Wolverinebass

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1456654383' post='2990998'] I saw an advert on gumtree last week for a bass player and the ad said that you'd didn't have to be any good or own a bass, the most important thing was that you could bring people to gigs... [/quote] I saw that advert as well Rob. I'm not sure if I was crying with laughter at it or just at my seemingly wasted life. There was me under the misguided apprehension that you should practice and progress as a musician. If only I'd known that all it took to succeed in the music business was to be popular with my high school year and have lots of likes on "the book of faces."

I bought my Hamer 12 string off them. They were great to deal with.

Tech 21 are having a laugh with this. Despite the fact I truly love their stuff and my psa 1.1 is my favourite preamp of all time, it's not enough to get away from the feeling that we're being done. Until they sell stuff in the UK at a reasonable price or the value of the dollar sinks substantively, I'm not partaking in this.

Nice work Rob. Proof that with enough will something other than indie or covers can be played. Finding people to do progressive music myself to do something really technical is appalling!! I feel your previous pain. Really enjoyed listening to your stuff. I would pop down and see your gig as it's not very far from me, but I'm seeing Tesseract next Friday. Hope it goes well for you.

This thread has really killed me. I've been laughing so hard my wife thinks that I could have a stroke if I don't stop. On a serious level, it's taken me a while to figure out why it's so funny. It's because it's like a paraphrase of Spinal Tap. I really hope this doesn't come over as trolling as I'm just trying to explain my somewhat non-sensical thoughts. JT has always stated that he and his band are very discerning about what kind of gigs they play. Spinal Tap were 2nd on the bill to a puppet show. From the photo a few pages back it looks like JT's band were playing 2nd to the FA Cup replay of Crewe vs Scunthorpe judging by the plasma screen in the background. It also has echoes of the "lick my love pump" scene. When mentioning to musician friends what JT expects from a venue in terms of payment, professional PA and class of band, friends ask where his band could be playing assuming it to be somewhere large and well known. "The Tickled Trout." Famously Spinal Tap had amps which went to 11. In JT's case the PA must be able to handle Wembley stadium without breaking a sweat. It all seems vastly silly which is why I find this thread hysterical in the extreme. I hasten to add I've never heard JT or his band play and my comments are based on the absurdity of this thread rather than some form of comment on his or their playing or such.

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1453966919' post='2964667'] I hope regardless of the pa and sound guys requests we can all agree that the main thing above all is that the performance is good, if you play songs with a good hook you should get the venue full to the gills and net yourself a return gig? [/quote] And the trout jokes just keep on coming! I love this thread. Just genius.

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1453938030' post='2964573'] Still rumbling on re some cash back for the general inconvenience. Warwick have moved from replacement pickguard plus full refund inc. postage; to replacement pickguard with part refund; to we'll refund the postage. I did offer to split the whole thing 50/50 but apprently not. [/quote] Oh, come on! How about the fillings out of your teeth as well?!! Warwick showing that they are now coming in a close 2nd to Rickenbacker for patronising customer service awards. Beyond a joke.

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1453803754' post='2962804'] Tickled Trout sound crew. [/quote] Please stop it! I'm laughing so hard I think I might swallow my tongue! It's just the "tickled trout" name of the pub as well. Just conjures up all sorts of very silly images!

[quote name='bjelkeman' timestamp='1453491202' post='2960065'] It does make sense, from the point of view that Doug likes locally produced. I also seem to remember Tommy telling me he had found the speaker cloth, similar to what is on my TKS W2126s, from a different supplier for a different customer. But, I can't remember if I saw a speaker with that on his FB page. (Maybe I am remembering that wrong.) The fact that Doug has a Mesa Carbine, and Mayones bass in the workshop is a hint we have similar taste. My cabs. [url=https://flic.kr/p/hL2TTa][/url] [/quote] Lovely rig, squire.

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1453574931' post='2960741'] Saw him at The Cutting Room in New York last May. Turned up mid-afternoon to pick up tickets (as we'd done them online from the UK) and they were loading in. (Corey Glover was the headliner.) Had a very long chat with dUg's tech guy and a guy from Tech21. I was expressing my love for Tech21 stuff and the dUg head came into the venue at which point I nearly jizzed. The guy from T21 was saying how expensive it was to configure heads for Europe and they just needed a minimum order before they'd even try and do it. Much as I'd love one, I believe I could probably emulate the tone for a lot less than £2,000! Shame! [/quote] For that money Tech21 can shove it. The clean tone on it is ropey. Had it been a preamp with midi savable pot settings I'd be in there, but it doesn't and to me it's vastly overpriced.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1453618247' post='2961024'] You`ll notice a real difference Jim, mainly on the highs. I used to use Markbass (got a lovely sound, especially with a Precision imo) and it`s amazing the amount of high their cabs roll-off. [/quote] Did you have the tweeter on maximum Lozz? Just curious.

