JamesBass

So people are nagging me to give them ideas for christmas presents and am wanting music related stuff really.

So what autobiographies do people recommend?

Perhaps we of BassChat, should think of potentially putting together our own mag? Granted, that's a very pie in the sky thought but if we can't find a mag to meet our tastes then we should make one?

I'd certainly love to be involved if ever such a thing comes to fruition...

[quote name='Iheartreverb' timestamp='1385637197' post='2290443']
People seem to be losing track of my question a little bit.
I genuinely really appreciate this much advice though, so please don't think I do. This is a great community.

Anyway,

The issue is, I can't get the tone I want at a decent volume. What are my options?

I could get folk to turn down a bit (strangely the guys at the rooms say we are one of the quietest bands they have)

I could DI straight into a mixing desk/pa as all our practice rooms have these. Just find the tone and then turn it up?

I just like a slightly under gained cleaner tone that these amps don't seem to want to do
[/quote]
Firstly do get them to turn down, you're rehearsing, not playing at Wembley, there's no need to be overly loud.

Secondly for your sound if you're in middle position, both pickups selected, turn down the volume knobs just a touch, it often brings both out clearer, I find that on my Ric anyway, or if you'd like a more neck position sound, turn the bridge pickup down just enough to give you a more bass-y tone. Then with your EQ find where your gain breaks up, turn some treble down boost a bit of mid and turn the bass down as well, you'll have more cut that way, remember don't push your volume too much either, you'll break up the signal in the power section of the amp.

Exactly what tone are after? That might refresh some peoples minds

Leave all feedback about your dealings with myself

Thanks

[quote name='Adrenochrome' timestamp='1384868637' post='2281603']
I've played a few, and owned a Japanese neck-thru bass that was 'ahem' extremely reminiscent of the big R. When I played in an original punk n roll band with a pick it was a clanging, raucous joy! Love the sound of them. As people have said, they can be a bit limited for some applications.
[/quote]
Ah some, and I'm one of them, will argue that it is the player, not the bass that is limited. I find my Ric to be the most tonally versatile bass I have, I own a Traben Chaos John Moyer sig that is active and just doesn't fit tonally in to any music, it's either too bass-y or too honky and thin, it's not a nice bass in my opinion. My P bass sits in any mix but as it is a P it doesn't cut the same as a Ric, well not at the minute, I'm modding it in the New Year, finances allowing of course!

[quote name='Dropzone' timestamp='1385473080' post='2288604']
Personally I think Mark King has a lot to do with this as he was the first really famous Mainstream (not counting Floyd or Lizzie as not mainsteam) who got very famous as a bass player indeed!!!
[/quote]
What about John Entwistle? He was damn famous as a bass player, and at the height of the Who's dominance, was mainstream?

But yes, Mark King has a LOT to answer for!

In reply to the OP. I personally see that the bass players of the past were innovators, the bass as new, nothing was written for how and what it should play, only that it was a lower octave than a guitar. There's nothing that says a guitar can't be used as the rhythm instrument as opposed to the bass. It just works out that we bass players are more limited than those guitarists and people like melodies to be more mid-top than low-mid. However modern music has taken a path that has led it hand in hand with the technological advances that render us defunct at times, music like DubStep and even some POP charty music.

However POP charty music hasn't changed, it's all about the vocals and the vocal melody. When people began to highlight this everything else in the mix was pushed back, to allow the vocals and the vocal melody to shine through, there are very few songs where people will hum the bass line or the guitar riff, unless it is following the vocal melody. The vocal melody is what sticks, the average commuter who listens to radio one in the car doesn't try to pick out the bass riff, only music buffs do, and music buffs don't tend to listen to Radio 1, well not the ones I know anyway! This has resulted in bass players in mainstream music, which is different to what used to be mainstream, a la rock'n'roll, learning and focusing on the basics as that's what is your bread and butter session, root notes and simplistic playing earns you money in mainstream music, it used to be different and those virtuoso players who would have been perfect session players during rocks formative years have become obscure bedroom slap monsters in an attempt to stand out and show off.

The whole issue is very contentious and difficult to pin down, there are many, many variables in a debate such as this.

I'm after that grit and grind of a 60s P while still having clear definition on each note. If that helps

Nice to know just how highly thought of he is! I've heard great things about his guitar pickups but was wondering what his bass pickups were like.

Any other similar brands I should be looking towards?

So I've just bought myself a P Bass, thanks lushuk!, and I fancy changing the pickups in it to get an even wider tonal option available to me.

A guitarist friend of mine recommended At The Creamery, has anyone ever come across their pickups?

Also will a new wiring loom be necessary to really get the best out of my pickups I choose to put in there?


Thanks in advance,

James

Eddy sold me his, now former, 2011 Mex P Bass. He is a properly stand up guy and held the bass for me until I had arranged for collection. The bass itself is in top condition and plays beautifully!

Buy in confidence from Eddy!

Firstly in a rehearsal, you practice quietly, this is a rehearsal not a gig. Secondly as a bass player I'm most happy and most frustrated when next to the drummer, I want to hear him, he's helping me keep in time and vice versa.

I like to set up in a live formation as it were when it's closer to a gig, if you're not gigging much then you can be a bit more spread out and relaxed.

