rwillett

Hi, I'm looking for a simple iOS based app that plays simple drum beats that I can to practise along to. I looked on the Aplle App Stire and found dozens of apps that claim to be easy to use, fantasic value, etc etc. However being a simple and cynical git, I'd much rather talk to people who know more than me and ask them (thats basicaly the whole world minus my dog then). I'm not looking for a drum machine or for anything that requires me programming patterns or anything complex. All I want is a simple range of beats (probably around blues, rock or similar), that I can run from my iPad and works alomg side Bias Fx 2. Drum Beats+ looks very good, but I can't work out if it will work alongside other stuff running. Any recommendations or advice greatfully received. Thanks for reading Rob

I brought a ProSonus box so I could attach my bass to my MacBook. I use a projector stand to hold the Macbook but I was unhappy with how the AudioBox didn't really have a steady position. I do a lot of 3d printing for astrophotography so thought there must be a decent way to hold the AudioBox to the stand and came up with this design Here's the stand with a simulated AudioBox in it. and here's the holder and two dedicated clamps to fix it to the projector stand. Not too shabby for an evening of design and 11 hours of printing. next job might be a 3d printed guitar for daughter (not a bass as the tension would probably be too much for 3d printed parts). https://blog.prusa3d.com/the-prusacaster-how-to-design-and-3d-print-an-electric-guitar_71962/ Thanks Rob

As a second opinion would involve a minimum of a three hour round trip or more likely two x three hour round trips, it's not a feasible option.

So the El Cheapo Precision Bass Clone came back from Promenade Music in Morecombe. Big thumbs up to Gary who was exceptionally nice and helpful and didn't make me feel like a complete prat when I asked him stupid questions. Basically the neck/body will not take the tension that the flatwounds put on it. he tried shimming and other stuff and at the end of the day he said it wasn't worth the effort to fix it. He didn't try to flog me another guitar or upsell me anything at all, which was nice. He charged me £25 and that included new non flatwound strings and the neck adjusted for the new strings. Absolutely nothing to argue about at that price and almost seemed embarrased wiith that as he said he didn;t do a great deal. Simply talking to him was worth that TBH. I did have a look at a few other bass guitars in the basement, but thankfully the Chief Financial Controller rang and told me to it was my turn to walk the dog along the promenade, so walked away and didn't spend any money. I know who's in charge and its not me. Also GAS is under control if you exclude a Fender Jazz, new laptop stand, ProSonus input box, some cables, Apple Mainstage, Guitar Pro 8 and bass lessons with a nice bloke in Sedbergh. It plays very nice still, but nowhere near as nice as the Fender Jazz to which I am becoming rather attached. Rob

One Fender Jazz, MIJ, Lake Placid. Really nice to play. My 16yr old daughter said that is a "sick guitar" when she saw it. I am led to believe that means she likes it, but what do I know.... Took the El Cheapo Precision Bass Clone to Promenade Music to look at the neck. Spent last 72 hours gently tweaking the truss rod, they reckon it needs a shim, but no damage done so far. <phew> Rob

Printing specific sized gauges is pretty easy to be honest. Its easy enough to accomodate the curve of the neck, so a gauge can be specific to a neck shape. I assume that it is a regular arc of a curve. Once you have that, making a dozen at 0.1mm height intervals is a quick change in the design program. The image below is for an neck curve at 12" and is 20 degrees of the arc and is far too big TBH. Thats 31min on my printer, at very high accuracy. Easy to slip that under the string and see if it fits.

