louisthebass

@Jus Lukin - interesting points brought up here. I'm assuming that if you do pull out an active bass on a studio date, the engineer just wants all the eq on the bass flat? I think there's a Janek Gwizdala video on YT that mentions a recording session he did, where he ended up using a Fender Musicmaster in preference to his Fodera or any other name bass he might have had on the session. Can't remember if it was someone else's recording date or if it was for one of his own projects, but I suppose it proves that a P bass isn't the only passive bass out there that can do a job. I've met Scott a few times, and he is a good bloke. I respect the fact that he's a working class guy made good, and he's worked hard for it. I agree that some of his recent YT videos have "gone off topic" in places, but his heart is in the right place.

I don't own one but the P bass is probably one of the most recorded basses in the last 60 years... So as an instrument in the hands of a good player, it must be doing something right? From my perspective, I don't think the point of the video was "a passive P bass is the be all & end all" in the studio, it was just what some producers or engineers preferred to record with...

I heard pretty much the same thing from a reliable source a few weeks back. I'm not sure it's such a good idea, especially if it turns out like the old BMF's from the 1980's...

Did a search and couldn't see a thread - this is mine. Picked it up from Bass Direct last Saturday...😊 Spec is: Xotic XJ - 1. Swamp Ash body with an all Maple neck which has a nice satin finish to it. Weighs about 9lb, which is lighter than my Overwater J5 Deluxe. This bass can be run passive or active (Volume is a push - pull pot). The controls are Volume, Pickup Blend, Tone, Bass, Middle, Treble, and comes with a nice padded branded gig bag. Action is low(ish) and as you'd expect from a bass with the woods used it sounds quite bright and snappy, even unplugged. Plugged in it does exactly what it says on the tin - all the typical Jazz bass tones are in there, and it's just really nice to play. Have used it in a couple of rehearsals with my bands this week, and the feedback has been very positive. Gets it's first run out at a gig tomorrow night 😊

My favourite strings - have been using 'em for most of my bass playing life - started using them back in the late 1980's (Stadium stainless steel 40 -125 gauge). I can usually make a set last about three months before changing.

An establishment I still hold dear in my memories - spent loads of money in there. Strings, a Trace Elliot bass rig, my first 5 string, my first ABG, repairs to bass gear, and copies of Bass Player mag... And an Alain Caron clinic 😊 The Wapping store was a great place to visit in the mid 80's to early 1990's, especially when the likes of Pino, and MK were pushing bass to the forefront in music. The staff were absolutely brilliant too. Happy days! 😊

For most, Scott's videos are going to be more accessible - his output caters mainly for intermediate players, but he also throws in stuff that is useful for beginners. Joe's material is definitely aimed at intermediate / advanced students - very focused on advanced harmonic & rhythmic concepts. I watch & subscribe to both on YouTube as there's always something to learn from both of them - TKenrick's channel is pretty good too. The other two music channels I find I learn bits from are Aimee Nolte's and Rick Beato's, even though they aren't bass players...

Played a Blues Festival in Woking last night - bit of shame there weren't many punters there

It will be interesting to see how this all pans out. BP and BGM were good mags in the first few years of their initial existence until adverts took over, and the quality of some of the player interviews (imo) started to decline. Stopped buying BGM regularly last year, and will only pick up a copy if there's something that might interest me...

Ryan Madora playing bass with Robben Ford last year:

Just happened on this thread, and have been wondering about the pros / cons of a bass with a Swamp Ash body as it's supposed to be lighter than the regular Ash or Alder bodied basses out there? I love my Overwater to bits, but it's starting to feel a bit heavy now (even with a nice wide DeGier leather padded strap)

Won't be the same without WB - glad I got to see the Dan at Hammersmith when they came to the UK in 2007 or 2008. Played a lot of the classics like Peg, Josie, Haitian Divorce, Kid Charlemagne, etc.. Rhythm section that night was Keith Carlock & "Ready" Freddie Washington.

Agree - wish I had learned to read years ago, and definitely needs to go hand in hand with theory study. I think it makes you more rhythmically & harmonically aware (imho). I was chatting to the keys player in the band I was depping for a few weeks back, and he said l've got the technical facility to do the show gigs that he leads on (he does a lot of small theatre / show stuff), but the thing holding me back is my reading ability. I started learning to read about 7 years ago as I was fed up with feeling as though I was missing something in my playing, and am really glad I did it.

Great album - one of the original "Jam Bands".

Main reason why I've had to quit bands is (mainly) down to situations occurring outside of music that have had to take priority. I've never left on bad terms, even on the one occasion when I got an email saying that my services were no longer required as a much more versatile bass player was taking my place. S**t happens, and I have had to (occasionally) resort to quitting by email myself. That said, I've also had to do the face to face thing over the years a couple of times. In 33 years of playing, most of the bands I've been in have just naturally seen themselves through to a natural conclusion, but even though I'm happy playing with the two bands I'm currently with, there may come another time in the future when I have to put other things in my life first and step down from either (or both).

Agreed - many have tried to emulate Aretha, but they didn't call her the "Queen of Soul" for nothing. So much Soul, Gospel, and passion in that voice...

Aretha was the greatest female Soul / Rhythm & Blues vocalist of our time. When they made the likes of Aretha & Otis Redding, they broke the mould...

Would add some of the newer kids (?) on the block like Joanne Shaw Taylor, Matt Schofield, and Josh Smith.

Agreed - the bass players job in a Blues band is to help make the other players sound great, and lock in with drummer. Can't go wrong with that 😊

Did a couple of gigs Friday & Saturday night. Gig 1 was in a pub in Whyteleafe to a small (but appreciative) crowd - probably the wrong night to do a gig as the temperatures that day had hit the mid 30's, but good fun all the same. Gig 2 was a dep function gig with a band I used to play with on the outskirts of Farnborough. First one I'd done for a long time and brought home the fact that punters at these events can be very difficult to please. The band played straight through with no break and had to change the set list on the fly, so props to the front man in reading the audience...

+1 to the Vertigo & Tick attachment - I've had that set up for my Overwater & my cables, tuner, etc for about 18 months. The Tick increases the storage / carry options greatly 😊

Not sure if they were ever really classed as a Blues act (more R&B / Jam Band?):

Joanne Shaw Taylor: Josh Smith & Matt Schofield:

This....

I was playing with The Upstagers at The Whyteleafe Fair this afternoon. Managed to get some of the passers by to watch a bit of the band but these events are always hit or miss. Good news is that one of the local pub owners was running a beer stand and we're now doing a gig at his boozer in a couple of weeks - result! 😊