Chris2112

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.

Mike Anthony is a rock solid groove machine. He kept Van Halen locked down in a pretty impressive sense. Funnily enough, Eddie Van Halen tried to get Jeff Berlin to join at one point but Jeff refused because the band were in to some things that he wasn't (though he has never elucidated on that statement). That would have been a wild set up. Adam Clayton on the other hand has always struck me as a talentless sort. His lines could literally be ghost recorded by any pub-band bassist going and you'd never know. The fact that U2 have made themselves multi-millionaires on the back of their tuneless stadium rock is nothing to do with their unskilled musicianship, rather an indication of the general public's appetite for anodyne rubbish.

I remarked to a friend a few weeks ago, that Trujillo has been Metallica's bassist for nearly as long as Jason Newsted was, and yet I still think of him as the new guy!

I was moaning about this to my brother the other day, those damn spam PM's! They fool me into thinking I have friends.

[quote name='Sharkfinger' timestamp='1507281626' post='3384420'] A guitarist who I think is almost criminally overlooked is Alex Lifeson from Rush. Maybe because his band-mates tower over most of their peers, Alex is not recognised as towering over most of his. Or maybe that although an amazingly articulate and melodic player, he's not as showy and widdly as some. His playing on Hemispheres in particular comes to mind. [/quote] Exactly my thoughts. I'd also nominate Michel Cusson of UZEB. His phrasing and tone are superb. Again, I think Michel is overshadowed at least in reputation by Alain Caron, who is known for his exceptional ability. However, as a unit they are quite incredible.

Those P basses sound absolutely dreadful. He's been playing nothing but P basses for a couple of weeks now. You're right in saying he has gone 'full YouTube'. It seems like his channel is focused more and more on naff rubbish. A definite attempt to 'dumb down'. I used to really enjoy his output.

I bought a Pedulla Pentabuzz from Lukasz which came yesterday. A top class seller. Everything went smoothly (my first time using PayPal too). Having done plenty of deals and trades over Basschat, I can confidently say that this is how I like them done. Thanks, Lukasz!

[quote name='geoham' timestamp='1507232970' post='3384170'] I think this is the kind of response I was hoping for! The Squier VM gets a lot of love, but I can’t help but feel it isn’t worth double the HB. Then again... it always is a game of diminishing returns with music gear! [/quote] I used to have a Squier VM fretless and I thought it was very good for a budget instrument. It had a level of fit and finish that other manufacturer's around that price point just can't compete with. I had a Classic Vibe jazz after the VM and that was even better. There are proper Fender basses that could have done with the CV bridge! That said, shortly after owning the Squier I ended up with a Fender Jaco Pastorius fretless jazz which was on another level entirely.

The heaviest I've ever had was a Thumb 5 string Broad Neck. That was a heavy old beast that could tire the shoulder. By comparison, I've owned a Thumb BO 4 and played plenty of BO 5's and depsite being heavy, the ergonomics work well to hide the weight when standing. I used to hear a lot of talk about neck diving Thumbs but when held properly (on a strap, with the bass held above the belt line) they balance really well.