4000

When that Whistle Test footage was aired it the first time I'd ever seen anyone play slap; I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought the bass was as beautiful as anything I'd ever see (and yes I still want a Starchild near-replica, if one can be built that weighs less than 9lbs!). Then he played Dune Tune and blew my mind. It was a little later that I discovered Stanley Clarke and found out where it originated... My first JD was also from Musical Exchanges. I wanted a white one and they had one advertised, so I put my name on it sight unseen and trailed down there with a friend. When I got there it was a GA24 and had neck bow like nothing on earth, and I didn't know much about setups then. It also didn't work! The assistant got out a soldering iron to sort out the pickup selector and I played a few of the others they had while he worked. I eventually picked up a Supernatural in Butterscotch with Saturn inlays, tailpiece etc, and the initials PSR on the first fret. I decided I'd have that instead, although it didn't stop the assistant getting a bollocking for not giving the GA24 to the repairs dept to fix (he bodged it). I remember the manager saying "you could've lost us a sale". I eventually sent that bass to JD for a fretstone and while it was in he changed the pickups, as he said the ones in it were dying. Unfortunately when it came back I didn't like the tone as much! Also the neck wouldn't stand strings over 35s (someone had shaved the neck mercilessly - not JD I hasten to add) so I got rid. The next JD (a MK model) was white and was bloody fantastic, much better than the first, but I had to take it back to the shop a few days after buying it because my back couldn't cope with the weight (my back problems had started by then). Strangely I once contacted a shop (I think it was Monkey Business in Romford) about p/x-ing the 1st bass for something they had in; the guy on the other end of the phone said "what have you got?", so I told him. There was a pause and he said "has it got the letters PSR on the first fret?" When I answered yes he said "that's my bass! It was built for me!". Never did work out the deal though, sadly. It went to someone else in the end. I wish it had got back to him.

Martin's a superb bass builder. There are very few basses I've played that I like anywhere near as much as his. I currently have 2, and will get more in the future. He just seems to nail pretty much everything for me. Design, weight, balance, playability, sound; it's all there. Plus he's an absolutely top bloke. Glad you're loving it!

[quote name='chris_b' post='577323' date='Aug 22 2009, 02:59 AM']Don't stop there. Two DB112's will sound ten times better![/quote] Interesting you should say that. When I had my 2xGS112s, I thought both together sounded worse. My mate, who still has 2 of the same cabs, agrees. Horses for courses I guess.

[quote name='Bottle' post='576410' date='Aug 21 2009, 10:01 AM']Also remember seeing a short documentary on bass luthiers - I think it may have been Yolanda (again) having a custom 5-string made, can't remember the maker though.[/quote] Martin Petersen of Sei Bass fame. I keep meaning to ask him if he's still got a copy of that as I haven't seen it and would love to.

Phil Lynott and Lemmy. I did the usual thing of ending up playing bass because no-one else would, but I originally wanted to be in a band because of Phil. Lemmy (mainly via Space Ritual) taught me the basics of playing though, and at some point I can't remember (but before I started playing) must've taken over as an inspiration because I wanted a Ric (which I got) as my first bass. Having said that there was a Ric hanging in the window of a local shop that I used to gaze longingly at, and the bassist in my dad's band also used an old Ric (same as the one I have now in fact; could even be the same bass for all I know; haven't seen him in years. Bloke called Martin Roach; anyone know him?) so I'm sure both were factors in my choice of bass. I was also a huge Beatles fan as a kid, particularly loving the later stuff like MMT, so I suspect Paul may have lodged himself somewhere in my subconscious too.

[quote name='Doc B' post='572863' date='Aug 18 2009, 01:54 PM']It's obviously been made from a tartan-wood tree, native only to Scotland.[/quote]

[quote name='Linus27' post='574785' date='Aug 19 2009, 09:44 PM']Filthy peasant. On a side note, you know when you're a kid and you stick a bit of card to your spokes with a peg so when you ride it goes click click click and the faster your ride, the faster the clicking is, well, that just sounds like what Mark King was doing in that clip. Ok, technically good but from a sound point of view and musical aspect, it was just lots of clicking sounds.[/quote] Everyone seems to get really hung up on Mark's really fast stuff (not really surprisingly), either to love or to hate. What they seem to miss is his rhythmic sense and ability to drive a band in that style (pretty much unparalleled IMO), his melodic sense, and his ability to play great lines whilst simultaneously singing very well. I can understand why his playing/music might not be some people's cup of tea, but as a player I think he deserves a hell of a lot of respect, not least for bringing bass to the masses (even my mum knows who he is). I'd also like to add that he's as nice a "star" as I've ever met. Thoroughly nice bloke. BTW, I absolutely love his bass sound in that video. I always thought his Alembic sound was by far his best; one of my favourite bass sounds ever. Of course YMMV.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='575113' date='Aug 20 2009, 09:08 AM']I've used those old TE 4x10" combos a lot. They're very punchy, thick midrange, nice highs. However they don't have much bottom at all - try and stick some reggae through them and they just get grindier/growlier as they overdrive. If you like that sound they're great but they're very much a one trick pony - great rock sound due to the growly midrange, shy lows and sweet but not shiny highs, plus quite a lot of natural compression. Alex[/quote] You've pretty much summed up what I like about the old (pre-kevlar) TE gear. My old 4x10 was essentially like the sealed 4x10 combo but with the physical depth of a separate Trace 4x10. I used to roll most of the bottom off; the first 2 sliders on my old AH150 graphic were completely off when using my Rics. Of course different basses required different eq; I didn't necessarily do that when using the Statii or Jaydees I had at the time. One day I'll have to try a Trace head through the Compact; I'd be very interested to see how it sounds.

