Scott S

[quote name='lonestar' timestamp='1393276026' post='2378228'] You'll have to go and try one. My sincerest apologies to Mrs S. [/quote] It's far too late, the damage was done many years ago! ("Mrs S").

[quote name='lonestar' timestamp='1393268290' post='2378062'] Either of these amps would be good. Im a markbass user and have used an Ampegs BA15 extensively at rehearsals. Either would give you lots of volume, especially the Markbass should you ever decide to play with others and you can always turn down at home! Ultimately it's all the fingers though I'm sure that a Ray '34 and flats would get you on the right path, especially a natural/maple one which Im gassing for at the moment with similar motives to you. [/quote] Oh, btw, lonestar, your advice re: turning the Markbass volume control in an anti-clockwise direction has merely exacerbated my symptoms, and has caused Mrs S no end of concern, lol.

[quote name='lonestar' timestamp='1393268290' post='2378062'] Either of these amps would be good. Im a markbass user and have used an Ampegs BA15 extensively at rehearsals. Either would give you lots of volume, especially the Markbass should you ever decide to play with others and you can always turn down at home! Ultimately it's all the fingers though I'm sure that a Ray '34 and flats would get you on the right path, especially a natural/maple one which Im gassing for at the moment with similar motives to you. [/quote] The thing is, until I joined this forum back in November 2013, I had no idea that GAS existed as a recognised medical/psychiatric condition. It was a relief to find out that I was not suffering alone nor in silence. I do love the natural/maple 'Ray, but my symptoms indicate the white/maple diagnostic sub-section. Oh, the sweet, sweet pain!

[quote name='NJE' timestamp='1393241365' post='2377603'] Its a tricky riff but slow it down with a metronome and you can get it fingerstyle without too much bother. I have just about got it, and get a reasonable facsimile of the bernard tone with the bridge pickup on my roscoe beck with the tone almost or fully off. I have had a few compliments that it sounds like the record. I tried doing it using bernards 'finger plectrum' technique and its very awkward and painful, to be honest unless your doing it for personal reasons to nail it 100% i doubt anyone at a gig would ever hear the difference. I cant find a video where Jerry Barnes the current chic bass player plays that riff at all, they re-arrange it live. Perhaps even Jerry cant do it justice. [/quote] I was recently told that Jerry Barnes plays the riff using the "double thumb" technique. Dunno if this is true or not though.

As an interesting aside for a while I have been drawn to some of the more technical bassists (eg, Garrison, Gwizdala, Feraud, etc). Of course, these guys have almost inhuman facility and capability, and all make great music in their own right, but listening to Bernie it reminds me of why I first became obsessed by the bass guitar. I wasn't even in my teens when Chic were in their heyday, but hearing "Good Times" on the radio in 1979 effected me on a profound level...and it does still to this day.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1393238175' post='2377566'] I think Dance Dance Dance and Everybody Dance are on Fender Jazz. However I think We Are Family is on the Ray with flatwounds. After years of trying to nail that sound I managed it with Thomastiks on a 2 band Classic Ray. The Ray can be surprisingly lively with flatwounds if you crank the treble a little, whilst having that gorgeous warm sound flatwounds bring out. A thread on Talkbass discussed OE strings supplied on Musicman basses and it appeared they were GHS flats up to early/mid 78 - GHS rounds after that. My 79 came with rounds. To the OP, you can certainly nail the Edwards sound using either a 2 or 3 band Ray but his playing style is complex. I personally don't feel it's necessary to mimic the strange plucking style but playing and muting triplet octaves is essential for some of those songs. His note and fill choices on My Forbidden Lover are total genius - and for me are very tricky to play. Best of luck and hope you enjoy - a good simple and effective line to play is Strike Up The Band. I think he may have played a lot of his parts straight into the board. Everyone has different views on amps but I always think that MM basses work great with class D amps like Markbass. Back in the day I used an Acoustic 371 with my Ray - great sound but massive - these days a small neo 410 and a featherweight 500 watt amp would do a similar job. [/quote] Thanks for the info and advice, guys, one and all! Yeah, I was looking at the Markbass CMD 151P Jeff Berlin Players School Combo (albeit that the budget would need to expand beyond that for an Ampeg BA 112) but given that it would be used for for what is essentially home/practice use I wondered if it would be somewhat excessive. I hate the thought of a really decent amp being used for only a fraction of its' capabilities although, having said that, it is marketed as being for "student practice"...GAS, what GAS?

