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[quote name='Pete Academy' post='887758' date='Jul 6 2010, 08:38 PM']Feel, sense of time? Average technique??? I'm gobsmacked. You can't be serious. Tell me this is a joke! So who do you think achieves this?[/quote] I just don't [i]like[/i] his feel. I don't like the way he approaches a groove, I don't like where he sits. It doesn't (if you'll excuse the pun) sit with me. Such things are down to personal taste after all. I'm obviously not saying he's rubbish, just that nothing he does does anything for me. I could probably name a hundred players I prefer without breaking sweat. However, you may not like a lot of the guys I like, you may not like their rhythmic sense etc. It's no big deal. Technique-wise, I don't see that much at all (although he certainly slaps better than me, which isn't saying much!). There are a thousand guys with more chops. If he floats your boat, great. But for me, no, no, no. I think of him as the Eric Clapton of bass. Sorry!!! Some guys you just don't get; I saw Alan Holdsworth with Chad Wackerman (who at the time I'd never heard) and everyone was raving about Chad. However I didn't enjoy his playing at all. That's just the way it goes sometimes. Heck, I really don't find Angelina Jolie attractive either!

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='887678' date='Jul 6 2010, 07:15 PM']I've just dived back into this thread. For me, Marcus is the ultimate player - a groove monster who can hold it down, never a wasted note. Whenever he solos, it's always grooving. Some players can slap a solo and it becomes tedious after a while. Marcus never falls into that. He makes it look so easy, but believe me it isn't. He sometimes plays flash, but not very often. Janek was featured on a Bassplayer TV video, leading a workshop some years ago. The late Hiram Bullock guested on acoustic guitar. It was the first time I'd seen him. His groove was unbelievable, and I thought 'this guy is something special'.[/quote] That's one of the things I don't really get about MM; I don't find his groove that good at all. However I feel that I prefer players who push/drive/swing more than he does. The first time I really listened to Marcus I bought a dvd, watched it through and thought, "?????". I just don't get anything about him. Can't stand his tone, don't like his feel or his sense of time and think his technique is pretty average. One of my least favourite players ever.

[quote name='Bilbo' post='887494' date='Jul 6 2010, 04:34 PM']I agree that Miller does that but would also argue that his general concept is a little more wholistic than most so this is not surprising. My one criticism of Miller is that his 'thing' just leaves me cold. I like his funk grooves etc but, fundamentally, I have not heard anything by him that moves me. Same with Jeff Berlin's solo stuff, Victor Wooten etc. Great spectacle but no emotion.[/quote] +1, although in Miller's case I don't personally find the spectacle that great either.

[quote name='purpleblob' post='886450' date='Jul 5 2010, 04:54 PM']I'm one of those guys who thinks there's no limitation to what an instrument should do, whether it's a bass playing chords, soloing or whatever, what does matter to me is does it sound good to my ears and is it therefore enjoyable to listen to.[/quote] +1

Actually I've just checked the customs form I've been sent and it states that a commodity code should only be entered for a trade import. I think I might have to give them a ring.....

[quote name='Stacker' post='885365' date='Jul 4 2010, 12:00 PM']As to hassle, I'm with you on that but there's also something satisfying about catching out a Government department not doing its job right and getting a refund offa them.[/quote] If you knew what I did for a living you'd probably understand why that wouldn't give me quite as much satisfaction as it gives you. Regardless, I'd much, much sooner get it right first time. Hassle is something I try and avoid at all costs, and extra hassle....well, I just don't need it. If I can help get it right first time I'd much sooner do that.

I think "what bass playing is all about" really depends on the situation......

[quote name='Rayman' post='885418' date='Jul 4 2010, 12:53 PM']I understand Matt Garrison is doing Bassday in Manchester in November, so I'll look forward to checking him out.[/quote] Crikey! I sent Matt's name in as a suggestion. Fab!!!

[quote name='Stacker' post='885277' date='Jul 4 2010, 10:20 AM']Well, there you go! Write to them at:- UK Border Agency Coventry International Hub Siskin Parkway West COVENTRY CV3 4HX It must, thoguh, state on the docket exactly what the goods are. Don't give them the code; let them do the work and make sure the code is correct when they write back to you! Ask them to re-asses the charges. If they stonewall you, or don't reply, get your MP involved, like I did. That'll set a fire under their lazy ar*e!![/quote] Wouldn't it just be easier to make sure they use the correct code in the first place or am I missing something? I'd rather them get it right first time than go through a load of hassle later.

