purpleblob

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='679831' date='Dec 10 2009, 02:19 AM']This feels like a really silly question but I genuinely don't get it. If you're going to name the notes after letters of the alphabet, why would C be first? Or does all this relate to some other alphabet?[/quote] I have to say that's a damn good question ! In terms of the C scale as has already been stated, it has no sharps/flats to is conceptually simpler to begin with but why on earth was it named C. Time to google for the answer...

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='679095' date='Dec 9 2009, 02:27 PM']Could it have been Alpha Music? I think they were down the bottom of Briggate somewhere, I forget exactly, always had a couple of huge Hammonds just inside the door that they were never going to sell... They moved to York, by the train station, and a year or so later closed down.[/quote] Thanks - that name rings a bell. But back in my day I don't think organs would have got the time of day there. Used to be very much guitar and bass focused.

Hey guys - not wishing to hijack this thread. But many many years ago I used to play in a band around Leeds and there was a pretty good music store over the bridge (near a load of pawn brokers). Music ground used to be around the corner under from it (I assume where thisnameistaken mentions) - if anyone knows what I'm talking about, is that store still there ?

For crying out load ! There are at least five instruments on BC and ebay now that I'd love to own and I've either no money or nothing to trade. I give up That looks like one hell of an instrument.

[quote name='Lylodile' post='675936' date='Dec 6 2009, 06:00 PM']Black defo.[/quote] +1

[quote name='Doddy' post='666390' date='Nov 26 2009, 04:06 PM']I don't get it. I liked the guy when he was in Jamiroquai,but he's not really done much since has he?[/quote] Jamiroquai wouldn't have got where they are today without Zender's superb bass lines (obviously my opinion). Whilst Jay has a great voice it was the combination with Zender's bass that made them stand out and I'm really disappointed that he seems to have now disappeared into bass folklore

[quote name='4000' post='665629' date='Nov 25 2009, 09:34 PM']Sounds like the first band were probably actually jazz, as Marcus certainly isn't.[/quote] Umm, wow. I'm not sure what to say to that. I thought I was at a Jazz festival listening to music from the album "Tutu" by the Jazz trumpet player Miles Davies, played by a bass player who was a winner of "best contemporary jazz album" and who has also played with many great contemporary jazz musicians. We'd better ask him (or whoever maintains) his facebook page to change the genre as it mistakenly says "Jazz" EDIT: Oh and he plays a Jazz bass

As others have said. The support band weren't very good (in my opinion). They could obviously play, but they just didn't seem to want to play the same tune It's the type of "jazz" that I really can't take to. The double bass player worked his socks off. But trumpet and sax seemed to do that thing where they play one not, stop and play it again (the repeat) - well certainly for the first tune but by the end of that I'd lost interest, so couldn't say what they did the rest of the set. Thankfully they weren't on for long. Marcus ran the show when he came on. Fantastic grooves and the young guys he had (on drums, trumpet and sax.) were truly brilliant, as, of course, was Marcus. Keyboards occasionally seemed to struggle (just in my opinion). But all in all a great night from some great musicians.

I've so wanted a piccolo since my earliest days of listening to Stanley Clarke, but never found anything suitable (such as a cheap Stanley Clarke Alembic picollio ).

Wow, that's expensive ! It must be due to the exotic woods used - umm no, Ash and maple. Must be the 24 carat gold h/w, umm no. The pre-amp, umm no. Well I'm stumped, do I get Marcus Miller with it ?

