Pete Academy

I'm not expecting a massive response to this, but does anyone else (apart from Bubinga) think this is one of the coolest bass lines ever? [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJYjBGDlK6I"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJYjBGDlK6I[/url] PS. Only another 19 posts to go, then I'm done for the day.

Bloody awesome!

Rickys are something I've always shunned, but just lately I've become inexplicably attracted to them. I loved the blue one advertised recently, but that was probably because of the model used to photograph it. Some years ago, when I worked for Sound Control, we had them in stock, but then suddenly there was a 1-year waiting list from Rickenbacker, which then increased to 18 months and now (alledgedly) 2 years. Why??? I know of a 70s one for sale if anyone's interested.

How are they getting away with these copies? Just curious. They look fab.

I like a low action. I once knew someone who met Jaco and had a go of his bass. He said the action was really high. BTW, did anyone who tried Victor's bass at the DV clinic notice what the action was like on his Fodera? I would imagine it was low for him to do the tapping.

[quote name='Earbrass' post='900233' date='Jul 20 2010, 04:33 PM']Not you apparently. [/quote] That's versatility for you.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='900215' date='Jul 20 2010, 04:19 PM']I'm not bothered about being versatile - I don't want to play covers or sessions. However, the things I do want to play often require versatility, so while I think of myself as having a bit of a style, that style means quite a bit of slapping, fingering, picking, playing chords, playing very high up, and using a f*** load of effects. That pretty much covered all the techniques mentioned in this thread, but I wouldn't call myself versatile at all. How did you like reading that load of pointless sh*te?[/quote]

[quote name='ElCapitan' post='899837' date='Jul 20 2010, 11:34 AM']f***ing funny though.[/quote] I expect Doddy will be wearing his hat in Germany this Friday at the Formula One gig, helping himself to free food and booze, whilst ogling gorgeous women and pocketing a great wage to boot. Who's laughing now?

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='899868' date='Jul 20 2010, 12:00 PM']That did make me laugh though. [/quote] Like a drain?

The ironic thing is that players like Louis Johnson cite him as their biggest influence, yet they put him out of business with their slap playing, which was something he refused to do. Sad.

[quote name='Doddy' post='899421' date='Jul 19 2010, 09:07 PM']Not just pissed,but lying flat on his back.[/quote] You got there first.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='899410' date='Jul 19 2010, 08:58 PM']gottta love that album Pete.in my top ten...when you say myth do you mean the one about Marvin pulling him out of a bar a he was pie eyed? apparently he played the line pissed?[/quote] Yep, and he played the bass part first time lying on his back.

I love how he kept the same strings on to get that fat sound, and nor would he consider losing that tone. A true fisher of men.

I seriously think he belongs there amongst the elite of musical geniuses. His bass parts were way ahead of what anyone else was doing at the time. For me, it's always 'What's Goin' On', and the story behind it's conception - myth or not - is fascinating.

Great clip, Bubinga. Won't appeal to everyone, though...his sound hasn't got that scooped watery tone.

A true genius.

[quote name='liamcapleton' post='898278' date='Jul 18 2010, 06:51 PM']Don't know why I even rose to argue over this, one persons view in particular on the whole subject is so misinformed. I'm happy to just resolve that a sensible discussion on the whole session player topic is impossible. Back to the original point, I'm happy sitting on a groove or a tune and not overplaying. That's where I'm happy.[/quote] Conan The Thread Destroyer strikes again. PS. Not you, BTW

[quote name='steviedee' post='898258' date='Jul 18 2010, 06:22 PM']I've played loads of styles of music I probably wouldn't listen to and I can honestly say I've always enjoyed it and put in 100% because playing music is fun. I suppose if I were doing it as a career I may become jaded, sadly I've never been in the position to have that problem. I'd love to be more versatile I don't really listen to jazz much but I'd really like to be able to play it competently because it looks like a blast and would probably improve my appreciation of the genre. Generally I think there is snobbery at both extremes which is a bit tiresome as there is plenty of room for differing views.[/quote] Good post.

[quote name='iconic' post='898270' date='Jul 18 2010, 06:41 PM']gentlemen, gentlemen, have we not forgotten the greatness of Wham!...well Deon Estus! and who can forget wham rap...all good fun to play....my kids like them! ....cool looking bass on this one....why do 80's bass's always look so long in the neck?[/quote] Excellent choices! Club Tropicana is one of my favourites.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='898230' date='Jul 18 2010, 05:51 PM']You're crazy. I know you have a big boner for Marcus Miller (and Doddy does too, even to the point of buying the same hat) but there's a reason why not everybody plays like him, and it's not because they can't. Are you about to tell me he hardly ever plays slap and he's been [i]unfairly[/i] labeled as a slap merchant? This is getting stupid.[/quote] Firstly, you're being rather hattist. Secondly, he's got arguably the most revered slap sound in the bass world. The point is, he can play any style and generally has done, but people always focus on his slap playing. Try doing more research into his track record. You might be surprised. PS. Norwood Fisher doesn't give me a boner, just a semi.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='898182' date='Jul 18 2010, 04:58 PM']The premise of the thread is too basic though, that's how we end up in these scenarios where we're talking about players in simple terms and the generalisations don't fit. Look at a player like Flea and you might judge him on his playing on RHCP's most recent record which is very bland, or you might judge him on that Hotlicks video he did in the early '90s which is just dire and makes him look like a simplistic slapper, unimaginative and ignorant. But then listen to BSSM again and, well, he's pretty good on that isn't he. And he's played with other people and he's played trumpet with other people, so is he still a one trick pony? Similarly, Marcus Miller seems to always play fusion or R&B and I'm judging him based on Luther Vandross singles from the '80s. From my angle he doesn't look that versatile, he's dipped into a couple of quite similar-sounding genres and played slap on everything, so how's he different from Flea? It's all bollocks really isn't it. That's what I think. Someone might make a living as a studio musician and because of that they're considered more "versatile" than a guy who had some success in a pop band, but put them both in a situation where they have to cop half a dozen different styles and chances are they'll both sound uncomfortable and out of their depth unless it's music they enjoy and listen to. Actually put either Marcus Miller or Flea in my band and they would each sound bloody ridiculous I guarantee it.[/quote] How do you know they would sound ridiculous? I'd brt Marcus especially could comfortably fit in. You've labelled him a slap merchant without even listening to what else he did.

I think I'm going to use Fat Beams for my five string. I'm hooked.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='897925' date='Jul 18 2010, 11:47 AM']I have heard of those players but beyond their most famous output I can't listen to them because I don't know what records they're on. If they've made a living doing this then presumably they're on hundreds of records? Most of them bad records?[/quote] Marcus has played on some of the greatest songs around, but because of his prolific work, there are bound to be a few turkeys in there.

I think it depends on when you started playing. These days there are very few bass heroes around, compared to years ago. When I started there were fusion players like Stanley and Jaco, who were considered superstars to people who weren't even bassists.