skej21

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1484862031' post='3219284'] Indeed, but what advantage do they offer over muting the unused strings with your hands ? [/quote] I suppose the answer would depend on how the individual feels they would benefit. If you play quick 16th lines like Jaco or do tapping or something, I imagine they work pretty well for covering any muting you might occasionally miss (through speed or from not being able to mute and tap at the same time)? I have one that I use when recording as it just does the same job as palm muting but without restricting my technique (as palm muting as a technique has a very distinct sound) but muting any extra ringing whilst being able to strike the string with alternative techniques to palm muting is useful for me sometimes. It's like anything. They have a purpose and if you think it'd be helpful, get one. If not, don't get one. Simple really. I was just trying to help the OP by explaining how it works.

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' timestamp='1484842244' post='3219015'] Hi all, What's the purpose of fret wraps on basses? Is it just for tapping solos or does it help compress slapping a bit? Opinions and experiences welcome! On a side note, I think they look pretty cool! [/quote] Easiest way to explain its main use is with this video... https://www.facebook.com/sheldon.dingwall/videos/10154938728806079/ As you can see, the bottom string is played but the middle string vibrates sympathetically (i.e., the resonance frequencies are similar so the vibration from the string that is being attacked triggers the vibration in the other string) and the fret wrap dampens this. This is useful for getting nice, clean notes when recording. Of course, some people prefer sympathetic resonance but fret wraps exist to try to eliminate it.

Sex On Fire

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1484137707' post='3212921'] Respect should be given/expected regardless of who you are in the bass world. BC is not perfect, but it's generally pretty decent in that respect compared to other fora I've visited over the years. One thing that you can notice here, and I'm not sure how much of it is due to its largely British membership, is that BC is not swayed easily by big names. If you come around here with an attitude, you tend to get attitude back no matter who you are. That is not a bad thing necessarily. But there is a danger (read below). I missed Janek's episode at the time and only found out afterwards. It is a shame, but it did look to me like his demeanour was slightly off. Maybe he was having a bad couple of days, we've all been there... but you can't simply say BC chased him away as if 'famous' people were not welcome here. Neil Murray has absolutely no trouble here, I wonder why... I missed Guy Pratt's episode entirely. I didn't even read it afterwards. It's a shame, as I really rate him and find him pretty entertaining too... but I can't comment on this event. I was in the first row for for Vail Johnson's episode. His attitude, again, triggered it all. I had the fortune to PM with him afterwards (I was one of his critics) and I ended up sad about the whole thing because on a PM level he seemed pretty cool and made me realise that some people, sometimes, just have a different more direct approach to discussion. It seems to me that BC is, by comparison to other fora, relatively easy going and mild-mannered (excluding the odd OT thread!). Maybe this make a more direct/abrupt approach stand out, and it seems people object to that. The thing is that if the same discussion, in the same tone, happened face to face, it would probably be ok. That's what I thought of Vail's thing. Writing here, we miss a lot of cues: tone of voice, body language... and someone coming here for the first time, especially if they have experience of other internet fora, may not realise that things are slightly different here. Does anybody here remember Inti? He wasn't anybody famous, as far as anybody here knows... remember his attitude? He was chased away because of it, not because BC could not deal with top-rate bass players. It just seems that BC has low tolerance towards arrogance and your name means little if your attitude is off. Unfortunately, an energetic and passionately direct approach to discussion can sometimes be perceived as arrogant when in written form. Which brings me to the part about respect. It would be good for most of us (some are already pretty cool) to think about what we post before we post, especially if reacting to somebody's comments that we disagree with. Written communication is prone to misunderstandings. Still... low tolerance towards arrogance is not necessarily a terrible thing even if we end up missing out a bit. I'd prefer that the reaction towards arrogant comments were just ignoring them instead of bickering... so there's room for improvement, but I don't think we can accuse BC of chasing anybody away, as it definitely takes two to tango. [/quote] I partially agree with this. Attitude and persona certainly do not mean anything on basschat (and should be challenged if appropriate or if someone disagrees, present your counter argument in a sensible way that can be read by other parties as part of a discussion, not a heated argument). However, there is a LOT of negativity here when it comes to an individual's [u][b]experience[/b][/u]. People will try to use their wealth of experience (it may be the inner workings of music retail, what it's like behind-the-scenes playing arenas with a 'name' band or how product endorsements work etc) and other people who have little or no experience of this, will wade in with their opposing opinions on the matter and think what they are saying can be taken as fact just because they shout loudest (i.e. I have a mate who has an endorsement deal and you just get everything for free! - This doesn't mean EVERY deal has the same terms) I think that is one of the greatest pitfalls of this forum. I joined when I was fairly inexperienced and as I've gained experience away from this forum, I tend to spend less time on it, because i find a LOT of opinions that are simply incorrect get posted on here and when the correct answer is given or someone tries to say 'that's not actually how it works' they just get shouted down. I also have one or two students who also joined basschat and will come to lessons saying "i heard/saw this on basschat..." and i have to remind them that it's a forum populated by passionate, opinionated people and that it's not an academic resource, therefore what is said should be taken with a pinch of salt at times. I also tell them to spend less time online and more time practicing This frustration probably applies to most members and scares some away (name player or not). It's a shame really, because I've watched all of Janek's blogs and he would be a great addition to the forum. He could talk for hours just about his experience will all his pedals, let alone the travelling and playing experiences he has had.

