EssentialTension

Day job all day and then some household chores. Then practised for about an hour. Then my son, who's really a guitarist/banjoist but dabbles with bass at home but had done a three hour first rehearsal as bassist last night with a new band. He was showing me his blisters. I laughed.

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1348501369' post='1814411'] Doesn't it depend on how you're sitting? [/quote] Not if you know how to sit properly.

[quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1348476512' post='1813909'] I had the great fortune to have toured with The Beach Boys in 1991 along with The Allman Brothers. Probably one of the highlights of my career... apart from an embarrassing incident with Bruce Johnston that still makes me cringe to this day. 'God only knows' gotta be one of the greatest 3 minute songs ever recorded! Great stuff! [/quote] Now you know we want the Bruce Johnston story after that teaser. ... and +1 on 'God Only Knows'.

What is your location?

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1348430150' post='1813578'] Yep, that's a great watch and very interesting to listen to. Maestro Bernstein looks like something out of a Mafioso film. Garry [/quote] I also liked how it turns out Lenny is a better composer than singer.

[quote name='shizznit' timestamp='1347176151' post='1797592'] Passive basses do sound fantastic through these amps. [/quote] I wouldn't argue with that but I've used an active bass too through Ashdown with lovely results. [quote name='shizznit' timestamp='1347176151' post='1797592'] If you are looking for a big trouser shaking tone then you can't go wrong with an Ashdown. [/quote] Again, I wouldn't argue but if, like me, you were looking for a non trouser shaking tone then Ashdown can do that too.

[quote name='phil.i.stein' timestamp='1343080993' post='1745093'] wait 'til you start using three fingers (on the bass.. ) now that is a bitch to master. [/quote] That is never going to happen. I don't even need two most of the time.

I often use index and middle fingers but, even with my nails cut extremely short, the nail on my middle finger catches the string very slightly while the nail on my index doesn't. I don't believe anyone else has ever noticed my very slight difference in tone but I don't like it. So, whenever I can, I play with index finger only. I don't think it's that unusual.

American TV Documentary from 1967 in which Lenny Bernstein explain and illustrates why some music of the sixties pop revolution is not to be sneered at. Very poor quality but I found it fascinating - perhaps you will too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afU76JJcquI

Excellent stuff, not seen either of those before.

These do look nice but I think I'd probably go for the cheaper semi-hollow Casady over the chambered Midtown.

I used to have an Aria with a brass nut. I don't think it made any difference and I can't see how it could make a difference once you are fretting a note. What matters with a nut is that it is cut well.

Putting a string on shouldn't be breaking the tuning peg. I don't know much about Ibanezes but BTBs are 35" five or six string aren't they? Did the bottom B string wind OK without breaking?

[quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1348328307' post='1812403'] ...I'd sell my granny to get this... [/quote] Forum rules say you need to state a price.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1348273569' post='1811892'] I keep mine at pretty much the same height standing as when I'm sitting ... [/quote] That's it.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1348173285' post='1810516'] It really is amazing how many people simply don`t regard the bass as being a vital part of the band. At a gig I played, I was chatting to a mate, and her friend asked if I was in the band. When I said yes, she asked what I played, I told her I played the bass, and her reply was "Oh that`s not as important as the others, is it?" I could have tried to advise her of how important the bass is, but it`s difficult enough with other musicians who don`t play bass, so where was the point? I just feel content in the knowledge she obviously thought I was in the band for my looks. [/quote] I was at a party chatting to some woman. I happened to mention that I was a bassist. She said 'Oh, you don't look tall enough to be a bassist'. (I'm 5' 10", not that it's of any relevance.)

What is the body wood going to be? Bass Doc, IIRC, reckons the originals were tulip wood.

[quote name='Themrperson' timestamp='1348171557' post='1810478'] ... I don't like with people saying "You play bass because you couldn't play guitar" or "Anyone can play the bass" ... [/quote] Not anyone can play bass, I'm still struggling to play it myself.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1348173068' post='1810512'] ... As for people who think that bass is easy....when I hear that ... [/quote] I offer them a go on the unlined fretless.

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1348153649' post='1810108'] actually that just made me ponder..... we often hear of peeps putting P necks on the J body but ive never seen a J neck on a P body unless of course anybody knows different .... [/quote]

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1332171352' post='1584220'] There was also a huge manufacturer called Mapes (or similar) who made them for lots of companies, but never had their own brand. Not sure if they still exist, but I'm sure Google will tell us..... [/quote] According to their website Mapes make piano strings but also supply specialist wire for the manufacture of guitar strings to Gibson, Fender, D'Addario, SIT, DR, Ernie Ball, GHS, and several others - [url="http://www.mapeswire.com/specialtywire.html"]http://www.mapeswire.com/specialtywire.html[/url]

There's either a lot of people pretending to have string factories or, much more likely, there are a lot of string factories. I've also seen pictures from the Thomastik, the Pyramid and the Martin factories.

Fender factory, Mexico:

A day at the GHS factory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoEKdH7qR74

... and Rotosound factory: