Delberthot

The absolute best tone I ever had was with a Gallien 700RB II but I don't need big, heavy gear anymore. The MB500 is pretty close, certainly closer than the 1001RB was - You had to really crank that to get the GK growl at which point was overpowering everything else on stage

We have a rare social club gig this weekend and I already know what gems we will be asked to play: Sweet Caroline Blanket on the Ground Snowbird Amarillo Jambalaya Things High Ho Silver Lining And so on I can hardly contain myself

I used Chromes for years until I discovered that they sounded terrible through the PA with my Sterling so went back to D'addario EXL165s. They were all top and no substance I got mine from Strings direct and bought single strings that were closely matched for tension. They were 45, 60, 80, 110 Prior to the Sterling I had used them on an Epi Thunderbird, Yamaha BB425 & 1025, Precision Special with PJ EMGs and probably a couple of others and they sounded amazing. Like brand new nickel strings but the sound never changed, even after a couple of years. Nice and easy on the fingers as well. Not slippery but they allowed me to play faster. It took a while to get used to the Nickel roundwounds again but they are the smoothest rounds I've ever used. Thomastiks to me are as dead as fried chicken. If you want thud then that's what to use. I tried those on an Ibanez SR1016 and fretless Stingray but sounded awful to my ears on both basses. I also tried the Steve Harris gauge of Rotosounds but just the heavier standard ones that are the same and in concert pitch they were really difficult to play but tuned down a semitone with a band I was depping with they were right on the money and sounded pretty bright but not quite as bright as the Chromes. That was using my Warmoth 54 single coil precision as well which was never the brightest sounding of basses.

If you want something that sounds like a Stingray - get a Sterling I've said it many times before but I could never get the Stingray tone I had in my head out of any of the 10+ Stingrays I've owned, including 20th & 30th anniversary models. I bought a Sterling last year ( The US made EBMM one, not the cheaper ranges ) and it sounds like the Stingray I've heard on many recordings. Plus generally they are lighter & they have narrower Jazz bass width necks Another bonus is that you can usually pick them up even cheaper than Stingrays secondhand.

I absolutely love playing the music I play with my wedding/function band but there isn't a single song in our vast repertoire that I would listen to at home or in the car. That seems a little unusual to me as I have a huge range of bands and artists that I enjoy listening to. My wife tells me I have a bizarre taste in music - eg I have a playlist that contains Little Richard, Motorhead, Abba, ZZ Top, Queen, Yes, Chuck Berry, Gnarls Barklay and System of a Down amongst others.

It might seem overkill to some but the Barefaced One10 and GK 500MB amp are used purely as a monitor on stage. I got the top hat thingy put in mine so that I can have it on a regular speaker stand at ear level. Means that I can have it at a decent level to hear myself but is not overpowering everything else on stage. Plus I have to say that it is the best sound I think I have ever had - possibly due to being able to hear it so clearly (?)

I'd also like to add all fretless basses. I have always loved the look and the sound on recordings but they sound dead and lack the attack that I require.

Voulez Vous is incredibly easy to turn into a rock song. Myself and our guitarists are both from rock band backgrounds so we tend to approach this song from a rock point of view and it works really well

I always loved the sound of Stingrays on record. Exactly what I wanted but every time I bought one it sounded deader than dead. +1 on the Rickenbackers. Look fantastic, I love the sound but utterly dreadful to play +1 on Jazz basses. I love the sound of these but when I play them they sound weedy and thin. Modulus Flea Bass - a huge Flea fan I had wanted one for ages. Years ago when the $:£ exchange rate was really good I bought one from the US. It was such a disappointment in terms of sound and playability Warwick Thumb NT5 - Again I had wanted one for ages but it sounded too nasaly, balanced dreadfully and just disappointing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXHJvNIFPx0

I confess to being a spanker I don't really slap but it's all part of my "the bass player is at the wrong gig" persona I've seen Stanley Clarke, Abe Laboriel Snr and Flea do it as well.

