Wil

I haven't touched a bass in months, to be honest. All the time I spend making music these days is on my acoustic, a bloody lovely Norman B18. Only set me back £200, but it's as fine a guitar as I've played. One day, I shall have a handmade classical guitar, when I have enough superfluous income. Oh, and some old Fender electrics. And a Paul Gilbert Ibanez an' all.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='291778' date='Sep 25 2008, 02:08 PM']Fair 'nuff. The bass clearly deserves more respect than I thought. At least as a basis for a "project". I've only seen one second hand Encore bass up close. By that time I was aware that a bass (or guitar) neck might appear to curve downwards along its neck slightly. But it shouldn't make a sudden and considerable turn to the left half way up. Edit: "Bidding has ended for this item".[/quote] I've seen some later Encores, and they were terrible compared to the mid 90's period ones. They (the mid 90s ones) were if nothing else, very solid and made from decent slabs o' wood.

I never rated the pickup much, too wooly. The body however I deemed good enough to upgrade with a Status neck, Dimarzio and Aaron Armstrong pickups, John East preamp and hipshot tuners. It's got 13 years of mojo and is sold as a rock Hardly suprising though considering most of it is new!

Put it this way, I've owned Warwick, Status, US Fender, and the only bass I've kept all the way through has been my '95 Encore. Although, I have changed a few bits on it (just a few...).

[quote name='sdguitars' post='289631' date='Sep 23 2008, 07:07 AM'][b]Band-bit[/b] I play bass for Also Eden (www.alsoeden.com), a progressive rock band from Lydney, Gloucestershire.[/quote] Ah, just over the river. I think.

I've discovered "A Wilhelm Scream" this afternoon, and I'm loving them! Proper melodic hardcore. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqNjU3TJbys&feature=related"]5 to 9[/url]

Killswitch Engage. Can't for the life of me remember what the album is called, a recent one. Pretty good so far!

[quote name='mcgraham' post='287361' date='Sep 19 2008, 03:04 PM']I sincerely hope that is not your approach to all things in life. I really do.[/quote] Er, why? Can you give me an example of where choosing the path that gives you the most enjoyment over one that bores you silly isn't preferable? I'm not saying that given the choice of paying the rent or snorting coke off a strippers tits I'd choose the latter, just that it makes more sense to do things you enjoy doing, rather than what is necessarily set out as "the correct path".

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='287321' date='Sep 19 2008, 02:28 PM']That's exactly the opposite of what I just said [/quote] A conflicting opinion, how irregular. [quote name='bilbo230763' post='287321' date='Sep 19 2008, 02:28 PM']And as for fun; there is a concept called deferred gratification.[/quote] Is that the same as thinking of John Major to hold off the vinegar strokes? My girlfriend is a fan. [quote name='bilbo230763' post='287321' date='Sep 19 2008, 02:28 PM']Not everything that is of value can be gleaned out of what is superficially 'fun'. The best things in life, the things that really matter, are often hard won.[/quote] I think I would choose the fun path over the tedious path any day of the week, regardless of the outcome at the end. If that's short sighted, then fine, I think I can live with that...

I think you'll find that the best things in life are actually free, as proven in the case of J Jackson VS L Vandross.

[quote name='Waldo' post='287216' date='Sep 19 2008, 12:16 PM']I feel as though I should clarify myself some more: All my learning has come from playing with other people and by playing other peoples songs. I picked up the bass becuase of the chili peppers, I then went on to learn practically all of their songs. As a result I knew my way around the fretboard quite well (and had an arsenal of funk licks!) and my playing then progressed even more after joining a band. For me, the enjoyment came from my own self exploration of the instrument and I feel that had I just taught myself every scale under the sun, I'd have skipped out a major part of that 'exploration'. I almost see it as having all the answers and for me the enjoyment comes from figuring stuff out for myself, rather than having a set of absolutes, 'you should play this particular note in this particular key'. As I said before, I certinaly don't know any scales that you can put a name to but I do know which frets sound good in a particular context and this has come simply by self exploration. The one peice of classical theory that I know i'll have been using even without realising would be the idea of rythm and timing but to be honest, that would probably have been the first thing I'd have picked up anyway.[/quote] Same here. It's also how every musician I've ever played with has learned. I'd imagine the vast majority of people in gigging rock/punk bands probably did the same, I'd wager!

Couldn't had said it better.

Who said anything about noodling? If I want to add something to a song, I hear it in my head first. Then I play it. Bish bosh, job done!

[quote name='dlloyd' post='286535' date='Sep 18 2008, 11:58 AM']I've read that several times now and still have no idea what you're talking about... Do you just hit random notes and hope for the best?[/quote] It's called using your ears!

I put Maxwell Murder on for a mate of mine recently, and he was unimpressed... until the solo. "It's just a ska punk walking bassline, what's so special about... oh. OH. BLIMEY!"

