ARGH

With sessions dying off (one music school tutor admitted to me he had not 'done one' in 3 years),VST plug ins,and producers just playing the Bass on their tracks themselves(my opinion here,but what do they know about playing Bass in a creative sense)....as things stand,we are ..or in danger of, having run out of ideas. We have to move forward....Because I dont see the Bassguitar,in its limited standard form of design and expression,being around in the next 40-60 years,let alone the next century,except in the hands of historians....and what I can only describe as 'styled revivalists' (kinda sealed knot types or suchlike) Dramatic thought I know,but given the failure of modern music to provide anything stylistically and Technically new (as in to us as Bassists) in guitarbased music since..Grunge,I can only think of DoubleThumbing and Bill Dickens's technique as purely an advancement of 70s slap.... Our jobs have to change,as do our instruments.

[quote name='ped' post='132424' date='Feb 2 2008, 09:59 AM']Interesting theory. I however have never really listened to or been a fan of the 'old heroes' and I constantly find new and inspiring bass playing on what you might call a boring and traditional fretted 4 or 5 string bass. I guess it boils down to your own taste. C'est la vie[/quote] Name them,are they just playing Bassasatradition or actually breaking new ground? Taking the instrument forward... Thought not.

Im used to idiots,ye Gods there are enough of them of this forum,but Im always coming across such conservatism in the Bass community to change and difference,its not just the anti ERB stance......thats to be accepted,it looks plain freaky compared to a limited range Bass,but nothing original or different is being done on a 4 string instrument unless you alternate tune in a savage fashion (ala Manring),and even then people cant get to grips at the possibility,or even allow the idea, of performing upon the instrument as a solo or 'solo-able' point of expression. Expression is easily suppressed by many factors,tradition,fear of ridicule,and of course our old friend ignorance. Seeing as nothing new,or at least ear catching,is being made,this is bad....I see this a VERY bad. There is only so long we can go on harking back at the old heros,its time to accept that traditions..not standards,but traditions...have to ...cease....even die out peacefully...all the arguements must end..the bar must be raised. It will take an awesome effort,changing the rule of guard....we are 'Guitarists' after all,and we have the abilities and freedom of expression,break free from the herd mentality,and when the spotlight shines on us...try to make the extra effort at your next gig,every little step....every little step.

We are not arguing about Strings....where did THAT come from?...the censor things up and working,so whats the problem? Maybe you should move this to General Bass whatever section,as its grown out of a simple 'Porn' thread.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='128238' date='Jan 26 2008, 01:45 PM']That's the point, though, isn't it? I daresay there are any number of exciting players, with bags of attitude on here - trouble is, we care about our playing & performance, we want to be the best we can be - and modern, high-profile & marketed music is [b]not[/b] a meritocracy. Jon.[/quote] sorry,no...I think you'll find an awful lot of people that OWN basses,stand at the back doing sod all onstage.... Modern music ISNT going to do anything new on a 4 string Bass...Its all been done,so we either use different instruments (keys are better and more reliable than us as musicians in the studio),or we modify to survive...

[quote name='Rich' post='131779' date='Feb 1 2008, 10:19 AM']Said it before & will say it again... the Hipshot detuner thingy is the single most useful mod you can make to a 4-string bass.[/quote] Better still buy a 5 and see what your missing.

Chalk yerself up fella...so many we are losing count

[quote name='chardbass' post='131976' date='Feb 1 2008, 03:09 PM']It's Lake. Most people think my bass is a Musicman but the sound is always complimented. Thankyou FOH man.[/quote] Common thought Ive heard from Laklanders

[quote name='Jase' post='131776' date='Feb 1 2008, 10:18 AM']....and maybe a Precision with a maple board...clickety clack![/quote] And an amazing ability to sing the song you wrote, 2 words behind your singer.

[quote name='Jase' post='131686' date='Feb 1 2008, 01:38 AM']You're dead right, I just read up on it, well I'll be damned he reckons he keeps his finger nails a little longer too!!! AND, he use the same bass, it's just had loads of paint jobs. I used to be well into Harris years ago but I've never been able to get the technique down, the galloping technique, the covers band I'm with at the moment do The Trooper nightmare to play, I play a muted or damp second note to get me through it....don't think anyone's noticed yet [/quote] Crash course on Harris. Crank the volume,roll off half to 3/4 treble (I take it you use roundwounds) and compress the signal to hell and back.

Always been flats since the getgo Heard that Rotosound was gonna stop making them...so started the endorsement thing,just to keep them going.

[quote name='Jase' post='131648' date='Jan 31 2008, 11:32 PM']FOUR!! is the law!!! Anyway, why did Harris go to flats? I didn't know our Jack was a heavy weight either. Of course you realise people are going to end up vomiting and have bowel movements when you gig these sonic monsters!! Good on ya mate [/quote] Harris has ALWAYS used flats..Jacks terrible for breaking strings. I break laws....f*** 4. Im stronger than True

[quote name='OldGit' post='131644' date='Jan 31 2008, 11:25 PM']couldn't just target that at one or two specific Americans could you? Shock an' Awe, Ross, Shock an' Awe[/quote] Sorry dude,its a mercy movement....

