Norris

Well the Aria I've owned since the mid 80's was safely tucked up in the loft (sentimental keeper) as I have seriously fallen out with anything that needs batteries, and my US Jazz was everything I needed. Then I joined BassChat. A project I was involved in required a bit of fretless, so I bought a Mexican Jazz fretless - which is rather nice, so another keeper. Then Clarky had a nearly new Gibson Thunderbird up for sale, which was a bit different - and sounded so much better than my Jazz above the 5th fret, so it became my main go-to bass. Then I fancied doing some modding, so bought a cheap Squier P-J donor from Sagawa. Unfortunately the bass looks and sounds SO good it's taken over as my main bass. The Thunderbird is wondering who turned out the lights. So five basses at the moment. I don't play them all, but then have no immediate desire to cut down either. However I am starting feel a bit sorry for the US Jazz, but have owned it from new - the first brand new bass I've ever bought. I may part with it one day, but not just yet. I blame it all on BC... Edit: Forgot to mention the Epiphone 335, the Charvel strat thing and the Guild acoustic, but they're not basses

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1339917723' post='1696158'] Why they have to be 'precision routed' though I've no idea. [/quote] Because it sounds so much better than "hacked out with a chisel"

The controls on the ME-50B are analogue, making it awkward to make fine adjustments, especially to preset sounds i.e. you twiddle the knobs, but don't know what values were written to the preset in the first place, so have to try a lot of A-B comparisons until it sounds the same - and then start adjusting. The GT-6B is a bit more expensive but is a lot easier to fine tune due to the built-in display and the single jog wheel to adjust the parameters.

... when you know every Chinese takeaway in a 100 mile radius

... when you think nothing of going out for a post-gig meal at silly o'clock on a week night

... when all of your friends are also musicians, because the rest of your mates got fed up with you never being around at the weekend

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1339585166' post='1690877'] That one who did that dum dum dum thing on that old record, you know the one... The chap who did that cool thing on that disco record The dude who did that thing with jams brown that was so very cool The bloke from that hip-hop sample that goes dang, dum dum, doooommm bip bip The mwaaaahhhhh slidy compressy bloke from the 80s That slightly overdriven 70s ampegged up chap with the beard and the heavy as **** tone Solid-dependable 90s indie bassist guy That chap with the big standy-uppy bass thing who done the nice jazzy thing with Miles and Coltrane Super fast fingered heavy metal blokey with his foot on the monitor And me I don't tend to read liner notes or know the names of the band members, does it show? [/quote] LOL. The thing is, most people could work out who you mean

I've never been one to take a compliment. Most anybody usually gets is a mumbled "Thanks". I always know how much better I would have been if I hadn't (insert your favourite self-derogatory anecdote)

All Right Now?

[url="http://www.facebook.com/CheezeBand"]http://www.facebook.com/CheezeBand[/url] We're a guitar-bass-drums covers trio, doing pop/rock mainly 60s/70s/80s. We don't gig often as the guitarist's day job is playing in Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash

A blue Ric 4001 that I reluctantly part-ex'd on my Aria SB-1000. I've never sold another bass since then, operating a strict one-in-one-in-the-cupboard policy .

My old Aria SB1000 was certainly road worn in a very genuine and time-served way. It could have something to do with a lot of interaction with the drummer over about 10 years - I'd use it to hit his cymbals & he'd play my bass with his drumsticks. Since then, it's been stripped back to bare wood, dents steamed out, sanded down, re-fretted and is now just waiting for several coats of laquer and nice new hardware - that's how much I like road-worn - not at all! The 'mojo' that wasn't dents and chips still didn't look anywhere near as bad as a 'reliced' bass.

[quote name='deepbass5' timestamp='1336756667' post='1650675'] Scatting whilst playing to drive the intervals home yes. [/quote] Dirty boy!

Zoning, slight return: "What song are we playing?" "Sh*t - what are the notes?!" "What key am I in?" "How many times have we done the chorus?" "Is it that bit before the guitar solo now, or have we done that already?" ...etc. Yes, it can get that bad sometimes.

I've always wanted another after stupidly selling my excellent 4001 many years ago. However, what with recent events I am seriously in two minds now. I might well wait until the prices drop to a level that suits the build quality ... or hell freezes over.

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1335871743' post='1637206'] Why do people go on about upper fret access. I can get to 1-12 un hindered. Thats me covered. [/quote] So how do you play All Right Now then?!

I must be rare in having a band that actually notices when things are different. There again I play in a trio, so the other two would need to be pretty ignorant to not notice. Anyway, when I got my Thunderbird it was nicer than my US Jazz - "It seems more alive all the way up the neck rather than bottom 5 frets" Then I got my Squier PJ - "Wow" In addition, two of guitarist friends - both occasional bass players, have looked out for & bought a Peavey Databass from ebay after hearing mine.

My Indonesian Squire P/J sounds better than my US standard Jazz - both are reasonably modern, both have standard pups. I certainly think the gap in quality is closing, and it's difficult to justify the extra cost of a US bass. Wherever they come from you still need to check you aren't holding a dud - and unfortunately that includes US basses.

There are some things that you should cup your hands round, but a microphone isn't one of them. Reduce gain, bring back behind line of PA, angle it so it's not pointing straight at the wall behind you that's reflecting the sound.

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1335512720' post='1632297'] Ah, D Minor, the saddest of all keys... [/quote] [quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1335519246' post='1632420'] Not so much Dm as a pentatonic blues scale. For everything. [/quote] Homework: Watch Spinal Tap another 10 times!

[quote name='Jack Cahalane' timestamp='1335442231' post='1631136'] What song was it? [/quote] She's not there, Santana version, the chromatic bass runs during (one of) the guitar solo(s)... G, Bb-B-C, F-F#-G, etc.

Covers band rehearsal last night, guitarist says "Wow - what's that you're playing?" I replied "Urm ... the bass line ... as per the record". "Oh. I've never heard that bit". So now it's an added feature of the track, with him doubling up...

Either he was getting into the groove, or was having difficulties with his denture fixative. I thought they were great. I missed most of the other 'turns', but was glad I caught the Shakes.