Kitsto
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Everything posted by Kitsto
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Fretting hand technique dev - just passing something on
Kitsto replied to Soledad's topic in Theory and Technique
I'm a very average bass player who used to play guitar. My left hand, when playing bass, looked very ugly on the neck. I went for a lesson with a local bass pro who plays in West End musicals in London (when such things were on pre-pandemic) who got me to play something and immediately said: 'You used to play guitar, didn't you? You're fingering the neck like a guitarist.' He said double bass players keep their middle, ring and pinky fingers together (I imagine '60s bassists like Bill Wyman did this; and Jack Bruce originally played cello, I think). I started doing this and immediately my left hand felt more comfortable and looked like a unit. Incidentally, I've noticed that Nick Beggs (who plays wonderful bass, fretted and fretless, as well as chapman stick for Steven Wilson and was originally - and is still - in Kajagoogoo) plays fretted bass (the only bass I can play) by resting the flat part of his index finger across the whole neck rather than pressing the tip down behind the fret. -
I think Livingstone Brown sang and played bass on Robin Trower's 21st Century Blues album which was a terrific return to form for RT in the mid-1990s. LB's singing and bass playing were sublime. He has played on and produced one or two of RT's albums since. I think LB has a recording studio in Godalming, Surrey and works mainly as a producer. This is all from memory and I'm old so this may be wrong.
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How the hell do you play with a pick?
Kitsto replied to thepurpleblob's topic in Theory and Technique
Linus27 - just wanted to say: dig the song and love your bass lines - really melodic! Edit: silly me - you were in a real band, Inter, that did sessions for Peel and the full version of the song is on youtube (though I prefer being able to hear the bass lines in your cover version). -
This may not help at all but in Sept 2016 I bought from a fellow BCer here a TE AH300 SM head plus a 210 3H cab and a 115 3 cab for £450 all in which he had owned from new and was approx 20 years old.
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Very helpful, gottastopbuyinggear (great moniker!).
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Good advice, chris_b, will do.
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Brilliant! I play mainly Tbirds (70s classic rock covers band).
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That's great advice, basshead56. I hadn't thought of that. I have a TE stack and head (bought here off a BC member and very pleased I am with it) so the Ampeg was a backup but because of its portability I'd been using it more. The band generally put me through the PA but recently in smaller pubs hadn't bothered so I think you're right, it got overdriven. But I had thought just to get away with a direct replacement. But, for the additional cost, the 800 will give me a genuine gigging alternative and with luck will last far longer. So I will do that. Many thanks, basshead56.
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Bought this as part of a fliptop cab (210 HE) second hand and it worked well for over a year (weekly practice and about 15 gigs). Recently the warning light stayed on and no sound came out. Long story short: been round the houses with various repairers and basically it needs a new board which I'm told is too expensive to bother with. So, questions: 1. Do I get another 350 or upgrade to a 500? 2. If I upgrade, is the 500 the same size to attach to the fliptop using the same screw holes? 3. Is the 500 too powerful for the 210 cab (I presume not)? 4. Are there settings I should avoid (for instance, I read somewhere here that it's best to have the gain high and the master vol low on the 350 - or something like that, I think)? 5. Anything else I need to know? (For instance, for active basses, keep the 'peak pad' button pressed in, if I've got that right?) You'll gather I have no technical knowledge at all, which is probably how I must have blown the amp up in the first place. So any advice gratefully received. Cheers.
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I am such a dweeb. Of course you're right. It's Em. When I first tried to play guitar I hated barre chords so loved D/C/G but Ema never sounded right with G because, of course, the G in Ema is sharp. So I've always been amazed when the G to E progression works but that's cos in Em it's G natural. Thank you for illuminating that for me, Cat. It's a bit like discovering that whichever day is Christmas will be the same day that New Year falls on. Only twigged that in my 30s. Next month I'm 60. A blinding revelation every thirty years, then. Maybe I have time for one more.
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I know it's not fashionable to say so but I like playing along to Def Lepp's Hysteria. It's got that move from D to G then that sublime move down to E (a favourite with Neil Young even though G to E shouldn't really work) then the chorus is just D to C then D to B then another sublime move from E to C - which shouldn't work - then back to D. The middle eight involves A and D. Rick Savage has no pretensions as a bass player. He says he always uses a pick because his right hand is inconsistent at fingering. I use this as a right-hand warm-up alternating finger exercise. It just feels so simple and right. But then I'm a very basic bassist.
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I am 59, took up bass a couple of years ago. Play in a 70s classic rock / blues covers band, playing the stuff I grew up listening to. Always wanted to be a rock musician and know what being in a band was like. We play pubs and beer festivals. Now I do. Best thing I ever did. Almost 60 and finally I feel cool.
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Was up to 9 basses (including my Hofner Shorty which doesn't count cos it's just for practice around the house) and after much deliberation got rid of 3 (2 Tbirds and a Ltd 5 string) cos they weren't getting gigged and instruments need to be played. Now just have 2 identical Tbirds as main bass plus backup, a Tbird Goth for a regular Halloween gig the band does, an ESP Viper which I prefer to Gibson EB3s and a Ltd 4 string for when I need a break from Tbirds. Best of all, I donated the surplus basses to a nearby music charity that makes instruments available to students and young people. That's a weight off. Feel lighter and better.
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Mike and I met up for me to hand over my Gibson SG and Mike to part with the cash! Great chat, great guy. Hope the Gibson gives you as much pleasure as it did me. Glad it's gone to a good home. Cheers Chris
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Grew up with In Rock and Machine Head but my faves are: Woman From Tokyo, Might Just Take Your Life and Perfect Strangers which is the track Page and Plant would have killed for to have on Walking Into Clarksdale or whatever their album was called (and I speak as a Zep-head).
