uncle psychosis

[quote name='dc2009' post='1371752' date='Sep 13 2011, 01:37 PM']I notice you didn't copy the bit of my quote that pointed out directly where you were wrong and had put words in my mouth. How telling. I didn't say you said my opinion was bollocks, it was chris_b IIRC (apologies if it wasn't), but you directly referenced the 'forum etiquette' term I used in response to it, which is why I responded and pointed out why I thought it was out of line. Oh, the irony.[/quote] Oh, go on then, just for you: [quote]You clearly haven't read my posts properly, and have drawn incorrect conclusions from what I've said. I tried to justify what I said about standing the test of time, it wasn't just an insult.[/quote] Yes, you did try to justify it. But I didn't really think your justification held much water. [quote]I said I couldn't tell the difference if I heard a song of each of theirs blind, because oddly enough, I've never listened to their music of my own accord before. Is that a crime?[/quote] I don't own any At The Gates. Nor do I own any Justin Bieber album tracks. But I'm pretty sure I could tell the difference. [quote]I did not say that they are only looked on fondly because of their deaths. I did not say that. So don't put words in my mouth. I'm not at all trolling. Of course these acts were immensely popular before they died, MJ is another case in point, but their deaths have done wonders for their estates, that is a fact. It is a fact that Elvis' estate has earned more than he ever did in his lifetime. It is a fact that a collection of MJ's records reached number one in the album charts after his death.[/quote] I didn't say you were trolling. I said you came across as if you could be. There's a difference. Its also a fact that Mozart and Beethoven are massively more popular now than they were when they were alive. I don't really get your point. Nearly everyone gets a surge in popularity when they die. Thats just the way it is. [quote]Calling someone else's opinion bollocks is never necessary, so when you say no wonder I was getting such comments, [b]clearly you are someone who thinks it is acceptable to do so[/b], which I find downright rude. If you actually think that someone's opinion is bollocks and have decent, factual evidence to back up your view, why not present your case so they can read it. This is a discussion forum after all.[/quote] I did not think that. Please do not put thoughts in my head. I find [i]that[/i] downright rude. "The mark of an educated mind is being able to entertain a thought without accepting it". Understanding the reason for something happening is not the same as agreeing with what happened.

[quote name='dc2009' post='1371729' date='Sep 13 2011, 01:24 PM']You clearly haven't read my posts properly, and have drawn incorrect conclusions from what I've said.[/quote] [quote]Calling someone else's opinion bollocks is never necessary, so when you say no wonder I was getting such comments, clearly you are someone who thinks it is acceptable to do so, which I find downright rude. If you actually think that someone's opinion is bollocks and have decent, factual evidence to back up your view, why not present your case so they can read it. This is a [b]discussion[/b] forum after all.[/quote] Oh, the irony. I never said your opinion was bollocks. I just pointed out why I thought it was wrong. I'm off now, I can't be arsed [b]discussing[/b] this if you're just going to get upset when people disagree with you

[quote name='dc2009' post='1371675' date='Sep 13 2011, 12:41 PM']I definitely agree with the rose-tinted thing, and did try to allude to it in an earlier post. Not just about motown, but with Elvis or anything like that. I swear a death does oodles for how people remember music in later years, Elvis, The Beatles etc.[/quote] Oh, c'mon... The [b]fact[/b] is that Elvis and The Beatles changed music forever. They are absolutely massively important artists and would be regardless of whether or not Mark Chapman had shot Ringo instead of Lennon, or if Elvis was still alive and performing in his own tribute act in Vegas. Honestly, with your statements that Motown "hasn't stood the test of time", that you couldn't tell the difference between Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield, and now that The Beatles and Elvis are only looked on fondly because of deaths you just come across like you're trolling. No wonder you were getting some comments that breached "forum ettiquete"...

[quote name='dc2009' post='1371131' date='Sep 12 2011, 09:37 PM']I dare say I could pick out a Gaga song in the first few bars, and [b]wouldn't be able to tell Dusty Springfield or Aretha Franklin apart [/b]if I heard the two alongside each other.[/quote] I refuse to believe that anyone with ears (nevermind anyone who plays an instrument) couldn't tell the difference. Don't even get me started on your Motown comments either!!

[quote name='GarethFlatlands' post='1370576' date='Sep 12 2011, 03:36 PM']You can either make the pedal or you can't and circuit boards can't cost that much can they?[/quote] Manufacturing doesn't work like that. You need to source (and buy) parts in bulk or else costs go up massively, you need to devote time to R&D and building prototypes, you need to factor in the cost of not working on your existing products versus developing this new one, etc etc. If you're only going to sell 2 or 3 then its just not worth the effort.

