velvetkevorkian

I never knew Hades was an entity as well as a place. Thanks Paul!

Wrong end of the country for me, but sounds like a lovely idea

A new bridge with lovely height adjusters for my double bass. £250 including fitting. Seems like money well spent so far, and shouldn't need replacing for a good few years, and it does seem to have had a positive effect on the tone- the old one was made of balsa or something and was a bit too bendy.

It bugs me that they can trademark the word NEON.

The NYCs are chambered for weight, aren't they?

Wow, Paul Gray from Slipknot at no.3? Cliff Burton at no.5? I guess it's amazing what being dead will do to your musical credibility.

[quote name='silddx' post='967023' date='Sep 24 2010, 06:47 PM']Ok, I listened to a selection of five of Jeffrey's numbers. I was actually pleasantly surprised for the most part. There are some genuinely pleasing sounding compositions, albeit with some standard jazz clichés - certain modulations and progressions, and one does form the opinion it's a vehicle for virtuoso bass and not much else. However, it does satisfy that male need for being amazed while watching The World's Strongest Man competition every new year. What makes me uncomfortable is the nadger-shrinking under-developed humour of the dedicated jazz musician. Cheeky call and response phrases that sound like the soundtrack to a Top Cat run-in with the local stray terrier, the awful song titles, the lonely-insurance-salesman-with-the-sad-smile cover. Then there is the bass tone, mostly it is over-chorused and typical of the genre, chosen for its clarity and nothing else. God only knows why the tone in "If I Were a Bell End" exists. It sounds like a very dodgy engineering mistake it is so distorted, I can't believe he approved that sound. Although some of the bass playing sounds like a drunken scat singer, I can't deny this guy makes some good music and some great ear-twisting bass runs. But it's really best for a live situation and a few stiff gins. In the home it feels like an unwelcome visit from a spider monkey during Sunday Tea.[/quote] Just a couple of points- it is a record of jazz standards so the fact that a lot of the chord changes are jazz cliches is probably to be expected. As far as I can tell none of the tunes are original compositions so blaming our Jeff for the titles is probably a bit harsh too The cover is horrendous though. Glad you didn't hate it as much as you thought you would though. You'll be listening to Alain Caron before you know it

[quote name='Tait' post='964690' date='Sep 22 2010, 05:31 PM']I did say it doesn't always make sense! For me there definitely isn't a specific definition for what I'd call a Jazz Bass. Although I've realised the title actually says "proper" Jazz Bass, in which case it either has to be a Fender or a good copy, passive, two single coil "Jazz" pickups, proper jazz neck, and pickguard etc.[/quote] [quote]"I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description [[s]hard-core pornography[/s]Jazz bass]; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_know_it_when_I_see_it"]But I know it when I see it[/url], and the [s]motion picture[/s] bass involved in this case [s]is not[/s] might be that."[/quote]

I would give the Violin Shop in Yorkhill a call- they usually carry a few "budget" Stentors etc., as well as being somewhere who do setups etc. You/your partner are welcome to have a shot of mine, although it's a bloody big 4/4 5 string so not really a good beginner instrument!

Not done that much amplified playing, but I've used a pickup going to FOH only with no onstage monitoring- all acoustic instruments and only hand drums, so not massive onstage volume. Never had a problem with feedback, but to be honest I've no idea what I sounded like out front.

[quote name='TPJ' post='962209' date='Sep 20 2010, 02:32 PM']The Upton Revolution Solo ll is a great sounding pup as well, just a little fiddly to install. Once in it gets a more natural sound than a K&K Bass Max (which isn't too hard)[/quote] Yep, I like the Rev Solo II. Had a Realist which unfortunately died, which is an issue Gage have acknowledged IIRC, but the Upton sounds great once you find the sweet spot for it.

[quote name='lee4' post='960719' date='Sep 18 2010, 07:59 PM']It sounds as though it is coming from the bridge,but there is nothing loose there. No rattle when amplified either,only acoustically [/quote] Hmm. Are there flat spots on the underside of the strings where the frets have rubbed? I have Elixirs on all my basses, and can't say I've ever had this problem, even when the coating starts to get a bit furry. If it can't be heard through the amp though I'd be inclined not to worry about it too much.

When I was first drafted into DB lessons aged 12, the tutor sold it to me on the basis that it would make me popular at parties. Never quite seemed to work for me, although an attractive young lady did ask if I needed a hand carrying it to the tube last time I was out.

Is it the length of string between the nut and your finger rattling?

[quote name='far0n' post='959668' date='Sep 17 2010, 05:02 PM']See now, I quite like the idea of those teeny Class D racked power amps. What wattage is yours ? Got any info ?[/quote] Sure, it is [url="http://www.bkelec.com/HiFi/ClassD/ClassD.htm"]this one[/url] which I bought from our own Dood a few years ago. It really is tiny, and goes up to 600W at 2 ohms. I'm sure I read that they don't make them any more, so not sure why they're still on the site...? Anyway, I really like it; the only issue is it's really designed to be stuck into a speaker so it's not easily rackable. Not an issue for me. Here's a pic for scale: [url="http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e157/velvetkevorkian/?action=view&current=minirig1.jpg"][/url] Anyway, it's served as backline for death metal gigs and been fine for me.

Yep- Boss VF-1 running into a tiny BK Electronics class D power amp. Will be super portable once I get a cab I can actually carry.

Another vote for floating thumb here, especially if you're ever considering instruments with more than 5 strings.

McCormacks had a cheap unlined fretless (Bass Collection style copy) for about £100 last time I was in- Jim Deacon or SX or some similar brand. Didn't try it but I'm sure it would work...

Yes, but simple is not always best, contrary to popular belief. There are times when lots of notes is actually what the song calls for. It depends on the music, and we should be swayed by our ears not by dogma.

As long as you don't do anything obviously fretlessy (i.e. sliding into every note, excessive vibrato all the time etc.) most people (band mambers included) won't even notice you're playing one, IME.

Or how about a Rondo 9 string guitar? :brow:

My Cyrillic is a bit rusty (and my Russian speaking g/f is in bed) but I think it says "Concerto Etude". It's a Simandl study.

[quote name='Brave Sir Robin' post='949879' date='Sep 8 2010, 09:09 PM']And still people buy them. They must be backordered. Good on them tbh. Make hay while the sun shines.[/quote] Yep, you're still looking at a two year wait for your $500 pickguard. Don't like it? Don't buy it. Simples.

As with everything in music- it depends. Am I overplaying/underplaying/using the wrong bass/would a fretless work/ can I play a G# there/do I play this the same every time or improvise...? It depends. Sweeping generalisations on [s]Bass[/s] music - Completely Pointless.

One I heard in the shop today- 'Aisha' by Death In Vegas (feat Iggy Pop)- there is one note that's not the root but it's pretty much just an articulation.