanied by a UniVox HiFlyer. I seem to gig with cheap basses and nice amps. At home I seem to use a pair of Gibsons the most , either the SG or a LesPaul Jr Tribute. I do try and put some time on the others.
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I was using mine in blues bands , so I was up around snare drum levels , and up there uprights start to sound quite electric. Usually strung with Spirocores , I use a magnetic pickup that attaches to the fingerboard and a bridge peizo. They go to a preamp/mini mixer and then into an amp. Usually a little Bergantino. It’s much easier to just plug in an electric bass. And there are ways to emulate an upright feel with an electric. But some leaders want upright. Since the last pandemic closures and openings I’ve noticed I seem to be dragging the upright around less.
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Post your pictures, Lets see what you all look like.
msb replied to slaphappygarry's topic in General Discussion
I love the look of those Talmans. I dropped a Tbird pickup in mine. -
For years an old Pbass was everything I needed. And then I started adding another here and there. Now I’ve got twenty something , and appreciate that some are different. At some point I’ll trim things , but I still enjoy what I have. There’s really only a couple I’d really have any interest in selling.
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Welcome Rosie. Uprights are a joy to play , and a misery to lug around. How are you amplifying yours ?
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The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!
msb replied to Baloney Balderdash's topic in Bass Guitars
I’d love a more traditional take on a short scale Tbird. Even a shortscale Epi Pro model. -
An old friend that’s been living in Paris is back for a visit and a jam was organized. Unfortunately his daughter has come down with something and they are quarantined. So he was a no show for the party. I’m hoping he might be free Sunday for our regular gig in the old blues dive downtown. Fingers are crossed. The venue was once an old stone church that’s been converted to an Arts Center. Very boomy acoustics , an old friend that organized the jam supplied the night’s back line. An Aguilar TH700 powering a couple of Markbass cabs. Not the best sounding room for any amp.
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What a gorgeous old room!
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I initially bought this on kijiji as a giggle. The HoTone Thunderbass. Now when I’m learning material I often go to YouTube and play along/write up a chart. I can plug a tablet into the HoTone along with headphones and a bass , silent study. I actually use it a lot. But there’s cables everywhere …
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The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!
msb replied to Baloney Balderdash's topic in Bass Guitars
The Jr is quite different from most Gibson basses , they simply dropped a single humbucker in the classic sweet spot. So it behaves like a short scale set neck Pbass might. I love the two knob simplicity. I’m an old Pbass guy. They are great little basses. It does have a cheap finish. And many do not care for the bridge. I have always been able to set a 3point exactly where I want to , but I have replaced three of them with Hipshots. I just think they look better (if I can be allowed to be that shallow) , but they’re much easier to palm mute , and certainly much more precise to adjust. I still have left a 3point on an older Rumblekat. They are said to be no longer in production and yet they remain on the Gibson website. And I hope they will do more runs of them. -
The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!
msb replied to Baloney Balderdash's topic in Bass Guitars
Those 3 point bridges lift in the back only when you drop the nose too far , they’re fine as long as you don’t drop the nose. -
The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!
msb replied to Baloney Balderdash's topic in Bass Guitars
What all did you do to the Jr? -
The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!
msb replied to Baloney Balderdash's topic in Bass Guitars
The Jr is easily one of my favourite basses. -
The assorted stuff our better halves will have to dispose of is rather frightening. The accumulation is something.
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And for many years my GK MB150 combo was the perfect home practice rig , but as the in-law practice rig was upgraded some of those items moved home , and the MB150 was replaced with the Ampeg 210 and GK MB200. A great little rig. That was replaced with the Aguilar stuff though. That might be overkill , but it really does sound wonderful at a quiet practice volume.
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I keep my gigging rig totally separate , so I’m not forgetting cords or tuners or whatnot. And each practice setup totally self contained. So I can simply sit down , flip a switch , and I’m good to go. I was interesting how the practice rig at the in-laws has evolved. At first I thought I just needed an amp , and something cheap and small would be ideal. I picked up a Fender Rumble 15 , and discovered that I was used to hearing nice tone. The Rumble sucked. Awful tone. First I snagged a little GK MB200 , a lucky find , it was exactly what I was looking for. Beautiful little amp. Initial cab was a Traynor 212 … too big , replaced with an Ampeg 210AV , that was replaced with a Phil Jones C2. Paid too much for that but I do use it daily. And the MB was replaced by the Darkglass e500. There’s also a headphone amp there for silent practice. So that rig evolution took some time. And may well change again. But for now is an ideal , and funky little rig.
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I’m a little nerdy about amps , and there’s a bunch I’d like to get my mitts on. for gigs mostly use a Bergantino Forte as a back end , and use Monique , a tube preamp as the front end. and Bergantino cabs HDN 112 & 210. A nice compact powerful modular rig. It will run clean hifi to a lovely old school tube thump. I often just need a single cabs for mid sized rooms. backup stage power is a GenzBenz Streamliner that agedhorse checked out. It runs like a brand new amp. And is a classic . home practice Aguilar TH350 with an Aguilar SL112 also have a practice rig at the inlaw’s as we look after my mother-in-law Phil Jones C2 mini cab with a Darkglass e500 and a Hotone ThunderBass for headphone practice , can also accept a tablet … great silent rig and spares for now GK MB 200 sometimes used as a rehearsal rig with an Ampeg 210AV SWR HeadLite an ancient GK MB150 combo , still a great little combo I’ve been meaning to pick up some Mesa power one of these days … I watch kijiji like a hawk. Herself doesn’t want me to bring any more cabs in the house , but amps and basses are still ok.
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That is pointy. (somebody has to simply state the obvious)
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It’s ironic how a solitary pursuit becomes public performance. I’m thankful that I just worry about personal gear , I don’t worry about moving PA , band gear , or rentals. I’ve always been gigging , aside from the pandemic breaks , since the mid 70’s , and keep my gig gear by the door. So the first question is one cab or two , and fire the stuff in the car. Will I use a different bass or just run the regulars ? I rarely play outside of town so I’m going to expect to see some I’ve known for ages. I’ll probably meet some new ones. Some will look familiar. I mostly play the mid sized rooms downtown. Just a working stiff. No big star. If it’s a band that’s under rehearsed I might have some anxiety. That usually goes quickly after things get underway. There is something different about every time you play. And after all these years I still enjoy a good gig,
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The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!
msb replied to Baloney Balderdash's topic in Bass Guitars
It was the joy to play that got me , and so I bought some more short scales. And then began to realize that that’s what I was now mostly playing. So I have some vintage classic basses that are not getting much playing time. I just can’t see the point in selling them though because I certainly appreciate what they are. -
The SL cabs have a very pronounced mid range. Sometimes at home I give it a good scoop , it’s still a nice thick sound at quiet volume.
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I don’t miss the early mornings after the late nights either.
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That’s lovely , Andy! The trad scene is very much alive in NS.
