RhysP

A large majority of people who aren't musicians aren't even aware there is an instrument called a bass guitar, so to expect there to be bass players who are household names is just unrealistic.

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1449920205' post='2927946'] Colin Hodgkinson - look up Back Door. [/quote] I Googled "Back Door" & all I got was a load of adverts for replacement upvc doors & various bum sex sites.

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1449922304' post='2927984'] I would argue Sting had nothing to do with Punk and New Wave, other than being a blatant band wagon jumper... [/quote] There are a lot of people who would be on that list, many of them already mentioned. Many of them were playing in pub rock bands & just jumped on the punk bandwagon when they saw there might be a bit of cash in it.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1449914466' post='2927879'] We are all better than someone unless we are the worst one of all ... [/quote] That'll be me.....

Barry Adamson Paul Gardiner Bruce Thomas

A major one for me was Paul Gardiner from Tubeway Army. I was listening to all the usual players from the established bands like everybody else was in the mid/late 70s but Paul was the first bassist from a new band that really grabbed my attention.

Surely it should be "Was he really all that?"

I don't know about 'best', but one of my favourites is 'Halo' by Porcupine Tree.

[quote name='AinsleyWalker' timestamp='1449842439' post='2927410'] Wait, does this mean you do a full set-up every time you change your strings?! [/quote] Yes, if it needs it. I'll always check the intonation & neck relief when I put new strings on & adjust it if necessary.

They were great quality instruments. I played a few in the early 80s, including a stunning fretless. There was a model that was quite an unusual shape, I think John Martyn used the guitar version for a while.

The Beatles without a doubt. Never liked Daltrey's voice, always preferred Pete Townshend.

[quote name='AinsleyWalker' timestamp='1449759273' post='2926576'] Just wondering but why would he need a capo unless he was playing open-string chords?... [/quote] Because open strings & fingering patterns would remain the same as he plays them now relative to the capo. It's certainly the way I would do it but that's because I use open strings whenever possible.

Tune your bass down a full step & use a capo for the half step & standard tuning stuff.

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1449686966' post='2926010'] Yup, that chorused fretless on Song For Sharon just wafts over the mind like a meandering summer breeze in a velvet hat [/quote] Max Bennett plays bass on 'Song for Sharon'.

I don't know but I wish we hadn't bothered - I think the first one is much better.

It's not so much a problem getting a guitar with a Floyd in tune, once it's tuned it'll stay there as the strings are clamped. The problem is that detuning certain strings on a guitar with a tremolo system will alter the tension on the bridge & put the whole guitar out of tune. The quality of Floyds on cheaper guitars isn't brilliant, though it varies. The main problem with licenced Floyds is that the pivot points are usually made from a softer metal so they wear out quickly & problems with the guitar returning to pitch can occur.

If you're wanting to go for heavier sounds it might be worth looking at Blackstar amps.

First of all - what's his budget?

If you're going to be using different tunings I'd avoid getting a guitar with a Floyd Rose, or any other type of trem system to be honest.

[quote name='JellyKnees' timestamp='1449583268' post='2924835'] Indeed. Apart from Bjorn Borg, no one ever looks good in a headband. [/quote] You're obviously forgetting Mark Knopfler.......

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1449589813' post='2924927'] No one has mentioned an album that Jaco played on by Pat Metheny called Bright Size Life.... [/quote] Visog mentioned it in post #47 actually. I'd agree that Bright Size Life is up there with his very best work, superb album.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1449588713' post='2924908'] Have you not heard how poor the sound of most digital radio stations are - especially when compared to their FM counterparts...? [/quote] Digital radio is bloody terrible.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1449584049' post='2924849'] Not on the Radio, but I once had an album on CD by LoFi Allstars and track 7 (i remember the track number but not the name) had a completely different synth section in the middle to every other version I've heard (Itunes version, everyone elses CD). My CD was identical in every way to all the others I've seen (not a special edition etc) but for some reason had a different version of that track on it... bizarre. [/quote] I've got an old CD copy of Cheap Trick's "At Budokan" album where the solos in "Ain't That a Shame" are totally different to every other version I've got or ever heard.