4 Strings

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1329302866' post='1540180'] Jeff Beck is one of those guys who plays great, great guitar and who can play some of the most moving rock guitar music ever heard but he can also play some absolute tasteless cack! If I had Tal's gig, I know me and JB would have a falling out every day about his choice of material. I'd have to sack him..... [/quote] I know exactly what you mean- about the first bit anyway. If I had Tal's gig the reference to cack would relate more to my trousers. Yes, its Rainbow etc, so if there's an alternative reason then I'm a little happier. His technique is one of the examples of there being no right or wrong technique for these 'popular' instruments. His left hand wouldn't pass Grade 1, yet would you prefer to listen to a Grade 8 guitar student? Clapton is the same - although I'd take JB anyday. My opinion is that standards have risen immeasurably over the years, playing which made you 'God' in the 60s is now surpassed by teenagers in pub bands. Young Tal's technique is certainly an example for any student (and also those who spend time building up their finger and hand muscles!)

Yep, all good, very nice people all and pleasurable experiences meeting and dealing with them. (Although, I have to say, I've only had good experiences on the dreaded ebay too.)

Jeff is a master of the guitar, I always take opportunities to watch him. Thanks for the links. Who could help a soft spot for Tal and that smile! Its a wonderful gig to have, not the easiest by any means, and she does nothing less than fill it admirably. I'm sure she's a pleasure to have around too. Aussie and 26. I've been playing longer than she's been alive and still working towards that standard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf-J_sJB29Q Refreshing.

Sharing gear is always tricky. Not sure what gigs people do on here, for me its mostly stuff where I need my own gear (ie no other bands playing) and so not a problem, but both my lads play in bands which play in pubs and bars regularly with 3-4 bands and there is ALWAYS gear sharing. Not because people don't have gear, there's just not the space nor time for everyone to have the luxury of their own rig. Its usually the headline band gear but arranged beforehand so people know what to bring. Its just the way it is. Its never 'posh' gear but I find it refreshing the respect the different bands give each other and their gear and lack of pre-madonna attitudes about sound and always grateful. Bass playing son has an old, s\h Hartke head and cab, nothing worth much, and it gets used all night if he's last on. In what much be well over a hundred gigs between them only problem has been someone's bass cab blew while my son was playing. An issue at the time, wasn't his fault (he knows what he's doing) and they came to an amicable arrangement about its repair (son didn't need to pay in the end). Not sure how things would work if everyone said 'not using my gear'.

It's clearly an amazing achievement (never seen a Hipshot solo before!) and I'm sure I don't understand what he's doing enough to appreciate it fully but I'm not warmed by it nor wanting to play like it. I wouldn't buy an album of his. Perhaps its like looking at Bugatti sports car or a 60"tv, amazing but I can't think of a use for it.

Maybe all this will be sorted by the new Matamp - for which I'm still waiting. They said 2-3 weeks for it to be available 1-2 weeks back and I'm an impatient sort.

Definitely not. EBO copy, nothing more than dreadful in every way. Don't miss my second bass either, Hondo Precision. Looked great in natural but weighed a ton. Regret selling my third though, black/black/maple '73 Precision.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1329069952' post='1536770'] John changed the pickups in my first JD no questions asked too. Unfortunately I hadn't asked him to and I preferred the originals! I sold it soon after. So what was MK's action like then John? And how heavy was the bass (it was walnut instead of mahogany)? [/quote] Yes, regardless of different neck experiences mahogany basses are not the lightest.

Horrible story about the bad Jaydee. Real shame it wasn't sorted and I can understand why wombatboter would have a poor regard for the basses. Would like to think John would have made more of an effort. I suppose there's always likely to be a rogue one every now and then, especially with the basses being hand made. No excuse though and I'm sorry to read about your experience.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1328987899' post='1535805'] Changing the preamp didn't change anything about the sound apart from making it sound more sparkly. Sound definitely comes from the wood and more specifically the neck wood. [/quote] So changing the preamp changed nothing but the sound. Have to disagree about the contribution to the sound made by wood and pickups.