IMO, if you're super picky about wanting new strings on a bass when purchasing, you probably use specific types/gauges and therefore, should probably buy from a shop where you can try and haggle in a free set of the type you prefer and stay clear of auction sites. Sound like a real chancer!

The message I took from that was; '[i]Please make music for us so you can[/i] [i]provide "[/i][i]communities" (read "developers") with a social and cultural attraction to profit from when selling our hotel/housing developments to tourists or house buyers etc... BUT DO IT QUIETLY YOU BLOODY HIPPIES!'[/i]

It still amazes me that they can hear how great the likes of Gregory Porter and Rag n Bone Man are but booked Roy wood and Chaka Khan who were both awful (from a totally objective point of view based on how they sound now, not based on the past glories!).

A really fancy a custom 5 string Shuker but trying to buy a house. If the house ends up being cheaper than expected, I'll be emailing!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1482803493' post='3202846'] You won't get a debate from me there. I'm out there in the trenches every weekend and I'd venture to say most of the crowd doesn't even know what a bass guitar is or what it sounds like. Blue [/quote]. Funnily enough, I also gig. Usually 3-4 times a week. That was what made me question why you think a bass players "sound" comes from their playing when most of the time, they don't have a "sound" because they're just copying the bass lines of someone who did have their own style. Not that any of it matters, because as gigging musicians know, people don't even listen to the band half the time because they're usually doing exactly the same thing as the band in the bar down the road and the band they saw last week. No wonder you don't want an actual debate. You're too busy making outlandish statements based on your opinions before immediately contradicting yourself at every turn...

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1482793081' post='3202794'] No self respecting Midwestern Bar Band would ever play Brown Eyed Girl. We don't. Blue . [/quote] Interchange Brown Eyed Girl for one of your beloved Beatles tunes or whatever you happen to cover. Same principle stands. I doubt anyone could tell your "sound" in your cover bass line apart from the cover bass line the bassist from the Midwestern bar band in the next bar is playing.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1482779811' post='3202710'] Agreed ,but only to a degree. As a bass player I'm going to notice your ability a lot more than the sound of whatever bass your playing. Blue [/quote] Noticing 'ability' when you're watching a bassist in a band is completely different to hearing a bassist with their own sound/identity on bass though. I've heard hundreds of local players who have varying levels of ability but only a handful have a distinct enough style that I would know it was their playing if I heard them without seeing them. Having the ability to cover 'Teen Town' and mimic Jaco is a lot different to covering 'Teen Town' and still keeping your own sound (like Marcus Miller's version). I don't believe there are many players who have that. IMO, I don't think that listening to an average bar band bass player covering Brown Eyed Girl is going to sound much different to the bass player in the next bar covering Brown Eyed Girl. I'd even say I think the tone of the bass is more likely to differ between the two than the actual playing style of the individuals coming through in a well-known bass line.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1482777706' post='3202687'] I'm saying your playing is going to sound the same under your scenario. Blue [/quote] I'll never understand why you think that you have the right to present every one of your opinions as fact...

