Share your bass-related pearls of wisdom from 2007

[chardbass]

Just wondering whether anyone learnt any valuable bass-related lessons during the past 12 months.
Have you changed the height you wear your bass for wrist-injury reasons, or fitted a ramp? Changed your brand of strings or started listening to a bass player who has opened up a creative path for you?

Mine were learnt from these very web-pages. 2007 has been all about-

1. Ear protection. A seemingly hefty investment of £170 (ish) but now the proud owner and regular wearer of a pair of ER-15s.
Small price to pay to avoid further hearing loss. If you are in a band who play (practice OR gig) regularly, its simple. [b]Do it[/b]. Even if you think you can't afford it. Can you afford to lose your hearing?

[url="http://www.audiorelief.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=40&gclid=CMDM-q_b15ACFQEkQgodanHIVw"]http://www.audiorelief.co.uk/shop/product_...CFQEkQgodanHIVw[/url]
[url="http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/musicians-reviews.htm#er15"]http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/musicia...eviews.htm#er15[/url]

or Google ER-15

2. Lightweight cabs!! Small price to pay for further back damage!!

Edited January 2, 2008 by chardbass

[Thunderthumbs]

Pretty much a similar thing.

1. Bought myself a Marcus Miller Jazz back in April, and have had to change my playing style a little. It sits a little higher than my previous bass, and I'm trying to improve my hand and fingering technique on both hands.

2. Recently bought myself a new amp, and am in the process of buying new cab(s) to compliment it. My SWR cabs are old (but still kick it out), but it's time for new equipment, and maybe NEO cabs to help the old back out.

3. I saw Hadrien Feraud at the Bass Day, and he blew me away. He's the first bassist for many a year that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. He gave me inspiration to try and improve, so I practice more than I have for many years.

[theosd]

The last thing I learnt in the year (at my gig on new year's eve) is that flatwounds on a stingray 5 are AMAZING. It seems to suit the preamp and pickup so much more than flimsier rounds; I can still dial in that clanky honky stngray sound if I need to, but it has much more depth and presence. If you own a Stingray or any MM bass for that matter, try a nice set of flats (I'm using la bella) and I think you'll be blown away if you can overlook the extra tension.

My fingers were mighty sore after playing 3 45 minute sets with the extra resistance, but I couldn't have been more happy!

[Kiwi]

[list]
[*]Learned the importance of sensitivity in cabs and how much quieter a 93dB cab sounds in comparison to a 103dB cab.
[*]Learned the importance of understanding what the presence of punters will to to your onstage sound in tiny venues
[*]Became a recent convert to neo cabs AND p-basses (will wonders never cease?)
[*]Learned that it's possible for a neck thru and bolt on necked bass to sound very similar but the means by which this is achieved can often be radically different.
[*]Learned the im anticipation portance of
[/list]
Reflected on the fact that there are many luthiers/CEO's of manufacturers out there whose interpersonal skills leave a lot to be desired. Yet strangely they're still in business...

[chris_b]

In 2007 neo cabs saved my life. I went from a 2x10 and 1x15 which weighed over 100lbs each to a 57lb 4x10.

Ear protection was my discovery of 2006 but, in 2007, I survived some of the loudest gigs of my playing life thanks to my £160 investment. Indeed a small price to pay to avoid further hearing loss.

[Rumble]

My main discovery in '07 was (and I know this is a bit sad...) that gear isn't everything. It helps you to make a noise, but it won't change the fundamentals of what your fingers do and when they do it.

I also have to share my discovery of '06 although it's a bit overdue - if a bass really feels right, but the sound isn't quite what you're after, seriously consider modifying the PUP's and pre to tweek the sound. I still, to this day, wish I'd tried this in my Warwick SS1. I have yet to find another bass that felt anywhere close to it.

[jakenewmanbass]

In 2007 I bought an Alembic MK5 deluxe.
from that I learned that after nearly 20 yrs of professional playing, I still have bags of room for improvement in my playing.

[jwbassman]

2007 saw my first foray into the forum world of Basschat - by all accounts a great discovery

Followed soon by be buying and playing my first Fender (P-bass) in over 15 Years of playing and loving it and entering the murky world of valve preamps/power amps and cabs - now have a super little rig, comprising a BBE Bmax T, Alesis RA300 and an Epifani UL112, that sounds fantastic. I also 'invested' in a couple of pedals (a looper, great for practice and jamming and a OD) and attended my first Bass Day...

What will 2008 bring?

[Shockwave]

OPTIMA GOLD BASS STRINGS.

24karat worth of sound. It's the only strings i use. Really looks classy with gold hardware. Great piano like bright tone. Expensive but worth it!

[stingrayfan]

I learned that price doesn't always count when it comes to finding a good bass to gig with. I now use a £350 Indonesian made G&L over my US Stingray, simply because it sounds better, is lighter and is more fun to play.

Edited January 3, 2008 by stingrayfan

[niceguyhomer]

In 2007, I learned the value of getting proper tuition. It's improved my playing ability no end and helped to sustain my interest.

[clauster]

I worked out how to change strings on a Warwick without breaking the Just-A-Nut II.

I learned that I've wasted loads of time and money over the years constantly trading instruments when I should have invested in a decent amp rig (GAS resolution for 2008)

I realised that if the bassist and drummer don't gel musically then the band is never going to groove.

