Pete Academy

[quote name='BOD2' post='636286' date='Oct 25 2009, 05:08 PM']If your gear is ok then it sounds like it might be picking up something. Perhaps something generated by someone else's equipment close by. Sometimes you can use the bass like a direction-finding attenna - turn it around to see if the noise is stronger when you're facing one particular direction then move around to see if you can locate where the noise is loudest. It can also be the cables - check where they are running and move them away from other equipment (especially power supplies). Just moving the cables while you can hear the noise will sometimes narrow it down. Has anyone else in the band started using new equipment lately ?[/quote] I will try those things. Yeah, come to think of it, there is some new equipment. Cheers, Pete

I played a couple of gigs in Scotland on Friday and Saturday. I'm now using a Markbass LMK head with my Ashdown 4 x 8" and 1 x 15" cabs. Simple setup - Roscoe SKB5 through Boss TU2 into amp. Premium cables. Batteries fine in bass. I was getting a high-pitched noise through the rig. I tried going straight into the amp and bypassing the tuner, but it was still there. It's not present when there's nothing plugged in, and it goes when the bass is turned down. The ground lift switch made no difference. I'm going to take the amp and bass into our shop and try them through different cabs. Any suggestions in the meantime?

[quote name='OldGit' post='636244' date='Oct 25 2009, 04:27 PM']Posh frocks then Please keep us informed of that, Pete[/quote] Will do, mate.

Nearly Dan are playing The Stables in Milton Keynes next Saturday 31 October. The event is being filmed for a forthcoming DVD release.

I can vouch for the price rise on strings. Everything has gone up massively in the last few months.

I have a guitarist mate who told me a story. He used to back Cliff Richard. One night on the gig, he played a really simple guitar riff wrong. On the next gig he developed a phobia of that guitar part, even though it was amazingly simple. Consequently, he got the riff wrong every time, despite practising it over and over again beforehand.

I find if I don't think about any of the songs, they literally play themselves. When we play Josie I have a part midway where I play a little solo riff. I find if I think about it coming up I get panicky, and sometimes f@ck up. Weird.

Have you ever played a song or part that you know like the back of your hand, and suddenly forgotten it? This has happened to me many times. Usually I turn to my amp and pretend my lead has malfunctioned, until I then feel confident to re-enter the song. This a strange phenomenon.

[quote name='Golchen' post='632878' date='Oct 21 2009, 09:48 PM']For me that stuff has been done to death now. It was funny a couple of years ago but it's now just a tired old joke.[/quote] Sorry...only just seen these these.

Seriously, this is essential viewing.

This guy is truly the Les Dawson of the bass world.

Whoever did this is a genius. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig_ZRuSW8_g"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig_ZRuSW8_g[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VElv-wrqWIA&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VElv-wrqWIA...feature=related[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waIhJDgC5dQ&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waIhJDgC5dQ...feature=related[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1THdyg5qdTU&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1THdyg5qdTU...feature=related[/url]

I've not seen any personal insults, but if so can't see why. To sing and play those lines is beyond belief.

Mark single-handedly created a nation of 'slap monsters'. Here's a a little story: I was working in a shop in Stoke in the midst of slap mania. We had one young guy who was King-obsessed = same bass rig, Jaydee slung high up, same gauge strings, gaffer tape on thumb, etc. He came into our shop one Saturday afternoon, looking well-pissed off. We asked him what was up and he said: 'We've just been rehearsing and the band have sacked me...for slapping House Of The Rising Sun.' Sums up the era for me.

