Captain Bassman

+ my 4 So now [b]1685[/b]...

[quote name='Marcus' post='522190' date='Jun 23 2009, 11:21 PM']....I do believe Capatain Bassman's avatar is my old Jaydee 25th Anniversary !![/quote] No sir, 'tis all mine!! JD built it for me last year - check the recent Pangborn thread for pics. The 25th Anniveresary GA24 was the main inspiration for it tho!

[quote name='steve-soar' post='522118' date='Jun 23 2009, 10:16 PM']I remember your goodbyes and the late Dec....... [/quote] .....ember skies, seems so long ago... Next line anyone?? My fave MK fingerstyle lines: True Believers and My Hero (off True Colours) and Romance (off Forever Now). What with all that slapping malarkey, people seem to overlook MK's awesome finger-style grooving. Sweet!!!

T'was a great gig actually Merton! As you know, the quality of punter in the CN varies hugely from gig to gig. Last time we played there things were a bit edgy - full of lads who had been watching the footie and who then stuck around to play pool and ogle the birds. This time it was a fun bunch, up for a good dance and a few bevvies. It was a late cancellation, we only got the call last Monday. We played good too. A few gaffes here and there (a bit too relaxed, me thinks!) but hey, no one's perfect! Always makes for a good "live rehearsal" anyway!

Any of you fellow BCers in the East Grinstead area fancy coming down to the Crow's Nest tonight then my band, Big G's Band, will be 'on stage' from 9pm-12am. We don't play many pub gigs, mostly private/corporate engagements, so this should be a blast for us - no stress!! Hurrah!! Free admission, half-decent beer and (hopefully) some good music!! Laters... CB

[quote name='MB1' post='513064' date='Jun 14 2009, 12:16 AM']MB1. ..........Captain Bassman!.................... Oh WOW!....Got any pics with the lights on? [/quote] Yup! (just the one, sorry not brill...)

[quote name='Monz' post='500325' date='May 28 2009, 10:07 PM']Our guitarist slipped me a CD at our gig on monday and said "listen to the bass on <take me to the pilot>" I knew Tom our guitarist used to be /and still is a very good bass player but this track on Elton Johns second album was what fired his interest and I can see why... It's perfect bass for me... funky, not over the top and so in the pocket it's unreal. I guess you guys that have been doing this since God were a lad already know how good he was. Any other players/albums I need to listen to [b]besides the ones with their names in neon[/b]? [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LPSMDYzDGM&feature=PlayList&p=9B4BCBA2136E4CF4&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=26"]YouTube link to above track[/url] [i] edit to include link to track[/i][/quote] I've always been a fan of the bass playing on EJ's albums, particularly late 70's / early 80's period. Don't know if it's all Dee Murray though (I think he had another fairly regular guy on bass duties in the 80's...please correct me if I'm wrong!). Check out the bass on "Chloe" from The Fox. Don't know if this is Dee Murray but nevertheless it's the same thang - perfection in terms of tone, note choice, placement and overall understatement. Makes the song IMO. Other "in the pocket" stuff that still floats my boat after many years and helped fuel my original desire to play bass; AWB - obvious choice really but especially "Atlantic Avenue", "Cloudy", "Work To Do" and "Person To Person" (Alan Gorrie and/or Hamish Stuart) Kenny Loggins - "Love Will Follow" from Vox Humana (Nathan East, I believe? Nice nail-picked intro...) A lot of stuff from the Solar Records stable featuring Leon F Sylvers III (i.e. Shalamar, The Whispers etc.). Don't laugh I know it sounds cheesy (!!) but just check out his classic P-bass note-perfect riffage on songs like "There It Is", "Sweeter As The Days Go By" (both Shalamar) and "And The Beat Goes On". I bet most of us would find it hard to nail parts like that and make them sound so easy! There's so much more but I just can't think of them...!

Yep! Booked to "headline" (ahem...!) the annual Reigate Festival (er, in Reigate...) on June 27th. Haven't a clue what the set-up's going to be like. Only know that the whole affair is going to be more low-key than last year's event... Pah, just our luck!!

Absolutely agree with OG - it's more a preventative technique to use on an ongoing basis but it can have an immediate impact, as in my case. I couldn't find an ITM teacher close enough to me so that's why I went with one from the STAT website. If you have a mechanical problem with your back get your chiro to straighten you out and then work on the AT. My hope is that AT will, once mastered, cut my chiro bills to zero! I think the biggest challenge will be applying AT to a gig situation. Any of you with very young children should take note of how they get down to ground level to pick things up, to play etc. and just how freely they move. It's all down to a complete lack of muscle tension in the main due to their correct posture. That's the ultimate goal of AT - how far you get towards it is up to you. Hope I don't get too good at it - might start p***ing in my pants again and eating messily!!

