Mykesbass

[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1357814541' post='1928719'] I honestly can't remember guys. However, on another note, I've an audition for an established function band tonight. Not been with a function band before so should be interesting. One thing that does strike me as peculiar, is the band want their old bass player present in the audition. I can only assume its to see if I'm similar to the old guy, but surely they'd know that regardless. Any of you lot auditioned for a band but had to get the old bassist's approval? [/quote] May make it a little awkward for you but nice for them to have a trusted pair of ears specifically listening to the bass, and listening whilst not playing. As others have said, I think it bodes well for the band that he is leaving in such a mature and professional manner.

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1357815185' post='1928737'] Good god, I hate being out of the loop [/quote] Legendary rant in the f/s section, all in block capitals and loads of typo's including calling the forum A WASTE OF TIM. You really had to be there

[quote name='urban Bassman' timestamp='1357729851' post='1927265'] Indeed welcome, from a fellow West Sussex-er - Burgess Hill. Plenty to see and do here. [/quote] And welcome from another Burgess Hillian - although "Urban" is probably a bit strong for our little town I work in Fontwell so should pop over one lunchtime to see your place. Cheers, Mike

But is it art or entertainment?

Having started on guitar I thought using a pick on a bass would be quite natural for me. For some strange reason it feels completely alien and I just can't do it at all. If I ever want that tone I have to put thumb and first finger together and use the fingenail. I now find that when I go back to guitar I don't use a pick which I couldn't really do before I started mainly playing bass. Sorry, doesn't help, but I do like your fix!

Fabulous board and the combination of that and a plain black body is gorgeous. Great choice.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1357562295' post='1924434'] Like it, Nige. I think I get where the original concept came from ( ) but I love what Kit's done with it. Great lyrics too, well worth highlighting. [/quote] Think of all those horribly young people who won't have a clue Jack Great song Nige, and lovely take on the old classic video. Good luck with cracking it this year. Mike

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1357499138' post='1923625'] Just opinions i suppose - I thought it was well put together. Garry [/quote] I thought they lost it when Allen (Keys) left.......

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1357312199' post='1920790'] I learnt a few chords on guitar at the age of ten, but never pursued it because I just did not think that I would ever be good enough to become a musician. But around five or six years ago in my [b][i]mid-fifties[/i][/b], I was the physio of a football club, and the players had put together a make-shift band to play at the end of season presentation night, and they needed a bass player, so I volunteered thinking that they would not be that good, and I wont look too out of place just playing root notes with a few little fills here and there. At the first rehearsal, I was shocked to find that they were all decent musicians, with quite a bit of gigging experience behind them, but I couldn't wriggle out of it as they had no one else they could call on. So for the few weeks leading up to the big night, I set about finding tabs and YouTube video's of the SIX songs we were to play. The crowd seemed to like what we played, and I must have been ok'ish, or at least shown some potential, because they decided to form a proper band, and asked if I would be interested in being the bass player. I have now gigged regularly since then with various bands, but I don't know any theory, I don't know any scales or stuff like that, I don't know what they are talking about when they speak in musical terms etc... and I've never had a lesson in my life, but I can learn a song pretty quickly just by listening to it, and working it out myself, or sometimes if it's a difficult bass line, I might look for a tutorial video to help me. I know how to play the original bass line to around 200 songs, although I do like putting my own take on things, but I still don't believe I can class myself as a musician, because I know nothing about music, other that I can remember where my fingers go. [u][i]So, my question is this:[/i][/u] Can I call myself a [b][i]musician[/i][/b], or do I just have a good [b][i]memory[/i][/b]? [/quote] To get this back on track, if you can do this then yes, there must be some inherent musicality in you, and therefore, you are a musician. Also the fact that you want to do it adds to you being one in my opinion.

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1357498262' post='1923598'] Just put it all down to ABBA and Meatballs. He will get over it in time. Garry [/quote] And Ikea - their second album was terrible

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1357492525' post='1923465'] I like fretless because it sounds different, and it's a sound I like... that's about it. Those typical fretless slides can get tiring pretty fast, but -like slap- if not overdone, they add another level of expression on bass. And when using an octave pedal, or some kind of synth, the fretless can be extremely cool. You can play it like a fretted bass... "with extras". Lined fretless are extremely easy to get used to, in my experience, but unlined is easier than it seems. The side dots are enough to help with navigation when jumping abot the fretboard a bit. The thing is that, if you have played bass already for some time, your hands know where the notes are better than you probably realise. Of course, on fretless you need to be pretty accurate or it sounds terribly off, but it doesn't take too long to be able to play it "alright". You quickly get used to "cheating", like adding a bit of vibrato immediately if you fall short or overshoot a sustained note, and if in doubt aim short and "microslide" up to the correct note. etc. To get to play like Pino... yeah, that's going to take a while and a lot of dedication... but you can play alright without as much effort as many think. Of course, it's not instant either... Another cool thing of the fretless, in some situations, is that you are less likely to get asked "can I play your bass, mate?" [/quote] Same here, I don't play in an obvious fretless way, I just always liked them and ended up going that way exclusively a couple of years ago. And yes, I love the "can I play your bass" quote - even more so, mines 5 string

So our 12 year old Swedish friend finally nails his colours to the mast and proclaims The Mahavishnu Orchestra to be music whilst Jennifer Lopez isn't. Well, tell you what, I'm very happy over here in the clown camp 'cos I gave up on that masturbatory twaddle thirty odd years ago when someone opened my ears to the Count Basie Orchestra - never looked back!

