thumperbob 2002

I`ve had loads of Mexican and American Fenders over the years but the best I have had have been my CIJ Marcus Miller and my present CIJ 70s Re-Issue. Very high quality, after set up probably the best Jazz I have had ( or played ) Who needs a sadowsky? I think the main point with the Jap fenders is consistency.

Do I Love you ( indeed I do ) great piece of northern soul Breaking Down the Walls Of Heartache ditto.....

I have the Boss RC 50 and to be honest it is one of the best bass oriented things I have bought- I find it really useful for other things than looping- such as slowing down tracks to help me learn them- I use it as a sampler on stage too- and as a looper it is amazing- very very much overkill but if its good enough for Wooten.........

I`d be pretty amazed to find 4 strings the same neck pockets on some fenders I have played!

Everday People by Sly and the family stone- Your love is lifting me higher - Jackie Wilson no changes to either all the way through the song- all in the feel. Think someone on here said thankyou for letting me be myself- again all in the feel- but what feel it is!! I am amazed no-one has said Donna Lee!

attachment=95769:DSC05218.jpg] Just got this last week from a member on this very forum. Always had Jazz basses since the 70s at one time or another but went into stingrays, Warwicks ( presently have a Thumb NT 5 ) Also have a Low End Jazz 5 which is an amazing bass and has been my giging bass for over two years. Loads of others. However I used the Jazz bass which is a CIJ 75 reissue last night at one of our main gigs. 7 piece soul band- brass- all the old favourites etc. Through my Bass Pod XT Live this bass just sounded awesome- really old school - warm tone. Lots of compliments. Always felt that Jazz basses sounded slightly ordinary solo but in a band setting they work so well. Had to think on my feet from time to time as I have been a 5 string player but I do feel that a four and specifically a jazz is so small and so easy to play it is like you are totally in control of the instrument. They look great too.[

I use a Schroeder 2 x 12 and these sometimes come up pretty cheap - around £400. Mega mega loud and weight next to nothing. Tiny for a 2 x 12 too. Rated at 800w so any amp would do.

Funny- I quite enjoy the X factor as a karaoke contest- Dont think much to the contestants this year though, very second rate, though Mishab can certainly hold a tune together and is the only one with a somewhat distinctive voice. I must admit, Kelly Rowland was cringingly embarrassing and the reason why I sky+ it is to whip through it quickly- my family watches it in like 30 mins.

At the early hours do I start unpacking the car from the drive and bring this into the house- no! Only sometimes I`ll take my bass inside and amp/ gear etc. Just too tired. The car has great security mind and is away from prying eyes. I have had trouble with valve amps in the past though- if they dont have time to get used to the heat/ condensation buildup.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1323180209' post='1460173'] I have to admit that I a Pod XT Live and really struggled to get a sound that didn't come across as 'over-processed' but I only ever used the standard patches and didn't try to re-programme anything. Conversely I've tried a few Sansamp products and seem to be able to dial in a really nice tone (or variations of tones with the pedals that allow you to store 2-3 different settings) with very little effort or tweaking at all Just 'horses for courses' I guess! [/quote] I went the other way- from the Sansamp BDDI to the Pod. Seem to have spent my life programming whatever I had ( lots ). Cannot believe how anyone could use the standard patches- especially live where even the most conservative patch is too much. The absence of a mid control really did it for the Sansamp.

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1323163271' post='1459846'] Thumperbob speaks the truth. You already have what you need. Of course the SansAmp is simpler to use, it does one thing, the POD does 1,000s of things. Spend some time crafting your patches and you have sounds for all seasons. I have a POD X3 LIVE, no amp or cab. I go straight to the PA. I simply can't imagine using anything else, except the next generation of POD. [/quote] What setting do you use pal?- I use mine going into my effects return on my Lm2 and take a DI out to the pa. Are you using in ears?

