Jakester

Hmm, as a drummer I'm a big admirer of Buddy's playing but I have to say that doesn't do it for me. It seems a bit like he's simply ignored Alex Acuna's original part which contributes so much to the WR original - the repetitive drum pattern is part of what makes the tune great as it builds through the phases. Buddy seems like he's just playing around it and dropping bombs when he feels like it. Band are fantastic though. Here's Maynard Ferguson's version - same dress sense though!: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNbsnBZOwqE"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNbsnBZOwqE[/url] And a later version with some possibly injudicious slapping and popping: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68-6O2mJhMw"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68-6O2mJhMw[/url] And of course, the original: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH-WXR-Y2xs"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH-WXR-Y2xs[/url]

I did for years as a drummer so worked quite closely with the bassist! From my point of view the key thing in big band swing tunes is the bass leads with a pushing walking bass line and the drums hold it back - it's difficult to describe but get it right and you'll know immediately. Obv for the more modern arrangements that doesn't always ring true, but I don't think its possible to understate the importance of the relationship between bass and drums.

I agreed to arrange some Take That tunes for a particular wedding gig but said it would cost the organiser the cost to the band for the arrangements, which IIRC was around £30 per chart. That said, if it's 25 tunes that's a fair old whack to pay extra!

[quote name='Mcgiver69' timestamp='1440503052' post='2851288'] The pups in the Streamer standard are fine, the issue is that for some reason they're using 25k pots and that makes them sound so weak. Try first changing the pots to 500k, I have a friend who did that and the bass changed into a monster. [/quote] Interesting. I have one and my main complaint is the weak output: I was going to fit a preamp, but may try a pot swap first as it's quite a bit cheaper!

I have just bought Mark's G&L M2000 Tribute from him. His communication was great, it came really well packed, was shipped as soon as he could after I paid and is in really 'as new' condition. Mark said he couldn't get on with the neck - in this case his loss is truly my gain, thanks for a great transaction! I wouldn't hesitate to do business with him again.

Thanks Al, hadn't thought of that.

Cheers MC, v helpful.

Considering buying a router to further a possible project, which might involve routing out a cavity for a j pickup near the bridge of a poor, unsuspecting precision style bass. I've seen recommendations for the best router generally, but as a first timer (intending to do LOTS of practice!!!) should I be looking to a full size router such as this: http://www.screwfix.com/p/makita-rp0900x-2-900w-plunge-router-240v/52281 or a 'palm size' one such as this: http://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-gkf600-600w-palm-router-240v/68002 TBH either way it's quite a splurge for one project - afterwards it'll probably get some odd use from time to time (bookcases etc) but it's not going to be in heavy use!

[quote name='Jenny_Innie' timestamp='1435483637' post='2809097'] Kanye smashed it. The haters ain't ever gonna "get it". Pure Kanye last night. Just him in the light. Piled on all of the hits right from the gun. Loved it. This is music 2015 style. [/quote] I do beg to differ - if 'smashing it' is turning up and massively disrespecting an audience who've paid hundreds of pounds by not even doing them the courtesy of bothering to put on a show instead of singing along to a backing track. There were a number of false starts and cock ups, not all of them attributable to Lee Nelson. It was clearly shambolic and barely rehearsed. How he thought going on a cherry picker would assist is beyond me. I was quite impressed with the lighting rig though. [quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1435486745' post='2809154'] +1. Of course you won't like it if it's hip hop. I have never had a conversation with a middle aged white bloke about Kanye... or even classic hip hop (DMC/PE etc.) [/quote] Is that because you didn't understand what they were talking about?

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1435401809' post='2808415'] Generally with Ts and Cs, the last bit of paper wins. [/quote] Apart from in consumer contracts, where there are certain provisions implied into the contract by law and which cannot be excluded - these are your 'statutory rights' and broadly speaking any term that purports to exclude the vendor's liability in this way is likely to be an unfair contract term.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1435346697' post='2808038'] Not sure why a shop is expected to cover the cost of a bass during transit when: A) they're not delivering themselves (who does?) the courier they're using won't insure it If you're buying a bass, do yourself, the shop and the bass itself the courtesy of either buying a hardcase, or even better, picking it up in person. Not poor at all from Bass Lounge. Si [/quote] Not saying it's poor, just probably not legally enforceable!

Actually, it's unlikely that this would ever stand up as a retailer cannot exclude a consumer's statutory rights which includes a requirement that the goods are of satisfactory quality. So if you did turn up in pieces through no-fault of your own, you would be able to bring a claim against the retailer. Of course, I am sure they would do their best to assist before that was ever necessary.

I've done a fair bit of recording over the years as a drummer, and when the recording tech starts saying things like "oh, we prefer our kit" or "try our snare" it tends to mean they don't know how to record anything that isn't their house gear, so alarm bells start ringing. The tech/prodcer's job is to capture your sound, not change it. If they can't record your sound, and you're paying them, I'd be a bit worried. Over the years I've stood firm over my sound, which is open, well tuned drums, instead of thick, over damped heads. Similarly the bassist in my old band said "that's my sound" and the tech had to capture it. A little eq tweak is fine, but changing instruments, unless you want to, is not.

Following on from Jose's thread about modding his G&L, I recently picked up a Warwick Streamer STD 5-string. I've played it for a couple of months but now I'm finding it could do with some more 'oomph'. The standard pickups are known to be quite weak and they're apparently a non-standard fitting, so finding a replacement can be tricky. I've owned a few active basses in the past so my first though turns to fitting a preamp. My last bass before this one had a J-Retro fitted, so I'm considering going with either a U-Retro or one of the new Uni-Pre's. The bass as standard is three-knob VVT, with a top-mounted jack. I could go with a Uni-Pre 3-knob and basically drop that straight in without drilling (if I leave the active/passive toggle switch in the cavity), but I could go with the 4-knob version which includes a passive tone control and push/pull toggle for active. This would mean I'd have to drill out the body (most likely on the underside) to fit a new jack. Now, my woodworking skills are limited at best, but I reckon I could make a half-decent fist of it, and if not I'm sure I could find someone that can. Knowing the bass isn't particularly well thought of so unlikely to increase in value any time soon, is there any thing to prevent me going with the 4-knob and getting the drill out?

If I'd have known thats' what you'd do to it, I've never have let it go! Nah, seriously I think it's all about getting the instrument to confirm to what you want, rather than you to what it can do. TBH the neck put me off it, and knowing I couldn't have got another neck I chose to get something that would work. Similarly I have a tendency to put pre-amps in most basses i've owned, and about to do another! Nice work!

I've had three 5'ers over the years and each time I got rid because I just couldn't get on with it. A recent cull meant I was down to one bass and I decided to make that one a 5'er, reasoning that if that's my only bass, I'd have to learn to play it. A few months in and I think I've just about got the hang of it - I'm not a great bassist anyway, so I was starting from a pretty low point anyway (badum tish) but I've found if I don't think about it, it's easier than if I consciously think "right, now I'm going down to Eb". So, rambling aside, try locking your 4 string away for a month or so.