[quote name='marcus bell' timestamp='1393202978' post='2377410'] Also a trace elliot fan [/quote] shame that I can't extend to trace elliot money; come to think of it i can't extend to Stingray money at the moment, lol

[quote name='Prosebass' timestamp='1393201733' post='2377397'] And some of this, prepare to suffer for your art... [/quote] Oh yeah, tell me about it, I'm soooo struggling to nail the main riff from "Everybody Dance"; it's as painful for me to play as it is for my wife to listen to, lol.

Every time I see something new it's "The One"! lol

Alain Caron "D-Code"...it's not going very well

Well, I am going to be in the market for a new amp soon anyway, but on a budget, so something like an Ampeg BA 112 would be as good as anything else do you reckon?

Any idea about his choice of amps?

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1393193303' post='2377283'] First off, flats - yes flats on a `Ray, from there, I`d reckon mids are your friend for that sound. [/quote] Flats...on a 'Ray.. really?, wow, I never would have thought that. Thanks for the heads up, Lozz.

I'm just after a bit of advice, guys... Obviously Bernies' sound came predominantly from his fingers, then his Stingray (I have major Stingray GAS at the moment!) and from his choice of amp (Ampeg?) but how can I get close to his sound via guitar/amp settings? Any idea of how he set his up his bass/amp eq's? Cheers.

Oooooh, I have baaaaaad GAS at the moment...for a 'ray! white, black scratchplate, maple fretboard...blue, black scratchplate, rosewood fretboard...dargie's delight, ebony fretboard...natural, white scratchplate, maple fretboard. There are some lovely examples for sale on here....but I have no spare dosh...DAMN YOU, GAS!!!

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1392199791' post='2365773'] Yep - The original studio version. The Marcus solo is about 02:55 [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KC-PLSkQn0[/media] [/quote] Mr Miller is the man.

[quote name='urb' timestamp='1392130323' post='2365095'] Very well played Bill and yes JJ is so good - amazing tone, great taste and lovely musical chops - bastard! Only kidding he's massively underrated - probably becuase he doesn't do 'stunt' bass playing - but he really has got it all as a player. Nice one Bit cheesy this but hey it's a great bass solo - 2mins or so in: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIqY9Ivntfo[/media] [/quote] Now THAT'S what I call a bass solo! Tasty (and tasteful) fills but still holding things together...love it! BTW, didn't Marcus play on a track called "Rio Funk" years ago?

Hey Bill JJ is a totally underrated player; I love his work with Holdsworth! I'm having major problems with my connection and haven't been able to look at your solo from "Midnight Bell" but I hope to very soon. "Universe" and "Quantum" are both amazing Planet X CD's as well, and Rufus Philpot is another much underrated player with phenomenal chops. I'm digressing a bit but have you heard "Heavy Machinery" by the Johansson bros and Allan Holdsworth? Jens' left hand is doing some outrageous stuff and well worth closer inspection, which leads me to... Tab transcriptions. I'm desperate to find tab such as that from the above artists. Ok, I love the usual, more widely known and common artist transcriptions but it would be wonderful to access some less available tab, too. John Patitucci (I can only find notation) and Matt Garrison (I can't find anything, lol) tab would be a breath of fresh air. Anyway, mate, I'm really looking forward to you getting your website up and running. Cheers Scott.