Rich

Excellent review, and good pics too. Was there a particular reason why you didn't have a matching mahogany back too, to complete the full hippy-sandwich? Not that it detracts from this extraordinary instrument in any way.

Perhaps the answer is to wire the gtrs and basses up so they can't actually be played or even picked up without being unlocked. And keep the kettle leads for the synths etc. behind the counter.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='542894' date='Jul 17 2009, 09:02 AM']I may be wrong, but I would hazard a bet that anyone who has had problems, has encountered a younger member of staff. Saying that, it can go the opposite way, with the older boss having served his countless years in the business, which have rendered him a miserable cynic.[/quote] I'm glad you added the proviso at the end because it seems pretty much everybody here who has suffered appalling service at 'a certain bass shop located near Tottenham Court Road' received it from a certain senior staff member. Conversely, the staff member generally held to be their best was much younger. If there's a problem with young members of staff it usually seems to be lack of knowledge rather than surliness or arrogance, well that's in my experience anyway.

Blimey, I wouldn't have put money on there being two bassists with that name... I remember seeing him with NYJO back in 90/91 or so... what a ridiculously talented bunch of kids

Still playing, by the looks of it. [url="http://www.yell.com/b/Mark+Ong+Bass++Improvisation+Teacher-Music+Teachers-Norwich-NR65SL-4341541/index.html"]http://www.yell.com/b/Mark+Ong+Bass++Impro...1541/index.html[/url] [url="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alpha-Q/61492774424"]http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alpha-Q/61492774424[/url]

[quote name='Linus27' post='540470' date='Jul 14 2009, 04:57 PM']Am I the only one who fell for the whole, rock and roll, get in a band, get drunk, strap your bass around your waist, look sexy, get in a fight, look cool and pull lots of chicks approach to bass playing? [/quote] I fell for the whole rock and roll, get in a band, have a few beers, strap your bass on at a comfortable height, who cares how it looks, avoid getting in fights because it's really dumb, look average and not pull all that many chicks but who cares 'cos I just love playing, approach to bass playing

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='539063' date='Jul 13 2009, 03:30 AM']I used to hate the way shop assistants played slap for a couple of minutes and then hand it to you.[/quote] Whenever that happened, I'd take the bass, play two notes, say "nah it's sh*t" and give it straight back.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Tokai had a better resale value than the Epi..!

And I get to stand behind them while they wiggle. Oh man, I [i]love[/i] my gig

[quote name='Stan_da_man' post='534933' date='Jul 7 2009, 05:29 PM']Are you trying to have an argument on purpose? I'd rather not discuss it on a public forum, please PM me if you have a problem.[/quote] Not at all, neither the 5 minute argument nor the full half hour. With my point about inverse snobbery, I was merely offering a counterpoint to your original statement... I wasn't talking about any one person in particular, any more than you were. OK?

Made by the Stradivarius of the computer game world, and that really is the reality of the situation. EDIT: perhaps that should be the Amstradivarius..?

[quote name='Stan_da_man' post='532423' date='Jul 4 2009, 01:34 PM']Shame I don't fall into that category then seeing as I play an Overwater.[/quote] Did I mention you specifically..?

I managed to pick up (pardon the pun) some of these [url="http://gitarren-mechaniken.de/hp135068/JBX-_Bridge.htm?ITServ=CY175340a4X12250fe6d1aXY6c29"]Schaller JBX[/url]s for next to nothing some time ago. I haven't got round to fitting them yet. Anybody got any experience of them?

For me, the most amazing and useful progression since those 70s days has been in terms of amplification. Back then it was a choice between a handful of very similar amps plus, as chris said, any cab you wanted as long as it was a 4x12. Now, the sky's the limit. Valves, solidstate, hybrid, parametric, graphic, semi-parametric, compression, built-in FX, super-efficient power amps, modelling, 600 watt amps weighing 3lbs, lightweight cabs with 8s, 10s, 12s, 15s, 18s even, normal speakers, neo speakers... Ye gods, we don't know we're born.

[quote name='7string' post='533464' date='Jul 6 2009, 12:33 AM']It's really all a nonsense anyway. There isn't a 'perfect' bass just opinions on what the 'perfect' instrument is. If you love your Encore then that's fine, if you love your Fodera that's fine as well. I'm sure there players, like myself, who have basses which others would consider far from 'perfect', but who cares? Each to their own and respect is due to every bass player here, be they a beginner or pro.[/quote] +10000000000 And at that point, please can everybody direct any further Fodera/other top-end bass related postings to the 'Boutique basses' thread. Back onto the specific BGM topic here, please.

When I use a pick, it's a Dunlop 1mm black nylon. I sometimes use a thick brass one, gets a really gritty sound as it scrapes on the string windings -- it's like a hand-held overdrive pedal

OK peeps, the Fodera thing has had its 15 minutes on this thread -- there's a 'boutique basses' thread running elsewhere, so continue on p.94 of that one if you really want to. [quote name='gwizmon' post='532575' date='Jul 4 2009, 07:12 PM']"Argos Encore Basses - a world leader in [b]bouncy dialled-in [/b]mail order [b]signature[/b] tone"[/quote] Good review, but I think it needs these additions Seriously -- Janek, I like your idea of a thread which discusses melodic development in modern music and what possibilities lie ahead for our industry and for us as players. Fancy starting one?

[quote name='Stan_da_man' post='532016' date='Jul 3 2009, 08:53 PM']Seeing as my comment sparked this thread I'll just say this - Some people who have said boutique basses are worth the money, others would say are brand snobs.[/quote] Conversely: Some people who have said boutique basses are stupid and definitely not worth the money, others would say are inverse snobs.

What is this Over the Hill Water bass of which you speak? Seriously though, Overwater are my 2nd favourite UK custom builder, and that's against some stiff competition. I chatted to Chris May for quite a while at a guitar show once, a lovely guy with a genuine passion for the craft. Alas, I think the closest I'll get to owning a 'real' Overwater is one of their School basses (which I bought as a basket case and am very gradually bringing back to life).

[quote name='wulf' post='531421' date='Jul 3 2009, 09:52 AM']The two things I find trickiest when it comes to the bass solo are: a) I've been concentrating on holding together the foundation of the song. Switching to something more melodic can be tricky. With the group I've played with most, the tendency is for everyone else to drop out, so I'm left exposed, trying to maintain a foundation, soar lyrically and remember where I am in the form![/quote] The two things I find trickiest when it comes to the bass solo are: a] Coming up with something that doesn't sound like the bass is being dropped down a stairwell. b] see a] above. I really cannot solo to what I consider a passable standard, and hate doing so. I love listening to good solos, as long as they are melodic -- I take my hat off unreservedly to anyone who can play a whistle-able tune as their solo. One of my favourites is Gary Willis' solo on 'Canine' by Tribal Tech. It always makes me smile.

If you spend £300 on a bass and it does everything you want and plays how you want it to, then it's worth every penny to you. If you spend £1500 on a bass and it does everything you want and plays how you want it to, then it's worth every penny to you. If you spend £3000 on a bass and it does everything you want and plays how you want it to, then it's worth every penny to you. etc.