Len_derby

[quote name='TimR' post='1249405' date='May 29 2011, 05:10 PM']or "The bass line to xxx doesn't go like that." "It did tonight." or "It does when I play it."[/quote] 'I play in band' Yeah, so why aren't you playing tonight then?

Count Basie's piano playing is the best example I know of 'less is more'.

This one was told to me by our soundman. Old guy (in tweed sportsjacket) goes up to the sound desk. 'Can you turn it down a bit please? I suffer from tinnitus' Soundman puts on a sympathetic face, points to the band and says 'yeah, so do they'.

A youngish lad, probably early twenties, comes up at the end all smiles. 'Thanks, that was great,.............my Dad would really love you lot'. To be honest, I was amused. Been thinking of having a tee-shirt made that says 'your Dad would love us'.

Welcome aboard Steve.

Greetings Zac. Hope we can help you scratch that itch.

[quote name='voldar' post='1249047' date='May 29 2011, 12:15 PM']Hi Everyone, I'm new to playing the bass (or any instrument actually) and live near New Mills in the Peak district. Last night was my first live attempt at a song (Mustang Sally) with the excellent Outer Limits Band at the White Hart in New Mills. Many thanks to David and the gang for welcoming me so much and making my first live experience so enjoyable. Plenty more practising for me and then I'll be on the look out for a local band. All the best.[/quote] Welcome Voldar! New Mills, Peak District? The view from my end of the County was that New Mills was the murder capital of Greater Manchester Hope you enjoy our sense of humour.....

Here's a link to some photographs on the BBC website. They show pictorial representations of the vibrations that occur in a string instrument when it's played. Very interesting and quite beautiful. [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13573631"]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13573631[/url]

[quote name='Mykesbass' post='1247578' date='May 27 2011, 08:52 PM']But do those that have the natural ability and pick up playing quickly possibly have the tendency to just go with it rather than sit down and put all the heavyweight pratice in - Keith Richards vs Julian Bream perhaps?[/quote] I'm not disagreeing with you here, but if you read Keef's autobiography it's clear that he put in years of graft on the guitar. I think in the UK the issue is clouded a bit because we have a tendency to play down hard work and practise. Not in the sense of devaluing it, but in casually pretending we don't do it. It's just a national sort of pretend 'cavalier' outlook. I've got the Bounce book too. Very interesting. I think most of us on this forum are working towards our 10,000 hours (if we live that long!) in the form of 'on the job' training. Nothing wrong with that in my mind. Did you know that under Jockey Club rules 'training in public' eg. entering a horse in a race with the purpose of giving it a training exercise, not to try and win, is a fineable offence if found proven? Just as well they're not in charge of the music business!

Oh well...... It was great that such a potentially divisive subject stayed on topic, mutually respectful and asorbing for so long. And some people say that there's no God.

It's not a very exciting angle Andrew, but I'd be interested to know how long any of the pedals can run with battery/DC power. I've used some pedals over the years that have drained batteries so quickly that I've thought I must have put the old ones back in by mistake! Although pedal board and AC mains power is preferred, there are some occasions where a battery powered pedal (taken in the gig bag with the DI box) is the easiest option. I'm probably not alone in that.

[quote name='silddx' post='1247735' date='May 27 2011, 11:35 PM']In that case, get a drummer to do it with you, and demo the equipment's properties and capabilities and how it sounds while you play wonderful grooves, riffs and licks with the drummer, while also demonstrating how versatile the equipment is. You can then teach them about EQ strategies and how to musically lock in with a drummer.[/quote] +1 As a punter that would get my attention. If a drumkit isn't feasible some kind of live precussion player would take any demo to another level. I also like the idea of talking EQ. It's too often seen as a mysterious black art, when it isn't.

[quote name='chaypup' post='1244304' date='May 25 2011, 02:41 PM']Aloe Blacc - I need a dollar. Edit: Although it may not be your style - it's a great song![/quote] As soon as I saw Steve's post I thought of this, but you beat me to it!

I've just bought a pair of LittleMark II/III rack ears off Philip. The whole transaction went totally smoothly. He's a nice guy and good to do business with.

Welcome Dan. Brilliant user name.

[quote name='wazz' post='1218021' date='May 2 2011, 08:34 PM']I have decided I really want a Fretless Electro Acoustic bass. But which one should I consider? Shops dont carry a big selection so its hard to try that many out. Ideally I'm looking up to £600 but would go to £1000 if it was really special. The advice and experience of basschatters is needed and appreciated!! Ta Wazz[/quote] Hiya. Have you tried out or owned an electro acoustic bass before (fretted or fretless)? I'm asking that because, sad to say, the general opinion (not just mine) is that they're a bit disappointing. Unless you pay a lot of money they just don't cut the mustard volume-wise. You really have to amp them up to compete with a moderately strummed acoustic guitar, which really defeats the object of having an acoustic bass. Having said that, I still use my Ibanez EAB in some circumstances. Sometimes the look of the instrument suits the band I'm playing in and sometimes the rich, deep tone of the thing is right. Oh, and they are prone to feedback too! Sorry if I've come across a bit negative, but I recommend trying one before you buy. You can come and try mine if you like, I'm in Derby.

Welcome Tenty! You'll definitely get lots of ideas about gear on this forum. Whether that makes things any clearer I'll let you decide! Have fun.

Thanks for all these brilliant posts guys and gals. A real mixture of answers, which was what I hoped for. There's two main messages I've picked up on though. 1. I should dust off my Tascam and start using it again. 2. I need to get some proper moulded ear-plugs. Cheers!

Go to see a gig tonight. If the bassplayer is good, you'll be inspired. If they're not, you'll come away thinking 'F*** me, I can do better than that'. More seriously, don't give up mate. Anything that's worth doing doesn't come easy all the time. And definitely do not stop posting on this forum! I love your Youtube links.

[quote name='Marvin' post='1214731' date='Apr 29 2011, 11:28 AM']My Hercules Mini Stand. It folds down soooooooo small My guitarist has 3 Hercules grab stand things, always looks like he's going camping the amount of metal he carries around. I'm easily pleased.[/quote] 'camping' and guitarist.

I wondered if any of you have got something in your gear that has proved itself as a 'best buy' over time? It could be a bass, backline, effect, cable, flight case, whatever. Something that's given you real and reliable money's worth and has maybe surprised you. The stuff you'd buy again without hesitation. For me it would be my Roland Cube 100 bass combo. Even though I've now also got a Barefaced cab and a Markbass head the Roland still ticks all the boxes for lots of situations. In second place would be my Boss Tu-2 tuning pedal. What are your 'gems'?

Stack knobs Both pickups 100% Tone on both at 50% I find that the most versatile. For variations in sound I move my left (plonking) hand nearer or further from the bridge.

Agurrak! I love the idea of 'Post-blues' music. Len

[quote name='Ian Savage' post='1208674' date='Apr 22 2011, 09:36 PM']You're not the only person, there's surely at least 1, 5, 1, 5, 1, 5 other country bass players out there... [/quote] Surely you mean; 1,5, 1,5 1,5 1,2,3,4, 1,5 1,5 1,5 etc. Jokes aside, I feel your pain. I too love country music. Sadly, in the current economic climate venues and musicians are going to get increasingly risk-averse. Clegg/Cameron = more Mustang Sally I was at the Gate to Southwell Folk Festival (Nottinghamshire) last year. There were some acts that were, to my ears at least, 'Country'. Try the folk scene to recruit or join a band, it's a fairly broad church these days in my experience.