
CamdenRob
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[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1371222185' post='2111410'] If you are in London then see if you can get to try one of these yourself and see what you think . Don't let me put you off , but listen to how much the bass gives of an electronic hum through the amp . Apparently , some examples are better shielded better than others , so it can be a bit hit and miss . For around what these basses cost there are[i] a lot [/i]of options when it comes to active Jazz Basses , especially if you consider used basses . Something like a Sadowsky Metro would most likely be a better bass all round than one of these and that is where my money would go if I was after that active Jazz Bass sound . They often have them in stock at The Gallery in Camden if you want to try one and compare it to the Fender I am a sucker for blocks and binding on a Jazz Bass myself , but cosmetics are no substitute for sound and playability in my experience . [/quote] Yeah there is no substitute for trying them out obviously. I live about 100 yards from the gallery but I've banned myself from going in until they've sold this Nordstrand sixer they have in there... I've walked past it twice and managed not to buy it a third time I might not be so lucky. I've thought about Sadowsky and looked at some Sandbergs too. The whole Jazz bass design is somthing I've only recently grown to appreciate and it's opened up a whole new angle on what I look for in a bass. Thanks for your advice Rob
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[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1371220730' post='2111390'] Hi Rob , I don't own one of these , but I have played a four string one . They are indeed nice looking basses , but I wasn't that impressed with certain aspects of them . They have got all the conventional Jazz Bass sounds you would expect and you can swith the bass into passive mode for that , and the preamp helps give you the characteristic active Jazz Bass sounds that are a bit more modern - sounding and very fashionable nowadays . However , I wasn't that impressed overall particulaly with the electronics in this particular model . The preamp isn't at all impressive - sounding compared to some of the better ones I have heard and the electronic shielding doesn't seem to to be very good or effective either . The pickups are also not particulaly inspiring . My own personal opinion would be that you would get a much better final result for similar money by buying a post 2012 American Standard bass with the excellent Custom Shop pickups and using an external preamp such as the ones available from Aguilar , Sadowsky or MXR , or adding something like an onboard East J Retro preamp . [/quote] Ah thats a shame... Its kind of why I asked the question though. I've been down the road of "wow that looks amazing I must have it" only to feel slightly let down once the shiney new bass feeling wears off. I have seen quite a few options for pickups / preamps in other peoples threads, seems to be no end to the modification options with Jazz basses. Rob
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Anyone have an American Deluxe Jazz Bass V in natural with the black scratchplate? I've never been a Fender man in my life, always been a coffee table bass kinda guy but man these are good looking... I've attempted to post an image below but I'm not sure if it'll work. [attachment=136885:5.png] Does anyone have one of these (or the 4-string version) in this finish. How does it play? How does it sound compared to a conventional Jazz? Rob [Edit] Evidently the picture worked but has ended up really small... Sadly I lack the skills to make it bigger...
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F/T Status Energy Matrix (Graphite neck, headed) NOW WITH PICS.
CamdenRob replied to cocco's topic in Basses For Sale
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[quote name='urb' timestamp='1371127153' post='2110125'] Hey Rob Really nice playing and some very musical ideas - nice work. If I have one small constructive criticism (and I speak from my own experience) the video and music's quality is slightly undermined by the lo-fi location - try a tighter camera angle if you can (my own flat has plenty of baby/kid toys in etc and various bits of clothing lying around so I try and clean up the room before I film anything) - as your playing deserves slicker presentation if possible. Hope that's cool - keep on recording these ideas it sounds like you're developing some good stuff. Cheers Mike [/quote] Thanks Mike Your comments are not only constructive but also much appreciated. I can see you've written fairly extensivly here on Basschat on the subject of producing good looking / sounding videos and recordings etc. I'm always happy to get any advice from folk who know more about this kind of thing than I do To be honest I think I'm guilty of a bit of the old 'If its going to sound crap on a camera mic anyway why bother making it look professional' attitude. Worse still, with a couple of the videos on my channel recently I've been a bit sloppy with my playing and just though 'ah well I'll post it anyway'... No excuses I know, time to shape up The plan is to get some recording kit and ditch the videos in favour of a soundcloud account (as you and many others seem to be using) The youtube thing is a bit of a stop gap but I guess in the meanwhile I should try and make it look as good as I can. I'll have a mess around with the angles next time, maybe put a sheet in the background or somthing to block out the (lo-fi) girlfirends wardrobe setting... Other background options are the bathroom (good for natural reverb but a bit cramped), the kitchen (bit more space but I'm likely to get distracted by a kit kat chunky) or the living room (contains the drinks fridge... enough said) Looking forward to your collaboration with SKOL this month, how are things shaping up? Rob
