Angel

I'm not really a bass player, I am someone who has dabbled with basses for a lot of years though. My first couple were 4 string, but then I went to 5 about 16 years ago and didn't look back. The odd time I tried 4 after that it just felt wrong. Anyway, after a couple of years of really not playing bass at all (playing other instruments instead), I have suddenly got into the idea again. A lot of the players that I was getting inspired by again seemed to play 4 string (Zender, Flea, Geddy to name a few) and I just though it would be good to dive in and have a go again. To be honest it feels like a minor revelation to me. I think the long break made a difference. Suddenly it feels so right, and so much easier! I kind of feel that I have found my natural bass home. I have a couple of pieces that really miss the low B string, but I'm gonna persevere and try to work out different ways to play them. I can't believe it, but right now it honestly feels like my number one bass of many years is on the chopping block. I thought I'd keep it forever, but at the moment I'm thinking that its days may well be numbered. It's a reggie Hamilton custom shop 5 string, way better than a player like me deserves! I'll have to have a good think about it. Probably best not to rush into anything ..... Anyway, I don't know why, but it seems unusual to me to go from 5 to 4 strings? Anyone else done it? Maybe it isn't unusual at all?

OK, some love them, some hate them, but for the purposes of this thread maybe we could put all that aside for a bit .... I love the look of old beaten up instruments, and I'd really like the idea of getting some kind of slightly knackered Fendery jazz bass. Looking at options ..... Custom shop too expensive, Roadworn: I tried one the other day and it played superbly, but they seem a tad overpriced and only 2 colours. Anyone know of anywhere that you can get something like a roadworn bass knocked up? custom relicing service or similar? I assume that the roadworn's are just MIM's with a degree of distressing. Anyone know how a regular MIM jazz plays in relation to the roadworn equivalent?

Bought here from 'sgh', here's one of his pix:

Well, the title says it all, I'm back with status after many years away. I'm a tart and I missed the LEDs! My old one was just too heavy (5 string), but my new 4 is just sublime on all fronts. I'm happy. I've not really played bass for a few years now but I feel very inspired again. That's all.

Having got back into jogging in my old age, usually for about 40-90 mins 5 days a week, I'm wondering if there are any interesting bass-related podcasts out there that one can listen to occasionally instead of music. Anyone know of such a thing?

I love this percussion playing: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HPAs8Y9vmI[/media]

Real nice playing! You could do with the BT a touch louder next time though.

I used to really be into 'flash' playing, be it guitar, bass or any other instrument. However, ultimately it all got a bit meh, a bit boring. These days I'm more into great (or flash) playing withing the context of a song or proper composition. I love slap playing, but I prefer to hear a Jamiroquai or RHCP song where it is serving a purpose, rather than an 'impressive' noodle. When I bought Stu Hamm's first album, I loved the track 'country music', however, whenever he seems to play it anywhere he goes as fast as possible and it has lost itself as a composition and become a show-off piece. It doesn't sound half as good.

My girls would have loved it but I'm 30 miles north of London so too far away! (not sure the wife would love it though!)

[b] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/user/3459-silddx/"]silddx[/url]: really liked it. The first part really caught the pic for me and I liked the aftermath as well. I might have a go myself but it won't be that good![/b]

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1349511698' post='1827141'] I can play a lot of different instruments, but I've never got anywhere with drums. It requires the kind of physical co-ordination of all 4 limbs that you've either got, or you haven't! [/quote] I've had a similar experience, play quite a few things but with drumming it is so hard to get your feet working properly. But I say go for it! we all have a different amount of natural talent at varied things,maybe it's one of your best.

jazzyvee: lovely looking guitar you have there!

I have to admit that I'm a big fan of a tele shape as well. I have an awesome custom 'tele' that I put together a couple of years ago, it has a trem (!) and midi, so nothing to do with a real tele, but it's a great shape.

Well you sure found your way around that well! I love that scalar bit across the strings. Judging from that vid I think you should get your own 7 string.

This sounds great, can we see some in progress pix now?

Fascinating thread!

I like slap and I like to hear it, but Dood hit the nail on the head, as a reviewer you have a job to do.

I can't cope with the orangeness of orange amps.

Ex-Chapman stick player here, I used to have two! I gave up about 5 years ago as I was just struggling with them too much. I still have the best one, and I don't think I'll ever part with it. It looks pretty cool as I had SIMS put some LEDs on it years ago (for practical reasons - dark fret markers on Paduak is not the best combo}.