Conan

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1382360437' post='2251114'] Another big Frank fan here . Not just a superb guitarist but a complex and extraordinarily talented songwriter , too . Always interested to hear what the man is doing , so thanks for letting me know about this. [/quote] Took the words right out of my mouth!

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1382364413' post='2251196'] It's all to do with time and money. [/quote] I don't see how kicking and throwing items about saves time or money?

This whole courier/shipping thing appears to be a total lottery. One person says "don't use Company X, they are useless and trashed my item Y". Another member then says "I've never had a problem with them, they are far superior to Company Z - who are really bollox"... etc, etc. Why is there no consistency between these service providers? Who regulates (or is supposed to regulate) them? I have sat on an aeroplane before and watched the baggage handlers kicking cases and bags all over the place. How do they get away with this?

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1382346149' post='2250772'] I'd have a YOB '66 Jazz, dots and bound neck with lollipop tuners. [/quote] Oh yeah! That too!

Geddy Lee's original 1972 J bass. Not that there is much left of it that is "original" of course! Or maybe one of Chris Squire's Ricks.

I tend to start with what the drums are doing. Then I try to get an overall feel for the track. Thirdly (in this current band anyway) I listen to the two guitars. Only after all that (and if I'm still struggling to come up with something suitable) do I start thinking about the theoretical implications. My theory is limited, and I might not call things by the correct names, but I am fairly conversant with things like roots, thirds, fifths etc, and harmony and melody... Noodling has its part too though!

I now have a 2009 MIM J and I am really impressed! After a bit of a set-up, it plays beautifully. It even sounds good! I was fully intending to pop a set of Wizard Hammers into it, but I actually really like the tone produced by the stock pickups. Only downside is a minor dead spot at the fifth fret on the D string. Not unusual in Fenders, even some of the top-end ones (as far as I am aware). Bit of a result really!

Whilst I am a bit meh about much of Billy's playing style, he is a great guy who speaks a huge amount of sense. This clip has some very interesting points concerning playing covers, strap length and GAS!! Some of you might not want to hear some of his comments.... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yglAuOceEPo#t=194"]http://www.youtube.c...lAuOceEPo#t=194[/url]

If it is an old bass that has been regularly gigged, I'm not sure I'de expect the original hard case. It will have done its job of protecting the bass and will therefore be pretty damaged. I had to replace the case for my Status a couple of years ago. Not because it was damaged, but because the foam moulding (which holds the bass perfectly in place) was progressively deteriorating and turning to powder! I still have the original case, and if I ever tried to sell my Status (unlikely) I could offer the original case as well as (or instead of) the new Hiscox one. As long as a bass has something to protect it during gigging or shipping, I'm happy. But like others, I prefer to use gigbags. I would expect someone selling an expensive bass (say £750 and over) to at least offer a hard case.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1381929802' post='2245614'] I must have posted about 5-6 basses. They insure up to £300, but as said earlier - if it was £1000 + then I'd take it there by hand. [/quote] Good advice. but there is quite a big difference between a £300 bass and a £1000+ bass. If the bass (or other item) is worth around £700 then personal delivery becomes expensive as a proportion of the price, but you would have to take a big hit if it was lost or damaged. An awkward compromise!

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1381927503' post='2245567'] I'll spare the details but this service has very badly let down a customer and I am retracting my recommendation. [/quote] One step forward and two steps back!

Less jazzy, but better suited to a typical band line-up: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbVtEzImUmk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbVtEzImUmk[/url]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5080uWN2Ik[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBNeZtKj4rg[/media]

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1381844678' post='2244443'] And yes, I could play that song. Big woop. Would posting a version of it really change your mind? Come on. [/quote] Change my mind about what? It might be useful to the OP though, as he was asking for advice about how to play the song. You really do like arguing, don't you?

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1381841494' post='2244382'] The problem with insurance for courier services, is that you can never tell how good it's going to be until you have to use it, and if it turns out to be crap, it's then too late... [/quote] Yep. Nail on the head.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1381840679' post='2244365'] Geezus, can anyone take some helpful information without getting their panties in a twist and looking for ways to make a snotty comment? [/quote] Kind of depends what the "helpful information" is and how it is phrased. Also, does it actually help with the question that the OP is specifically asking? Your advice in this thread, good though it undoubtedly is, does not help someone who maybe has a couple of days to master the bass line on a cover version. And some of your own wording comes across as a bit "snotty" too (IMO).

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1381837936' post='2244322'] They are too good to be true IME. Failed to pick up on agreed date and took 6 business days to deliver from Ireland to the UK rather than 2-3 days as advertised on their website. poor, very poor [/quote] Bugger. Back to square one then Although hopefully this is not their usual practise...

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1381781227' post='2243762'] [url="http://www.directcouriersolutions.co.uk/musical-instruments.php"]http://www.directcou...instruments.php[/url] [/quote] They sound almost too good to be true! Have you used them? What is their insurance like?

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1381794587' post='2243981'] Some advice ---- basic theory. you can rip through a song... without even thinking. He's just playing basic busy rock runs, it's childsplay. [/quote] Could you be just a teensy-weensy bit more patronising?

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1381794587' post='2243981'] He's just playing basic busy rock runs over the chords. If you know the chords, it's childsplay.[/quote] Then do you mind posting your own youtube video of the bassline, as it is so easy? There are plenty of inaccurate ones, and some of us (the ones without your knowledge of theory) have been waiting for the definitive version for years!

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1381794587' post='2243981'] Some advice -- as long as you try to figure out basslines and make and read tabs, you'll struggle for the rest of your life. What you need to do is understand what chords you're playing over and the notes within those chords and how they correspond to each other. In other words -- basic theory. Learn the modes. Play them up and down and backwards and sideways. Play some jazz standards and walk over the changes. Once you get good at that, you can rip through a song like that Whitesnake tune without even thinking. He's just playing basic busy rock runs over the chords. If you know the chords, it's childsplay. If you try to memorize the runs, it's calculus. [/quote] There you go OP. Just learn all that for your next rehearsal and you won't need to ask us about individual songs again!