4000

7string; was only up for sale due to the credit crunch and because no-one was interested in the other bass I was selling (I really need the money). I now have some interest in that regard and have decided I want more Seis in the future, not less! Urb; that is stunning. I want one!

My current Sei, which I'll be withdrawing from sale shortly..... My first Sei, a Flamboyant 6 which now belongs to a very nice chap in the States.... My second Sei, a Flamboyant 4...incidentally if anyone has this bass then at some stage in the future, when cash allows, I may be interested in buying it back... BTW Mike, I love your Sei. I'd love to get one pretty much like that myself, once again when cash allows...

[quote name='Mike Brooks' post='302186' date='Oct 8 2008, 01:16 PM']Thought it was about time I added some pics of the beast I acquired in the Reverb sale 2 months ago....it's not possible to have too much Spector porn anyway. [attachment=14507:DSCF0984.JPG] [attachment=14508:DSCF0986.JPG] [attachment=14509:DSCF1309.JPG][/quote] Now that is gorgeous! I'm kind of thinking when I get some cash together I'd like another go at a Spector Euro LX....assuming I can find one at the right price. Unfortunately things to sell in the meantime...

As I've posted before my favourite of all the rigs I've ever owned/played through was my old AH150 GP11 (which was actually loud enough for any gig I ever did) and Mk1 (?) 4x10. If you check out any old Bow Wow Wow footage or the footage of Level 42 on the OGWT that features the Starchild Jaydee, it's half of one of those 8x10s, with a 150W version of that 250w head. Brilliant sound for what I wanted.

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='353519' date='Dec 13 2008, 01:05 PM']Never been able to get on with Ricks - it's the weird shape. That and they're f'ugly![/quote] Er, ok. You obviously have very different eyes than me; I think they're by far the most beautiful looking bass out there. Do you fancy Girls Aloud too?

[quote name='Bassassin' post='353534' date='Dec 13 2008, 01:31 PM']He's associated with playing a Rick during the period which sort of defined his playing, but it seems he didn't use it in the studio as often as most people think - a lot of the time it's a Jazz or a P, even on the 70s & early 80s stuff. Whether or not you like the band or his playing (bit of a fan, me) he's an adventurous & technically gifted player. Very influenced by Mr Squire in his early days too, so that's probably a lot to do with it. To answer your original question, I think the cutting tone & upfront nature of the Rick sound made it the obvious choice for music where bass wasn't constrained to root-note plonking, back in the days when bass & amp technology wasn't quite as versatile as it is now. I've always loved them, although it's undeniable that they're awkward, uncomfortable, crude and generally feel "wrong" - but maybe that's part of the appeal... J.[/quote] Geddy actually didn't start using the Jazz until Moving Pictures. Most of the recording before that (and a little on that) is Rickenbacker. So it's fairly safe to say that the sound of the Ric was, as you say, associated with the period that defined his playing, and for good reason. Interesting that he actually cites Jack Bruce as his main influence. Reminds me of Fish saying early Marillion sounded nothing like early Genesis. Maybe the comfort etc factor of Rics is down to the individual. I actually find them far more comfortable than Fender types, but I guess I've been playing them since day 1 so that's doubtless a factor. Some people also find the necks odd but apart from Alembic they're probably the only necks I really like. Now the Fender Jazz...[i]there's[/i] a neck I don't generally get on with.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='351928' date='Dec 11 2008, 04:49 PM']My point was that the suggestion that a handful of high profile female pop bassists are carrying a flag for feminism in contemporary music fails to acknowledge the dozens of classical and jazz players out there who have been solid working professionals for decades. I know of one female friend who wanted to play the double bass but was told by a male d/b player that women couldn't play it because it was too physical - I'd like to meet the guy who told her that . Of course some of these players that are being discussed are perfectly credible bass players and are probably very capable but my point was simply that the 'phenonmenon' of a female bass player should not be seen as a novelty anymore than a female doctor, dentist, solicitor, judge..... For the record, I think discussions about 'female' anything are chauvanistic and indicative of a patriarchal attitude to women and to what they can achieve. PS Jazz is superior - its not my fault![/quote] Sorry Bilbo, didn't realise you were just having a go at the "female" aspect. However I just saw the thread as a bit of fun really, in the same way as if it had been "your favourite rock player" or "favourite Fender player" or whatever, or your "favourite science fiction film". Heck, they have "best actress' at the Oscars, no one seems to have a problem with that, and it has also probably brought to light some players that may not have got a mention elsewhere. I definitely didn't see it as chauvinistic, but having grown up in a family dominated by strong women I don't think I even know what that really means! We could always do a "favourite male player" thread to even things out. PS...I think you should meet my dad....he'd like you! At least until you mentioned Miles Davis "going electric"....

