Madjon Hello!

[Madjon1973]

As I guess is traditional on forums time to say hello!

I've been playing for 20 years next year and I've not gigged since 93 which is pretty embarrasing, however the bass is an integral part of my life and a fantastic way to unwind from stress at work and other stress from other hobbies (triathlon, cycle racing, etc).

Some things will change shortly and the bass will air itself in public again I'm sure.

Started in playing in 89 on a precision copy, Steve Harris from Iron Maiden was the initial inspiration and I guess I followed the metal guide to bassists for a long while, Cliff Burton etc, until I could find an individual style. The first thing I learned to play was the bassline from "Chains" Fleetwood Mac mostly coz I am also an F1 nut.

Always a rocker at heart, my influences are however wide and diverse, apparently I'm a great funk player (someone told me this in the bass centre years ago), I enjoy playing disco tunes, floyd, who, jazz, funk, dance grooves and so on I only really get bored with the blues which is unfortunate as its the base of so much oh yes and indie music drives me insane.

Amp wise, I have a trace BLX130HSM I've read lots of mixed reactions too these, personally I think its great and unique but its going to go soon as I need a bit more headroom if I'm going to play gigs again.

Guitars wise I've owned my orignal "craftsman" precision, that was a nice instrument, then an awful very metal looking aria pro 2 (SLB?) then another aria but this time an SB1000A neck thru which was excellent apart from the string spacing was not much cop for slapping and popping, and for the last 14 years I've been playing the same old Tune TBC4 (very nice woodwork but essentially a bass maniac) and an Ibanez roadster fretless which was bought in a right state then completely reprofiled and refinished and now is a nice instrument with a maple neck.

Recently I have acquired an upright which is like learning to play again.

Style wise, I like the bass to be fun, exciting, soulful, create a groove and a mood, but it needs to be solid.

Current faves are Geddy Lee & Stevie Wonders bass players (!).

See you on the forum.

[jakenewmanbass]

Welcome to the forum mate.

[bass_ferret]

The SB1000 was a top bass in its day and JT did not have a problem slappin and poppin but I know what you mean about the string spacing - was a bit narrow.

Tune are good basses.

Presume by Stevie Wonder you mean the mincing legend that is Nate Watts. But then his original bass player was Jamerson

[Madjon1973]

Ah JT another great bassist. Correct regarding Nate Watts.

I have to say that I think the often the most exciting bass players are those from the 80s in most types of music, they really pushed the boundaries and defined modern popular music, unfortunately, the bass players role in popular music appears to have declined into mediocre boring non-enthralling basslines (probably guitarists playing bass).

It may have something to do with developments in amplication and new styles of playing, it became a percussive rhythm defining instrument incredibly versatile and colourful, full of depth expression and character.

When you talk to Joe Bloggs about the bass, they underestimate the value of the bass on popular music unless you get the rare opportunity to train their ear to disect the music, and I think in many cases it outweighs the contribution of the six string electric guitar.

We will know when we have arrived when the beeb does an hours programme defining the history and impact of the bass guitar, but until then we should celebrate the bass knowing fully what it has contributed so solidly and dependantly for all these years.

Celebrate being a bass player, love it, love music, love life.