tinyd

[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1353620115' post='1876759'] I really quite like the idea of one bass. No "what one today" thoughts, just pick up one case and I'm off. [/quote] I agree with this bit - I find that the amount of time I spend thinking about basses is inversely proportional to the amount of time that I spend actually playing the things so I tend to follow the "less is more" principle, although if I were gigging regularly I'd probably invest in a Squier or something for backup.

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1351615873' post='1853313'] the poor old bass guitar doesn't get much of a look in now. [/quote] Yep, I'm the same. I have the DB leaning in a corner of my kitchen which makes it really easy to have a quick noodle whenever the fancy takes me. However, it also instantly lets everyone know where I am and that I'm not doing whatever I was supposed to be doing

[quote name='barkin' timestamp='1351010750' post='1846210'] You're right - staying in watching X Factor is almost exactly the same as going to a gig. [/quote] IMHO this depends on the gig. If the gig consists of lifeless pap that's devoid of any creativity then (musically at least) I'd say it's on a par with staying in and watching the X Factor, although depending on the beer and clientele, the overall experience may be better

I learned to play congas after playing bass for 20 years and I found it improved me as a bass player so I say go for it! Not sure if you're into the music or not, but learning to play Cuban rhythms can be a lot of fun and there are loads of vids on YouTube if you're interested.

An interesting,but more expensive,alternative might be a marimbula. It's like a giant bass thumb piano :- http://www.thomann.de/ie/mobile_prod.html?AR=164445 I haven't tried one but they're used in some older Cuban music and they sound nice.

I have to say that I'm broadly with Bilbo on this. The kick drum in "straight ahead" jazz doesn't act as timekeeper like it tends to in other genres - the walking bass line (along with the ride cymbal) does this, and the 'thump' that you get from DB just does a better job of defining the rhythm IMO.

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1345123493' post='1773854'] Can i just ask - what is a double stop? [/quote] playing two strings at once - a 'two note chord ' if you like. I think the term is used a lot more for orchestral string instruments like violins etc, but it's appropriate for bass guitar as well.

I was wondering the same thing. I've been lusting after some form of Baby Bass for years but you hardly ever see them on this side of the pond. These KK ones seem reasonably priced so if they have anything like that authentic Ampeg thump they'd be a great addition to the Latin band that I play in. Now I just need to rustle up the cash, which will probably take me several years

The Jazz Bass Book by John Goldsby is well worth adding to the list. It has extensive biogs of players, a great CD, and really nice theory/instructional section.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1338988726' post='1682005'] I find that the stuff I play on electric and double bass are completely different. With very few exceptions, I see very little commonality, conceptually, between the two instruments and lines that work on eb are different to those that work on db. I am hearing a different thing entirely. [/quote] To me, it depends on which type of music I'm playing. I much prefer the DB for jazz and latin music, but playing fingerstyle funk lines on a DB, while possible, is bloody hard work and doesn't sound as good IMHO. Having said that, I managed to play a passable version of Cissy Strut by the Meters last night because I couldn't arsed to get my BG out....

That Paco De Lucia clip is great. Unfortunately, it always reminds of this "version" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89zM9pZzt0U

This is completely subjective on my part, but there's something about the best drum grooves where the hi hats or ride stay fairly constant but the bass drum and snare do the main work. Whereas the problem with the big flash style of drumming is that it breaks the groove up completely while the drummer goes round the entire kit showing off his technique.

[quote name='Lazy James' timestamp='1329658959' post='1545398'] Currently wondering whether to buy from Thomann or wait to see if anything comes up used [/quote] I did the latter, and I don't regret it - I was lucky and got a decent mid-range Shen for a lot less than the Thomann basses I was going to buy. I'd recommend looking for something used for a few months if you can stand to wait.

In my (very) humble opinion, good funk playing is about feeling all the different rhythmic choices that are there but only playing a fraction of them. So you need to be able to play the more syncopated beats in each bar at will....but for your actual basslines hit them sparingly. Of course, like everything in music, there are plenty of exceptions to this, but it's a good place to start.

