rslaing

[quote name='lowdown' post='468337' date='Apr 21 2009, 12:21 PM']And after all, when they have finished fu**ing around in Pro-Tools, With surgical EQ and whatever, The Bass usually sounds like... Well nothing from this Earth. [/quote] Exactly my point, and this always happens unless you are a big enough name to have some influence on the production. So, fellow players, just concentrate on the notes and your ability levels instead of the equipment!

Bass part attached.pretty close anyway[attachment=24178:You_Can_..._Al_bass.pdf]

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='468128' date='Apr 21 2009, 09:44 AM']The idea of modelling, sampling etc. seems intriguing BUT can you imagine a top producer calling in Pino Palladino (with '62 P-bass) to do a session and then saying 'it's OK but I'm going to put the signal through a gadget to make you sound more like Marcus Miller playing an active Jazz'. I reckon the response would involve said producer having to walk with a slightly different gait. Further down the line the producer decides not to spend big money on people like Pino or Marcus and instead hires in local bass player with his VB 99 - can you imagine it happening? I could be wrong but I'd like to think there will always be a need for individual expression by a player whose talent is so unique (and we're ALL unique) that no electronics will fully replace him and his sound.[/quote] Hi Bass Doc, I agree with you entirely. My point was though, that the "jobbing" session player has to be equipped as fully as possible to meet every requirement. I have a VB99, but only use it occasionally. If a top producer wants to hire a top player, he will do so because he probably needs that players "signature sound", and possibly his name too. Unfortunately, most session bass players are not hired for any other reason than they can do a fairly good job. And if they can turn up, play brilliantly and get a great sound out of a broomstick with wires on it fed through a VB99 - I do not think anyone would care. Even if we don't like the idea in principle (us old conservative types at least). (Puts tin hat on)

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='467994' date='Apr 21 2009, 12:04 AM']surely if you want an EXACT sound of a fender P bass you get a fender P bass? not a computer?[/quote] A Roland VB 99 is not a computer. A modelling unit like the vb99 is really an extension of the available equipment that musicians have to give variety in sound and tone, and is really a natural development. 50 years ago bass players laughed at Leo Fender and said that the bass guitar would never take off and outsell the traditional double bass. 300 years ago, the acoustic piano was derided. 600 years ago certain scales were actually outlawed. All music recorded now ends up from a computer or a digital "end" in one way or another. Regardless of the original source. Everything you listen to except the rare live gig where people play with acoustic instruments is affected by electronics. The idea of utilising modern technology without removing the human creative instinct is purely for convenience and to satisfy the demand of the modern marketplace. Yes, it would be great to turn up at a studio with every bass ever made for a specific sound, but it just isn't practical. A good bass player, who can read music, play in a variety of styles, and can reproduce any sound at the flick of a switch, will get a lot of work. Unfortunate for the diehards, but not for the progressive modern bass player. As a musician, if you don't move with the times, and are not prepared to fulfil the requirements of the paymasters, you will not be an earning musician for long. It is the notes that really matter, sounds and tonal quality are much less important - but fashion and record sales dictate that it is important that a pro musician has as much as possible in their "armoury" to satisfy the people that pay their wages.

If you are happy with your sound (and that is really what is important) you don't have a problem. And changing your gear (in spite of what people hope and think) is not going to improve your ability! The other thing is that a lot of players think that their equipment doesn't sound like the players they listen to on their audio equipment and they go out and buy the gear their "idols" use. Big mistake - most pro players don't use any amplification in the studio. They D.I. and the sound is adjusted after the notes have been struck by equipment not related to their "live" sound. So if your gear does the ob, and you like the sound, don't waste your money

[quote name='Josh' post='467918' date='Apr 20 2009, 10:56 PM']They want dull thud, they'll get dull thud .[/quote] If that is what they want, and they pay the money, who are we to question them? And if they want an EXACT sound, the VB99 is a great investment for the studio session player who wants to get the requested sound without having to carry a lot of basses around. It also replicates a huge variation of cabs and amps and is a dream for the engineer when all he wants is a good clean D.I. £700 is not a lot of money if you are a pro, good at what you do and can deliver on the spot!

[quote name='Josh' post='467912' date='Apr 20 2009, 10:46 PM']Or the more simpler option of just soloing the neck pick up, saves money.[/quote] But doesn't get the exact sound that the people that are paying you want to hear. I hated the idea of modelling units initially, but the VB99 is superb. Really.

I don't know how advanced you are in your playing, but take it from an old fart.........the best thing you can do is to work them out for yourself. It improves your ear and technique like nothing else. It might seem like hard work but it is worth it in the end. If you need to slow things down buy a program like "transcribe" or "amazing slow downer".

"Ever been asked for "that classic Precision sound"? Just buy the Roland VB99 - you can get any sound you want, and tweak it if you need to.

I bought two very expensive 6 stringers (one fretted and one fretless) from the Bass Centre last year, very happy with them both. But I also bought two comfort straps at the same time, and exactly the same happened - the plastic thingys just snapped in half. Fortunately, I was sitting down on both occasions. The other problem was that if you play with your bass fairly high up, the adjustments are no good. [quote name='The_BassCentre' post='467670' date='Apr 20 2009, 05:45 PM']Hello all, I've been in touch with Ped and he's happy for us to post a reply here. GreeneKing (the OP) was contacted the same day by email apologising for the problem and a replacement was immediately sent out. Hopefully there have not been any similar problems since. We welcome any comments about the Bass Collection Comfort Strap. This unfortunate incident is the only problem we're aware of regarding the structural performance of the strap (out of the hundreds sold), however the design has been modified and we believe the latest version is the most robust to date. Clarky - can you clarify that your strap was a Comfort Strapp and not a Bass Collection strap? Many thanks. All the best, The Bass Centre PS - We will soon be fully fledged commercial member on this forum - exclusive deals, competitions and other good stuff coming soon![/quote]

