visog

So saw this on Facebook.... I'm all for things that help people play better - you know: talent, ability, practise, etc but some things do help as a feedback mechanism: tone, bass set-up, record company hosing money at you, etc. So in lieu of all of these, we have this natty little device on Kickstarter. What do the wider-BC think? Victor Wooten's on board and he's quite good apparently?

Sad... used to be a national touchstone. You'd watch with your Granny who like Lena Martell. Your sister would like Duran Duran. You'd be waiting for the Smiths. OK I mixed up the time-zones there but you get the picture. Now the charts are just anonymous. Does anyone know what is no 1 this week?

Didn't make it this year as it didn't recognise many of the guests or exhibitors. Was it any good? Miss Willis and Ibanez - that was a good show. Mark King was killing and I bumped into the awesome Gary Husband. And Bernie was there that year with his ludicrous basses. I hope Clutterbuck was there on the Rotosound stand eviscerating everyone with his Overwater?

So you're a fan of a clean sound yet you cite Geddy Lee and Chris Squire who typically use a fairly gnarly tone (when isolated)? Also I'm not sure Marcus uses much distortion. He is Mr Clean! In fact he's got the crystal super-J pre-amp tone with which I associate him. Anyway all great players and sounds, clean and crunchy. Sansamps sound good, Darkglass too - they have a new B7k Ultra just out v2. I went with a TwoNotes LeBass. All good fun - glad you're on the crunch tone trail now!

For those of you with Amazon Prime - found this bass-fest (whilst searching for the Stanley Clarke bio-film which I don't think is on there.) So if you're into Andrew Gouche, Damien Erskine, MonoNeon, Janek Gwizdala and Hadrien Feraud it's worth a watch. It's pretty much unrelenting shredding over standards and gospel grooves. So cue peeling 32nd notes from super high-end basses - MTD & Fodera particularly. Stand outs for me were Hadrien who is freakishly nimble and articulate and MonoNeon for having a bit of personality.

I get the flash install prompt and I don't wanna. But we all love a good moan... that's why we're bass players in 2018 right? You know - minority shareholder in a minority genre (rock) in a minority interest (music). So link please so we rag on the outstanding virtuoso of Anthony Jackson...

Hand-cramps! That's not good... so sounds like 'trying before you buy' essential. I thought the slant frets were supposed to be more ergonomic as well as giving better sound definition. Anyway, here's Anderton's take on the basses...

Agree with all the sentiment posted above and I have total disconnection with the whole phenomena of the Brits. Unfortunately, on the basis of sheer quantity of media attention, sex and money, they are right and comprise 'music' and as a result, collectively in our thread here are wrong, out of touch and irrelevant despite our 'we remember Zepplin and real music' religious fervor and perceived moral high ground. Playing an instrument, let alone a bass, today is simply 'a look'.

US jazz saxophonist Eddie Harris formed an interesting pick-up band when he recorded this in 1974... Note the bass player listed last under the large font star collaborators...

As if by magic... this appeared a few hours ago... I'm sure they didn't film it for me! (But it could be a buying omen...)

Quote of the thread... Can't believe this is a Gibson. Just add it to their list of crimes... including mauling SWR and Tobias to death, and most recently my considerable investment (time, expense & PROPRIETARY FILE FORMAT) in Cakewalk...

Sorely tempted as a foray into sixers... anyone tried one out yet? Seem to be a few starting to appear online and in some stores like Andertons and Dawsons. Opinions welcome... especially the sound.

Blimey - that bass tone is fruity to say the least!

Hmmm... pretty shameless Pitched at the collector/Primus nuts rather than musicians. Admittedly there is the rarity afforded by the fact Carl Thompson doesn't build much any more (so I read). In practical terms, you wouldn't play it unless you were in a Primus tribute as in every other situation you'd look a Richard, it would be a financial liability and the wooden bridge would be troublesome. A relic from the age when custom basses exploded and makers were trying to out-Alembic Alembic. It's all Stanley's fault.

Sire definitely worth investigating...

So is 'Dragon skin' a 'snake oil' upgrade?

So good thread... Some comments: Dire Straits - BIA - John Isley didn't play on this I thought... Session bass players including Tony Levin? JI just did the tour. Jaco - above whom I love, could never be labelled as 'sparse' as per this thread. The ballad in question features him playing the melody line so whilst slow, isn't exactly 'sparse'. His occasional growls for the bass maybe... Winner!: I went to Sting's 'Walking on the Moon' too... maximum music for minimum notes....

Good heavens! *monocle drops out of eye...*

Cant vouch for the flexibility but having heard one in action in a jazz fusion setting, I can attest to their great phat sound. I'd love one... (in a 5...)

Sighs... sign of the times. A musical instrument designed to be click-bait... Enjoy looking at it 'cause you're sure as hell never going to hear it in a good piece of music (that you'd pay for, rather than click on).

Good thread with some really great observations... My take: you compromise for a good band mix in a functional setting but you get more personal and distinctive when getting creative - but risking polarizing your audience... Enjoyed a cracking function band last night with the blandest of bass tones who had everyone up dancing... I'll go home to my Two Notes acid-spitting cobra bass tone and please no-one except myself...

I have to say it appears not to the bass' fault but your reaction to it. To sell it without playing it is a very weird response to a musical instrument. (An investment maybe less so.) Play it... it could be 'the one' for you. You also shouldn't be spending £1k+ sums when you're obviously prone to fickle, possibly arbitrary decisions, "a week after purchase I discovered I should be playing a short scale"...

Erm.... Gary Barlow Then King Crimson... (I don't mean 'then King Crimson' one after the other on the same bill)

Bet it was sounding good though...

Mr Squire indulging in multi-string goodness. Would love to know what song he was playing... That headstock is a bit of a fruity proposition!