Pete Academy

Was it the sound engineer's idea of how a bass should sound? Or even because of where you were standing/sitting?

[quote name='funkygreega' timestamp='1320420707' post='1426715'] I havent watched the video but I guess when someone finds it hard to accept criticism, it could also be down to the fact that he may have been misinformed by family/friends and they made him think he was the ish (as the young would say). As the OP said, hopefully he (and every other budding player) will wake up and smell the coffee. [/quote] Just like the X-Factor hopefuls.

I see this quite a lot. When someone starts to learn an instrument, they develop an early boost of confidence that compels them to play crude riffs loud and proud in music shops. Coupled with teenage hormones and angst, this results in an inability to accept criticism. The problem here is that Youtube is the world's biggest music shop.

I'm joining TABS...Tirade Against Bad Slapping.

I would guess this amp isn't very good and wholly unreliable.

For a bit over £200, the Yamaha RBX374 is unbeatable.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1319901299' post='1419936'] Totally utterly killer bass player, singer, songwriter and bandleader.... Check this out at about 3:30:- [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_0SU2jLTjY[/media] [/quote] f***ing hell, that's awesome! Who's the other bass player? Jazz basses rule!

Nearly Dan play Gloucester Guildhall on Saturday November 12. The lady on the left says she'll be there.

I don't mean to sound sarcastic, but it's his fingers. I've not seen this clip before, so thanks for posting. This proves why he's probably the world's finest bassist, and not just the one-trick pony that people who've seen him on YouTube think.

Another great track I've never heard. Thanks, Andy.

I really can't see what the fuss is about. Good players having a great time and the audience loved it. Have you seen Billy Sheehan soloing?

So, is it more the player than the bass?

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1319571333' post='1416024'] But wouldn't Jaco still be recognisable if he was playing Geddy Lees bass? It might be a the technique that you recognise? [/quote] You're probably right. But I'm discussing actual bass sounds rather than players' techniques.

I used to do a lot of home recording in the 80s on my trusty 4-track Fostex cassette multitracker. When real bass playing was replaced by synth bass, I found myself writing tracks that needed that sound, but I couldn't play keyboards. I ended up buying a Casio midi guitar and was able to play synth bass lines triggered from various modules.

Jaco, Marcus Miller, Flea, Victor Wooten, Bernard Edwards, Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, Bootsy, Burnel, Louis Johnson, Stanley Clarke, etc... I think that, over the decades, every sound has been done. But saying that, you often recognise a sound by its player Apologies if I've missed out rock and other genre players.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1319570504' post='1416004'] Pete...I remember your letter that was printed in Bass Player a few years ago telling them to never do an article on synth ever again [/quote] Yep...I like the sound, but a whole issue dedicated to it was a waste of money.

We can all recognise bass sounds from famous players. But has everything been done? Are there any new players out there that still have a recognisable signature sound these days?

I love the sound of synth bass. I remember a very early Stanley Clarke track where he tracked his bass with a keyboard. A few years ago I was playing with a band that covered a couple of George Michael tracks that had synth bass on them. I tried a Boss SYB, but it was crap. I bought an Akai SB-1, which was great. I reckon you have to use a keyboard to truly emulate a synth bass track. I went to see Alexander O'Neal a few years ago, and his bass player used a keyboard bass for most of the set.

I know there are Fodera owners on the forum. The closest I have come to seeing one is when Janek Gwizdala came to our shop for a clinic, but I was too timid to ask for a go. My questions are: Have many of you tried one? Are they as great sounding as claimed? Are they so much better than other hand-built basses, like Roscoe, Ritter, Sadowsky, Ken Smith, Wal, etc? Just curious...

[quote name='retroman' timestamp='1319391923' post='1413561'] Ah, that would be the ample charms of Stacia then! +1 for Space Ritual. Love the way that Lemmy's bass absolutely pounds things along, and proves that he really could play bass. There have been a few occasional Motorhead moments for his bass playing in recent years......"Joy Of Labour" springs to mind. Recommended early Lem listening would have to be Sam Gopal's "Escalator". OK, he is on guitar, and singing, but I love that album. The bass absolutely pounds the tracks along, and really love Lem's singing on them, a time before his voice got seriously gravelled. [/quote] That's her!

Saying that, my fondest memory of Hawkwind was the naked dancer with the big norks.

Am I missing something here, Clarky? That first track you posted sounds a mess. I can't pick out the bass part, Doesn't sound very 'melodic' to me.

'SKINT' ADAM CLAYTON RESORTS TO BOILING BASS STRINGS.

GOVERNMENT ENLISTS NIGEL CLUTTERBUCK AS MINISTER FOR SLAP BASS.

THEORY POLICE IN DAWN RAID AT DODDY'S HOUSE FIND SECRET STASH OF BASS TABS.