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1385047766' post='2283835']
Too old by far!



Yes, used an enormous Ampeg head, through an Ampeg 8x10, and it sounded great. All I'm saying is that that sound probably bore little resemblance to the "Sound" coming out of the bass. Of course this is true of most amps & cabs, otherwise they'd all sound the same, and what fun would that be? However valve amps seem to try and make feature out of a fundamental flaw.

If clean solid state amps had come first, and valve amps had been a later development people would probably be clamouring for the cleanness of an "old time" solid state amp, and bemoaning the "muddy" sound the new valve amps."
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Well that would surely just depend on the music written, would The Beatles have sounded so fantastic on a Solid State? Would John Entwistle have sounded as good with SS? Etc.

Personally I don't think so, the valves allowed for the amp to become something much more than what SS has, in my opinion of course. I much prefer the warm, tone and all round feel of an all valve head.

Obviously cabs play a HUGE part as does the guy or gal on the bass!

John Mayer's Continuum, featuring the legend that is Pino Palladino! Been learning up some of his lines, they're very good for chord knowledge and timing

Interesting to read, sounds like the guy has either had someone pull the funding plug, his finances have taken a hit or he doesn't have much of a clue.

Proceed with caution would be my advice, also think hard about exactly what you want!

Also, as is custom with the wonderful BassChat, keep us posted

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1384985709' post='2283262']
No worries. It probably only proves that your life is a lot more busy than mine and that i've got time to waste on the net.
[/quote]
Or that I waste my time on the net looking for basses to replace mine with

I'm interested in changing my P pickups soon and have found very limited sound bytes of any pickups other than the usual SD, Lindy's, DiMarzios and Fender own brand, anyone got some of the pickups mentioned here?

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1384984609' post='2283247']
Perhaps you're not looking hard enough............

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRABEN-JOHN-MOYER-STANDARD-BASS-GUITAR-IN-GUN-METAL-FINISH-/321242667141?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4acb8e1885"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4acb8e1885[/url]
[/quote]
Proves what ever I searched wasn't good enough, many thanks!

I've googled it and none seem to be for sale anywhere! Hence why I came to the wonderful world of BassChat!

So anyone familiar with this bass and its value?

Thanks,

James

I've done a battle of the bands before where we asked about how it'd be judged. The reply was "Well my boyfriends band are playing and his Dad has his own company so he's one of them, then we have his cousin who works for the local music shop and myself and my mum, plus everyone from the audience vote too." That from the promoter. We played and absolutely nailed our set bought more friends and family to the gig than anyone else and still managed to loose! That at the age of 14, I haven't done a BOTB since and hopefully never will!

From what is probably a biased point of view seeing how I own one, I have found only that the pickup cover is in the way for my playing, so I removed that and the surround is a tad sharp on the old digits. I find the build quality is exceptional, the feel of the neck is great, I can set it up exactly how I want it and it'll always stay in tune and the intonation is great on it.

I may have a great example but it's certainly given me the confidence to buy another if I fancy it, though John Hall's management techniques are rather upfront and forthright, but that's another matter.

[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1384502765' post='2277348']
What an awesome thread. Faith in basschat is partially restored

I have always struggled when joining an originals band that already has material written. As TimR says, it is pretty just like playing covers of songs you haven't heard before!

I still like the idea of playing original music but for me the real joy was always writing songs as a band with my best mates.

So maybe the answer is to get the right musicians together first and then work on new material?
[/quote]
I don't mind joining a pre-existing originals band and learning their already written and often, already gigged songs, I have no issues with that nor do I have issues of sessioning for the other people on my degree who have written say a Funk/Soul song I can do that happily, often they have the basic groove written out but nothing fancy and I'm expected to embellish it, I also get sessions with people who want root notes played all the way through the song as 8th notes, that's absolutely fine, so long as I have a band away from it all to go to and have a laugh with while still looking to work seriously on trying to make it our career.

I'm sure you could write a good song Paul, take a look at using your scales and modes and arps, use a 1,4,5 pattern if you're struggling! It might not turn out to be something you expected but just give it a go, I'm sure you'll surprise yourself!

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1384357783' post='2275657']


How far do you get?

Do you find musicians but they're put off after they hear your demo, or do people just not answer your ads, or do they answer and you decide they're not what you are after.

I know when I auditioned for the band I'm in now they just couldn't find a decent bass player. They had 4 guys audition but they just didn't 'fit'.
[/quote]
I've been at every single stage of the process in the past 6 months! I've had people get put off by the demos as they often have a heavier and different take on music, that's fine. I've posted ads that get no nibbles and I've had jams/sessions with people and tell them it's in the key of say C and a basic 1, 4, 5. I've also asked people if they can play a major 7 and been met with clueless expressions.

I find there are a lot of "musicians" local to me who are not aware of the work level involved, the knowledge required of basic theory and the determination to succeed! There are plenty of posers and what I'd call "bedroom musicians" I am by no means taking away from them, I just find them a waste of time for what I'm after!

I'll just keep looking and working on my material and meeting contacts, I'm damn hopefully that it'll come off!

PM'd

How much would a 1995 Gibson Les Paul fetch these days? It has the original case if that helps?!