I can't believe that TAB is still going when notation, MIDI and YouTube etc exists. So many better ways to learn to play something these days than TAB.

I'm not sure but maybe a lot of the popularity of this format is to do with how tactile it is? I know I'm a huge fan of being able to look at the inserts (see who played what, see photos taken during recording or the artwork someone has put their talent to in real detail) and have something physical to take home for my money. Being able to take music home without knowing what to expect and the anticipation that brings. Those things come with all music formats except digital downloads. They're too immediate and aloof for me.

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1479736799' post='3178846'] Time for the traditional thread highlighting new ways to empty your wallet, starting with: Toontrack are selling Superior Drummer at $105, down from $349: https://www.toontrack.com/black-friday/ [/quote] Gear4music selling it at similar price too - http://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Toontrack-Superior-Drummer/95V

[quote name='philparker' timestamp='1479654026' post='3178135'] I offered up 'Anacrusis' as a potential band name, a couple of years ago, but nobody else would have it! [/quote] You were way ahead of the times!

Used to do it until I started using Superbrights which are pre-stretched. Now I don't bother!

[quote name='No. 8 Wire' timestamp='1479547372' post='3177341'] Hang on - on Thomann an RS112 is 325 GBP, which is a decrease on RRP. When I bought mine, Thomann had that one off £180 price, but all the UK retailers had them at £360 - so aprt from the one off deal I think prices have come down. On the gear I've been looking at, prices have mostly been coming down or staying the same, despite the fall in the £. I think you have to compare the best price that's out there, not just look at a few UK stores who maybe only stock to order and therefore can't generate bulk savings. Pretty sure their pedals have come down in price too - they seem keenly priced. [/quote] Yup. Prices are dropping and newer product lines coming out at more competitive prices which is squeezing the profits for retailers. I reckon they'll end up becoming a little more elusive in the stores but readily available online at a decent price!

I was thinking maybe trying it with the '60s Classic and see?

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1479546033' post='3177324'] No, I haven't. I tried flats on a Precision and couldn't get used to the feel of them, so went back to my usual round wounds. [/quote] Fair enough. I agree wth you about the sound of a jazz in certain band contexts and thought I'd give flats a go on my '62 RI Jazz and found that I was much happier with the tone. Thought it might have been worth a mention (but apparently not!)

From what I've heard, TC have changed distributors recently, which has resulted in a re-evaluation of RRP and retailer margins. Looks like they are really not working in favour of the retailers and with music retail the way it is at the moment, I'd not be surprised if some places stop stocking them going forward and concentrate on more retailer-friendly products.

Just out of curiosity FinnDave, have you ever strung up a jazz bass with flats before? If so, did you have a similar opinion on the sound as you do with the jazz bass with rounds?

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1478550987' post='3169873'] Oh yeah, but let's keep an eye on budget! I should have said sub-Roadworn money... [/quote] :-D http://basschat.co.uk/topic/294183-fender-precision-1958-american-vintage-reissue/page__p__3162784__hl__fender%20american%20vintage__fromsearch__1#entry3162784

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1478549844' post='3169857'] Can anyone suggest a precision with a 1.75" wide nut? Fender 50s Roadworn (and other 50s varieties) Fender Roger Waters I believe some Steve Harris sigs. Anything else I've missed? Doesn't have to be Fender... [/quote] Just working from memory but I think the American Vintage '58 and '63 both have a 44.1mm nut width too :-) Pino Palladino CS model comes in at 44.45mm.

I have the ACS Pro 17s and love them too. I used Thunderplug Pros for a while which did the job but weren't very comfortable. I even wear my ACS plugs in the cinema now after finding some films intensely loud and researching to find that the volume levels regularly exceed 90db (which is dangerous when exposed to for long periods of time) and as a regular cinema-goer, this caused me just as much concern as rehearsing/gigging!