thisnameistaken

I've gone out and tried the current crop of super-cheap basses (Wesley, Vintage, Stagg, etc.) just on the off chance that I found a nice one, but they were all horrible. You must've dropped lucky on yours. But there are cheap basses I wish I still had. My old Yamaha BB was great, and I had a Tanglewood P fretless for a while that was really good.

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' post='595143' date='Sep 10 2009, 09:40 PM']Thanks for the suggestion. I play headless most of the time. The 5 string means that I don't need a hipshot. Unfortunately , the headless can't provide that facility.[/quote] Ah right. I used to have a [url="http://www.gbase.com/files/store_images/gear/1769491/p1_ue243c11q_so.jpg"]Hohner B2A that had a D-tuner on the bridge[/url], so the parts do exist, but I don't know if it's really practical (or desirable) to swap bridges on a headless bass.

Everybody's jealous of the gays anyway, they've always got all the fanciest gadgets.

Hipshot D-tuner?

[quote name='YouMa' post='594468' date='Sep 10 2009, 02:31 AM']I used to like you.[/quote] You sound like my girlfriend.

How did the "Good Level 42 Songs" thread get to two pages?

[quote name='sixshooter' post='572814' date='Aug 18 2009, 01:09 PM']Kickback 12 rules! ... The only problem I have ever had with it is the jack socket needs repair,[/quote] A mate of mine's had the 15 for a couple of years, only used it at home I think (he's got an Ampeg combo he gigs with) but it's a box of crackles and pops, everything on it is wearing out.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='593851' date='Sep 9 2009, 01:55 PM']If a seller won't name their price it's usually because they know bloody well what they want is over the odds,[/quote] I always assume that too. If a seller posts a price that I think is too high then at least you know what he thinks it's worth, you can either ignore the ad or PM an offer, but if the price can't even be published then I figure it must be like one of those posh shops where they don't display prices because such vulgarity would offend the delicate eyes of the rich idiots who shop there.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='593386' date='Sep 8 2009, 10:32 PM']Usually it's graphite and headless all the way for me, but more recently, I'm moving towards a little bit of a change with exotic timbers and multi-laminate set necks...[/quote] ^^ If you run it by him and he doesn't like it, I probably will. I like natural woods but understated looks, like older model Warwicks, walnut-topped Wals. I'm also a sucker for Jazzes with blocked + bound rosewood fingerboards.

That's the Belgian geezer who builds the Big John Hairy Balls - the most dangerous gated bass fuzz pedal to search for on Google Images! He's very good.

I just ignore ads where the seller knows what he wants but won't say what it is. I don't see the point in all this "PM me it's a secret" nonsense.

That one he's got there in the video, with a rosewood board, and chrome knobs, would look the biz.

[quote name='Spyke' post='591849' date='Sep 7 2009, 01:40 AM']So what I ask is for oppinions on what I can do to improve bass and vocals wise since all I get usually is "oh it sounds alright, keep going " without specific tips to meld off.[/quote] That's good. FWIW it seems like you're doing well, but it was hard to hear the bass part on that video. Advice: Learn to play the bass part entirely mechanically, so you only really think about the singing. Singing should be 90% of your effort, the bass part should mostly take care of itself. Being super-familiar with the tune you're playing makes this easy, so... [quote name='Spyke' post='591849' date='Sep 7 2009, 01:40 AM']Does blind practice over and over really work?[/quote] Yes, it does. But only if you're correcting your mistakes. Sometimes if you've got a difficult bit of bass playing or a part that's difficult to synchronise with the vocal you might not notice that you're doing one of them wrong, because you're already entirely occupied with trying to do them both right. So record yourself, note any phrases where you're struggling to perform both parts together, slow them down and figure out how the bass notes and syllables fit together, get them in the right order, then go again.

Is it a Stingray neck or is it different? I think they look pretty cool and all those tonal options would be great, but Stingray necks just don't do it for me.

I thought this was going to be about [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(band)"]Lamb[/url].

I use software to track synth bass parts on a cheapo Roland MIDI controller, but I don't play synths live. It's easy enough to learn to play bass parts on a keyboard, sure. If I was in the market for a live bass synth on a "trial" basis I'd poke Dave and see if he's still selling [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=51391"]this[/url]. Or if I was totally loaded I'd have a Moog Little Phatty. But I'm more obsessed with combo organs at the moment. My band's currently using an old Logan String Machine which is pretty dope-sounding, but I keep getting the urge to splash out on a Vox Continental, just to have one!

[quote name='Delberthot' post='589168' date='Sep 3 2009, 10:08 PM']How does the 4 balance compared to the 5? I loved the sound of my NT5 but the neckdive was too much[/quote] My '91 NT 4 balances perfectly on the strap, bit neck-heavier than say a Jazz, but it's never been a problem. The short top horn can cause some issues stretching down the lower reaches of the neck but I stretch for notes more than most I think, I tend to not to move my hand unless I have to. Bit lazy maybe. I don't know if the woods used or neck profile have made the balance issue any different on more recent basses, they might have. [quote name='Doc B' post='589604' date='Sep 4 2009, 12:53 PM']Hearing/seeing Norwood Fisher play a Thumb 5 NT with Fishbone was one of the things that made me want to play in the first place. The other day I was talking to Mrs Doc B about not feeling 'worthy' of having a bass like that as I'm not the greatest player and she surprised me by saying "why not get one?!"[/quote] Norwood was my first real bass influence and that made me go try out Warwicks (at what was Carlsbro Sound in Leeds) and I just figured I'd file it with Wal Fretless under "Basses I'll never be able to afford". Back in 2002-ish I got one (from probably the same year I was trying them out in Carlsbro Sound!) on eBay for £670. It's a minter. Last month I watched the guy I bought it from win an auction for a direct replacement (another '91 Thumb) for £1120. Felt a bit bad, but not that bad.

I think that guitarist was in Time Bandits.

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='587522' date='Sep 2 2009, 02:32 PM']Yeah i've got a band with my mates it's just that we can't get round to doing anything fun like gigs or out until we find a singer but no-one seems interested. Also i'm doing the drums, i wouldn't mind having a go on bass again seeing as i've just spent an inordinate amount of money on bass parts for my new bass.[/quote] I recently had a keyboard/trumpet player from Leeds wanting to join my band. Initially I suggested that they come down for a rehearsal and got "I don't have a car, can you come and get me?", then a couple of days before we were supposed to meet I got "I don't have a trumpet, or an amp for my keyboard".

Keep doing whatever you're doing then, sounds like it's working. Nice one.

[quote name='leschirons' post='582877' date='Aug 27 2009, 08:35 PM']Did he still get paid?[/quote] Yeah man I want a gig like that. Stand at the bar all night and get complemented on my tasteful use of space.

[quote name='steve-soar' post='582781' date='Aug 27 2009, 07:12 PM']Get a soldering iron and resolder all the connections that look iffy, if that doesn't work, set fire to it. [/quote] I tried setting fire to mine but it still doesn't work.

[quote name='trzbass' post='583116' date='Aug 28 2009, 12:34 AM']And actually they're playing MUSIC, not some nonsensical tweedly-deedly-dee![/quote] Which is pretty rare for metal guitarists.