White Cloud

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1392730990' post='2372036'] Am I strange? (OK, yes, I know) Am I the only person who has problems like this? Should I give us bass? Does anyone have some ideas as to what I'm doing wrong [/quote] Sorry to read about this. A. No, you are not strange...but you are unique, as are we all. B. Giving up bass would be a permanent solution to a temporary problem. C. You might have aggravated a nerve/muscle.tendon...I caused my self a similar injury last May playing a Gibson Thunderbird (long neck/required arm stretch...ouch!). Let it settle down and see your Osteo. Everything will be okay in the end dude.

[quote name='The fasting showman' timestamp='1392732312' post='2372074'] Back to Sabbath, I recorded in DEP studios in Brum back in '97 and Mr Iommi was recording there at the time. I vividly remember a very flashy Jaydee style / SG with a headstock like a Supernatural on a stand in one of the rooms. Very imposing. [/quote] Yes, we have digressed somewhat. That must have been an intimidating experience...Iommi, in the context of rock history, is at the top of the food chain (with others of course).

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1392731282' post='2372045'] There has been some intruiging research in this area that suggests we don't have free will. Basically, monitoring the brain when someone is asked to do something like move a finger and the activity involved in moving the hand has been measured to happen BEFORE the subject DECIDES to move it. It's a controversial area, but quite fascinating. [url="http://io9.com/5975778/scientific-evidence-that-you-probably-dont-have-free-will"]http://io9.com/59757...-have-free-will[/url] (and other stuff if you search for it) [/quote] It is fascinating...but this phenomenon is already well [i]known [/i]and [i]utilised [/i]in hypnotherapy..and has been for well over 100 years.

[quote name='Colonel36' timestamp='1392730446' post='2372024'] Anyone remember the experiment on telly where they gave a bunch of students a few tests to do and then they gave them coffee and were told that it was full of caffeine. They all got "buzzed up" and got on with the tests and when they were asked about it they said they were as high as kites and performed better, except................... there was no caffeine It was all in their minds. [/quote] People are incredibly [i]open to influence[/i] and are literally functioning on a day to day basis whilst in varying degree's of [i]trance[/i].

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1392724104' post='2371925'] I suppose every age is modern to those people living in it, and people of our age group will always regard the 1980's as the decade which defined what is modern because it was an era in which people were [u] absolutely and completely obsessed[/u] with modernity. In cultural terms, everything which had gone before was summarily dismissed as irrelevant, outmoded and worthy of distain, and everybody joined in with that ethos. To say that you liked or enjoyed things of the era which had immediately proceeded the 1980's was to invite scorn and ridicule upon yourself. Everything had to have short hair, narrow collars and be "designer" in some way or other. By contrast , the last twenty years of popular culture have been equally as obsessed with nostalgia and a retrospective longing for the past . Both these respective cultural trends were reflected in the kind of instruments bass players aspired to at the given time. [/quote] This is an excellent post.

[quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1392729661' post='2372006'] I think the whole point is that the body can influence the mind and the mind can then influence the body. But this path isn't without influence Peter [/quote] True. The human being is a biological cybernetic system....body & mind. The unconscious mind is generally in control and benevolent...but is open to influence in a way that is staggering. It accepts suggestion very literally!

[quote name='The fasting showman' timestamp='1392716231' post='2371821'] I think starting bass playing back in the '80s has forever altered my perspective on '70s Fenders, much as I like them they will always be a £300 instrument to me. Also I'm always more attracted to EBMM 'Rays due to the impact they made on me as a kid when they burst onto the market around '87 with their boiled sweet finishes. [/quote] I totally agree....I just cannot get excited over Fenders for the same reason...ever. The 80's were such a special time for me. On reflection so many boundary's were being smashed in all aspects of traditional British life. The youth of today have no concept of the massive impact that Colour TV, Video players, cremola foam and micro wave ovens had. I still have a laugh when I remember my Fathers disgust when seeing Boy George singing "Karma chameleon" lol. Musically this emerging technology was weaved into a willingness to push the envelope to new heights....just think of Yes breaking their prog shackles and releasing "90125" & "Big Generator", and Geddy Lee brandishing Steinberger & Wal basses and tearing it up on "Power Windows". Odd that here we are 30 years later ...and everyone wants to play mass produced 1960's passive basses.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1392670287' post='2371497'] Yes, quite. I can't really tell if it is because I have become more blase` about the whole thing , but guitar shops are nowhere near as alluring a proposition as they once were. The depressing uniformity of both the stock and the establishments themselves bears little or no relation to the tantalising excitement of going to guitar shops in my youth. One long-gone little independent shop where I lived when I was growing up regularly had basses from JayDee, Ashley Pangbourne , Overwater, Vigier ect, as did its' competitor on the other side of the town centre, and both shops had staff who were bass players and were as enthusiastic about basses as you were. It was a thrill just to see those kind of basses in the flesh, even if I couldn't afford to buy one at that time, kind of like looking at sculptures in an art gallery. Even if you don't have one at home, you could enjoy the beauty and experience some joy from that. [/quote] I can totally relate to this observation as I had almost the same experiences. As has already been asserted already in this thread it seems that the current generation of cool young players find individuality and innovation uncool....that is not cool (from my uncool perspective).