Thanks for this. I've had a quick look at the fender guide, really interesting. One thing that I did think about is once I get the cheapo clone sorted is to 3D print height gauges that are just right. We can print to 0.05mm high, though I suspect thats a bit of marketing flannel, and its more likely 0.07 to 0.08mm tolerance. I know that 0.1mm is certainly doable as I've measured that on a regular basis. 0.1-0.2mm might be all thats needed anyway. Food for thought, but not for this weekend. Rob

Paulo, We're now into advanced stuff I'm slowly reducing tension, tightening the truss rod and then after an hour (as I'm flat out at work, around a day later TBH) or so, I'll retune and see what its like. Slowly, slowly, catchee monkey. I also have to confess that I brought a second hand Fender Jazz bass yesterday. Circa 2000 MIJ model, I went in for a few plectrums and stayed for around two hours trying things out. It was such a good setup and so much fun, that it seemed a shame not to. The neck was beautful to use, it just worked for me. The tones were great as well. I tried every bass they had and just kept coming back to the Fender. In the end it was a choice between a cheap bass (which was very, very good) and the Jazz which was brilliant. The Jazz has some scuffs on it, but it wssn't too expensive. So I now have a Westfield El Cheapo Precision Bass Clone (WECPBC) (which is going to have the pickups replaced, once I get the neck sorted out) and the Fender Jazz. Somewhat surprisingly the Chief Financial Officer wasn't too bothered when I told her, suspect this means she's secretly spent even more than I did I'll keep this thread updated with my slow progress on the WECPBC as well. Thanks Rob

Thanks for this. The flatwounds are significantly thicker than the originals. I'll check the nut, the bridge looks OK. I'll also check the neck bolts. No issues with going back to basics, thats how I'll learn.

If you think GAS is bad here, check out the astronomers and what they get into Some of them are well into $200,000 mounts (thats the bit the telescope sits on), $50,000 scopes (and that's not that high end) and cameras that are only $10,000. Some of the photography sessions might take 30-40 days at 2-3 hours per night. Now thats obsessive. I'm lucky that I live in a part of the world where 100% cloud cover can go on for weeks, so absolutely no point in me spending a lot as it will sit in the garage. So long as I keep telling myself that, I'll be fine. Just to be clear, I do not spend that sort of money on astronomy, you need to be a US lawyer or US dentist, or have shares in a UK oil company to spend that money. Rob

Thanks, wasn't aware of that section. Rob

I might have a look in the FS section, keep my credit card away from it though.....

Thanks for the information on the strings and tension, thats quite a lot to me. Oddly enough thats more or less what I did for winding the strings up. Sheer chance though. One Westone 1A Thunder and one El Cheapo Westfield Precision Bass Clone with relaxed strings. I pulled the Westone out of the attic after enjoying playing the ECWPBC so much. Still no better on it than I was before though I don't actually live in a bed sit, we borrowed the mattress at Xmas for guests and have still to return it... Thanks Rob

Thanks all.

PaulThePlug (some great names on here), Glad to hear this is not unusual, I was very worried TBH. Thankfully this is not an expensive guitar, but I have messed around with a friends Fender Precision and I'm sure that somebody far more sklled than myself would notice the difference, my El Cheapo Fender Precision Clone didn't feel that much worse. The action did (until I cocked it up) feel very low and for me it was fine. I was playing about with Garageband and just feeling my way around what I could do and I was struggling to justify buying a better guitar as my skills didn't warrant it. I live in a small village called Clapham in North Yorkshire. Its between Settle and Kirkby Lonsdale, if anybody is local and wants to have a look, I'll get the pizza's and beers in from La Traviatta in Ingleton. Thanks Rob

The old strings were not flats. I now know the difference as I pulled them out the bin The new Rotosounds feel easy to play to be honest, my fingers were slightly overshooting where they needed to be as I moved up and down the neck. I hadn't realised the bass strings had such different tensions, now I know. Its always good to learn and I'm very happy to try new things out. I hadn't realised basses needed setup overtime. As I live in North Yorkshire, the weather is constant, it's always raining and it's always cold Allen keys are not an issue I have good tools like that as my father used to sell quality tools and I have built up a decent collection of Wera kit. Not quite Snap-On league, but good german stuff. I actually have all the other stuff as well as I have a side business doing 3d printing for astrophotography. The only issue is knowing what to do and how to do it, thats the bit I'm lacking, but I'll have a look at the various sites and see if I can make it work. I've also got in touch with a bloke in Leeds, Beej Guitars, and if I'm not keen on the DIY route, I'll drop it off there. Thanks Rob

