Nicko

Is it just me that never had enthusiasm for picking it up in the first place? I regard the actual playing of the instrument as a necessary evil of the reason I'm in a band: 1. to let the deeply hidden creativity out 2. to have fun 3. to take my mind off the day job 4. to spend time with a group of like minded people who otherwise have little in common 5. to actually do something I might eventually excel at (unlikley but you never know...)

[quote name='william64' timestamp='1452689391' post='2952413'] It looks many of us search for reliable reviews before we make the decision. The problem with me is there is always one particular product I am thinking about. So all my search turns to be only a purpose to justify my first instinct. Rarely have I changed my first idea, which is my bad habit, I would say. [/quote] No, I think your approach is entirely reasonable. You know what you think you want, and check to see if it really is.

[quote name='chriswareham' timestamp='1452460440' post='2950181'] Try the "Join My Band" website? Seems to work quite well down here in that London, where it seems to be first port of call for people seeking band members. [/quote] .........but beware, it also attracts wannabees that have ambition and no obvious talent. I have never successfully recruited a singer from JMB, although I have joined a couple of bands. If there's a decent open mic venue in your area, or a decent am dram group doing musicals you could worse than starting there.

Well, I cant say I'm that keen on any of them, but in what way does the author qualify as the arbiter of good taste? Some of the commentary is funny in a school playground type of way. The authors biog is [color=#000000][font=Arial,]Before landing at Mandatory.com, Paul honed his skills at a variety of web sites ranging from Maxim.com to SI.com. In that time, he's done everything from review DVDs to interview LeBron James. His current passions include YouTube and Twitter.[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Arial,]So he has masses of talent then.[/font][/color] This is like judgng my character from Katie Hopkins rant. [color=#000000][font=Arial,]Who the bigger A***hole really?[/font][/color]

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1452517007' post='2950657'] I can't say I ever really practice with the intention of improving my playing. I only pick up my bass if I have some parts to work on for one of my bands, or I'm writing new material etc... ... this probably explains why my playing hasn't got any technically "better" since I was about 17 [/quote] +1. I only ever pick the bass up to learn a new song. If that requires learning a new technique I'll "practice" until I get the song right (or drop the song and realise the limit of my ability).

Rock and Roll Suicide is probably my fave Bowie song to listen to

I like radiohead. This isn't their finest moment.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1452150431' post='2946928'] When I alternate, I leave the controls untouched on bass and amp and use no pedals. I play with a pick very close to the bridge, and I play fingerstyle either over the neck pickup or sometimes over the 24th fret. Two completely different styles resulting in two completely different tones. Surely that's the point? And don't call me Shirley. [/quote] +1. I play about 50/50, dont change the settings at all between most songs.

Of the pedals on my board: TC Electronic Polytune. Essential EBS Multicomp - the old compression argument will go on and on, but I think this sounds better than most. Mooer green mile. Used for a coupe of songs only, and it really isn't good for bass EH Micropog. Bought to fill out the sound when we were one guitar band but does so much more MXR 6B equaliser. Used to get the bass to stand out from the mix

Played briefly in a band with a great drummer when I was at school - he went on to make a living in session work, and then opened a drum shop I believe. Since then I played with some good guys, but no one that could touch that spotty 15 year old guy. Such a shame I wasn't good enough to really appreciate it back then.

Mine are called the black one the other one I do however name some cars. My current piece of junk is called Colin, cos its boring and I couldn't think of a more boring name (sorry if your name is Colin).

Almost none on the bass, cos I'm lazy and don't practice much in any case. I pick up the bass for learning new stuff for the band (covers) and every now and then when by creative juices get flowing. My originals will likely never be played cos the band doesn't seem interested in originals. I play quite a lot of guitar stuff but don't have any intention of ever being a guitarist in a band.

[quote name='Doctor J' timestamp='1450826854' post='2936324'] I have better pics somewhere I cant find right now, but it's the same kind of idea [/quote] Nice, but can't help noticing the drum sticks - whats the solution for storage of the kit?

The Strokes are all extremely "posh" at least as far as this description can be used for Americans.