[quote name='Rayman' post='885236' date='Jul 4 2010, 08:54 AM']I enjoyed the clip a lot. I'm a big Janek fan, but never really given Hadrien much of a listen. By the time it had gotten around to his set at bassday I was "jazzed out", I'd heard enough jazz to last me a lifetime, so I left just before he started. Matt Garrison is a bit of an enigma to me, I have a couple of his albums, but I just can't get into them at all, the music just seems to wash over you leaving no lasting hooks whatsoever.[/quote] I prefer Garrison to the others by a long way. Janek's stuff is pretty good but all seems fairly obvious to me; however I love Garrison's compositions. If I ever listen to that sort of stuff these days it tends to be Matt G or old RTF.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='880691' date='Jun 29 2010, 10:00 AM']Thanks for this. I'm expecting a bass to be released from customs today - the bastard charges will be in the region of £200. [/quote] If only mine were going to be that low. Try tripling it..... BTW, thanks for the info Stacker, it could come in really handy in the next week or so. Very nicely timed.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='881830' date='Jun 30 2010, 12:29 PM']Yours looks like one of the original S2000 models - Hang onto that one - Prices are going up on these! [/quote] Typical. That's like the one I had a few years back, which I took back to the shop as I didn't like it!

[quote name='Stag' post='884603' date='Jul 3 2010, 10:04 AM']I had this very recently, got my sound sorted on stage to what I like and what the drummer likes to then have it changed by the sound man and the volume totally removed. Apparently FOH sounded great but id rather be able to hear me playing a sound I like to hear... I know we are all there for the audience but at the end of the day if you dont like / cant hear your own sound then you wont enjoy the gig anywhere near as much (I didnt).[/quote] I tend to feel the same. I thought it was just me!

Janek used to play a Wal 5 so it could've been that.

[quote name='Bassman68' post='879844' date='Jun 28 2010, 01:28 PM']Just a pity 'bout 'the pipe'!....................[/quote] The pipe was the best bit! Classic!

[quote name='silddx' post='879566' date='Jun 28 2010, 09:33 AM']I thought I was a cracking set. It did what it was supposed to do. Top class professionals at the top of their game. Extremely entertaining.[/quote] +1. Can take or leave 'em on record (1 or 2 great songs mind) but think they look like a tremendous live act.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='881887' date='Jun 30 2010, 01:23 PM']Different strings for different basses. You've got to find the right strings to suit the bass and the way you play it.[/quote] +1. I use Rotos on my Rics, although I'd be interested to try DRs and TIs when my budget allows. Most other rounds just sound too "boingy" when I play them; I love the aggressive hollowness of the Rotos. Not sure what's on my Sei, I need to ask when I go back to the Gallery as I need a new set.

[quote name='witterth' post='871479' date='Jun 19 2010, 08:21 AM']Allways wanted one but never in the right place at the right time. I read somewhere Mark King Bought his first JD because a wal was out of his price range at the time BTW. he has one now. lovely Bit of kit....anyone who wants to trade a wal for a 2003 stingray? [/quote] Actually it's because an Alembic was out of his price range. I believe he tried a Wal and wasn't keen.

[quote name='Clarky' post='852400' date='May 31 2010, 10:17 AM']Thanks! I would be interested in playing a full scale Alembic as I do find it a bit strange moving from one of my Fenders to the Spoiler's 32" scale. If I play it on its own its fine, mind. Out of interest, which long-sclae Alembics have similarly simple tone arrangements to a Spoiler ?I ask as CrazyKiwi and others have mentioned that the really 'high end' Alembics have some kind of isolating block under the bridge and hi-fi electronics which mean the bass can sound - for want of a better word - a bit clinical (I want a straight ahead rock sound!)[/quote] Entwistle didn't sound at all clinical using his Series basses, and I can't say my Triple O (which had signature electronics) sounded clinical either. They incredibly versatile. Pete Agnew of Nazareth swears by them too.

[quote name='molan' post='855583' date='Jun 3 2010, 12:24 AM']My ld one is at the Gallery right now - it's a beauty: [url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/product_details.cfm?ID=1395&type=Bass%20Guitar"]http://www.thebassgallery.com/product_deta...e=Bass%20Guitar[/url] Very early build and hsa a few features not found in the newer ones - not least the lovely purfling around the finger board (hard to see in these pics).[/quote] Played that the other day; sounds awesome. BTW, that buckeye Sei a page or 2 back is unreal!