molan

Just in reference to the post about Ritters, I play mine every day, the first bass in a while that yells out to be played every time I walk past it. When my band gets itself back into gigging mode (long story!) then I totally intend to gig it. My previous #1 gigging bass was my '86 Fodera, another lovely bass that works really well as a live gigging 'tool'

I like the checked paint on the matching headstock

[quote name='tbonepete' timestamp='1322483982' post='1451255'] Intersting, the rest of the sentence seems to be missing from the quote! I hoped that I worded my post to indicate an opinion, and not a fact, but maybe I was mistaken. I shall be more careful in the future. Golf courses up and down the land are a testament to peoples desire for the best (better than their co players) equipment that money can buy, but it doesnt change my opinion that the vast majority of players won't be able to play like tiger woods (or any better than if they had a reasonable middle range set) just because they have the same clubs. Granted they may feel better, and indeed want to play more because of the feel good factor, but for them these top range clubs will have no discernable benefit. There are (and in all walks of life) some that the pursuit of "stuff", or "gear" is more important than the task that the "stuff", or "gear" is used for. As always its the individuals money, and the individuals choice! IE not a sad old world after all. One by product of endless oneupmanship is the classifieds. Cheap American Fenders Galore!!! [/quote] Sorry for cutting the quote short - didn't mean to offend. All I wanted to say was that I find it really hard to agree with a view that says people's abilities, or needs, aren't good enough to own more expensive equipment (whether it be musical instruments, golf clubs or anything else for that matter). I've heard this argument soooo many times and I never understand it. I can't see why someone's abilities should have anything to do with what instrument they play, club they use or, a very common example, what car they drive. The other point I was trying to make was about who is it that can decide how good someone's abilities have to be before they can play a high end bass. I've been at gigs watching enthusiastic amateurs having the time of their lives playing really expensive gear only to hear someone in the audience mutter that the instrument they are playing is way to good for them (to be fair this is more common amongst guitarists than bass players). In fact I saw exactly this happen a gig recently with a decent guitarist who had a pair of PRS customs that looked fabulous. I heard someone moaning that he wasn't even good enough for one PRS let alone two - just sounded like petty jealousy at the time and made me wonder just how good this particular person was that he felt he could criticise someone else's choice of instrument(s).

[quote name='tbonepete' timestamp='1322440102' post='1450961'] enthusiastic amateurs who seem to have equipment way beyond their abilities, or needs [/quote] The bass playing world would be a sad place indeed if people were only able to own a bass that matched their abilities - how would this be judged I wonder? Maybe something like 'oi, you, your muting technique is bloody awful, put that American Fender back on the rack and pick up that tatty old Korean copy instead'. . .

No drummer friends out there anywhere

[quote name='huwgarms' timestamp='1322401212' post='1450328'] that for me would be the reason to spend all that extra, but why is it the case they allow you to play better? [/quote] I think it's a combination of things, build quality, ability to work with a really low action, general feel and neck profile etc. I think there's also an element of confidence that goes with owning a beautifully built instrument that inspires you to push yourself harder For me it really is a matter of degrees and the differences can be marginal, one of my favourite ever basses was a lovely Celinder J that wasn't a vast amount better than a 2010 Fender J I had at the time. However, it certainly was a 'better' bass for me and I could afford to own it ahead of the Fender. Given the option I would always for a smaller number of great basses over a larger number of noes that didn't excite me as much.

Just seen the 2nd vid, I can see an improvement already

I've just bought a Ritter - for me it's worth every penny. Simple difference for me on some of the more expensive basses I've owned I that they allow me to play stuff I struggle to play on other basses. I love my three main basses - Ritter, Fodera & Alleva Coppolo. Each is quite different from the other but each gives me great pleasure every time I play them and, for me, that's what it's all about

Good to see you chose a P bass to get started on as well, with that forefinger technique you'll be on Jamerson territory very soon!

Fantastic news Steve - I told Eithne to get a bass out of mothballs the other day but didn't think you'd be able to play quite so quickly

Great - thanks Mark. I don't think it'll be a huge commitment so could easily be a second band for someone who just wants to get out & play more

Some friends of mine are looking at putting a band together - just a small event / pub gig kinda thing. They have a decent female vocalist & guitarist & I'm interested in the bass chair Material pretty varied but they've been looking at Little Feat, Sheryl Crow, KT Tunstall, Black Crowes, Clapton, Bowie, Free etc. Obviously the set list needs a lot of work so they're open to ideas on anything really

Haven't been able to try the SL's up against a live drummer yet but I really like them paired with the TH500 head. I found them a bit brighter & more agressive than the DB's with the TF550 - In fact too clear & precise for my liking However, with the TH500 they seem to work really well with plenty of punch and growl up to pretty high volumes. I heard a top funk player using the TH500 + 2xSL's the other week & he sounded amazing through them. That, combined with the super light weight convinced me to shell out for a pair The weight is just astonishing, feels like an empty cab! For reference - they aren't that dinky in size, maybe a little smaller than the DB's but not much & certainly larger than my old Berg cabs (although they are lighter than the Bergs as well).

[quote name='Panamonte' timestamp='1322124364' post='1446666'] Really looking forward to that - and nice to stumble across another member of the BC/BBC clan [/quote] Last episode in this series was Dennis Wilson I think - repeated on Sunday & Monday. Often a lot of good music on BBC4

I actually fell asleep half way through Bonnie Raitt - that could be why I still had the stamina for Ian Dury, lol. The Dury concert is a bit patchy IMO but Norman looks at his most cadaverous best & it's interesting to see him spanking an Alembic I have Sky Arts saved on my 'favourite' channels & often just flip down to see what's playing - all sorts of random good concerts on.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1322159436' post='1447448'] [size=6][sub]No.. couldn't stick with it....have just trawled through Pulse and Bonnie Rait for the last few hours. [/sub][/size] [size=6][sub]Will catch it next time when they repeat it.[/sub][/size] [/quote] I caught the end of Pulse and watched most of Bonnie R as well! Helps to use live pause and watch on a bit time delay so you can zap through the dodgier songs

Live from Hammersmith, 1985. Norman Watt-Roy tearing through Rhythm Stick on his Alembic No idea how he keeps it going through an extended version!

[quote name='benthos' timestamp='1322044233' post='1445674'] Don't let its apparent lack of robustness put you off - I do exactly that with a Shuttle 6 and 2 Aggy GS112s - the Markbass gizmo works fine. [/quote] I've also used the MB in between a pair of Aggy DB112's and had no issues with it. First saw someone at the Jazz Cafe doing this and asks him about it. He'd been using it for a while.

[quote name='nick@ibassmag' timestamp='1321618445' post='1441221'] [b]Bass Chat Competition[/b] Aspiring bass players looking to grow their reviewing skills are invited to enter our exclusive competition, giving you the chance to have your review published in a subsequent edition of ibass magazine. If you have a weird or wonderful bass (or bass rig/pedal) that you would like to see featured, we want to hear from you! [/quote] How many words?

Me too - working really well!

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1321975542' post='1445016'] A couple of years ago we had a guitarist leave a covers band between the last number and the encore, but without the guitar smashing!! I was amused and irritated at the same time. [/quote] Friend of mine was in a band where the drummer just packed up in the interval & buggered off

From the prices I've seen I think you could get a used Fender USA Standard instead of a new Roadworn? Some of the more recent Standards are just superb. I owned a 2010 model for a while and it was one of the nicest Fender J's I've ever played