iamthewalrus

[quote name='Toasted' post='362862' date='Dec 24 2008, 03:11 PM']Yes, I have been since 2003. It's a fantastic resource and very friendly. A very well run/funded forum too.[/quote] +1 to this, have been a member for the same amount of time. Definitely a forum where you have to use the search function as it's bloomin' enormous! Cheers, iamthewalrus

[quote name='AM1' post='353836' date='Dec 13 2008, 07:50 PM']Hiya Apologies for raking up old threads! Could you please point me towards the source of this article if possible? Many thanks AM[/quote] Hi guys, This article originally appeared in a copy of "Bass Player" in the early 90's & the bulk of it can be found in Ed Friedland's book "The Working Bassists Toolkit" (Backbeat Books) where Ed focuses on different ways of using the major scale & your mentronome in various ways (it's the first chapter in the book). The book itself is a great book as it also takes in ear training, doubling on both acoustic & electric, reading chord charts, & lots of really good advice on function gigs, jazz gigs & loads of other stuff. Cheers, iamthewalrus.

I'll have a looksee at these tracks too.. By the way, really liked your "Reality Check" stuff on YouTube - the second one was very thought provoking. Have you got any more planned? Cheers, iamthewalrus.

I've got six: 1) Overwater 5 string Jazz 2) Yamaha TRB5 3) Aria STB5 4) Yamaha BBN5 5) Crafter 5 string ABG 6) Jim Deacon Jazz Cheers, iamthewalrus

Another Crafter owner here (5 string ABG) - primarily use it for practicing, but I'm sure I'll gig it at least once in the future. I think it would struggle in a purely acoustic setting & the low 'B' wouldn't pop through as it's a 32" scale. Cheers, iamthewalrus

[quote name='OldG' post='334341' date='Nov 22 2008, 12:04 PM']Yup, me too..[/quote] Another one here - decided I wanted to be in a band after reading "A Beat Concerto". Never knew Bruce used a Musicman - any pics anywhere? Great YouTube video - I take it there's a DVD of it somewhere? Cheers, iamthewalrus

Technique wise, these two are pretty good: www.adamnitti.com www.studybass.com Cheers, iamthewalrus

I would go with what a few other guys on this thread have already said - get yourself a teacher who is exclusively a bass player. Not sure whereabouts you're based, but have a hunt around your local music shops in the ads there & there's a fairly good chance at least one of them will be a teacher who is a bassist first & foremost. If not, you may have to go further afield (My bass teacher lives about 20 odd miles from where I live, so it's a fair trek for a lesson or two a month but it is definitely worth it). Without trying to state the obvious, bass guitar is a different animal to it's six string compadre - I've had lessons in the past from guitar players who "also played bass" & it didn't work for me either. Cheers, iamthewalrus

I love old Jazzes - that is totally top quality, even with the Schaller bridge & the EMG's. Cheers, iamthewalrus.

I was driving home from work last night & caught the last hour of Chris Evans show on R2 & he played "You Mke Me Feel So Very Happy" by Blood, Sweat, & Tears. I was absolutely blown away by the bass playing of Jim Fielder on that track - great melodic playing which didn't get in the way of either the song, or the other instruments. I'd forgotten what a great bassist he is (according to Wikipedia, he's playing with Neil Diamond?). Definitely a player in the mould of Jamerson & Joe Osborn. Any other Jim Fielder fans here? Cheers, iamthewalrus.

[quote name='chris_b' post='302271' date='Oct 8 2008, 03:31 PM']Mmm. I'm not sure that a multi-million album selling, Grammy Award winning, world touring, stadium filling band who have become millionaires in a 35 year career really qualifies as underrated![/quote] Sorry about that...an underestimation on my part. Cheers, iamthewalrus.

I thought her first three albums were really good - managed to see her a few times in the late 80's / early 90's in London. Mike Visceglia always plays great lines that compliment her songs - another bassist who probably wouldn't make a lot of people's top 10 or even top 100 bass players. Bit of a shame that he doesn't get a lot of interviews (I don't think BGM have done one on him - have Bass Player?). memory escapes me what his website is, but there are some good interviews he's done with other players (Will Lee, Colin Moulding, Jeff Berlin & Neil Stubenhaus are the standouts). Cheers, iamthewalrus.

Another Dan fan here - I got into listening to them relatively late (last 8 years). Was very lucky to get a ticket for the Hammersmith gig last year & didn't come away disappointed as they played a lot of my favourites on the night. I rate the 2 Against Nature DVD very highly - Tom Barney & Ricky Lawson are totally in the pocket on that one! In case anyone in the South East is interested, there's a great trio called "Be Sharp" who gig in the Kent / Surrey / Essex / Hampshire / Berkshire area throughout the year who have a few SD songs in their set. Steely Dan - Very underated band (IMO). Cheers, iamthewalrus.

Welcome to the club! (From a Chelmo boy now living in Berkshire). Cheers, iamthewalrus

My first bass - a Sunburst "Craftsman" Precision copy with a Maple neck & board which I bought for £99 at Macari's in London in 1985. Was an ok starter bass but soon went onto a twin pickup Ibanez RB750 which was my first proper gigging bass about 5 months later. As far as I know, a mate of mine who was in my first band still has the P Bass. Cheers, iamthewalrus.

[quote name='tomyg' post='267163' date='Aug 21 2008, 03:54 PM']Hi, We are currently looking for a bass player to join our band based out of Dorking, Surrey. We formed at the beginning of the year but our original bassplayer had to leave because work committments unfortunately prevented him from attending reheasal on a regular basis. We tried to accomodate him but in the end he had to admit his work demanded all his time. We write and perform our own material and only occasionally do covers. The material is ecletic and reflects the influences of guys in their 40's. Ranging from rock, blues, funk acoustic ballads, etc. To be fair its good stuff and offers a bass player with some flair the opportunity to really contribute. We are two guitarist and a drummer with yours truly on vocals as well. The studio or as often cruelly referred to....'the shed' is based at my place in Dorking. It is fully equipped if compact with an 8-track digital recording facility, PA, keyboards, two mixers, numerous mics, cables, stands, brackets, effects and of course a fridge. It is heated although this isn't often required. Fan cooling is fitted as is a phone. Its relatively well soundproofed and acoustically treated. We tend to meet up on a Thursday night about 8pm and play until about 10:45pm. Subject to time/committment we intend to record a 6 track CD at in Leatherhead during Autumn and gig in the New Year. We all have families, work, mortgages and even ex-wives who keep us occupied most of the time, so when we do meet we have a laugh, a beer put the world to right but do take our music seriously and committ accordingly. If any of this sounds of interest, please give me a call to discuss further. Cheers Tom 07920 887136[/quote] Hi Tom, Thanks for the reply - much apprerciated. However, I'm not really looking to do originals as I'd gone as far as I could with that side of things when I first started out. Hope you guys find the right guy / girl for the band! Cheers, iamthewalrus.

Original post now deleted

I usually take only one - if I'm doing a party or a wedding I'll take a backup (pref. one that can switch between active & passive if the battery goes, but that's rare as I change batteries frequently). Haven't got room in the car for a spare amp, so in the case of the amp dying, it's straight into the desk. Cheers, iamthewalrus

Hiya, Thanks to everyone who's replied - there's a lot of food for thought there to say the least, so I'll do some adjusting with the amp settings on the Yamaha. I'll also see what the effect of turning the horns down does. As much as I'd love to go back to using a 15, it's a case of me having to get on with what I've got.... Cheers, iamthewalrus