leschirons

Who's looking at the bass?

"Signature" strings. What the f***'s that about? And people who use the words "Custom built" when they're trying to sell a heap of crap on Ebay that no-one's heard of.

Gimme about another 30 mins and I'll have cracked "I wish" (Stevie Wonder)

Hi, don't need to try one as I live in France now but just for interest, here's a point of view. I borrowed a Musicmaster some time ago while a mate was away for a month. Although I'd only been used to regular scale instruments, I decided to gig it one night for a laugh. Although a bit short in the tone department, I was amazed at how less generally tired I was after playing it all night. It wasn't the weight, it was the fact that there was just no effort in using it and found that I wanted to play it more and more. Yes, it would look daft strapped on Anthony Jackson but I think you're onto a winner if you can crack the issue of a good usable sound which nowadays should not prove too much of a problem with available electronics. I think there is a market for this product and not just for youngsters with small mits.

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='367496' date='Jan 1 2009, 01:00 AM']TO ALL FELLOW LOW ENDERS! LETS HAVE A BASSMUNGUS 2009!!!! Best Regards! Nick[/quote] Happy new year to you too mate. I left school 41 years ago. Just off to slash my wrists.

Do yourself a favour, put it on French Ebay using the built in translation programme, or even just in English. Most players here speak English. Put a starting price of what you'd really like for it (say £1200) It's just Ebay.fr Status basses go for about 40% more here than in the UK. I've seen Energy series basses go for €1,000 on French sites and with the current exchange rate, you could have a serious result. The delivery is no problem if you use a good courier service and they all use Paypal here so no probs getting your dosh. If it doesn't sell, it's only cost you a couple of pounds.

At this time of year and in the current climate, you would be able to pick up a bog standard Fender Jazz 5 (USA) for about your budget. I was in a busy function band in the UK doing loads of Soul, Disco, R&B etc and to be honest, that bass did everything you'd ever need for that sort of stuff. I really regret selling it. Tough as old boots. Bit floppy on the low B but you can string the B to the "E" machine head and vice-versa (although I had to turn one machine the wrong way) It really solves the problem with the extra length. Check one out.

Incognito, superb. been trying to nail "Colibri" from Tribes,Vibes & Scribes for about 50 years now. Got the notes, got the speed, got the groove. Just can't seem to keep it going for what feels like 20 minutes. Ha ha.

I saw a TV live show of CK a couple of years back and Nathan East was on bass duties.

Out. Eden WT500 Eden 4X10 Fender Jazz fretless Epiphone Riviera Ibanez Jem 555 84 Fender Esprit Elite Fender Roscoe Beck 5 Pearl Maple Piccolo snare Pr Avedis hi-hats Studiomaster 16 desk Pr Carlsboro powered monitors Digitech RP12 effects €500 import duty for the f***ing customs dept In Markbass 3x10H combo F bass BN5 Yeah, I know, but I had to have it.

Other, F Bass

[quote name='jake_tenfloors' post='359816' date='Dec 20 2008, 08:29 PM']Maybe he means this?? [/quote] Or this

Being an ex Essex lad, I went to the Iceni works (his shed at the time) a few times. He did a pick-up refit on a Jazz and some fret work on an Alembic for me. I tried 3 of his basses and had I not been up to my eyeballs in basses already, probably would have bought one. they were fantastic value for money, had a great feel and were really nicely finished.

When I started playing, I had lessons from Henry Thomas (rock school on the TV) That was always at his house all those years ago.

Great work, having read it, it looks like the theme to ON THE BUSES.

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='360165' date='Dec 21 2008, 01:29 PM']maybe they are money laundering fronts for organised crime? [/quote] For 90% of the music shops I knew in the UK, selling musical instruments WAS organised crime. I went to one place that "used" to be in Wapping high street and like another BC'er was treated to some dickhead flashing off his repetoire at me before he'd let me touch the bass I wanted to try. I was in two bands at the time and he wasn't in any. Say it all. Bad stock levels and slightly dearer prices could even be overlooked if staff treated you properly and understood who the customer was. It goes a long way with me.

[quote name='Golchen' post='354526' date='Dec 14 2008, 09:14 PM']Hi, I'm also in Luton! I'm a failed bassist, guitarist, keyboard, chapman stick and drum player. If I could just define failed, I don't play with other people and I've never played live, which is pretty sad when you are 45![/quote] Nothing to be ashamed about except the "come from Luton bit"

Less juvenile?? One of my last replies was about remembering Spangles, but welcome aboard anyway.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='246536' date='Jul 24 2008, 12:25 AM']There is merit in that argument and he obviously feels strongly enough to voice his opinions very publicly, I think his means, ie employing personal attack display intolerance and arrogance. Sadly for him I think that comes through in his playing/music making it for me appreciable but barely enjoyable. Victor Wooten by contrast seems quite humble and sounds as such. I don't enjoy everything that he does but he does have a phenomenal trance like groove that I find utterly irresistible.[/quote] I've seen Victor Wooten 3 times now and in all cases (apart from him being a superb musician) is the fact that he has fun, enjoys what he does, and appears to feel privaliged that he there doing what he loves. In contrast, Jeff Berlin always looks like he has an axe to grind and thinks he deserves respect simply because he's a good player that's been around a long time. He's not for me as I don't really feel he has a great composing ability but that's just my opinion. Now, Brian Bromberg, that's a different kettle of fish. He's up there.

