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New medium scale bass in what is essentially a P bass configuration with passive electronics and a split coil pickup. Like all Alan's work it's a cracker!

Listened to the Detroit mix of the What's Going On album today and lost the whole day to it! The Detroit mix is the original mix, and not the mix found on the released album (which was done in LA a month or so after the Detroit mix). Anyway, Inner City Blues. I've always 'heard' the (Bob Babbitt) bass line in my head as being much simpler/straightforward than it actually is, but listening to it on headphones today there's a ton of stuff going on that I'd not heard/appreciated before. It's such a lovely line; perfect for the song and beautifully played... so, maybe a daft question, but... is there more than one bass on the track?! I know there are vocal comps through the album (initially coming about by accident where the two engineers - Kenneth Sands and Steve Smith - mixed a comp of two vocal takes, which Gaye loved) so is the bass line a similar experiment/outcome? Whatever it is, it's a masterful performance by a wonderful musician? Help a curious pair of ears out here, folks!

and the mothership was out. P-bass and flats to accompany it.

Two lumps of wood, a pickup, bbot and some tuners, just like like any other P bass to me.

Agree with all the comments on this thread that it's probably more about strings and technique than core bass tone, but an Ovation Magnum is just fabulous for reggae / ska - I've never played another bass with such naturally massive low end whilst retaining complete clarity / articulation. Currently using La Bella 750T White tapewounds on my fretless Magnum 1.

@Ricky 4000 I can highly recommend one of these for reggae, I picked it up during the week for a sensible price, it was already fitted with halfrounds , and has a really low action , it’s my first real go at a 5 string, and the low B drops a serious Bassline 🙂

Editing on the pedal only gets you so far. Basically you turn the parameter switch to whichever parameter you want to adjust (cutoff, resonance, etc.). The “data” digit (right-most digit in the display) will show a 5 which corresponds to the stored preset value in the editor (eg a cutoff of 45). Then you turn the encoder dial to adjust either positively or negatively from there. The dot in the display flashes to indicate a change has been made. If you wish to save the change, you need to press the encoder dial. The dot then stops blinking. Repeat for other parameters. It needs to be noted that adjustments on the pedal are always relative to the value of the stored preset as created in the editor. That is, a value of 9 on the pedal isn’t the same for each preset, rather it is a ratio of the original parameter value from the preset as created in the editor. I can’t remember the ratios off the top of my head. Further to this, if the preset created in the editor had a resonance of 0, this would be the value corresponding to 5 on the pedal and dialling in 1, 2, 3 or 4 on the pedal would have no effect whatsoever as resonance can’t go below zero. (Changing to values above 5 on the pedal would have an effect.) The stuff about editing on the pedal is most likely in the quick start guide which isn’t repeated in the bigger manual. Editing on the PC is where the real magic happens as you have complete control over all the oscillator levels, waveshapes and tons of other goodies. You really must hook this thing up and download some other user patches and create your own to get the best out of this pedal.

Finally got myself an NS2! Too bad it is blue, but I can live with that until I find my ultimate NS2X...

I'm feeling immensely fortunate. After some toing and froing with the seller (all very good natured) I've snagged this bass. Built by Marko Ursin, a Finnish Luthier, it was a custom build in 2009 for the original owner, who I've just bought it from. I'd never really imagined having a single cut, but this was just so nice. I'm still getting used to the Aguilar OBP3 / Bartolini G6 combo, but it's such a responsive bass. I'd felt fortunate owning my Fame / Mayones 6 string, but this is every bit as special. Given it's A Finnish bass, crafted by a gent by the name of Ursin, it might gain an appropriate headstock logo. Finnish national animal is the bear and Ursin, must be derived from Ursine, for bear.

I suppose it depends on how much you think wood affects tone once you're plugged in. Personally I think pickup placement and pickup type affect plugged in tone far more than what wood the instrument is made of or what shape the body is.

I just keep watching videos of the pedal and think 'that sounds pretty flipping nice'. I swear by my sansamp and I guess that's the same principle here with just a different flavour pre amp modulation. The only other thing that gives me 'the fear' is that computers sometimes go wrong and what happens if everything suddenly gets wiped before a gig?

Seeing as I would never watch that I wouldn't know, but which MJ does she look like?

Don't they call it 'southern rock'?

