spongebob

Thanks everybody. I must say I am pretty intimidated by the idea......but I'll obviously do my best and see how we go. It started as as a 'yeah, or course...' and has ended up in 'oh ****'!!!

I've always been a good instinctive player....I've played a little jazz in the past....tend to just gain the basic note structure and kind of fill in the gaps....!

I've been making some inroads with a singer who currently performs swing sets (Darin/Sinatra/Monroe) etc. with backing tracks. He wants to do it with a small set-up pretty soon - bass, piano, maybe guitar. I've gone headlong into this - love a challenge and a chance to widen my repertoire - but I don't know the stuff to well. Any advice on playing in this style? I don't read music and never use tab....I always play by ear. However, some of the changes are quite hard to make out - does anyone know of any sites with easy transcriptions of some tracks? Just the key parts and I can fill the rest in myself! I may be mad, but at least it'll keep me busy as my 'main' band fell apart today!

I think you've got to pretty much give the people what they want. However, I reckon that some songs/artists are untouchable. Stuff that is so individual from the off, that any attempt to cover will end in disaster! I love The Fall and Beefheart.....two cases in point. If I saw any band trying either I salute their bravery! I used to own a Fall covers album purchased through the old (now gone) fanzine, The Biggest Library Yet. 2 sides of bands trying every aspect of Fall-dom. Pity was, it was all terrible. Don't know how MES knocks his bands into shape, but he does it amazingly well. Incidentally, the current Fall line-up is superb, for me their best since Steve Hanley left. Saw them in November, and MES still has it in spades.

I did a post on The Stranglers recently, about their newer stuff which I've not heard (a bit scared of after their 80's output after La Folie). Picked up Suite XVI, their last studio album. It's actually pretty good, far better than I expected. There's some great JJ vocals, and a great bass tone throughout. Let's also not forget that the band are also responsible for the best ever cover version, 'Walk On By'. You can also now get their '77 Peel Sessions and some live stuff from the early years on download from Amazon/Play etc. Super Stuff! I love their album tracks - Genetix, Ain't Nothin' To It, Sweden....so much to choose from. And has anyone ever looked cooler playing a P? Hell, his tone has even made me play one!

Still looking.........! Even on the local sites at the mo it's very quiet. Bad time of year!

First Bass - Sunn Mustang Precision 'Go To' Bass - Rickenbacker 4003 'Your' Bass - Rickenbacker 4003

"Marco, Merrick, Terry Lee....Gary Tibbs & Yours Truly" The genius of Ant Rrap.......!!

My first ever bass was a Sunn Mustang P-bass copy. Looked bad, played even worse, and was the weight of a small horse. Being my first, I didn't know how bad it was until I bought another bass.....I thought it was normal! I remember a friend having it passed to him at the time - he was sitting on a bed - I passed it over - the weight caught him umprepared and it sent him (and the bass) flying backwards!

I love the Roxy stuff up to their break in '75, not so keen on the 3 later records...but there were some good tracks - like SOS. Just don't get me started on Ferry and that son of his.......

I just use mine as they are!

I bought a CV-P at the start of the year, after reading glowing reports on numerous sites (including some some good info from Mr. Wazoo above!) I've owned a couple of other P's in the past, but loving my Ric, never thought I'd have another. Big mistake! Compared to all others I've played, I love it. Forget the headstock - I've found a P bass that feels great and sounds superb. Love it so much I bought a CV Jazz a couple of weeks back. Equally amazed. I used to have a Geddy Jazz, and TBH, I actually prefer the CV. I think in the colours available, they actually look better than anything a normal Fender can offer. I'm proud to play it, and tell people it cost about 1/6 of a Ric! Don't know how they do it, but to me, the basses do seem to have a vibe of their own, feel very playable and comfy out of the box. Yes, they have gone up, but they are still cheaper than the MIM's and others. Not saying they are for everyone, but they seem to be selling in huge quantities worldwide. I WILL resist the 50's P........!!

I love my Squiers because they are Squiers.......because they're not Fenders! If it is what it is, appreciate it for what it is.

Classic Vibe.....!!!

