Frank Blank

I got as far as counting seventeen apostrophes then my eyes went funny 😳

I definitely lack tenacity, I’m only just beginning to play fretted without looking where my fingers are landing! I play a lot of things high up the neck on both fretted and fretless, it’s even more difficult (for me) to look away up there. I suppose what I really meant with my earlier post was not to be disheartened when you can’t do things more experienced players can but also not to be subservient to an ‘orthodoxy’ that might not suit you, or worse, possibly quash your creativity. I wasn’t saying don’t do what person a) or person b) suggests, by all means try anything and everything until you find a method of practice and style you like. I think your comment about adding things ‘to taste’ is exactly right. I play more slides and vibrato than most people recommend when discussing fretless, I was a bit crestfallen at first when people suggested just playing the fretless like a fretted bass when practicing, yet I do do this when running scales or something. I’m a big Mick Karn fan and his playing was (imho) an absolute fluid celebration of fretless sometimes to the point of abstraction, I remember reading an interview with Japan and then talking about how the band would sometimes rehearse without MK and come up with a song then he’d turn up having come up with a bass line on his own simply inspired by the title of the song, the band would then rewrite the whole thing around his bass line because it was so good. Obviously I’m not saying I’m as great a player as MK, I would consider myself a hapless beginner at best, but I am still inspired by the formative culture of my teenage years as a punk when suddenly I realised that I was free to be creative in any way I wanted. This includes very formal learning, if that’s what you want to do, after all these years I’m going to a bass tutor, loving it and my playing is improving because of it, but I am very careful not to let it impinge on my sometimes unorthodox style that Inthink is rooted in my DIY punk ethos. I’m rambling... I appreciate all the advice on this thread and the rest of BC, if I were a belligerent maverick I’d not read it at all, all I’m saying is do what you want how you want and obviously that includes learning formally if you so wish, just don’t be put off by it.

For once I’m speechless...

Play lined or unlined fretless, play looking at every note or some or none, do vibrato and slides to your heart’s content or don’t, do whatever you like, but most importantly don’t ever be put off playing because you find any of the things people have said above difficult. I play lined fretless, I do vibrato and slides (not too much but I like it so why not?), I look at the notes but am beginning to look less but so what? It doesn’t improve the quality of the songs I play. Play whichever bass you want in the manner you fancy and feel comfortable with, one person’s method or technique is not another’s, and there is no definitive ‘right’ way to play or learn, do your own thing. I’m not having a pop at anyone or their advice, I’m just trying to stress that it’s easy to be put off by an apparent ‘orthodoxy’ but then I would say that, I’m an old punk who was told as a child and young teenager that I would never be able to play an instrument, let alone be in a band, for a multitude of reasons, all of which vanished when punk came along and suddenly I was in bands playing instruments. There is no right or wrong way with something creative, or maybe there is, just don’t ever think you are doing anything wrong if you are playing your instrument, by all means seek advice and try it but never worry about doing stuff your own way.

Looking forward to Ep. 2.

Well it’s what I call a boutique bass, brilliant, love it.

Just yes...

Really wanting to try out the SWB-1 fretless.

Phew, I just typed that without checking, good job I was right (fluke).

Yay! A chance to try it out! I am stupidly excited.

Thank you Sir!

I have two XLR inputs on mine, both with two input settings, one is mic or line, one is line or instrument. I usually connect my preamp with a 1/4" jack via the second input set to line, if I connect the preamp to the same input set to line with an XLR I just get an unpleasant hum.

Does anyone connect their preamp to a powered speaker (QSC, RCF etc.) using an XLR? If so which input do you use on the speaker?

Turning up and paying a tenner is the usual method.

PMd

He really freaked my parents *spits* out which was yet another reason for loving them.

Months later I’m just checking... so you take an XLR from preamp to QSC?

The Guv'nor

Will do...

Unparalleled austere post-hardcore riff-riders Helmet, the incomparable John Stainer on drums...

I think this might be my favourite song of all time...

It’s the only amplification set up I have ever been 100% happy with, it’s been a genuine basslife changer.

I’m with @Muppet with the amp modeller/preamp IEM route but if that’s too big a change (although by far the best weight wise) you could get yourself an amp modeller/preamp + FRFR cab set up so you do still have a cab on stage. This is my entire set up now and my back thanks me...

Superb, thanks. I’ve booked but can cancel so we’re all good.

Bass in the wardrobe..? Capital fellow, welcome back.