2wheeler

Most people seem to recommend trying out any bass before you buy it. And that kind of makes sense to me. But... I have read various articles and book chapters on buying and trying out basses but they all leave me with questions. I know that you can rule out a neck that doesn't feel right or a bass that looks wrong or balances awkwardly but how can you really get any idea about the following: [list] [*]what it is going to sound like through your own combo [*]what it is going to sound like through other amps and PAs [*]what it will feel like when you have tweaked the set-up (or maybe had it professionally set-up to your requirements) [*]what it will be like with your preferred strings [*]what it will sound like when you are more accustomed to it [/list] So far I have bought two basses (ever). Both were posted to me without having tried them out. Both were really good value for money but both were substantially different before and after restringing and set-up. And because I am still a beginner, my playing style is still evolving (and improving, I hope) and both basses sounded substantially different as I got used to them and worked out how they seemed to do best. I wonder if I would be better off just buying according to recommendations/reviews and hunting around for the best on-line price?

Has anyone tried a Levinson Blade Tetra Classic? (That's the one with the passive pickups, despite having a battery for the mid boost circuit, if I understand correctly.) This got a great review in Bass Guitar Magazine and I am very interested. A related questions is, does anyone know where I can try one remotely close to York?

Is the B string really any good? I have tried budget 5-strings and not been very impressed with the low B. (I have about £500 burning a bass shaped hole in my pocket and this looks like it could be a very good way to spend it.)

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='93257' date='Nov 23 2007, 12:01 PM']+1 on that. "Try before you buy" makes perfect sense, but ONLY if you have at least some idea of what you're doing. Playing [i]Smoke On The Water[/i] 17 times on 17 different basses will do you very little good, and may result in your assassination by maddened shop staff. ...[/quote] Quite right. You must alternate with [i]Another One Bites the Dust[/i]

[quote name='ARGH' post='83376' date='Nov 4 2007, 01:36 AM']JUST gigged in York...they loved us,fed us,bought our drinks,and paid over the usual rate,and booked us for more...several more...[/quote] Ooo - where in York?

[quote name='BigRedX' post='83629' date='Nov 4 2007, 06:51 PM']Nor really bass related but a complete blast and IMO the future of live electronic improvisational music... [url="http://www.global.yamaha.com/tenori-on/"]TENORI-ON[/url][/quote] One of my work colleagues sent me this link [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h-RhyopUmc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h-RhyopUmc[/url] No comment as I am speechless

[quote name='MB1' post='77551' date='Oct 21 2007, 10:58 PM']... They used to make good Motorbikes?[/quote] Still do!

Last week I posted my adventures in Birmingham. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=7169"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=7169[/url] This week's travels had me coming home from King's Cross in London. If you go out of the exit by platform 10, turn right, do a left right under the car park and the fork right into Royal College Street, a 15min purposeful stride takes you to the door of the Gallery. [url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/"]http://www.thebassgallery.com/[/url] This is a very different prospect from the bass section of your average music shop, it's just basses - mmmm lovely. Unfortunately I didn't have very much time and they were in the middle of receiving a delivery but it's great to talk directly to the proprietors rather than a representative. Despite being very busy, they answered my questions first before doing the next thing. I did manage to try a few basses in my short time there. I am looking for a 4-string and this place has so many basses with 5 or more strings that the 4-string basses start to look like strangled, weedy things by comparison. But that's not really the point... I liked some aspects of the Ibanez ATK but there was nowhere to get my thumb locked on. I was initiallly attracted by Tanglewood basses but the body seems wrongly proportioned. I liked two basses in particular. My first choice was (I think) an Ibanez EDB700. Their website lists the price as £449 but when I asked they said it was £599. Of course I could be wrong about the model. Also I had said I wouldn't buy anything today so maybe they thought it was enough to just give me a "ball park" value. I like to think they would have checked a bit more carefully before taking any money off me. My second choice was a Yamaha. I don't know what it was but I really like the thumb-shaped indentations in the top of the pick-ups - you can really lock on there. [edit: I think it was an RBX 374] Anyway, in summary I had a much better experience at the Gallery and will try to steer my next trip via King's Cross. Probably best to phone before you go and make sure they are not in the middle of a delivery, though...

