All expenses paid trip to Warwick HQ (Germany) Footage

[Captain Bass]

This video features pictures and footage from an all expenses paid trip to Germany courtesy of Warwick Bass.

This video features samples taken from my solo bass album which will be entitled "Bassically"

I hope you guys enjoy it



Regards,
Andy

WWW.ANDYSAXTON.COM

P.S. if anyone is interested in picking up a copy of my album when it is done then please email me and I will contact you when it is all finished - andycfs@msn

[thisnameistaken]

Hi Andy,

Quite jealous of you and all the tasty Warwicks. I didn't stick with the video beyond the first tune because I was a bit disappointed with the sound of that tune. I've quite enjoyed the stuff you've demoed before even though I don't usually like "bass guitar solo" music, but that tune on the video sounded like a hotlicks midi-drums-and-soloist recording. I hope that's not what you've aimed for on your first record.

[Chris2112]

Nice to see the "Just Intonation" Thumb there, I thought it was a one off that had been sold by Station Music! However, I have to admit I wasn't blown away by the soundtrack, it was a bit heavy on the cheesy drums, scooped guitars and sounded a tad generic compared to some of your other tunes.

[Captain Bass]

I appreciate your constructive feedback

Nothings really set in stone with the album as yet, I was kinda testing the water with these new tunes to see what people think.

I was hoping of having at the most 3 tracks like this spread out on the album and the rest be more like my other youtube ideas, which will be finished songs on there too.

It is hard to accompany solo bass without it sounding cheesy sometimes

[derrenleepoole]

Man, that looked like an ace trip. You lucky thing you

I have to congratulate you on some great bass playing mate. You're obviously very talented. Reminds me a bit of Jonas Hellborg etc. I would repeat some of the other comments about the drum programming on some of the tracks. It's all a bit too rigid for me, and feels very static as a result. I know that getting a musician capable of playing that type of very tight multi time signature stuff is very difficult, but a real drummer would bring this music alive in my opinion. If a real drummer is not an option, maybe have a look at how Squarepusher uses drum sequencing. Maybe making the drums more Squarepusher-esq might work better as it will feel more deliberate, rather than someone trying to sequence realistic drums in the absence of a real drummer? Does that make sense?

All kudos though matey

[Chris2112]

Having spent well over £100 buying Jonas Hellborg records (including tracking down his rarer stuff) I'm not sure I see the comparison myself...

[xilddx]

Wow, what a trip! And thanks for the insight.

I'm so sorry to say I didn't like the soundtrack either, sorry mate. I'm not your target audience though. It sort of came across as lift music for bassists if you see what I mean. I think, for it to work, the compositions need to be of the quality of the last track (which is excellent - see below) on the clip, and all the instruments need to be played by real people who can inject energy, sophistication and personality into the tracks. I can see where you're going, but it needs to appeal to a wider audience if you want success from it.

The last track on the clip was really good, a very tasty tune and it held my attention, but I wanted to hear some Lifeson guitar and a vocal on it

Seriously good luck though man, you are so talented!

[Captain Bass]

[quote name='derrenleepoole' post='1019932' date='Nov 11 2010, 12:28 PM']Man, that looked like an ace trip. You lucky thing you

I have to congratulate you on some great bass playing mate. You're obviously very talented. Reminds me a bit of Jonas Hellborg etc. I would repeat some of the other comments about the drum programming on some of the tracks. It's all a bit too rigid for me, and feels very static as a result. I know that getting a musician capable of playing that type of very tight multi time signature stuff is very difficult, but a real drummer would bring this music alive in my opinion. If a real drummer is not an option, maybe have a look at how Squarepusher uses drum sequencing. Maybe making the drums more Squarepusher-esq might work better as it will feel more deliberate, rather than someone trying to sequence realistic drums in the absence of a real drummer? Does that make sense?

All kudos though matey [/quote]

I would love to get a real drummer and I totally agree they would add so much to the tracks but I don't have the money :-( or the studio, or the money to pay for a studio lol!