"Theory snobs looking down their noses at the opinions of those who don't tread the same path - not as subtle as they used to be"

I used a 5 for ages, before realising I could use a 4 with a D tuner and have the comfort of a 4, and *nearly* the same range as a 5. Haven't gone back to 5 since.

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='280454' date='Sep 9 2008, 04:13 PM']Ok I can see what your saying, but I can’t agree with you that you will “quite clearly know what you’re missing”, because you won’t. If you just look at your example about the rollercoaster in that you think what you will be missing will be the extreme speed or G force, what experience have you got to qualify that statement? How do you know that that’s what you will be missing and not something else, or how do you even know that you won’t like it? It’s like the argument for keeping battery chickens in tiny cages; they don’t know any different so it’s not cruel. When it comes to music theory you don’t know anything different than what you already know or you’ve already experienced, so you quite clearly don’t know what you’re missing. I’m probably exactly the same as you then. I learnt piano for about 8 years before picking up a bass, but I was very slack with music theory because I hated it. Again, I can see what you’re saying but I think you’re taking it slightly out of context Mike. I think I might have dug myself a bit of a hole in this thread and it will look like I’ve planted my flag solidly on the “everyone should take the time to learn some bloody music theory” side, but that’s just not where I stand at all. I agree with some of the points that the people who I’ve been responding to in this thread have made. Music theory isn’t the most essential aspect of being a good musician, and there are a hell of a lot of things that no one will be able to learn in a book such as how to lock into the groove and play with other musicians in a band. [b]*a) What I don’t agree with at all is comments to the effect of “it’s cool to be stupid”, or “it’s just not rock and roll man”, or as Bilbo said, the people who are trying to justify their own ignorance of music theory by advocating it and saying “I’ve done fine without it” etc…you can’t possibly understand the benefits of it if you have no experience of it.[/b] Personally I grew up with having theory pretty much forced on me via piano lessons, and then at GCSE music, and then at A Level music, and then at degree level. I don’t enjoy studying it (and in all honesty I’ve stopped studying it in my own time altogether), but I can fully appreciate the advantages it gives me as a musician. I can’t remember half the stuff I’ve learnt, but the stuff that has stuck over the years is invaluable to me as a musician. I started playing bass with no intention of taking it seriously or even bothering to apply any relevant theory to it, so I can also appreciate the benefits of finding your own way around the instrument, but [b]*b)no one in their right mind can advocate ignorance of information that will help them to become a fundamentally better musician.[/b] I’m not bowing out of this thread (because I think these kind of debates are really interesting and great fun), but I’m taking a step back from it because I feel that I’m just starting to repeat myself.[/quote] Lordy lordy. *a) I do have experience with theory, not in great depth, but enough to know its of no practical use to me. We are not all the same. I derive more pleasure playing a single note with feeling than noodling over changes, therefore it really is overkill. I could spend my time better doing things relevant to me and what I want to do, instead of learning theory which has no bearing on the music I love to make. *b)not everyone wants to be a better musician! I'm quite happy with my level of ability. I do not need any more information to groove along. As a bassist, I can quite happily say there is nothing which I cannot play which I would particularly want to play in the first place. Again it boils down to different strokes for different folks. I don't deny learning theory will make you a more rounded musician. My point is, not everyone cares about improvement after a point. I play as a hobby, the point it becomes a chore I pick up something else. I have plenty of other things I enjoy doing and these occupy the time I could spend learning theory, if I wished. I'd just rather not.

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='280265' date='Sep 9 2008, 12:18 PM']I respectfully totally disagree. I think you’re way off the mark with this one. How can you have practical knowledge of something you have no experience or understanding of? You could end up living a very small and narrow minded life if you go around believing that you understand everything despite having no experience of it – no offence meant (and I’m in no way saying you “live a very small and narrow minded life, because from your other posts on the forum I know that’s just not true ), I’m just trying to make a point.[/quote] In the same regard, I could say that those who have learned theory have no understanding of how to play without it. Except that would be a very small minded view and an ultimately patronising one.

There are two kinds of musician, it would seem. Those who are happy knowing what they know, and those who want to know more than what they currently know and don't understand why those who are happy knowing what they know don't want to know more than they know. You know?

I really don't know much theory at all. I once taught myself to sight read for cello, enough to get through a Bach piece, then prompty forgot it all as soon as I stopped playing cello. I can barely remember the notes for each string let alone each fret. I still consider myself to be a good player though, on several instruments, my ear is excellent, and I can jam with people I've never met before just using my ears and relative pitch. That has come through playing with other people and working out music from listening to it. It's all I need, and its all I want. Knowing theory wouldn't have been a benefit in any of the originals bands I've been in, and to be honest I'd rather be riding my bike or playing on a console than woodshedding in front of a book. Up to you if you feel you need it, I've got by 13 years of playing without it and have never felt it has held me back.

Looks like a great idea, providing it doesn't botch up the sustain of the guitar.

Once saw a left handed bassist who played a right handed bass, flipped over left handed, but strung normally (IE not flipped to compensate). No idea why, his technique was as a result very bizarre. Quite a good player though.