Here's one to get you all going about weird guitarist stories. Some years back I depped on drums for a few mates who had a pub gig. I knew all the other band members and had been playing bass with the guitarist in a previous band. SH*T hot he was. Knowing that I'd be asked to do some BVs I took a head set radio mic with me as a boom stand and drumming doesn't really work for me. Bearing in mind that in the previous band, we were covering everything from Larry Carlton, Steely Dan, Focus, to Toto etc, I had no worries about the guitarist. The pub filled up and three numbers in, we got a request for Red house which I would have to sing so, turned on the mic. The guitarist asks what key? I say A as that's where I can sing it okay. He says, "I don't know it" I say "It's an easy one, just jam it" (Hence, all in together with no intro) We get to the solo and he looks at me and says "I don't know the break" I mouth (quietly) "i-m-p-r-o-v-i-s-e He says "But how does the break actually go?" I shout out through 800 watts, (forgetting about the mic) IT'S A FU**ING 12 bar you WAN*ER Pub went very quiet. We spoke about this after the gig and it turns out he can learn anything really hard, really easily, with tab or even music notation, but can't jam to a slow 12 bar in A WEIRD, maybe that's why he's a guitarist.

To me, it read like "I was going to buy this bass and then the seller backed out" If that was the case, then yes, it is frustrating but not really the end of the world. If it was just a general gripe (now having read the poster's 2nd post) then that's his perogative to post his view. It is a democracy after all. Re putting feelers out. I am a new member here but have noticed that most members doing this tend to put "feeler" or "toe in the water" in their header. I still look at the advert because I like to look at basses but I'm under no illusion that it's definately up for sale. There are probably just as many that start purchse proceedings and then realise they shouldn't really be spending out on another instrument and back out so it's a two-way street. Simple really, if someone is putting feelers out, then put that in the header. Anyone who doesn't want to view the ad, doesn't have to. Sorted.

[quote name='Absolute-beginner' post='356491' date='Dec 16 2008, 11:56 PM']I hear what youre all saying, but I just dont know enough to play in a band right now. My knowledge is pretty limited. Matt[/quote] All depends on what music you like as to whether you know enough or not. Example 1. Red house by Jimi Hendrix. You can get away with 3 notes Example 2. All the small things by Greenday. You can get away with another 3 notes. (the same 3 if you play them both in the same key) Example 3. Achey breakey heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. 2 notes if you want. Three very different genres of music but equally easy. I imagine you're not into Blues or Country but it's just an example. I think confidence is your only problem. You need to get out there with a few mates and play. There's no substitute for playing with others. Find others that you feel are of the same level as yourself. Pick 3 or 4 numbers and go for it. Everyone cocks up now and then. I've even seen Gary Moore lose it in a solo because he didn't have his mind on the job in hand.

Worth putting the work in and moving on to a 5. I' can't see the benefit of a high C unless you solo a lot so have stayed away from 6's butI reckon a 5 does the job for anything. "If you could only have one bass" etc etc. The low B is so useful but as pointed out before, not as a thumb rest. I sit on the corner of the bridge pick up so don't need to move off a string to play it.

[quote name='chris_b' post='355514' date='Dec 16 2008, 12:48 AM']This was a long time ago, but, did anyone go to the Burns music shop (the guitar and amp maker) which was under Centre Point? I played my very first bass through an amp in that shop!!! It was a Rickenbacker. They had individual booths to try out the gear and all the assistants wore ties![/quote] Burns, as you said, under Centre Point was where I saw my first "star" in the flesh. I was in there with my brother who was our guitarist, and, out of the Rolls Royce stepped Bruce Welch and Olivier Newton John, with a guitar case. He was dropping it off for Hank Marvin for some repair work. I wasn't in awe of stars but couldn't take my eyes off Olivier Newton John. She was seriously fit. That was 40 years ago when I was 16. I used to go every Saturday on the central line to Tottenham Court Rd and do the lot. In fact, my brother bought his first "real" guitar from Pan's music. A Grimshaw SG. Bet he wished he'd kept that one. And, I remember the famous "Orange" double drum kit appearing in the front window of the Orange shop in Denmark Street. Cool days, aaahhhh. Nostalgia.

I do not consider myself to be a gear snob in any way although I've tended to not bother with small, cheap, plastic multi-effects units as I always considered (wrongly) they were sort of the add-on to the first Christmas bass or guitar. The other day, I picked up a Zoom 607 for £15.00 s/hand (with PSU) to enable me to practice with headphones rather than go out in the cold to my liitle room, fire up the rig, take a coffee over there etc etc. Well, I have to admit I was wrong. I use what most would call good gear and always thought that stuff like this would never add anything to my sound. WRONG. I've found 6 great patches that needed no editing at all and stored them on the first bank. No amount of twiddling on my rig or bass can destroy the superb compressed slap sounds, the fake fretless sounds and the really cool Bernard Edwards type of groove sound. At £15, it's a great little thing. If you see one cheap, grap it. You'd pay that for the tuner alone and it allows me to not disturb the the wife and Coronation Street. Sorry Mr Zoom, I was wrong.