I had one of these briefly and while I’ll agree there are many many options if you already have an interface you know and like using (I already do), you have a couple of pedals which you use and enjoy (I already do) and you aren’t likely to be needing your bass to recreate a multitude of amps and cab with a host of I/O options or might not be for you. If you’re a tech geek and love shiny new things with loads of the latest cool tech and don’t mind spending £400+ for the two or three effects you’re realistically going to use then then you’re in trouble 😀 A good suggestion already mentioned is to download the Helix Native software and play about with the effects and amps and if it feesikw value for money to have the Stomp you’ll at least have road tested the actual effects - the hardware is a delight to use but you might find like I did that my limited use of pedals makes the whole package redundant even if it is cool as!

I have a suggestion, but you probably wouldn't like it. 😨 Maybe we should make it a sticky/FAQ, thus ensuring no one will read it. 😩

Nice looking bass. I love the way that the picture sequence looks a bit like a striptease, saving the full reveal to the last shots. Does it sound p-bassey? It strikes me as a nice idea having a traditional sound with modern looks.

I would say at some level we're all influenced by McCartney whether we know it or not, whether we accept it or not.The chain is always going to lead back to McCartney in my opinion. In the States most of us weren't thinking about the electric bass guitar until we saw McCartney in 1964. As a matter of fact we didn't know what an electric bass guitar was. Blue

I've only just bought my first ever instrument, an epiphone toby deluxe iv. Owned it about 6 weeks. Just starting to pick things up off YouTube and stuff. The song I've now learned (not perfect yet) is White Stripes - 7 Nation Army.

Hiya Carl Everyone does things their own way: I've been playing for 25 years this year: first few years playing along to CDs & cassettes (pre-internet), then playing in a gigging band for 10 years - learning scales, chords, modes & about playinh live & locking in with a drummer. For the past few years I've played for myself at home with a quick {unsuccessful) foray with a new band. Wherever you're up to, as long as you find it rewarding, its the right way of doing it. Good luck!

My rehousing project addresses this issue.

Hope there’s not a hole in that logic...

this is my one and only fretless, meeting its maker for the first time in 25 years; Series 2 Progress Elite 1989

So buzzing for tomorrow night, big Mod night gig in Strathclyde Uni Union in Glasgow, with everything raised being donated to the Glasgow Childrens Hospital Charity... FoC, we've managed to secure £18k worth of PA and sound man for the night, via a guitarist mate I know from years back, who is doing the sound, the same guy who does TRNSMT and another guy who has done the sound for Metallica on their last European tour...its all just a bit mental the way it's worked out... Best part, we are a tribute band to The Who, and we are playing the very same stage The Who played just a month shy, almost to the day 50 years ago...! Soooooo excited...

Up here it's Dr Ner.

I had just googled the list of artists on Capricorn and some great bands

He’d know more than the bloke doing it now...

Quick update on the Upswing After several hours experimenting with the TC Bodyrez and 3Sigma IR's with a Mooer Radar I decided to ride bareback at a restaurant piano bass duo gig last night. I wanted to keep set up to a minimum so plugged the Upswing into a GK MB200 and AI Upshot speaker. It sounded fine without the pedals and was fun to play.

I was just checking out this vid, bass sounds awesome...

David, It all makes sense now, I hope. 😉

I forgot all about that era. When people mention McCartney i automatically think Beatles mode but his material from Wings era was simply phenomenal in my opinion. For me McCartney was at his peak with Wings. And that bass line is just so nice in that song and like someone says 1st time i've heard a Ric sounding that good.

Good question. I guess I'm a bit old fashioned and tend to assume that tone from a bass is driven by the following: 1. Type (P/J/MM etc) and make of pups 2. Position of pups 3. Quality of EQ including whether active or passive mode 4. Strings (and playing position). And then some way behind the above in terms of impact: 5. Variation in type of woods used. I suspect the the tonal difference between the two basses would be less if I was using identically aged same strings and I guess the simplest way to do that is to put a new pair of the same make strings on both, but I'm too much of a cheapskate to want to do that until the strings actually need replacing

It's ironic. Like Nigel's Marshall stack guitar. 😄

GM was using Stramp amplifiers at the time. A German make I believe. Rory's amp looks as though it may also be a Stramp. Seemingly our Ange has a thing for curly hair!

Ha , it still makes me smile .😀

Cheeky!

I'm at least three bottoms on from that one now!

Your ex-bottom? When did you have the new one fitted?

