BottomE

what? pardon?

I really look after my instruments but will buy a bass with dings as long as they are superficial.

This is a hot topic for me. We have a singer with 2 saxes a flute and a keyboard and a guitartist with a pedal board the size of a small planet. Square footage on a small stage is prime real estate in my band. As a punter looking at the stage i would be on the left normally - singer in the middle and guitarist on the right. We also run a first come first served policy if there are enough plug sockets meaning whoever gets to the venue first can setup where they like and the others fit around them. I do find that cos i don't have pedals or any other kind of prop i am expected to fit into a smaller space than the others. I am often found behind one of the PA speakers.

[quote name='Kev' post='1181238' date='Mar 29 2011, 07:42 PM']I have just taken out a policy with Musicguard. After analysing their policy wording/FAQ's (i work in insurance so am VERY aware of this kind of thing), in absence of a purchase receipt they need to see other forms of proof of ownership i.e. email correspondence/corresponding bank/paypal statements, photograph with you and the instrument (showing serial number), that kind of thing. insurance companies obviously have to place these limitation or anyone could claim for anything!! In regards to the use of instruments for paid work, this would be deemed as commercial use and so i imagine pretty much every home insurer would exclude any losses relating to that.[/quote] nice one - taking photos of me and the serials as i type...well almost. just updated my latest gear on the site as well and it cost an extra £9 and was very easy.

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1181208' date='Mar 29 2011, 07:13 PM']There are a few threads around this subject. Personally I use Musicguard but have never made a claim. I can spread payments via monthly direct debit which helps though[/quote] +1 also use MusicGuard. They give you options and public liability too. Cost me about £150 for £4500 worth of gear.

[quote name='LawrenceH' post='1177546' date='Mar 26 2011, 08:29 PM']Log for volume generally speaking Less consensus for tone controls, but whichever one it is currently I'd be inclined to swap it out for the other and see if that helps![/quote] Thanks folks. I think i understood some of that. Time permitting i am gonna open up the bass and take some photos.

[quote name='witterth' post='1176873' date='Mar 26 2011, 09:05 AM'][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Na6z03tW4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Na6z03tW4[/url] DAN!![/quote] DAN!

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='1179943' date='Mar 28 2011, 08:06 PM']If it was the original player, it'd be one Graham Maby. He's an awesome player and criminally underrated/overlooked . On "Look Sharp" and "I'm The Man" (the first 2 albums) he played an Ibanez Roadster, I believe. Last Bass I saw him playing was a US Spector, though that was a while ago. He could well be playing something else by now...[/quote] Yeah. I didn't take much notice of him (Graham) till i had seen them live and he was a high quality player. Very tasteful.

[quote name='fatwull' post='1179813' date='Mar 28 2011, 05:59 PM']Guys, Anyone watched Joe Jackson Live In Tokyo? Just wondering what kind of Bass Rick Ford was playing, Nice 6 string. Downloaded the concert as had it years ago on video but lost it, still like the music they played. Cheers, Billy.[/quote] Yeah i quite enjoyed some of his stuff. I thought his bass player was a chap called Graham something who had been with him since day one? I saw him live in Paris 2002 and his band were slick. He put on a great show.

A little Hamer bumpity bump from Grasshopper

I am defo in the old farts category. We did a gig on Saturday at the Soul Cellar in Soton. Drummer is 50+, i am 40+ and the singer and guitarist are mid 30s. We supported a band of young whippersnappers from Brighton - who were great. They were leaping around all over the stage. If i were to do or try and do physically what they did i would have another hernia. But both bands complimented each other and had their strong and weak points. We hung about in the dressing room and despite age there was no barrier to the banter and looning about. The bands were poles apart in attitude, dress, outlook etc but a common love of music and performing erased all that. Trading on a dimniishing reputation is sad but it doesn't always have to be like that.

[quote name='TRBboy' post='1176678' date='Mar 25 2011, 10:52 PM']As well as changing the cap, you could always try swapping the existing tone pot out for a linear pot. Most passive basses have audio taper (logarithmic) pots which don't really do much from about 1 - 5, so effectively they go straight from 0% to 60 or 70%. This results in all the control being at one end. Linear pots are proportional so 3 on the dial will give you 30% and 8 would give you 80%. These pots are fine for volume or tone and are more commonly used on audio equipment, although logarithmic are more common on passive basses. I'm not big on electronics, but I'm sure if I'm talking complete nonsense someone will correct me pretty quickly. [/quote] You lost me when you said logarithmic but i appreciate your reply. Not even owning or ever using a soldering iron i am a bit stuck as to what to do next. That said i'll give it a go if i can find the right parts but i am a bit wary of screwing up a lovely bass.

Jeez, i have just got back from a sh*te gig. Strange - last week we played in a new venue for us in Ascot (miles away) and had a great sound, big stage, lighting and the audience were superb - but there were only about 12 people! Tonight we were on a tiny stage about 5 ft by 8 ft. I had to face the drummer all night as wasn't space to turn around. Had to play right on top of my cab which is the worst place to be as its too close to really judge the sound and this makes it really uncomfortable playing. The place was packed but the sound was awful and the audience were mildly ok. No encore which hasn't happened for a long time. Leaves ya feeling a bit flat. I don't have a problem remembering the songs though but there are some that i dread in the set and struggle to hold down the "accepted groove" as i can't help thing that even with Marcus Miller the song wouldn't funk.