The string spacing on my Yamaha TRB1005 feels about the same as it does on my Jazz bass. Haven't measured it, but it doesn't feel like a stretch...

[quote name='Phil Starr' post='1367332' date='Sep 9 2011, 09:34 AM']Uncle psychosis, that's really interesting, what sort of things did you learn and how has it helped?[/quote] So far its been mainly technique things. My left hand technique was/is pretty terrible. Learning to play `properly' has made it easier for me to play some songs, my poor technique was holding me back.

[quote name='merello' post='1363318' date='Sep 5 2011, 07:44 PM']Had a poor experience in GG Glasgow recently - looking to buy a present for someone and two of us collected the cash (remember that!) and went in, had a pluck, said, 'we'll take it!' and looked proudly at each other saying, 'well that was easy!' Sales assistant then says, I'll just serve this guy first and come back. We looked at a free assistant and asked if we could pay him and got a 'No.' (Is there some sort of omerta going on?) We looked on the bright side and had a wee browse at the untouchables down stairs. Came back up and asked, 'OK, can we buy it now?' as it lay waiting on the counter. 'Er...just be a minute!' Wandered round once more then 30 mins after our instrument had been chosen looked at the item, looked at the assistants, looked at each other and left. Went to Merchant City Music and bought a slightly more expensive item immediately, got talking to the sales assistant about guitars in general and he volunteered the chance for me to get a shot of an EC Strat and a AmDeluxe Tele. Superb! That's the 3rd time something similar has happened and they have actually lost about £950 in sales over their lack of desire to serve.[/quote] I've always found GG in Glasgow very friendly and helpful---but at the same time I can totally picture the scenario you mention. They never seem in a rush, do they! As for Merchant City Music---great shop, just a shame its so small One of the assistants in there is really helpful, one day I went in to try a POG2 and he spent about 30 minutes with me, changing the settings as I played (I asked him to) and then me changing the settings as he played. Gave me a really honest opinion on it too---when a slightly pushier attitude might have made him a sale!

[quote name='Phil Starr' post='1361908' date='Sep 4 2011, 04:55 PM']I'm not a good bass player. You probably tear your hair out when you hear people like me playing in pubs. You know the sort of thing; plays the root in time and has copied the odd bass line from the tabs, and that on a good day. I started playing as a middle aged adult from scratch 4 years ago, went straight into a band so the bassist could move on to other things and was playing pub sets of 2 hours in just over a year from playing my first notes. My learning experience has been a desperate scrabble to learn the next song for the next rehearsal and gig a week later. This means that I have seized on what works with no attempt to master theory or scales. Not that I am averse to a more thoughtful approach I just haven't had time to get off the merry-go-round. Currently I grab the chords play in the root a lot and have found the fifth, minor seventh octave and chromatic progressions are my friends. I'm just starting to play with the major and minor pentatonics. I tend to think in terms of box patterns rather than scales, so most of the time I don't even know which note I'm playing, just where they are relative to the root. I never improvise except when working on a new song and never live. I've never had a lesson in my life. So that's me. Where do I go next?[/quote] You are, effectively, me (except I have a bit of formal music training elsewhere). I recently started taking lessons and I've learned a lot---probably more in 2 or 3 hours lessons than I had in the previous year. Getting my teacher to help me sort out my technique has made playing (and therefore learning) songs easier.

[quote name='henry norton' post='1359576' date='Sep 2 2011, 10:19 AM']I've noticed some Chinese made guita#s are approaching the £1000 mark now. This at the same time as Gibson launching their new Melody Maker US built range at less than £500 (sadly no basses yet). There's no doubt the high end Chinese gear is very nicely made and designed (often by US companies) whereas the pared down Melody Makers leave allot to be desired in terms of equipment and finish. Eventually this will filter through to bass guitars so the question is would anyone here put up with sharp frets and minimal equipment just to have "Made In The USA" stamped on the back of the headstock?[/quote] A quick trawl of pretty much any US based guitar/bass forum will show you that the (massive) US market is obsessed with the idea that "American = better". I think its hard to say exactly why they think that way (personally I think a lot of it is just racism, conscious or unconscious...) but thats just the way it is.

