ambient

I've sold off a few of my basses recently, I had way too many ! Anyway, 'cos of that I have a reasonable amount of money to spend on a new amp. It's gonna be used with my new Acme 2x10 cab that I just bought from on here. It's gotta be small, and preferably have a valve pre section. Two channels would be nice, electric bass and EUB. I'm guessing 500 watts minimum. Tonally very clean and versatile, I'm really not interested in distortion or overdrive. I played through someone's Bergantino powered cab a while ago, he was using this little tiny valve preamp with it. That's the sort of sound that I'm looking for. The valve was there in the sound, adding a bit of sparkle to it, without over colouring it. I've tried the GB Shuttle 3 and 6 and hated them, they both reminded me of wasps in bottles for some reason . The Markbass TTE500 or TTE800 look interesting, but are maybe too big. Are there any other contenders ?

[quote name='bagsieblue' timestamp='1380906847' post='2232335'] Yes, more please [/quote] It's hard to know where to start I'm in year 2 of my degree, we have to learn one of these per week, so I've 26 from last year and I've 13 from this year so far. I'll have a look through and see what I think you'll like.

There's always the risk (especially if Paypal are involved), of the item not arriving in one piece, and the buyer claiming. The seller has then lost their bass, plus the money.

I've got tons of stuff from my uni course, here's something to start with, let me know if you want more.

[quote name='stu_g' timestamp='1379340484' post='2211436'] heres my effort for this month managed to get my fretless pj bass up and running at the weekend, so rustled this tune up earlier today : [url="https://soundcloud.com/stuartgeary/still"]https://soundcloud.c...uartgeary/still[/url] [/quote] Nice !

If it's not too late, here's my attempt, probably not up to everyone else's standards, but kinda cool and I think gets the right vibe, cold and desolate. [url="https://soundcloud.com/ambientbassist/my-mind"]https://soundcloud.c...bassist/my-mind[/url] Didn't have any contemporary war news recordings, but the effect is the same.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1379198107' post='2209837'] Index finger from D to E string on quavers? That's a tricky bit of string skipping you guys do if you can play that at speed & consistency! [/quote] Quavers/semi-quavers , yeah 1st finger for low F sharp then 2nd finger for the 1st high F sharp followed by the 1st finger again. I can also do it 1st finger low F sharp then 2nd for the 1st high F sharp then 1st finger then 2nd finger, so alternating 1,2 etc.

1st finger for the low F sharp, then 2nd finger followed by the 1st finger for the octaves, just repeat that. Fine advice about using a metronome and start at a low tempo, maybe 60bpm, and just increase the tempo as you find it easier. Ignore the tapping suggestion , and also the thumb suggestion. Why would you want to tap it ???????? Unless you've practiced incorporating your thumb into playing with your fingers, the sound would be too different for it to work properly. The sound between 1st and 2nd finger is noticeable, more flesh on the 2nd finger, your thumb would sound even more heavier.

A 5 string is a 4 string, with an extra string . Just makes everything easier in my mind, don't have to move about so much, muuuuuuuuuch better when following charts 'cos everything from a low F up to a high E is right there under your fingers without having to move. The only time I play a 4 string is when the gig requires it, I wouldn't turn up for a blues gig dep with any of my 5's or 6's, I dust off my trusty Pino P bass , some band leaders are a tad fussy.

I own quite a few basses/guitars at the moment, and have a couple more on the way this coming week. I've got them all either on stands or resting in corners at the moment. Stands seem to take up quite a bit of room though, maybe a rack stand thing would be a better idea ? Anyone got any recommendations ? Thanks .

I found that walking bass lines were a good thing to read, the rhythm is usually quite simple, but when there is a change it throws you 'cos you've gotten used to the quarter notes. The important thing is that the lines usually move around a lot, you often get a lot of none diatonic notes so you have to move around and it can get tricky when you get a lot of accidentals suddenly appear. The key's are sometimes awkward too.

