Baloney Balderdash

Also I now connected a foot switch, to be able to switch to the 1 octave down instead, but with the same amount of blend. This gives me with the 1 octave up on my 5 string, tuned in E standard tuning, a quite natural sounding 8 (10) string, octave course, bass emulation. And with the 1 octave down, on the upper 3 strings, it gives me the lower 3 strings of a guitar in D standard tuning, but played on bass, plus a less pronounced fake 3 lower strings of a bass in D standard tuning, playing in unison with the guitar, one octave lower, but sounding a bit fake, though actually great sounding and absolutely useful effect still. The A strings is actually useful too, though the processed octave would be a whole step lower than the B of a 5 or 6 string bass in regular B standard tuning. But yes, as I already replied, 1 octave up is definitely the way to go for an approximately natural sounding 8 string, octave course, bass emulation.

What you want is a Boss LS-2 effects loops/mixer pedal.

Ok, so here's my contribution, had some issues transposing this month's image into musical ideas, hence the title, but since it is October, the Halloween-ish spin on this happens to fit well : Single track 1st take recording, played on my 28.6" scale 5 string Ibanez GSRM25 Mikro Bass, tuned to E standard tuning, recorded through my "amp-less" setup, directly into my Zoom H4n handheld recorder, only edited using a simple Wav editor.

Yes, absolutely. For that simple reason that the octave strings on an 8 string bass will have lower output than the bass strings. This way the artificial notes can be lower in the mix and sort of hide behind the real once, rather than having the artificial notes be the dominant ones. That said I am not really looking to emulate an 8 string bass, I just happen to like the tone I get from adding an octave.

Here's a sample of the Boss XS-1 used for obtaining an effect somewhat similar to that of an 8 string octave course bass, using my 28.6" scale Ibanez GSRM25 Mikto Bass, tuned to E standard tuning (E to C). Just random noodling through my "amp-less" setup, directly into my Zoom H4n handheld recorder, with nothing additionally done post recording, other than clipping/cutting some parts out:

Not my specific unit, just a random Google image of it, but I got this a couple of days ago: Absolutely amazing. I use it for my always on 1 octave up effect, to emulate an effect somewhat similar to that of an octave course 8 string bass. Much clearer and more natural sounding than the TC Electronic Sub'N'Up I used previously, even if I had that running with a custom made Toneprint, I meticulously dialed in myself, with pre and post octave engine EQ filters, specifically for my application. Obviously the XS-1 octave up still sounds somewhat artificial, but it is still a substantial improvement over the Sub'N'Up, and with the octave mix at 50% or lower it does sound completely natural. Gone are all the odd digital artifacts and occational glitches as well.

Same, but the smaller and cheaper little brother Boss XS-1. The demos I've watched sound very promising, and it should be able to do a better job then the TC Electronic Sub'N'Up Mini I use currently to emulated an octave course 8 string bass -esque effect. Am really looking forward to trying it out. I should have it by Tuesday.

That's what she said...

Almost forgot how absolutely amazingly magical Portishead are, this had me cry:

I don't think it is fair to compare a Fela Kuti to a swastica t-shirt. Also if you can't relate to the song's lyrics, don't play it. This goes as far as I am concerned for everything. You are not going to do a song justice if you can't relate to it. And if all it is to you is a nice tune, maybe you are right that it would be disrespectful to play it. I would hope though that most people can empathize with other people's suffering no matter what color their skin happens to be and no matter where they happen to live.

"Hvide Mænd Spiller Afrobeat" (White Men Play Afrobeat) by the Danish band "Smag På Dig Selv" (Taste Yourself)

Yeah, definitely do not copy the accent and appearance, that would be pretty seriously cringe, and border parody. As always with covers, respect the original material, by doing it your way!

Quite on the contrary, music is an universal language, and I would call it a racist decision if fear of cultural-appropriation is the reason not to play it. But then again I am not a zealot woke, you'll have to ask one of them how it is even supposed to make sense. I am almost certain that Fela Kuti would be really happy about a British white person playing his music. Culture is if any just a social construct, break down some barriers!

Boss ME-90B

That seems rather extensive, a business card seems much more like it, should be a fraction of a millimeter.

Something is completely off here, you don't adjust string tension by adjusting the truss rod, neither do you adjust string action by turning the truss rod. And what is a credit card supposed to test in relation to truss rod adjustment? Try read or watch one of the many excellent setup guides you can find with a simple search on the internet. For now leave that truss rod alone! In fact don't touch your bass until you have read or watched a full guide thoroughly, and made sure you understand every aspect of it.