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Went to watch a friend at the underbelly recently... was a bit underwhelmed to be honest. It was busy but very kinda clubby in atmosphere. No-one really listening to the music, seemed more interested in shouting at each other about the football... Almost worth a visit for the wallpaper alone though... Rob
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[quote name='steve' timestamp='1371083130' post='2109732'] Enjoyed that Rob, there was some nice stuff happening with the layers you were building up, I'd be interested to hear where you were taking this if you had some kind of DAW setup so you could include extra song parts [/quote] Yeah I'm not sure where I'm going with these pieces to be honest. I've got some feelers out for a hand percussionist to jam my tracks with, not sure how that would tie in with the looper though as obviously the tempo is dictated by whatever the lowest layer is... worth a try though I think I have some friends into producing various styles of music, think next month I might record each loop properly as a sample and send it over to them and see what they come up with. [quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1371109553' post='2109799'] CamdenRob - I really love the way you use your looping pedal, great build up on the track..... Although sneaking some wine made me giggle [/quote] Thanks for taking the time to listen Its always nice to get feedback. Regarding the wine - To be honest I'm surprised evidence of my alcohol enthusiasm hasn't crept into any of my other videos... Rob
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OK so here is my attempt this month. Unfortunately I still haven't got around to buying any proper recording gear so its another video with rather limited video camera internal microphone sound quality... [media]http://youtu.be/nIuF7lVnK2o[/media] I may change my strings and re-record this later on in the month but thought I'd better post a version now in case I get drunk and forget. Rob
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Is there any way we could collate all the entries so far at the top of the page like on the voting pages? Just add new ones as they are submitted? I only ask as I've just had a listen to all the pieces submitted thus far and its a bit difficult tracking which track belongs to which person, what with links being requoted etc. This is probably loads of work for someone though I'm guessing? Had a listen to everything so far and as per last month I'm very impressed with the quality. I'm always in awe of people prepared to put vocals on their compositions, it really takes something to bare your singing voice for the world to hear. I've enjoyed elements of all the pieces but I especially likes Steve's submission. Not just because I like to get involved in a bit of solo bass myself, but also because I really enjoyed the melodies in the solo. I felt the whole thing held together really well and managed to sound like a tune and not an endless stream of unrelated phrases as a solo sometimes can. I'm a bit of a defender of solo bass compositions and its music like this that makes it a much easier medium to champion. Rob
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[quote name='goblin' timestamp='1371030600' post='2108749'] Heavy night Rob? [/quote] Tis my own fault... I'm old enough to know better... I'll give this a watch later when I can focus a little easier.
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[quote name='goblin' timestamp='1371028607' post='2108715'] Not sure why it's so dark, but I've been told that the darkness (and slight out of syncness) is to do with the encoding. [/quote] My 'slightly out of syncness' is generally more whiskey related than anything to do with encoding ...
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Threw something together last night. Hopefully get a chance to record tonight and upload it. Although I still need a proper ending... fade outs are a bit of a cop out... Rob
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Something Old & Something New - Your Recordings.
CamdenRob replied to xilddx's topic in Share Your Music
OK here's mine... First clip is my old death metal band doing an At the Gates cover when I was 15 with me on bass and ridiculous vocals [media]http://youtu.be/j0bn1QwWJG4[/media] and something I recorded a couple of weeks back... bit more mellow, much less hair and fortunately no vocals... [media]http://youtu.be/ARYBA3uPAEU[/media] -
Put a couple of new tunes up last night, really must get some proper recording gear. I'm getting lazy with my playing because of the crap sound... [media]http://youtu.be/CN2JXZJ4S2Q[/media]
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[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1370875940' post='2106711'] Correct. On the non musical side it was never really about that. It was more about trousers than anarchy. [/quote] Its always about the trousers....
