chris_b

So the design concept for the NXT cabs is to move to warmer more musical sounding drivers. Does it work? What do you think of the NXT212 sound?

If you're keeping the amp then all you need is a cab. Combo's are limiting if you want to upgrade either the amp or cab. If you like the sound so much, replace the STD 102HF cab with another. IMO it sounds better (bigger and fuller range) than the equivalent Traveller cab. I use Barefaced and would recommend them to anyone, but you've got to listen to a few different cabs before you chose.

By doing it a lot. Like anything, the more you do it the more you'll improve. Always start with the original bass line on the record. This isn't about you being original, it's about you understanding the relationship between notes. It's easier to start with an existing bass line that you can replay as many times as you need. Listen carefully. Start with songs you like and know then move on. Notice how the notes follow each other. Notes are either higher, lower or the same as the last note. First you'll start to hear the direction of flow and the patterns(12 bar, pachelbel, 1,2,5 etc), then you'll start to hear the intervals, then you'll anticipate the notes and be playing on the hoof.

That's exactly what I did until heavy cabs wrecked my back. These days I have to buy on weight first then sound. Fortunately I have a lot of choice. If I had to use 90lb cabs, like the ones that caused my problems, then I'd have stopped gigging 15 years ago. The price is what it is, but my light cabs have all been in the top tier for tone.

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Relic is just a finish. That's all. Same as sunburst, black or pink sparkle.

The backing vocals are an integral part of the song. The guys had moves to enhance the show. What are you going to do, make hit records and travel the world in style or work on the Ford production line?

Same reason I'm a bass player. Making the song and band work as a musical entertainment.

I've owned a Precision bass since March 1969. I only stopped playing it when I moved to 5 strings. After a 10 year gap playing Wals and Laklands, I bought my Mike Lull PJ5. Now that is the best P bass I've picked up so far.

Just give me that EV 410. . . . . . . . . . and a bloke to carry it!

Many years ago Bell Musical Instruments used to be up the hill towards Tolworth. That's where Clapton bought his first electric guitar. https://www.broadwayguitars.co.uk/bell-musical-instruments

Graham White was the manager at Hands for awhile. Lovely guy and great guitarist.

Great bass lines? Green Onions, Sex Machine. Mustang Sally, My Cherie Amour, the list is endless.

6 pages of largely negative posts. Which I largely agree with, but I think you're all pointing out examples of bad choices and bad bass playing. It's not the technique's fault that people don't use it with good sense and taste.

Lee Sklar, 12 minutes of solid gold sense.

Yep. Thankfully we don't get yodelling in songs anymore or "funny" noises from the sounds department or whimsical ditties from ageing comedians. We can choose which music we listen to these days and we never have to listen to "drivel". Back in the day, if you wanted to hear the latest Joe Cocker song you had to sit through children's choirs, brass bands and singing nuns. It was no fun being discerning a music fan back then. You needed to be patient and long suffering to get to the few gems that were broadcast.

It doesn't matter what incredible bass you hear Bobby Vega playing, you'll never sound like him. If you spent your time up until today liking the sound you got then you haven't missed out on anything. Always buy the best bass you can afford. The one that sounds right. Then, try to play like your heroes, but never try to sound exactly like them. You never will.

I'm afraid the Sinefeld stuff is played on a DX7.

Wow. I played in 3 different bands with Simon and never saw him with a tash before!!

I don't associate slap as being solely a Funk style. I see slap being used in many other genres and most of the Funk I listen to is finger style.

Some of my favourite musicians are probably awful and contemptible people. If they make good music I just listen to them and ignore the rest.

Good slap is a valid and effective technique. Bad slap is "circus bass", just pointless tricks and noises. So good slap works in the context of the song. Bad slap is usually someone showing how clever they are in a solo. My first attempt at slap came when I first heard Thank You by Sly and the Family Stone. I have to admit, my efforts since have been pretty half hearted. I haven't had much incentive, I've never been asked to slap in any band and none of the bass players in the other bands I see use slap. One singer even thanked me for not slapping! Slap (tapping, chords and harmonics) are totally missing in the musical world I inhabit. Two months ago I had such high hope for my technical improvement during lock down, and all I've done is play stuff I know. Maybe I should get the Jazz out and start learning "good" slap.

I used to buy my strings from Squires!

If you like the sound of the Orange AD200 get it. The fact it hasn't a built in DI is not a problem. If you really need the DI get one of those too.

Bartolini pickups are worth investigating, as are Lindy Fralin and Nordstrand NJFS pickups.