[quote name='Faithless' timestamp='1322660341' post='1454051'] Bill Evans Trio - Live at Village Vanguard? [/quote] +1, and Waltz for Debby, Portrait in Jazz and Explorations, all great albums from the trio, also including Paul Motian RIP

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1319717313' post='1417627'] ... there were some nice chops going... [/quote] I'd have to respectfully disagree. I thought there was some fast playing going on, but IMHO rhythmically and harmonically they were all over the place. Some of Victor Wooten's stuff leaves me personally cold, but I'd have no hesitation in saying that the guy has serious chops. But this stuff to me just sounded messy from beginning to end.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1319094269' post='1409696'] This is my fave line from that era of Grace J & Robbie S [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHTkrXDeqSk[/media] [/quote] That's a great line as well. I started off listening to more reggae and Robbie Shakespeare, but his Grace Jones stuff led me into listening to more funk. His playing captures for me what bass playing is all about - economy and groove!

Nipple to the Bottle by Grace Jones has one of the simplest but funkiest basslines ever. Robbie Shakespeare isn't just a great reggae bass player... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs9kzmzHgmQ

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1319016159' post='1408827'] Yeah some amps don't need a preamp necessarily (although the Fishman is handy for its feedback-battling features) but it's a matter of trying it and seeing what it sounds like. My Bassmax through my Hartke head sounds horrifically thin, presumably due to the Hartke preamp not being designed to deal with the high impedance of the piezo pickup. Stick the Fishman preamp inbetween and it all works. [/quote] +1 to this - I did the same, BassMax through Roland Cube and 'horrifically thin' is exactly the right description. Then I got a Fishman and it made a huge difference.

[quote name='redstriper' post='1330339' date='Aug 6 2011, 08:53 PM']There are as many ways of playing reggae as there are styles within the genre.[/quote] +1 to this. The 'one drop' style of playing, where the bassline starts on beat 3 of the bar, is generally very laid-back and 'behind' the beat. The problem may also be one of shuffle or swing - some styles use a shuffle feel ('Get Up, Stand Up' by Bob Marley). If you play 'straight' eighth-notes over this, it will sound a bit forced and 'stiff'. However, 'Exodus' has much less shuffle and the bass sounds a lot more 'up-front'. I hope this makes sense

[quote name='chardbass' post='1371291' date='Sep 13 2011, 12:25 AM']What was it Marcus Miller said...?.. pauses to Google... oh well, something about people getting "too hung up on gear. Just find something that works and concentrate on your playing" (then he works on a signature bass!!!)[/quote] That Marcus Miller quote is pretty good IMO - I think the initial "just find something that works" bit can take a few years for a new player, but I've had the same bass for 20 years and try as I might, I can't justify getting another bass guitar ( I bought a double bass a couple of years ago but that's a whole other thing ). I'd rather worry about the things I can't do as a player than worry about the things that my bass can't do. Not sure if that last sentence makes sense but hopefully you know what I mean...

[quote name='derrenleepoole' post='1355691' date='Aug 29 2011, 09:02 PM']I think there's something to be said for just using a J or P bass with flats, and letting your fingers do the talking. [/quote] I tend to fall into this school of thought myself - not just for my own playing but for others too. There are some fantastic players out there who have a rich, lively tone to their bass which I'll never have. But to me (and this is obviously heavily subjective!) that sound isn't really what bass is all about. I suppose it's similar to the whole "Is Victor Wooten a bass-genius or a show-off who should go and play guitar instead" debate. There are bass players who like to keep bass simple and uncomplicated, and there are others who want to take it to different places and of course it's entirely possible to fall into both camps at different times. I could be biased because I don't really have the technique or the budget to do anything apart from the 'keep it simple' approach

Fela Kuti, some of the best basslines and drumming you'll ever hear IMO

I started out with rock stuff, but after I'd been playing for a few years I started listening to reggae, in particular Sky and Robbie. Robbie Shakespeare's playing is well worth listening to-he never plays more notes then he has to and he plays with an incredible sense of timing and groove. Two of my faves are ' Nipple to the bottle' by Grace Jones and ' Shine Eye Gal' by Black Uhuru.