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New medium scale bass in what is essentially a P bass configuration with passive electronics and a split coil pickup. Like all Alan's work it's a cracker!

Listened to the Detroit mix of the What's Going On album today and lost the whole day to it! The Detroit mix is the original mix, and not the mix found on the released album (which was done in LA a month or so after the Detroit mix). Anyway, Inner City Blues. I've always 'heard' the (Bob Babbitt) bass line in my head as being much simpler/straightforward than it actually is, but listening to it on headphones today there's a ton of stuff going on that I'd not heard/appreciated before. It's such a lovely line; perfect for the song and beautifully played... so, maybe a daft question, but... is there more than one bass on the track?! I know there are vocal comps through the album (initially coming about by accident where the two engineers - Kenneth Sands and Steve Smith - mixed a comp of two vocal takes, which Gaye loved) so is the bass line a similar experiment/outcome? Whatever it is, it's a masterful performance by a wonderful musician? Help a curious pair of ears out here, folks!

and the mothership was out. P-bass and flats to accompany it.

Two lumps of wood, a pickup, bbot and some tuners, just like like any other P bass to me.

Agree with all the comments on this thread that it's probably more about strings and technique than core bass tone, but an Ovation Magnum is just fabulous for reggae / ska - I've never played another bass with such naturally massive low end whilst retaining complete clarity / articulation. Currently using La Bella 750T White tapewounds on my fretless Magnum 1.

@Ricky 4000 I can highly recommend one of these for reggae, I picked it up during the week for a sensible price, it was already fitted with halfrounds , and has a really low action , it’s my first real go at a 5 string, and the low B drops a serious Bassline 🙂

Editing on the pedal only gets you so far. Basically you turn the parameter switch to whichever parameter you want to adjust (cutoff, resonance, etc.). The “data” digit (right-most digit in the display) will show a 5 which corresponds to the stored preset value in the editor (eg a cutoff of 45). Then you turn the encoder dial to adjust either positively or negatively from there. The dot in the display flashes to indicate a change has been made. If you wish to save the change, you need to press the encoder dial. The dot then stops blinking. Repeat for other parameters. It needs to be noted that adjustments on the pedal are always relative to the value of the stored preset as created in the editor. That is, a value of 9 on the pedal isn’t the same for each preset, rather it is a ratio of the original parameter value from the preset as created in the editor. I can’t remember the ratios off the top of my head. Further to this, if the preset created in the editor had a resonance of 0, this would be the value corresponding to 5 on the pedal and dialling in 1, 2, 3 or 4 on the pedal would have no effect whatsoever as resonance can’t go below zero. (Changing to values above 5 on the pedal would have an effect.) The stuff about editing on the pedal is most likely in the quick start guide which isn’t repeated in the bigger manual. Editing on the PC is where the real magic happens as you have complete control over all the oscillator levels, waveshapes and tons of other goodies. You really must hook this thing up and download some other user patches and create your own to get the best out of this pedal.

Finally got myself an NS2! Too bad it is blue, but I can live with that until I find my ultimate NS2X...

I'm feeling immensely fortunate. After some toing and froing with the seller (all very good natured) I've snagged this bass. Built by Marko Ursin, a Finnish Luthier, it was a custom build in 2009 for the original owner, who I've just bought it from. I'd never really imagined having a single cut, but this was just so nice. I'm still getting used to the Aguilar OBP3 / Bartolini G6 combo, but it's such a responsive bass. I'd felt fortunate owning my Fame / Mayones 6 string, but this is every bit as special. Given it's A Finnish bass, crafted by a gent by the name of Ursin, it might gain an appropriate headstock logo. Finnish national animal is the bear and Ursin, must be derived from Ursine, for bear.

I suppose it depends on how much you think wood affects tone once you're plugged in. Personally I think pickup placement and pickup type affect plugged in tone far more than what wood the instrument is made of or what shape the body is.

I just keep watching videos of the pedal and think 'that sounds pretty flipping nice'. I swear by my sansamp and I guess that's the same principle here with just a different flavour pre amp modulation. The only other thing that gives me 'the fear' is that computers sometimes go wrong and what happens if everything suddenly gets wiped before a gig?

Seeing as I would never watch that I wouldn't know, but which MJ does she look like?

Don't they call it 'southern rock'?

I had one of these briefly and while I’ll agree there are many many options if you already have an interface you know and like using (I already do), you have a couple of pedals which you use and enjoy (I already do) and you aren’t likely to be needing your bass to recreate a multitude of amps and cab with a host of I/O options or might not be for you. If you’re a tech geek and love shiny new things with loads of the latest cool tech and don’t mind spending £400+ for the two or three effects you’re realistically going to use then then you’re in trouble 😀 A good suggestion already mentioned is to download the Helix Native software and play about with the effects and amps and if it feesikw value for money to have the Stomp you’ll at least have road tested the actual effects - the hardware is a delight to use but you might find like I did that my limited use of pedals makes the whole package redundant even if it is cool as!

I have a suggestion, but you probably wouldn't like it. 😨 Maybe we should make it a sticky/FAQ, thus ensuring no one will read it. 😩

Nice looking bass. I love the way that the picture sequence looks a bit like a striptease, saving the full reveal to the last shots. Does it sound p-bassey? It strikes me as a nice idea having a traditional sound with modern looks.

