skej21

Used them once. Literally, one gig... Never again.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1343403802' post='1750308'] What a bizarre attitude. No wish to sound hostile or anything, but I'm genuinely astonished at that suggestion. I have sufficient skill and musical ability to play literally thousands of songs ... which I have no intention of playing. Ever. Doesn't matter whether not I CAN play [color=#800000][i]Mary Had A Little Lamb [/i][/color]or [color=#800000][i]Ra-Ra-Rasputin[/i][/color]; what matters is that I have not the slightest interest in or intention of playing those songs. I use my skill and musical ability to play songs that I like playing. My band doesn't have a big following or anything, but there are enough people out there who like what we play to keep us in gigs. When we get a request, we reply "[i]We'll play any song, so long as it's on our Set List[/i]". If a punter asks "Why?" we give the same answer as Commando Jack - "[i]If it's your favourite song, why would you want it ruined by us?".[/i] [/quote] Suppose it just a different outlook. I see playing for money as a job. I read dots or play what the people playing want. Id be pissed if I rang 999 for a fire and had the response 'we only do a certain types of fires, not the one you have, sorry' so why should i have that attitude with the service i provide as a musician? Fair enough, refusing requests if it's originals group, but when you're selling your skills as a musician/ensemble that play others people's music, surely supply and demand comes first. You supply the punter with the songs they want to hear, you get more gigs. I've never heard of any band losing gigs for trying to play the odd request, but I've heard of plenty not getting booked for having the 'we play our set and nothing more' ego/attitude and refusing to play certain songs for punters.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1343335732' post='1749281'] I see your point, and that's awesome (not everybody would be able to do that). Then again, you may "busk it" only to have the audience object and say (not always to your face) that it sounded nothing like the original or that the guitar solo was unrecognisable etc. I've spent many years in the audience, as opposed to on stage, so I know that that happens - a lot! [/quote] I see what your saying, but if you don't have the skill or musical ability to play the songs the audience want, should you be charging them for a service they only half want (ie the songs you want to cover that they then have to either take or leave)... Also, I've seen first hand that a large majority of audiences are chuffed with any rendition of a request, probably due to the large amount of arsey 'were not a f**king jukebox' bands they get attitude from when they request a song that is more often than not, piss easy.

This was never a problem with my old function band as we were all good improvisers/buskers and could all read music, so of a request was made we'd promise it after the break, get it on the phone/Internet in the interval and agree a lead sheet and busk it in the second half. If we liked it, it got added to the 'new songs to learn properly in reheasals' list Don't see what the big deal is with requests to be honest. If you're in a function band and play covers that people want, you can't JUST play covers that YOU think are right for the people paying you at the end of the night!

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1342475210' post='1735940'] All that's generally needed are an allen key to fit the truss rod, an allen key to fit the bridge saddles and a small phillips screwdriver. Anything more than that and you're wandering out of the 'basic' arena. If you want to be a bit posh then [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/5651-cruztools_guitar_bass_10_in_1_multi_tool"]these[/url] look interesting as an 'all in one'. [/quote] I've got one of these and it's a lifesaver! Cost me £8 and has every size screwdriver/Allen key you'd ever need!

I have to say, I'm going for the custom ear plugs like pantherairsoft, not the IEMs. I have a set of in-ears that I got through the old label when touring and they're great (and free!) and the fitting was perfect with them and hassle free but are overkill/too much faff on smaller gigs when I just want to protect my hearing. I also didn't use Hidden Hearing/Minerva, so wanted the official basschat lowdown! I will let you all know how it goes though

Damn! Your review has really put me off using them now! I'm booked in with Hidden Hearing in York and really need a good pair without the hassle of faffing around. However, they sound like they would be perfect if they manage to fit them right. Maybe the only way to find out is to take the risk and hope they get it right!

[quote name='pantherairsoft' timestamp='1333553934' post='1603489'] I have recieved a set of Minera fitted MusicPlugs today. Just the ear plugs, not the IEM... The service has been amazing and the moulding of the ears was.... Fun! I'll report back on quality when I've had chance to really try them out! [/quote] Any chance of that report? I've got a consultation booked this week but some first hand experience from a fellow basschatter would be great for reassurance! Thanks in advance

For me, Flea is a truly great bassist who occasionally spoils a track or two by deciding to play slap. Great lines on tracks like 'Scar Tissue' and 'Under the bridge' but his slap technique/tone/tracks are just a standard below the rest of his playing. Less innovative, less catchy and too showy IMO.

But without the new stuff, we wouldn't have funnies like this!

Have some Deuce. That should sort it I'll get me coat!

Must agree with the 'heads only' crowd. I love my LMIII but all of the markbass cabs I tried were just not right. Team it up with some Aguilar cabs and they're perfect IMO!

