ARGH

Yeah the 'Normo's' need to be told.

[quote name='zigmondo' post='335463' date='Nov 24 2008, 01:45 PM']That's it then, I'm sorted now: I'll just ask Rob G. for a retro in MDF with a fotoflame QMT. No tonal difference between 18mm and 23mm you reckon? [/quote] Being a Status,ANYTHING would be an improvement.

[quote name='Josh' post='335523' date='Nov 24 2008, 02:37 PM']Tasty .[/quote] The only beef Ive got is its in drop C,Im not a massive fan on drop tuning ,coz It reminds me of grunge,and that lazy crap in 92 that was called music back then,but thats my problem,I'll get over it... But C isnt really that cool for a 110 set,C sharp yes,but in C the E string is a bit 'wet noodle',I could just stop moaning and buy a light 5 string set and tune up,but Im a tightwad and I cant be bothered setting up and getting the neck settled for friday night.

[quote name='Josh' post='335511' date='Nov 24 2008, 02:27 PM']That's because your the Anti-Christ remember? I have a question though, is it metal?[/quote] Yep. Both barrells and a bit of nasty to boot.

[quote name='casapete' post='335512' date='Nov 24 2008, 02:28 PM']Hey mate, less of the slagging off GK and Trace stuff-will be still sounding good years after all the Mark Bass/digital stuff etc has been binned! Often a good idea if you have to use someone elses gear to have a graphic or bass driver pedal with you, then you can just plug in and not worry about messing around with their settings too much-works for me![/quote] I wouldnt pollute my ears with a digi amp,its plastic breakdown crap,and the above are just tinny and undergurth for me,I hate Clean-o-Tone slapola 80s stuff,no meat in the sandwich..was great for the time,but that times passed. ..I keep a sansamp around for the purpose as you say,your sound,just using anothers gear as volume.

[quote name='mcgraham' post='335495' date='Nov 24 2008, 02:14 PM']ARGH, out of interest, are you near Mansfield/Nottingham area? Mark[/quote] Nah..way up further..Castleford...West Yorks...A1..see Ferrybridge Powerstation,turn left on M62,stay left,get to Ponte/Cas Junction and go under and right. Why'd you ask? No-one asks me anything anymore,I just spout my wisdom at all and sundry.....

Was gonna ask,what the general etiquitte on gear at these gigs,coz half hour sets and a wagon of gear...? It dont seem worth it,but I hate borrowing peoples sh*t,case I blow it up or its utter crap (GK/some old Trace/underpowered 70s fart rigs..y'know we've all been there!!) I wanna take my stack,but I dont want to bogart the stage space,and wanna give venue staff a night in the easy street. Its weird playing for so short a space in time onstage as well.....

[quote name='OldGit' post='335479' date='Nov 24 2008, 01:58 PM']Webley stadium? Blige I want a bullet proof vest as well then[/quote] Man..That'll be a tough gig if the crowd aint happy.

[quote name='Adrenochrome' post='335458' date='Nov 24 2008, 01:41 PM']Who you playing with then and who are the headliners? (If you don't wanna say then let me know if the headline band is local or not and I should be able to work it out)[/quote] You know if I told you ,I know it would just filter out to ALL the ROTN...and thats a rumormill if there ever was one.... The irony is Ive just got into this group,and only now ..like 3 months later do the calls and texts of.."Saw your ad.." come through,its a weird world,cant get a gig and all the rest of the functions guys get one in a breeze,and me all on my Jack Jones... Whats local? Mansfield? if yes then thats local....

I liked the active 5 string (AVB??) and they made a really good passive MAB 5 string too.

First 'Originals' gig in...say....god...hang on....I dont have enough strings or fingers...gimme a sec.... sh*t...12 years.....And I didnt even write the Lines,I just joined,and then we aint gigging till...say..March time. SO Im still playing unpaid covers...ha. Im nervous too (a damn good sign) the headline acts playing their 1st gig with original lineup in their hometown for the 1st time in 20 years.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='335431' date='Nov 24 2008, 01:16 PM']Nah, bring it. Its the f***ers with 4 guitars for 30 mins on a wednesday night.[/quote] I swear that sh*t is penis compensation,"OH LOOK WHAT IVE GOT" type crap,I can be accused of the same,but at least I play my aircraft carrier. And just because it says Ampeg dosent mean its good!

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='335396' date='Nov 24 2008, 12:38 PM']I usually just use the house amp. If there isn't one (and given the venues we play, there almost always is) I'll ask nicely. I'm a plug in a play kinda guy, so I won't even adjust their amp, so its not as if they have to f*** around eq'ing when they get up to play. Also, i f***ing hate these f***ers who clog up the stage with every bit of kit they've ever purchased. Its the Bull and Gate in Kentish Town, not Webley Stadium.[/quote] YEP YEP YEP...you dont need 4+ guitars for a 30 mins set,or a full stack in a tiny pub. BUT I dont want to borrow gear...ever! Am I a cnut for bringing my rig as a support band member?

