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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.

News from Kim this morning about a venue change: "*CHANGE OF VENUE FOR COLIN’S WAKE/CELEBRATION* Due to growing numbers I have had to change the venue. It will now be held at Pyrford Social Club, Coldharbour Road, Pyrford Surrey. GU22 8SP. Asylum Affair will be playing and hopefully some of Colin’s Muso friends will also bring instruments to give him the send off he would of loved! Please share. Kim xx"

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 know he played bass in what was arguably the biggest/ best known band of all time. I know that a few top players rate him for such strengths as ‘melodic sensibility’, ‘appropriateness’, etc, but why do I hear his name so often when ‘bass greats’ are being spoken of, always seeming to rank highly on these relentless ‘best bass players of all time’ lists that proliferate? I would never argue that he wasn’t a fine musician, a good song-writer, and solid multi-instrumentalist, and I don’t find his bass playing to be offensive in any way. ... just a bit ‘meh’. He sounds to me like a guitarist playing bass typically does. I can’t hear any innovation or great imagination in what he did, nothing special at all. He may have been a tuneful, solid player ... but I certainly don’t believe he’s one of the greats of the instrument. I believe him to be highly overrated in that regard. Am I spectacularly missing something here? I’m interested to hear what folk have to say, McCartney fans especially. Give me food for thought. I’m always open to another perspective.

"Due to Ebay rules and regulations, I cannot say what this Bass is without the listing being removed." Allow me: "it's a piece of stinky poo"

Yeah I’d never used multi FX ever either and my pedal board was a canny size. Now I have a Line 6 G50 and a stomp. Incredible! Does absolutely everything really really well. More than enough for what I need now and great fun to craddock about with too. Yeah I’ll be using it live for the tour this year, see how it fairs but i don’t miss my old board, not a jot.

Dunno, but listening to Lee Sklaar on a podcast last week he was singing the praises of banjo fret wire......

Stunner. ACGs are built to perfection and sound immense! Congrats!

Ha ha and proud of it!! I like to keep you all guessing!! 😁

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

Not European but have a look at Verellen amplifiers? I use his meatsmoke dual channel preamp pedal. He used to do a bunch of custom stuff, not sure if he still does.

She has so many 'genius songs' it's difficult to know where to start. But if I had to start anywhere it would be with all of the Hounds of Love album and the Aerial double album ... And there are so many others too; Wuthering Heights, Man With The Child in His Eyes, Roll in the Ball, Them Heavy People, Wow, Babooshka, Army Dreamers, The Sensual World, A Woman's Work, etc, etc, etc. What's that phrase - an embarrassment of riches!

Aretha and Chuck?

Digging this review. Do you think the sound is perhaps from the tailored pickups for the bass, the mitre neck joint or perhaps a combination of a few things? Both fantastic basses

Ha , it still makes me smile .😀

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

Welcome Carlcoops. "Am I better off" depends on what you want from bass. For me, it is a hobby that I'd like to keep free of stress. I get stressed around teachers. I play along to YT clips mainly these days but I am happy to play with others as opportunities come along. TAB is as much as I need to get me going if I am struggling to get a line by ear. Reading notation is no longer on the cards for me for personal reasons. For many others learning standard notation and doing scales is very definitely the way to go. You'll have to try a little of each to find out for yourself.

Is that a different bass to what you started this topic with? There have been some sudden changes if it's the same one. Don't get me wrong, they're both lovely but I am missing the grey one, mainly because I liked the headstock a lot. I thought @Jimothey had secured the reputation for major mid-build design rethinkage.

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? 😁

Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin?

Fair one. I've seen Nick* and not LP - Nick's quite a stage presence. *Very nearly too much of him when he was sitting down in that kilt!

I'd say they both are, except I love Bush and don't like Mitchell at all. KB apparently wrote The Man With The Child in His Eyes at 13. If that's not bloody genius I don't know what is.

Interestingly I heard this song on the radio the other day and thought exactly the same. The good thing about being the a bass player and the boss, is that you can whack the bass up in the mix and drown out the guitarist. By the way, that's the first time I've heard a Rikky sounding halfway decent live (but still think he should have kept the Yamaha)..

This is exactly how I use mine, with Precision’s and flatwound strings :). I also went with it over the Monique (which is amazing) purely because of its form factor and that it can power 6 other pedals on my board! Si

It was shortly after this point that the Gods of Rock smiles were wiped from their faces.