Kongo

[quote name='steve-soar' post='882593' date='Jun 30 2010, 11:41 PM']Complete and utter sh*te, both vids.[/quote] AN odd taste indeed, I'm exposing myself to this cause if I can decipher it it's one step closer to listening to anything, whilst keeping an open mind. I'm jus fascinated by human mechanics allowing it, looks like fun...and they are pretty big also oddly, I never would have thought this could sell. 6th album coming soon I beleive.

[quote name='deathpanda' post='881560' date='Jun 30 2010, 03:51 AM'] a bit late, but i'm in the mood.[/quote] Wow that sounds weird but cool...the distortion is ultra muffled but it works in a spooky way.

Berzerker - No One Wins It's just crazy, pretty much noise and a drummer who's goin ape on his biscuit tin but hey, got him in Guiness book for records for single hand drum roll I guess (using the gravity blast). These guys jus make me laugh when I listen to them, which makes me feel good, so I guess I enjoy a song or two every now and then... Uhm...click if you dare, I suggest many of you don't, it's not melodic at all...As I've said in the past, I like ALL genres...even Extreme Metal Splitter core hybrids...in very small measures I might add... Here's how it's done... Facinating...

Do let us know the status of that loose "Fret button" I'm interested... Wow, what a bargain tho!

[quote name='wotnwhy' post='875452' date='Jun 23 2010, 02:30 PM']No-one will be able to shift big heavy speakers. The value will plummet. People will realise there is a sound difference between heavy and light. The heavy sound will become retro and cool. Price will skyrocket.[/quote] +1 on this, everything comes around, but not everyone is done with their heavy stuff. I'd take the sound of my Trace Elliot 4x10" over the Markbass ones, but am yet to test drive other lightweight cabs. TBH once it's down it's down, the floor holds it, so it's sound I want. I believe guitarists once thought they would no longer need valves when transistor amps could deliver...oddly, Valve that is ULTRA dated, is the wanted sound to most.

I learned this, I take it you speak of the main riff? Difficult to put into text but I think it's already been answered. Claypool's stuff is GENIUS but NEVER as hard as you think, in some senses learning his songs spoils the magic. He's very right hand driven, lots of bouncing and going against the laws Wooten slappers use of saving energy, this guy jus does it the old way. Listen for where the ghost notes are and jus hit em, it's very hard to explain I've learned so many Primus and Claypool songs my hand just goes that way now. Odd as it sounds, I think Mr. Pink by Level 42 helped me a lot back in college to get the stamina needed for Claypool slaps. It's pretty much just repeated but later on in the chorus (I guess) he goes kinda crazy on the pops but as usual this is just one of his long time trademarks you'll find in most songs. One of my fav songs, such a strong riff. Oh and don't forget the ring modulation, just a smidge, not too much.

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='875177' date='Jun 23 2010, 10:39 AM']The author [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=88907&view=findpost&p=856868"]posted this[/url] about buying it from Amazon- they don't actually stock it so you have to buy from Bassline Publishing directly. Just for info [/quote] Interesting...I got mine from Amazon about 8 months ago...ish... Guess I got lucky.

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='880577' date='Jun 29 2010, 01:53 AM']Are the DDTs new, I've not seen these before? Usually people recommend DR Lo-Riders for drop tuning since they are hex core and stiffer. I have DR Sunbeams 45-130 on my BB415, I can drop a whole step to A tuning just fine. I don't think you need much higher guages unless you're going down even further - I'd love to try out F#BEAD tuning myself![/quote] Switched my high-C for a low-F# on my 6-string once with a .145 at the time (was the thickest I could find), it didn't flop too much but the sound was...great but a tad low for both the bass and the amp at the time. Prob work with my Yamaha TRB6 and TE combination tho. with a .175 I imagine the sound could be HUGE! If I didn't use my high-C as much as I do I'd get a .175 and go for it again. Have a go.

