Chris2112

The Kingbass above doesn't tick the boxes for me because the topwood is frankly, pretty ugly. Whereas this is sublime:

This makes for entertaining reading!

[quote name='lapolpora' timestamp='1368984067' post='2083674'] I would say go for something that's going to be familiar. If you're used to J basses, go for a fretless J. Ditto for number of strings. It's quite a different beast to fretted. [/quote] This is a good place to start. Not the way I did it, mind, but I can see the benefits in getting something with a neck you recognise, so you can concentrate on technique and getting those notes right, rather than thinking "where is the first position again?".

I can remember when the Spector Euro basses first arrived at Sound Control Newcastle. What a revelation they were. I think SC had just taken on a contract as a Spector distributor as they had a few US models in at the same time. The Euro basses really were incredible. I remember they had a NT 4 string with a quilted maple top and EMG's. Being nuts about Victor Wooten at the time, the bass blew me away - it sounded so much like his #1 Fodera! And it was brand new at £1000! I actually ended up buying a 4 string Rebop DLX a couple of years later that was also superb. £549 brand new from Sound Control Preston! It was so good that I actually sold my Status Stealth bass as that wasn't getting used. That said, their pricing these days puts me off. Mainly because I remember when they were very much a 'performance bargain', they aren't so much now!

Not to be harsh but I do expect to see this new Kingbass for sale...one day!

Yes, it is fair to say that DMB absolutely suck. Carter is still a great drummer though.

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1368998901' post='2083892'] Beauford Carter leaves the supreme Bonzo in the shade. [/quote] This about sums it up.

Jeff Berlin doing some great 80's rock: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cKhfAa_oz8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cKhfAa_oz8[/url]

Or indeed a Thumb. I thought the music shops of London were stuffed with Warwicks?

It sounds a little pedestrian to my ears, sort of elevator music, if you will. I prefer my Latin grooves to have a little more fire!

What about those hangers that hold both the neck and have a bracket for the bottom of the body?

Yes, I believe there was a hiatus for a while and they are now being made again. Much like Schack basses, although I don't think Schack do carbon fibre stuff anymore.

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1368176173' post='2074009'] Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead etc recently said "You've gotta have a damn good reason to play an open string on a bass." - not entirely sure why to be honest, I mean look at James Jamerson. [/quote] Probably more so the case back in the day when many basses sound crap, and an open string would sound even worse. Even today though, in inspecting a bass I always check to see if the open strings are suitable for use! Some just sound too 'thin' to of any use for more than a passing split second. Although for the OP it sounds more like a mental coordination issue. Much like anything else that takes you out of your comfort zone; be it string skipping, pedalling, slapping the right string or whatever, slow practice will see it right. I wouldn't rely on transposing things as that is a crutch and a further obstacle to overcome before getting it right. I do like to use open strings though, both for pedal tones and as 'stepping stones' on to other notes in quicker runs.

I've always enjoyed the look, feel and sound of a mk1 Kingbass. They're one of those basses that has been on the menu for me for a while but I've never went for one. Yet. Mind you, back when I had my old 80's Series II, I considered that the pinnacle of Status basses that I had tried until that point and once I sold it I had had my fill of them, for a while. You always go back.

[quote name='dudi8' timestamp='1368215195' post='2074649'] why would people buy a Ferrari over a subaro, they both drive [/quote] Depends. The Ferrari is an Italian purebred classic. The Subaru (thinking of the Impreza rally models rather than the agricultural vehicles) is a classic 90's rally rep of a car that was at the top of it's game and won the WRC. Both very different, and once again, proof that car to bass analogies are usually flawed.

[quote name='Johngh' timestamp='1368206302' post='2074525'] [sub]Here we go[/sub] [/quote] Here we go again! It may get ordered, it may not, it may come, it will be the best thing since sliced bread, and will be sold in a few days to pay for something like a car! Real life always gets in the way.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1368189912' post='2074268'] Isn't Koa quite difficult to get hold of now? I remember reading somewhere it's now quite highly protected, going the same way as brazilian rosewood. [/quote] Indeed. It used to be much cheaper. Back in the day every other Carvin seemed to have a Koa top! I think it's absolutely stunning, but stocks have run down and the time has come to try other woods.

I thought it lacked all the drama and excitement of the original.

Looked blue in the video for Electricity!

Sad news. He was a fantastic guitarist, what a riffer.

The first time I heard Jaco I didn't quite 'get' what the fuss was about. Then I checked out the stuff he had done with Weather Report and it all clicked. He is for me, one of the best sidemen of all time but I am slightly less interested in his stuff as a soloist or a bandleader. His groove is as strong as steel!

It seems there is a thread on OTPJ every year or so asking where he was. The answer is always that he's very busy with work, though that answer seems to have turned up once or twice so I can only assume he is bored of Basschat or similar. As he has been gone for what seems like quite a while!

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1366973943' post='2059637'] A Thumb Bolt on has a really unique vibe to it, I actually prefer the bolt on to the NT, more snap in the high notes. [/quote] This is a very good point. I have usually reached for a BO Thumb first because they sound a bit better than the NT Thumbs to my ears. A little bit more sizzle in the output, a richer and more prominent midrange. The notes have a real 'pop' to them and they respond very well to right hand dynamics. The NT's sound a little more softer and more muted to me (but also distinctive and very good). The Thumb bass epitomises Warwick for me, because unlike the Streamer etc etc, there is nothing else really like it, and they always sound very distinctive!

I have always loved that percussive style of his. And his chordal playing is fantastic too. I love this video; it used to be on youtube in small snippers but I don't think I've ever seen it all in one go with the intro piece intact. Absolutely marvellous playing. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a7IfNlwuJU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a7IfNlwuJU[/url]