Any reference to the Hamer Cruise Bass? If not - criminal.

Thanks guys. What would be the easiest thinig to do first for someone who is a complete technophobe? The PuPs were installed at a local shop so if the wiring is wrong i am happy to take it back and get them to fix it.

[quote name='Dronny' post='1176033' date='Mar 25 2011, 03:27 PM']Darn it! I had a feeling someone would say that! Seriously, I am open to this if it's generally considered the best way to go. So, how would you recommend I go about it? I know enough to be able to sit down with a bit of (really simple) music and pick out the notes and manually count the time, but I guess I should start from the beginning, assuming nothing. Are there any 'standard' books that would be good to start with? Dave.[/quote] I resisted learning to read for ages - wish i hadn't. So many more possibilities when you know how chords are constructed - which modes work and where all the scale notes are. I am still not very good at reading - getting better all the time but being able to sit down with a Real book and start playing tunes that i thought i wouldn't be able to play has been empowering. You could do worse than try the Majors Boot Camp on this very website. For a free resource it is excellent. There are also lots of links to things like note trainers and other resources. Good luck [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showforum=31"]Majors Boot Camp[/url]

Hi, I have a Hamer Cruise bass which allegedly has Fender Custom Shop PuPs installed. My problem is that the tone knob only effects the sound when it is on full or off. Anything in between sounds the same. I wonder if they are really Custom Shop PuPs. They sound ok - its just there is no range in tone. Could this be because: [list] [*]The PuPs are not very good [*]The PuPs are good but i am too dumb to appreciate them [*]The pots are rubbish [*]Capacitors [/list] At one point i had some SD Quarter Pounders installed but didn't like them so had these (which came with the bass when i bought it) Custom Shop PuPs re-installed. The bass is beautifully built and i want to do it justice. Any advice will be gratefully received.

Stompin at the Savoy

TJW - yeah what a guy. Nice playing. Shame the Bongo is so damn ugly

[quote name='Rusco' post='1174824' date='Mar 24 2011, 03:55 PM']Hi all, I’d like some expert help please putting a new bass shortlist together ! I’ve been playing for nearly a year and have a Squire CV60 Jazz. I’ve been quite happy with that but find it a little unbalanced and nose heavy playing on my lap and in lessons, so maybe not another Jazz such as a real Fender which was my original thought. I’m looking for more of a rock thump sound but also like a bit of versatility, so a P/J sounds about right in theory. So.., I’m trying to put a shortlist together before hitting the shops, so far I have... Yamaha BB424X – I was impressed by them at the Bass Show, nice neck and sound although not sure how a piece of plastic and tin cost an extra £100+ over the non ’x’ version. Ibanez SR500 & SR700 – light and felt good on quick demos. Maybe not the exact sound I’m looking for... nice basses. Fender Delux P-Bass Special – seems to tick most boxes if it doesn’t have the same balance problem as my Jazz Warwick – not had a good look at these yet but on the list for now. There is no point me looking at more expensive basses yet as I wouldn’t be good enough to exploit the difference, so I’m only looking around the above standard and the Stringray will have to wait! Any other suggests to try ? Thanks ![/quote] This is really a preference thing. You'll get a lot of different answers on this site. Have you got access to any music shops? Another thing you might try is to go to a jam night and ask peeps if you can try their basses. I guess i am saying try before you buy as you seem to have some specific requirements. There may also be something in the basses for sale on this site. Stingrays are amazing value at the moment - there are some bargains out there. They weigh a ton though.

I always take 2 basses. They are very different in some ways but both suit the music we play so its not an issue. That said i haven't had to use one - i swap purely cos i can and like my basses.

[quote name='norvegicusbass' post='1173715' date='Mar 23 2011, 07:28 PM']I know very little about musical theory ( er make that nothing at all ) and for that reason I struggle to come up with good bass lines, will scales help?[/quote] I am no expert either but my horizons have widened immensely since taking on learning music and in a relatively short space of time. Instead of sitting down and trying to busk through a song to get a bass line you will have a whole bunch of notes and chords to experiment with. This can be applied all over the bass and on other instruments! More possible bass lines will become available from the same chord structure. Do it - you won't regret it. Try the Majors Boot Camp on here. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=74284"]Majors Boot Camp[/url]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1173731' date='Mar 23 2011, 07:43 PM']Calling Doddy .........[/quote] and Bilbo

[quote name='Slipperydick' post='1173674' date='Mar 23 2011, 06:58 PM']Sounds fair to me, might even be worth a bit more tbh when you consider the effort involved sometimes.[/quote] Its about the fairest way we could think of. If you factor in that we get a lot of repeat bookings there are many occassions when the hustling only has to happen once and the commission keeps coming for each gig so the effort becomes minimal. It gives incentive and doesn't take too much out of the pot for everyone else. Works for us.

Totally with you. Amp GAS never. The thought of having to get used to another amp is actually a bit scary. However, bass GAS...