They look lovely.

In the diary!

Thanks for the kind comments chaps. I really love the bass and now that Mrs Wolverine has said "No More!!" that'll be me done unless I sell something, which I'm not going to do frankly!! I was going to get a 50's precision, but I think that may be off the cards unless I keep it in my studio, but that's for some other time... I figure my brother's seizure was status eplilepticus caused by a lifetime of drinking though only tests will confirm one way or another. He's 10 years older than me and pretends there's no problem. What made the whole incident hilarious was the fact that seemingly, I got the only bass playing paramedic in south east London and he happened to notice my new Wal. Even Mrs Wolverine thought that was quite silly. How many people other than bass players would even recognise a Wal anyway? The number of times I gigged with the Status Buzzard and folk asked me "Is that a BC Rich?...."

So, I figure I'd better get round to this. On the 18th December, I popped down to pick the bass up at Wal and had a good chat with Paul Herman who was not only a lovely man, but very accomodating to changing the setup for me as I am someone who likes a stupidly low action for the most part. Not only that he gave me a lift back to the station as I have a wrecked knee and carrying something reasonably heavy like a bass in a case over a long period would be not much fun the next day. So here we go, this is my Mark 2 with Sycamore facings, ebony fretboard and gloss finish on both the body and neck. After giving myself a few days to get used to it, I thought I'd put up some not so great camera shots. The bass is of course fantastic as you'd expect. Unless of course you hate Wals in which case you'll think it's rubbish. Fair play. This took 22 months though Paul quoted me 20. Not that I was annoyed at this as I knew what was going on whenever I asked. It was worth waiting for. It's probably the only bolt on bass that I've ever played that doesn't feel like a bolt on. Now for the dark humour. Over crimbo, my mum and brother were down. On the evening of the 23rd, my brother had a seizure in the back garden. Deep joy. He's not on good form, but isn't an epileptic so we shall see. However, the joke of all this is that he was sleeping out in my studio and sneaked out to have a cigarette. As I couldn't play in the house I was just playing the Wal unplugged to familiarise myself with the neck profile a bit more. I was just putting it in the case when all this kicked off. So, I get out and see to my brother and make sure he doesn't swallow his tongue or bite it off. I didn't hear this, but as the 3 paramedics arrived the case in the kitchen was still open and the 2nd paramedic said according to my wife "Ooooh, is that a Wal? Hopefully I'll have a bit of time for a chat afterwards." This was before they had even got to see what state he was in. Needless to say when my wife told me this I was killing myself with laughter. So, if you're the bass playing paramedic (I don't forget faces, so send me a PM) I'm quite happy to have a chat and say thanks properly.

A friend of mine let me borrow his '81 precision and that bass was absolutely devastating. Much more cutting than I expected which I guessed was just down to pickups even though they were stock.

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1449430086' post='2923480'] Who the f%&k is Stu Hamm? McCartney never needed to play like him, he was busy writing and performing some the most iconic music of all time. In the records of a hundred years hence I doubt Stu Hamm will feature. Get a grip! [/quote] Clearly you missed the point I was trying to make. The OP asked "what is McCartney good at?" Blue said "everything" hence the suggestion that he can play in any style well. So I listed a few styles that he would probably struggle with to illustrate the point that absolutely nobody can do that. I can do 2 styles really well, but as for the rest..... maybe less so. As it happens, I find Stu Hamm somewhat self indulgent at times but you can't fault his technical skills. It's not about being remembered, to which your post is completely correct as his songs have stood the test of time. I took what Blue said literally as opposed to what he meant which was "what he does, he does well." Simple isn't it? Blue is a fan, as am I.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1449270803' post='2922218'] Everything Blue [/quote] With respect, that's absolute rubbish. Nobody does everything well. If that's what you're saying, I think the possibility of seeing him try to solo like Stu Hamm or play in a progressive band like Tool, or slap like Mark King would be enough to dispel the thought that he can do everything well as I'd imagine it'd be a bit car crash. He does several things in the terms of playing well like most of us. But nobody, does everything "well." Not McCartney, Pastorious, Clarke, Jamerson, Entwistle, King or any other iconic bass player you can name can do everything well. They have their niche areas in which they excel (or not dependent on whether you like their style or even their music), but nobody is all things. McCartney isn't any different in that respect. I happen to like his playing, before anyone asks.

