visog

I think it'll come down to value in terms of Indonesian build vs. design aesthetic. Certainly for a gigging bass it's light weight and that's a killer reason right there...

Well that's quite cool. So it's your 'transcribing technique' rather then your 'performance technique' or are you out there signing autographs as you play?

Erm so what exactly is going on there? Are you writing the music as you play it? #confused

This is really good advice. One way of looking at custom basses is that you become the designer... So that means you better know ergonomics, electronics, tone and playability... Which you might, if you're experienced with many basses, or a professional and have specific needs. But, if you're not, then there's scope for a sub-optimal design or combination of features which fail to live up to your expectations. So makers like Bernie Goodfellow who offer custom options on a reliable template know what they're doing - with every combination a winner, hopefully suiting your needs. Jon Shuker has more diversity and options so when it works that's great, but there's more scope for creating an idiosyncratic bat-mobile of a bass. My recommendation is to find a great bass you like from a maker and adjust the features to meet your needs, checking with the maker that it wont crapify your bass.

Read the thread before posting...

Mine came today - just scanned it. Beautiful book... Some of the Jazzes are really obscene and the Ricks... Gibson T-birds caught my eye too. I like his interview style too - bit of a fanboy for the whole bassist schtick. I'll file this with my Steve Howe guitar book which is very much in the same vein. Pretty much all of Geddy's key basses are here too but accompanied by scores of new acquisitions. PS He got an awful tone on record with his flappy Wal. Just saying... *shudders*

That's a more ramps than your average high-rise car park! Nice collection.

I'll chime in on Jon - very helpful and has done some great work on my GB which brings me to my suggestion of Bernie Goodfellow as another premier luthier. Good luck with the build!

I don't think anyone said you have to use a ramp. But like the other posters here, I got one on my GB and I love it. To the point that on other basses, I view the crevasse between the pick-ups as a right-hand smartness inhibitor.

I did a couple of times... he was using a Warwick Streamer 5 at the time? His lines were awesome... I think Hadrien F takes quite a lot of influence from DDP... In a good way.

Side 1 of Influences is ace! Basically four song mushed together. A sort of 'Close to the Edge' of jazz-funk. Really, really great... replete with awesome slap solo (with mistakes left in).

He's a bluff old cove... I remember the impact of him hitting the scene with his slap, but the impressing the hell out of a wider audience on TotP with his fingerstyle on the Chinese Way.

That rather dates you... (and me for getting the joke)

Sorry, been on the ale

I do enjoy their YT channel a lot! Bass vids are great and often hilarious and feature Mark King's brother, Juan. *Jokes - Nathan*

Indeed... So this is why a ramp helps... even though ironically he doesn't use a ramp as such because, as you say, uses his pick-up for the same purpose...

Good review. Thanks. So it begs the broader question, is multiscale the way forward or just another quirk like true temperament frets, etc?

Interesting bass. This was all about ergonomics... They did a '5' and '6' also. So this all about how it plays... The thing is, from outset these were super-expensive basses compared with their other lines. Now Ibanez can do a great budget and mid-priced bass - possibly more than any company but this one started at a sky-price...

I wonder if the feature artist will be Victor Wooten on the odd months and an obscure metal bassist on the evens... with every other advert being for Warwick? Any no criticism of Fender ever.

Chatters, Whilst the edited interview clips has been around for a while, I've just encountered the full episode of the Old Grey Whistle Stop when Yes were on a sabbatical and the band members were promoting their individual solo albums... So here in the full episode are Chris Squire and Steve Howe starting at just over 15m. As ever in an interview situation, Mr Squire is stoned but he promoting his monumental solo album... Kaftans at the ready everyone! Hold out your hands and enjoy some killer prog. Side-note, where's Chris' classic Rick? Seems to be sunburst??

Lozz & BigRed, Take your points financially but I think Pledge gave artists the reassurance up-front that there was an audience ready and waiting for the output. But you are right, there are different models to make new music economically. Not sure many artists are particularly willing to explore these different models... Maybe depends on their managers?

Found the original pretty poignant... It's not going to bring them back though eh?

Oh yeah... can't beat a J-bass done well. Enjoy! That blue top is dreamy! ** Edit: PS I bet 'the Lady' was bored shitless' **

Good luck with that...