NickD

Oh don't get me wrong, its a corner I'm happy to be in. I did consciously avoid going further recently though. One track on the current recording was written on a sixer, then after it was done I had a think and replaced the part, to avoid having to take a sixer out for one tune. I love playing the six, but it's a seated gig only thing for me, and I'm not one for taking multiple basses to a gig.

For the sake of convenience, yes, I reckon I do. I've not had a 4 string since about 1990, and it's just how I play now. I don't think there's anything I've recorded, either for my own projects or for other things I've contributed to that I could play the same part on a 4, I tend towards low. Possibly I could faff around with multiple basses, different stringing/tunings, but why would I when one instrument will do the trick. I guess I've painted myself into a corner.

I think we are conditioned into it to an extent, but I guess listening habits can make a difference. Having grown up with Grunge (by which I mean it was my big thing early on in my bass journey), 7/8 is really natural to me, just because it was present in so many tracks I loved and learned at the time. Similarly 5/4, having that same 'clipped' feel works quite well in my head too. I'm guessing that kids who are spending their formative years playing Tool, Animals as Leaders, and crazy stuff like that will be much freer in their odd meter approach. Maybe it will all feel much more natural to them.

I'm sure they filmed that knowing it would cause musicians to grind their teeth! 🤣 The whole of 'Some Tales from the Rotten Shed' is brilliant. The version of Jibber and Twitch on there is phenomenal.... IMO of course.

Regarding the immediate problems, It's probably worth bearing in mind that Germany has just gone back into lockdown. Thomann just posted on FB that they're closing the store from the 16th. Obviously the online side is still running, but I'd guess everything there is pretty crazy.

Genius! Week 1 - Broadcast interview with Peter Hook & bang on about his signature model. Week 2 - Lose remaining bass custom.

I had a couple of Roland cables from Dave. Described as like new, and they were indeed. Easy, pleasant communication throughout, posted the next day and at my door shortly after. Thanks Dave!

I loved Thomann, but they've not been the source of bargains they were since the (obviously unrelated to anything) demise of Sterling that started in 2016. In a pinch, for little things I'll use G4M, GAK, or Andertons, and I've not experienced any customer service issues. For Drum stuff I find Drumshack in Sarf London great. Bass-wise, I reckon I've stockpiled enough to get me through until we're using the Euro, or I can escape, whichever comes first. For the inevitable GAS attacks it's the Basschat Marketplace all the way.

Ah well, I guess they do have a Christmassy effect.... My first thought was 'Jesus Christ'!🤣

Or you could take it just one little step further.....

That's brilliant.... again!😎

I'm not up for covers at the moment, writing, refining and recording is where it's at for me in terms of enjoyment.... Plus I don't like crowds, and playing originals tends to discourage people gathering. 🤣 But! We auditioned loads of guitarists a while ago, and while we saw some blazing players, the only one of them who learned the tunes properly, and had any idea of how to play in a band context had only ever played in cover bands. There's a method and a discipline that comes from it.

Having said that.... I'm not sure asking bass players if there's too much bass is the wisest idea! 🤣

I think it needs that kind of bass to move it along. It's totally appropriate to me, and I daresay it could have stood for a little more without a problem.

There's little wrong with the current crop of 5 string jazzes, but you're looking at 18-19mm spacing, as with a 4 string. That's my preference anyway, but basses I've not got on with because the spacing is tighter, would probably be closer to what you're looking for neck-wise. Ibanez SR are 16.5, and the necks feel fast and skinny, Warwicks are the same as standard (except the broadnecks), but adjustable to about 17mm at a push. Spectors come in about 17mm too.

I found it hard to choose this month, but that was a great tune, congratulations! 😎

Thanks all... I'll take a look at these after work!

I'm a fan of the Tascam GB-10, just because of it's flexibility. It's tiny, pretty easy on batteries, pitch change, tempo change, tuner, overdubbing onto tracks, etc. The effects aren't particularly great, better on guitar, but I use it for playing along with tunes mostly, or recording rough takes on acoustic recordings to send back to collaborators for feedback, so I don't really use them. I mostly do what I do at the computer nowadays, but as a portable, all in one solution it's great.

I'd appreciate any recommendations for the above. I'm throwing demos at my drummer at an alarming rate at the minute, straight out of Cubase in WAV, with a click put on and any drum tracks I've cobbled together removed. These are then downloaded to the Ipad, auxed in to an electronic kit and used to develop drum parts. What we're after is an app in which we can either open or upload the tracks, and vary the tempo without changing pitch, so they can be slowed down to get the parts together, then worked up to tempo as you would learning a part against just a metronome. Free is good, but paid is fine for something good. Ease of use is the most important thing here. Ideally it would work with wav files, but I guess I could run the tracks through an online converter for other formats if neccessary. Thanks in advance! 😊

I'd echo that. Seeing as I'm sat WFH next to it, this is the Mrs kit, set up pretty much as her acoustic kit, so she can move seamlessly between the two.

Sorry to hear that. Here's hoping for the best. My brother works in a pattern shop and over the years there has been a number of hideous accidents, usually involving mangled hands, most of which had a much better outcome than the initial carnage suggested. He himself had to have tendons reconnected after an incident the left his fingers curled uselessly into the palm of his hand. That didn't look good for a while, but after the surgery and a period of recovery (ie, doing what he was told), everything is largely back to normal, with no significant loss of function or strength. He's a climber, so finger strength is important, and he still kicks my a$$ when we climb together.

You did post the track though.... Like a Duane Eddy bass part at the beginning.... but then it went!

It was nice to be able to turn it up, so to speak. Our walls are paper thin so any demo stuff I do at home is practically at whisper level, and sounds crap. I think that was part of my apprehension. Getting into the studio and being able to go for it a bit... well it wasn't perfect, but it was 10 times better than I'd expected it to be from the demos. I've started practicing in the car on the way back from dropping the Mrs off in the mornings. I must look like a loon.

Thanks Phil, I'll take a look!