Linus27

My Stagg sounded like a double bass. Other people also said it sounded like a double bass. Job done really.

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='888276' date='Jul 7 2010, 12:14 PM']thanks for doing this Linus, you've inspired me to think about who I could tap up now... [/quote] You are very welcome. Would be great to have more interviews from other bassists. I have somebody else in mind so I will let you know who nearer the time.

[quote name='basshead56' post='887795' date='Jul 6 2010, 09:15 PM']Great interview! Great choice of questions Keep up the good work[/quote] Thank you

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='887787' date='Jul 6 2010, 09:11 PM']Looks like our Michael is the official BassChat journalist from now on Nice work & a nice piece, Michael - Who's next?[/quote] Hey, thanks. I do have somebody in mind. Watch this space

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='887782' date='Jul 6 2010, 09:07 PM']Great interview.[/quote] Coool. Thank you very much.

I was lucky enough to get a short interview ex Simple Minds and Propaganda bassist, Derek Forbes including asking some of the questions some on here had asked. Below is his answers. 1. Who influenced you as a bass player when you were learning to play? Jimmy Page. Strange answer? Well, I started life as a guitarist, and very quickly became a Lead Guitarist. The answer is technically correct, as Jimmy Page played bass with the Yardbirds, as well as Lead Guitar. I loved Andy Fraser from Free, and Jack Bruce from Cream, and last but not least Paul McCartney...these guys for me are great exponents of the melodic bass line. 2. What was it that drew you to the bass rather than any other instrument? Fate, and the theft of my Gibson Les Paul Sunburst Deluxe. I was working in Lloret de Mar in Spain, as a guitar player and singer. It was early 1977. I played acoustic in the 'Corner Inn', and after a few weeks, I was 'poached' to play with a band who had just arrived from Leeds, minus their Lead Guitar player. We rehearsed from 2pm till 6pm every day, except Sunday, and played every night from 10pm till 4.30am. The bass player couldn't sing and play bass at the same time, so he played rhythm with his Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, and I played bass for the first 3 or 4 hours, every night, including Sundays. This was my 'Hamburg'. As a consequence of this, I arrived home for my 21st Birthday as a double agent, playing Bass and Lead Guitar. I joined the 'Subhumans' from Glasgow, and was asked to fill in the Bass spot. Later I filled in for Simple Minds, but I had the full intention of carrying on life as a Lead Guitarist, until that fateful night in Glasgow when my Les Paul was stolen...I said yes to the offer of joining Simple Minds permanently. 3. Your bass playing in Simple Minds was very unique and very prominent. Was there any other bassist’s from the 80's, for example, Paul Webb of Talk Talk, Mark King of Level 42, Pino Paladino who stood out and impressed you? Great players all. Mick Karn was a tremendous player at that time, and still is, although he is not well at the moment. I send out get well wishes to him, if I may. Sting has written a lot of incredible bass lines, and my old pal Adam Clayton has certainly made himself irreplaceable with U2. Peter Hook is awesome, to use my kids vernacular. Paul Raven from Killing Joke is sadly missed , and an incredible talent on Bass. 4. Who impresses you now as a bass player? I love Flea as a player. Gail Ann Dorsey from David Bowies band is superb, and Tina Weymouth will always get my vote. Gordon Moakes of Bloc Party is a legend too...and he was born on the same day as me, 22nd June, albeit he is 20 years my junior.....Great Minds think alike eh Gordon? 5. What was your very first bass guitar? It was a Fender Precision copy, by some obscure maker. I quickly moved on to Guild basses and the I had an Ibanez Explorer, followed closely by Fender Precision and a couple of Wal basses, fretted and fretless,( both Fender and Wal). 6. How did you create your unique bass tone? Was it based on any other player or your own creation? I loved the sound Jean Jaques Burnel had with the Stranglers, but my sound came from me twiddling around, coupled with advice from studio engineers whilst recording parts. I have only used 2 effects. An MXR Flanger and an Octaver. 7. When creating a bass line, do you have a set formula or whatever comes into your head? I hear the line in my head before I play it. This may sound strange, but that's how it works for me. I just know what I want, and go for it. 8. You are more commonly seen playing your red Fender Precision. What year is it from, is it a standard US model and has it had any modifications done to it? It is an early 80's model, (80?). I bought it in New York from Mannies. I also have a Fretless, which I bought in Las Vegas with a rosewood fingerboard, also (80?). The only modification is the Seymour Duncan 1/4 pounders in the fretless. 