I have side and front LEDS on my Sei. I don't use them that frequently but when I do they are very useful (eg in theatre work when the house and stage lights are off) and they are a great talking point. One Christmas Day I was playing in Church and I was asked if I had had the "fairy lights" added to my bass specially for Christmas!
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My Sei Singlecut - the one reviewed in this month's Bass Guitar Magazine - has white side dot LED's, and I have used LED markers since getting my first Sei bass in 1994 (the fretless Singlecut 5 currently under construction is my 8th Sei bass!!)
The LED's are a great idea - especially, as many others have already commented, if you are inevitably stuck at the back of the stage in a dinly lit position. Saying that - one one of my Jazz basses I had front and side LED's installed, and my brother was playing in the same band with his McIntyre custom strat with side red dot LED's. Anyhow, during the show the lighting guy obviously saw them glowing and thought "that looks cool" so cust the venue's lights so all you could see were the blue LED's on my bass, and the red side dots on my brother's guitar. Looked cool, but resulted in the other guitarist in the band shouting "PLEASE! put the lights back on! I can't see what I'm playing!" Oh dear! We were not popular after that! hahahahaha
Here's a video clip of the LED's being activated (the "click" is the sound of the push/pull volume pot being used to activate the LED's)
The LED's are a great idea - especially, as many others have already commented, if you are inevitably stuck at the back of the stage in a dinly lit position. Saying that - one one of my Jazz basses I had front and side LED's installed, and my brother was playing in the same band with his McIntyre custom strat with side red dot LED's. Anyhow, during the show the lighting guy obviously saw them glowing and thought "that looks cool" so cust the venue's lights so all you could see were the blue LED's on my bass, and the red side dots on my brother's guitar. Looked cool, but resulted in the other guitarist in the band shouting "PLEASE! put the lights back on! I can't see what I'm playing!" Oh dear! We were not popular after that! hahahahaha
Here's a video clip of the LED's being activated (the "click" is the sound of the push/pull volume pot being used to activate the LED's)
I also recall playing in a marquee one night when the lighting circuit failed but all the stage mains kept going. The only illumination in the entire place was my Sei LEDs and the VU meter on my Ashdown.
Ben, how on earth are you going to wait until friday to collect your bass !! Geez, as you know I live in Glasgow, but I'd be there now
I've been sat twiddling the knobs and pressing the many buttons on my ART Nightbass SE to get the exact sound I want from Jezebel...
7String I understand your sentiment about waiting, but it has slowly dawned on me over the years that there is often much fun to be had through anticipation whilst I wait for something the longer Ive had to wait for things the better I have appreciated them. I picked up my Sei 5 on Christmas eve almost 13 years ago now, so I can easily wait just a few more days so I can also pick up the Sei 8 on a memorable day.
Glad to hear about the ART preamp and not needing the services of the good Dr Petersen, though youre right about the EQ settings being a little odd. How does Mr Gadget find his new Petersen stroboflip? I bought one a few months ago and find it works well though took a little getting used to (mine seems to occasionally struggle a little to quickly identify what note Im trying to tune to and prefers tuning the 1 octave harmonics on my really low frequency strings).
Paddy - Long time since we heard about the state of your wrist is no news good news?
The wrist isn't too bad - thanks for asking. I've got about 50-55% movement in it and thankfully little permanent ligament damage so I have full range of movement in fingers and thumb. That's probably about as good as it's going to get now. Thankfully, little or no pain (depends how I wake up!).
Doc reckons it'll take another 6 months to heal.
The really good news is that it doesn't restrict anything and I'm able to do all I could before. If you said to me before the op that this would be the outcome - I'd take it - especially when you consider what could have happened (fused wrist, giving up playing etc.)
As for playing, I can now carry on much as before although my wrist does get tired especially if I sit on the B string for a while. Howie has lent me a 4 string Streamer to see if the neck dimensions were a problem and that's not it. I hope it eases over time, but I'm playing and in a new and exciting project
.
Just please don't challenge me to an arm-wrestle though
Doc reckons it'll take another 6 months to heal.
The really good news is that it doesn't restrict anything and I'm able to do all I could before. If you said to me before the op that this would be the outcome - I'd take it - especially when you consider what could have happened (fused wrist, giving up playing etc.)
As for playing, I can now carry on much as before although my wrist does get tired especially if I sit on the B string for a while. Howie has lent me a 4 string Streamer to see if the neck dimensions were a problem and that's not it. I hope it eases over time, but I'm playing and in a new and exciting project
.Just please don't challenge me to an arm-wrestle though
The wrist isn't too bad - thanks for asking. I've got about 50-55% movement in it and thankfully little permanent ligament damage so I have full range of movement in fingers and thumb. That's probably about as good as it's going to get now. Thankfully, little or no pain (depends how I wake up!).
