7string

I always read the US Bass Player magazine. I have it on subscription which works out a lot cheaper, especially with the £/$ rate. It also saves me going to WH Smith and being disappointed when the new issue hasn't come out yet. I've been reading it since about 1991 (I think), when Billy Sheehan was on the cover. Always interesting interviews and worth reading if you've never heard of them, I always tend to learn something new. Gear reviews are fine (could do with a few more) and remember as well there's the bassplayer.tv website as well. I've read BGM, but just didn't like it as much as BP.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='153988' date='Mar 9 2008, 04:21 PM']But you can't criticise Janek. He's a proffesional musician and writes in a magazine. He farts Brut and pisses champagne. We are honored to have him speak (down) to us mere mortals.[/quote] I couldn't have put it better myself. His opinion is more valid than ours and I think that someone actually called him a “valued contributor” even though he hardly posts. [quote name='Musky' post='154009' date='Mar 9 2008, 04:52 PM']I'm not sure why BBC is being singled out here - Janek was clearly p*ssed off with a lot of the posts here. It's equally clear that plenty of people agree to a greater or lesser extent with his sentiments (myself included). If Janek no longer wants to post here that's his choice, just as he's chosen to post very little previously. But let's not have any nonsence about bringing the forum into disrepute - if Busted or whoever popped up because they've received a slagging I doubt we'd shedding tears over it. If you put your work in the public domain you should realise everyone's a critic, whether their criticisms are valid or not.[/quote] Exactly. [quote name='gwizmon' post='153456' date='Mar 8 2008, 12:58 AM']thanks for all the abuse on the article guys. I'm not going to excuse myself for writing something rather scathing right now, but I think anyone (and I'm talking about you Bigd1) who misses the point of what I'm saying, is looking for a reply.[/quote] This is the equivalent of "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough" No doubt Janek will be up typing at 2.30am again when he reads this, but hopefully this time he'll put his bruised ego to one side before he gets to the keyboard.

I think I'll just leave it here and not bother to reply to Janek's last post which attacked both my words and my personal opinions. Shame this thread has come to an end in this manner....

[quote name='Buzz' post='153972' date='Mar 9 2008, 04:11 PM']I second the motion to lock.[/quote] +1.

I've nothing against him answering this thread. However, he just decided to attack all those who had voiced a negative opinion. To me this drives a wedge between audience and author rather than enabling us to see his point of view. Personally, I thought he could have handled this better and sometimes fighting fire with fire isn't the way. I have just "googled" Janek, found his website, looked at his MySpace page and YouTube video, [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHZCTz9E4mo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHZCTz9E4mo[/url] To me it was just 2 1/2 minutes of noodling with no real direction. There are some really great comments regarding the performance, but it just didn't do anything for me.

Geez, I just caught up with this thread. That Janek guy disagreed with my critique of Gary Willis. I am now overcome with guilt for having typed such a heinous and vile sentence.... ...well actually that's a fib. I have my opinion and I'm sticking to it. I didn't like what I heard so I voiced my opinion In my opinion, the problem is that Janek's words, are printed in BGM. I will say that I haven't read all of the piece as I don't read BGM. Bought some issues in the past, but didn't like the magazine. In my opinion, when you have a lesson published and start mentioning huge practice times and that parts can be played at super-speed, there is always the regular Joe in the street who doesn't believe it or thinks it's just plain showing-off. I am one of those regular Joes. Claims of huge practice times are nothing new. Anyone remember the Steve Vai 12-hour guitar workout from many years ago ?? Also, we've all heard that pieces should be played at super-speed. I've watched video of Victor Wooten (for example) and he has tremendous speed, yet his calm and eloquent approach make us think about what he has played and how he has played it. I'm afraid that Janek has neither a calm nor an eloquent approach. I will take issue with one point... [quote name='gwizmon' post='153456' date='Mar 8 2008, 12:58 AM']I have one question, and it's a question I ask almost everyone about everything. Why?[/quote] [quote name='gwizmon' post='153456' date='Mar 8 2008, 12:58 AM']So I work on my technique. I hate talking about, i hate writing about it, but it's the reality of bass magazines[/quote] Why write then? If you're making a living and hate writing about technique, why don't you write a column about an aspect of music you do care about instead of "selling-out" to the bass magazines ?? I will say that I have never heard Janek play and I have never met him. If I hear his name in the future though, I know that I'll think of his post here first... What a shame....

Play all the basses you can and decide with your ears and your hands; not with your eyes looking at the label !! Years ago I had to choose between 2 Jackson basses. One was a US model with EMGs abalone and a killer quilt maple top. The other was MIJ, much plainer, about £200 cheaper (which I wasn't bothered about) and had Jackson's own brand pickups. As much as I [b][i]wanted [/b][/i]the US one, the MIJ felt much better and sounded much better. That's the one I still have many, many years later.

I have a K.Yairi DY88BK12, what a catchy title... It's a black, 12 string electro-acoustic acoustic and it's unusual because it doesn't have a soundhole. It's a great looking instrument with the black being edge by abalone. Because it doesn't have a soundhole it's fantastic to play live as it doesn't feed back at all. It sounds unbelievably good as well. I managed to find this photo of the 6 string version on the 'net as I don't have any pics of mine at the moment...

It seems to be an exercise proving it can be done rather than being incorporated into a composition. IMO, the music should dictate technique and gear, not the other way around.

Was Guitar Guitar more expensive than eBay ?? Sounds like it's going to fit in well with the rest of your basses !!

Even pics from a phone would do (at a pinch) !!

I lasted 32 seconds.... Personally speaking, I do read the theory stuff and I do understand it. However, it's the way that these 'cats' put theory into practice that just leaves me cold. For example, I went to the bassplayer.tv website and found Gary Willis from Bass Player Live 2007. I've heard a lot about him over the years and he's very highly thought of. I literally watched the first part for about 20 seconds as that was all I could stand. Just a mangle of notes in no particular direction accompanied by a drum machine. No semblance of melody at all... ...and that's how I find most of these jazz bassists. Even though it may require many, many hours of practice I just can't listen to it long enough to appreciate the technique being used.

Cool looking bass. I haven't seen that many of them (or maybe I should get out more !!).

Great group of basses !! Hope all the repair work goes well and that they're back with you soon.

What a great looking bass and even better when it's a bargain !! Is this your first 6 string??

...and another 'hello' from a bass player north of the border !!

I think it's ran by a guy who posts regular on TB. Nice to see the ACG on the front. That shape has now joined the others in the ACG stable.

What a great bass !! Congrats to owner and luthier alike !!

Very smart. Many congrats !! If I'm right the fretted ACG is topped with Scottish spalted beech which Alan then re-imported (although he's in Scotland). Yup, it's a mad and crazy world...

That's one smart Jazz (and I don't usually like 'em !!).

As someone who can just about solder 2 wires together, I have nothing but admiration !!

Blimey, there's a nice set of basses (and I don't even like Jazzes). Pensa are so under-rated as well...

Whoops, NS2CRFM (not LX).... apologies. I've only ever played the US NS2 and damn good they were as well. Great feel, great sound...

That is good news. I remember hearing the awful circumstances which caused ABM to close...

Yup, Billy Sheehan has a double neck EADG and BEAD. That must be really confusing to play !!