Chris2112

Which one would be easier to replace. Alternatively I just sit things out for a couple of paycheques and then all is right with the world!

My ultimate Lee Ritenour track...super funky! Abe Laboriel here too, I believe. He is in the video of the live versions.

[quote name='Machines' post='1266308' date='Jun 12 2011, 04:57 PM'][url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/SMITH_bass_guitars.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...ss_guitars.html[/url][/quote] They're good but I'd only buy one second hand. The new prices are outrageous.

[quote name='AndroWal' post='1265173' date='Jun 11 2011, 06:08 PM']Great Wal Growl! Seems you'll be keeping it....nothing else sounds like them![/quote] I have to say that didn't sound particularly Wal like, and I don't think it was the 'Argos catalogue advert" song choice either! The Thumb in the Incognito video sounded better, and I never thought I'd say that! But the Wal could have been anything, I just wasn't hearing that characteristic sound there.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1264848' date='Jun 11 2011, 12:48 PM']You know that line could be used to describe Rickenbacker too.[/quote] I don't know about that, I've always thought Rickenbackers were crap and Ken Smith instruments were excellent. I am now GAS'ing for a Smith bass, shame they're so hard to find on these shores!

The best tip for making an acoustic bass useable at gigs would probably be leaving it in it's case and getting out a good electric bass.

Yes, the Camera Eye does have that Ric sound to it, a little thinner sounding and breaks up a little more in the top end with less of a midrange punch. Still doesn't sound as good as the Wal!

[quote name='Conan' post='1264187' date='Jun 10 2011, 05:42 PM']I think he was using a Steinberger on Signals and maybe on P/G too? I personally have stopped caring which instrument he used and just started to enjoy his playing. Too much hearsay and guesswork! Actually, I'd never really noticed before just how much grit/grind/distortion he has used over the years. And the fact that even our practiced ears can't tell whether he is playing a Rick, J, P, Steinberger or Wal (well, actually the Wal is the easiest one to pick out) says a lot about the mantra of the tone being in the fingers![/quote] Signals was recorded on a Ric and a Jazz IIRC. The jazz was used on a couple of tracks like New World Man, the Ric was notable in other tunes like The Analogue Kid.

Why such a short time?

[quote name='bassbluestew' post='1262634' date='Jun 9 2011, 01:23 PM']From a purely business perspective I think he really needs to adress this issue with a degree of urgency otherwise his business will suffer which would be a very real shame.[/quote] Sadly, that is just not true. Ken's basses are so good and have no trouble selling, so despite him being a total tosser he has always sold basses. No real incentive to have a good website,his order books were filled well before the internet! I remember him being on Talkbass and being involved in frequent fallouts over upright basses, of which he claimed to be some authority. I was surprised Talkbass banned him as they tend to side with anyone who can offer them cash for advertising or other sly benefits. This is true with their arse kissing 'pro player' rules, in which criticising a pro player who uses the forum is not on, mainly because they don't want to upset anyone who might end up promoting the site.

[quote name='urb' post='1262488' date='Jun 9 2011, 11:47 AM']I've played Dave Swift's recently acquired one - see pics link below - and it is very nice - but it's an absolute beast, I honestly don't know how AJ gets around the neck without major muscle strain - and since he's such a monster on the low B - no one plays a low B like AJ, he's the king of the low end, end of IMO - but the 36" scale is crazy huge, he must be wiped by the end of a gig... I'm more of a wussy Matt Garrison 33" scale man myself [url="http://www.daveswiftbass.com/pages/basses/Fodera-Anthony-Jackson.html"]http://www.daveswiftbass.com/pages/basses/...ny-Jackson.html[/url] M[/quote] Well, that is a very valid point. However, when I've been playing a 36" scale bass (like an Overwater, say), I've found myself thinking more like AJ just because of the size of the instrument. Less notes, less speedy runs and more solid lines where the focus is on timing, feel and note choice. Not to say that I don't do that on every bass, but when you have something like that I feel it can actually force you to slow down, and I've been really impressed with some of the results! No good for when I want to slap along to a level 42 track though!

Great to hear Geddy talking about the Wal basses and the Steinbergers. I think he knows he would sound better if he was using them now but given that they're so rare and old it's best not to be touring with those basses.

[quote name='Doddy' post='1262703' date='Jun 9 2011, 02:10 PM']It's well known that Jaco wasn't an improviser-he once said to Marcus Miller "You think you're bad because you can improvise".[/quote] No, Miller is bad because he's been pedalling the same tired rubbish for years! My favourite Jaco recording outside of Weather Report would probably be the Trio of Doom record. I agree with John McLaughlin's stance that it should be heard because it's of historical value, but musically it isn't the train wreck it was made out to be. When the band gels it sounds great. Their version of Continuum is great. It's a shame Jaco's behaviour was so erratic, because if they had had time to sit down and rehearse or even write a record together I've no doubt it would be amazing.

I could listen to the first part of a Change of Seasons (great riff) but after that it goes down hill. I don't think there are many DT songs I would choose to listen to. On another note, yes, Portnoy's vocals were awful. I think was indicative of his bloated ego though, that he thought he was so important they should let him sing with his awful voice! But Ruddess has been the main downfall of the band for me. Yes, technically he is a wizard but his playing just sounds dreadful and his tone is terrible too. Sadly his ego is the biggest problem, as he constantly wants to compete with Petrucci to be the centre of attention. I'm not Petrucci fan, but he is far better to listen to than Ruddess and his dire long winded solos.

[quote name='molan' post='1262260' date='Jun 9 2011, 07:57 AM']Such a great player AJ. I saw Fodera had an Anthony Jackson Presentation bass available this week as a customer had a medical problem that meant he couldn't play it. It was a 'fully loaded' version with titanium bridge and truss rod - these babies sell at $24,000 new and I'm sure this one would have been pretty close to that price. . . . . .It sold in under 30 minutes from when it was first listed as being available. [/quote] The AJ presentation model has always been on my list of 'lottery win' basses! Didn't Eubassix from Basschat used to have one?

Portnoy? Hey, could you listen to their music day in, day out for 20 years?

Fodera, F Bass, Ken Smith...well done! If anyone in Newcastle fancies trying to beat this effort, let me know!

[quote name='BassBod' post='1261786' date='Jun 8 2011, 08:34 PM']That is amazingly crap. I've had very helpful responses from a few American companies..including Alembic (often cited as the last bastion of true hippyness). I'd just ignore KS and get searching for an equivalent - there must be good techs in France who can repair your problem for a lot less money.[/quote] Indeed. I've had free parts and manuals from Phillip Kubicki, shipped to England!

Different vinegar strokes for different folks!

Ken is known for particularly bad customer service, as well as not really caring about the Burner basses. I think his justification was that they wern't his own instruments given their Japanese construction. I don't think he was ever particularly happy with the Burner basses or what became KSD basses.