queenofthedepths

[quote name='David Nimrod' post='89021' date='Nov 15 2007, 05:01 PM']But the most gut level satisfying bass lines have mostly been played on a '4'.[/quote] Absolutely right, but the key is in the word "mostly" - extra strings mean extra possibilities and once you get used to them, they're just as easy to play as a 4-string

+10 dB to double the volume, I mean - I hadn't counted on you posting again just before I responded

10!

[quote name='endorka' post='41859' date='Aug 6 2007, 10:00 AM']there are some limitations on open strings, for example it can be difficult to get vibrato with them[/quote] You can of course push down on the string behind the nut

[quote name='Machines' post='88497' date='Nov 14 2007, 04:42 PM']For that budget, I don't think the Yamaha BB615 can be beaten, a smidgeon over the £300. [url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/yamaha-bb615/70814"]<a href="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/yamaha-bb615/70814" target="_blank">http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/yamaha-bb615/70814[/url]</a> [/quote] and here it is a bit cheaper: [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Yamaha-BB615---Pewter~ID~3876.asp"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Y...ter~ID~3876.asp[/url] Personally I'd recommend getting one second-hand though, although my first 5-string was new and in that sorta budget

Since ARGH seems to have pretty much closed the topic of extra strings, I'd like to pose a slightly different question: how much do ERB players use their upper frets? After all, that'd be taking advantage of the true extended range... I find that when I play my 6 or 7-string, I use the top end of the board a lot more than when I'm playing 4 or 5

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='87799' date='Nov 13 2007, 11:45 AM']tractor noises and bad guitarists[/quote] Have you ever actually seen anyone playing one properly, not on youtube? Sound quality of videos on youtube is far from perfect and it's also full of bad guitarists playing actual guitars, but you wouldn't dismiss their instrument on the basis that wonderful players are rare, would you? I love my 7-string and have used it effectively in band situations as well as on my own without sounding like tractor noises or a bad guitarist - as for tapping, I do that a fair bit, but I also play finger-style and even slap a little bit The whole thing about you being close-minded is that you A. don't seem to value the opinion of those of us who like the sound of ERBs B. are basing your own opinion on what you've seen a few bassists doing with their ERBs, despite the adamant suggestions in this thread that we don't just tap all the time... Your 4-string basses are only an octave below even 6-string guitars... not very bassy, are they?

[quote name='ergon' post='87066' date='Nov 11 2007, 09:56 PM']you could get a head phone splitter for like £1 dunno what effect this would have on your amp but i doubt it would do much damage [url="http://www.zingseducation.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=119"]headphone splitter[/url][/quote] I've tried this to play 2 keyboards into the same amp as a bass and found that it drastically messes with the volume - more than a bit of a nuisance; that micro-mixer looks quite useful though - might invest in one myself

Or even better, find somewhere sheltered to play

Well, I hardly ever play 4-strings any more - I feel like I have a lot more freedom with 5, 6 or 7... it's nice to be able to go a bit more than an octave below a guitar, which is pretty much the point of the 5-string, so when you're playing with a 7 or even 8-string guitarist, that's where extra low strings come in - and there's a fair bit of interesting stuff to be done with a high C or F - you can classify it as noise if you like, but that's subjective really - you could say every bit of music is just noise and "circus tricks" - I'm sure somebody enjoys it...

[quote name='Zoe_BillySheehan' post='85848' date='Nov 9 2007, 12:04 PM']Wow nice collection! Id love to try a 7 string Zo xx[/quote] Thank you! The thing about gaining 9 basses in 3 years when you're a teenager is that you have to work pretty hard, look for bargains and buy virtually nothing else... once you go to uni and get a student loan, everything's so much easier! I like to think of my obsessive collecting of basses as good practise for saving money 7-strings are indeed delightful but you just can't find them in shops so unless you know someone who's got one you have to dive in at the deep end and isn't that what bass is all about? That said, I went from 4 to 5, then 6, then 7, then 8 - I think if you get a 5-string and use your low B a lot and you have a reasonable excuse to use fairly high notes (anything above the 12 on the G, really), then you'd probably be able to make good use of a 7-string - that's how it works for me anyway - low strings to shatter the guitarist's bowels and a high C with 26 frets to prove to him that he's barely got an octave above me Your basses look pretty nice too, especially that delicious Fender, but as you can probably guess, I hardly play 4-string any more...