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1340404379' post='1704239'] The chap in Matt's profile picture is Jaco Pastorius - bass player extraordinaire. [/quote] Haha. Wow. I'm fully aware of this. Simply asking why a Fender is present in both of his pics. I didn't say it was him in both.

One question. Warwick endorser but photo with a Fender in both your basschat pic and twitter pic. Did you record that with a Fender too?

Saw the soundcloud on twitter earlier dude... Great playing!!

Having started (and read) this thread, it's raised more questions than it's answered. I still think it needs clearing up, because I agree with the 'electro-acoustic bass if it's a double bass that is stock fitted with a preamp/pickup' on principal, but it's still using a pickup to amplify a primarily acoustic instrument, so I'm not sure what is what anymore. We need a truly definitive answer? the luthiers need to get together and define it for us me thinks!

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1339936590' post='1696433'] This is nonsense. People are at liberty to contribute disagreement as much as agreement and they can't do either without reading the thread (or at least a proportion of it). It really is that simple. Well, given that you earlier said... ... that seems to be the pot calling the kettle black. Maybe you should take your own advice. [/quote] Well said! 99% of the 'discussions' from these kind of threads come from a pot calling another.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1339896925' post='1696095'] Wasn't aware you word was gospel? I suppose the bit I struggle the most is the opinion put forward as fact, these kinds of threads are rife with it. [/quote] Yet you still read the thread and contribute despite your disagreement. If you don't enjoy these type of threads, don't read them. It really is that simple. Nobody on here genuinely believes that their opinion is a blanket truth that every other person follows. It's just an expression of a person's passion to say '*insert bass player* is an amazing/crap bassist!'... The 'IMO' is always implied. Maybe stop taking everything literally and lighten up a bit?

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1339873030' post='1695819'] That'd be their main songwriter Nicky Wire. His songwriting is far more interesting than his bass playing. Which leads me onto why threads like this are generally so dull. There's far more reason for me to enjoy something someone has written incredibly well (lyrics, melody, harmony) than there is for me to hear something played note perfect. Sum of all the parts and that. [/quote] Except its a 'worst bass players' thread, so his songwriting ability is irrelevant... He's a crap bassist. End of.

The guy from Manic Street Preachers whose name I cant remember or be bothered to look up... Oh, and Sheenan. He's just a guitard with a four string!

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1339744392' post='1693506'] My personal opinion would be to remove the final comment on solid boded guitars regarding 'additional tonal subtleties'. I have found no actual evidence of this but evidence to the contrary. [/quote] Can't do that... All the luthiers would lose their income

Ive noticed recently that there seems to be constant confusion about the types of bass bodies and think we should clear it up once and for all! I also thought it was pretty straight forward but through recent threads it would appear not. Here's what I would class them as: Acoustic/hollow body bass - A bass that produces its sound and tone from a resonating sound board and large acoustic chamber. The intended sound of the instrument is produced simply by the wood and pickups serve as a means to amplify the existing tonal qualities of the instrument. Examples - Double Bass Semi-Acoustic/Hollow body bass - A bass that produces its sound partially through a more restricted sound board (usually due to bracing and centre neck blocks) with a smaller acoustic chamber and requires pickups to complete the overall intended sound of the instrument. Examples - Gibson ES335, Gretsch G6122 etc. Solid body Electric bass - A bass that produces the majority of its sound by the electronics fitted with additional tonal subtleties provided by the choice of wood used. Examples - Fender, Warwick, Ibanez etc Any other opinions or additions?

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1339674034' post='1692387'] That's all very vague. References and evidence please. [/quote] Yeah, we want correctly documented sources to back up such claims!

When you class sleep on the road/in the green room as 'the norm' and look forward to the rare luxury of sleeping in your own bed! Oh, and when the process of categorising a gig as 'good' or 'bad' is based solely on the rider.

[quote name='JakeBrownBass' timestamp='1339349260' post='1687241'] Yes but as with science there can abnormalities . I'm not talking about people that wrote the songs not understanding. There are instances in songs where 1 chord is in there, out of the blue with no real explanation other than 'it changed key for half a bar or a bar'. And personally, that's not a valid analysis for me. [/quote] So a transient modulation, a standard compositional tool, should be overlooked as simply 'some random chord' because you don't think it's valid for analysis? That's just ridiculous. Not understanding specific compositional techniques is a perfectly valid and honourable reason to not understand when analysing a piece. I don't see why so many musicians try to find reasons to cover that up. We've all been in that place when certain things don't add up and it's just a case of filling gaps in knowledge until things make sense. Too much bravado and saving face to admit that in the world of musicians though.