SteveK

His right hand technique is very like [url="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/146738745_9f4e6d741e.jpg?v=0"]Tony Levin[/url], 'cept TL has to have 2 lumps of wood strapped to his fingers

Very nicely played - Exceptionally clean - Hardly a rattle or buzz to be heard. Good on 'im.

I may be totally wrong here - I've never seen or heard of the guy before - but my guess is that he's a tabla player who first picked up a bass about 6 months ago. He's got an interesting right hand technique... BUT, his appalling left hand rather gives the game away. Steve

[quote]Seems BC needs a forum for the under 12s.[/quote] [quote]I think that's a bit harsh. I haven't been posting here because I know absolutely nothin of Jeff Berlin.[/quote] Just to be clear, that wasn't in reference to any like or dislike of Berlin and McCartney discussion, but to the "[i]your a c*ckface[/i]" "[i]he's a c*ck[/i]" type post.

[quote]Yes, I always use a credit card on any purchase from the net just in case something like this happens. Never actually had to use them to chase money for me though. Hope it works out ok.[/quote] Good, just wanted to be sure. I think you'll find that they (the CC company) will immediately reimburse you the £400 until they've got to the bottom of it. At least, that has been my experience. Steve

[quote]Bassically I'm a sexual deviant who doesn't have the intellect to maintain such a high-brow discussion as this.[/quote] No kiddin' !?

Chris, You don't say whether you used a [b]Credit[/b] Card or a [b]Debit[/b] Card. Unfortunately a [b]Debit[/b] card doesn't offer you the same protection.

In total agreement with [b]jakesbass[/b]. Seems BC needs a forum for the under 12s.

Our FOH guy says he'll quit if I stop using my '85 Streamer. Reckons it's the best sounding bass he's worked with, I keep telling him "It's not the bass , it's the guy operating it ". Anyway, I trust his opinion, seeing as he did FOH for Jeff Beck for the best part of 30 years, and all JB's associated bass players (including Pino). It sounds great, it plays like a dream, and no other bass comes near it... and believe me, I've looked. Steve

[quote]Paul McCartney? I'd like to grind my heel in his smug face. Ooh did I write that out loud? I'm not keen on his playing either and can't understand the adoration he gets, especially in the States, just because he was in a band with little competition 40 odd years ago.[/quote] WTF??

GUITAR STORE? SATURDAY AFTERNOON? [b]ARE YOU MAD???[/b] [b]AND WHY'S EVERYBODY SHOUTING???[/b] Oh yeah...Happy Birthday

Whether the learning of music theory is relevant or not to you as a musician will largely depend on the type of music you want to play. If you are into playing punk, metal or playing covers and the like, and that's all you see yourself playing, then learning a load of theory may well be irrelevant...If I remember correctly, music theory is against punk law anyway! However, if you're into other forms of music: funk; jazz; big band etc, then at least a basic knowledge of theory is going to hold you in good stead. Of course, we have all heard about those wonderful musicians who know no theory - great grooves - totally original and imaginative bass lines. These guys are very gifted and very few and far between. Most of us have to put in the hours/days/weeks/months/years. Don't deceive yourself by thinking that you are one of the chosen few. I spent many years as a professional "playing by ear"...it took me that long to realise that maybe my ears just weren't good enough. And if all you want to do is get together with your mates, have a bit of a thrash a couple of nights a week - do the occasional (or more frequent) gig, and have a bit of fun, then learning a whole load of theory may also be pointless. [quote]IS IT IMPORTANT, TO LEARN all the notes and stuff on a bass,i just cant be arsed with learning all the theory[/quote] I commend the OP for his honesty... However,learning the notes on the neck isn't theory... that's what you need to know before attempting to learn theory. Steve

Are you sure it wasn't a [url="http://www.marleaux-bass.de/eng/instrumente.php"]Consat bass[/url] Tried one several years ago in The Music Store in Cologne, very nice and very nearly bought one. Doesn't have a jazz head though. Not sure about the MBass - that's one ugly..... Steve

[quote]to the point of not consciously using any theory when I joined a band[/quote] Glad you thought better of your original wording. Now sounds like you've got the gist of how to use theory. Steve

They say, "You can't polish a turd". Well, thanks to the Wizardry of Trevor Horn, that turd was well and truly polished. He turned, what was, a pretty banal song into a great record. Steve

[quote]Bought a switch this morning and I have taken the pots out I'll let you know how it works.[/quote] Holey scratchplate, Batman! Many years ago (when I had more time) I did consider building my own bass, with the (passive) pick-ups wired to a tilt-switch (as suggested in a custom guitar book) and then to the jack socket...didn't take me long to realise that perhaps that would be a recipe for disaster. Steve

[quote]so you buggers have got me thinking about learning a bit-just a bit mind-of music theory,[/quote] I'll wager that once you've learnt "just a bit", you'll want to go on and learn [i]a bit more[/i], and then [i]a bit more[/i]. I'll also wager that any [i]feel and groove[/i] you had prior to learning "just a bit" won't suddenly depart your body and soul. Steve

[quote]i am definitely frustrated by people who dumb down on their spelling[/quote] Wonder how long it will be before someone mentions the lack of capital letter (to start a sentence) and full stop (to finish a sentence)?

OK, a serious question to those that know no theory and have never had a lesson. Not meant to be at all inflammatory. Do you think that it benefits you as a player not to know any of the "boring" theory stuff? If so, how? Or, is the (honest) reason, because "you haven't got 'round to it", or like the OP, "just can't be arsed"? As I say - serious question...Honest answers only please. Back in a couple of days, just have to nip to Austria. Steve

Done many NYE gigs. Usually works out at about 3x the usual rate...shame there's not a new millennium every year

[quote]I always though Rick Rubin was a master producer, considering the amazing sound on some of the albums he's done, but I read in an interview that he doesn't and has no interest in knowing how to use a mixing desk. He just tells an engineer how he wants it to sound. With the description of sounds being so entirely subjective, I find it hard to beleive that he has been the one actually "crafting" the sound.[/quote]That's common practice - A good producer will be concerning himself with the music. Patch bays and the like are for the engineer to worry about...Engineers engineer and producers produce. At least, that's how it was in the olden days Steve

[quote]Who uses the tone control on their bass?[/quote] I don't even use the volume control...I should just have an on/off switch. Steve

[quote]Just been listening to Bowies "Singles" album, absolutely mesmerising bass lines, Ashes to Ashes, Fashion, Boys, China Girl..... WOW. Production, amazing.[/quote] Had the pleasure of working on an album with Tony Visconti (produced Ashes to Ashes and Fashion) in 1981. At the time it was kinda like working with God - knowing that this guy had produced some of the great records of the 70s. It was also my first time with a "Name" producer. I remember the buzz when he suggested that, "maybe this track could feature a multi-tracked bass section". I also remember being mightily impressed at his ability to score a vocal arrangement for one track while listening to another. As it turned out, he probably wouldn't regard the album as the defining moment of his career ... I sure as hell learnt a lot though. Steve

[quote]IS IT IMPORTANT, TO LEARN all the notes and stuff on a bass,i just cant be arsed with learning all the theory[/quote] Come on!...Learning what and where the notes are on your bass is hardly theory. If you're happy fiddling about in your bedroom , then, if you "can't be arsed" there's no problem. On the other hand, if you want to get out there and play in the real world, then you're gonna have to put in a bit of effort. Imagine turning up at an audition - the guitarist says, "this one's in Bb" and you mutter something along the lines of "where the f*cks that?" Steve

Edit: beaten to it Incidentally, Joe Zawinul used an inverted keyboard (synth) on Black Market. Steve