[quote name='Jase' post='131580' date='Jan 31 2008, 10:01 PM']Yep! he's manly alright....he's got a niner.......so I heard [/quote] Soon to have an 11 too..... (.195 low C sharp...Im not satisfied till Ive made the USA move Tectonically a good few miles further out of vibration and fear) 1st downpayment made. FEAR ME!

[quote name='OldGit' post='131577' date='Jan 31 2008, 09:57 PM']Wow Arrgh! You are so, well, [i]manly[/i] [/quote] Softies Jack Bruce was/is using .120/115 in regular E,on his Thumb....Sheehan/Harris/Williams using heavys and in the case of the latter two ..flats...Jamerson had his strings a mile off the fingerboard,he was using those Tapewounds.... and given the tension/guages AND scale Upright persons have to contend with...I never hear them winge as they smack the crap out of their instruments with a set of Spirocores (combat zone strings..Ray Browns choice If I recall). I break anything under .105 (which are what I use on Fretless's) This will make you think.... I was using a 5 string set with the .130 low B tuned up to D (ditching the G string..they are for strippers) on my P Bass, 5 years back,It did mean I had to play everyday,and If I took a week off..it was a sharp reminder of regular practise. Stupid idea in hindsight,because you need at least SOME top end,when playing. (Dub/Reggae excepted). I like a click/clang when play so I can fill out space between the guitar and kick drum (it brings out the distortion..yes I use distortion...). Playing the 9 has been a strength exercise (.150 F sharp) as much as getting used to 35" scale,but near 3 months in..give it a similer amount of time Im going to go heavier again (.165 F sharp) and the process of weight training begins again...but what matters IS tone,low end..Heavy IS the only way to get real low end tone,and thats physics,more metal waving over the P/U=more going into the amp... The Guitartech used to fail students of our 6 string bretheren,if they finished the one year course using ANYTHING less than .11s. Its strength,at the days end...you want strength and you want BASS TONE,play your Bass more,ramp the action up,get a set of heavys. ...dont tickle it..hit it. We've covered this subject before,about 15 months ago....I love Mick Karn he uses .85 on the low E,but I would bust that in seconds. And he dosent practise much.

it looks like one of those 'C'mon' soft cuddly things that are used in advertising the Corsa.

YEEAAAHHHHH! Thats SEX!!! \m/

[quote name='OldGit' post='131403' date='Jan 31 2008, 04:56 PM']You are not alone mate. My soft southern fingers like Elixirs and my weak typists hands like light strings ..[/quote] Ahhh you big set of girls.... Get some .110s on and stop playing soft like! Learn the TONE.

The pros and cons are largely to the individual 'you' to decide. If the instruments are intonated correctly,then E at the 7th fret of the A string,is the Same E on the same fret as on the other instruments. Weather its a bolt on or otherwise. if you like the Bass,and the sound,buy it.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='130055' date='Jan 29 2008, 03:10 PM']Lower the action, thinner the tone. Higher the action, better the tone. Also, lighter the strings, thinner the tone but the easier it is to play, heavier the strings better the tone but harder to play. Its a complex little formula which you will be fiddling with for the next decade or so!! I would recommend you try a few basses at a shop that does repairs and see what feels ok for you.[/quote] +1 High action and Heavy guage is weight training. I Like weight training.

If you want stuff to change,or sound new or different,use something different. There IS only so much you can do with a standard 4 string Bass,and all thats been done before. Frankly its dull. GET SOME ERB in yer band laddo!

Anyone can simper about..f*** that. Im sick of traditional approaches,namby pamby be nice dont offend crap. There comes a line,and Ignorance is not to be ignored,I play what I want to play because I want to f***in play it. I have a Fender........Hell..Im twice as trad,I play an upright. (the TRUE Bass). Deal with the sh*t direct..or ignore it...one dumbass sticking it to my 9 is excusable.. a threadsworth...THATS WAR!

[quote name='6stringbassist' post='130352' date='Jan 29 2008, 11:03 PM']I don't think he comes across as anything but someone who's fed up with people making smug, and conceited remarks about HIS instrument. I recently bought a great CD by Yves Carbonne, [url="http://www.alternityrecords.com/yvescarbonne.htm"]http://www.alternityrecords.com/yvescarbonne.htm[/url] Essential listening for ERB lover and haters.[/quote] Yeah how good is the CD kev? Im probably gonna have some audio on this soon.Next month or so.

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='130322' date='Jan 29 2008, 10:14 PM']Your reply makes you come across as the tosser to tell the truth, and very stuck up your own arse.[/quote] I am And I dont care...bear. Given that they base their judgment on sweet FA.....I hope it upsets them.

I dont think Angels play Metal.