Cato

I got into Anthrax and Megadeth in about 88, it wasn't until the Black album that I really started listening to Metallica. ( Though I learnt the easy bits from Anesthesia before that to impress my non playing mates). So I was a bit of a populist bandwagon jumper in that respect. I was never a huge Slayer fan though, I think it was the vocals which put me off.

Even if the current owners went to the wall the creditors would still be able to sell the brand along with the US factories to a new set of owners as a going concern. As I understand it's not the original core business that got them into trouble, it's all the other shenanigans and corporate take overs of other businesses which have then failed which has left them with huge debts. I believe Fender are in a similar though not quite so precarious position.

Playing along to Ramones albums. I reckon one of the keys to learning and sticking with an instrument is enjoying your practice time, especially early on.

My sister reached grade 8 on the flute, but gave it up when she went to uni My parents really weren't that keen when I started teaching myself guitar, but I've been going for 25 years now and even made a bit of money from it along the way, assuming you don't offset money earned against equipment bought.

I noticed these on the Anderton's website the other day. £850 for a four stringer. If they are USA made then that's pretty cheap for a Gibson anything. I still wouldn't touch one with someone else's, but I imagine some people looking for a 'brand' bass may well be tempted.

Probably a BC Rich Warlock or Mocking Bird. I was very metal back then. I actually wouldn't mind a Mocking Bird now, beautiful looking basses, though I'd probably go for a natural finish rather than the late 80s/early 90s neon-crackles-on-a-black-background that I fancied then.

No matter how good you get there is always going to be someone so much better than you that it's not really worth worrying about. As long as you can play the stuff you want then no problem. Edit see thread on eleven year old.

Considering what 3k can get you bass wise, Fender do seem to be taking the pee with some of their custom shop pricing.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1474895310' post='3141303'] I'm very disappointed to note that none of the above replies supply the essential information:[list] [*]Height of bass player [*]Weight of bass player [*]Approx. state of fitness of bass player [*]Degree of intimidation associated with bass player [/list] As a non-street-fighting man meself, trying to deck a drunken punter with my (very expensive) bass or kick him off stage with my boot to his arse would most likely lead to me spending the rest of the gig in A&E. [/quote] I'm 6ft 4 and about 14 1/2 stone, thanks to a recent health binge I'm in the best shape I've been for years. There is no way I would get myself into any kind of violent confrontation with a pub drunk. For a start they've generally had more practice at that sort of thing, then there's the unfortunate fact that even if you 'win' the first round they may fancy a second round, possibly with addition of a few of their mates. Lastly the law is almost certainly not on your side when it comes inflicting injuries on someone trying to get on stage.

[quote name='dyerseve' timestamp='1474803060' post='3140582'] A used Yamaha would be my recommendation as their quality will be miles better than any other budget instruments. Something like these: Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122139651032 Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222254390254 This Japanese made Aria could also be a good shout: Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112147736067 [/quote] If that Yamaha wasn't collect only from Cornwall I'd seriously have had that for £100.

I'm not sure there is a correct way, as long as your technique is not causing you physical pain then it's probably fine. As to arched vs flat I noticed the other day that when I play normal finger style I have my fingers arched, at an angle to the frets with my thumb over the top of the neck, but when I slap I adopt a much more classical posture -thumb in the centre of the back of the neck, fingers almost flat and parallel to the frets, which I find helps with muting and left hand slap/mute thingies. (I've never known the correct name for those). I swap between the two pretty much without thinking about it.

G & L is the least well known of Leo's projects. I seem to remember some sort of legal threat from Fender that made sure that G & L were originally very limited in how much they could use Leo and George's names in promoting their new instruments.(although I could have dreamt it).

Warning: Contains Rap language. http://youtube.com/watch?v=hRK7PVJFbS8

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1474544979' post='3138689'] Why not just use the side of your hand, and play with your thumb ? [/quote] Guaranteed to give me thumb cramp before the end of all but the shortest of songs. For palm muting I have to pick up a pick.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1474460834' post='3138171'] Hard to tell, but I'd say Bob Marley has survived longest without seeming 'dated' and it'll likely continue. [/quote] To be fair Bob hasn't been copied half to death. I have wondered if my indifference to the Beatles stems from being subjected to a lifetime of various bands trying to copy various aspects of the original's 'sound', to the point where even the original Beatles tracks sound formulaic and contrived to me.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1474388834' post='3137608'] It wouldn't be much of a game. The Beatles could afford to leave Ringo in goal, play Paul and George on the wings, and put John through the middle. Bob would never get near the ball. [/quote] What would be the Beatles equivalent to 'Redemption Song'? They played with politics but, as far as I'm aware they never got anywhere close to the sheer emotional & intellectual power of that song. It's a cracking tune as well. Surely that's a goal for Marley?

The Beatles would have been a much more relevant band if McCartney had used a Precision with rounds through a solid state Trace head with Barefaced cabs..

Just discovered Return to Forever. Currently listening to The Anthology.

It would depend on who the previous owner was. If one of Dee Dee Ramone's basses came up & I had the cash, I'd be very tempted, although with regards to any other player, no matter how famous, probably not.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1473936151' post='3134272'] Can't argue with either of those. Ringo's a great drummer. History should instead be questioning George's ability as a guitarist. [/quote] My ex's dad played in a Liverpool band called 'Them Grimbles' who played the same scene and occasionally on the same bill as The Beatles. He didn't know any of them that well but he reckons that George was the one that other bands were constantly trying to poach. Apparently from his early teens he was well known for being able to play pretty much anything after a couple of listens.

A bass (or any electric guitar) contains so many components that may affect the tone that it's virtually impossible to isolate the specific contribution of any component beyond the obvious one from the pickups. The effect of rosewood vs maple boards, exotic body woods, neck thru vs bolt on are all impossible for the average person to identify in a blind hearing test, in my opinion. There's a guitarist called Eric Johnson who says he can hear distinct differences in his tone depending on the construction of his leads and jack plugs and uses different types depending on whether he's recording rhythm or lead. I believe that he believes he can hear the benefits of this approach, but the rest of us , given the question 'is he using a gold plated jack plug on this solo with his maple boarded strat with the vintage Soviet era capicitors? - no chance.

Faced with a similar choice I went for a Squier VM70s, purely because I think they are better looking than anything in the MiM range. It's a lovely bass with one of the nicest necks I've played. I did upgrade the pickups and change the bridge though, not there was much wrong with the originals, I just fancied modding the bass a bit.

Worth bearing in mind a Babicz for palm muting - there's no sharp edges or sticky out grub screws anywhere on it.

Zoom B1on. Seinnheiser HD201 headphones. I use my phone as my mp3 player. I tried a few budget mp3 players before discovering that my phone was way better than all of them in terms of operating system and sound quality.

I started out teaching myself on a battered student classical someone gave me. Got my first bass at 15 played bass in bands for a couple of years but when I got to uni I kind of fell into playing guitar and doing lead vocals (I've never been able to sing and play bass simultaneously, some would suggest I've never been able to do either seperately). I've spent most of my time in bands playing guitar, but I never stopped thinking of myself as a bass player. I certainly enjoy the bass more and I can do a lot more with it these days than just thrashing out chords to generic indie tunes, which, in hindsight is how I spent quite a lot of my musical 'career' in my 20s and early 30s.