News from Kim this morning about a venue change: "*CHANGE OF VENUE FOR COLIN’S WAKE/CELEBRATION* Due to growing numbers I have had to change the venue. It will now be held at Pyrford Social Club, Coldharbour Road, Pyrford Surrey. GU22 8SP. Asylum Affair will be playing and hopefully some of Colin’s Muso friends will also bring instruments to give him the send off he would of loved! Please share. Kim xx"

I would say at some level we're all influenced by McCartney whether we know it or not, whether we accept it or not.The chain is always going to lead back to McCartney in my opinion. In the States most of us weren't thinking about the electric bass guitar until we saw McCartney in 1964. As a matter of fact we didn't know what an electric bass guitar was. Blue

I've only just bought my first ever instrument, an epiphone toby deluxe iv. Owned it about 6 weeks. Just starting to pick things up off YouTube and stuff. The song I've now learned (not perfect yet) is White Stripes - 7 Nation Army.

Hiya Carl Everyone does things their own way: I've been playing for 25 years this year: first few years playing along to CDs & cassettes (pre-internet), then playing in a gigging band for 10 years - learning scales, chords, modes & about playinh live & locking in with a drummer. For the past few years I've played for myself at home with a quick {unsuccessful) foray with a new band. Wherever you're up to, as long as you find it rewarding, its the right way of doing it. Good luck!

My rehousing project addresses this issue.

Hope there’s not a hole in that logic...

this is my one and only fretless, meeting its maker for the first time in 25 years; Series 2 Progress Elite 1989

So buzzing for tomorrow night, big Mod night gig in Strathclyde Uni Union in Glasgow, with everything raised being donated to the Glasgow Childrens Hospital Charity... FoC, we've managed to secure £18k worth of PA and sound man for the night, via a guitarist mate I know from years back, who is doing the sound, the same guy who does TRNSMT and another guy who has done the sound for Metallica on their last European tour...its all just a bit mental the way it's worked out... Best part, we are a tribute band to The Who, and we are playing the very same stage The Who played just a month shy, almost to the day 50 years ago...! Soooooo excited...

Up here it's Dr Ner.

My first NBD in really rather a long time, and my first 5 string. The catchily-named Cort Action DLX V AS OPN... Day 1 and, apart from the tight 5 string spacing getting some used to, I'm loving it. I played the 4 string of the next model up in the shop too, the Artisan with bartolinis and hipshot tuners, and it also played very nicely and looked great. Anyway, some rubbish photos to prove it. I'll take that markbass preamp sheet off when I've learnt which side the bass and treble pots are on... Edd

I'd be interested in anything on luthierie (is that a real word?)

And so the hunt begins

Good for you. Youtube can be a great resource for everyone, from beginners to players with much experience. I wish it had been around when I first started 30-odd years ago. Enjoy!

And the bass got a great new home!

GM was using Stramp amplifiers at the time. A German make I believe. Rory's amp looks as though it may also be a Stramp. Seemingly our Ange has a thing for curly hair!

Welcome... First steps...get your major and minor scales under your belt. Don't forget to visit Scotts Bass Lessons - lots there that'll help your progress. Having said that, there are plenty of other helpful videos on YT which will help you develop. Don't be too intimidated about joining a band will...somebody has to be the "weakest player" and you'll probably make more progress through this than any other method.

Your ex-bottom? When did you have the new one fitted?

Not often you see a Wal completely overshadowed in a gig situation , but here it is sooo not the centre of attention.. Brilliant! 😃

A busker in Crawley doing a pretty good Wonderwall......actually he's just segued into Boulevard Of Broken Dreams by Green Day, that works quite well - might steal it for our band 😁

Two minutes of research took me to https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/contacting-buyer-bidder?id=4083 How to share your phone number with buyers You can also make your phone number available to buyers so they can contact you by phone before and/or after they’ve bought from you. You’ll need to opt in before you can share your number though. Here’s how: ... So it appears it's perfectly OK for them to contact you by phone, you just need to set it up so they can. I've just tried doing it and it's simple.

Update! Glad to be back! My custom Overwater should be here within the month & I've been successfully nominated to the Musicians Union Exec Committee

I think I've got one of those up in the attic. I'll have check. Edit for: No laser but I found my old command Zeppelin. Any use? Ah, dear, lovable, conceited Ernst: never an employee of mine, more of a supplier of peripherals. It all went tïts-up for Ernst when he developed a cat allergy. Sitting in his high-backed, leather chair stroking a goldfish didn't really inspire his minions to put on a hard hat, pick up a Schmeisser and do battle with Tiger Tanaka's ninja commandos as they abseiled into the dormant volcano. So they all came to work for me, apart from the excitable little Chinese scientist feller who went off to Camber Sands and bought an ice-cream van.

They’d go bust.......

That tone? Nothing. A different, great bass tone. . . . lots of stuff. With the gear you list, if you have a bad back your only solution is to hire roadies. Other than that there are no PRO's for keeping heavy gear. My solution to a permanent lower back injury (because I delayed selling very heavy bass gear, that sounded too good to sell) has been to move to 6lb amps, several 23lb cabs and an 8 1/2 lb bass. It doesn't matter what your current gear sounds like. Find good sounding gear that you can carry and learn to love that sound.

We've already done this. Please try and keep up.

Nice !! Don't know the context too, but already seen this kind of idea: Edit: This is Stig Pedersen from band "Disneyland after dark" ..

I don't think he's a great technician on the bass. He doesn't either and was quoted in the early days as, "Just following Ringo's bass drum", but as a musician he played exactly what was required. Which is never a bad thing. Then, when the Beatles went into creative overdrive his bass lines kept pace. He changed the way bass players thought about bass lines and empowered all of us to use our elbows and move right up to the front of the song. I think you can talk about McCartney the bass player in the same breath as James Jamerson. They were both imaginative, creative and important to the instrument and they released bass players from the 2/4 "hell" that had been their lot up to that point. They opened that door and made everything we know today, possible.