Another vote for "class doesn't exist". If you have to work to live and are working class whether you are sweeping the floors or running the cleaning business. If you suddenly win the lottery you are still working class. IMO there is an underclass (those that either can't or wont find a job) and an elite who are born into a life of leisure - what we used to call the aristocracy but now includes any number of "really classy" people like Tamara Ecclestone and Cara Delevingne. On the other hand there are real socioeconomic grades between which people are essentially mobile. This used to be the old A, B1, B2 etc, but is now simply 1, 2, 3 etc. For example I started off SEC cat 5, and would regard myself SEC cat 2 now. The US of course categorises people by both educational standard and income. To the question the OP poses. No. The media persist in hyping people who largely don't deserve it using whatever backstory they can find

In theory I suppose it would be feasible if the longer scale neck was just the right scale length, and joined the body at the right place so that the distance between the bridge and 12th fret is still exactly half the total scale length. Since the Starcaster is 30" and the precision is 34" you could get away with it if the distance between the body joint (back of the neck) and the 12th fret was 2" longer on the P than on the starcaster. If its close to 2" the bridge adjustment might make it possible. However, the OP says he loves the sound of the Starcaster, and it wont sound the same.

I'm assuming that the titles come out roughly the same because the subject matter is similar Try writing about your love of, say, second order differential equations and I'm sure the title would be unique.. Although Coldplay might have got there first with x and y, and to be honest Linear Homogeniety could be Zep's "The song remains the same". I'll get me coat.

I actually saw someone do a couple of passable covers of Royal Blood using nothing more than a Stingray and a Boss Octave pedal (not sure which model). The signal was split to take the dry signal to a bass amp and the high octave to an overdriven guitar amp. Personally I prefer to let the guitarist do the guitar bits and I'll play the bass lines.

[quote name='Naetharu' timestamp='1450398333' post='2932507'] And here is a wonderful example of that experience for everyone to enjoy [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcibYABRm9E[/media] [/quote] To be fair, the bass player is not really making a case for bass being harder! Why would anyone put something that bad on yootoob?

Although SV wasn't very good, a decent bass player would have ruined most of the Pistols sound. Can you imagine what Bootsy would have played under Anarchy?

[quote name='grumpyguts' timestamp='1450359643' post='2932009'] Guitarists it seems can get away with a bit of slop. Bass players can't, timing and note length are critical to getting a tight sound - if that is what you are after. So that makes Bass a more exact science than flapping around playing chords. Am I wrong? [/quote] I think you are half right but it largely depends on what you are playing. Timing is not so critical on the guitar but the feel of the song will suffer if its wrong. If you think you can get away with duff notes you have obviously never been in a band where the guitarist has cocked up the intro to Sweet Child. As a very bad guitarist myself I have to say I find playing bass much easier but that might just be the way I'm made.

[quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1450371083' post='2932151'] I always thought that the bass players of the bands I liked looked cooler than everyone else... Lemmy, Gene Simmons, Duff McKagen. I always found myself gravitating towards those sounds and harmonies, vocal and instrumentation. I did do the guitar thing though and played lead guitar in heavy rock bands for years but still played bass on and off in bands.Then at one jam night with a load of muso friends, was the only half decent bass player in amongst 20 or so guitarists so managed to play all night instead of taking turns. Really enjoyed it an realised there could be mileage in doing it again. Quit my band and went back to bass properly after a 15 year break and not looked back. Using my guitar knowledge too helps me pre-empt what the guitarist will play and adjust accordingly which is always appreciated by other band members. [/quote] Have you already got one? [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dicky-Ticker-Guitar-Cooler-T-shirt/dp/B015L5RI6M"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dicky-Ticker-Guitar-Cooler-T-shirt/dp/B015L5RI6M[/url]

Converted from playing 6 string when I offered to dep for a band. I was living in a portacabin with nothing much else to do on my day off, or for that matter any other evening of the week. I realised I was a far more competent as a bass player than I am a guitarist and it kinda stuck.

We have been together a while now, and have had a few gigs, but are struggling to expand the number of venues. A lot of LLs want to hear what we sound like before booking us - which I guess is fair enough. Although we have a few videos we are seriously thinking of recording a demo CD. I assume if we give this away for the purpose of securing bookings there's no issue with copyright/royalties etc,? It seems there's plenty of bands posting recordings of covers on yootoob and their own websites - is there a difference?

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1450229666' post='2930841'] Agreed 100%. Thing is,it seems like a lot of guys don't want a lot of work. I see more often then not." We only want to gig once or twice a month" Blue [/quote] As you say, we only want maybe one gig a month - there's nothing wrong with that. We are amateurs holding down proper day jobs that sometimes involve long hours so we are playing for fun. The gigs are only really there because it adds a bit of direction and variety. I think we all enjoy gigging but really wouldn't want to gig every week.