[quote name='skelf' timestamp='1392671690' post='2371524'] You are welcome to drop in any time you are in the area. After the London show there will be instruments to try out. [/quote] Thanks Alan...that was my next question!

[quote name='skelf' timestamp='1392665714' post='2371380'] I am very familiar with the Wal pre-amp which I think is great. So in re focusing my own agenda it leans more in the direction of the Wal. [/quote] Which is why I want one in my life My pal has a 1970's Alembic series 1 - but for me the Wal pre is so much simpler (and sounds every bit as good).

[quote name='Mook' timestamp='1392664171' post='2371335'] I would like to publicly apologise to the bass playing community as during a wedding gig at the weekend I did indeed overplay. I was guilty on the evening of a flagrant use of 16th notes, slapping and harmonics. I know I have let down my fellow comrades [/quote] Speak for yourself....I play this way every weekend!

[quote name='skelf' timestamp='1392663781' post='2371328'] Jazzy you need to try the latest version of the pre-amp the 03 which has been further refined to produce much more control over the all important mids. The push/pull low mid and hid mid controls make a big difference as does the reduced range on the lowpass filters. Having spent years trying to be all things to all men I have had a rethink in order to produce a more focused pre-amp to use with the MC Series of pickups. If you get to London please drop by to hear the new pre-amp. This obviously applies to anyone interested and down at the show. [/quote] I cant make the show...but as an ex Wal & Alembic owner this pre sounds like the stuff of my dreams! (incidentally I preferred the Wal pre to the Alembic)

Subscribed. Cannot wait to see this one.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1392484758' post='2369324'] There were two Mockingbird standards & a Mockingbird supreme, two Biches, an Eagle supreme, a Mockingbird bass, a Bich bass & a Bich 8 string bass..... and that was before I noticed the Deans & the Hamers. They also regularly stocked basses by Manson, Pangborne, Jaydee, Alembic, Steinberger & Wal. You can probably see why I don't have much interest in going into music shops much these days. Some of the best days of my life were spent in that shop. [/quote] I sincerely feel your pain. I remember that era...music shops were an exciting day out. Today music shops are generally full of Fenders, Squiers or Fender variants.......B O R I N G.

I'm wondering if the price quoted for the Vigier graphite is a typo?? They have seriously underpriced it if not (unless there is something wrong with it).

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1392570349' post='2370155'] That's exactly my point. You HAVE to close your eyes otherwise your brain overrides the other information with the information provided by your eyes. [/quote] To be honest you make a fair point...

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1392568754' post='2370115'] Take the McGurk effect test. Posted on another thread, I'm not taking the credit for it. [media]http://youtu.be/G-lN8vWm3m0[/media] [/quote] Thanks for sharing Tim. It is a very interesting video...and I don't doubt it's validity & it proves the point you are making well, however very often [i]seeing is not believing[/i]. For example whilst undertaking the test...all you have to do is close your eyes and[i] really listen [/i]to remove any ambiguity. It's simply a case of trusting all of your senses...

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1392565948' post='2370069'] It's pretty much accepted that humans rely on our sight more than any other sense. Our brain will override anything we hear, smell, feel, taste in favour of what we see. [/quote] This is a generalisation. Many people (myself included) are not particularly visual and more inclined to experience experience from a kinaesthetic or auditory bias.. Regarding placebo...so much to say....not enough time...fascinating subject....pervades most of our lives to some degree....

Very interesting indeed. I'm in!

We usually play 2 x 90 minute sets with a 30 minute break. I personally think that is reasonable break for 3 hours of music. Seems to be the done thing in our neck of the woods.

As an aside, I have been reflecting on this topic. When I saw Ozzy Osbourne live circa 1988 (ish - my memory aint what it was) at the Glasgow Barrowland Geezer Butler was on bass...what a treat that was! On that occasion he played....a Peavey Dyna bass...and it sounded great.

A work of art. Super impressed!