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='456039' date='Apr 7 2009, 06:31 AM']I'm wanting to start tracking rehearsals as the drummer has just bought some mics, and everyone else plays through their own PAs apart from me. Am I right in thinking I just need a multiple input soundcard and some decent software? I've got a dual core laptop with 4GB of memory to run it[/quote] I've tried quite a few, and this one does everything you want for not much dosh. It is USB, and unusually faster than firewire.............. * 16 simultaneous Inputs * 4 Simultaneous Outputs * 14 x 4 Analog Input/Output * Stereo S/PDIF Digital Input/Output * 8 XLR Mic Inputs with Phantom Power * USB 2.0 Computer Interface * Up to 96kHz/24-bit Audio Resolution * Zero-latency Hardware Monitoring * Independent Monitor and Headphone Outputs * 16-channel MIDI Input and Output * Includes Steinberg Cubase LE4 and TASCAM Continuous Velocity Piano * ASIO and Core Audio support for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac OS X * Weight: 3.2kg / 7.1 lb * Dimensions (WxDxH): 19" x 11.1" x 1.74" (482.6mm x 280mm x 44mm) [url="http://www.tascam.com/products/us-1641.html"]http://www.tascam.com/products/us-1641.html[/url]

Does anyone know where in the UK I can buy a set of piccolo bass strings (tuning BEADGC) for a 34" six string? Cheers

I bought one of these last week for £59, (24 bit Lexicon Alpha Audio) it came with Free Cubase LE (which I haven't installed as I use Cubase studio anyway). I bought it so I could use it with my laptop when not at home, and it is fantastic value. It's USB, but the latency (important bit for me) is very low and it doesn't eat up my CPU. Works brilliantly with a Mac. I also have a VERY expensive firewire audio card which I use only at home, and for light use, the Lexicon works just as well. Easy to install and with the Cubase package included, you really can't go wrong. It also has 4 inputs, headphones, and all the bells and whistles. It really sounds like the sort of thing you are looking for, plus the people I bought it from are very helpful if you have any set up problems, there is a specialist in the shop that works only on this type of stuff. Have a look at the spec etc here: [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Lexicon-Alpha~ID~6341.asp"]Lexicon Alpha[/url]

I bought one of these [url="http://www.mediaspec.co.uk/detail_studio_outboard.asp?brand=Millenia&stock=461&mediaspec=22"]The dogs bol**cks[/url] It really does everything you could ever want, and overcomes all of the problems you could face in a studio. Phenomenal. It only took 40 years to find something I can't find fault with.. No impedance matching problems, any sound you like, massive tonal variations, and allegedly, a sound engineers dream. (I'll let you know)

[quote name='Rodders' post='206084' date='May 25 2008, 06:20 PM']Can anyone recommend any jazz standards for me to learn ? I've just started doing a duo thing with my sax player Hope this is in the right place Thanks Rodders[/quote] If you pm me, I will give you a web address and you can download some of my private stash of jazz standard tunes. D you read music ? Or do you just want chord charts? If you want to push the boat out, I recommend the Jamie Aebersold series. Great CD backing tracks (piano bass and drums normally) with "the dots" to go with the tunes. Have a look at [url="http://www.fretsonly.com"]www.fretsonly.com[/url] and in the search box put Aebersold. Or go direct to his site [url="http://www.aebersold.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc"]http://www.aebersold.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc[/url] If you play by ear only, you are going to need the mp3's - I have lots. Let me know and I will upload some stuff for you to start off with. Robert

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='203036' date='May 20 2008, 05:30 PM']I'm interested in buying a bass from this eBayer, but the location is Yarm (Cleveland) whereas I'm in London. ashborygirl has feedback of 31, with 21 of them as a Seller, and nothing since last November - so no details at all as to the sort of stuff being sold. On balance, I'm not prepared to send over £500 to a complete stranger on that level of information. Anyone know this person? Or is actually a BassChatter?[/quote] Do what I do - make a personal visit - or ask her to meet you half way. If you have to make the full journey, ask for a contribution via way of a reduction in price. If it's worth buying, it's worth the trip.

[quote name='ianrunci' post='202359' date='May 19 2008, 06:59 PM']When I got my Warwick Streamer LX 4 I was over the moon. I always fancied one but I have realised I based my Warwick lust on the look alone. I mean its a nice machine a 1998 version with a bit of Mojo and it sounds wonderful but the thing is no matter how I try I just can't get used to the neck. Must be all that Wenge. I have found myself recently going back to my Aria Pro 2 just for the neck profile although the Warwick sounds a million times better. I am humming and ahhing now about getting rid of it and getting something else instead, I can't see myself ever being completely comfortable with it. Just wondered if anyone else had had a problem getting used to the feel of the neck?[/quote] I have two Warwicks (Thumb and Corvette) , both 6 string (one fretted and the other fretless) so maybe the "feel" thing is different. However, I did, when I first bought them, feel they were a bit unusual/different. The remedy for me, was not to revert to any of my other basses, but play the Warwicks consistently and after a while, they felt a lot better than the others. In fact, the other basses felt inferior once I got used to the Warwicks. I also had them both set up by a pro (nut, truss rod and bridge) to get the lowest action possible, which also helped. I'm afraid you may be suffering from a bit of muscle-memory syndrome - especially if you have played the Arai for a long time. I am sure you will get used to the Warwick after a while, and it is definitely worth persevering, in my opinion. If you want to give up on it, there will be plenty of buyers for it in BC, I'm sure.