EssentialTension

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='501665' date='May 30 2009, 03:14 PM']You're all right.. alas, all but the top three basses have since moved on. ..and I want most of them back. [/quote] Michael, you probably don't want the Tony Franklin back but you couldn't have it anyway because I'm rather in love with it at the moment. The rest all look extremely nice. Well done.

[quote name='KERMITNT' post='500620' date='May 29 2009, 09:48 AM']I tried 3 Jazz basses till now i couldent get comfy to any of them.. The neck is not for me at all. Even marcus miller that i like cant say that it felt home to me... In general i dont like jazz basses at all WTF? On the other hand stingray feels to me home.. I love them.. I am asking if is only me?[/quote] I like Jazz necks, but not Jazz bodies or pickups.

That's great, good luck.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='500464' date='May 29 2009, 12:17 AM']My main bass has individual bridges per string (so one would presume a comparatively low mass) and yet it sustains no problem. I just ran an almost scientific test against 2 other basses one with a standard MM "bent tin" bridge and the other a high mass brass 5 string job. I have them all suspended on the same wall on identical hangers and simultaneously pinged a string. Of course we have ash, poplar and maple bodies to factor in and for that matter it is the only one out of the 3 with a maple fretboard. Anyway it out rang them both. The thing is why would I want it to? [/quote] Good question. Why would I want increased sustain when I already have to mute strings that ring out for longer than necessary?

[quote name='Monz' post='500325' date='May 28 2009, 10:07 PM']Our guitarist slipped me a CD at our gig on monday and said "listen to the bass on <take me to the pilot>" I knew Tom our guitarist used to be /and still is a very good bass player but this track on Elton Johns second album was what fired his interest and I can see why... It's perfect bass for me... funky, not over the top and so in the pocket it's unreal. I guess you guys that have been doing this since God were a lad already know how good he was. Any other players/albums I need to listen to besides the ones with their names in neon?[/quote] +1 on Dee Murray. Whether there's anyone else depends on who you are already aware of. But, in my view, any bass player should be familiar with: James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, Jerry Jemmott, Tommy Cogbill, Joe Osborn, Carole Kaye, Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, Bernard Edwards, for starters.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='500203' date='May 28 2009, 08:02 PM']Hi Dave Sorry - been busy the last few days and not had a chance to check this thread for a few days... Yes; it's definitely you! I've met your drummer a few times as well (didn't he gig with Mickey Hart before?).[/quote] Yes, Nick Gates our drummer deps for Micky Hart sometimes and used to be in Rum Boogie who now are no more. Nik our guitarist and harp player plays bass for Micky Hart (and I dep for him with them sometimes) and he used to be the Rum Boogie bassist (except for a year when he was in Colombia and I was Rum Boogie bassist). [quote name='silverfoxnik' post='500203' date='May 28 2009, 08:02 PM']Absolutely; I've been playing with Burning Organ since 2006 and took over from mr_russ, another Basschatter.[/quote] I've heard very good reports about Burning Organ but never actually seen you. And mr_russ I think i know too because I taught him when he was at BHASVIC. [quote name='silverfoxnik' post='500203' date='May 28 2009, 08:02 PM']I really enjoyed the 3 or 4 numbers I saw of your set by the way; great vibe in the band, good songs and perfect for the setting I thought! Got to be honest Dave and say that I didn't notice anything being out of tune at all, and I hadn't even had a drink by then either! What I remember was a really lovely old skool sound from the bass/rig combination and some very fluid playing that gave the music a lot of energy.. reminded me slightly of that James Jamerson style of playing in and around the chord changes which keeps the interest going, even if the chord changes in the song are fairly standard..[/quote] Well, thanks very much for that - you're too generous I'm sure. [quote name='silverfoxnik' post='500203' date='May 28 2009, 08:02 PM']When are you next playing locally?[/quote] The Dover Castle, Southover Street, Hanover, Brighton, Sunday 7th June, 8.30pm. The Ranelagh, St James's Street, Kemptown, Brighton, Wednesday 15th July, 8.30pm. The Romans in Southwick too but I can't find the date at the moment. Be nice to see you if you can make any of those - make sure you say hello.

[quote name='Hodge' post='498303' date='May 26 2009, 09:11 PM']The only reason Jamerson doesn't make the list of "Bass players who can do no wrong" is that I know for a fact he carried a gun[/quote] That cuts out quite a lot of US bassists then.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='499391' date='May 27 2009, 10:29 PM']Some prefer the active elecs and additions of the deluxe. I myself like the USA Standard....I love passive P and J bass tone. All down to taste [/quote] Yes, I like the American Deluxe and the Standard P.

American Deluxe P here. Smaller body than the standard (mine's only 8lbs 5oz) and active only electronics. I think the same applies to the Jazz. I know some aren't keen but I like mine a lot.