String feel as well as tone is HUGE for me...if they sound good but harm my playing they are only half there. It sounds so silly to some people but different companies have massive differences in their strings to me. I've been through: Rotosound > Elites > Rotosound > Ernie Ball > Warwick > D'addario and stuck since...Pro Steels do it for me, the huge whonk of piano tone vibrating away makes for some delicious velvet tone for tapping ( a big part of my playing ) and work for everything else. I'm gonna try Newtone soon tho...the move from stainless to nickel is gonna be odd, should be less squarky tho and more of a glassy feel I'd imagine I dunno. And that's the 2nd thing,; feel. From one extreme to the other you get (in my mind) Sand paper <------------------------------------->Polished Glass and everything in between. If you've only played on glassy strings and change to some that feel like sand paper, first of all your fingers will hurt and second will lag sliding from note to note as your calluses are too soft. At least, this is what happens to me. SO yup, tone AND feel are a big part. I currently play...nearer to sand paper than polished glass but not uber extreme. As for gauge: 4-string = 45 - 65 - 80 - 110 6-string = 30 - 45 - 65 - 80 - 110 - 135 Standard tuning...why the 110 low-E? Like the feel of it and works well if drop-D is needed...which hardly is.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='880810' date='Jun 29 2010, 11:52 AM']Unless you've have rampant GAS and a need to buy every weird design of bass going like me then the only real reason is to improve on what you already have. It sounds like your current bass is pretty much what you want, so what you need to is make a list of the things that you are not quite happy about with your current bass. Not things you think you might like but things you KNOW would improve the looks, feel, and sound. I'd be interested to know exactly what improvements you think your current bass NEEDS.[/quote] Excellent advice. And whatever your bass -needs- to be bang on the money, I'm sure you can do it. Be it pickup change, mod, different tuners, maybe even the scratchplate? Maybe the neck is the problem, a luthier could sort it...fretwire type or maybe the neck is too chunky? He / She could reduce the bulk. Maybe the fingerboard radius? also workable. I used to think you had to BUY the ultimate bass or go through a custom shop to get exactly what you want...Until I realised...HEY! It's made of wood and has parts on it that can be changed or shaped this way and that...just like anything, if it doesn't quite work with a little work you can get it to...if you follow? I was sh*t scared about this idea at first until I saw how one of my inspirations got his bass so perfect for him...and if someone can do it with improper tools on the fly I'm sure taking it to an expert you'd be fine...or you could hack at it yourself I dunno. Either way, sounds like you love your bass, so if it really NEEDS work, find what it is and work on it. Best of all, once you have it perfect you not only have a bass for everything to be judged upon, but a template any top luthier worth his salt could take and duplicate.

[quote name='Sibob' post='880573' date='Jun 29 2010, 01:33 AM']Malcolm really takes the time to figure out what you need, although sometimes he'll put you onto his bass guy for more in-depth bass chats There's a long turn around because: 1) They're in demand 2) Your strings are custom wound, not picked off the shelf packs The best thing to do is order a few packs at a time, I think they have now introduced a minimum order. I don't know for sure because I always order a few sets to make the most of the long wait time. Si[/quote] Indeed. Minimum order is 2 sets, I'm gonna test drive em on my 4-string before going for a 6-string set to get a feel for em.

[quote name='Sibob' post='880566' date='Jun 29 2010, 01:13 AM']Yup, I think they're that good! Si[/quote] I'll take the dive and have a look see. But my usual string stockist is out of stock of em and on top of that, the site says theres a *shock* 28 day delivery time! That being said, with a backlog like that, they ain't going out of business soon. And if they can cater for your needs as a player, instead of just "selling strings", then they sound like my kinda people. Ain't used nickel in ages tho...gonna be an odd transition.

HELL of a lot of compression hehe...Also sounds like he's digging in a lot with a hint of overdrive, more natural sounding than artificial tho.

[quote name='Sibob' post='879543' date='Jun 28 2010, 09:11 AM']It still amazes me how many people lump ridiculous gauge strings onto their bass in order to droptune well. All you need is higher tension strings!. I was using 45-105 strings in C Standard (C,F,Bb,Eb) with an action and tension similar to standard tuning, due to high tension strings*. Give 'Newtone Strings' a call, tell them what tuning you're in, your preferred normal guage, and they'll try and work out the best avenue. Custom wound strings, usually the same price, sometimes cheaper, than off the shelf brands that are not wound for purpose. Si *Bear in mind that much higher tension strings often won't go up to standard tuning, they're wound for droptuning.[/quote] Are Newtone any good? I've been hearing a LOT of hype from players about these and am VERY interested. I ADORE D'addario don't get me wrong but when it comes to custom gauge u can forget it...at least to somebody like me anyways. I'm open to options here if they are that good.

[quote name='sprocketflup' post='880134' date='Jun 28 2010, 06:13 PM']Ah - Waynepunkdude and Doddy, I apologise i thought the suggestion of "Bass guitar for dummies" was a p*ss take I spend large portions of my time taking the p*ss sometimes I assume everyone else does too Many thanks for all the recomendations - Doddys list in particular is wicked - Im off to redeem some Waterstones vouchers that Ive had lying around since christmas [/quote] The books in themselves don't take a too serious appraoch (lots of bad jokes in them lol), so the "for dummies" is just a series name, and thus every bassist should have one to hand. Not only as a quick reference but also a huge tome of knowledge to help a student should you go into teaching.

