ambient

Listen to some Anthony Jackson from this album - [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4v4Zu-msnQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4v4Zu-msnQ[/url] Tell me that you honestly can't hear the notes that he play clearly. I did a lot of transcribing of his playing from this album last year, he loves the low Cs, C#s etc, they can clearly be heard.

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1428175918' post='2738895'] Well, I wonder if YOU can indentify the notes? I did a blindfold test at a bassbash a couple of years ago. I played a C then a Csharp and asked people to identify whether I'd moved up a tone or a semitone. Only half the people got the correct answer. The ability to hear notes that low is difficult unless you include harmonic resonance - something the bass guitar does not have. I'm making very straightforward points. You don't need to accuse me of deafness or throw other insults at me. [/quote] I'd suspect that the reason they couldn't tell was more to do with poor ear training than the pitch of the note. We're talking a low C on a 5 string bass here, not some sub seismic note that humans can't hear Half couldn't but equally half could. I'm sat playing chromatically from low B to D and can clearly hear the difference between the notes. [b]A 5 or a 6 string bass is not just about the extra low notes[/b], it's about having the ability to play in more than one position, i.e. I can comfortably fret a low E at fret 5 on my B string, and without moving my hand along the neck, I can play an E at the 9th fret on the G string, (I can actually play an A at the 9th fret on the C, but we're talking 5 string basses here). Having a 5 or a 6 in reading gig is a great advantage, you can stay in one position, and play, instead of having to move about, possibly taking your eyes off the chart. If what you're saying is right, then why do so many of the great players in the world play 5 string basses ? What makes them wrong, and you right ?

I had a Neunaber Wet reverb that I recently sold, you could download the Shimmer effect on to that, it was a beautiful sound.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1426872476' post='2723014'] Carvin also do a 6 string set that are actually La Bellas but in unbranded bags - a lot cheaper as well! [/quote] Stupid question possibly, what's the tension and tone like on these ?

I find the best way of helping people to move from a 4 string to a 5, is to get them to play it different from the start, it's not a 4 string with an extra string, that's the wrong way to think. With that mindset the low B becomes nothing more than a long thumb rest, that can produce some low notes occasionally. It's a 5 string bass, a new instrument. Stop playing the low E, play that note at the 5th fret on the B, play the low F, F# and G at the 6th, 7th and 8th frets, in other words move everything up 5 frets and down a string. Play everything around the middle of the bass, just to start with. Playing any piece is obviously relative to the notes that come before or after. This is all just to help make the transition.

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1428070410' post='2737744'] Depends on the tone/feel you're going for surely? One key benefit is the choice open(!) to you. [/quote] Exactly, but if you're having problems playing the low B instead of the low E then it makes sense, I find a fretted low E sounds tonally better too, especially if all the other notes are fretted, it's also easier to kill the note too, especially if you're just getting used to playing a 5 string, with the added muting. Just me of course, I'm probably talking a load of tosh .

[quote name='Krysbass' timestamp='1428055356' post='2737482'] I've played bass since the early 80s but only got round to buying my first 5-string a couple of weeks ago - a Spector ReBop. My main reason for switching was that I'd been getting increasingly frustrated at the growing number of songs I wanted to play which went below E and my band already play a couple of songs that will benefit from the extra depth. As I play in a covers band, mostly playing pubs (many of which are small) taking multiple basses to a gig so that I have a down-tuned bass available when needed is not practical as there's usually no room "on stage". Neither is re-tuning between songs, as we keep the gaps between songs to a bare minimum. So I've been getting to grips with the 5-string for a couple of weeks. During that time I've made a point of only playing the 5-string, to help build muscle-memory. The most difficult thing to overcome has been accidentally plucking the B string instead of the E - but I'm getting beyond that now. My routine for mastering the 5-sting has been to practice the full repertoire of my band at home and identify the songs within that that need special attention. The Spector Rebop is incredibly comfortable to play and this has definitely helped the transition too. So no regrets buying a 5-string yet - I just think the time had come for me where I couldn't put it off any longer. [/quote] Play the low E at the 5th fret on the B string.

[quote name='aquatious' timestamp='1428010617' post='2737131'] A little looser, but not floppy. <--- Not an expert. Can you tell? [/quote] It was a bit of a silly question really, but thanks for answering anyway.

[quote name='Chrismanbass' timestamp='1428024561' post='2737253'] tbh if it was me i'd save the £25 then if it dies within 3 years thomann sort it out if it dies after 3 years i don't know of many shops that would offer a warranty longer [/quote] That's what I'm thinking too 😊

You get 3 years warranty and 14 days to return it if your not happy. 😊

I want an Aguilar TH350, new they're currently £350, B stock is £325. For the sake of £25 is it worth buying new ?

