EssentialTension

[quote name='Wolverinebass' post='968980' date='Sep 26 2010, 11:13 PM']... but when note choice and freedom of expression starts getting taken away from you, that's what I mean by being dictated to ...[/quote] But when you work with a band, especially at an audition, note choice and freedom of expression are always taken away from you at least in the sense of your freedom being limited - by the song and its needs, by the arrangement, by the very fact that you are working with others. Music is a cooperative activity even when there is a leader/musical director, even when there are written parts. The one band I played with where the songwriter had written out all the parts in notation - and I'm a very slow reader - was the band where I learned the most.

It looks good, I've got the same pickups (although in humbucker cases) in my Decade. They are very nice and very sensitive pickups.

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='966062' date='Sep 23 2010, 08:39 PM']Precision in the traditional place with a passive tone/volume.[/quote] That will do nicely.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='966064' date='Sep 23 2010, 08:41 PM']"just think, when do you ever solo the neck pickup on a jazz bass?".[/quote] Almost always.

[quote name='lanark' post='966701' date='Sep 24 2010, 02:00 PM']Cool - the extra cost might well be worth it. Are their black tape ones good for that too?[/quote] The extra cost of some flats is an incentive to stick with them until they are dead. I like the Pyramid black nylons too but I think there is quite a lot of personal taste in this matter and I'd be dubious about getting you to spend £40 on my say so. With any string there's a risk you won't like them. Maybe you could offer the Chromes up for trade for a set of used Pyramids (or any other flat).

[quote name='lanark' post='966699' date='Sep 24 2010, 01:59 PM']Yeah, but only so far (and I get DId straight into the PA when gigging - so I can't tune it out with the amp). Besides - you don't get flats to use the tone knob to reduce the brightness (unless you have a fretless, I suppose).[/quote] Well, I'd probably roll the treble off even with flats. I agree that Chromes can be relatively clanky (for flats) but also playing with right hand nearer the fingerboard can help as can playing more lightly.

[quote name='lanark' post='966665' date='Sep 24 2010, 01:36 PM']Can anyone recommend flats that have that duyll mellow sound from the mooment they're put on? I've to switch a set of brand new Chromes that were put (by the shop) onto my new CV Jazz because they were too clanky - especially when pressing down (I don't want a ting when pressing against the fret). Funnily enough, I don't remember my first set of Chromes being this bad - but the memory is a funny old thing. So --- when I get another set of flats, what would you recommend that don't need several weeks worth of wearing in? EDIT: I was thinking of starting a new thread, but figured there were enough about flats already.[/quote] Pyramid Golds can sound dead straight out of the packet.

[quote name='Truckstop' post='964944' date='Sep 22 2010, 08:57 PM']Option D: Fake your own death. Sometimes it's the only way out. Truckstop[/quote] Deja Vu.

[quote name='Tradfusion' post='962582' date='Sep 20 2010, 07:15 PM']oops sorry I didnt realise this is old news... oh well [/quote] Well, old news and ongoing news too.

[quote name='Tradfusion' post='962556' date='Sep 20 2010, 07:05 PM']Stumbled across this by accident and now I'm intrigued...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNPx6RS8PiM... fair bit of chat about these over on talkbass so I was wondering if anyone closer to home is using a Ubass? I play some trad Irish sessions that this would work great on, just the size and handiness alone is great but they actually sound decent as well in a funny double bassy kind of way...[/quote] Several threads on these already: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=60595&hl=ukulele"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...&hl=ukulele[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=91933&hl=ukulele"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...&hl=ukulele[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=93168"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=93168[/url]

[quote name='BassBod' post='959420' date='Sep 17 2010, 01:39 PM']Quick update - new E string arrived from Pyramid in 3 days..now fitted and still intact, half an hour after getting up to pitch. Fingers crossed! Full marks to their customer support. Quick and helpful responses to email, from a real person (who I think is the company owner?).[/quote] ... and is the string still going strong?

[quote name='Beedster' post='961380' date='Sep 19 2010, 06:10 PM']Comment from last night's gig (from a lady of course): "When you're up on that stage with the bass, you play it as if it's a lady in your arms" I rest my case C[/quote] I've never got blisters doing that.

[quote name='Doctor J' post='936467' date='Aug 25 2010, 09:42 PM']So you get a few nice basses, where do they live? On the wall? No, that's just asking for trouble. In a case? No, they need to be accessible and that would look awful. So what do you do, where do they go? In the Bassdrobe™, that's where. Not quite gear porn unless D.I.Y. gets you jolly, but there it is anyway [/quote] When will these be available from IKEA?

[quote name='KiOgon' post='961320' date='Sep 19 2010, 05:06 PM']Thanks for that Dave - reassurance at last! Cheerz, John[/quote] I meant to add that I wouldn't myself string La Bella flats through the body; I would use the bridge.

[quote name='walbassist' post='960924' date='Sep 19 2010, 08:50 AM']Looks like a medium scale E string was packed with a long scale set to me. I've never had that problem with the La Bella sets I've used in the past or now.[/quote] +1. In each of my La Bella sets all four strings have close to the same length of non-silked string.

Well done Chris. I think I may have to get rid of the EUB and go down this road myself.

[quote name='essexbasscat' post='959913' date='Sep 17 2010, 08:52 PM']This one has come up on the band's setlist. Just checking out the song for vocals etc and found this performance by the Tremeloes. It's obviously live, with all four band members harmonising. I often refer to the studio recording to get a good drift of a song, but in this case, the live performance is actually better, which is reason why I'd like to share this nice piece of musicianship with you all. For anyone that enjoys it [/quote] That's a tremendous performance.

[quote name='Beedster' post='934560' date='Aug 24 2010, 10:55 AM']I'm reading 'Shakey', the outstanding Neil Young biog[/quote] I bought it today.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='957692' date='Sep 15 2010, 09:02 PM']Best of all is trying to play fretless bass in a band built around a slide player. You end up using new definitions of "in tune".[/quote] Agreed, that can get quite spicy.

Well, as you all already know Clarky is a total star. I bought his VT Bass and he even included a discount because the instruction card was a little bent. Top man.

[quote name='vincesb56' post='956545' date='Sep 14 2010, 09:02 PM']BASS GUITARIST Wanted, U2 tribute band seeks a new Adam Clayton. You will need to be a U2 fan, able to rehearse at least once a week and be serious and committed. A resemblance to Adam Clayton is an advantage but not essential! There is a lot of interest from venues and this is a long-term project so we are looking for a competent, motivated player. u2tribe.com.Contact Vince for more details. Shoreham, 07828285051 or [email protected][/quote] Hi Vince. Good luck with finding someone. Dave

[quote name='Clarky' post='956468' date='Sep 14 2010, 07:57 PM']Happy Jack, commenting on my 72 P bass at a recent mini-beer/bassBash, said he could not take lilac silks seriously but I am comfortable in my metrosexuality [/quote] Against the black headstock on my Lakland Decade, the lilac looks very manly.