SteveK

[quote name='Eight' post='1179827' date='Mar 28 2011, 06:15 PM']I hate the falseness of having to stand around and clap... you know the band is coming back out because the song everyone has been waiting all night to hear still hasn't been played. Ban encores. There's no need for them.[/quote] It's a brave/foolish band that adopts a "no encores" policy.

Bilbo, I think your post is a little unfair. I can honestly say that I don't remember hearing anyone talk about music with a kind of dueling mentality. I experience nearly every day people talking [b]enthusiastically[/b] about the [i]when, how and who[/i] of music. There's certainly no point scoring involved. I'm a musician, but I'm not [i]just[/i] interested in becoming a better player, I'm also interested in the trivia, who played on what, where and how, because I'm a fan of music.

Absolutely, consistency of tone being the main reason.

[quote]i just dont get the same GAS for amps...[/quote] I think most of the players that are forever chopping and changing have more money than sense and an insecurity about their ability. They're looking for the rig that will make them sound [i]great[/i], when maybe they should be looking a little nearer home Fact is, when you get above a certain price/power threshold there's very little in it.

I've had a few dealings with the Bass Centre over the years, both as a store and more recently on line. I've never really had a problem with them or getting to speak to someone. If the amp was in stock then a month does seem a little long to wait. Barry, the owner, is a good guy. However, if no one is answering the phone, then I too would be a little concerned. Hope you get it sorted. EDIT: If your awaiting delivery in France, then obviously this will take a little longer. I've known a simple letter take 5 or 6 weeks.

2mm? Yeah, that's pretty thick! When I started playing bass, I only used a pick, but over the years, slowly crossed over to [i]mainly[/i] finger style. Since I can remember, I've used .73 JDs. It will take some time getting to grips with using a pick. Practice alternate up and down strokes, aiming for smoothness and consistency. As always, start slow, gradually increasing tempo.

[quote name='MartyBRebelMC' post='1170756' date='Mar 21 2011, 03:09 PM']My guess is the guitars are kicking out too much mid low and clagging up the sound but before i annoy the guitarists by telling them how to eq their amps does anyone have any tips for getting a good mix? Martin[/quote] Yeah, ask your guitarists to reduce the lower mids to stop clagging up the sound. Seriously though, if that's where you think the problem lies, then that would be the place to start. Get yourselves some extra long guitar leads and take it in turns to go out front and take an objective listen. A question: Do your guitarists use effects? There's nothing worse than over processing for "clagging up the sound".

Cos without it my Precision wouldn't look like a proper Precision, and the knobs and socket would be dangling by their wires It was probably easier and cheaper to mass produce Fenders that way, and being as Fenders are the most copied...

[quote name='JTUK' post='1169239' date='Mar 20 2011, 10:03 AM']Are we more impressed with the 'name' than the player..??[/quote] If, by [b][i]we[/i][/b], you mean the general public, then the answer is... [b]mostly, yes![/b] If you mean the discerning musician, then the answer is...[b]sometimes, yes![/b] It surprises me that anyone should be surprised by that.

[quote name='BottomE' post='1168860' date='Mar 19 2011, 09:17 PM']There are probably bassists that i admire that use effects.[/quote] Without a doubt! Another advocate of effects. Can't be doing with compressors though.

Almost certainly down to your hand position. Don't grip the neck or have your thumb over the top. Unless you have tiny hands, the only part of your hand to touch the neck should be the ball of your thumb (positioned about half way down the back of the neck), and the tips of your fingers. Try playing with your bass higher. See if that helps.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1168080' date='Mar 19 2011, 11:32 AM']By the same token...ELP...?? oh dear god..!!![/quote] To be fair though, ELP were never good live, regardless of their age. Made some great albums though. [quote name='Doddy' post='1168283' date='Mar 19 2011, 02:33 PM']There are great young players,and there are great older players,it makes no difference.[/quote] I'm interested to know who the great young players are (jazz excluded). They don't seem to be making much of a stir

Had the interesting experience of touring with the Allman Brothers in 1991... They aren't everyone's cup of tea, nor mine particularly, but I can't deny, when they're on it, they're [i]really[/i] on it and there's a great vibe. Spent a few interesting, and not entirely sober, evenings with Greg Allman. He really is (or was) a larger than life figure. Should add that The Beach Boys were also on the tour.