OK, picking up on a previous thread about back ache etc. I've suffered almost continuous pain in my left shoulder and neck for the last 7 years, mainly due to posture but definitely aggravated by gigging. Bi-monthly or more frequent chiropractor sessions (at 32 quid a pop...) have only provided temporary relief. I last went 12 days ago and was in discomfort again within 24 hours... The thread started by Tom1946 contained a reference from Old Git to the Alexander Technique, so I decided to do a bit of internet research. I found a local 'teacher', called her up for a quick chat then decided to bite the bullet and make an appointment for yesterday morning. Well, I can't believe how something as simple as lying on the floor for 20 minutes in the 'semi-supine' position can make such a huge improvement! I spent the rest of the day pain-free with more freedom of movement. I woke up this morning feeling completely un-knotted too. Based on initial results and from a personal stand point I can't recommend this highly enough. The results you gain are purely from your own efforts though and it's easy to slip back into old habits. It's a simple technique but you have to practice every day and continuously assess your posture and how you stand, sit, get out of chairs etc. But by applying the technique to your everyday life you actually mend yourself by improving your posture. Put simply the goal is to regain the posture and freedom of movement we all enjoyed as infants (hey, another excuse to regress into childhood!!). From a financial point of view it's cheaper than going to a chiropractor too! I found a local teacher from STATs website, they're the official UK body for teachers of the technique. Big thanks to Old Git for this lead! David

I've been listening to Peace Beyond Passion almost almost constantly for the last month. I'd forgotten just how cool and album it is. My faves on there are The Way and Bitter Sweet. Just fairly simple, grooving, melodic basslines - nothing flashy - and a tone to die for. There's a tune on Comfort Woman, can't remember which one, where she [i]very[/i] deliberately plays behind the beat during the verses and then brings it into line for the choruses. Sounds easy but it ain't! Class!

I remember seeing these in my local music shop 15-20 years ago. They also made matching Strats, if I remember correctly. Can't remember if they were Fender or Squier, MIJ, etc. Does anybody know more about them? Anyone got one? Would be a great gass turning up to a gig with one, me thinks!! And also a great aide for getting the kids interested in bass.

[quote name='Shambo' post='418827' date='Feb 24 2009, 10:13 PM']If there was one, I'd buy a George Porter Jr P Bass. [/quote] Ooh very nice! I'd have one of those in a shot!!! One for the Fender Custom Shop? Trouble is they'd want over 2 grand for it! Better to take a cheap P bass and tow it behind your car for a few weeks...

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='417440' date='Feb 23 2009, 02:17 PM']Plus an honourable mention for Julian Crampton. [/quote] +1!! Absolutely first-class player. Yep, he can do the flashy stuff when needed but his groove playing and feel are second to none. Totally underrated IMO. First time I became aware of his playing was on the Pasadenas' album Tribute. Oh dear, I'm getting old... Others for the list could be; Ron Carter Bobby Watson (Rufus) Randy Hope-Taylor

[quote name='BeLow' post='402224' date='Feb 6 2009, 05:57 PM']I think I picked up from somewhere that John Diggins from JayDee might do refurbs on pangborns, I suspect he may have had similar issues trying to meet demand at the peak of the 80s bass rush, but I think he is still building and probably at a more sustainable rate and quality now.[/quote] John built this for me last year The closest thing to an original Pangborn...

[quote name='ped' post='391451' date='Jan 26 2009, 09:33 AM'] LOL!! A little bit... Can't say I had heard of this bloke. Good stuff.[/quote] Hey, isn't that a very early publicity shot of Leonardo DiCaprio? [quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='392279' date='Jan 26 2009, 11:24 PM']Nice one mate! Funny you mention the slap tone - I can get a very close approximation of the famous `Milleresque' Jazz bass using both p/ups on my old Vigier - run passively with the treble up! I've got the old parametric style eq which is, in many ways quite scary - it will out bass any other instrument and can destroy most name brand amps! Blisters?! Ah yes, who said that? Where are you? (eyes not good!!!).[/quote] I think the 'tronics on these latest Vig's are a tad tamer but that makes the whole sound easier to control. Especially for someone like me who prefers to 'set and forget'... I remember trying an earlier model Vig many years ago in the old Bass Centre and it was fierce, much like early Statii. Actually the only thing I've tried/owned that comes as close to being that fierce is my trusty GBIV. The power that Bernie puts into his basses is nothing short of biblical! BTW Nick, d'you own that lovely blue Arpege? Any chance of some more pics????

