51m0n

+1 SR300 (unbelievably ergonmic and easy to get started on) +1 Squire VMJ +1 trying out new & buying 2nd hand One other point, IMO it is a must that whatever you buy, new or used you get the setup checked over and taken down to a medium-low action. As a beginner having a badly setup bass will be immensely damaging to your enjoyment (and in an extreme case it could cause you to injure your hands), making the whole experience far harder, physically than it needs or should be.

[quote name='The Funk' post='786014' date='Mar 25 2010, 04:38 PM']That's what I was originally going for with my band. It works well for some bands. If you have a kind of band philosophy that runs through your band name, look, sound, lyrics etc., the audience might miss out on a lot of that if you don't let them in on it. You have to figure out which way works best for your band. I think we can all agree that dead space works for noone.[/quote] Yup agreed completely

I'd agree with all the above. My only point of contention (if it could be called that) is with number 2. Its even better to have no dead air at all, just run striaght from song to song, zero silence, zero talking other than an brief "Y'alright!" between say the third and forth song of the set... Thats proper hard to do, and tbh I've only seen one local band manage it really well, but they just blew everyone else away whenever they played as a result, the audience energy would just lift with each intersong segue. Very very skilled at their craft they were....

Hmmmmm. Dont think some of this is accurate. The length of the string that matters is the length from the nut to the bridge. Not the length from the tuner head to the ball end. Since those extra lengths on each end are not part of the vibrating string. The tension required to get the string to pitch is dependant on the length of the string (as described above), the active part of the string if you will, the pitch you want it to get to, the material that the string is made of, and the construction of the string. I could have 2 miles of string from end to end at a .105 gauge, if I have a 34" section in the middle of it, then the tension required to get the string up to pitch in that middle section will be the same as if the entire string length was 38". The excess length is not relevant since the length of the vibrating node is fixed. The longer that active length is the higher the tension required. So a 35" scale length (nut to bridge) requires more tension than the exact same material, gauge and construction string on a 34" scale length neck. Not much more though. Angle over the bridge makes virtually no difference to the tension, string through thte body will make virtually no difference to the tension, have a straight in line 4 or 5 tuning pegs on the top verse a 2+2 or 3+2 headstock, will make no difference. To the tension on the string at a given pitch. Whether these make some measurable differenceto the tone is something you can all argue about for days - I dont think it really does, compared to something more fundamental like string material density and construction. Dons tin hat, gets into bunker and waits for the shouts of "incoming!".... :ph34r:

[quote name='Bassassin' post='784839' date='Mar 24 2010, 04:14 PM']Afraid I can't take credit for that - I think that's courtesy of Mr Foxen. However: Badly Engineered Hopeless Ripoffs Involving No German Electronic Reliability. J.[/quote] Oh touche, I was trying to get one for that!

[quote name='bassbloke' post='784762' date='Mar 24 2010, 02:56 PM']I'm ashamed. 4 pages of name calling and no one has thought to post this Nice clear bass tone on a Fender precision bass. Instantly recognisable bassline.[/quote] HUGE +1 from me. Probably my all time favourite slap line, if I had to name just one....

Cant stand that Level 42 slap tone, its got no 'meat' on its ricky-ticky bones Love Bonin' but the slap tone on that is too nasal for my liking ("mmmm my warwicks got so much wood!" - yeah, but again, no meat!) I prefer a fatter slap tone all round, like this:- Or even the first track on my myspace page (shameless plug ) which has a slap tone I was thrilled to get, all grindy and naughty, not all squeaky clean and polite....

Gator definitely do a shallow case (I've got two). As for comps, keep an eye out for a dbx160A, they are great.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='784530' date='Mar 24 2010, 11:30 AM']The units will have their size on the spec in Us so most compressors* and tuners will be 1U and you'll need a 2U case to put them in. The depth varies too though, and I don't think this is as simple. EDIT: *Cheap compressors![/quote] Its not only cheap comps that are 1u as it goes

Personally I think the ultra modern slap tones of MM and the like are rather grating. I like something 'chewier'. Of course part of that is the stuff he does, its far too clinical to be really funky for my taste. He's a staggering player though, dont get me wrong, he just isn't doing songs to **** to, and thats what funk is all about really IMO