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='572353' date='Aug 17 2009, 11:13 PM']Awaken (Going for the One album) is my most favourite piece of music ever, it moves me literally to tears, its everything to me in terms of the dynamic power of music and its going to be played through a 20K PA system when I finally croak it![/quote] If we both go at the same time we could save on PA hire....

[quote name='Jono' post='572264' date='Aug 17 2009, 10:34 PM']Seem to remember reading eons ago he close mikes up his tweeter... Whatever you think of his playing you have to admit he's got a pretty unique sound (as have Korn really)[/quote] Yep, that's correct, he scoops all his mids and just mikes his tweeter.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='569896' date='Aug 15 2009, 01:30 PM']Shaun - just reading 'spinal disc prolapses' feels painful, so I can only imagine what it must actually be like.. I'm amazed that you can still play at all with a bass around your shoulders??[/quote] That's why the Alembic went. Broke my heart as I'd waited 20-odd years to have one built. Still, there's plenty worse than me; haven't been faced with surgery yet so something is still working. I can still bash it out onstage; it's the next few days that are the killer!

[quote name='urban Bassman' post='571535' date='Aug 17 2009, 12:41 PM']+1 to that![/quote] +2....

I think my favourite sound is possibly Long Distance Runaround, but it's all good! Tone doesn't get any better than his in my book (although there are obviously lots of places where that sort of tone wouldn't work). My all-time favourite player.

Haven't got feeler gauges so very approximate but I'd say as follows: Sei Melt 4 - just under 1mm, 1.4, 1.5-6 ish. Rotos 40-95 standard tuning. Low. Sei 5 Flamboyant; approx the same, not sure what strings (haven't changed them since I got it; I suspect they're La Bella nickel, 40-100 - and a B of course!). Low. Rick 4001; 1mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, currently tuned to E flat, although normally to E, 40-95 Rotos. Medium-low.

My '72 Ric, another exactly the same and a Series 2 Alembic built to my spec that weighed under 9lbs (preferably under 8); it would've been a Triple Omega but having had one it wasn't manageable weightwise. Amps; hmmm, not sure. One of the original Trace 8x10 250w combos, an EBS TD650 with matching cabs, and possibly an early Marshall Superbass with some decent 15" or poss 4x10 cabinets ( a couple of Compacts might do).

[quote name='alexclaber' post='569910' date='Aug 15 2009, 01:49 PM']Yep. Bear in mind that wood is just wood - what sets apart Sadowskys from Squiers is that they are much fussier about the quality of wood used. However as both will have maple necks and similar body woods if you get lucky you could end up with a Squier that sounds identical to a Sadowsky when unplugged. Put good electronics in and reliable hardware and you have an amazing bass at an amazingly low price. With Sadowsky you pay for their outstanding QC but I bet if you spent a day in the Squier distributor's warehouse you could find one which sounded like a Sadowsky. Alex[/quote] +1.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='568980' date='Aug 14 2009, 01:18 PM']Flea is a bell-end who needs to grow and stop jumping about like a 14 year old.[/quote] Yeah, he needs to stand still and play nothing of any interest at all like Guigsy. Although Guigsy had good taste in footy teams...

[quote name='Pentode' post='569381' date='Aug 14 2009, 07:12 PM']That man is a God!![/quote] +1! We are not worthy!!!!!

[quote name='alexclaber' post='568076' date='Aug 13 2009, 03:33 PM']In my case it's not from the weight of the bass (which is on my left shoulder) but from the right shoulder having to hold the arm up when playing fingerstyle, slapping or strumming. Not knackered but stronger - but as a result inflexible which means more prone to potential injury. Alex[/quote] Alex, I've pretty much had to give up fingerstyle (unless playing by my knees which doesn't work for me) for exactly that reason. If I lift my arm it sets my upper back off, my neck prolapse off, everything. Then I can't move my arm properly for days. I'm so glad I originally learnt to play with a pick or I'd be stuffed.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='566418' date='Aug 12 2009, 12:06 AM']Cheers! The Lakland's long since gone but my old Hondo Ricky clone is still here..never gets used mind, but it's still here.. 31 years and counting! Shaun; the RBVs are heavy but I'm used to and can cope with these heavy basses for some reason.. Mind over matter I think!! [/quote] Nik, my two spinal disc prolapses mean I can't anymore unfortunately, which is why I had to sell my Alembic. I have one rule now; nothing over 9lbs.

[quote name='molan' post='566624' date='Aug 12 2009, 11:27 AM']Not sure how many people have heard Josh play but I've had the pleasure of visiting him a few times and, most recently, playing along with him. Personally I think he's a really talented musician (certainly a different league from me!). When he really digs in and is playing funky gospel type stuff or soloing he has a very distinct sound that's very much his own. Obviously a lot of this comes from his fingers and musical vision but his ultra low set up really adds something as well. I sometimes struggle to get a good sound out of his basses and notes choke on me all over the place but in his hands the same bass just sounds great. With this in mind I think it's totally valid for him to go for the sound he can hear in his head and the playability he knows is available from the 'right' bass. I'm not arguing with other people's viewpoints here so apologies if that's what it sounds like - just trying to put my views forwards on what seems to have become quite a personal topic.[/quote] Absolutely. People have told me before my action is too low but it works for me; I don't really play like many other players I've met. Too often people generalize about these things; it's down to what works for the muso in question. Flea used to have an action of 1/16th at the 12th E and had no problems with it. I'm sure guys like Matt Garrison get along fine with very low action too, and Entwistle had notoriously low action. Also remember, not everyone is looking for a big, round tone; I know I'm not. My only query would be why Josh doesn't seem to want to consider going further afield for a set-up, but I'm sure he has his reasons.