alexclaber

[quote name='cheddatom' post='452561' date='Apr 2 2009, 04:38 PM']Interesting. I can understand the increase in output for the thicker strings, but you were saying that if you boost the bass on an amp, then the thicker strings will be louder even when comparing them on the same note? I know there will be a variation in harmonic/tonal (whatever the term) content but surely not that noticable?[/quote] Try it. Thicker strings have less midrange and treble so when adjusted to sound equally loud they will contain more lows. Then boost the lows and enharmonic notes get louder by a greater degree on thicker strings. Also if you adjust your pickups to get you the right balance at very low SPL it will not be right at very high SPL. All tied in with how poor human ears are at hearing lows. Alex

[quote name='cheddatom' post='452317' date='Apr 2 2009, 12:18 PM']Even if he's playing the same pitch on each string?[/quote] Same note, different tonal content. This is such a common problem and almost always is due to a lack of midrange in the sound or incorrectly adjusted pickup heights. I recommend adjusting the bridge pickup first, get that balanced string to string and nice and loud, then adjust the neck pickup to get equal loudness (which usually requires having the neck pickup lower). Because the thicker strings have more magnetic material for the pickup to sense they end up being louder unless you increase the gap between them and the pickup. Alex

Don't like his playing, don't like his tone, don't like his clothes, but strangely I do like his attitude - even though I often disagree! Alex

I only have a handful of big band albums but I love these two almost polar opposites: Frank Sinatra & The Count Basie Orchestra - Sinatra at The Sands Jaco Pastorius - Invitation Alex

Yes, I was puzzled by that too. Without Vas you have no idea what the driver will do in such a small cab. Here's another thought - plead with Andy Lewis @ Acme to sell you one of his custom drivers. He normally only sells them as replacements for blown Acme woofers but I'd expect one of them to work better than any other 10" you can buy in a 3-way bass guitar cab. Alex

[quote name='Johngh' post='451882' date='Apr 1 2009, 07:39 PM']Could be batterys, but usually when they go, they go very quickly. The batterys on my active basses normally sound a little fuzzy and then more or less 20 minutes playing time later they are flat.[/quote] I think that'll depend on the discharge curve of the battery and the minimum voltage the preamp requires to work. Alex

Raise the pickups on the D&G side and lower them on the E&A side. Are you boosting the lows on your amp? Doing so can make the lower strings louder and thus mean you lose the higher strings. Alex

Have a look at the Ciare neo 10"s. Neo magnet will need to be about 7oz I think. Alex

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='451867' date='Apr 1 2009, 07:02 PM']Everybody is talking about these funk monsters... but what about the girls? We've got Meshell Ndegeocello - but who are the real groovers with the feel amongst the ladies? Rocco is a rare breed... the white dude don't usually have what he got [/quote] I don't care whether they're male or female, black or white, I'm just naming the ones that really stand out. Meshell is great and has a very distinct vibe but she's not one of the originators, she's part of the next generation. Love how greasy she gets and the go-go feel. Flea is a second generation stand-out because that one Chilis album is so fantastic and his playing on it is as authentic as any brother's. Also nice use of multi-tracked bass, fretted and fretless, non-standard tunings, four and five, effected and even some slapping (though rather unfunkily on that track). Alex

[quote name='cris the man' post='451825' date='Apr 1 2009, 06:21 PM']My Dean Edge Q6 bass over time has suddenly been sounding fuzzier and is always breaking the cones on my amp i am using a half stack 4x10 but never going beyond 3/4 full volume.[/quote] If you're blowing speakers then you're pushing the cab too hard. Most amps reach full power at only 1/2 volume (technically half gain). Fuzzy sounding basses is indeed likely to be a battery issue. Not a lot else to go wrong! Alex

This is great, none of those damned decibels or watts... Alex

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='451781' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:51 PM']It's easy. Stand there with a bass in your hands and do nothing. Afterall, it's more about what you don't play than what you do.[/quote] Man don't gotta do a lot, dig? Alex

It's all in the game. Alex

[quote name='walbassist' post='451719' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:07 PM']I've recently switched to Euphonic Audio from Epifani and the difference is amazing with my acoustic basses and guitars. I think my Wal sounds better through EA too.[/quote] My old Acmes were amazing with acoustic instruments, and although I haven't tried them like this I'm sure my Big Series cabs will be equally nice, especially with the optional tweeter. When you know what an instrument sounds like acoustically the benefits of less coloured speakers becomes much more obvious! Alex

[quote name='51m0n' post='451746' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:26 PM']So not the Glitter Band then?[/quote] Well at least Glam knew how to shuffle. That mantle has now been taken by Status Quo who will protect it with their live(lihoods)... Alex

[quote name='51m0n' post='451738' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:23 PM']Who is the drummer?[/quote] Mike Clark. Same as on Thrust. He and Paul Jackson grew up playing funk in the Bay Area scene along with LG, Bobby Vega and Rocco. The two of them are telepathic. Actual Proof was a first take! Alex

