fatback

Have you tried this? [url="http://www.guitardaterproject.org/Yamaha.aspx"]http://www.guitardaterproject.org/Yamaha.aspx[/url] If the serial search engine doesn't find your serial, I think I remember that it gives the USA Yamaha phone number for enquiries. I phoned them to date my '83 BB, which wasn't in their list, and they were really helpful. Fatback

[quote]I use a BassPod XT Pro and the Line 6 Shortboard to do exactly that.[/quote] So does that mean using a passive bass? Or at least not using onboard EQ at all? Also, if you've two pups, what you're getting to the outboard preamp and footswitch setup is presumably a mix of your pups. What I would like to have is memory for the pup balance, ie more than just selector switching. fatback

Any prize for this? I drive 400 miles round trip for practices. Although they're not very frequent I admit. This means one of two things, either I am so cr*p I have to travel to the other end of the country to find anyone who will play with me, [i]or[/i] the songs are great. The last is my story, and I'm sticking to it. I will have to get off my ass though and find something more local, but if you're over 30 and you don't want to play weddings, there's not much happening round here.

What I would like out of onboard active is intelligence. Or memory, to be precise. Does anybody make a digital onboard, so you could create presets on the bass and then simply select them with buttons (or whatever). The big + of onboard to me would be rapid sound changes while gigging. Control knobs n dials are great for most things, but no good whatsoever for recreating settings on the fly. This is the 21st century! fatback

[quote]dots arent reliable as they dont cater for parallax looking up the neck[/quote] You're right there. On the rare occasions I find myself at tha altitude, I love my lines. fatback

[quote]The root is King,The 5th is Queen, and the 3rd is the Jack[/quote] I quite like that, actually! I guess I'm chipping in my 10cents because I really believe that keeping it simple shouldn't seem like an argument for not learning whatever there is to learn ( I'm sure you didn't mean it that way). The players I love are the ones who play little but add small touches that are just perfect and nearly always depend on good knowledge. Amazoman, you've a lot of fun ahead of you, learning this stuff. You'll be delighted with yourself. fatback

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='651426' date='Nov 11 2009, 11:03 AM']Learning WHEN to and when NOT TO get clever is as important as learning what to do when you enter that territory.[/quote] +1 to that. But it's also true that it's much easier to play with simplicity when you're confident you could do other things if you wanted. The feeling of not knowing the options is not nice. Twice I sold amazing basses that I loved, and stopped playing for years out of frustration at my own ignorance. Something I deeply regret. That was when the internet resource wasn't what it is now. Get the knowledge, then choose. fatback

Given the serious expertise above, I hesitate to join in this. But I do remember very well the journey from very limited to reasonably competent, so it might be helpful. Try working on the ideas below, one thing at a time. 1. Use the third as well as your roots and fifths to help define whether the chord is major or minor. This is more important when you have a minor. 2. If there's a 7th in the chord, know whether it's major or minor/dominant, and sometimes use it. 3. If there are unusual 'colour' tones in the chord, especially a 6th, try picking it out. 4. Practice playing from one chord into the next using notes common to the two and/or half steps to bridge the gap. This is probably the biggest difference between the beginner and the more educated player. 5. Where a song changes section, there's often a chance to introduce that change using '4' above, and be aware of the dom. (minor) 7th in that job. As for modes, I'd disagree (hesitantly) with the views above. It's important to learn the scales that can go with each chord, and a good way to do that is to learn the modes that go with each chord. There's not a lot to it when you look a it that way. No way am I saying use all the above all the time. I'm only saying that by expeimenting with each of the steps above and building on them one at a time you'll see a big difference in your playing and your confidence. Hope that helps. fatback

Less is more? And less can be melodic, lyrical, startling and ultra effective. Goes for all instruments, not just bass. fatback

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='650281' date='Nov 10 2009, 12:21 AM']Possibly. But then again, I'm aiming at their feet,[/quote] Oh very good. I like that a lot. Read somewhere that violin is so effective a solo instrument cos it shares frequencies with the human voice (or something). Maybe all solo instruments need to be in that region. Not many voices down thaar. fatback

I couldn't understand how anybody could play unlined in tune, until I realised that side markers should be where the frets would be. As soon as I got the side markers shifted to the right places on my lined bb400, I found I wasn't looking at the lines at all. Mind you, I've seen an interview with Jaco in which he sings the praises of lined boards. Something about how the arm angle changes so much with BG in a way it doesn't with URB. Also, I like to move about a lot when playing, and that's hard enough with fretless. If you ask me, being in tune is more important than the look, full stop. fatback

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Bought a terratec sound card from Cliff. Great comms, instant despatch, and expert packaging. Clearly looks after his kit, too. Top guy. Hey Cliff, any chance you can help me package my Xmas prezzies? Cheers, Dave

Had that problem lately and got going again by starting the Aebersold jazz programme from the beginning. I certainly don't want to be (and couldnt even aspire to be) a jazz player, but it's a systematic process; that's the thing. I recommend it. fatback

@ BigRedX cool track. I get the picture. Maybe Ableton is a way to go, although after muc trying I never really took to it. Never needed it live though, and given that that's what it's for, I spose I shouldn;t judge. This Adrenelinn sounds the biz. Something wrong with my GAS. Only one bass, but i'm up to my ass in gadgets. fatback

[quote name='BigRedX' post='645397' date='Nov 4 2009, 04:08 PM']Maybe if you're set on using synchronised effects it's time to look for a more accommodating drummer.[/quote] Yeah, I take the point. Any more things you think I should listen to, i'd be grateful. I do a bit of cubase sequencing stuff on PC, but never thought BG in that context at all. Sounds like it could be inspiring. Can't get enough of that. fatback

Thanks, I'll have a listen to that later (can't access from here). Unfortunately, my fave drummer will not will not will not play to any kind of click. Is there any midi tap tempo type gismo that can be triggered by a bass drum? I guess it'd have to be an awful simple beat, but...? I am soo interested in this. fatback

How about Golden Brown, by way of subversion. Those lil ol' 4/4s will wake them up. fatback

Real interesting stuff. Can you point me to any tracks that use these techniques with bass? I know midi, but never thought of bass guitar being used that way. Mmm. Don't mean to hijacka ya thread. fatback

Try this one: [url="http://www.cyberfretbass.com/misc-wisdom/weinkum/weinkum-pita-exercise/index.php"]http://www.cyberfretbass.com/misc-wisdom/w...rcise/index.php[/url] I've been doing it a while now, and it's outstanding. Idea is, you print out the matrix and then just work through it marking off each one as ye go. Ouch. fatback

Thinking about a waist strap/harness, find a local leather bag maker and talk to them. You'll find them at craft fairs if you want to talk in person. I'd be amazed f you didn't find those folks very helpful and full of ideas. They'd knock up some experimental rigs for you to try out, I expect, before you'd have to order the finished article. Worth a try. fatback

Have you thought of trying to hang the bass off a harness, like a backpack? Or maybe make a belt and see if you can't take the weight on the lower back instead of the shoulders? Hope you find a solution. fatback