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='390114' date='Jan 23 2009, 11:56 PM']...plus, meant to ask, I know its still very early days but would like to know how you favour the separate EQ sections per pickup - seems like a clever idea! Nick * *Arpege buff![/quote] OK, used it for the first time on Saturday night. UTTERLY LUVVERLY!!!! Used it for the whole of set 1 and half of set 2, so approx. 2hrs in total - perfect weight and balance, really comfy neck and great overall playing position when standing. Took a few tweaks mid-set to get the EQ settings sounding right (didn't have the luxury of a proper soundcheck...again...!). All the sounds are there - warm 'n woody off the neck pup, nice'n honky tonky off the bridge pup and just right in between. The slap sound with the pan knob centred is wonderful. Woody like a Jazz bass, but lots tighter, and with that modern twang from the pulled notes that you get with a Status. I guess the phenolic board has a lot to do with that. The separate EQ per pup is great. Still loads of permutatons to work through but it isn't as confusing (or useless) as it might sound. Actually very logical, IMO! Oh, and thanks to the 90/10 neck construction (basically there's two carbon fibre rods running the length of the neck, visible from the back) there's no truss rod to worry about! Hurrah! [quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='391257' date='Jan 25 2009, 09:28 PM']I've tried the new Passion model - superb - can't wait to get my blistered mitts on the new Arpege! I do like the Passion bass but having played the Arpege for many years now, I prefer the pickup spacing on that model![/quote] If you and your blistered mitts are ever down my way Nick feel free to drop by, I might let you have a tinkle! Erm, hang on a mo. Before we get all pally here, just how did you get those blisters...?

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='389988' date='Jan 23 2009, 09:10 PM']That is quite simply gorgeous, David! Is it one of the new wooden necked ones with a phelonic board? Also, is this instead of the S2-Classic you were talking about? Rich.[/quote] Thanks Rich! Yes, I'm afraid I talked myself out of S2 in the end, sorry Statii peeps! The stock S2 5s I was interested in had a couple of things about them that I wouldn't necessarily have specified if I'd been custom-ordering - such as one-piece bridge instead of the nicer monorail units, silly stuff really - and I couldn't afford to wait 6 months for a new build. The Arpege 5 looks so perfectly in proportion and just as sexy as a Status IMO. Still fancy that metallic black finish that Rob's got though... [quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='390114' date='Jan 23 2009, 11:56 PM']...plus, meant to ask, I know its still very early days but would like to know how you favour the separate EQ sections per pickup - seems like a clever idea! Nick * *Arpege buff![/quote] Hey hey Nick! I thought this thread would make you pop your head over the ramparts! I haven't had much of a noodle with it yet but it's getting its first public outing tonite so I'll let you (and Ped) know! I must say the overall weight, balance and playing position is just perfect for me - being on the average height side of things - and the neck is soooo much slimmer than my old Streamer. Only took me 10 years of playing the 'wick to realise it had the 20mm spacing broad neck...

I just got this! Arrived this morning to replace my trusty old Warwick Streamer Stage I. Sorry about the pics quality - camera seems to be going to the dogs...Better pics available here; [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Vigier_Stock_Arpege_V_files/Arpege5top.jpg"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp.../Arpege5top.jpg[/url] [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Vigier_Stock_Arpege_V_files/Arpege5neckjoint.jpg"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...e5neckjoint.jpg[/url] [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Vigier_Stock_Arpege_V_files/VigierArpege5headstock.jpg"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...e5headstock.jpg[/url] A massive thanks to Mark at Bass Direct, a great guy providing an invaluable service to our community. Go have a rummage through the stock on his website!

And as for nicking the strings and machineheads of your basses, well that's just totally unacceptable feline behaviour... Hmmm, how'd he manage to operate a screwdriver?

I sold my Stingray on ebay last weekend. Put the listing up on Saturday at 2pm and it sold at 4.30! I put it on for a 5-day auction with a reserve price but also put on a BIN. Someone snapped it up at the BIN price. I think you just have to price yourself 'in' the market right now as opposed to hanging onto the price that you wanted to get, say, 6 months ago. There were 3 other Stingrays on ebay when I listed mine and they were all over-priced IMO. They were also pricier compared to what people have been listing them for here on BC. So I pitched it just underneath with the BIN price. Anyway, there is hope out there! What are looking to sell?