[quote name='aquatious' timestamp='1427554454' post='2731708'] No problems fitting them and they sound good - a lot better than the old ones. A little hard to compare being flatwounds vs roundwounds but they suit the fretless much better I think. [/quote] How do they feel, tension wise ?

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1427994386' post='2736881'] Yes but remember only up to a total of 50 euro per customer once you have had that then that's it. Best resign up again under different email lol [/quote] Maybe that's why there was no mention, I've maybe had that over the last couple of years.

[quote name='Jecklin' timestamp='1427994319' post='2736877'] Are you not finding the Status strings bright enough? I'm hooked on their half rounds 40-100. I have often wondered whether they are made by Elites? Can't help with the Carvins I'm afraid. If I had piles of disposable cash I'd be looking to try TI jazz flats for exactly their flexibility and highs contained in the core tone. [/quote] They're Status flats I'm using. TI flats would be great, I'm put off by the price and the size of the B string though, it's a wapping 136 or something. Yep, they're the made by LaBella ones.

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1427993571' post='2736863'] Yes they do. I got a €10 voucher recently for reviewing a bass I bought. [/quote] Cool, I'll wait then I did long reviews on 3 things.

Anyone tried them ? What's the tension and tone like on them ? I want something quite flexible and reasonably bright. I'm using Status flats at the moment. [url="http://www.bassgear.co.uk/product/carvin-fw60-flatwounds-6-string-pack/"]http://www.bassgear....-6-string-pack/[/url]

I got some vouchers from them last year for doing some reviews of things I'd bought. I just reviewed some other things, but didn't see anything about getting any vouchers. I want to order an Aguilar TH350 from them, they're only £350, so a pound a watt , but thought I'd wait a few days and put any vouchers against the purchase.

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1427922733' post='2736018'] He made some very good points about a 5 giving you more vertical options without the need to move along the neck so much. When I moved from 4 to 5 I still played it like a 4 - only really used the B string for the extra 5 notes which was to miss the real point of the thing. [/quote] That's the mistake an awful lot of people make, and the reason why they sell them on. In their mind they're still playing a 4, and they have some lower notes.

[quote name='Qlank' timestamp='1427922010' post='2736003'] The only 5er I heard live that sounded any good was a 5 string Fender Jazz. Mind you, the chap doing the mix was a professor of acoustic engineering. Not knocking 5ers, but.......not for me. [/quote] The two 5 string Fenders I've owned were probably the worst 5 string basses I've played , everyone's different though.

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1427919935' post='2735970'] Well, the guy Mark who owns Bass Direct said in Guitar and Bass magazine last month, "The reality is that, if you are playing contemporary pop/party music from the 70`s onwards, you really benefit from using a 5 string bass." He also says he can see the 4 string, e-g bass becoming obsolete. A bit of a sweeping statement in my view but everyone has their own opinions. The five string seems to have a bright future but not for me. [/quote] I don't think the 4 string will become obsolete, there are far too many people comfortable with them. The 5 has been here since the early 1980s, so it's not going to go away

A 5 is a 4. For guys looking for short scale basses but liking the sound of long scale, then get a 5 and play everything from the 5th fret upwards. You've also got the extra low notes if you want them. I went 4 to 5 to 6 back to 5 then back to 6 and I've stayed with a 6, a 5 or a 6 just seems to make sense to me, a 4 doesn't.

Most guys I know have at least one five string in their arsenal. Maybe it's cos they're more popular that you're seeing more of them for sale ?

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1427894441' post='2735537'] Watched recurring dream. The music is a bit of nothing, but with the video, it just goes with the mood of it. It all fits together. You should get into film score. I liked it. [/quote] That's what I want to do, thanks

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1427895100' post='2735553'] I hope this eventually becomes an app for iPad ( looks very useful). For desk top I am a Sibelius user, but for iPad, I have not found anything to out perform Notion. Really is worth checking out. [url="http://www.presonus.com/products/Notion-for-iPad"]http://www.presonus....Notion-for-iPad[/url] A few Vids. (Tons more on the YouTube). [url="http://www.presonus.com/products/Notion-for-iPad/media"]http://www.presonus....-for-iPad/media[/url] [/quote] I was looking at that last year, it was advertised on TV by Esa-Pekka Salonen wasn't it ?

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1427894074' post='2735528'] I started with Sibelius and went to Musescore for a new computer. FOund it all but unusebale by comparison!! Sibelius rocks. Worth every penny. I only wish I had more time to spend on it building up my composing 'chops'! [/quote] Sibelius is amazing, it was a bit awkward to use when I first started with a couple of years ago, but like everything else you get used to its little quirks It is a bit slow though compared to that app, it'd be much nice and a lot quicker to just be able to 'draw in' the notes and articulations.