[quote name='bythesea' post='499221' date='May 27 2009, 07:44 PM']I went in to work on Monday and one of my colleagues told me she had been to the Southwick Beer Festival over the weekend and had seen a really good band. I asked who they were and she told me they were called Burning Organ... [/quote] I'd gone home by the time they were on. Sorry Nik.

I remember reading a story about Charlie Parker. Apparently he took a bandmate out for a drink. They went to a bar where a band was playing; Parker saying to the other guy 'You gotta see this band, I've heard them a few times now'. In the bar, Parker's friend says 'Charlie, they are awful'. Parker says, 'Yes, but they've really improved, you should have seen them last week, they keep getting better'. Seems like he had a very positive attitude to those weaker than himself.

[quote name='AM1' post='499149' date='May 27 2009, 06:42 PM']Most serious musicians know the full extent of their own shortcomings, without needing to be told and can make their own choices how to proceed.[/quote] Maybe they weren't serious musicians and didn't know their own shortcomings.

And Nik, if you ever return to this thread, I'd be interested to hear what you thought of my intonation on the fretless and the upright - that was my first gig with the unlined P bass. No one in the band ever complains (except when I play a straightforwardly bum note) so I feel I'm getting away with it but I find it hard to be sure I'm really in tune even if I know I am close (or maybe just close enough). I'd appreciate a comment one way or the other if you have one.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='498946' date='May 27 2009, 04:16 PM']That's always the way dude. The worst gigs in your head, can often be the best out front![/quote] And vice versa, and don't I know it.

[quote name='51m0n' post='498617' date='May 27 2009, 11:52 AM']Oh yeah Alex, I can see you getting loads of people owning up to being 'the really cr@p bassist who didn't gel with his drummer at all' that you saw last night - unless it was me in which case I hold my hand up, guilty as charged Excellent, the "name 'em and shame 'em" thread!!! Make it so![/quote] I even felt awkward owning up to being the praised bass player in the OP - first, because maybe it wasn't me at all; second, because, it didn't feel that great on stage at the time anyway.

[quote name='dlloyd' post='498299' date='May 26 2009, 09:09 PM']Yep. I think the body shape is slightly different too.[/quote] Yes, it might be the angle of the photo but the two cutaways look symmetrical on the one at MDM.

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='497792' date='May 26 2009, 09:51 AM']Well thanks to the power of t'internet / myspace and simply asking Mark what it was.... Hutchins Chandler.... new one on me![/quote] [quote name='dlloyd' post='497796' date='May 26 2009, 09:55 AM']There's one for £399 here: [url="http://www.mdm-music.info/guitars.php?type=2&pagename=Bass%20Guitars"]http://www.mdm-music.info/guitars.php?type...=Bass%20Guitars[/url][/quote] That one looks to have a slightly different pickup arrangement.

Nickel - Thomastik Jazz Flats all the way every day.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='496519' date='May 24 2009, 10:59 AM']Hi Folks I was doing a gig yesterday at The Beer festival in Southwick near Brighton last night and when we'd finished setting up before our soundcheck, I wandered outside to see what else was going on and there was a great band playing some Bobbie Gentry tunes (amongst others) and they great! In particular, there was a guy playing what looked like a fretless P Bass special and an EUB and he was really, really good! Great timing, lovely sound and held the whole band together! Anyway, I didn't get a chance to speak to him as their set must have finished when we started our soundcheck, so I thought I'd put up a post here to see if he's a fellow Basschatter? Cheers Nik[/quote] Nik, Er ... my band [i]Barabajagal[/i] played at Southwick Beer Festival on Saturday afternoon (our 4th gig) and some of that sounds like me: Fender Tony Franklin Fretless P bass (bought it from Water of Tyne), NS WAV 4 (bought it from Lee650), Bobby Gentry tune (amongst others), but the rest sounds like some one else; perhaps you'd had too much of that 8.5% beer they were selling. I take it you're in Burning Organ - I know Tony your guitarist a little and did a one off gig with him with Micky Hart & the Drugstore Romeos last summer.

I bought Michael's Tony Franklin fretless P bass. Excellent communication throughout. Top man.

I've only once had an issue with GAK and that was when I went into the acoustics section of the shop with £400 in my pocket and could very easily have been sold an acoustic bass guitar if the guy could have been bothered to get out of his chair and leave his computer. I bought one on ebay instead. Other than that I've always found Mark (and before him Graeme) in the bass section nothing but helpful and friendly and I've always found the final price acceptable given that I can actually test things out before I buy. If the price doesn't meet your approval, don't buy it. My son has tried countless guitars and amps in there without hassle and has only ever bought one of each. Mail-order GAK ordered a Gibson guitar for me without taking a deposit as they knew it would take several months. I paid in full only when it actually arrived.