molan

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='360519' date='Dec 21 2008, 10:00 PM']I think the performer is the current equivalent of the chaser is it not? The chaser won bass of the year in one of the guitar mags a few years ago, that's what first attracted me to Zoots cos it looked so different. Either way that's a cracking price, but mine was only £110 more and it's flightcased so you may be better off holding out for a secondhand one. Having said that they don't come up that often[/quote] This is the Ebay one:

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='360203' date='Dec 21 2008, 01:23 PM']Just buy it! Mine's on the left <<<<<< Awesome bass, beats any other bass i've played. Used it last night and it's superb in any live situation. I paid £710 including a Warwick flightcase so excellent value too. What model is the one you're looking at?[/quote] I was looking at a Performer. There was one on EBay direct from Mike at £599 which seemed an absolute steal but I'm not 100% sure on the look really.

[quote name='SJA' post='360272' date='Dec 21 2008, 03:37 PM']is that the gig where he's using a Jazz? a guitarist mate had that video.[/quote] Classic Lynott black Precision with a mirror scratch plate

Just sitting here having breakfast and watching Lizzy live that I recorded last night (repeated again late on Sunday I think). I saw Lizzy a few times back in their heyday of the mid/late '70's. What a great live band thye were, I used to love those twin lead guitar parts and Lynott was a great bass hero - more for the attitude and stagecraft than for his bass playing at the time though. Listening back now I'd forgotten quite how good some of his bass parts were and he nails them all playing live and singing as well. Great showman Well worth a look on Sky if you like the Lizzy or are even intrigued as to what they were like live. Sound isn't the best and looks a bit out of synch (but my Sky+ sometimes does that anyway!). Also fun to see the opening few minutes with the truck arriving at the Rainbow & getting the gear set up. My favourite London large venue for many years. Saw loads of great gigs there. I go past it frequently and always feel that it seems such a waste to have it sitting there as a venue for a pretty obscure religious movement!

Almost took one in a PX deal a few months back but never quite got it sorted. Been vaguely interested in them ever since but never seen one in a shop anywhere near me so haven't been able to try one out. For a UK custom builder thye don't seem to get as much 'press' as Sei, Shuker, Overwater, GB etc. Just wondered if someone out there had any experience and what they thought of them in terms of feel and build quality?

Bought a pair of Berg cabs from Dave earlier this year - great guy, everything went really smoothly and we had an interesting natter in windy car park just outside Swindon! He's been in touch since the purchase as well to see how I'm getting on with the Bergs, what more can you ask eh?

[quote name='4000' post='359688' date='Dec 20 2008, 04:28 PM']BTW, is it me or is Bootsy dripping the Funk from the very first note he plays on the clip of him?[/quote] Bootsy sounds funky when he's simply talking!

[quote name='Josh' post='169989' date='Apr 4 2008, 07:23 PM']Ahh thats Sharay Reed! American Gospel Bass Players are by far the most influential and talented guys around, and for me will always make me dive for my bass as opposed to most solo players, great choice Richard! They naturally know how to groove better than most [/quote] I'm with Josh on this, So many great gospel bass players in the States. I find them much more listenable than a lot of the, way more famous, jazz/funk guys out there

[quote name='Born 2B Mild' post='355510' date='Dec 15 2008, 11:42 PM']I really think that an instrument should be used to suit the band you are in, regardless of format. In my case, I have one 4-string fretless, and one roundwound 5-string for rock/funk (+ a back-up) and another 5-string with flats for a quiet band. It just helps to have different tools in the toolbox. And, I can't wait for an excuse-cum-funds to get a nice sixer again. But back to Molan's OP. I hope you find what works for you in the band context you are in, and find the tool that fits the groove.[/quote] That's kinda why I was initially interested in going to a 5. The female singer in my soul/funk band would love to drop a few songs a semi tone or tone and on a 4 this would either mean dropping the tuning (not a major issue but I'd have to re-learn a few things) or using a lot of open E & A strings, or climbing up the neck a fair way which is my least favourite option. Theoretically not a problem to use the open strings but in some of the faster disco numbers it's a bit challenging in places. Having a 5 would solve a lot of this - and maybe make me popular with the singer too

[quote name='Josh' post='354644' date='Dec 14 2008, 10:39 PM']I noticed that you do tend to keep your right hand anchored when you play, which is perfectly fine but I'd hazzard a guess and say thats probally what is causing both your hands to get confused and thus trip over yourself.[/quote] Damn, thought you hadn't spotted my locked right hand technique! In the 1 & only lesson I've ever had the instructor said exactly the same thing - basic advice was to do whatever comes naturally but that really I need to float more as it would really help with muting (which I'm also crap at!). Let me give it a try & see how I get on

Having moved to a slightly higher level of proficiency on 4 string in the past year I recently arranged a long(ish) term swap with one of my better 4's for a 5 of a similar value. The 5 in question is an MTD 535 so is of great quality and I really like the core sound it has. I haven't really had much chance to play it 'properly' but have noticed I'm struggling a little with the spacing of the 35" neck, nothing major just finger memory not quite stretching and fretting slightly off. I'm also tending to use the B purely as a resting place for my thumb a lot of the time. To be honest I think I can get over the spacing issue with a bit more practice and probably need to push my thinking more to start using the B. However, the biggest issue for me is that if I decide to really go for a 5 string approach I'd probably want to have majority of basses with 5 strings rather than 4's. Obviously this might be fun as I can get on the trading floor again Conversely I actually quite like my current 'stable' of 4's so selling some would be a bit of a wrench! So the big question is - should I take the plunge and take on what will be a fair bit of extra work to get my hands & head around the whole 5 string concept or should I just stick to my 4's and work on improving my technique with these? Any thoughts gratefully received! PS - Josh, you're not allowed to comment