woodenshirt

I am a lead vocalist who plays bass, in fact I have been for the last nine years or so. I tend to concentrate on my vocals and do the bass playing on autopilot. The problem is, is that if I think about my bass playing then I tend to mess up the vocals! Before I started the lead vocal thing I was a bass player who sang backing vocals. During this period the bands that I played with did original(i.e. no covers) music, so to a certain extent, my vocals fitted in with moments when I was doing the less complicated bass work. I think that since I've been stuck behind the mic my bass playing has suffered, don't get me wrong, I was never a brilliant bassist, but I did use to get compliments about my playing (so I must have been doing something right). I must admit that lately I have been thinking about being a bass player/backing vocalist again, but for the time being it's vocals and far too many root notes for me. So to answer the original post Galilee, at this moment in time I'd probably want people to think of me as a great vocalist and great bassist, however nobody has said either to me yet...... I live in hope Mart

Wait for it...... I NEVER use my little/pinky finger on my left hand....... and no I'm not left handed! The reasons being: 1. Self taught - bad habits etc...... as for my right hand, I use a pick/plectrum and NEVER use fingers/thumb. 2. Really long fingers - the span from tip of thumb to tip of little finger is 24cm (17cm from Index to little), so I don't really need me pinky. However, I do use the small one when I play guitar! I've been playing bass for nearly 35 years and I don't think I will/can ever change my style of playing. Mart (the freak?)

Great news mate..... if you don't ask etc. Mart. (from over the border, 12 miles down the A53)

Oh what fun..... great to meet some of you guys. Sorry I had to dash off after only being there two hours, needed to get a car I'm glad so many of you liked the sandwiches. Monday and back to the same old routine....... At work today we spent most of the morning trying to find out what had happened to some sandwiches that had gone missing yesterday. Now these were for a very important customer and so everybody was very concerned. We looked everywhere for these 20 trays of sarnies (mixed meat platters, actually), but could not find them..... 'Where could they possibly have gone', cried my fellow workers...... I guess we will never know....... I don't suppose anybody in basschat land has seen these missing sandwiches Almost forgot, got a car for the girlfriend..... which I thought was a good swop. A few careless owners, not really been looked after, the body's a bit rough and the back end drags a bit..... don't know what I ever saw in her.... What's the car like?...... well that's in mint condition, like new! Cheers, Mart I'm only joking..... the car's not that good!

The Woodenshirt will be there. Mart.

Looks as though I might be able to make it to the Bash. I work for a sandwich manufacturer and might be able to sort out some sarnies for lunch, can't promise anything but if someone lets me know how many are likely to be attending then I'll see what I can do. Would people want free sandwiches? Just an idea, (Hopefully) see you all there, Mart.

[quote name='TheRinser' post='136726' date='Feb 8 2008, 05:33 PM']Muchos gracias (running out of ways to say thanks). If we get through it'll be amazing, so cheers for the votes! What were you doing out there woodenshirt? Skiing?[/quote] Tom, Sorry for the late reply...... Skiing is one of the many things that I can't do mate. I always go to Austria in the summer..... fresh air, mountains, lakes, great views, fantastic food, wonderful music etc. Anyway best of luck again, Mart.

I've voted for you Tom. Mayrhofen is fantastic, I've been there many times mate....... You (hopefully) jammy s*d! Good luck, Mart.

Welcome Paul, You asked for some questions, so..... 1) Where abouts are you in oatcake land? 2) What gear you got? 3) In a band or are you a session man? and most importantly...... 4) Stoke or Vale? Cheers, Mart

I thought that it was '68 as well. I must admit that all '67s I've seen have been dot and usually bound, with '68s being block. But knowing Fender anything was/is possible! Now I'm even more confused..... all I know for certain is my '69 has blocks Mart

My first bass was a 1960 Olympic White Fender Jazz Bass which I got in 1974 for £20 and sold in 1978 for £25.... a bit of a profit there! (and people think I've been stupid when it comes to buying and selling basses) Sorry....... did I say a 1960 Olympic White Fender Jazz Bass, I meant a Shaftesbury Rickenbacker copy! Silly me, Martyn.

