Chris2112

My brother used to have one of the Boden guitars and quite liked it. I dare say though, I'm not desperate to see a bass version. The body shape looks great in guitar size but it wouldn't appeal to me scaled up to bass guitar proportions.

It depends on what range you want to cover. If you're simply replicating pizzicato parts for the double bass, a 4 string would do. If you want to transcribe parts that were written for other instruments, Conklin Groove Tools Bill Dickens 7 string would give you a great range and a quality instrument to play with.

The bassline to 'all these things that I've done' doesn't really have any tricky or complex parts in it but it is a banger to play, just a great tune. If you're struggling to play it with your fingers, then make sure you know the notes and slow the tricky parts right down, even if you have to practice out of time to get the plucking pattern exactly right. You can then speed it up using a click track (but do not become a slave to the beat, correct your mistakes and go out of time if you need to to make sure you have the notes and the plucking pattern just right). I would also recommend playing closer to the bridge with a lighter touch, where the added tension at the string will help you to quickly detach after plucking. Provided your amp is loud enough, you should practically be able to glide your fingers over the strings with a minute and very light plucking action. This is the key to fast, accurate right hand work. Ultimately, it's a case of building some endurance and dexterity to play the part, which will soon be within your grasp.

I had noticed this trend of late. I just find it all rather naff. It's something of a self-perpetuating nightmare; an algorithim decides clickbait titles are good, so statistics provided to content creators encourage them to use clickbait titles, which produces verification for the algorithm that clickbait titles are great. This is all part of a wider issue of dumbing down. I've mentioned Scott's Bass Lessons before because the decline in quality is most evident there. The videos were usually of good quality with something to say but these days, they're mostly clickbait rubbish, like 'six string basses SUCK and here's why' before saying that they don't really suck. This also speaks to a wider problem with bass education in that it's become so focused on everything but music. 'Here's how to get gigs', 'how to groove', 'two notes that will change EVERYTHING', 'three secrets that will teach you EVERYTHING about walking basslines'. The exponential growth of this rubbish indicates that many bassists will happily consume any amount of dubious material before undertaking proper music based study.

[quote name='BoogieZK' timestamp='1421670610' post='2663726'] Here is mine: [/quote] I know I'm late to the party but that is simply amazing. Beautiful.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1509719155' post='3401180'] An answer to my own question: Bought this from ebay: Arrived today Looks impressive, huh?...Alembic look-alike, quilted maple finish, stripey wood neck. The quilted finish is a sticker, the p/ups are the worst type of sh*te you have ever seen or heard, switches do nothing other than fill out the front. The nut holding on the jack socket fell off when I opened the box, the individual bridges are made of plastic and not adjustable, even if they were I wouldn't want to risk it as they'd probably fall apart under the pressure from a steel screwdriver. I reckon the most expensive part on it (not sure what part that might be) cost, say a £1. The most expensive piece of firewood ever. Needless to say, I'm opening a case on ebay as soon as... I'll name and shame depending on the sellers response. [/quote] Bloody hell, that sounds wretched. How much did it cost?

The other day, I was reading something by someone trying to say that U2 were a good band because they'd sold lots of records! Pull the f***ing other one! Haha!

I prefer 2+2 for the fact it affords a shorter headstock (think Pedulla Buzz, Zon Sonus, Spector NS etc etc). That doesn't look right on a Fender type shape though. Jazz has to be four inline for me. A bit like nut width though, it's one of those statistics that really makes no difference to me buying a bass.

I've recently bought a Pedulla Pentabuzz that was set up at the Jaydee shop shortly before I got it. They've done a tremendous job, it plays beautifully.

[quote name='pbasspecial' timestamp='1509491861' post='3399469'] Can heartily recommend: Eat 'em and Smile - Dave Lee Roth First 2 Mr Big albums Both Winery Dogs albums [/quote] I'd add Steve Vai's 'Live at the Astoria' to that recommendation. I've seen Vai's band a few times, both with and without Billy, but it was always better with Billy on bass. He's mint.

The starter pack guitars these days are often hopeless. You know, the crap made-for-kids stuff. Some of them might be okay (I started 15 years ago on a Hartke B-15 starter pack, and both the bass and amp worked well) but there are plenty out there that are still awful. My brother used to teach guitar and he hated those cheap starter guitars. It was always easier to get someone off the ground when the instrument wasn't working against them. Difficult to tune, impossible to set up to play cleanly.