Not often you see a Wal completely overshadowed in a gig situation , but here it is sooo not the centre of attention.. Brilliant! 😃

Two minutes of research took me to https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/contacting-buyer-bidder?id=4083 How to share your phone number with buyers You can also make your phone number available to buyers so they can contact you by phone before and/or after they’ve bought from you. You’ll need to opt in before you can share your number though. Here’s how: ... So it appears it's perfectly OK for them to contact you by phone, you just need to set it up so they can. I've just tried doing it and it's simple.

I'm lucky enough to live around the corner from Bassdirect where this was recorded, so fairly regularly go in for a noodle. In the hunt for 'the perfect bass" I've actually played at least half of these models, and recently a few of the ones in the video. I've also had amongst others an MTD, various Fenders, a couple of Rob Allen's, a Zon and currently my main (and only one of 2 as I can't afford to hoard) bass is my 3rd Dingwall, a Z3. What is interesting to me is that my perception of the sound on the video compared to how it was trying them out is quite different. The Dingwall Lee Sklar really doesn't do it for me on the video, yet it's effectively the same model and pickups as my Z3, the bass I bought having played for 5 minutes, after agonising for several months about whether I could afford a Roscoe that was a lot less expensive. The Zon sounds nice but in real life I found it lacking warmth, in common with other graphite neck basses I've tried. The Fodera J I didn't have plugged in when I tried it but the neck feels amazing. The Maruszczyk basses are fantastic to play and really well made, but as they do so many options in terms of electronics some sound great, some don't (to my ear). The Mayones Jabba sounds good but didn't fit my hand. The Roscoe sounds ok on the video but growls, burbles and sings in the real. Only the Sandberg Marlowe of all the ones I've tried sounds the same on video to me as it did in the shop. It also has a slinky worn in feel neck and is a bargain compared to some of the higher end ones. And that's even before you put it in a band context. It's really useful to get an idea of the variety of sounds you can get, and where your tastes may lie, but it's only a starting point On the flip side, it's a bloody great advert for the amazing range of basses you can get, and a good excuse to get your derrière down to a shop and just try them. What time do they open tomorrow? 😁

https://www.joinmyband.co.uk/classifieds/madonna-tribute-act-looking-for-musicians-t1151835.html Would-be Madonna tribute vocalist looking for someone with 'a good sound system and mic'. Eh? Think I'll look for a band that can provide a good bass and amp!

That tone? Nothing. A different, great bass tone. . . . lots of stuff. With the gear you list, if you have a bad back your only solution is to hire roadies. Other than that there are no PRO's for keeping heavy gear. My solution to a permanent lower back injury (because I delayed selling very heavy bass gear, that sounded too good to sell) has been to move to 6lb amps, several 23lb cabs and an 8 1/2 lb bass. It doesn't matter what your current gear sounds like. Find good sounding gear that you can carry and learn to love that sound.

We've already done this. Please try and keep up.

Nice !! Don't know the context too, but already seen this kind of idea: Edit: This is Stig Pedersen from band "Disneyland after dark" ..

I was a small child when Proper Punk tm kicked off... But it definitely stirred up the pop music i would listen to in the 80s - I totally agree that it brought in the idea of 'you don't have to start playing at 12 and spend 10 years in your bedroom learning stairway'. Like for instance, i think synth pop wouldn't have happened as synths were only 'proper' instruments if you dressed up as a wizard while playing them. Guns n Roses considered themselves punk. Punk meant that if Blondie felt like doing disco they could. Punk filtered down to the Jesus and Mary chain saying 'a guitar is like a chisel' which got me playing, when everyone else who 'knew about proper music' told me not to bother because i'd previously broken all the fingers on my left hand, so i'd never be able to play like Eddie Van Halen. Grunge was punk. Acid house was punk. Arguable skiffle was punk, even Glenn Miller was punk...

I will chime in here, as DR is a NJ, USA company with deep roots in the industry, and they do things sorta the old fashioned way. Every string is made here in NJ. QC is sick good, and they do spend a lot of time making string sets so they are balanced. While it may add to the cost, well worth it. Lo-Riders are the only DR string over a hex-core. So they are more like a standard string you would find in any shop, and have a similar response, at least I've found that. To me they are high end steel bass strings, but definitely have more low and definition in the low. DR strings is owned and founded by Mark Dronge. Mark is the son of Al Dronge. You would know Al Dronge as the owner and founder of GUILD. Sadly, Al passed away many years ago, but left his son with a great legacy that still continues today at DR. tom