In many ways I'm an ideal customer for shops, in other ways...not so much. I don't waste people's time. I only try if I'm genuinely interested in a purchase, if I'm not going to buy that day I say so. [b]I always ask before touching[/b] any guitars, and I'm always careful with my belt/zips/ring/watch not to scratch anything. Funnily enough, I've never experienced any appalling customer service! I'm always amazed when I read tales (and its quite often from our cousins across the pond) that start "so, I was in guitar center and I pulled the custom shop strat off the wall and was about to plug it in to the Mesa Boogie when the sales guy came running over and started hassling me...". For me, trying stuff without asking first is like going into John Lewis and going for a nap in one of the beds on show. No. Just, no. Don't do it. However, in many ways I'm not a great customer for shops because whilst I would prefer to buy guitars in person (I've bought 8 basses/guitars in the last 10 years or so and only 2 were bought sight unseen) and appreciate the service you get from a shop whilst buying an instrument, I'm not prepared to spend over the odds on small things like pedals and strings when I know I can buy them second hand or in bulk on the internet and save a packet. Combine this with not being a total gear nut that has to buy a new axe every week and I don't really spend all that much in my local shops.

[quote name='throwoff' post='1365268' date='Sep 7 2011, 01:35 PM']Where a bass is built is very ingrained into our culture as players and generally where a product is built can affect our decision to buy.[/quote] This is totally true. For myself, I don't care where a bass is made, so long as its a good instrument. However, when buying an instrument I also consider resale value when buying things these days and unfortunately a lot of the musical world is biased/prejudiced/downright racist when it comes to where instruments have come from. A sad fact of the guitar/bass world is that an American made instrument is probably going to hold its value much more than a Korean one, almost regardless of the actual quality of the instrument. There are probably exceptions out there---but until the bass/guitar playing community as a whole overcome our instinctive feelings that "American (or German, or wherever) = Better" then it'll keep happening

[quote name='bassman2790' post='1361526' date='Sep 4 2011, 09:07 AM']Traded my Midnight Blue Rickenbacker for Martthebass' 30th Anniversary Stingray yesterday. Fret slots were a little shallow making playing around the first three frets hard on the tendons but with some careful use of the nut files and a tweak of the truss rod, this bass is amazing. Almost plays itself. I should have bought a stingray years ago, would have saved me alot of GAS money [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markmojo/6111742078/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markmojo/6111742078/"]Stingray 1[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/markmojo/"]markmojo[/url], on Flickr[/quote] Wow. I'm not normally a fan of Stingray aesthetics but that one is gorgeous. They should do more in fun colours

Posted this at musicradar the other day but its probably of interest over here too: I noticed the other day that Guitar Center (massive US chain) are now shipping to the UK. Here's what they claim, based on a visit to their website: All prices in pounds sterling Duties and VAT calculated at checkout Low international shipping rates Guaranteed landed costs (no additional charges at delivery) Free shipping over $300

[quote name='Truckstop' post='1360876' date='Sep 3 2011, 12:28 PM']If getting a blue bass is a deal breaker, why not buy a regular german Streamer for £600 or so and spend £200 getting it refinished in Ocean Blue? You'll still save a few hundred quid and you get exactly what you want! Truckstop[/quote] ^^^ This. Second hand Warwick prices are stupidly low at the moment, it seems really silly to buy a new one.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1362484' date='Sep 5 2011, 12:37 AM']I realise the economy hasn't been that strong for years, but over on talkbass you see offers like '100 dollars off' even sale items, for certain holiday periods. I know it's mainly US gear, but you even see it on Markbass equipment. Why can't we have a few sales over here (and I mean decent sales)?[/quote] I think its partly a cultural thing. Loads of US companies do "crazy" sales at their major holidays---I guess its the norm over there. There's probably also a considerable supply/demand element to consider. The USA is a much, much bigger country than the UK---I guess that Boss can halve or quarter their profit margin on their pedals over a weekend and still sell enough to make a decent profit. Not sure they could do the same here. And, unlike clothes, music gear tends not to go out of fashion so theres less pressure on retailers to shift their stock, like in the January sales. It is rubbish though!

[quote name='Westie9' post='1359589' date='Sep 2 2011, 10:35 AM'] As far as I'm aware [b]it's now a straight 10% fee based on the final amount[/b], THEN your paypal fee... What bumps it up is all the little extras, reserve price, buy it now, extra pics, initial listing fee etc: Try Gumtree or even Preloved for a couple of weeks first. It's free and you can put pics on too. Bit of a pain though waiting for folks 'not' to turn up![/quote] There's a maximum fee. Can't remember what though.