[quote name='Delberthot' post='352860' date='Dec 12 2008, 04:14 PM']I couldn't get mine to sound anything like the Rick you hear on recordings. It seemed to sound more like a Stingray. Conversely my Stingrays seemed to sound like Jazz basses, my Warmoth '57 sounds like a Rick and my gold Warmoth sounds like a Stingray since I made it active. You'd probably be surprised at Chris Squire though. You'll probably find that a lot of stuff you believed was played on a Rick was actually his Mouradian or one of his other squillion basses that he uses live.[/quote] The bulk of the early and better known stuff (i.e. '70s) was played on a Ric (or, more accurately, a few Rics, including fretless; if you take "Awaken" as an example- although for me that's "later" - the recording was all various Rics, despite the use of the Wal & later the Wal copy live). Some may be surprised to find out that he used a 21 fret 4001 on The Yes Album and not his main Ric. The Mouradian came much, much later, as did the Ranney 8 string (his original was, surprisingly enough, a Ric), the Tobiases, the Carvins, Warwicks, Laklands etc. He did also occasionally use a modified Tele bass in the early days(which I believe he described as "playing like a dog"), and later used a Thunderbird on some bits on Tormato and Fish Out of Water, and of course he also used his maple necked Jazz on a few things (Parallels springs to mind). FWIW, I've played Rics through just about every type of amp I can think of, and the only ones that seem to get "that" sound for me are old valve amps (Marshall, Hiwatt etc) and Trace and Ashdown. Whenever I play them through more modern, hi-fi stuff they just don't work at all. Once played my old 4003s8 through an Eden head and an Epi 3x10 and it sounded awful whatever I did. However through my 300SMX and 1153 it sounded like God. There's also a knack to eq-ing them, although obviously every player will sound different anyway. Oh, and Rotos help! Have to agree with the OP though. Probably 95% of my favourite sounding bassists used Rics at the time I liked them best; Squire, Geddy, Glover, Hughes, Foxton, Jon Camp, Mike Rutherford, Pete Trewavas, Neil Brewer, Paul Gray and many others......including of course Lemmy and Phil. There are people who play them and don't sound good (the bloke in the original Tygers of Pan Tang springs to mind) but when you get it right there's nothing to touch them in my opinion. Of course I'm biased.

The Gallery is a great choice. Someone once stole a Sei from there and threw it over a wall nearby (it was a fair drop) and the neck was smashed to bits; Martin fixed it superbly. I also remember talking to someone at MAD who had sent over a Warwick Alien which someone had put their fist/foot/whatever through and they said when they got it back you couldn't even tell it had ever been broken; they were completely gobsmacked. He's a genius when it comes to wood.

[quote name='BassBunny' post='338301' date='Nov 27 2008, 12:23 PM']I've got 2 Zoot 112's. Not the Neo ones. I notice you are North West based and I am in South Manchester. If you fancy trying them, more than welcome.[/quote] Thanks for the offer (and cheers Dave P!). However I don't drive so I'm not quite sure how I go about getting to you with amp [i]and[/i] bass. Re Dave's comments, the Aggies were actually fine weight-wise, but lighter wouldn't be a bad thing at all. Anything over 50lbs starts giving my lower back problems, although the orientation of the cab is a factor too. He's right though, I didn't get on with the tone of the Aggies.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='202804' date='May 20 2008, 12:17 PM']Paula Gardiner, Gill Alexander, Melissa Slocum, Chi CHi Nwanoku (principle Double Bassist with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment), Miranda Sykes, Antonella Mazza..... I could go on - some of these pop bassists are a bit weak when looked at alongside some of the jazz and classical double bass players listed here. There are hundreds of quality female double bassists that could knock these 'celebrity' bassists into a cocked hat. The world of music is broader than you think![/quote] There are also probably hundreds of unknown bassists who could knock the majority of [i]any type[/i] of celebrity bassists into a cocked hat, and there probably always will be. What else is new? Can you define how these pop bassists are "a bit weak"? Is the fact that they play for the song not sufficient? Was Jamerson "a bit weak" because he played pop? I know where you're coming from Bilbo and on some levels I agree, but sometimes it might help if you could get off the "jazz is [i]so[/i] superior to all other musical forms" soapbox. Besides which, there are many reasons for liking a player and many ways in which a player can be good, and it's not all to do with having the greatest technique or most sophisticated note choice, unless you only tend to think of music in intellectual terms, which for me is rather missing the point. (Sorry, I've had 45 years of this from my dad and it gets right on my Wilkenfelds!!!!).

