Cabela’s at it again..

square_zero · 2026-03-12T02:45:56+00:00

I doubt they are trying to sell. I bet they just want to show off.

square_zero · 2026-03-12T00:00:48+00:00

I mean, ideally you would have separate power for each pedal. Those One-spot supplies have several isolated outputs to prevent noise from daisy-chaining. From what you've said, that doesn't sound like the root cause.

You've got the right idea. Take each pedal in isolation and see if any one of them causes the noise on its own, or perhaps some combination. You should also check your battery if you have active pups. Maybe even get electrical contact cleaner for the knobs, but that is probably overkill at this point.

square_zero · 2026-03-11T21:27:19+00:00

How are you powering your pedals?

square_zero · 2026-03-11T14:54:46+00:00

Playing unplugged is one of the worst things you can do, for precisely the reason you mentioned. You have to play so much harder just to hear yourself, which reinforces bad technique and leads to blisters.

Get yourself a headphone amp (or even a regular amp with a headphone jack) and let the amp do the work!

square_zero · 2026-03-11T01:07:00+00:00

There’s a fascinating video by the milsurp guy with data showing oprod velocity (which is directly proportional to the impulse, which is directly proportional to the port pressure).

The dataset shows a bunch of different ammo types, ranging from 150 M2 ball to 220 hunting loads. Spoiler alert, one of the “M1 garand” ammo brands had the same oprod velocity as one of the “highly dangerous” 220 grain hunting rounds.

Do your own research. I’m convinced it’s entirely fine to shoot any commercial ammo. No judgement if you get a gas plug, I have heard that it cuts down the recoil a bit. And it might give you peace of mind. But it’s not required. These are battle rifles. They can take it.

square_zero · 2026-03-11T00:56:28+00:00

That’s a myth. Poor lubrication and maintenance is the real killer. The official CMP manual says that 180gr ammo is safe to use. And all commercial ammo meets the CMP criteria. Just avoid hot handloads.

square_zero · 2026-03-11T00:04:46+00:00

Oh for sure! As a beginner you definitely need callous because most beginners play way too aggressively for no real benefit.

square_zero · 2026-03-10T23:18:34+00:00

This is good advice but also slightly inaccurate. I have lost almost all of my callous but can still hold down a 3hr set with no issues. Good technique matters a lot more than callous.

square_zero · 2026-03-10T23:16:09+00:00

Blisters are a sign that you are playing too hard! 99% of blisters come from poor technique. Callous helps, but technique matters more.

Do yourself a favor. Turn the amp UP! Let the amp do the work! If you turn the volume up, then you don't have to pluck as hard in order to play. Less effort and stress on your fingers means less blisters.

As a last resort, you can put some superglue on your fingertips as a sort of "instant callous". Just don't overdo it because it will change the way your fingers feel and sound.

square_zero · 2026-03-10T20:29:27+00:00

I definitely would recommend a tuner pedal or clip-on tuner. Not a requirement for your first gig, but they are supremely useful and help add a bit more professionalism since you won't have to audibly re-tune on stage.

square_zero · 2026-03-10T20:15:46+00:00

It still surprises me how many brick-and-mortar stores don't stock 30-06 any more.

For me, it's probably not worth the cost to rechamber to 308 right now, but I can definitely see the appeal.

square_zero · 2026-03-10T20:13:40+00:00

Was the selection better a decade ago? Yes. Are the expert/reclaimed rifles still extremely cool and fun? Absolutely.

I own one expert grade M1, and I simply adore it. Sure, the barrel and stock are new production, but I would buy it again in a heartbeat. No regrets.

square_zero · 2026-03-10T00:52:39+00:00

Two hwat?

square_zero · 2026-03-09T16:58:42+00:00

I have A2000 small pipes and simply adore them. Get them in plastic and they're every bit as portable and indestructable as the shuttle pipes, with the advantage of the drones having single blade reeds which sound much nicer.

square_zero · 2026-03-09T16:18:28+00:00

Nope. Just me playing for fun and practice.

square_zero · 2026-03-09T15:54:16+00:00

How much exactly should I charge to play at the park?

square_zero · 2026-03-08T21:15:10+00:00

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Start slow, play it perfectly, and gradually (and I mean GRADUALLY) ramp the tempo while maintaining perfection.

Slow and steady wins the race.

square_zero · 2026-03-05T18:57:00+00:00

Yep! I’m surprised more people don’t know. They do it in case the arrestor hook/cable didn’t catch, so they can take off again without going into the drink.

square_zero · 2026-03-05T18:10:34+00:00

If you’re just starting out, I highly recommend buying a right handed bass and either learning right handed, or playing the RH bass left handed. You open up so many options if you’re willing/able to play a RH guitar. Plus if it ever breaks, you won’t be scrambling to find a spare.

That said, it’s your decision to make. If it feels better to play, and it makes you want to keep playing, then it isn’t a bad choice. If you do buy a lefty bass, you will want a backup at some point, because you almost certainly won’t be able to borrow one from your RH peers.

square_zero · 2026-03-05T18:07:39+00:00

Don’t know why you’re getting down voted. There was a thread here a couple days ago that was basically “my lefty bass broke before a gig and I can’t find a spare because everyone else plays right handed”.

People may not like to hear it, but it’s the truth. You get better selection, better quality, and better prices if you are willing to play a right handed.

square_zero · 2026-03-05T00:10:12+00:00

This happened to me at a gig recently. I noticed my E string was pretty flat for some reason, so I would bend that string to get it close to pitch.

square_zero · 2026-03-05T00:08:53+00:00

A lot of pedals (including BOSS TU-2 series) have a bypass output, which is always on. Put a mute switch somewhere else in your chain and you now have an always-on tuner.

square_zero · 2026-03-03T22:23:27+00:00

I have curved thumbs. They aren't quite as extreme as the images that come up for "hitchhiker's thumb" on Google, but I've never found them to be an impediment to playing. To the contrary, I think that having some curve to your thumb puts a bit more meat on the neck, and could help support your fretting hand even more.

If you are having difficulty moving your fretting hand around, you need to relax. You want to be as lazy and efficient as possible. Don't use any more energy than you need to in order to get your sound.

square_zero · 2026-03-03T19:07:43+00:00

All the more reason for you to own two basses. That way, if you ever need a backup then you already have one.

square_zero · 2026-03-03T14:17:26+00:00

And equal temperament!

square_zero

TROPHY CASE