Too many to even contemplate but suppose initially people like Jaco, Bruce Foxton, Jamerson, Duck Dunn, Jemmott, Bernard Edwards, Pino, Larry Graham. Now I suppose Jamerson, David Dyson ( catch him on youtube with Meshell N ), Wooten, Larry Graham, Bernard Edwards. It changes quite a lot but the best ones do stay around about in my head

Sorry, I have just noticed that you have the line 6 Pod- the Bass overdrive is the Sansamp model- use this pal- I cannot see you needing any amp or speaker modelling. Whilst the Sansamp is easier to use there is no point spending when the Pod will do the job.

I have had both and to be honest the Bass Pod would murder the Sansamp in every way- the modelling amps are superb and there is a Sansamp pedal in the effects which basically sounds exactly the same as the Sansamp. The compressor in the Pod is very high quality, its got a tuner, they are very cheap- I have two, a Live Pod which cost me £130 of ebay and a Bass Pod ( which I use most of all as its a bit smaller than the Live Pod ) which again cost me £86 off ebay with a case included. The only downside is you really have to spend a few hours programming this to find out the best tone for you. Make no mistake, the pre-programmed tones are abysmal, and with this thing less is very much more. I tend to use the compressor and one amp model, the GK 800 tone- which Line 6 call "Eighties". With a bit of time there is nothing this box cant do. The sansamp, whilst built like a tank is really a one trick pony.

I used to be in a group called the Detroit Spanners!

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1323099025' post='1459238'] Absolutely, there's no short cut. This has happened to me, except the other way round! A young lad used to come round asking me to show him bits on the bass, his band has now headlined and Ronnie Scotts and he is streets ahead of me. He practiced. (He also has way more basses than me, but I think that's another story!). [/quote] When he was at school in Cardiff our guitarist was asked by a fellow pupil how to play some Wishbone Ash songs as this chap had just started to play guitar and was keen to learn- that chap was Pino Paladino and with a bit of practice he has done OK!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1323080713' post='1458888'] I think it is the bass players job to make the drummer sound good... Drummers with rare grooves are rare indeed...and that included some really good technical players, IME. around here, anyway. [/quote] Loads of good players around here- our regular drummer teaches drums and one of our deps does too- real monster players. In fact one of their pupils depped for us a couple of weeks ago and he was great- 18 yrs old- bit nervous but very very good. Cant stand playing with crap drummers- always frustrates me no end.

I remember the srory about Lennon and McCarney speaking to George Martin about why couldnt they sound as loud as a Motown record.....

I have been playing for 35 yrs- since I was 14 and the best bit of advice I can give is dont concentrate on fast runs etc but concentrate on your timing or "groove" Keep it simple- the runs and "flashiness" will come. I have found that only musicians notice these things- the normal audience will not- but they will instinctively know if you can groove. Oh- and find a good drummer- this will make you sound much better than you are- Always worked for me!! If you are looking for a line to impress if played correctly- try Good Times by chic- seen loads of bands do this but hardly any with the correct groove....

Just back from a gig and noticed in soundcheck something I have experienced before but never really appreciated. Bought a wireless set so I could soundcheck the band so out I went. Levels seemed fine eq ok on all but the bottom end. Didn't seems an awful lot of it. Overall levels of band were fine. Just that I was not happy with the sound from the bass. I use a low end jazz 5 string with a bass pod ( only really for compression and tuner ) little mark and Schroeder 2 x 12. Mega loud and all the band go through the pa which tonight was a 2k rig. Funny room stage just a step up. Quite wide. I mix the sound on stage and normally our keyboard player goes out and sets levels etc. However since I now have a wireless set ( don't really like them but for sound checking its great ) I thought I would sort it. I owned a recording studio in the 80 s and think I know a bit about sound. Was a bit disappointed with the bass. But knew we were nearly at the point where the rig couldn't take any more tweaking. So I left it and played the gig. Bear in mind there were no bodies in the room on soundcheck. After the second set a pal of mine came up to me ( pro musician ) and complimented me on my bass sound - basically said it was superb. Amazing what a few people do to your tone.