[u]Modern slap tone[/u] [i][b]Brand New Strings!!!!![/b][/i] absolutely vital to get the amount of harmonic content you need. I'd recommnd a set of DR Lo-Riders or DR Hi-Beams. Cut the harsh stuff around 700Hz-1KHz , boost the upper bass (120Hz and below), boost the sizzle to taste (>4KHz) Both pickups wide open, tone on the bass (if its passive) on full. You do not need an active instrument, but it can help. A decent compressor, set up very well can help too. You also need a really decent amp and a great cab with a great tweeter - something like an Eden 210XT or a Berg ae410 (yeah baby!). [u]Old skool slap tone[/u] Strings neednt be so new, but shouldnt be dead like Motown dead either. Dont cut the mids anywhere near as much, and dont boost any treble. You dont need a tweeter for this (they didnt put them in bass cabs till the late 80's IIRC) but 10s are still good. If yuo have a tweeter turn it off, you want that paper cone top end... For the really real deal ultra old skool sound use tapewounds on a passive J bass, like Larry Graham in Sly and the Family Stone. A lot of 70's slap was actually done on P basses, so if you have a J bass you can try just the neck pickup, but there are definitely tracks out there with all kinds of variation in pickup blend, especially when mixed with plenty of eq, so all bridge pickup and a big bass boost can sound really nice too.

'The kings of the catchy cheesy chorus' - Melody Maker Thats one double edged compliment isnt it! 'The best pop song in the last 30 years' (Happy Ending) - John Peel Mind you, that I would find hard not to have engraved on my body if it were about one of my band's songs, and said by that man! Kudos to you sir!!

Well if they arent exactly the same make and size of strings then this is completely understandable. The tension is how much the strings are pulled. This is related to the resultant stiffness of the string, but that stiffness is also dependant on mass, material and construction. DR Hi Beams are really bendy at concert pitch, d'Addarios are like pylon cables in comparision (this is IME having swapped the d'Addarios that came on my Roscoe for Hi-beams).

[quote name='Spoombung' post='783635' date='Mar 23 2010, 04:28 PM']Some of you may have seen this already but here goes: [i]Martin Taylor's contract rider _____________________________________________________________ Dear Promoter, Thank you for inviting me to play for you. I have been a professional SNIP Thanks for your cooperation. I look forward to a great gig.[/i][/quote] Thats ace, up their with [url="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1004061iggypop1.html"]Iggy Pops rider[/url] for sheer entertainment!

You know the thing Vic and Bob do with the thigh rubbing on Shootin Stars? Thats me right now matey, come over all peculiar seeing those bad boys! Damn, I need to get out more!

Well another option is to sort out samples and have the drummer play to a click.... Dont shoot me down here, a friend of mines band do this, and they have found it has opened up a whole world of creativity and interesting stuff that they couldnt have done with just a singer (or 3). Mind you the drummer plays to a click with no problems at all. Of course if its covers you're doing that probably isnt much help!

I was once briefly in an Indie band (forgive me). The two guitarists at every rehearsal would dick about for at least a couple of minutes with tiny adjustments to amp settings that were only just audible between every song. I thought that this slightly OCD behaviour was odd but nothing more. I never thought they intended to do this on the gig, it would be ridiculous, some songs they spent 5 minutes between on occasion. On the first gig you can imagine my horror when after the first track they proceeded to go into their peculiar arse in the air (pointed at the punters) ritual of 'getting their sound, man'. During that first song I rolled a cigarette, and smoked it in entirety, before they got to the point where they were happy. The venue was absolutely silent as the punters stood there slack jawed at this turn of events. After the next track I rolled three more fags. Smoked one on the third gap, then sang a quiet 'why are we waiting' for about three choruses. At this pooint we were alone with the bar staff, the punters having come to their senses. At the end of the night we went our seperate ways. Fortunately I didnt have to tell them I was leaving the band, they phoned to sack me the next day for not 'having the right attitude to make it' Best local band I ever saw had no dead air on their gigs, just constant pure energy. And that is the best way to do it by far. Nearly killed the drummer though! Buy the guitarist a tuner! Teach him how to use it.

My mate Terry Popple's old band Snafu, one of if not the best drummers I've ever had the pleasure of playing with. Cracking groove this! Niiiice!

Saw Dr John at The Dome in Brighton with Plux last year (I think), immense sound, humungous groove. Loved it!! He was preceded by the worst band I've ever seen though, trying to do funky and missing the mark by about as far as you can, they were awful!

You're all utterly boinkers IMO Staggering effort Bilbo, I had a look at the pdf, and as far as I can tell its slightly mnore complex than a route map to the center of the universe. I cant even clap some of those rhythms ! Stuart, you're as dab hand at transcription, shouldnt take you too long to throw some chords on there (btw my copy of your Chic book is getting worn out, its all dog eared )

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='779892' date='Mar 19 2010, 03:23 PM']May the funk be with you. [/quote] And you too, with knobs on, well stars then, you know what I mean

[quote name='OldGit' post='779870' date='Mar 19 2010, 03:08 PM']£80 retail so what's that? about 57p trade? [/quote]