I use an ME-50B and a Crybaby bass, which has much better wah, so yeah, get one of them

Since I'm 20 next month, I suppose I should post a pic of some of my basses... I only started playing when I was 17, so you could say I'm still just starting out Sorry about the poor quality of the pic - if I knew how to use my camera a bit better I would! It was hard enough to get these 5 all into the one pic or I'd have shown a few more!

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='84544' date='Nov 6 2007, 06:16 PM']Umm... are you going to eat that Twix? Just wonderin'.[/quote] Looks like an empty wrapper to me... I had a Wispa for the first time in years today - I'd forgotten how awesome they were!

[quote name='Mikey D' post='71771' date='Oct 9 2007, 06:33 PM']The first bassline i learnt was a bach cello suite as it was the only tab I had. No sh*t. I sat there with the tab until I could play at least half of it, although not very smoothly.[/quote] Ahaha it wasn't prelude 2 in D minor, tabbed for 5-string, was it?

[quote name='bnt' post='62772' date='Sep 19 2007, 05:10 PM']Just been looking at Phil Collins' website forum after he was mentioned in another thread here, wondering if he was still working with [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Sklar"][b]Leland Sklar[/b][/url] - another Great Bass Player. There's an [url="http://www.philcollins.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=101"]Ask Leland Sklar[/url] thread there where I found out more: Phil's done his "First Final Farewell Tour", so that's that for work with Phil - till the next final farewell tour. Meanwhile, Leland toured with Lyle Lovett last year, has recorded with Rod Stewart, and this year he's subbing with... Toto! (Mike Porcaro has a hand injury... but Toto is in good hands.)[/quote] Gotta love that "selected discography" on the Wikipedia page...

I've never had any lessons at all (I used to go to keyboard classes a couple of years ago though) and I've learned plenty of theory for myself - if I were you I'd just get him a decent cheap bass to play (he shouldn't need lessons or much encouragement if he's been pestering you for a year ) and let him carry on with the piano lessons as well - much better to be playing an instrument he's enthusiastic about and he won't thank you later on for stopping him playing bass now! I wish my parents had got me into it much much earlier

[quote name='tauzero' post='80295' date='Oct 28 2007, 02:25 AM']Reproducing the Fender sound is easy anyway - get a modern active bass, leave the strings on for a couple of years, turn the treble right down, then stuff a pillow in front of the speaker. Instant Fender. [/quote] You may think you're joking, but I actually do that (albeit without the pillow) - the only 4-string I play is pretty much dead and I've been told it "needs" new strings

That's lovely! Especially enjoyed your harmonics

Not just to be awkward, I'd suggest using BOTH of them... I use an ODB3 and the distortion on my ME-50 - individually they work fairly well and together they're absolutely monstrous - I play a fair bit of industrial metal so they should suit your needs

[quote name='stewblack' post='80253' date='Oct 27 2007, 10:20 PM']Apart from the wheel, I know what you mean![/quote] I'm pretty sure tyres weren't around in the stone age! But quite a lot of musical instruments have remained the same since they were invented

[quote name='Johnzy' post='79470' date='Oct 25 2007, 05:36 PM']cool! maybe i've just heard too many stories!!!! you guys are right, but the pop world is just so jaded. janek gwizdala told me when we met that he has missed pop/soul sessions because he doesnt use a ken smith. most of his pop work is done a p bass, but some producers have set ways and ideas. i dont ever want to be left out of a situation because of my gear.[/quote] So you're saying they judged him for NOT playing a stereotypical bass? And with this in mind, you're looking for something that no producers are going to recognise? I'm certainly not following your logic here - if you have a specific style in mind, maybe you really know what sort of bass you should be looking for?

[quote name='The_D' post='79652' date='Oct 26 2007, 08:37 AM']Without Drums? Yeah easily. With drums? Probably not unless the drummer uses daffodils as sticks [/quote] In my last band, the 2 guitarists both played with 30W combos and were clearly audible against a drummer - that said, they sounded rubbish - there's no point cranking a small amp up unless you don't care how good you sound