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='335353' date='Nov 24 2008, 11:15 AM']I do know what you mean. I sometimes think that, for me, a heavy bass gives an sense of quality and commitment (bit like the 'clunk' of a heavy car door). I have never actually considered the Wal to be a partucularly heavy bass but, at 6' 1'' and 16 stone, I guess that this is relative![/quote] Not always,Ive tried those buttheavy Deleo Schecters and old 80s Hamers...Even a Kramer Alu-neck,and from when Ive picked up a Wal... in perticular the MKII's its like been given a level playing field,you aint having to battle anything,like a 'no problem' pragmatism.

[quote name='chris_b' post='335347' date='Nov 24 2008, 11:00 AM']I had two identical basses, both with a Mahogany core. One had Olive Ash facings and had a thinner, brighter sound with more middle and less bass tones. The other had American Walnut facings. This bass had a deeper, fuller, fatter, bassier tone. So in my experience that little bit of wood on the front and back of a bass can dramatically alter the sound of the instrument. They were both Wal 5 string basses. I had several conversations about tone with Pete Stevens and his opinion was that the wood altered the tone. That was also my experience.[/quote] Change the P/U's and the sound would change totally....Get the same combo of wood from a different supply,and you would have a different sound again I also have it on record,in print,from Pete Stevens,that when Mick Karn would wander in for a service (and this was a rebuttle for people dying to cop the Karn Tulipwood top tone) That "Any Bass Mick picks up just sounds like him,it dosent matter what instrument he plays". So dont worry yourself about weather 'A' wood sounds nice,just make it strong,stable,and goodlooking as a bonus and thats all you need to worry about.

Is it just me Bilbo,But they 'feel'....they induce confidence?

It would sound quiet until you put the P/U's in. Then you would get the 'sound',it isnt the wood at all.

[quote name='YouMa' post='335322' date='Nov 24 2008, 10:13 AM']They do sound great but am i the only one who thinks they are quite ugly? (reminds me of a tank for some reason)[/quote] Agreed,I think they are pigawful,but like the Gumpert on Top Gear,its does its job AMAZINGLY. Wals are workhorses.

Ive played and hunted for Wal's for years,and the price hike has been going on for at least 5-6 years. This is my mind playing tricks Im sure,but they feel solid,like a P Bass,like a weapon,you know there is EVERY tone under the wood,in those pots,and it takes careful dialling ,but they are there.... And they can take the road,unlike Alembics or Gretch's. Its probably one of 3 instrument makers that in my mind live up to the hype.. The only con I can think of is that they are bitch heavy,but they were designed for studio use in mind in perticular the MKII's. They do have a 'Woah' factor too...yep they are that good. For what you get,I would say 3k is the top limit in reality for a 2 P/U 4 string with really fancy electrics and build quality,but as always the law of supply & demand come into play.

[quote name='OldGit' post='335294' date='Nov 24 2008, 09:14 AM']Sounds interesting ... What recording gear do you need to do this?[/quote] A Bass...A DI etc

In BIG cities it can be totally impractical to ALL bring amps,ok you just cant assume you can use whoevers head and cab,but in the realm of fast fast changeover showcase gigs and general space..its completely impractical.... SO I bring a decent DI. Ok so I get that we dont all play in New York or LA and the Rat & Parrot in Tenby is a zillion miles away from Albert Hall pit work and doublebooked bassists land...AND I STILL LIVE BY the principal of I paid for it so f*** off,or ask nicely and I might consider it...say 48 hrs notice and I might let you look at my gear,even imagine how good it sounds,but dont think its your right to plug in and destroy. No excuse to not bring your instrument,or extra strings,cables etc...get an ammo box and fill it with spares and dont forget 9v batteries.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='328743' date='Nov 13 2008, 11:07 PM']I change the batteries in the Status basses anually. They're not dead by that point by any means, but it makes sure I never go distorted or dead on a gig! People have said that the Yamaha TRB's use a lot of power, but I use mine a lot for shows & jazz jobs. Again, the batteries seem to last for a very long time. On the plus side (geddit?!), I'm doing a week of "Anything Goes" this week & the engineer gave me a whole box of part used 9v batteries. (They use them for one night only in the radio mics! So they're only slightly used.) Rich.[/quote] Do you get a weird 'Whistley' noise on Yammies when the actives are just about to die?

Thats SATAN-O-PHONIC!

[quote name='5_string_death' post='328686' date='Nov 13 2008, 09:48 PM']Wow, thanks for all the replies guys, its really been helpful. I think I probably will buy the ESP, because I can adjust to just about anything, even 5 string Warwicks with the big neck profiles. If I see anything on here for a similar price thats a 6er then I probably will buy it. Thanks for all your advice guys, been a great help. Zach[/quote] Just warm up before playing,the W I D E - O neck can feel weird at first.

My old thrown together Status/homemade Bass would take 2 years,and that was a 18v...My EMG'd fretless is the same...saying that my old 9v Ibanez from 84 like a fresh one once a year,but I often just run that in Passive mode. I prefer 18v circuits,just do,I just feel more confident with them,though onstage...its psycological superstition on my part methinks.