Maybe if you're playing the NEC or Wembley or somewhere. Personally (no one take offence pleeeeeease), I just find the whole thing about wireless when you're playing pubs or clubs totally ridiculous and a bit silly . Kinda well I want to pretend I'm a rock star for the night . How many decent cables can you buy for the price of a reliable wireless ? Personally I'd hate to be relying on a 9v battery to stay working. I use a 4 metre cable, with a spare in my bag incase, but in 20 years of gigging I've never actually had to change. I have played twice with bands using radio mic's (these are actually a good idea), but one of them packed up once thanks to a faulty battery (Duracell, changed before the gig and brand new out of the box too).

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1378641926' post='2202637'] If it were me I would happily blow out a dep who couldn't rehearse over someone who could. Your essentially saying that you cant make time for them yet expect them to hold the gig open for you - totally unreasonable attitude IMO. The world doesnt owe you living just because youve got a sprog on the way, its your choice, and if that choice means affects your ability to meet the expectations of someone paying you then they will (quite reasonably) go elsewhere. [/quote] I've done dozens of gigs all over the country for people with no rehearsal, sometimes I've turned up knowing some of the songs better than the band I'm working for. This guy's played with them before, so I'm sure he's capable of doing so again with no rehearsal. I think the problem is the guy starting the thread is doing it for a living, the band are just doing it for a laugh/fun/extra money/cos they enjoy it, they don't appreciate that the guy is making his living doing it, and may have turned other work down 'cos he's got their gig in his diary. He's the pro, they're not and have acted (in my opinion) in a very amateur way.

Steven Wilson - The raven that refused to sing .

The fact it broke in the first place seems a bit worrying to me, especially as it was used with care. I've got some Ultimate support GS100 stands, some of which I've had for 3 years or so, with some quite heavy basses on too and they've never let me down. They can accommodate the wider necks of my two 6 string basses too, something the Hercules I had once couldn't do.

Garageband is actually really good, expecially considering you get it included with your laptop. You just need to experiment with it, and learn to use it. I use a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, which works faultlessly with my Macbook, it has a headphone monitoring output, a separate volume level for monitoring and you can adjust the balance between the headphone output and the main monitor output from totally headphones to totally monitors.

I have a pair of Yamaha HS80's, I think they're really good quality, and certainly wouldn't class them as 'low range' monitor, mid range yes. They got excellent reviews in Sound on sound [url="http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun06/articles/yamahas80m.htm"]http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun06/articles/yamahas80m.htm[/url] They're based on the legendary NS10's, though obviously are active but do share some of the same type of sound.

This site is REALLY useful for ear training, plus a load of other stuff. I spent hours using the interval and chord exercises in the 1st year of my degree. It's free too . [url="http://www.teoria.com/exercises/"]http://www.teoria.com/exercises/[/url]

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1378201349' post='2196846'] The X Factor is not just a talent show. It's a show that offers a serious financial and personal reward to whomever wins (and often the final 10!). Why should it be that some 16year old sod from wherever should be able to bypass all the years of hard work and sweat and tears that everyone else has to put in and, in all likelyhood, will make enough money to live off for the rest of their lives? It's complete horseshit. I appreciate that it's just some Saturday night entertainment. I appreciate that, in a real sense, only a few select people actually do quite well for themselves out of it. But it just makes me feel sick. The only reason people that enter this competition is because they're under the impression that they can work for a few years and then retire to a life of luxury and gameshow appearances. It makes a complete mockery of all the working people in this country who have to work all their lives for a percentage of what these guys get given. I've said it before and I'll say it again; horseshit. Alex [/quote] They don't make any real money, it's the production company that they sign to that makes the money. One of my tutors is lead singer with quite a well known band. She gets asked every year to go along to songwriting sessions for the winner's album. She gets put up in a country house for a few days together with a couple of producers and programmers etc. They're given the brief of how the album should sound, and left to get on with it. The album is all recorded music-wise by the end of the series, the winner just has to go along and track the vocals. By the way, this is early on in the series, they already know who's gonna win it.

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1378141873' post='2196227'] And just to add to that - Jobs created for Musicians..... This show and the likes of SCD/BGT use Musicians on the live shows, Musicians to record the tracks for some of the shows, associated tours that go out each year, the acts going out on their own tours, recording of albums and so on. [/quote] I don't think it's the show, rather the low level of talent on it. There's been talent shows for years, but the participants on shows years ago had usually been playing around clubs prior to going on the show. They had talent, and could sing and knew how to perform in front of an audience. Nowadays the bar is set sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo low.