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1447516505' post='2908261'] Yes, however the cheaper Dean explorer featured in the OP's original post is priced at £775....we aren't discussing the higher priced Dean explorer. 775 x 20 = 1550 Just sayin! [/quote] Apologies mate, I missed that! Such a pity it's black as price wise it's not completely horrific. I doubt you'd get that much alembic similarities out of that though aside from the shape. Just a shameless cash in really. On the other hand, you could get something more like it by putting in an ACG filter preamp but that's another £200 or so on top. Just a thought.

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1447365321' post='2907180'] Perhaps...but at approximately a 20th of the price it gives those with very little disposable income (most of us) the opportunity to get at least a 9th of the Alembic vibe. [/quote] Funnily enough, my point of a "9th rate copy" was actually slightly more right than I knew. A Dean spider costs £2500 or so. An Alembic re-issue spyder costs $15500. So, call it £16000. Those aren't completely accurate copies as John's Explorers were basically just normal signature electronics with a second master volume knob for a boost with series pickups. The reissues don't have the same pickups or 2nd master volume. That's aside from the various other profile idiosyncracies which he asked for at the time such as a flat fretboard to name but one. Even if it were a series 2 Alembic that would be 10 times more than the Dean, not 20 times more. However, it's worth noting that you'd probably be able to get a 2nd hand series 1 Alembic from say the 1980's for £2800. There are a few that pop up reasonably often. It's in effect that same sound and given the choice of one of them as compared to the Dean, it's no choice at all. Especially if you're comparing like for like in pricing situation.

It depends what sort of thing you want really. The Live at Leeds is easiest to copy in terms of sound and gear. Personally, I find this Bass Collection bass immensely distasteful. Yeah, John used to play basses made of basswood. Not. At least if you're going to copy something do it properly!! As for the Dean basses, I've tried a few of them and they're crap. The limited edition is not bad, but it's not an Alembic so what's the point? Well, the answer to that question is that Chris Entwistle can license his dad's name onto any bass for some quick pile of cash. I gather the Wickershams at Alembic weren't amused, but as with the Warwick and Status buzzards, anyone who's ever played both variants (as I have) knows that the Warwick version is totally inferior in almost every way just as the Dean is a 9th rate cousin to the Alembic it has ripped off in the most brazen way. Were it me, I'd be getting a Cataldo (and I have considered it in the past actually). Not that I've ever played one, but sound samples I've heard sound great. As long as they're put together right, I'd imagine they'd be very, good instruments. More than likely because the pickups have some serious kick.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1443612696' post='2876183'] ... what should I go after? By 8-string I mean four pairs tuned EADG, not an ironing board. I played a John Diggins monster at the Bassbash, heaviest bass I have [u][i][b]ever [/b][/i][/u]picked up, but it did sound simply immense. Tried out one of the current Hagstrom 8-strings yesterday but it was thoroughly [i]meh [/i]and really rather badly made too. Bumped into Dave Swift and asked his opinion. He really rates the old Ibanez Musician and Ibanez Studio 8-strings but says that they're really heavy. Given the size of the man, if he thinks they're heavy then I stand no chance. What does the Basschat massive recommend? [/quote] Don't you mean you tried my 8 string explorer at the bash Jack? It's a warmoth. Yes, it weighs several tons.

Thanks to everyone who organised this, it was really good fun and a great day. It was great to put a few more faces to names and catch up with folk I haven't met for a while and try some very nice basses as well. Sadly, I had to skip out and missed Trevor's Wal talk due to the joys of babysitting duties last night, but the cab shootout was very good as well as Lozz deciding he didn't like his own cabs which was hilariously funny.

I'll be along. Was hoping to bring something a bit different like my 8 string Explorer, but am just recovering from a knee op, so I thought that schlepping a bass that weighs more than the Empire State Building across London might be a bad idea. Ha!! Really interested in Trevor's talk as I hopefully should take possession of a very nice new Wal in about a month.

Just looking at their website. How can you make a 4x12 that only weighs 29kg? That just doesn't seem possible. I think even gk's is 35kg and aguilar and mesa come in at 65kg or so. Could it be made out of air?!!