You know, you all speak the truth. In homage to many of my inspirations last year I built a P-bass from this and that. I was nuts about it but put it down for some reason (Playing a 6-string all the time maybe). I dusted it off about a month ago and I'm nuts about it again! Although the neck I bought didn't survive the winter it seems... I can only really use it at home as I cannot play my bands songs on it but know this, the BEST aspect by far is the simplicity! I've been using basses with all the bells and whistles and it can take you away from your hands and playing for a while...With the P-bass you plug in, turn up and play. It's a one trick pony sound wise but it's the best at it and indeed it can cut any mix! I like what Sheehan did to his, adding an EB-0 for even more low end (retaining it even at high notes helps perform solo's without loosing low end) but other than that, don't spoil it...although I do like one guys P/MM combo, you still have the option to solo the P-pup. Seems Leo got it right first time, a real work horse with a marmite tone. If you feel you have already got what you want then save ur cash, a Vintage model will have value and age, but not better sound quality unless you want the real old primitive tone. You P-bass players are lucky, you have so much yet have it all. Enjoy your P-basses to the full.

[quote name='Protium' post='874635' date='Jun 22 2010, 05:48 PM']Because of how close it is to the bridge you don't get a huge amount of bass from the MM, but instead a really tight mid sound which mixes well with the bassier sound of the P pickup. I'm comparing here to a Jazz bass bridge pickup - Not as much bass, but a much tighter and "middier" (is that even a word??) sound. Again I have to say though, this is mainly due to the pickup position. I expect if it was further up the body it would get closer and closer to the traditional MM tone.[/quote] Wow that's such an inspiration! I wanted to fit an MM pup to mine and dual output it (instead of the P-bass / EB-0 combo), that looks awesome and so neat it's unreal...

[quote name='onenation' post='878317' date='Jun 26 2010, 06:03 PM']I'm playing Death Metal, in the vein of Entombed, Suffocation, Mortician, etc, the whole bass is tuned down 3 1/2 steps from E to A. (A,D,G,C,F). I thought that was pretty extreme! Do other bands go lower still? Damn![/quote] They sure do, Death Metal is often tuned up to my ears now (usually around D-standard), take a look at these silly gauges: [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/2639-warwick_black_label_darklord_bass_strings"]http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/26...rd_bass_strings[/url] Warwick Darklord set F# B E A .085 / .105 / .135 / .175 That's friggin armoured cable your playing! And it's not just warwick, it's gettin to be popular enough for Rotosound to join in and a mega fraction of price: [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/5806-rotosound_drop_zone_plus_stainless_steel_rs66lh_85_175"]http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/58...l_rs66lh_85_175[/url] Rotosound Drop zone + 85 / 105 / 135 / 175 I occationally de-tuned my B down to G# if I really need to, but with guitarists being in Drop-B as middle ground, I just use my 6-string in standard...I don't like detuning much, bass isn't built for it as well as guitar and not many amps can handle it. I use 45 / 65 / 80 / 110 for 4-string standard tho and the same but with 30 high-C and 135-145 low-B also in standard so I guess detuning makes my bass feel alien as the guage is already the same as you would use to detune. For A tho, which isn't very detuned (Korn used that tuning), you can get away with a 130 or 135 depending on your bass, scale length and playstyle. For crazy tap solo's and the like many Death Metal bassists do, a little slack wont hurt ya. The bassist from Meshuggah (STUPID 8-string detuning) actually tunes his bass UP a half step tho (Bb,F,A#,D#,G#), so if you ever get into the really detuned side to the point your amp can't do it, might as well be in the same octave haha! Have fun.

I've used many gauges over time on the same bass in many different tunings, it won't warp the neck, all you have to do is adjust the truss rod, ever so slightly but not by much. On 4-string I currently use: 45 - 65 - 80 - 110 in standard tuning, so no, your neck will be more resiliant than u think. It was designed to take it.

Another ones goes down...how many has that been this year? Damn...

[b]The Bass Book: A Complete Illustrated History of Bass Guitars[/b] Read up on the history of the bass...very inspiring. Or: [b]Bass Culture: The John Entwistle Bass Collection [/b] If you jus wanna GAS over some visuals...

[quote name='XB26354' post='733483' date='Feb 2 2010, 10:12 PM']Sold a Yamaha TRB-6II to Kongo - he paid immediately and was a pleasure to deal with - and patient whilst waiting for me to sort out a box![/quote] Indeed, the -exact- model I GAS'ed over for years but never took the dive. It is my main bass and I'm still using it now, flawless, well looked after and has aged well. [quote name='nickcarey' post='877090' date='Jun 25 2010, 08:24 AM']Sold some strap locks to Kongo. He paid immediately. Pleasure to deal with. [/quote] Can't thank you enough, I'm gonna buy these for all my basses, the powerful anchor they provide, whilst still allowing you to disconnect your strap so it doesn't do damage to your bass in it's case is a much welcome bonus.

My Strap locks arrived, condition as described and in a timely manner. Loving the anchor whilst being able to still remove my strap when placing my bass back in it's case. Sorry for the extra work u needed to do refunding my double payment, but it has to be said you did just that so people buy with confidence, this is a 100% honest seller. Thanks a lot.