9. Was there any reason why you stuck with the same red Precision? A love affair with that guitar. You can't get better. I played that on all of the albums from Empires and Dance onward. There is also the fact that it looks really cool too. 10. What strings do you use? I have used Rotosound Swing bass for years. Guages are 45, 65, 80, 105. I tried Dean Markley 'Blue Steel' which were also great, and I have tried Vigier strings too, which are superb. 11. What are your thoughts on all these new lightweight neodymium bass cabs? Anything lightweight is great for an old Rocker like myself. When I have a chance to try them, I will give my opinion on them. I am sure my Tech would be delighted though. 12. A lot of bassists in the eighties were using Stingrays, Status and Warwicks . Have you tried any of these basses and what are your thoughts on them? I have used Vigier for years and years, and I can't see by them . If they could use the exact dimensions of a P Bass, then that would be the ultimate. The Status never appealed to me, because of the missing headstock, although it is a wonderful bass to play. I haven't tried the Stingray, and the Warwicks are like a piece of quality furniture, with beautiful wood and workmanship, but not as cool as Fender Precision in my opinion. Sound great though.. 13. Where you ever approached by a bass manufacturer to have a signature model, for example Fender? Vigier made me a few basses, and had my name on them. Fender would be a dream come true for me. They could make me a 'Tartan' one. Seriously if they made another one of my Red sunburst P basses, then I would be delighted.. 14. Do you still have your Alembic Spoiler? Yes, and I have bought some mother of pearl and fine saw blades for cutting shell etc, to replace a missing dot on the third fret. It is a beautiful guitar, and still sounds fabulous. 15. Recently, you have been playing Vigier basses. Tell me what you like about these basses? The tonal range is superb, but the best thing is the action. These are really fast guitars. It is like tapping your fingers on the fretboard, as opposed to pressing down strings. Incredible design, and the power of the active 'pups' is legendary. These are truly wonderful guitars. I was recently given a Vigier Excess fretless with Delata metal neck. It looks like it has just come out of Tutankhamun's tomb, with all the Gold plating and shiny black body. Beautiful. 16. What are your settings on your MXR Flanger? It's a secret.... 17. Why was your bass mixed so low in Sparkle in the Rain when on previous albums, your bass parts were such a prominent part of the song? I didn't think it was that low. It could just be a Producer thing. Maybe Steve Lillywhite likes to mix it that way. I know the parts inside out, so I imagine I am hearing them loud...I may be wrong...'who said that?' Derek Forbes..News at Ten..School for the hard of hearing... 18. What Simple Minds/Propaganda track(s) out of all of your recordings are you proud of most? 'C Moon Cry Like a Baby and P Machinery 19. Did any of the songs on Once Upon A Time first come about when you were still in Simple Minds? I was involved in the writing of at least 5 of the tracks. I have the recordings to prove it. Ghost Dancing, for instance, was first played in 1984 at the Barrowland in Glasgow, as an alternate version of 'I Travel', I was still in the band at this point. 20. Do you think you will ever play with Simple Minds again? If the offer was right and fair to all members, then that would be the only time I would agree. All for one and one for all..... 21. Any hidden gems among the Simple Minds catalogue from when you were in the band that have never seen the light of day? Yes, and they may well see the light of day soon. 22. What do you think of the bass players playing along to your bass lines on Youtube? I am flattered, and they are Stars for doing it. I am just glad that I made an impression on bass players all over the World. It is indeed an honour... 23. Have you enjoyed playing a bunch of Paul Simonon bass lines in Los Mondos Bongos? To be honest, yes, although they aren't too challenging. The best bass line for me is a tie between 'Rudi Can't Fail' and 'Rock the Casbah', the second song being played on record by Norman Watt Roy from the Blockheads... 24. How does it feel to be voted Scotland ’s Greatest Ever Bassist? Pure Magic.so it is 25. Most important question of all, favourite Whisky and favourite beer? Whisky is Bunnahabhain and beer is Erdinger Weisse Bier mit Hefe