Just been listening to some live Average White Band so got to say Alan Gorrie/Steve Ferrone, although on some tracks Gorrie and Hamish Stuart swap bass and guitar duties.

We're really happy with our Mackie Thumps - both 15 and 12. We put vox, acoustic guitar, mandolin and sometimes DI lead guitar (mainly for monitoring). We're not a loud band but they've always done everything we've asked of them and never had them turned up past halfway. Brilliant to carry about as well!

Heard them on Craig Charles a few months back, couldn't believe I'd never come across them before. Wonderful stuff and hoping to find some affordable vinyl for my new turntable - bet it sounds great analogue!

[quote name='Johngh' timestamp='1357155312' post='1918360'] [/quote] Bit harsh - he doesn't really deserve that (yet)

To argue if it is possible to be better or worse at art means that someone must set out agreed standards of what is good and what is bad. It's a bit like trying to compare Rothko to Constable, it can't be done, or if it is, it is meaningless. Whether you like it or not, popular music is art - just like I don't like John Constable but I couldn't argue that his populist style is not art. Part of the art of popular music is the image - from band logos to record sleeves to what the bands wear and play on stage. So cut out this absolute nonsense of the mediocre, stop belittling some great forum members who work very succesfully in this artform of which you obviously do not approve and then perhaps we'll join in your threads in a more constructive manner. A clown

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1357124197' post='1917651'] Its all a bit pointless, anyway. Music isn't a competition, its an enjoyable experience. [/quote] Sorry no, that's entertainment

[quote name='Inti' timestamp='1356953452' post='1915444'] We know were you stand. No need to be offensive in an individual manner. [/quote] "Et Tu Brute"

[quote name='Inti' timestamp='1356948857' post='1915375'] One of you is a musician while the other is an entertainer. Simple. Entertainers don't like the idea though so they think they are musicians...hence the confusion. A true musician doesn't approach music from an economical or an image-fixated standpoint. A musician cares about sound and creation, not how many chicks he'll have because he looked cool or the check he may get for moving his ass behind a fender. f*** the music industry. [/quote] What a ridiculously arrogant and pretentious post! Why on earth can't a musician be an entertainer? It's art, and art is there to be appreciated/enjoyed, and if you are appreciating/enjoying something then it is entertaining.

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1356917546' post='1915231'] Big difference between 'want' and 'need'. We all only [i]need[/i] one bass, but the wanting is a very different story entirely for many of us. I have far more than I need, but there's still 5 or 6 that I want! [/quote] [quote name='MrTaff' timestamp='1356920462' post='1915239'] I certainly need more than one, we swap between standard & drop c tuning a few times during a set, so that's 2 different basses needed. Are people really gigging without a backup? [/quote] Again, you don't really need a second bass - you could play the standard tuning songs on the drop C bass or learn all the repertoire on a 5 string, so really, the two bass option is still a choice, making it a want reather than need. Not criticising your choice here by the way, just making the point that it is a choice not a necessity.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1356749851' post='1913289'] I don't get this at all. You wouldn't presume to comment on what gear the drummer or guitard are using, so why people think it's acceptable to make a decision about what instrument a bass player uses (when they know nothing about bass playing) is beyond me. [/quote] Not so sure about this. I have come across drum snobbery - a jam night where the guy that ran it (a drummer) once brought just kick, snare and hi-hat with the comment "that'll sort the men out from the boys"!

Bagged by Chimike. For anyone who fancies a bit of a tinker. Yamaha BBT 500H - early class D haven't been able to find anyone to repair this - may suit electronic buff. Hartke HA2500 - This developed an odd fault - would have to put a lot of signal through it and all of a sudden it would burts into life. This started to take longer and longer, and now I don't think it will fire up. Free to anyone who can collect but if you do get them working I'd like you to promise a donation to BC! Cheers, Mike

[quote name='sshorepunk' timestamp='1356353121' post='1909410'] Yeah, Slade and a Shiraz, Tony [/quote] Ould have at least kept in the spirit of teh age with some Hungarian Bulls Blood or Watney's Red Barrel!

In - 5 string fretless take on a 50's P by Shuker Out - Cort GB75 with fretless board by Shuker Out - Lovely Peavey valve power amp and Pevey valve pre - got to heavy for my arthritic hands In - Fabulous Carvin BX500 valve pre, Class D power. Still wary of Class D reliability but this sounds great and I'm sure the technology has improved from my first foray into it.