I think I need to checkout some squarepusher, what would you recommend?

[Captain Bass]

[quote name='silddx' post='1020020' date='Nov 11 2010, 01:26 PM']Wow, what a trip! And thanks for the insight.

I'm so sorry to say I didn't like the soundtrack either, sorry mate. I'm not your target audience though. It sort of came across as lift music for bassists if you see what I mean. I think, for it to work, the compositions need to be of the quality of the last track (which is excellent - see below) on the clip, and all the instruments need to be played by real people who can inject energy, sophistication and personality into the tracks. I can see where you're going, but it needs to appeal to a wider audience if you want success from it.

The last track on the clip was really good, a very tasty tune and it held my attention, but I wanted to hear some Lifeson guitar and a vocal on it

Seriously good luck though man, you are so talented![/quote]

Maybe if I had tracks that were just bass on its own? or layers of my bass tracked?

Im really glad I posted this up as I have got some valuable feedback from you guys!

[Wil]

I actually really like the first track, but it needs real drums to give it some life, it sounds too rigid and flat. Great bass tone and playing, and I like the interesting timings, they make my ears prick up.

[lojo]

just getting into the bit at 3:20 and it faded

enjoyed the sounds man

[xilddx]

[quote name='Captain Bass' post='1020087' date='Nov 11 2010, 02:13 PM']Maybe if I had tracks that were just bass on its own? or layers of my bass tracked?

Im really glad I posted this up as I have got some valuable feedback from you guys![/quote]

Why do you want to record an album that features bass as the main instrument? This is meant as a serious question. What are you trying to say with it? For example, as a publicity tool for your skills to get you hired by a big band, making some extra cash touching normal people with your heartfelt and beautiful music, impressing the bass playing fraternity, to get people to ask you for lessons? Sponsorship deals? What?

Edited November 11, 2010 by silddx

[Captain Bass]

[quote name='silddx' post='1020181' date='Nov 11 2010, 02:57 PM']Why do you want to record an album that features bass as the main instrument? This is meant as a serious question. What are you trying to say with it? For example, as a publicity tool for your skills to get you hired by a big band, making some extra cash touching normal people with your heartfelt and beautiful music, impressing the bass playing fraternity, to get people to ask you for lessons? Sponsorship deals? What?[/quote]

With these particular ideas I was focusing on my background being a bass player within the metal scene for 8 years. I had met a lot of brilliant players along the road who were in bands that were at a similar level to my band (cry for silence). Something I found was the way that the bass players (although very good) were often turned down in the mix both live and on record. I understand that Metal music is the Guitarists area but when I saw guitarists using 7 or 8 string guitars I felt that was stepping on our territory even more.

I set out with these song ideas to create a sound where the guitar is the rythm instrument and the bass is the lead instrument, and where the rythms are interesting. But like I said before I was never thinking of creating a whole album like this as I had a feeling it would not be everyones cup of tea. I guess the guys who listen to metal bands like Meshuggah, Dillinger, Dream Theatre, Periphery, Sikth may appreciate this but that is a small majority in the whole music spectrum. And I do wanna appeal to a broad audience of Bass players and hopefully get my name past around as a decent player and to inspire young bass players.

Oh and extra cash selling CDs and Lessons as I am soo skint atm!

[Truckstop]

Man, proper loved the tunes. Lovely sound during the slow chord parts.

Truckstop

[Gust0o]

I liked the sounds, and agree with the sentiment above about the bass' position in the mix for a lot of bands. Though I'm not sure, in responding to Sil's question, as to whether music isn't an end in itself - something, by the act of which, is self-justifying on a subjective basis.

It seems that a great deal of the arts would, on some base (bass? Geddit?) level fall into that camp. You can apply various lenses, but one will likely just be the joy of artistic creation [i]in itself[/i].

Bored at work. So have some philosophical meanderings, why not?

Loved the insight into the Warwick factory. Would be good to have the thread back on track, and read some more about your observations.