I have recently come round to the "if you 'aint using it, sell it" school of thought. HOWEVER, now is a terrible time for selling gear so you might want to bear that in mind. Personally I would put a "for sale" ad up with a fixed price that you'd be happy with. If it sells, great. If it doesn't, just hang on to it. No need to give it away!

[quote name='Rasta' post='1359285' date='Sep 1 2011, 10:16 PM']Depends on the type of dub your trying to replicate and what bass your playing i guess but role your tone almost off, use your neck pick up if you have more than one and play close to the neck for a warmer tone. Flatwound strings are good or dead dirty rounds. Boost the bass on your amp, turn you mids almost off and your treble almost off...a little lo mid is good for definition - and a good speaker capable of holding the lows and particularly the cabinet.[/quote] Thanks. These days I'm mainly playing a Yamaha TRB---active humbuckers with 3 band eq. I'll try what you suggest and see how I get on. Suspect my amp will really struggle though

[quote name='Rasta' post='1355613' date='Aug 29 2011, 06:59 PM']I'm trying to replicate the sound effect at 30 sec & 55 secs. I know this is digital bass but i'm looking to get something close live with my bass guitar, what could i need to make this sound?. To date I've been using my Boss ME6B synths sounds plus a little reverb and a JD wah to make a sweepable filter sound to good effect in a separate loop on a Boss LS2. Using the LS2 allows me to maintain the normal dub bass line and just wah the synth sound in the loop, its ok and sounds good but i'm sure i could get better. Also I am thinking i would like a decent synth pedal, one that can have an expression pedal added to control the filter sweep (not sure that is the right term ), and then i can do away with my ME6B and have all my pedals on one board.... any advice ? [/quote] Can't help you out with the synthy stuff but the "normal" bass sound in the rest of that track is absolutely killer. I listen to a lot of dub and reggae but have never (until now) tried to replicate it on the bass. Any tips for getting that sort of sound? Cheers

[quote name='bassman7755' post='1358915' date='Sep 1 2011, 03:57 PM']As for the other artists you list, thanks but no thanks, none of them do anything for me and I'm not going to squander my precious time on this earth forcing myself to listen to them. I know that as a bass player I "should" be listening to Jaco as well as Geddy Lee but ... nope, leaves me cold. Simply put, listening to stuff I dont actively like (i.e. about 95% of all music) is too high a price to pay for makign me a more "original" player.[/quote] You have completely and utterly missed my point. Nevermind.

[quote name='Skol303' post='1358541' date='Sep 1 2011, 10:38 AM']Here I go, blundering into this discussion and likely to put my big, sweaty foot in something... Surely, regardless of personal situations, it's better to know how to read music than not, if you're a musician. That doesn't mean you HAVE to read music. If you're having a happier time not worrying about it, then that surely speaks for itself. But if we could take a magic pill and suddenly be fluent at sight reading then we would, no? If you're not enjoying learning to read notation; if you find it to be a chore that's taking away the fun and enjoyment from music, then stop. It's simple. But don't try justifying your decision by trying to persuade yourself (and others) that you're giving up because it's unnecessary, as that just comes across as sour grapes. If you're going to give up on something, do so in earnest, not begrudgingly. Otherwise the pangs of regret will only come back and bite you in time...[/quote] This post pretty sums up my opinions on reading music and learning theory. I get really annoyed at people (and its usually guitarists, but I imagine theres a lot of bass players like this too) who somehow think that learning to read music is a bad thing. That there's some kind of twisted universe out there where learning more about music makes you less of a musician. Its absolute madness! Back to the original post, I think the musical world would be a better place if more musicians learned to play multiple instruments and, perhaps, learned to broaden their horizons beyond the scope of their own instrument and genre. If guitarists tried to emulate John Coltrane, Yehudi Menuhin, Tori Amos, Keith Moon instead of endlessly rehashing Hendrix, Van Halen, and Clapton then the rock world would be an infinitely more interesting place!

[quote name='Doddy' post='1357592' date='Aug 31 2011, 02:48 PM']I've always found the problem with guitar to learn theory is it is too easy to rely on movable fingering patterns and chord shapes without knowing anything about what you are playing other than the shape,which is why many guitar and bass players don't know things like chord tones and scales-they can play the pattern,but they don't know what they are playing.You can't do this on a keyboard.[/quote] +1