[quote name='AM1' post='451728' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:16 PM']I agree. It's almost a musical "personality" - but that should not exclude learning/playing other styles. But yeah, I think everyone has a "definitive" style that they are more suited to/more drawn to than others. I asked a few bass tutors this question "What's your favourite style to play" and they all respond the same way, I'll play/teach any style you want. That does not work for me. If you are set on learning one style then it should be from a master of that style and someone who has pure passion for that style. A purist viewpoint maybe but that's how I feel.[/quote] No, I completely agree. At some point I may have some lessons to get me playing jazz, though that'll be way in the future, am busy enough being a singing/writing/bandleading bassist and making the odd bass cab or ten whilst doing another fulltime job! There are an awful lot of bassists out there that think they can play funk and frankly haven't got a clue. The biggest giveaway is when you ask them to teach you funk and they show you how to slap - run away!!! I may sound bullish about this but I have a big inner afro and I'm not afraid to use it. Alex

[quote name='The Funk' post='451723' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:12 PM']I'd almost go as far as to say the very best. One of my three biggest influences.[/quote] "f*** fingerings, it's all in how you pull the strings!" Alex P.S. Not exactly where to start with playing funk! Buy the album (does anyone other than me still do that?) Herbie Hancock - Thrust. It stands alone, truly mindblowing and original funk jazz.

[quote name='AM1' post='451712' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:02 PM']That's true but it would kill Faith No More's rock vibe if they tried to be funky. Tracks like A Small Victory or even digging the grave would NEVER work if funkified! Mike Patton's voice is too good for rock style to sing funk style anyway.[/quote] Oh I totally agree. I just find that cover rather bizarre. I suppose my point in a round about way is that you shouldn't really play in a 'style', you should just be you. It all comes down to that elusive feel thing. I love musicians that really have an identity - Bonham, Bill Ward, Carlton Barrett, Billy Cobham. And of course Bill Melis, my rather fine if exceedingly grumpy and always rubbish in rehearsals but great under pressure drummer. If you don't have a B in your name then it just isn't going to happen on the drums. Alex

Hold your horses, I'm away Friday to Sunday so I shall get them sent out on Monday! Why do I get the feeling I'm doing two jobs at once? Alex

[quote name='The Funk' post='451701' date='Apr 1 2009, 04:51 PM']Couldn't agree more about War Pigs! Also, if you want a funky punk bassist, apart from the obvious choice of Flea, check out some of Duff McKagan's lines a bit more closely. "It's So Easy" is seriously groovy.[/quote] Yep, there's some great playing on Appetite - Mr Brownstone was an old favourite of mine. GnR had an amazing ability to have tons of guitar but playing off each other and really hitting the right accents - not many two guitar rock bands come close to that. This is what happens when all this rock and funk and metal (and reggae) seeps into a new tune: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=45018"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=45018[/url] Alex

[quote name='AM1' post='451693' date='Apr 1 2009, 04:46 PM']It's not so much a case of going from one to the other, I've always loved both and was listening to Physical Graffiti and the uplift mofo party plan at the same time as a teenager. Geezer Butler is a great groove player. Check out Lady Evil.[/quote] Yes, he's certainly in the pocket there. But for me Black Sabbath is never quite right without the majestic Bill Ward on drums - so loose and wide and groovacious! And there lies the horror of drummers and funk - if they can't play funk then neither can you. It seems strange that this should be the case, when you listen to P-Funk about 75% of the time the beat is the standard rock pattern, but there's a subtle shift in feel required that completely transforms the vibe. If you've heard Faith No More's cover of War Pigs you can hear a fine example of how straightening out the feel totally defunks it. Alex

[quote name='The Funk' post='451654' date='Apr 1 2009, 04:13 PM']OMG! F*ck that one - they have a Bernard Purdie one!!! My favourite drummer of all time.[/quote] Too smooth! Also if you're coming to funk from rock there is a wealth of fantasic late '60s/early '70s rock that straddles the funk/rock gap. Some deeply funk laden moments in Led Zeppelin and this particular favourite of mine from Black Sabbath - so dirty, so greasy and so dark: The shift from this to The Meters is not as far as you'd think - both the drummers and bass players have remarkably similar feels. And in more recent times RATM and even Korn have funked out, though from more of a hip hop perspective. Alex

[quote name='The Funk' post='451623' date='Apr 1 2009, 03:51 PM']I mentioned [i]If You Want Me To Stay[/i] because the only difference between that bassline and a pumping 1/8th notes punk rock bassline is the accents that Garry mentioned earlier.[/quote] Sly Stone is generally a good starting place. "Everyday People" is open E 8th notes all the way through the song. d-dah-d-dah. Staccato-Legato etc. "Thank You (falletmebemiceelf)" is a dead simple thumpin' n' pluckin' thang. Larry Graham is great feel-wise because he generally lays it right down the middle of the beat, none of the weird Rocco topspin or George Porter Jr laying back. (Though check his overdubbed fuzz on "Dance to the Music" - he sits the fuzz line behind the beat but the clean line on the beat. Genius!) Alex

I recently experienced a folk band with a bass viol, one of those 6-string upright bass type things with catgut frets, at a local barn dance. Cool to see such a beast in usage, shame it was being piloted by a holder rather than a player. Alex