[quote name='amnesia' timestamp='1509486926' post='3399418'] Love Trujillo - an excellent bass player, but I have a [b]HUGE[/b] 'man-crush' on Jason. His onstage energy was amazing, and he is one of my biggest influences on how I play. I came to the band long after Cliff passed, so JN was always THE MAN. One thing that Metallica lack now for me is his aggressive backing vocal. Did anyone notice the complete lack of profanity from James? Not one single swear word between songs at Manchester. [/quote] Yes, Jason was my favourite Metallica bass player. He played on my favourite Metallica records and he was brilliant in a live setting. I know some folk say they liked Cliff's style more or they prefer Rob's style now. Jason brought in a new power to the old songs. The pre-Jason records lack a punch in the bass, to my ears. When the band played old RTL or MOP tunes live, Jason added a powerful groove that was lacking before. He might not have been as apt to fly around the neck but I thought Metallica sounded better for it. They finally had a bass player with the tone and attack to match that of Dave Ellefson of Megadeth. Jason also always comes across as a super nice guy, apparently still star-struck by his time playing with his heroes and ultimately, becoming part of the Metallica legend. When you consider that he was a fan of the biggest band in metal who ended up playing bass for them, it's heartening to see that he always appreciated his good fortune.

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1509397451' post='3398651'] Best: My Wingbass. Its a completely inspiring and fun instrument, the ultimate ‘around the house’ bass and I love it. [url=https://ibb.co/dMutbR][/url] [/quote] That is very cool. Did you order direct from Wing Instruments in America?

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1509383305' post='3398496'] Best purchase: My Siri Runner up: My new Markbass CMD Super Combo K1 stack. Also stunning [/quote] A tremendous amp. I bought a Markbass CMD 151P Jeff Berlin combo earlier this year and it's tremendous. I don't think I've bought anything sh*t this year at all.

Best - my Cort Rithimic. Still brings a smile to my face every day. But the Pedulla Pentabuzz I picked up last week is a close runner up. I've signed up for Jeff Berlin's new reading instruction course that starts on the first of November, which could well end up being the best purchase in the end.

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1509372013' post='3398375'] If everyone sends me £100, I'll reveal the simple way to make a shedload of money just by typing a few words on the internet... [/quote] Hey groove-hacker! I will show you two notes that will completely overhaul how you play! Plz send PayPal...

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1509012963' post='3395981'] Worst CS i've had was Hartke. No response at all from emails or returned calls. [/quote] That is a shame. Larry Hartke is a stand-up guy and easily reachable online. He even had his phone number on a series of Hartke adverts that ran in American magazines a few years ago, inviting players to ring him direct if they needed any assistance.

There isn't enough bass guitar in music. There isn't enough real instrumentation kn music these days!

It takes a while to get going but it really kicks off around 01:20, where it turns into a nice tune. EMGtv do some good artist spots.

I'm happy with the key, the chord sequence and some notes for the arrangement. I couldn't follow tablature at a gig, nor can I read music well enough to do that for a live show. I am taking a reading course to improve on that, however.

[quote name='steantval' timestamp='1509202522' post='3397312'] Our guitarist was really lucky after purchasing a brand new PRS from a music superstore in Vegas, got really lucky on the return trip through U.K. Customs, just waved through and paid zero duty, lucky chap. [/quote] I do remember reading of customs 'getting wise' to musicians travelling to America to spend. Stories of guys leaving the UK with a Squier P bass in a hard case in hand luggage and coming back with an Alembic only to find that customs had cottoned on to their trick and they were hit with import duty. At a roadside somewhere in California, the old P bass had been dumped!

[quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1509188960' post='3397213'] I find some comments on these sort of topics bizarre. To measure a bass players worth on their supposed technical ability is very narrow minded. [/quote] Indeed, and that narrow minded pigeonholing is something that players like Victor Wooten will always have to contend with. For all his musical efforts over the years, his critics tend to lack the faculty to adequately critique his playing so tend to revert to leaning on the cliches such as 'he plays a million notes a second' or 'he's really fast'. I will quite happily admit that whilst there are some Wooten records I love, there are others I'm not keen on but I always base that decision on the music. Once you're over the 'wow' factor of technique, only the music remains, served by the technique in question. When it comes to bass playing, guys like Victor Wooten are part of a select few who I would say, if they can dream it, they can do it. Very few bassists will ever attain that level of excellence, but then I suppose that's not required to knock out three chord 8th note bangers whilst you preach to the poor folk about how they should be giving more money to charity.

Regardless of how good your chops are, you need to be a fit for the band on a number of levels, many of which are more important than your playing... for some bands! You meet these ego-driven sorts everywhere you go though. I remember sitting in a guitar shop years ago when someone came in with a fretless bass and plugged in nearby, and sat chatting to the shop owner. I won't say what the bass was as there won't be many in the country. This bloke started playing some absolutely dire fretless bass parts, really all over the place, as he's telling the shop owner he's considering giving up teaching. This went on for a while, before he said "but if I came across someone who I thought was the next Jaco, I would, you know, teach him what I know...". I had to stifle a laugh at the time.

I use the bridge pickup alone at least 90% of the time. If I pick up a bass guitar and the bridge pickup (running solo) doesn't sound brilliant, it's not for me.