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='631942' date='Oct 20 2009, 11:19 PM']That's my old Jaydee he's using! Mark was an extremely gifted youngster, taking up drums at the age of 9 (he is one hell of a drummer) and was also a fantastic guitar player. This fact is often overlooked so combining his very percussive upbringing with a talent on 6 string meant that his phenomenal bass playing was perhaps a foregone conclusion with very little real effort required as he'd learnt his craft on those other instruments. He happened to take slap/pull to the next plateau (read level heheh!) and his speed is incredible - theres only one other person I've seen play like that but he's just imitating the King (wheres' that mirror?!!!) - seriously he put bass on the map for many thousands of fledgling bass cadets back in the day. He gets a bad press sometimes and I think thats pretty bad considering his talent. To have sold nearly 40 million albums is a testament to him and the rest of the band. Nick[/quote] Great post!

[quote name='craigjf1969' post='631886' date='Oct 20 2009, 10:24 PM']brilliant bassist,always amazed me how he sang and played those intricate basslines[/quote] yep

And the very first album is still mind-blowing!

They all think going out with someone in a band is dead f***ing cool until they realise how much of your time it takes up. Exactly!!

This is the ultimate dilemma, and trust me, I've seen many a great and happy musician terminate their career and hooby because of how the partner feels. It usually goes like this: Musician meets partner. Partner loves the fact that musician plays in a band. Partner brags to mates about this. Partner goes to all the gigs for about the first 3 - 6 months. Partner gets bored of hearing the same songs over and over. Partner clocks that musician has male/female attention at gigs. Partner wonders why musician has to be at gigs so early. Partner wonders why musician needs to rehearse with band. Etc, etc... When we first started Nearly Dan, the backing singer was my girlfriend/wife, so no problem. When we split up, the new girlfriend (after the honeymoon period), started asking why I needed to be at a gig for 6pm when we were onstage at 8pm - 9pm. So, my advice is: If playing has been your lifetime hobby/job for many years, you have to follow your heart. If your partner cannot accept this, then he/she is not for you.

We were having a quiet day at work and, spying my chance on Spotify, put on the 'Level 42' album. Great bit of nostalgia. But it also brought it back to me how great Mark King was and still is. Their appearance on The Tube, where King did the unaccompanied slap solo, still holds a place in the annals of jaw-dropping bass history. Until then, I'd heard Stanley, Louis Johnson, and Pops Popwell of the Crusaders playing slap bass. King took it to a totally new level (excuse the pun). The question is: how did he achieve such a great technique in such short a time from picking up the bass? I know he was a great drummer. Answers on a postcard, please.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='630698' date='Oct 19 2009, 07:49 PM']Saying that, I'm a great fan of the original, but dig it up on YouTube or on the Old Grey Whistle Test DVD, and you'll be wanting to slit your wrists halfway through. Jazz/rock/fusion/pap of the highest order.[/quote] Sorry, I meant to say I love the tune and concept, but they take it to the most boring extremes.

Saying that, I'm a great fan of the original, but dig it up on YouTube or on the Old Grey Whistle Test DVD, and you'll be wanting to slit your wrists halfway through. Jazz/rock/fusion/pap of the highest order.

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='629835' date='Oct 18 2009, 09:05 PM']Nope! If you don't like it fair enough. Would you really change your mind if someone explained why you should like it. I don't like much of the thwakkita-thwakkita stuff Marcus is most well-known for. but I really enjoyed the clip - ta for posting it.[/quote] This is very much like the Flea rant, where people just focus on his slap playing. The 'Thwakkita' stuff you refer to is Marcus's slap playing, which if you listen carefully is unique. He rarely overplays and is ALWAYS grooving. That's his trademark. His sound is one of the most instantly recognisable in bass history. He's a writer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and one of the coolest guys on the planet. Try digging into his back catalogue a bit more. Or listen to his producing and playing skills on the new George Benson album.

Yes, I too have to admit it was crap. The song was rubbish, not even sure she sang live.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='629738' date='Oct 18 2009, 07:32 PM']Meshell is making music for herself not her listeners... i personally think Peace Beyond Passion is her finest hour.. she certainly doesnt get stuck in any one genre...i think people expect to hear the funky stuff from her, but shes much more than that..her latest album takes a few listens..[/quote] Agreed, but I just love her funk side.