I know there's quite a bit of love for Ellie Goulding here. Plus her brother is a fellow basschatter. It looks like there is a bit of love in Facebook land also. [url="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=285616553223"]http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=285616553223[/url]

[quote name='witterth' post='884470' date='Jul 2 2010, 11:50 PM']No, it works,just takes a while, be patient chaps. very nice too! put me in mind of Mick Karn so cant be too bad at all, that. Cheers! W[/quote] Cheers matey, appreciate the feedback.

[quote name='essexbasscat' post='884460' date='Jul 2 2010, 11:34 PM']what was the song ? silence is golden ? I heard nacht, nada, nothing. ??? T[/quote] What do you mean? You saying the link did not work or it was blank?

This a a song that my friend asked me to play on and we ended up, re-writing a fair amount of it. This is the short version and the final will have proper vocals eventually. I played bass on my Squire Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz and I am quite pleased with the results. So love playing fretless. Anyway, let me know what you think. It was just a bit of fun really but turned out better than we expected. [attachment=53423:Spatial_Anomaly.mp3]

[quote name='goblin' post='882979' date='Jul 1 2010, 01:55 PM']It's like that with a lot of basses. I'm still looking for a bass that literally does it all, but i don't think it will ever show up, or if it did, it would cost silly money. When I'm gigging with my rock band, for a long set I'll use two basses. Fretless Corvette and it was the Wal, but it's now the active Corvette, just set differently, just because they give completely different sounds. One sounds completely different to the other. If I'm doing something like a folk gig, I'll nip out with the fretless and the 'leccy double, or for something more funky, just the fretted Corvette will do the job And they say guitarists have ocd [/quote] It's true what you say although my ESP does cover every angle thanfully. When I was in an indie folk band, a Precision was too dirty and muffled and a Stingray was too unique sounding and cluny. I found a smooth sounding Jazz worked the best. When in a punk rock band, it had to be a Precision. If I was doing something mellow or acoustic then I would grab the passive corvette. Anyway, I will keep looking for a passive Corvette fretless. They seem to sell for around £300 - £350 which is perfect for me.

What about the Ashdown Little Giant 500. Dirt cheap and does what it says on the tin.

[quote name='goblin' post='882595' date='Jun 30 2010, 11:46 PM']Just for a bit of extra beef if anything (or Quorn for the vegetarians ) The fretted Corvette in the same thread as the fretless I only got a few weeks ago for around £500. It started life as a passive, and then it was sent off to John East for a once over, including a passive to active conversion, and to be honest it's just the business. There's a much more dynamic sound than I get from the fretless.[/quote] Cool thanks for the info. If I'm honest, my passive Corvette can sometimes sound a little thin. On the other hand it can also sound very precise and beautiful so I guess I can't have it both ways.

[quote name='goblin' post='882513' date='Jun 30 2010, 10:03 PM']Yeah, that was including postage from Isle of Man too!! And a Warwick gig bag, although both Warwicks live in Hiscox cases when I'm out gigging. Found a slight problem where they don't fit in my new car though I'll consider selling it when I'm wealthy enough (or can tempt my dad into) to get a Wal fretless. Got a fretted one which is killer it has to be said. In all seriousness, upgrades I'd consider would be a guild, overwater or an active corvette fretless. But I'd need a lot of tempting. It is in all fairness my main gig bass so has a bond with me, as do other people and their instruments I would highly recommend you get your hands on one.[/quote] Yep, my beady eyes are looking for one. To be honest, I know what you mean about having a bond with an instrument. All my basses are very very good yet very different. However, I don't really need my fretted Corvette but its a stunning looking bass and plays and sounds amazing. I really don't think I could part with it. There is something about it that is so magical. Why would you upgrade the Corvette to active. My passive sounds great but then I have not heard an active one.

[quote name='goblin' post='882445' date='Jun 30 2010, 09:18 PM']It's passive . 1999 german model. Strings are shot, but ordered some new ones for it, sounds amazing with flats though, shot or not. It's amazing what you can pick up on ebay for £350 [/quote] Damn I hate you £350 is killer although that does seem right after looking at what similar fretless Corvette's have sold for on here. So when you selling it to me

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='882049' date='Jun 30 2010, 03:31 PM']They've been reprofiled a number of times I believe. As a whole, they do seem to have got thicker from the 80s examples. (I know that the Corvette was not around then - I'm talking about a general Warwick trend). In retrospect, I guess the whole definition of a fast neck is meaningless. It depends what the individual considers "fast". What models of Corvette are we talking here? I wonder if the Corvette changed it profile when manufacturing moved from Germany to Korea? EDIT - looking at silddx sig, it looks like he's comparing a German $$ with a Korean STD. Could explain the profile difference. Also interesting to read others viewpoints here - [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-270628.html"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/archive/inde...p/t-270628.html[/url][/quote] No, the profile changed before they moved to Korea. My Corvette has a very thin skinny neck and is one of the last German made ones from late 2009 or very early 2010. The previous Warwicks I have played had much chunkier necks.

[quote name='XB26354' post='881823' date='Jun 30 2010, 12:25 PM']Having had probably 20-30 warwicks in my time I can assure any potential buyer that the necks are not sticky when new. If used then wire wool and wax will make the neck silky smooth again. Ergonomically warwick 5 and 6-strings aren't the best. The short top horn doesn't help. The NT models have arched bodies which tend to be more comfortable seated, but I never felt the Corvette body was uncomfortable. Personally I would choose a used ash one as bubinga is heavy and oily. Ash has more growl and snap.[/quote] Thanks for the input. I fancied Bubinga as I have a fretted Ash already. However, not so keen on having a heavy bass. Maybe sell/swap my fretted Ash Corvette for a fretless one. I think I am going to have to hunt around for somewhere to try an Ash and Bubinga Corvette.

I think I may know now what the sticky feeling is. When I wax my fretted corvette neck, I can always feel how smooth and silky it feels. It surprises me everytime how smooth it feels. Naturally over time, this wears away and I guess the feeling that is left is what some are refering to as the sticky feeling. If that is the case then for me its not going to be a problem as I don't mind the feel of the necks either way and waxing has always made them super smooth again.