RhysP

I always watch it & really enjoy it. Sweden did a superb job of hosting this year, the female presenter was excellent.

Not exactly a "Rock" opera, but check out "Einstein on the Beach" by Phillip Glass.

Can't help you with what the coil taps are like (not a fan of coil tapped pickups in general though, they never sound like a "proper" single coil to me) but I echo all the above sentiments about Spector Euro models. I have a Euro LX5 & it's a superb bass, easily the best five string I've played. I'm a big fan of the Tonepump circuit too, unlike many.

"How to make your guitar gently weep": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fqeHgPqyXM She's so hot.

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1368800844' post='2081724'] Funny, hot & posh - nice combination [/quote] Indeed.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1368801754' post='2081737'] The LP cover had what looked like a White Jazz on it (rear cover picture) but, remember, I don't know s*** [/quote] The picture isn't great but that looks like a Tele bass to me - body hasn't got that horrible slanty shape like a jazz & it looks like it's got a Tele style control plate.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1368713794' post='2080553'] Ex-GP subscriber here but no more. What about Musicians Only, a tabloid style music paper from the 1980s? Beat Instrumental Instrimentalwas another I read. [/quote] Beat instrumental was really good, as was International Musician & Recording World. I still have a few late 70's issues of these & they are several orders of magnitude better than the drivel contained in music mags these days. Most of the guitar magazines around at the moment are more like bloody Smash Hits than anything else.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1368633513' post='2079523'] Don't most musicians play music for other people, ie functions band, session work, even original music, not much point to it if people don't like it. [/quote] There's every point to it if the person doing it personally finds it fulfilling. There are plenty of musicians out there who would be doing what they do whether they had an audience or not - they are driven to create music that means something to them first & foremost. I'm talking about writing original music here - obviously the criteria will be different if you're playing covers in a tribute band, doing wedding gigs or whatever as in that context you are doing it solely for the entertainment of other people.

[quote name='krysh' timestamp='1368612709' post='2079110'] but isn't the highest goal in playing music to project the content/expression directly into the listeners hearts? [/quote] Only if you give a flying f*** about what other people think of your music or have a desperate need for people to tell you how wonderful you are. I'd say the highest goal in music is to create something that you yourself are happy with. If it ends up connecting with other people then that's just a bonus.

[quote name='richardjmorgan' timestamp='1368626225' post='2079385'] ....On the other hand, it could just end up being yet another displacement activity… [/quote] That's what I find with getting involved in recording, which is why I don't record anything other than barebones rough demos. If I can't get a song finished the last thing I want to do is start distracting myself with arrangement ideas. When I get something ready to be recorded I'd rather spend my money on going into a studio & getting it done properly than pissing about with a home set-up.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1368622109' post='2079290'] From the OP it seems clear it's about the writing process. [/quote] That's what I thought - ta!

OK, I'm slightly confused now - is the thread about finishing writing a song or is it about how you bring a song to an end when playing it live? There seem to be both options being given as answers here at the moment.

Yes I experience this problem all the time - I've got loads of unfinished songs. No, I don't have the first idea what to do about it.

That is really very good. I see you're playing The Moon club in Cardiff - I'll try & come along if I can.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1368555245' post='2078530'] I still have a set of those on one of my lesser used basses. [/quote] There are Mark King fan boys out there who would kill to get their hands on those!

You can slap on any gauge string - I used to use Superwound Funkmasters 30-90 when I was in my serious slapper days. Now I use 45-135s & I can still play all the same slap stuff I did on the ultra light strings. If you're only going to be playing the occasional bit of slap then I'd say stick with heavier strings because really light ones sound pretty thin for finger style or pick playing IMO.

[quote name='Left Foot' timestamp='1368540689' post='2078204'] Are you striking the string with your thumb knuckle? I knew someone who struggled pronoucing notes because he was almost palm muting as he did it, which made the whole thing muddy and awkward to hear and watch. [/quote] I was just about to ask this too. Also, are you getting your left hand in on the action? Getting a good slap rhythm going needs almost as much input from the left hand as the right.

If your thumb is hurting after 15 minutes then you're hitting the strings to hard with it. How is slapping the start of "One of theses days" being "authentic" BTW? The original was played with a pick (in fact I seem to recall reading that it's two basses, being played by Roger & David).

Worst basses I ever owned were 2 Rickenbacker 4001's & my custom built Jaydee Supernatural. The Rickenbackers were just shockingly badly made, uncomfortable & sounded like crap & the Jaydee had such an unstable neck that I spent more time adjusting the truss rod than I did actually playing it.

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1368211137' post='2074596'] That's a fairly small body guitar so heavier strings will help, 12's will be fine as that was what the guitar was shipped with, I'd suggest an email to takemine before fitting anything heavier though as not all acoustics will take the tension of very heavy strings, I know that my mcilroy is only warrantied if I don't go above 12's, luckily that's my favorite gauge so I'm fine (newtone heritage are my all time favorites) Due to the size of the body I'd expect that volume wasn't on the agenda when it was designed. [/quote] This.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1368317403' post='2075710'] Ha ha ha! 0.32 seconds in you look like you about to either kill someone in their sleep or make love to them. [/quote] Or both.

[quote name='lee650' timestamp='1368135472' post='2073790'] Have you looked at spector euros?, 35" scale tight focused sound from the EMG'S, and thunderous bottom end from the tonepump. They are fairly inexpensive ( when sold on here ) a very rock n roll bass [/quote] This. My Spector Euro 5XL is the best five string I've ever played regardless of price. Absolutely fantastic basses that are great for heavy stuff.