All Activity

Much sage advice on this thread (as ever on BC ) that I can't really add to. Reading it though, kind of made me glad that when I started on bass, like a great many 16 year olds in 1977 it was forming a punk band in school. We could barely play a note between us, but it was such incredible fun making an unholy noise together, creating something original together and (unknowingly) rapidly developing musically, and also feeling that we were a part of some great tidal shift in music and culture that was currently happening. I did buy a paperback tutor for bass from the early '70's with a flexi-disc, which was the only tuition I've had then or since. It was some help - would have been more if I'd followed it properly. By the time I became a half-decent player I'd (a) learned a great deal about band-craft and gigging and (b) become far more confident as a person - I'd been painfully shy before - which for me personally was the right way around to do it. If starting now, I think my 16 year old self would be bewildered by the sheer amount of information available, and probably depressed by watching the "virtuoso" whizz-kids on YouTube (though my present self would tell him to ignore such cr@p) - not sure I'd have taken that first step to start.

Thats how it seems to me. There isn't too much in it, and my favourite album changes depending on when I am asked, but it never goes past Hold Your Fire

Good call on the bags. A 15" * 15" looks like its c £33 and more substantial than the Boogie Bags.

I just throw a pick at the singer

I'd like to try one but I'm also not quite convinced it would be different enough to the Stomp Retro Reel block for me to justify the cost of it. The Retro Reel block is an often overlooked block for bass. Just set the Wow Flutter control to zero, the tape speed to 15ips and then Saturation and Texture to taste. I like about 2.8 Saturation and 8.3 Texture. Without the Wow/Flutter it is just a brilliant warmer-upper. I have it on most of my patches.

I had a need for a 1U amp and could only get a Citronic. To my surprise, I am quite impressed. It is versatile, not too deep and seems to be quiet in operation. At just under 4Kg it is not lightweight but does the job. It's also on offer at the moment Citronic Power Amp

This is all Paul McCartney's fault!

Blue Aran dropped a link to these on my feed the other day. https://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?manufacturer=JAM_Systems&masthead=Amplifiers&subheadnew=Stereo_Power_Amps I've no idea if they are any good but I'd be suspicious of any amplifer marketing suggesting 2000W @ 8Ω for just under 600 quid.

Or knowing when the song you are playing is totally killing the dance floor on that occasion and how to communicate quickly to seamlessly get out of it in to the next song!

So - depends where you think the sound comes from - it does use an input and output transformer - and one of them is a Lundahl LL1578 - but don't know if that's shooting for a specific Neve Mariner transformer sound. They describe it as two of the Neve preamp circuit in series- with the ability to boost one into the other - which makes sense as it was mainly designed for higher gain overdriven sound. While clipping at the tops of the notes is actually quite nice I don't know if that's how you would be using it. The EQ is described as a non Neve influenced 3 band thing. So it adds colour and a kinda glue to the sound, and I can tell immediately if it's been turned off in transit - but if it has "that Neve sound" I don't know - I think if you want a Neve preamp you would be better off elsewhere - but if you want that transformer textured preamp - with a range of colour added and a very useful EQ it's very good.

Born To Be Alive - Patrick Hernandez

A lot of people equate lessons as just being about technique, reading music and theory. Yet all of the elements you mention I teach in lessons. The other day I was teaching recording techniques, another, soldering and electronics, the weekend I'll be setting up a video recording and editing software. My friday student is learning about stage craft ( and many of the points you've mentioned) and today a student is learning a quick way to remember all the notes on the bass neck. Genuinely, hand on heart, I learned the long and hard way. The internet didn't exist, my ear was honed dropping the needle on the vinyl. I had a long (previous) career in IT and have an obsession with audio technology and, I've picked up a stack of stuff on the way that I wish I knew sooner - and given the amount of questions I get about the same things, I figure everyone else does too - so, thats what I teach (as well as what folk would term 'the usual stuff'). Do we need formal lessons though? Not entirely no. I can draw a picture without going to art school, but for those who haven't been to art school, may never know what they are missing out on. - And no, in case it comes up, music theory doesn't ever dillute one's identity on the instrument. That's gatekeeping BS.

Like those times your guitarist forgets what song you were playing as he goes in to a solo and drifts off in to a different chord progression. If you have the skills to spot it quickly and follow the daft b*****d you will save your band from many embarrassments.

This intrigues me as a 1073/84 is one of the more obvious 'bigger, better' coloured preamps and EQs. Be interested to hear your thoughts on how it compares to the 'real thing' as you get more time with it, as I assume it's a stripped-down/partial version of the circuit

I attempted some dub for this month's composition challenge!* *this is definitely not a blatant attempt to get votes 😁

Just as an aside, what is peoples view of the treble side being the longer side of the pickup on that P bass? Seems most do it the opposite way with the B-E-A being the longer side of the split P.

Yes to this! I've taken on students from other teachers and there has been, well, lets just say, a certain amount of retraining required. Not just theory and technique, but the way that they have been taught previously. For example, not being able to retain information or identify theory elements. On top of that, "teachers" being unable to identify the student needs and that each of us absorb information in different ways. This week alone I am probably 10 different teachers rather than a one-size-fits-all course trying to fit paying customers. Thing is, for a new student, how will they know this is what they are walking in to? It's difficult. I try to explain my 'ways of working' as best I can and openly invite new students to feel comfortable to choose if they wish to progress with lessons with me. I'm lucky I guess, I have a long waiting list. Oh and to answer the question about lessons and online - yes it can be helpful having more than one person explaining the same information as it can aid retention. I also like it because I ask my stidents to challenge what I teach. It also always opens up new conversations and avenues for lesson content. The comment about finding a teacher that inspires you is really important too I feel. Someone who is excited about their subject. I have kids and my eldest is mature enough to identify which teachers she has are tired, bored, fed up with their jobs or lack the acumen to be effective. I'd hope that if I ever get to that point, I move on to something else that fills me with as much joy as my current career.

I've just seen the 2027 dates and I live close to Helsinki, the last last gig on the tour. I'm not surprised Geddy and Alex want to go out and play live, as they obviously enjoy it (more than Neil I think who wanted to stop touring and G & A were disappointed but respected his decision) so I think something like this was inevitable (after all the alternative is to give up something you love doing?). I'm pleased they've got Anika on drums as she'll bring a different spin. She's technically proficient to play the songs without being a replacement Peart 'sound-a-like' which would be the wrong way to go and from what I've read the guys really enjoy playing with her. I'll definitely be going, I think the only element of concern is obviously Geddy's vocals... hopefully he'll have some guest vocalists but otherwise we'll enjoy it for what it is.

I was there when Blur clashed with Prodigy (2010?). I lost the argument and we watched Blur and it was boring. Everyone agreed afterwards that I was right and we should have watched Prodigy.