BottomE

Having bought two basses from members i can only praise the communication and honesty that was present during both transactions. I think i was probably a nightmare buyer asking "stoopid" questions - thankfully the sellers were patient and took time to explain things to me and the deals went through without a hitch.

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1187939' date='Apr 4 2011, 04:27 PM']I think we need to define what the purpose of a solo is.[/quote] Surely the point of any musical contribution is to enhance the whole? To add something that wasn't in evidence before - mood, dynamic etc be it solo or whatever. Otherwise its just playing for the sake of it.

Well, i don't know - debate fine but we are talking subjectivity in a lot of cases. Its fine and dandy when something is plainly wrong, out of tune for example - its easy to rationalise this and justify ones critique. But for matters of taste there is always an element of subjectivity. Take the Salinas video - extremely bad taste IMHO but there will be those that think its the mutts ...

Ha - i was out there in the 80s and 90s working as a pro musician in places like the Chicago Beach Hotel and Inter Continental, Sheraton etc. Then went to Oman - then Abu Dhabi. Good tax free times. Best thing were all the bootleg cassettes which i still have in my loft! Welcome to Basschat

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1186977' date='Apr 3 2011, 07:10 PM']When it comes to bass solos in any genre in any context, you can never win! Like all parts of music its subjective, If the solo is played high up its too guitar like, or distorted, or on a 5 or 6 string bass, even if it doesn't use the added strings and most 5 strings have an extra low string! if its played down low its too boring and low, if it uses runs up and down its to much "maths and not enough music" (Above example, for a more rock/metal or "True solo" ie no other instruments playing other than drums possibly which is more my background!) I think its just down to the solo itself within the music not the fact thats a solo, i like some solos dislike others. Its all subjective![/quote] +1 that about sums it up and heres a completely pointless 1:25 seconds of bass solo. Its not Jazz - i don't really know what it is - but there are going to be peeps who think its great and good for them. If we all liked the same things life would be boring

Rubbish gig. The first thing the landlord said is that "you have to keep the noise down." We then setup in a tiny space in the darkest part of the pub. We dutifully kept it quiet and the punters talked over us. After the first set the DJ put his sounds on about 3 times louder than us? Landlord then came over and reminded us to keep the noise down. We did and after the second set the landlord came up and said "brilliant - could hardly hear the bass and drums????" What a cnut - if the money wasn't so good i would have sh*t on the bar.

Go to the theory part of this forum. I bang on about the Majors Boot Camp but it is excellent and is a great source of reference. I think you have just hit a wall. We all do. You need to take yourself on and get to the next level. The fact that you have realised this is the hardest part so good for you. All musos are fakers to some extent.

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1185843' date='Apr 2 2011, 02:40 PM']Precisely. Surely there are no rights and wrongs in music - only stuff you like and stuff you don't like. Simple really.[/quote] and i like this a lot. Solo starts around 3:20 but the whole thing is sweet if you like that kind of thing of course

[quote name='Rixy' post='1186250' date='Apr 2 2011, 10:10 PM']Hey guys, thought I'd bump this thread to let you know that I put up some ads and within a few days I got two good offers. One offer is a Ska band wanting to experiment with reggae and gyspy music. This band is still trying to get guys together. Another is a band wanting to work with funk, blues and rock. This band just needs a bassist for a complete line up. I decided I might as well go with both of them and decide what I like best. I'm not really sure on what will go down when I get there. Another pain is that the Ska band is in another town, so that might be a trouble in the future. Do you guys have any tips on the first practice sessions? Meanwhile, I'm wondering whether my lack of knowledge in blues music will be a problem. All I know is the blues scale, and whenever I play in that it ends up sounding like a funky swing jazz kind of thing [/quote] Great news. Maybe you could agree on some songs that you are going to work on in advance of getting together. If this is possible you can practise before you get together so you can play more naturally. For blues just think sad funk