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[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1370874004' post='2106665'] I don't know how old you are, but I grew up in the '70s, when almost everything was 'normal', you know, all that 'ordinary respectable working people' crap that politicians and the Daily Mail tell you is essential for civilisation to survive, when a band like Black Sabbath meant imminent social collapse in the eyes of 'normal' people and politicians. You can't imagine the fear that the punk movement engendered in 'ordinary normal' people. Everyone had to look grey or brown, if you wore colours or odd socks or whatever, people thought you were the herald of the breakdown of society. Of course the 'ordinary' people could wear colours too, but only on Saturday or Sunday, where temporary social collapse was controlled by keeping it in the vicinity of the football stadium. [/quote] I guess I must be missing the point with it, not having been there at the time and also growing up in the 90s when the whole 'Waltons lifestyle' was definitely confined to history for the majority of people I knew. Maybe if I'd been there at the time I would have felt differently about it. I did go and watch the Stranglers a couple of months back down the road (dunno if that counts) thoroughly enjoyed them but the shouty 'Property ownership is evil' support band frankly sounded ridiculous in this day and age. Rob
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[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1370873021' post='2106645'] But what IS music in this context? Music stirring the audience is not dependent on 'great' composition and instrumental performance skills, it can be very simple and easy to play and still have great passion and meaning, especially with live performance. What you said is like what a classical afficionado would say about Jamiroquai or summat. Music can have cultural significance without it being elevated technically. [/quote] Yeah that seems a fair point, I agree to a certain extent, after all what is music for if not to stir something in those who listen to it. I'm not personally into the overtly technical approach to composition, always more impressed with someone who only knows three chords but has managed to write a good tune with them. I just always felt punk was kinda false and stylized, marketed at those who wanted someone to shout for them in what was to be honest a pretty bleak period in history for many economically and socially. I guess if it spoke to people though I can see the relevance. Just not for me as a musical style, everything else aside. Rob
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[quote name='Earbrass' timestamp='1370872540' post='2106638'] You snobby elitist. [/quote] Guilty as charged... I'm off to brush the tennis court and tend the peacocks
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Some passionate responses here, not surprising really, music tends to be divisive like that. I wasn't around at the time, so I guess I'm not really qualified to talk on the subject. It all looks a bit style over substance to me, all that angst and outrageous fashion seems more important than the actual music. Personally I'd prefer a bass player to be in tune and playing something that sounds good... Rob
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Wow you guys are quick off the mark with submitting these... I'll hopefully get some time next weekend to lay something down and check out everything submitted so far. Looking forward to it Rob
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Liam Gallagher.... what a plonker
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A couple of ideas brewing... its only the 4th plenty of time yet
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I use one all the time albeit for electric bass, I've a few clips on youtube. [media]http://youtu.be/hYCpFMAaiLA[/media]
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That picture makes me think of Jeff Wayne's musical version of the War of the Worlds... used to scare the crap out of me as a child that... I shall see what the Bass and I can come up with Seems to be alot of people thinking about giving it a go this month. Well last time was my first attempt and all I can say is go for it I've found everyone here very supportive and to be honest the bigger the competition gets the more people will be here listing to each others music. Rob
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Nice video, I've seen this elsewhere on the forum and kept meaning to comment. I also use a ditto looper for all my solo stuff. They seem to come in for some critisicism on these pages, as do six / seven string basses. I'd like to offer a defence of the looper! This is my 'second coming' as a bass player. Six years ago when I stopped playing I had a lot more time on my hands. I only ever played in bands, never even took the bass out of its case at home. In fact my rig used to live at the rehearsal studios so I'd never play other than gigs, recordings or rehearsals. This time around, what with pesky full time work getting in the way and wanting to spend as much of my (scarce) spare time as possible with my family/friends, I just didn't feel that I could commit the time to a band. However I still wanted to create music and I find a sixer and a looper pedal give me more options. I like to bring loops in and out and structure my stuff into a song format, I'm not a huge fan of setting off pre-recorded loops I like to play my bass live and record the loops as I go. And yes, I do play in the bedroom. I make no excuses for this as my other options are the bathroom, the kitchen or annoying the missus in the living room... An unfortunate effect of living in a very small London flat. As I'm not looking to get out there gigging (after all solo bass isn't really a crowd puller) I think youtube is a fantastic forum for getting some stuff out for people to see. It allows friends who live all over the world to keep up with what I'm doing musically. No-one is forced into watching anything they have no interest in, the same way you wouldn't go and watch a band you don't like... I guess bass is different things to different people. To me right now, its about solo compositions utalizing a looper and I'm really enjoying myself. [media]http://youtu.be/wBsy-i3pQuk[/media] Rob