SpondonBassed

12 years is a respectable term. From what you say, the achievement is down to your efforts for the most part. Good luck with the new placement.

Ahhh. The 808 "dink". I have to say that that was one of the most annoying sounds of the eighties for me. It is the only thing I didn't like about the 808. It doesn't spoil the song however, thanks for posting.

Mariah who? Oh yeah... isn't she the one that only dogs can hear?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1483281843' post='3205869'] Justin was depping on drums [/quote] Oh. It's "Justin" now, not Mr Belieber? Are you two creepy friends on the sly? Heeheehee

I am an aeronautical engineer and I have no problem with the notion. It isn't often but sometimes when I loose myself in the groove as it were I notice my hand is negotiating with the strings very nicely without anchor. I think having spent a lot of time with the Hohner and the Steiny I have never depended on my forearm resting on the body of the instrument and my arm muscles have developed around that. Now that I am playing the Vantage more with its Fenderish shape, I find it is nice to rest my forearm. I don't want to get too set in my ways until I buy my ultimate object of desire - a fretless five.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1483279470' post='3205840'] Flare earplugs... my guitarist last night admitted he's not liking them after the initial honeymoon period. He says he cannot hear his guitar as clearly as he needs and that's the reason for extra loud guitar in his monitors, which is starting to throw us off.. Apparently they are very comfy, that's true... and they look great. [/quote] I can understand the guitarist wanting more top end but unless you are slap-happy, as a bassist I'd imagine it isn't such a problem. Let us know what you think? I like the idea that you aren't injecting sound into your ear with those. Additionally, taking the eardrum out of the process altogether might turn out to be advantageous in my case.

...whilst wearing an "I'm a Belieber!" teeshirt? Very glad you got out there and did it anyway. That is the bottom line.

Hahahahahaha!

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1483261835' post='3205654'] True I tend to swap about depending what I have to play, I see this as preferable to rigid adherence to one mode [/quote] Yes. That is true for sections of individual songs quite often. Someone mentioned a technique taken from classical guitar where the thumb picks too. I've found it worth using my thumb in the same way but I was taking the idea from the claw hammer pick (among others) used in ukulele and banjo playing. The anchor point there tends to be at the inner elbow of the picking hand. @ OP; If you like playing finger-style, why not use your thumb as a pick occasionally? Alternate between using your thumb and little finger as an anchor against the [i]body[/i] of your instrument and have a little experiment. You may well find it opens up some more possibilities for you. You needn't always hang onto a protrusion unless you are digging in. Turn your gain up and lighten your touch to compensate and the anchor becomes less crucial, for me anyway.

Looking at the number of bassists that enjoy playing Bach, myself included (if you can call it playing) his work is still relevant. That it has lasted this long suggests that people will still enjoy his marvellously interwoven phrases long after I've given up breathing. I'd love to see Bach and Bieber in a pub brawl...

That's just to make sure that none of the participants snuff it before their turn.

[quote name='Cuzzie' timestamp='1483187031' post='3205279'] Forgot to add comfort to wear! Pro guard, OK, i found a little tricky to get a seal and stay, sometimes popped out. Alpine, softer material and pretty good. Foam for the Flare works lovely and fits nicely, very comfortable. Obviously you can get the Flare in Aluminium and it brings the cost down, and i think the difference is minimal in sound blocking [/quote] I like Flareaudio's plain titanium ones at £50. I might treat myself and take a punt. If I really like them, the gold plated titaniums might go well with my goldy looking ankle bracelets and gold lame thong. They're only £300.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/go-west-mw0000190147/credits I never knew who was playing at the time but Pino was the hook for me. It made it worth enduring that awful yodelling! In fact Mark King and he woke me up to what bass could be previously having listened to lots of Irish Country and Western in my youth. Not that there is owt wrong with C&W, just that it isn't that challenging.

[center]MentalExtra said -[/center] [center]So in another twenty years, when guys are asking questions about Biebers music, I will truthfully be able to say "You don't understand, you wasn't there man"[/center] [center]* \ splutter! / *[/center]

[quote name='Cuzzie' timestamp='1483182939' post='3205240'] OK, A little unofficial test as I have 3 sets of ear plus. Pro guard biker - £20 Alpine musician pro - £25 Flare audio titanium - £40-50 Pro guard, least effective, but actually still pretty good, it does just deaden sound and you lack definition, but it comes with a key ring holder, so I always have a set with me if I go to gigs etc. Sound is muffled. Alpine has a cord to link them and 3 attenuators, i put it in the highest and it does a good job, better than the above, some top end leaks through, but again definition slightly muddied. Nice plastic case to carry, has a spare plug and you have the 3 different inserts to denote how much protection you want. Flare Audio - only tested with very bassy headphones but best at volume of sound, just on the Alpine, takes off more high end than Alpine, definitely hear the bass a little more and you can feel the bone vibrations compared to alpine. I did all these with both in and a combination of one in each ear and as far as I am aware my hearing is even. What i have ended up doing is having the pro guard on the key ring, Alpine in the gig bag and the flare audio loose to remember to pack, or I may put in the other gig bag. Having it loose helps me block out the kids! Cheers [/quote] Many thanks. That's going to help me a lot. I hope the OP finds it as illuminating.

Joe Cocker doing With a Little Help from my friends reminds me of this; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZnvIwA4fJU Shatner does Hamlet

[quote name='TomRandles97' timestamp='1482512583' post='3201232'] Not sure if this is something that's asked regularly but I've come to accept I'm going to need better plugs than the cheap ubiquitous rubber ones. I always start a gig with them and take them out halfway through because I just can't hear myself Can anyone recommend any comfortable earplugs with flat frequency response (ie; so I can hear everything equally, especially myself) while playing? Preferably something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg due to student budget and a looming overdraft [/quote] That would be a set of [i]attenuating earplugs[/i]; https://www.proguarduk.co.uk/products/allproducts/product/79-proguard-custom-attenuating-earplugs I haven't tried these however and at 220 quid they might be too much. If you use the same search term (in italics above) you will see lots of Boots offerings at less than five knicker... Let us hear your results please?

Beliebers or not, Happy New Year you grotty little lot of groupies!

May I wish you and the band continuing progress during the coming year.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1483131453' post='3205001'] There are 3 main approaches to this: (1) Fixed anchor - thumb stays in one place e.g. edge of pickup cover; (2) Moving anchor, e.g. thumb sits on string immediately above the one being plucked; and (3) Fully floating - thumb is not anchored, but rests on lower strings to mute them. They all have their pro's and con's. [/quote] Using these in combination can deepen your "palette" as it were.

Give it time and you will find alternative anchor points for your hand such as placing the little finger on the bridge for the stiffer action during fast runs for example. That also leads you into plucking with the thumb and slap if you like.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1483128308' post='3204960'] Agreed, I'm the biggest Stones fan there is. Same with McCartney. I'm not looking for or expecting great new material from them at this point in time. They have already given me enough. [u]I'm just happy these guys are still around.[/u] Blue [/quote] I think that's a sentiment worth repeating given the losses to the entertainment industry lately. I'm with you on that.

Dang! What about The Rutles then? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RFxencNmZw

What about all the old farts collapsing in hysterics at the notion that Belieber is in any way cool? Is that not a fan base of sorts?

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1483111045' post='3204818'] I get your point. And now that I think about it Justin's song writing abilities are comparable to The Beatles. I'm certain people will remember his talent and will be listening to his songs 50 years from now. Blue [/quote] Wink. Oh, and I spell checked that just to be on the safe side.