I'm glad I mentioned subjectivity above, as I spy the "Zulu Warrior" in this video. It's got a significant price tag, and I can appreciate some thought has gone into it's creation - but Daphne and Celeste have something to say to it.

[BTS_Spacebass]

Nice tracks dude, quite behold...the arctopus in places. And the footage looks grand man, must've been a great trip

T

[xilddx]

[quote name='Captain Bass' post='1020408' date='Nov 11 2010, 05:08 PM']With these particular ideas I was focusing on my background being a bass player within the metal scene for 8 years. I had met a lot of brilliant players along the road who were in bands that were at a similar level to my band (cry for silence). Something I found was the way that the bass players (although very good) were often turned down in the mix both live and on record. I understand that Metal music is the Guitarists area but when I saw guitarists using 7 or 8 string guitars I felt that was stepping on our territory even more.

I set out with these song ideas to create a sound where the guitar is the rythm instrument and the bass is the lead instrument, and where the rythms are interesting. But like I said before I was never thinking of creating a whole album like this as I had a feeling it would not be everyones cup of tea. I guess the guys who listen to metal bands like Meshuggah, Dillinger, Dream Theatre, Periphery, Sikth may appreciate this but that is a small majority in the whole music spectrum. And I do wanna appeal to a broad audience of Bass players and hopefully get my name past around as a decent player and to inspire young bass players.

Oh and extra cash selling CDs and Lessons as I am soo skint atm![/quote]
That's interesting man.

I think you've got a perfectly valid approach to making your music, but it would seem to me that you need a singer, good lyrics and real musicians if you want to give your album a broad appeal and validate your approach to the bass being melodic instrument. In fact, I would say that it is one of the few ways that a bass could work as one of the focal points of a band. You certainl;y have the sound, style and chops to pull that off. And if you do it well, I think it will tick most of your objectives boxes.

BUT, at the moment, it kind of sounds like a skint great bassist putting together some tracks in his home studio to highlight his compositional and bass playing skills. I totally think you need to up that a few levels. What you should possibly think about is doing an ep instead of an album and getting a band together to do it. The songs themselves need to stand up to the competition and prove that a great metal band with up front melodic solo bass is viable as anything else.

Now all you need are some people and some cash.

[Captain Bass]

[quote name='silddx' post='1021213' date='Nov 12 2010, 11:46 AM']That's interesting man.

I think you've got a perfectly valid approach to making your music, but it would seem to me that you need a singer, good lyrics and real musicians if you want to give your album a broad appeal and validate your approach to the bass being melodic instrument. In fact, I would say that it is one of the few ways that a bass could work as one of the focal points of a band. You certainl;y have the sound, style and chops to pull that off. And if you do it well, I think it will tick most of your objectives boxes.

BUT, at the moment, it kind of sounds like a skint great bassist putting together some tracks in his home studio to highlight his compositional and bass playing skills. I totally think you need to up that a few levels. What you should possibly think about is doing an ep instead of an album and getting a band together to do it. The songs themselves need to stand up to the competition and prove that a great metal band with up front melodic solo bass is viable as anything else.

Now all you need are some people and some cash.[/quote]

The funny thing is one of my first ever bands was exactly like that, I used to sing and slap. We were called "TANJENT" with a 'J', cool I know ha ha! I'm gonna dig out an old song or two and put it up for a laugh! We supported Lost Prophets a couple of times when they were starting out, Ah the old days!

[xilddx]

[quote name='Captain Bass' post='1029032' date='Nov 19 2010, 11:10 AM']The funny thing is one of my first ever bands was exactly like that, I used to sing and slap. We were called "TANJENT" with a 'J', cool I know ha ha! I'm gonna dig out an old song or two and put it up for a laugh! We supported Lost Prophets a couple of times when they were starting out, Ah the old days![/quote]
A band I was in (FISTER ) supported the Lost Prophets once too. That must have been 13 years ago

Yeah, stick a track up man, be interesting to hear it! Cheers.