[quote name='Mylkinut' timestamp='1328933784' post='1535063'] In this economic climate we probably are more worried about resale than we normally would be. That said, the case for my '97 Precision has '8 Ball Joe' sprayed on it. The chap I bought it from said it was done by the guy who owned it before him. It's an excellent band name and it's now my Precision's name. Looks awesome. [/quote] Character! We all want our stuff to be individual, yours clearly is. I think the relative cost of gear (ie as a % of typical income) is a fraction of what it used to be in the 60s-70s, well good gear anyway. Things have changed.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1328943325' post='1535075'] I had Series II for 12 years but sold it after someone in the Netherlands offered me 1300 quid for it and it simply wasn't giving me the warmth I wanted for a main bass. I loved the body and neck on mine, the necks shift because of the mahogany and walnut in them. Neither are rigid woods but they are also responsible for the distinct sound of the instruments although the ebony fingerboard helps to some degree. [/quote] I haven't heard they had a reputation for necks moving. Sound is from the preamp and pickups. Ebony just lasts a long time and the mahogany sandwich neck doesn't have the dead spots you find in solid maple necks (around the 5th fret on the G string).

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1328878268' post='1534189'] Resale value only matters if you're actually going to sell the bass. Unless you've bought the instrument purely for investment purposes, surely it's more important than your bass functions in the way that you want than any hypothetical value for selling it on. In which case you should probably get rid of it and use the money to buy something that is exactly what you want. [/quote] Absolutely, Fenders are not sacred, even if mass produced in the US as opposed to anywhere else. They really are not valuable enough for you to not make them be what YOU want them to be. I have a '76 Precision with a wonderful history, which dearly I love and would hate the tiniest mark being made on it. However, its there to serve me, its a tool for my Motown band and it has to do the job. It has straplocks, for example. If I needed to change anything else, I would. Its valuable, in great nick but its there for me. If I change something it may affect the resale value to some extent, but even that small amount of money is not sacred either. It seems to be only the old days when people sprayed the name of their band on their gear, now no-one would dare deface their wooden boxes. Are we now too materialistic, too worried about resale?

[quote name='yorick' timestamp='1328772470' post='1532325'] Still have mine after 18 years... Nuff said [/quote] Bought my Roadie 1A new in 1985, still have it, will be in my will. No bendy necks, had to adjust it once since I had it when it spent a week in a cold basement. Well, twice, adjusted it back again after I got home. Neck is sooooper fast!

2nd hand Hartke amp and cab. Great sound, valve preamp, loads of power and should get change for a set of strings.

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1328822772' post='1533396'] Funny innit. I'm the opposite. Give me a chord chart and I will become the most uncreative player you can imagine. Let me learn a song by ear and all sorts of ideas pop into my head and a nice bassline emerges, usually [/quote] Yes, exactly the same here. And, I can't learn songs with chord charts, always need them whereas by ear its in first time round usually. Bit like driving somewhere and being driven. BUT, depending on the music, this doesn't always work best. We do a dinner jazz set, I applied the ear method and was getting nowhere fast. It needed walking bass lines mostly and to do those properly you need to know what the chords are so you don't clash with the others with all the added notes and altereds. I pinched them from the pianist and it sped the process no end.

Thanks, Bilbo, great work! Especially G

[quote name='phatbass787' timestamp='1328803883' post='1532930'] One word.... headroom! :-) [/quote] Goodness, how much do you normally take along? Anything remotely punchy I get told to turn down. And I do so everyone else doesn't turn up.

Sounds great, thanks. Why would a 550W amp be for small gigs? I'm still waiting for the Matamp amp to be ready before the plunge. (have to be patient!)

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1328552925' post='1529001'] I know what the person meant about the audience not listening. I think they meant that the tone of the bass is not foremost in most punters minds so probably isn't as big a deal as we might think. [/quote] You mean the cellulose finish 'letting the tone out' from an old or Highway 1 Fender isn't heard by the audience and so not a big deal? What about the bright sound of a light coloured maple fingerboard? No? Surely they can hear the gold plating on the plugs though.

But we don't know what your bass is. Well I don't anyway.

Heh, this is also developing into the most crap thread too. Have faith! Either me or someone else will put up another little competition.

Tone, then playability then how replaceable it is. Fortunately, I have no back problems and so weight is not an issue. For Motown its my old P with flats, for gospel its the Jazz Deluxe with rounds to give the funky slap option, for the rock band I used to be in it was a Stingray. This one is irreplaceable (ie I can't afford to buy another one) and so while it would be perfect for the gospel, that's too busy to risk it so often.

Yes, this is all contributory, but in the end they generally have a sound and as long as they are not being passed through a string of fx this is a good fun exercise. I must say I'd not be able to tell whether its miked up or DI'd. As soon as I can work out how to do it, I'll put up an example or two myself.

[attachment=99331:Greg at Showcasea.jpg] Here's me, backing the Motown Sisters.