[quote name='chilievans' post='1165685' date='Mar 17 2011, 01:00 PM']Sound advice mate thanks Out of curiosity how high is your action?[/quote] I don't have anything to measure it with, so all I can tell you is that E @ 12 fret is slightly less than a £1 coin... But, having done a quick check of the basses that I have at home - they vary. The £1 coin is tighter on some than others If you've had it setup properly, then the truss rod should be ok. So, it's just a case of slowly raising the action until you're happy with the amount of rattles and buzzes.

Should've said, "Oh dear, I was told that it was a good sounding bass... Got anything that actually sounds good?"

[quote name='chilievans' post='1165606' date='Mar 17 2011, 11:49 AM']I've recently had my bass set up and it has a lovely low action. The problem I have is when I play a crescendo I get a but of fret buzz. Should I play with a lighter touch or raise my action or ......? Any advice greatly appreciated[/quote] Unless you feel your technique needs attention, raise your action. I'm a fairly hard player (who wants it? ) , so always need to have my action set fairly high. Your instrument is there to serve you, not [i]you[/i] serve [i]it[/i].

Can't be bothered with all that note malarkey...I'm a "feel" player, me!

[quote name='davidmpires' post='1163256' date='Mar 15 2011, 04:07 PM']Just strech to reach the minor 3rd instead of the 10th?[/quote] Yes, (it is a Major 3rd though) Try this, starting A on 12th fret: A C# E C# 4X G# C# E C# 4X F# C# F#(8va) C# 4X 10th fret D D(8va) F# D(8va) 1X A D F# D 3X Hope this makes sense. Could really do with the ability to add chord diagrams or notation to a post

I didn't know the song, so just had a quick look on Youtube. If it's [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_Zs7XS3XUo"]this version,[/url] you seem to have the wrong chords. A - C#m/G# - F#m - D The 2nd chord (C#m) is 2nd inversion with G# on bass Pretty easy to relate to bass. Basically, play as is. Starting A on 12 fret.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1157399' date='Mar 10 2011, 11:08 PM']So much for my big fact hunt. [/quote]

When people (not just musicians) ask, "What do you think?". They generally want positive comments. Anything negative is often not taken too kindly, which makes it kinda pointless. It's also difficult to know how much credence can be given to a comment when we don't know the credentials, tastes, ability etc of the commenter.

[quote name='BigAlonBass' post='1153142' date='Mar 7 2011, 10:41 PM']......and there's the crux of the whole argument, right there. If you play in front of an audience, you have to play what THEY want to hear, or you don't work.[/quote] [quote name='skankdelvar' post='1153794' date='Mar 8 2011, 01:56 PM']The transactional nature of paid public performance means that you have to give the punters what they want. If you don't give them what they want, don't expect to get paid or get asked back.[/quote] How times have changed! When I was cutting my musical teeth, the general vibe amongst serious bands was, you played what you [i]felt[/i] was good, you experimented, you attempted to do something original. Whether the audience were going to dig it or not was secondary. Seems now, there's too much "playing it safe", taking the easy route. Musicians these days seem to lack the courage of their convictions. Question: If a band has more success with songs than the original artists/bands, does that still make them a "covers band"? Guess it does! ...oh well!

Doddy is mostly correct in what he is saying. However, I think he is in danger of overstating the case and in his enthusiasm making one or two rash statements. As I've said before in previous threads on the same subject, we have all heard of the great non-trained, non-theory musicians. In fact one of my closest friends, who will be known to some BCers, hasn't the faintest idea about scales and modes, and basic theory, BUT, he is probably the most phenomenal guitarist/musician I know. These people are very few and far between. It's dangerous to think that maybe you will be one of these great, untrained musicians... it's a fairly safe bet that you won't.

On the evidence of this thread, it seems to me that the message is getting through. We don't have the "I don't do theory...I'm a feel player" and "Jaco Miller doesn't know any theory and he sells by the gazillions" type posts, as I seem to remember from older threads on the subject. Personally, I would advise that theory is a bad idea and should be avoided at all costs... ... last thing we old pros want is for some young(er) rapscallion to start getting all the gigs.

[quote]a slight difference in tone[/quote] If it really [b]is[/b] a slight difference, then, I wouldn't worry about it. That's one of the differences between man and machine. In the past, producers and musicians alike will have spent hours programming their sequencers to get that "slight difference in tone". Nowt wrong with using one finger if you really want that machine-like quality.