I'll have a look at the site. I did glance down the nexk and see a large amount of fluff on what I am assuming is an allen key hole. Thanks Rob

Thanks for the information. My sample set is two sets of bass strings and one of those was trashed. Playing the new strings feels great, but I have no experience to base this on anything else. I am unclear what Roto 40-100 means, but I suspect this is the thickness of the strings? if I replaced the current (and new ones) with thinner and less high tension ones, I think I would still need the truss rod sorted out? is that correct? Thanks Rob

Paolo85, Thanks for the reply. I am aware of the truss rod as I also have an old Westone 1A guitar, however I have never adjusted one and am wary of touching things like that. I have no issues with paying someone to sort this out for me, I do happen to be in Leeds on Weds so will see if I can make an appointment for a 'tune' there. Leeds is still 90 mins away and Morecombe (Promenade Music) is about an hour away. I'll have a look at the end of the truss rod and see what it looks like. If it's an allen key or nut, I'll have the right tool and will see if this is something I could learn to do. From a playing point of view, the flatwounds feel great, however this is based on a sample set of two sets of strings, so is not statistically significant. I'm learning fast, so appreciate the help, Rob

Thanks for the reply, I wouldn't know. They feel a lot smooth than the old ones, but my knowledge of bass strings is limited to eight of them, the old ones and the new ones and the old ones are in the bin now. Sorry to be vague, I am learning fast. Rob

Hi, Been reading for some weeks and taken the time to join. I live between Settle and Ingleton in North Yorkshire with my partner, two growing girls, a border collie/poodle cross, two rescue cats and a large energy bill. I know what worries me the most. Played the acoustic guitar for years, but just for fun and by myself, I know my limitations Got given a cheap Westfield Precision Bass clone and discovered I really, really enjoy playing bass. I'm still not much better, but I really like it. Going from a six string to a four string was a lot easier than I thought. I work in IT and projct management, rescuing complex projects that have gone wrong, so I have no problems getting work (sadly) If you are looking for a bassist with little music ability around Settle, Kirkby Lonsdale, Skipton, but with lots of enthusiasm, let me know. I am also looking for a face to face paid teacher. Thanks Rob

Hi, First time post and pretty much a comple bass idiot, so please be gentle I was given a cheap Westfield bass guitar my FIL found in the loft at Xmas, its basically an el cheapo Fender Precision copy and belonged to another relative who went to live in New Zealand. Its probably 10-15 years old, in good nick though apart from the strings. I have played guitar before but never bass and as a six string guitarist would put myself in the ambitious, but ultimately talentless, category. I had no aspirations to be a guitar hero as I knew my limitations and they were numerous However after playing this cheap bass, it suddenly felt good and I've been practising every day, sometimes for an hour or more if work allows me. I am now slightly less talentless than before, but still have no dreams about being a new John Paul Jones, John Entwistle or Phil Lynott. As I said before, the bass is in decent nick, but the strings were trashed. So over the weekend I replaced them with a set of "Rotosound Standard Gauge Flatwound Bass Strings (45 65 85 105), RS77LD" according to the packaging. The shop said they were good enough for Phil Lynott, so who am I to argue? I have now seen that the action around the 12 fret is quite a bit higher than before, so I am assuming that the new strings have pulled the neck up and raised the action. I'm 99% certain that the neck was lower before and it was easier to play around the 12th fret. I also noted that when I opened the new strings, I thought they were thicker than before. I changed the strings one at a time and used a tuner to get them set right. I'm now worried that I've damaged the neck and not sure what do now. I live in North Yorkshire a long way from anywhere so don't have the luxury of popping into a local guitar shop and checking things out. I've released the tension on the strings but unclear what my next stapes are. Any and all advice welcomed please. Thanks Rob