[Beedster]

I learned not to get carried away at an audition and pull the rig over
I also learned that a bass is a bass and whichever model you play you can still make a pretty good sound when you get to know it. Hence, after many a bass, I'm back where I started in the late 70's, a passive 4 string.
Well, four lovely Fender Precisions to be exact, but you get the point... .
Chris

[LukeFRC]

l leant...
real drummers are better than machines- more fun

practicing a song 50 times before a gig or video shoot is good and means you will have it nailed.
but getting the chords of a song you have never heard before 5 min before you start playing keeps you on your toes.

if you don't push yourself in your playing you don't move, if you don't move i get bored.

knowing theory makes you a better player. So does forgetting you know the theory shutting your eyes and writing bass lines by what feels right.

fine art degrees no not lead to amazing jobs straight away.



on another note: if 06 saw me buy an amazing bass in my CIJ 57'RI P bass then 07 saw me buy a decent amp setup in a H&K Q600 head and a Techsoundsystems 'classic' 2x12 cab (for under £650- yeah!) so im not sure i need ever suffer GAS this year unless I swap something

[gilmour]

DR Bass Strings - Fat Beams - simply the best strnings I've ever used

Improvise, improvise, improvise. Get to loads of Jam nights, invite friends round for a blast. Improves your playing no end, and is the most fun to be had with your instrument.

[Thunderthumbs]

[quote name='gilmour' post='112953' date='Jan 3 2008, 03:12 PM']DR Bass Strings - Fat Beams - simply the best strnings I've ever used[/quote]

I bought some shipped over from the USA, and was very dissappointed. First set I had on started deadening after only a couple of gigs. Reckon I could've just got a bad batch?

[Thunderthumbs]

[quote name='clauster' post='112795' date='Jan 3 2008, 11:45 AM']I realised that if the bassist and drummer don't gel musically then the band is never going to groove.[/quote]

Too right.....the last drummer in our band and I played together for about 8 months, and it just didn't happen. Auditioned new ones, and gave the first guy the job....we clicked straightaway and it feels great.

[ARGH]

In 07 my faith in singers finally left me.

Its been a happy divorce

[16Again]

The lesson i learned in 2007 is that work [u]always [/u]gets in the way of rock n roll!
2 drummers too busy in 2 months all due to work!
So if you know of a good drummer in Aberdeen who's into the Ruts and not too busy with work gimme a shout!

[Johngh]

I learnt that having serious GAS attacks is very often a very meaningless excercise. In the last year I've got through a MM Stingray 4, A Sei Flamboyant 6 String and a Status Kingbass 4, and have felt very dissapointed in all of them for different reasons.
The only ray of light has been the Shuker 6 Headless that I had made which is brilliant, and waking up to the fact that I should have got myself a Status S2 classic 6 string headless at the start of 2007 like I planned on doing, instead of doing about 500 miles in 2007 picking up and then selling "dream" basses to try to cure the GAS. The only saving grace is that I didn't loose money in doing it.
The Status S2 Classic 6er is now on order, a year late ! and I pick it up in about 2 weeks time, and there I hope endeth the GAS !

[gilmour]

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='113218' date='Jan 3 2008, 09:41 PM']I bought some shipped over from the USA, and was very dissappointed. First set I had on started deadening after only a couple of gigs. Reckon I could've just got a bad batch?[/quote]


Hmm mine have been fine I used them over December (35 ish gigs) and they're just starting to go, but I do prefer a slightly thicker less bright sound

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='chardbass' post='112290' date='Jan 2 2008, 02:00 PM']1. Ear protection. A seemingly hefty investment of £170 (ish) but now the proud owner and regular wearer of a pair of ER-15s.
Small price to pay to avoid further hearing loss. If you are in a band who play (practice OR gig) regularly, its simple. [b]Do it[/b]. Even if you think you can't afford it. Can you afford to lose your hearing?[/quote]

Now look what you've done!

I'm £170 poorer, but in four weeks (or less) I'll get my ER-15's. I've read plenty of rave reviews for them, so I bloody hope they're worth that much money - I've bought vintage basses for less than that.

[Sparky]

[quote name='jwbassman' post='112648' date='Jan 2 2008, 11:15 PM']2007 saw my first foray into the forum world of Basschat - by all accounts a great discovery [/quote]
+1. Before 2007 I'd never taken an interest in my equipment - I've been playing bass for the best part of 12 years. Needed to change my rig for logistical reasons and joined basschat for some advice. Since then I've discovered a whole word I never knew existed and also, have been introduced to the phenomenon of GAS. This disrupted my sleep for a few weeks but after a recent spend, I think it's under control! I've managed to sort out my rig and am now the proud owner of a Beedster Sig P which I'm chuffed to bits with (pics to follow in bassporn next week). Am planning on spending some time setting up and experimenting with the workings of both my basses and have started playing more at home - the improvement is audiable. Thank you basschat - may 2008 see many more MODERATE bouts of GAS and all the pleasures that ensue for everyone here on the forum. Word Up, Peace Out. Sparky

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='113356' date='Jan 4 2008, 08:43 AM']Now look what you've done!

I'm £170 poorer, but in four weeks (or less) I'll get my ER-15's. I've read plenty of rave reviews for them, so I bloody hope they're worth that much money - I've bought vintage basses for less than that. [/quote]

They arrived today. Haven't had a chance to wear them in a musical situation, but already I'm impressed.

Walking the length of Oxford Street was really bizarre. It was like the traffic noise (if you don't know it, the traffic on Oxford Street is all buses and taxis) had been turned down by 75% while the human voice had been turned down by only 50%.

So the overall noise level was quiet without being dulled, yet I could hear clearly snippets of every conversation people were having as they walked past me.

Got on my bike for the ride home (a KTM SM with Akropovic system) and it was like riding a Gold Wing.

I'll be playing next on Sunday ... looking forward to trying them out for what I really intended them for.

[The Funk]

In 2007 I learnt the value of mid-range drivers and 3-way cabs.