[quote name='Major-Minor' post='1179942' date='Mar 28 2011, 08:06 PM']Great idea! I'll do a session on this just as soon as I can. But in the meantime, what Bilbo has written here is all excellent advice (as you would expect !). The Major[/quote] Nice one Major. Lovin your work. Thanks for the effort that you have put in it has helped me immensely.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1184831' date='Apr 1 2011, 02:57 PM']The downside is that that venue might 'encourage' you not to play locally on his patch and it is up to the two parties concerned to work out if this suits.[/quote] I had a landlord try that. I said "ok but please do not book any other funk/soul outfits as they are our competition." He didn't seem to like that idea...

[quote name='chris_b' post='1184626' date='Apr 1 2011, 12:53 PM']For me the point about larger amps, 900 watts as opposed to 500 watt amps isn't the volume, it's about the tone.[/quote] True, but i have played some very large spaces and not had to turn the master past half-way with 500 watts @ 4ohms. At this level the tone is high quality and fully adjustable broad and deep. I can't imagine needing 900 watts.

I use the 212 and 210 in conjunction with a Little Mark II head. Unbelievable output - my guitarist has had meltdown about it They are clear sounding cabs so i understand those that are used to having their sound coloured (or soiled as i like to say) by a particular brand might struggle with this. I can't imagine going back down the 4 x 10 route although psychologically i am feeling underdressed without a 1 x 15.

Our cover band pulls an audience i am told by the landlords, promoters etc who book us. We generally play in places with a core audience which is either embellished or diminished depending on the quality of the band. There is one place we play that is always packed (queues at the door all night) and i do wonder if it is because they put on the best local cover bands or if this place might be packed anyway. I don't know. It sells itself as a venue and occasionally puts on some original stuff - Roy Ayers, for example - (amazing act and a nice guy). Most of the time it has cover bands.

[quote name='shehitmefirst' post='1183834' date='Mar 31 2011, 08:23 PM']we are fans of american rock/punk and some cheesier stuff! so our sound and ideas stem from this mutual appreciation. . . this is a great opportunity for a tallented, music minded bassist to write new songs with and be part of a long standing rock band. lots of new and released material plus gigs waiting . . contact us for songs or more info www.shehitmefirst.com look forward to hearing from you[/quote] great name for your band. if i were twenty years younger....

I love 'em. They have real character.

Hello to a fellow southerner. Welcome aboard.

BadAss my ass. Got one on my Jazz bass and tbh i find the string spacing either too narrow or too wide - even with 4 possible settings! Get yourself one of these: [url="http://www.the2tek.com/"]Now this is a bridge[/url] Ok, you'll have to cut a hole in your bass and it will weigh a lot more but it will have an enormous impact on your sound. I have one of these in a Hamer bass and it is incredible. The thing sustains for hours and sounds huge. Thought the company had gone bust but seems not.

i wish i was 15 again. welcome Dan.

[quote name='dmccombe7' post='1182073' date='Mar 30 2011, 12:32 PM']To be politically correct and not wanting to offend you - is that not the "socially unnice to look at" corner --- That's where you'll find me then Cheers Dave[/quote] You are probably right. I am a social misfit

[quote name='TRBboy' post='1182115' date='Mar 30 2011, 01:02 PM']Is it the JZ3 that comes built onto the bell plate, j-retro stylee? Didi it fit straight in with no problems? looks good......[/quote] Yes it is - stacked knobs, 3 way switch and a blue light! Also a beauty of a fit. I bought the bass like this as I am no techy but have managed to change the battery without an issue The tonal variation is quite stunning actually - i wasn't looking for an active bass in particular but have been very impressed with this unit so far. I also have a Sadowsky outboard at home and pound for pound you will get more tone out of the Audere IMHO and that is saying something cos the Sadowsky outboard is a quality unit. Its all horses for courses though - each to their own and all that.

I got an Audere preamp with whatever the standard US PuPs are. Sounds great and variation a plenty. Comes into its own in a bigger venue.