Jase

Thing is .... BBC generally talks a load of b******s, he generally doesn't really answer people in a thread, he just generally hangs around, waits for a subject...someone says black, he says white, good example of that is the Manring / Lawson vid that got posted, most people didn't really get into it but true to form BBC comes in and loves it, understands it and wants to learn it, he's pretty good at bringing a thread to a huge yawn...... I dunno, you start off giving your contribution only to find that it ends up a lot like the I Hate Jazz Thread, I hate this, I hate that I've bored myself now.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='152724' date='Mar 6 2008, 09:49 PM']Thats interesting. I must admit I tend to find the exact opposite. I can't persuade myself to like the works of Michael Manring, let alone anyone else.[/quote] Found a bit of Manring you fancy then BBC, freaky stuff on that vid innit.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='153441' date='Mar 7 2008, 11:52 PM']You lot obviously don't get it. I think that was one of the most beautiful and melodic pieces of music I have ever heard. Both artists should be proud that after spending a mere life time between them studying the instrument that we love that they should come up with such a life affirming and transcendental piece of art such as that. Hell, its not just art, that music is a way of life! I cannot wait until Steve Lawson's next offering in BGM. I will study until my fingers bleed in the hope that one day, maybe just one day, I will be able to wow the connousieurs of the californian live bass solo community with such unbridled beauty. Everything I've stated about overly technical bass players creating unlistenable music has been shown up as the mutterings of an uneducated fool that I am. We need more of this in BGM. Pages of it. And please, reviewers, don't go so hard on the manufacturers? Just give everyone a 3 star rating. No need to go round upsetting people.[/quote] Have you got gas for a looping unit?

Although this is a question that always pops up here, I gotta have a chip in I've got both, I like them both for different reasons, My USA bridges are far better than the CIJ, I prefer the weight of the CIJ, I'd rather vintage style machine heads, USA comes with a case. The neck has to come off my CIJ to adjust the truss rod, which is a pain, it's easy access on a USA. I like having two different neck radius. They both have pros and cons in my opinion, lets face it they're factory instruments but nonetheless they've always been reliable work horses for me.

I used a Model One in a P bass many moons ago (did the Billy thing) and they sound great nice deep, low end and still remarkably tight sounding and dood is right that particular Model One was way out on string spacing, can't say about the Will Power Model, bet they've sorted it though

Have to say....there not bad, a little soft for me and maybe lacking in a quick tight response but still what more do you want for a fiver Like I said not bad if you're skint. So when I do get some cash after these few gigs I have it's back to the Pro Steels for me....Rotosound in second place and that's only because they die really quick and a respectable third, for a fiver...Hartke

[quote name='finnbass' post='153294' date='Mar 7 2008, 06:31 PM']And your point is? That's like saying, 'God influenced God!' I'm thinking about putting up prize money however, for anyone who can stand more than 60 seconds of this: [/quote] It did eventually get into some Roy Harper type droning, mellow stuff, all a bit trippy. There's nowt wrong with manipulating bass sounds with effects and loopers.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='152534' date='Mar 6 2008, 05:38 PM']I actually think that technical ability may hinder creativity. The majority of my favourite musicians are self taught or have little in the way of classical education. Maybe there's a certain magic created by trying to do a lot with the little that you've got? Maybe if you can't impress with technical ability, then you need to think of something else?[/quote] I dunno, you still have to acknowledge that there is some technique involved most styles, self taught or not but I agree there can be some sort of unique magic when some one does it there way. Out of interest BBC who are your fave musicians?

[quote name='birdy' post='152518' date='Mar 6 2008, 05:21 PM']Disagree with this. If you consistently play for 10 hours a day you will improve more than playing little and often in my opinion. To suddenly start playing ten hours a day or doing as a one off probably would not be beneficial at all though. The better you can play technically will not hinder any creation of music that you wish to make whether it be punk or jazz that you wish to play. You can still write punk but have more options the better player you are. I agree that it should be about music as the end result but just because you do not like the particular end result thats accomplished by Janek does not make it any less valid. In martial arts you often train at a lot higher level and do a lot of techniques that you would never use on the street maybe because if you got them wrong you would be in big trouble as an example. This is so that the basic simplistic things that you may need to do to survive will be easier because of the extra training that you have done. I can equate this to music too. I think if you want to chug out 8th notes all night someone who has practised scales with a metronome for 10 hours a day will do this better than if they had just noodled around for 20 minutes a day. You may of course disagree!! Steve[/quote] I agree, "noodling" I find is a waste of time for me, Got to put some sort of serious practice in. I find it hard work if I don't put practice in but I do know a drummer who never seems to practice and is really on top of his stuff....mad!

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='152504' date='Mar 6 2008, 05:02 PM']OK, it sounds crap to me. But personally I find that technical ability and making music I enjoy are often poles apart. This could be due to great technicians wanting to show off their ability and therefore moving away from those great, simple bass hooks that I love. Or it could be that those that aren't naturally musical rely overly on technique. Or they might just have different tastes to me. Who knows??[/quote] Ok Sometimes creating a line that is simple and addictive is just as hard as perfecting a technique, I think the key is applying your technique in a way that it can be understood by many rather than a few, I love a good groove, a simple part or a complimentary part, mind you I'm a bit partial to some ridiculously unplayable stuff too

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='152472' date='Mar 6 2008, 04:18 PM']Fair point, and to some degree I agree that having a greater ability and more knowledge isn't a bad thing. However, what I don't like is the association between technical ability with being a great bass player/musician. Agreed, you need to have the ability to transfer whats "inside" to your audience, but you don't need to be the world greatest technician. If I spent 10 hours a day practicing, I'd be pretty good technician. I'd still be (by my definition) a lousy musician. BGM loves to put these people on a pedestal, lording them for playing with such "greats" as "Erki Boneflap", "Milton Stonebake" and the "Milk Lake Quartet". ie Music for Musos (the only people who appreciate their technical ability and can ignore the fact that it actually sounds pretty crap). Gwidzala may make a living by being a very good player but I'd rather listen to/ be inspired/taught by the bloke who wrote "Peaches".[/quote] Fair enough, if you think something sounds crap, if you're calling something crap you have to have be a reason why you think it's crap, apart from the fact that it's played by someone who has advanced ability, can't just call something crap for that reason!

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='152384' date='Mar 6 2008, 02:04 PM']Glad I'm not the only one. All I'd like is a bit of honesty. Whats wrong with admitting the new MIA Jazz is overpriced with little improvement? What's wrong with stating that a bass solo album is crap? If your brave enought to release a product/album to the world then your brave enough to get some honest opinion about it.[/quote] I dunno, £769 in Andertons Music, not a bad price for the new MIA Jazz.

Thanks stickman!

I reckon Janek is an extremely accomplished bass player, he probably does have a strict practice regime, I'd get some practice in too if I had to play with the likes of Mike Stern and Hiram Bullock There's a youtube vid with Janek playing in bullocks band and he's just doing his thing, being a bass player. I haven't read Janek's Bass improvisation article but judging by what he has to offer as a musician it's probably relevant to a lot of players. I don't think these articles are written for us to emulate a certain player, you can't just read a page and sound like Janek, take them for what they are I reckon, like Stuart mentioned, the musical content is there at any speed.

[quote name='Sibob' post='151533' date='Mar 5 2008, 09:31 AM']Sorry, no offense meant, just thought it was a better example of arpeggios across the neck, and with fingers instead of a pick. My disclaimer is that of course it is in my opinion! Si[/quote] None taken Si, indeed it was a better example, excuse my cheeky banter, sorrrry