Sorry if this is the wrong forum but it isn't a review of equipment and I couldn't find and better home for it... Fairdeal Music Ltd in Birmingham [url="http://www.fairdealmusic.com/"]http://www.fairdealmusic.com/[/url] Before hopping on the train back home to York, I nipped across the road from Birmingham New Street station and had a look round their basses. I said I was looking for a 4 string and wanted to know more about what you got with active pickups (having a battery-free, passive bass at the moment). They gave me a Yamaha BB415 to try, which is definitely not a 4-string bass and I don't think it has a pre-amp. Their price was identical to the GAK price for a BB615 (I just found that out and it made me cross enough to bother writing this up). Although I thought it was a great bass they clearly weren't really listening to me and the salesman admitted he was a guitar player not a bass player. It really didn't put me in the mood to buy anything so I left with my marriage intact -- ooops I mean money unspent - hang on, it's the same thing I would welcome a defence from anybody who is involved with Fairdeal Music. They were friendly and seemed helpful but now I am checking up on the details I think some of what I was told was just plain wrong, or at least got me confused and left me with the wrong impressions. Can anyone suggest a better shop? I go to Manchester from time to time, and I travel round the South for work and visiting family.

My brother got rid of all his equipment. Just before getting an offer to join a band and bumping into a friend who wanted to reform their Uni band. D'oh He's out shopping now, probably. Still he didn't really lose much money, as has been pointed out already.

[quote name='3V17C' post='65725' date='Sep 26 2007, 10:06 AM']heres my rendition: a bit rough round the edges but there you go! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ5D0OpRRto&mode=related&search="]Rhythm Stick[/url][/quote] Hmmm.... You're very good!

[quote name='InTheGroove' post='67964' date='Oct 1 2007, 01:50 AM']Links have died and I can't find what I'm looking for by clicking around, any chance of another working link please? Many Thanks[/quote] +1 None of the links work for me either.

[quote name='dood' post='67309' date='Sep 29 2007, 11:21 AM']I saw the last 20 minutes and although not my *usual* choice of listening, I found the program compelling and totally absorbing. ...[snip]...[/quote] +1 I didn't think I'd be that interested but just tuned it to have a look ... and got absorbed by a great bit of TV.

Just wondering How many players on here are 100 times better than that but still don't feel "ready" to gig?

I don't think Thomann are doing something that terrible but I did feel a bit stupid when I ordered my Line6 Studio 110 from them and it turned out to cost more than the UK site I had compared prices with (and who could have delivered sooner) rather than costing less. And I ended up with a Euro power lead instead of a UK one Ho hum It's still a great practice amp

The nature of bass is normally a supporting role, not centre stage. That's life. Playing Latin music you (normally) get to be the only guitarist so that's one less problem

[quote name='Alpha-Dave' post='59695' date='Sep 13 2007, 08:48 AM']...[snip]... Edit: Ah! it is actually the same Dutch company that has been licensed to Gibson. [url="http://www.tronical.com/"]http://www.tronical.com/[/url] Great video demo too.[/quote] Are you sure they are Dutch? The web page is in German, the guy in the video is speaking in German and their contact address is in Hamburg. Could they be German?

I used one for a bit of extra excercise when I had a leg in plaster. I thought it was fun and a bit addictive. I got a cheapo off ebay with no score on it. Fascinates the children and house guests - probably worth it just to have a play and find out for yourself. Ooh look you're in Leeds. You can come over and look at / play with / buy my one if you like.

Great thread. As a beginner at 38 with two children and therefore precious little time or money, it seems there is hope after all

[quote name='Rich' post='30907' date='Jul 12 2007, 08:50 PM'][url="http://www.waymantisdale.com/"]Wayman Tisdale[/url], ex-NBA basketballist and verrrrrrrrrrrry tall man [/quote] Wayman Tisdale is never going to get the job playing bass for Prince. Just think though...

Who's the bassist for Gil Scott-Heron "The Bottle"? [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I54DgVennXU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I54DgVennXU[/url] Sorry the sound is a bit rubbish on youtube but it is free... You see his face at times but who is it pumping out that smooth groove? I am sure loads of you will know this but I couldn't a definitive answer on the internet. Is it Ron Carter? Thanks in advance.

Actually it's spelt "[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliteration"]alliteration[/url]". Illiteration would be not being able to spell?

Anyone been approached to dep?

[quote name='wulf']Take notes. Even if you are only jotting down chord sequences, [url="http://www.dolmetsch.com/manuscriptpaper.htm"]blank manuscript paper[/url] always makes you look as if you know what you are doing! ...[snip]...[/quote] +1 Apart from anything else, if somebody says or plays something interesting and you write it (or at least something) down then it shows them you are paying attention. [quote name='Cantdosleepy']...[snip]... I've been playing for about ten years, am happy with my technique but am dead rusty on theory ...[snip]...[/quote] Oh yes - and don't pretend to know anything you don't