Welcome, It's good to have another rocker onboard! I've never tried an ATK.... always liked the design (triple coil bridge p/u!!).... never had a go. I should imagine it's good for rock/punk stuff. Don't seem to see many about, did they stop making them? Anyway..... All the best, Mart

[quote name='Lowfreque' post='123815' date='Jan 20 2008, 02:14 PM']Looking forward to joining the forum. Only recently taken up the bass at 56 having started to feel the effects of older age with 6 string LP and enjoying a jam with my nephew's bass. Bought a Squier Jazz Bass and (after consultation with Line 6) feed it through my 30W Spider II with no ill effects so far. Opens up a new world listening for the basslines. Watts-Roy, Entwistle much enjoyed. Heard a great bassline around 06:30 on Planet Rock this Saturday but couldn't get readout of band or title - chorus involved "Rivers running dry" - anyone got any ideas? Regards to all[/quote] Welcome, Didn't listen to the track on Planet Rock, but maybe it was 'Rivers Running Dry' by the Norwegian band Sahg? Anyway, have fun with the bass playing. Mart

Jon, I love Rickenbackers as well, I currently own a 4003s in Jetglo - is it me or do the 's' models sound different to the standard version? Mine sounds different to previous 4001/4003 Rics I've owned (mono wiring?) Anyway welcome aboard, Mart

Welcome, I like your fave players, (Barry Adamson of Magazine, I presume)...... some great bass lines crafted by that bunch, Mike. I got a lot of ideas from the likes of those guys when I first started.... they don't write 'em like that anymore. Those were the days my friend (as someone once sang). Mart (slightly fat man)

Thanks for the replies... lots of good info. It's difficult to 'try before you buy' with this kind of equipment - I'm not sure if the local music shop could cope with a serious try out! (plus there is the issue of collateral damage to other shops nearby). Hmmm...... lots of things to think about. Anybody else got any opinions/views on the subject? In the meantime I'm going to look for some willing(?) mugs (sorry.... I mean mates) to help me carry my new Ampeg rig, if/when I get one. Thanks again, Mart.

Any Ampeg knowledge out there? What is the difference, apart from a graphic eq and the rack mount, between the SVT2 and the SVT Classic? Can you get the same rumbling growl through a SVT 810E with the '2' as you can with the 'Classic', or is it a totally different beast (more 'tone' less 'in yer face')? If anyone can help, it would be most appreciated. Thanks, Mart.

18 for me in 2007. Me and the lads in the band tend to pick and choose a bit.... quality rather than quantity (official reason for the low number). Or (the real reason): we always get to this time of the year and remember that we should have got some gigs sorted for this year back in October when all the other local bands were getting them! We've got 5 so far for 2008 - God knows how..... I think they contacted us! Cheers, Mart

Cheddatom, How did the gig go? - I couldn't make it as I was gigging in Cheadle on friday......... maybe next time mate. How's it going with you Harry? Mart

+14 = 393 Mart

Is anybody going to this show on (this) Sunday 18th November? There should be some bass related stuff there, if it's like the Manchester show. Live music, intruments for sale, vintage pieces and spares will be the order of the day if it's anything like that show. Plus the entrance fee is only £5. Sounds like good vfm to me. I'm going.... are you? Mart.

Welcome Andy..... how did the Pigeon gig at Keele go last night? Mart

Am I the only one going on Sunday? It is on Sunday as well as Friday and Saturday, isn't it?...... Or are you lot trying to tell me something? Mart

I'll be there on Sunday..... pickin' up bargains! Mart.

3V17C, This is all because of your hate mailer, isn't it? Because of that experience, your drummer has developed 'can't play that syndrum' - (syndrum, geddit?...... well I thought it was funny..... you see it's a drumming joke.......) Your band's falling apart mate. We had this with our drummer not long ago.... we sent him off to bed with no supper..... he only did it once. He'll grow out of it..... just watch the bed wetting. Hope this has been helpful, Sorry I'm bored as well, Mart