Doc reckons it'll take another 6 months to heal.
The really good news is that it doesn't restrict anything and I'm able to do all I could before. If you said to me before the op that this would be the outcome - I'd take it - especially when you consider what could have happened (fused wrist, giving up playing etc.)
As for playing, I can now carry on much as before although my wrist does get tired especially if I sit on the B string for a while. Howie has lent me a 4 string Streamer to see if the neck dimensions were a problem and that's not it. I hope it eases over time, but I'm playing and in a new and exciting project
Good news I guess Paddy. Are you likely to get any more than 50-55% wrist movement over the next 6 months or is that it?
Re getting tired whilst playing, I materially changed my right hand playing technique approx 12 months ago. I previously used the classic finger plucking position (i.e. plucking arm over the top edge of the bass, leaving my hand perpendicular to the strings and thumb looking like it was stuck coming straight out of the bass body / strings)...results in quite a sharp wrist angle at times.
Now my plucking arm goes much more round the bottom of the bass, leaving my forearm almost parallel with the strings. It is quite like the position for playing slap bass, except my thumb rests across the bass strings I'm not playing (anchoring the hand and preventing these strings from ringing). It took a little getting used to and means I use a slightly different part of my fingers on the strings, but it has greatly reduced the angle of my wrist (good thing since it's never been the same since I bust it some 15+ yrs ago).
Pictures are worth a thousand words and I could not find suitable ones on the Intranet, so let me know if you would like me to send you a couple of homegrown ones.
Unfortunately it's my fretting hand that got screwed. I always held my plucking hand pretty much as you describe - feels more in control of the strings. It's always looked pretty extreme and uncomfortable the way you used to pluck.
As for new project. I've just started rehearsing with a nice guy who used to work for Ibanez guitars as a demonstrator, think NAMM etc so he is pretty useful and although he can shred he's not up his own arse and plays what's required. He also at one time played with John Lawton for a short time (ex-Uriah Heep). A 4 piece with an excellent drummer. All very rough and ready but lots of potential, when we get something down I'll let you all know.
I've actually been asked if I want to go skiing again next year - the answer was NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for new project. I've just started rehearsing with a nice guy who used to work for Ibanez guitars as a demonstrator, think NAMM etc so he is pretty useful and although he can shred he's not up his own arse and plays what's required. He also at one time played with John Lawton for a short time (ex-Uriah Heep). A 4 piece with an excellent drummer. All very rough and ready but lots of potential, when we get something down I'll let you all know.
I've actually been asked if I want to go skiing again next year - the answer was NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wouldn't worry about the skiing. You'll be much safer, and have a better time, having a nice cup of Ovaltine and a game of dominoes.....
The question with LED's is not whether they should be ordered or not, but which colour to have... Mine are purple..
Yup, I am a bit of a Gadget freak. Last time I was down south, I took my phone (a Blackberry) and my MP3 player (an iPod). As soon as my brother saw the amount of buttons and such, he called me 'Davros' after the head of the Daleks who controlled everything from his motorised chair thing..
The Peterson tuner is amazingly accurate, but needs some getting used to. I needed a new tuner as my last one, which I've had for over 15 years, doesn't tune a low 'B'. I've really noticed the difference with the basses. With guitars it's even better, but we don't talk about those 6 or 12 string things here !!
The question with LED's is not whether they should be ordered or not, but which colour to have... Mine are purple..
Yup, I am a bit of a Gadget freak. Last time I was down south, I took my phone (a Blackberry) and my MP3 player (an iPod). As soon as my brother saw the amount of buttons and such, he called me 'Davros' after the head of the Daleks who controlled everything from his motorised chair thing..
The Peterson tuner is amazingly accurate, but needs some getting used to. I needed a new tuner as my last one, which I've had for over 15 years, doesn't tune a low 'B'. I've really noticed the difference with the basses. With guitars it's even better, but we don't talk about those 6 or 12 string things here !!
How does Sei24bass' 8 string fit into the "we don't talk about those 6 or 12 string things here !!" statement?
I've been looking at the Blackberry phones as well - I need to get something like that soon. How do you find them?
I've been looking at the Blackberry phones as well - I need to get something like that soon. How do you find them?
I should have said "those weedy little 6 or 12 string things" !!
Blackberry's are very cool. I've had mine for just over 18 months and I wouldn't be without it. I found that a staff in some shops either step back in horror or just have no grasp of the thing when you first ask them about it!! I got my first one from T-Mobile and have rejoined them but via the Carphone Warehouse...