Just got the ESP/LTD B4JR bass in the door that I bought used Friday yesterday. It's a just 28.5" scale length short scale, with a Basswood body, and a Maple neck with Rosewood fretboard. And after a thorough setup, and having the stock pickups, which honestly sounded decent enough, for an EMG Geezer P pickup, it sounds non less than amazing. Really nice tone, both finger plucked and using a pick, and the sustain is pretty substantial too. Even the low E sounds great, despite the short scale length. It's also very light, the body being made of Basswood, which does make it prone to neck dive, but nothing a wide grapy strap can't solve. Now the bad things, when I got it it had one of the most horrible setups I ever saw, and with loose input jack socket, that was easily fixed though, however the nut slots are cut way too high, and it got some pretty sharp fret ends, that you can literally cut your hand on if you are not careful, and will probably have fixed that too at some point by a proper luthier. The thin U shaped neck will also take some getting used to, it is not exactly beefy, but it kind of feels that way, because the neck profile is so round. The frets are not perfectly leveled leveled, but still well enough that I can get it to my preferred string action (about 2mm (~5/64") low E string at 12th fret) without any issues or string buzz whatsoever. Truss rod works as it is supposed to, and neck seems stable. Tuners are not the best, but they work just fine. Here it is (excuse me for my old crappy digital camera): I got it for what equals about 30£, a deal I could simply not pass.

What's up with that?

I am really happy with my Ibanez Mikro Basses. And the GSRM20B model in Weathered Black finish even look pretty damn amazing: 28.6" scale length, and fits perfectly in a regular guitar gig bag. Current production models features an Okoume body, Maple neck and Purpleheart fretboard. Swap the stock pickups out with a P/J pair of EMG Geezer Butler or DiMarzio Model P/Model J, according to preferences and taste, and you are golden.

Does it do odd meters/time signatures? As intriguing and brilliant gadget it is, if not I have no use for it.

(Edit!!! I actually made 2 versions out of this, and changed my mind, so I swapped the song to enter this challenge for the other version, which is "They Called Him Stewart Stardust I" ) Please !!! IGNORE !!! this : Well, I can't seem to be able to delete the original track that I posted no matter what I do, but this is actually the one I want to enter the competition with (Edit 2 : Well, I ended up changing the address on SoundCloud for the track, but that solution didn't work at first for some odd reason, seems to work now, so these two posted tracks are actually the same anyway, I apologize for the confusion and the spam): "An alternate take of an ending scene for a fictive sci-fi western movie"... Solo bass, single track, 2nd take, improvisation, played on my 28.6" scale 4 string Ibanez GSRM20B Mikro Bass, converted to sort of a 4 string baritone slide guitar, tuned in an open B tuning, recorded through my "amp-less" setup directly into my Zoom H4n handheld recorder, and only edited through a simple Wav editor.

Here it is (you'll have to excuse my lousy old digital camera): And I love it! But not unconditionally. First of all it weights about a ton, being solid Maple, so after about half an hour of play my back starts to ache. Heavier than any of my basses, even my full scale Ash body one. Also I really don't like the bridge Seymour Duncan JB pickup, it sounds ok in single coil mode in conduction with the neck Seymour Duncan '59 pickup, and the neck pickup sounds ok soloed as well. But I am no doubt going to replace the pickups at some point, for a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, as this guitar was originally equipped with from stock, and then for the neck a Seymour Duncan SH-2 Jazz pickup. Also being used to playing bass for a long while I really struggle with the narrow string spacing, and have to mind my fingers constantly, also the thin strings got a tendency to carve into my fingers, so actually much harder physically to play for me than my bass. But I take some practice will help. Otherwise I absolutely love it, and is definitely pleased with the buy.

Order cancelled, as I found a guitar I really regret selling years back on the used market. A Westbury Deluxe, made on the legendary Matsumoko factory in Japan, sometime in the early 80's, and pretty rare find on the used market. My favorite guitar ever. It does not have the original Di'Marzio pickups, which is a bit of a shame, but still some decent Seymour Duncan ones. This is the beauty:

I have just ordered this beauty from Thomann: Bought from money I got from the Boss GT-1000CORE I just sold. Top: Spruce Back and sides: Sapele Bolt-on neck: Okoume Fingerboard: Purpleheart It's an Ibanez TCY621-BOT. I don't own a proper guitar and no Western guitar at all, but always loved the sound of the latter, and is a big fan of folk music. And listening to demos it sounds great, despite its smaller body, and the pickup sounds great as well. Should have it Thursday or Friday. Will post an update when I get it.