[quote name='OliverBlackman' timestamp='1507730862' post='3387568'] So nickels wear less than steels? I generally use steels so I had a set on the bass when I got it, but I was shocked at how quickly the board marked. Might be worth buying some nickels and tape wounds I guess and comparing? [/quote] The same goes for fretted basses - steel is a lot harder than nickel so will wear the frets down quicker than nickel. As with all basses I've found that different strings suit different fretless basses. TIs on a Stingray and Chromes on a Precision

[quote name='OliverBlackman' timestamp='1507667926' post='3387181'] I’ve played one and it was sublime. Not been a big fan of Musicman stingrays after having a 3eq one in the past, but this bass completely changed my opinion. The neck felt wonderfully smooth and the tone with everything flat was warm and punchy throughout. And they look stunning. [/quote] Personally I think that the ceramic pickup makes a huge difference. I've had loads of Stingrays as I love the look and am a huge Flea fan but I couldn't get mine to sound like the Stingray I heard on recordings. The solution was to get a Sterling which also has the ceramic pickup. I'm not sure I fancy the new EQ as the mid-production Stingray 5 with the Ceramic pickup to me is nigh on perfect - the only thing that made me sell mine was the weight. I had shoulder trouble a couple of years ago so sold the SR5 and bought the Sterling. I don't find it harsh at all. In fact it has the Stingray tone that I've always heard in my head but never managed to get when playing a Stingray.

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1507641265' post='3386914'] Cool. Obviously, he's better than me anyway! I guess the move to an EB0 reflected the big rock sound Cream were going for. [/quote] He had it painted all psychedelic by Dutch artists The Fool but the paint wasn't dry before they went on tour so he grabbed an EB-3 and that was that

If the bridge works and lets you intonate properly then why don't you put a bridge cover on it? When I had my Warmoth '54 precision made I fitted a Gotoh 201 bridge so that I could adjust it and a bridge cover to hide it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hftgytmgQgE

I've never tried the La Bellas but I didn't find Chromes to be low tension. I might have imagined this but are Fender strings made by D'addario? Might be an idea to look into their flats as they might be similar if they have no silks

[quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1507384924' post='3385123'] I don't really see the point in a really light weight bass head when you still have to get a cab that weighs around 30lbs ? Am I the only person to think this ? [/quote] I completely agree - Unless you have a lightweight cab then I don't see the point of a lightweight head either unless it does something that no other amp does. If I still played through a big rig then I'd have a 700RB rather than the MB500 My heaviest rig which was a Trace V-type 4x12 and 2x15 came in at 101kgs including the Gallien 1001Rb amp - My current amp & cab come in at less than 9kgs combined which is the same weight as the 1001 RB on its own

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1507393518' post='3385211'] I've gigged my Mesa 400+ through my BF Two10 with two loud guitarists and drummer in a metal/rock covers band and they asked me to turn down. The TWO10 will do the job. I also have a SIX10 and a BT2 and can confirm that the TWO10 eats it. [/quote] Do you mean you were too loud onstage or too loud out front with the Two10?

I absolutely love my One10 but would never consider gigging with even 2 of them in a rock band without a PA. If I found myself in a rock band again with no PA then the only cab I would consider in the Barefaced range would be the Big Twin II or a combination of two of the smaller 12" cabs. They are fantastic cabs and way louder than what you'd expect but 2x10"s against a rock drummer and guitarist I think would be pushing them too far

fantastic wee cabs these. I haven't had amp or cab gas since I got mine last year - plus I recently bought a VW Scirocco R so I'm screwed if I need anything bigger anyway

We do Step into Christmas by Elton John and Shakie's Merry Christmas Everyone and they always go down well. We tried the Pogues one but if you actually listen to it, it's about a minute of the cheery upbeat bit that everyone loves but the rest is depressing We used to enjoy doing Rock and Roll Christmas by Gary Glitter but you can't really get away with playing any of his stuff anymore

2 hours before I need to leave I begin to get ready - shower, shave, get changed, cook and eat dinner, sit down with a coffee then I finish off with whatever music I'm loving at the minute. I hate rushing about so if I take my time preparing I am totally relaxed for the gig. I don't think about playing until I am on stage - after 30 years that just happens by itself About to have dinner now and watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeUosbClag8

I've always played what's been needed at the time but over the years I've played 4, 5, 6, 8 & 12vers fretted - 4, 5, & 6 fretless, 4 & 5 electroacoustic, 4 string semi-acoustic and double bass.