Blackberry's are so easy to use, much more so than a 'normal' phone. Some owners have become slightly addicted to checking their 'phone, so much so that it's been dubbed the "Crackberry".
If you need any more info, just PM or e-mail me !!
Blackberry's are very cool. I've had mine for just over 18 months and I wouldn't be without it. I found that a staff in some shops either step back in horror or just have no grasp of the thing when you first ask them about it!! I got my first one from T-Mobile and have rejoined them but via the Carphone Warehouse...
Blackberry's are so easy to use, much more so than a 'normal' phone. Some owners have become slightly addicted to checking their 'phone, so much so that it's been dubbed the "Crackberry".
If you need any more info, just PM or e-mail me !!
how do peeps find using normal strings on the headless'? Ive just bought some DR's for mine, and have the little widgetty grub screws, but they look as though the string may just slip thru... Also the double ball strings that came on the bass soon lost their zing, is it me? Do I have acid fingers? Do others find this? I have bought the coated variety of DR that claim extra protection agianst such a thing....
mB
mB
I use DR strings on my headless 5 all the time and the grub screws work just fine. Two things to be aware of:
- You will need to tighten the grub screws quite well otherwise the strings might slip (more likley with the treble strings that are higher tension)
- Whilst all the grub screws will fit any of the holes, the flat section they all have on the bottom varies in size (larger flat section used for thicker strings)
Martin quite likes LaBella strings...they did not last long for me. DR have been the best sounding and lasting strings I've found so far (followed by Elites).
Ben
So how do you like your white LED's versus the other colors? My current Sei's have Green, Red and Blue/Violet. Of those three the red is the easiest on the eyes, but is an older circuit so the battery life is shorter than my others. I'm with you, once youlve used LED's you won;t go back!
Thanks sei24bass, my new peacock blue strings sound amazing, and they also look really cool! makes up for not having LED's hey!?
Hi Guys
Been lurking on this thread for a bit but had no real news until today - so just for the record I am having red LEDs on my bass - which also leads on to a smal decision I need to make in that should I have dots on my fingerboard or just leave it bare? Martin very wisely/kindly picked out a bit of madagascar ebony for my board (I didn't specify it) and it look wonderful - it has lovely subtle, wavey stripes in places and looks nicer than plain old ebony - and the top/side LED spots are clear enough to mark the frets - so do I need dots? I guess I don't really look at them that often - and when it's dark I can't see them anyway - hence the lights... some opinions would be helpful but I think I'm going to be brave and not have any.
Here are a couple of pics - there's another bass with similar specs to mine at the finishers at the mo - it's a 6 (the dude hasn't joined our gang yet) and it should be lovely - I'm dying to see what colour the lacquer makes the facings go - but John has been sanding things and making it look even better:
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Rubbish last pic but you get the idea of the funky 33" scale dimensions
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Hopefully she'll be off the finishers in the next couple of weeks...
My online progress page is here:
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Cheers
Mike
Been lurking on this thread for a bit but had no real news until today - so just for the record I am having red LEDs on my bass - which also leads on to a smal decision I need to make in that should I have dots on my fingerboard or just leave it bare? Martin very wisely/kindly picked out a bit of madagascar ebony for my board (I didn't specify it) and it look wonderful - it has lovely subtle, wavey stripes in places and looks nicer than plain old ebony - and the top/side LED spots are clear enough to mark the frets - so do I need dots? I guess I don't really look at them that often - and when it's dark I can't see them anyway - hence the lights... some opinions would be helpful but I think I'm going to be brave and not have any.
Here are a couple of pics - there's another bass with similar specs to mine at the finishers at the mo - it's a 6 (the dude hasn't joined our gang yet) and it should be lovely - I'm dying to see what colour the lacquer makes the facings go - but John has been sanding things and making it look even better:
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Rubbish last pic but you get the idea of the funky 33" scale dimensions
Invalid Link Removed
Hopefully she'll be off the finishers in the next couple of weeks...
My online progress page is here:
Invalid Link Removed
Cheers
Mike
It was all quiet on this thrread for a couple of days, then I go away and when I return it has gone post crazy!
Mike F - your s\c is looking great and just I love the subtle colours on the macca ebony fingerboard. It will contrast with the buckeye so well. I look forward to more photo's over the coming weeks.
Depending on what type of finish you have will determing the colour, but if it is antique like mine then it could look comething like this especially as I had white buckeye like you.
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Regards
Matthew
Mike F - your s\c is looking great and just I love the subtle colours on the macca ebony fingerboard. It will contrast with the buckeye so well. I look forward to more photo's over the coming weeks.
Depending on what type of finish you have will determing the colour, but if it is antique like mine then it could look comething like this especially as I had white buckeye like you.
Regards
Matthew
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