[quote name='XB26354' post='195414' date='May 9 2008, 12:39 PM']Tal Wilkenfeld is playing with VC in more ways than one - which is perhaps why when he has a gig nowadays she is always there [/quote] Really???? Blimey, there's hope for me yet......

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' post='348087' date='Dec 7 2008, 08:08 PM']Burke Shelley? Geddy Lee? (playing a cassette years ago , I was asked by my boss 1 time''who's the chick singing'') Enid from Girlshool? [/quote] Much as I liked Enid I thought Tracey Lamb had a better tone.

[quote name='clauster' post='195307' date='May 9 2008, 10:21 AM']Yorks5stringer: I was lucky enough to do the live sound for one of her gigs almost 20 years ago. Bass into Yamaha SPX90 into PA Microphone for the vox Knew how to play and sing and really use FX creatively and musically. At sound check she stood in front of the stacks to check her sound - "You've got 6db of boost at around 4khz, can you turn it down to 3 please?" I checked the desk and yes, there was 6db of boost right there! Amazing lady![/quote] Crikey! I think I need her as my sound person.... For me, Me'Shelle is as funky as funky gets; awesome player. Love Tina Weymouth too; great lines. Rhonda Smith is also excellent, as are Gail Ann Dorsey and Yolanda Charles; from a rock perspective I like Melissa Auf Der Maur who I think has a fabulous tone and great lines. I loved Suzi in the 70s, but more for the look than her playing. However at the moment I'm in love with Tal. She's wonderful. Her bass playing's not bad either. (although it did rather disturb me when a work colleague thought she was about 15!)

[quote name='lozbass' post='347755' date='Dec 7 2008, 10:47 AM']I came across an Alembic Series II a few months ago...my other basses are certainly not 'in the bin', but there's an absolute chasm in tone and playability[/quote] You tell 'em Loz. My Alembic Triple O and my 72 Ric 4001. Whenever I pick them up I wonder why I bother playing anything else (well in the Alembic's case it may be something to do with the weight...). The Ric particularly has the best tone I've ever heard, and completely dusts any of the other hundred or so Rics I've played over the years, as well as everything else. Took it to the Gallery this year, played everything and the only thing that came close was a Sei Millennium. Having said that, my mate (who bought my old 76) doesn't like it.....

[quote name='saibuster' post='347478' date='Dec 6 2008, 08:00 PM']Who is this Ed Roman guy anyway? he seems to have some very [i]strong opinions[/i] all over his site.[/quote] I met Ed whilst in Vegas. I kind of wish I hadn't.

No, nooooo, not Mustang Sally....... :wacko: I once swore if I ever heard that song again I'd top myself so I'm really trying very hard to avoid it....

[quote name='metaltime' post='347212' date='Dec 6 2008, 01:18 PM']Im sure i read that mark king said Alembic would only let him pick the type of wood for his sig bass. I dont buy this at all as anyone who orders an alembic can change anything about it within reason. I think Mark king is a bit shady.[/quote] The interview I read said they approached him with a case full of facings, from which he chose his wood. I don't believe he said anything about not being able to change anything else. For a start, the first 2 basses he got were 34" scale and the next 2 were 32" scale, so he obviously changed [i]that[/i]. For the record, I met him once and he was a lovely bloke, whether you like his playing or not.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='345769' date='Dec 4 2008, 06:06 PM']I do believe that's a Guild B302. Actually I'm not 100% sure of the model number but it's a 70s Guild anyhow. What do I win? Jon.[/quote] Guild B301 or B302. I'm not sure of the difference; it's possible that the 1 was 1 pickup and the 2 was 2 pickup. When you're as old as me you've seen several of these things in the flesh...and brand new!l

[quote name='agoulding' post='341260' date='Nov 30 2008, 05:35 PM']my favourite artist thast does it is marcus miller, he has the right idea. Sure he slaps an awful lot but it never gets boring. On the other hand, flea slaps and plays other styles. When he plays slap, i want to slap him in the mouth. it gets on my dairy pillows.[/quote] Weird, I'm the other way round. Just goes to show.....what, I have no idea!