Fantastic stuff - these brought back some memories. Saw them live in Leeds around '84 (I think it was) and at the time I was playing metal, but listening to the Early Tapes a hell of lot as well - totally broadened my horizon's. This is still one of my all time fav. tunes [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWuhUmAugRs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWuhUmAugRs[/url]

I don't think I've ever heard a good bass sound with distortion on it. So not for me I'm afraid. But I'm generally open for my mind to be changed

Technically brilliant. Musical, doesn't float my boat. But hey, each to their own

[quote name='Buzz' post='650757' date='Nov 10 2009, 03:39 PM']Besides, I think this thread has gone on a tangent from the OP who was asking about what is better for the bass to focus on: the bass carrying the music or the music carrying the technique to whether the bass can/is an expressive instrument.[/quote] Quite correct - this is going off on a tangent. "would you rather hear melodic bass lines that compliment the song, or would you rather hear super techniques that blow you away" this is simple for me, it's the music that matters the most and a melody to me is far more important than going "wow that was some cool technique". But some musicians can combine super technique and musicality (oh how I hate them ). "ive often said that i play bass for the bigger picture which i stand by, but does our bass playing fall on deaf ears", as I'm sure you already know all instruments tend to fall on deaf ears of those interested solely in the music as a whole (i.e. forgetting musicians who are picky about everything ). Very few people go "oh listen to this drum beat" or "that sax is so good". I mean at the end of the day it's the composition the majority of people listen to - the some of the parts, if you will. But then ofcourse, sometimes, an instrument plays something so cool or catchy that everyone says "listen to the bass", such as Good Times by Chic. Bernard Edward's bassline has been used again and again and I suspect most people know it's a bass and can hum the line

I have to say I'm surprised by some of the comments on BC in the past on similar topics and again here. The unique thing about the bass is that it can in fact do so much in the right hands. Before I go off on a rant, let me say from the outset, technique for technique's sake is, imho a waste of time. The music [b]must[/b] come first and the bass line must suit the song just as the drums should and so on. Now whether you play a bassline where there you play three notes but each has lots of feel and groove or whether you play a single note bass line thundering along under a heavy rock track or if you play melody or chords or a complex solo or whatever is neither here nor there. It's what you say musically that matters the most and thus I believe there are still many possibilities musically for the bass. [rant on] Why should a bass be thought of as just a backing instrument and felt but never heard ? Should a bass line be limited to walking line or a root for a guitarist ? Remember not that long ago a guitar was a background instrument and look where it is now, and no, I'm not saying that the bass neccesarily will be in the same place as a guitar (or that it should be) it's a different instrument. But why should we limit our imagination just because some think a bass should be four strings (maybe 5) and play boom boom boom along with the bass drum. There's room in the musical spectrum for Sheehan, Clarke, Wotten et al as well those guys doing perfectly good jobs play root notes in time with the bass drum. [rant off] I do not advocate that all music/songs require a bass solo or slap maniac or chordal playing, but I am saying there's plenty of room for all styles of playing in music just as long as it's done for the music's sake and not just to show of the players latest cool technique.

Congrats on your engagement and bagging such a thoughtful young lady. Hmm that's made me think. I seem to remember buying my wife an enagement ring (those many years ago), but don't recall her ever getting me anything in return. I think it's time to call in that debt with a call to the bass gallery

I've had unlined and now a lined and I think bilbo is spot on that it's best that your ear maintains your intonation, therefore not having lines forces you to listen more to what you're playing. However, personally I just feel more comfortable having lines. For me they're like having an air bag in a car, I don't neccesarily use it, but it's damn good to have it in case I need to

As has already been mentioned there is another thread on BC regarding the basscentre web/mail order business. As I've not yet had experience of them on this front I cannot comment. But before they went totally online I found them very helpful (when they were in Wapping and more recently near Liverpool St.), but from what others have said it sounds like they're having teething issues getting used to dealing totally online, I'd suggest you to do a search on BC and read those comments for a clearer picture. As I've said on a previous thread, it's an utter shame that they no longer have a "proper" shop as they were the mecca for bassists back in the day.

Welcome ! And I echo the comment from arsenic "just keep away from the for sale section, unless you want to end penniless". I've already ended up buying kit more since joining basschat than the previous five years

I have some serious GAS for one of these (and a Wal Custom fretless ). This may be a difficult question to answer, but what sort of sonic qualities (if any) do you feel the neck constructions givs to the sound ? Anyway, nice instrument. Cheers Mark