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Who's Next. Not my favourite album but my first. Loved everything about it. Still feel it's their best album and Glyn Johns's production gives it that warm vinyl sound. All the other 70s albums mentioned so far are ones I've owned and dug. Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge - that trio still amazing. CSN&Y Deja Vu (how great a line is Crosby singing: "Almost cut my hair"). Hejira and Hissing - my fave Joni. Rush - had them all. Sabbath 4 - Wheels Of Confusion - fantastic. Foxtrot: "Dragons commming out of the sea" (only Gabriel sings 'coming' as 'commming'). Plus Zep - the band I loved more than any other. 23rd May 1975, Earl's Court. My first ever gig. Never bettered. Sorry for going on. Thanks for indulging.
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Please note price drop to £250. -
Yes, it's the 30-inch scale and it's the Gibson SG Special in cherry stain.
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[b][font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]FS: Gibson SG 120[/color][/size][/font][sup][font="Calibri"][size="2"][color="#000000"]th[/color][/size][/font][/sup][font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"] Anniversary matt cherry with Gibson hard case[/color][/size][/font][/b] [b][font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]Sale only: £300[/color][/size][/font][/b] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"] [/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]This is an EB0-style Gibson short-scale SG bought new in 2014 for £650. Excellent condition. Lightly played. Never gigged. Has ‘120[/color][/size][/font][sup][font="Calibri"][size="2"][color="#000000"]th[/color][/size][/font][/sup][font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"] Anniversary’ inlaid in the neck. Comes with Gibson hard case, matching red-and-black leather strap and rubber Fender straplocks. I carefully unscrewed the scratch plate to show more of the wood of the guitar - scratch plate plus screws safely stowed in[/color][/size][/font][font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"] [/color][/size][/font][font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]the documentation bag in the case.[/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"] [/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]Will deliver within London or 50 miles of Aylesbury. Cash on delivery.[/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"] [/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]Any questions or for more pics please PM me or ask here.[/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"] [/color][/size][/font] [font="Calibri"][size="3"][color="#000000"]Many thanks for looking.[/color][/size][/font]
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[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1484228691' post='3213731'] But then I'm so awesome most people are looking at me, not the bass. [/quote] Brilliant! Funny, no one looks at me or the bass.
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Many thanks, BassBus. Have managed to add pics now.
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Sale only. £250 (price drop from £325) [b]Ltd D-5 5 string[/b] In excellent condition with a tiny scratch on the tip of the headstock. Both passive and (by turning the pots through the centre point) active. Beautiful eyecatching satin wood finish. This bass looks great. Made from a wood called merbau with a 'natural satin' finish (the colour of the wood) which is almost chocolate brown but under lights has a red hue to it. A real beauty. Very playable – because the strings are closer together than on the LTD D-4 I find it even easier to play than its 4-string sister. Fretboard doesn't seem unnecessarily wide (and I have small hands and short fingers). Nicely balanced so feels very comfortable on the strap. Bought it to match my D-4 but don't need a 5-string in my band so it never gets played. Will deliver in London or within 50 miles (or so) of Aylesbury or meet you part-way if you are further afield. Cash on delivery. Any questions or if you want further pics please PM me or ask here. Many thanks for looking.
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If you want more pics please PM me with your email address and I'll email them to you.
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[b]Almost new LTD D-4 [/b] [b]SHORT VERSION[/b] In immaculate condition. Would suit a beginner or intermediate. Highly versatile – suit any style of playing. Both passive and (by turning the pots through the centre point) active. Beautiful eye-catching satin wood finish. Meant to be my mainstay gigging bass when I joined a band last year. But then I discovered Thunderbirds and this never gets played any more. Very reluctant sale. Gigged twice. Brand new last year from Rose Morris in Denmark Street. [b]LONG VERSION[/b] Probably the best bass I’ve ever owned. By best I mean in terms of playability, versatility and just pure looks. I’m going to start with looks. This bass looks great. Made from a wood called merbau with a ‘satin natural’ finish (the colour of the wood) which is very dark but under lights has a slightly red hue to it. All my basses have natural wood finishes so you can see what they are made of and this and its D-5 sister (also for sale) have easily the smoothest, most striking and flawless finishes of them all. They are both beauties. Reviewers often say these marbau basses look better in real life than in pics. Then in terms of playability: until I discovered Thunderbirds (which are a bit idiosyncratic and not everyone’s cup of tea for good and obvious reason) this was my go-to-bass, more so than my Fender P (just sold) or my Gibson EB-style SG (to be sold next). It’s so easy to play. Sits nicely on the strap, beautifully balanced. Just really comfortable. I would especially recommend this bass to players starting out. It will take you from beginner to gigging musician (I got it having seen a mate play one in his band). It will never let you down and always looks the part. With this you’ve no reason to ever feel you may need to graduate up to another bass, even if you end up in a really good gigging band. Then versatility. This bass is good for any style of music. The pickups switch from passive to active. It’s got five pots for maximum tone and volume mixing. And IMO it looks and plays great for jazz, funk, soul, rock or metal. So why am I selling? Because my recently-acquired Tbirds are now all I play and none of my other basses are getting a look in. And instruments need to be played. Many thanks for looking.
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59 in a couple of weeks. Joined my first band last year. Fantastic fun. Have played a dozen gigs and (mainly) got paid for doing so.