Going through the same thing myself at the mo. Band splintered last year, leaving me and the guitarist. I worked my bits off getting new people in, even 2 replacement drummers. Only one to book any gigs has been me! I got us in the paper, on the radio, really put the effort in. Now we're at the stage when we are regularly being referred to as the guitarists 'group', even though their effort has been nil! We had a big band meeting a few months back - the drummer, who I don't really care for, made a point of taking minutes (!) - trouble is, everything that was decided, they all ignored! I could go on all day, we've all been throught this. Currently getting ready to advertise to get something new on the go - just want reliable people! Worse thing is, our guitarist is unemployed....but gets up everyday about 3pm, and then complains that by that time it's too late to ring any venues.....! I ad to cancel gigs before when I booked them (all were free), only to be told 'oh yeah...can't do that after all....'GRRRRR!!!

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='1116377' date='Feb 5 2011, 11:41 AM']and people from Scotland cant play hot soul/funk??? Is that because we all wait to chase a passing haggis or wait for electricity to get here!!![/quote] LOL! I've just never heard any band from outside the US play that stuff like it should be played. In fact, I would rate AWB above many US acts of that genre. They certainly nailed the funk, and totally had the soul as well. BTW, let me know when you eventually get the electric on and I might pop back up!

+1. I bought the Fiesta Red CV-P about a month ago, and have since added the CV 60's Jazz to my basses. Did sell another bass in the meantime, though. Both are amazing. I bought the P as a back-up bass to my Ric, one to drag around and take the strain. However, it has far succeeded my expectations.....these are seriously good basses. I thought before I bought it that I'd be a bit of a snob about the headstock. Not at all. I'm totally proud to say I'm playing a Squier, and it costs less than £300. I originally looked at the Highway 1 Precision. Now I've got a cracking Precision and a cracking Jazz for less than the price of one H1....result!

They re-issued their albums a couple of years back, really nicely packaged. I'd never heard them all properly (only previously had a compilation as the albums were out of print). Snapped them all up, really love them. Hard to believe they came from Scotland - to my ears they were (are) one seriously hot soul/funk outfit. Fully intend to catch them next time around.

[b][u]In - [/u][/b] Squier CV 60's Precision Squier CV 60's Jazz (last week!) [b][u]Out - [/u][/b] 2010 Rickenbacker 4003 Mapleglow Never going anywhere - my beloved Jetglow 4003! I think 3 is enough for now......

Watched it yesterday, and I loved it. Great insight into a great man. What a change to actually see a band that actually mean it, and live to do what they love. I really want to catch them next tour...I've been a fan for 20+ years, but haven't caught them live sine Wurzel left. I really think Lemmy's right when he says the current line-up is their best. Live footage makes them seem like a powerhouse! I'd really go get the new album, 'The World Is Yours' sharpish. It's fantastic!

I've had my Classic Vibe Precision for a few weeks now, and it plays lovely. However, I'm sure the action has got a little higher around the 12th fret than before. It's really low at the other end of the fretboard, but I'm sure has gone up a bit around the 12th! Whole thing seems a bit more rigid too, but I'm not sure if just imagining that! Question is, does this sound like a tension issue? Something that a small turn of the truss rod would cure? Trouble is, I've never touched a truss rod in my life, and the whole thing fills me with dread....is it a quick fix even I could do? Or will it throw out the complete set-up, as I go off crying to my local luthier with a blank cheque???

I've owned 4 4003's over the years, so I do like them quite a bit! However, they don't all play the same. They vary a lot in feel and neck shape (especially around the first fret). Get one you like and you'll love it. Get one your 50/50 on, and it'll hit you every time you pick it up. Both in feel, and the £1500+ you've spent on it! I have one now - a Jetglow 2009. It's by far the best I've played - but both pickups have needed a re-wire. I recently sold a 2010 which felt soooo different, I really couldn't get on with it. Also, the QC. In my 4003 experience, this is extremely variable. As I mentioned, pickup problems in my bass. The 2010 had issues with the bridge saddles (there was something about this on Rickresource). As much as I love Rics, you'd have thought after 40+ years making the 4001/03 they'd be able to produce them properly by now! Do your research (try Rickresource....but beware....very, very censored if you even mention anything anti-Ric), try as many as you can (easier said then done), and then part with the cash. Or just stick with what you've got. I use mine now for recording, rehearsal and the odd gig. I use the Squier CV everywhere else. Got a bit fed up of protecting a (on today's prices) £1700+ bass from spilled pints. But it is my pride and joy. I've found one that's a keeper for me. Hope this helps!

Got it today. That's Sunday PM sorted after a few cold ones.......! There's a 2nd disc with 200+ minutes of extras....think I'll do that in a separate setting!

Reasons I bought a P - Steve Hanley (ex-The Fall, now The Lovers) .....and of course JJ Burnel!