Marc S

Couldn't agree more with FinnDave here. However, I also agree with Wateroftyne! - perhaps it will just take time to "bond" with the sound Maybe if you've got one you like playing, you just need to take it along to more rehearsals and gigs - hear it more in a live band setting.... For me, I was off Fenders and P basses for years. I wouldn't touch one. I had played some bad ones and some mediocre ones, and some pretty good one (though I was probably a bit reluctant to admit it at the time) and it seems to me that you need to play as many as you can - just for the hell of it - But when you find one you really like - you will want to take it home with you. Well, that's what happened to me anyway

This is the reason I nearly bought one of these.....

It's a shame the Vox Amplug seems to be so bad. I almost bought one.... phew I did opt for a pair of Vox bass Amphones, and I must say, I quite like them You need to tweak your EQ a bit, as they can be overly midrangey (is that a word? lol) And being critical of them, they've made the jack lead a bit on the short side. Said lead is also a bit thin and wimpy and could've done with better shielding too which is annoying, given they aren't a cheap alternative! That said, I use mine a lot, and find them simple to use and nice & portable - in case we're staying away anywhere i.e. no need to pack some headphones and a pedal unit.

Yes, I think I'd go back to your luthier and ask what the problem is Perhaps get him to tweak it a little, while you wait? That way you can be sure you've got an action / set-up you're happy with and if you both agree that a fret / one or two frets need attention - then you'll know what the problem is

I must say, the grain is really nice on that body Normally, I'm not a huge fan of "natural" finishes - but if the wood grain looks great...... How about a transparent colour? Something you can still see much of the grain through?

Me too!

..... and there's space for 5 more in that rack too.... C'mon c'mon - fill 'em up lol

Bought some T.I. Flats from Waveydavey Really good communication. I said I'd take the strings, and he even sent them before I sent the payment Great BC'er to deal with, so buy, sell & trade in confidence folks

Cheers matey I might even photoshop a few more into that collection! lol

Hi Brendon / BreadBin, Sorry, I only just spotted this thread. Nice collection you have there. I stopped playing for nigh on 25 years I did keep one bass (and so glad I did) though it only came out of its' case once every couple of years...... at most So glad I kept it though - my son came home with a bass when he was about 15, and had never even seen me play Him starting to take up the bass, made me start again - and I'm so glad I did I thought I had too many - but I'm going to show Mrs S that photo in your first post "See, you think I've got too many - just look at this guys' collection" I reckon that pic of yours is my next Get Out Of Jail Free card

Yeah, he's already been mentioned King Tut His careful choice of notes is quite under-rated IMO "Walking On The Moon" is just so simple, yet brilliant (of course, there are plenty of other examples too)

Of course you can join in Stew Now there's a bass line that's proof of the addage "It's just as much about the notes you leave out".....

This is a great topic. It's really got me thinking about songs with minimal bass, but bass which is an essential component of the song| You often hear the saying "less is more" and in music terms, it has taken me a long time to realise how true this is Enjoying this thread, and looking forward to seeing / hearing more suggestions

A lot of the Joy Division stuff is quite sparse. This one is "24 hours", from their "Atmosphere" LP I'm not sure the whole thing would be counted / defined as sparse - but the quieter / slower sections certainly are Great sound and feeling of space, in a fairly sparse bass-line - nice melody too, in which the bass is the "key" instrument

I've always got a bass lying around - that way, if I hear something on the radio or TV and fancy jamming along, or working a tune out or if I just fancy a noodle - I've got a bass to hand. Fortunately, Mrs S really doesn't mind (well, as long as it's just one, or one and a uke....) EDIT: I fully understand those for whom leaving a bass around the house is not an option - but I'd feel awful for not having one lying around the house - because it is my hobby I also understand that some players partners might feel aggrieved at instruments cluttering the place though My David Gage Double bass is in the corner of the lounge - as DB's are quite hard to "hide" lol In fact, Mrs S always says that corner looks empty when I take it out gigging

I don't really try to impress people as a rule. But yes, I think you're right - they're probably more "impressed" by a bass line that they recognise, like "another one bites the dust" as opposed to something more technically difficult. Most people who visit me are rather more impressed at a few notes played on my beautiful Double bass, sat in the corner of my lounge.... Laypeople at gigs are also usually more impressed by me turning up at a gig with my DB. But I get more questions and comments when I turn up with my EUB. They usually ask "what's that?" Or "is it a cello?" At an outdoor gig last summer, a few people said they really liked the sound of my EUB - even though I thought it wasn't the best sound I'd got from said EUB

Was it the bright yellow one? Loved that bass. Played it myself a couple of times £50 - what a bargain

Paul Gray is one of my favourite bass players. Rick haters really need to hear his bass sound on The Black Album & Strawberries - it's an awesome sound Paul is also a real top bloke. As a young player, back in the 80's, me & a mate just turned up at his house on a Sunday afternoon.... and cheekily asked for some bass lessons & tales of the Damned And the top bloke just let us in to his music room! We listened to demos, played his basses and he was just so good to us. Then he gave us his phone number and asked us back.... he later gave me a couple of freebie lessons and I'm for ever indebted to the man, for the inspiration he gave me. Decades later, I played at a local folk club (he was playing with a band "The Monte Dons") that night too. I came off stage, and he said "Well played Marc" to me. I didn't think I was anything above "OK" that night - but a positive comment from one of my inspirations made me feel 10 feet tall. Great to see him in the Damned again. Nice pic bartleby - I was off to your left and a bit further back My fave punk bassists were PG and JJ Burnel. Two quite different players, with a very different sound - but both fantastic players

Yes, I think it does matter to an audience - because if we're more relaxed, and more obviously enjoying our tone and our own playing Then surely we play better? So overall, the sound will be better, and with fewer mistakes (because we are more relaxed) better performance = better experience for the listeners..... I wouldn't say I "stress" too much about the tone - but I do notice and am distracted when it's not "right" EDIT: There have been plenty of occasions when a band member has said "nice sound on the bass tonight" - so band mates do notice And if that means they're also happy with the overall sound - then are they more relaxed / less distracted....

Actually, I quite like Steve Harris's tone and his playing has always inspired me. But I'm with you here on JJ Burnel. I too loved the sound he got on Rattus Norvegicus. As I've said often before... It's his playing and his sound that got me into bass And Rattus was the definitive album for me