ambient

It all depends on your gig I guess. If I had to learn a set then I'd try and know it in a way that I wouldn't make a mistake. I had to learn ridiculous stuff as exam pieces at uni, Jeff Berlin's line and solo to Joe Frazier and Marcus Millers Frankenstein spring to mind. We also had to learn songs note for note from transcriptions for live performance assessments each week. I honestly can't remember a single one now though. In fact I don't know the bass line to a single song. Thankfully now I don't have to actually learn a set. All my gigs for bands are reading ones, so I just turn up and play. Respect to all you that do !

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1477385966' post='3161810'] I've never had the opportunity but it would be really interesting to have the chance to have a compare/contrast between the two - esp if they were similarly specced . As you said, clearly some inspiration behind the design/approach (which is fair enough). I keep looking at ACGs and thinking that they look like really nicely put together, well built basses and very reasonably priced for what they offer at all spec levels. However, for me they're just one of those brands where the aesthetics of any of the models don't do it for me. [/quote] I love the look of Wals, I'm with you on ACG though, whilst they're obviously well constructed, I really don't like the body styling at all. One day I'll hopefully own a pair of 6 string Wals, one fretted and one fretless.

You know I don't actually know a single song, let alone a whole set.

[quote name='No lust in Jazz' timestamp='1477577644' post='3163124'] Lovely Bass. [/quote] Thanks .

Ah, sorry. Maybe Talkbass ? They're bound to have a Steinberger Synapse club ,

Is there one on their website ? I know Yamaha have downloadable manuals for all their models going right back to the 80s. Maybe email them ?

[url="http://manualslibrary.us/STEINBERGER-SYNAPSE-ST2FPA-SERVICE-REPAIR-MANUAL.html"]http://manualslibrary.us/STEINBERGER-SYNAPSE-ST2FPA-SERVICE-REPAIR-MANUAL.html[/url]

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' timestamp='1477575635' post='3163099'] Thanks ambient, But I guess it is not in the UK. I won't buy a bass I can't try & collect in person. Hope your are enjoying Yours? BTW have You ever tried a Status 6? Any comparisons ? Brendan [/quote] You're the same as me then 😊. I've never tried a Status no, they do look amazing basses though.

I wonder if there are drummer forums, with drummers asking questions like, what do you do when your bassist forgets his line ? Or, what do you do when your bass player is too loud through his 1000 watt head and 2 4x10s. A good one, my bassist insists on dragging an old 1980s vintageTrace Elliot stack, it weighs an absolute ton, and takes up all the stage, any suggestions ? 😆

I thought Thomann offered a free 5 year warranty ?

I don't see this as being ripped off. Surely it's just commercialism ? Its like Amazon are currently selling the TC Polytune clip for £35, whereas other stores are selling them for up to £50. If people can't search and price check things then.....

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' timestamp='1477392773' post='3161879'] That's Beautiful Enjoy... I am looking for one. Hopefully trying a New JP2 next week -- But they are well over 3 grand new now!!! B [/quote] There's a guy contacted me about selling his, if you're interested ?

Can I ask why you're doing this anyway ?

On the plus side I guess. At least you paid in full up front, thus avoiding a rather nasty shock thanks to the demise of the pound.

I bought a used bass from them recently. I'm a fussy devil, and wasn't perfectly happy with it. So I emailed them explaining this. I had a reply almost immediately, apologising, and offering to get it collected by courier and refund me. I was going to be in the area anyway, so dropped it back. I was refunded back to my bank account within the hour. The refund included the original shipping charge too. You really can't beat that for service, in my opinion anyway. I also had a problem with a gig bag a couple of months ago. Not their fault at all I hasten to add, it was a manufacturing problem. They took it back and gave me a really good deal on a different model, the one I'd bought was their last in stock. They're human though I guess, so not everyone's impression of them will be the same. I've used them since they started and can offer only praise.

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1477478372' post='3162446'] Sounds like an awful lot of highly skilled classical musicians to me. I play in a local educational orchestra (and smaller ensembles) and the drummer / percussionist and me have a lot of pub gig experience. We piss about with the tunes as we feel like it (or up to the point we get told off!) The vast majority of the classical guys get upset when we are doing that, let alone when they are told they can improv! They seem to freeze, or play what is written with the odd added octave or rest! One of my mates is a cellist. Could sight read Grade 8 exam pieces in a dark room wearing sunglasses. She can't improvise worth a damn.Funnily enough the players of the "jazz" instruments (trumpet, clarinets etc) seem to be far better. I suppose there is more of a cross-over for those instruments. But the bassoons and cellos etc - not a chance. [/quote] This brings to mind the recent playing by ear thread. A fair few guys on here seem to have to 'learn' a song and practice it before playing it.

Have you tried 'transcribe' ? It's pretty good if you're trying to learn something, or transcribe something. It enables you to slow it down without altering the pitch, and you can set it to repeat a section or phrase. It's brilliant for working on a difficult piece.

Just get the pianists contact details, and drop him an email, or look him up on Facebook or whatever. Just say your friend has asked you to play bass, are you sure the pianist isn't expecting you anyway ?

There was a guy I was at uni with. He was without doubt the most gifted musician I've ever encountered. He could hear something once, and then play it. I'm not talking 12 bar either. He could do it on bass and also on piano, jazz stuff too. His uncle is a well known bassist.

My gig last night[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1477305842' post='3161187'] I did say both, as you quoted. Mikel said above, that without a rehearsal he wouldn't want to play a song to a paying audience, unless it was easy like a twelve bar. Some experienced players could play more than a twelve bar without a rehearsal. My point was, busking tunes on a gig is using your ears as well. Many do it all the time. Now, that might mean years of playing experience has helped in remembering many tunes, or they have good relative pitch, or a combination of both. To me that is playing by ear. But like you said, that is just my opinion. [/quote] This was my gig last night. Quite an important one because the band wanted a residency, which we got. We don't rehearse, we just turn up and play. We use charts, but playing by ear is a massive part of the gig. listening to what's going on, keys changed at the last minute, the arrangement evolves as the song goes on, watch the MD for cues re solos and dynamic etc.

The distance selling laws will still apply, so you'll be able to return it if you're not happy.