OldGit

Just thought .. By "boutique" do you mean a custom built bass made for the person who owns it or do you mean a bass you can buy off the wall in a posh bass shop like BassDirect?

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='531392' date='Jul 3 2009, 09:04 AM']I understand what you're saying, but I think it's down to personal preference. I've been to the myspace page for Linus27's new band, and the music that they are playing is quite clean, refined pop. Not necessarily chart-friendly*, but certainly family-friendly. I think that if they are looking for promo photos then the professional route might be preferable. S.P. * I feel the need to append: I say this because of the nature of the charts, not because I think that Linus27's band aren't good enough. If anything, they are too good.[/quote] Sure. Depends on the objective, I guess. I assumed they were a live, playing band looking to build a following or attract gig bookers. What's the myspace? I agree hiring a professional is the way to go.

Albert Ross, sorry Albatross by Fleetwood Mac Waterfront by Simple Minds Dance the night away by the Mavericks A lot of the suggestions in this thread are simple in terms of notes but really tough for beginners because of the note placement, groove or time signature changes not to mention the physical challenge of keeping going constantly for 4 minutes on something like Dance the night away.

[quote name='iamapirate' post='530829' date='Jul 2 2009, 05:20 PM']ahhh, I've been asked to play at a wedding service (the worship music stuff) with a drummer (Tim Cooke) and acoustic g-tarder/singer (Martin Cooper) this saturday and I'm getting paid 100 quid! Funnily enough, the first ever live performance was filling in for my cousin (Carl Stanbridge) for 'superstition' at a wedding for 1 song. I got mah bass solo![/quote] Nice ... Not Mustang Saly then, I guess What pieces are you playing?

Ok Tell you why I have a custom bass. This guy died, quickly, of cancer. He was there then next time I looked he was gone. We weren't friends exactly but I knew him from gigs. It hit hard. He was about three years older than me. I was still playing the same beginners kit I'd downgraded to about 10 years before. At that point I decided that life was too darn short to play an average bass through an average amp and I started saving. I sold a few things, raided the savings and ordered the Shuker. I did it for me. I don't care if it sounds good to anyone one else but me. I like it when a fellow bass player plays it and it takes an hour to get them to stop smiling but mostly I like it when I put it on and it feels like home. I've got used to the fact that the average punter can't tell it from a Squier (or a strat for that matter) that's really not important.The overriding reason it's so good [b]for me[/b] is that [b]it's all about me[/b]. There you go.

[quote name='leschirons' post='530882' date='Jul 2 2009, 06:09 PM']You two aren't the Chuckle brothers in disguise are you? You're as bad as each other.[/quote] No smiley.. Have we upset you? Sorry. Back on topic. I really like the way the French do this sort of thing. I think the more predictable weather allows for outdoor things. We've been to Brittany and gone to Fest Noz events in town squares (and on one occasion a field 3 miles outside the town where we were the only "outsiders") where all ages are dancing country dances together that everyone knows... A few years back we were on holiday on a small French town on "last week before the schools go back" and on Saturday night the market street was divided up into 30 or so 20 metre square "plots" with a different entertainment on each. About 4 or 5 bands, Duos, jazz, African, salsa plus jugglers,dancers, etc . Side streets with "fringe" events going on where people just set up outside their house and played etc . It was brilliant. We just don't seem to do that here. Elfin Safety and noise regs I suspect ...

Someone taking a studio project apart... SKB 4u rack cases for £25 8u and 12U road cases BassPod £110 (needs PSU) Etc etc Not mine. Located in Gloucester [url="http://meandmydrums.tumblr.com/page/1"]http://meandmydrums.tumblr.com/page/1[/url]

[quote name='Tait' post='531247' date='Jul 2 2009, 11:38 PM']i guess, but is it really worth it? don't we make music so that others can listen to it? whats the point in spending an extra £1500 when none of the listeners will notice the difference, really? i dont know,[b] i understand your point,[/b] and its natural for a player to want to sound their best, even if no one else is going to notice, but i just don't see that its worth the silly prices some pay for a boutique bass, to sound that little bit better when no one other than the person playing it is going to tell the difference. especially as i see the point of making music to be solely to please the listeners, i see music as entertainment. but i know others see music as much more than that, and i guess it may be more important to them, but even then i think its difficult to imagine that i could ever spend that much on a bass.[/quote] I keep saying it: there's a million other factors to choosing and instrument apart from the sound of it.

Welcome! You'll be needing last month Bass Guitar Magazine then - the article on Alexander Technique:)

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='530921' date='Jul 2 2009, 06:40 PM']Sadly you are talking to the man with possibly the widest taste in music this side of M6 I'm not very keen on some folk or some C&W and don't much care for 'shouting' metal but other than that..... Maybe some blues, I've an early Fleetwood Mac triple album that I'll work on methinks.[/quote] Need your love so bad ..er the tune, That's not a statement of intent Try that one. And Albert Ross too Should be able to get that one. Oddly I used to be really good at this and it's getting harder. I think my ears are loosing some subtle discernment between octaves and fiths in busy mixes.

On the BGM thread Tait said "i should've clarified. what I meant was that you could get a £1500 Shuker and make it sound fantastic, and yeah, the £3000 fodera may sound "better", but who will notice the difference, really? " The answer is I would, if I was playing it. That extra is all for the player, not the listener.

[quote name='Linus27' post='531185' date='Jul 2 2009, 10:33 PM']The band I am in are looking to get some proper photos done for promotion purposes. We want to pay for a proper job, not just some mate who is going to stick us in a field under a tree. We want a professional job. Anyone recommend anyone or used someone good? We are based in and around Surrey, Berkshire, London but don't mind travelling a bit. Thanks for any help.[/quote] Forget the posed stuff and get live shots. They say so much more about you as a band Pictures are so important in portraying your "image" that you have to choose what you use and be very, very picky . Then only publish the very good ones. Here's a good guy: [url="http://www.myspace.com/alanjonesdrummer"]http://www.myspace.com/alanjonesdrummer[/url] Drummer and band photographer. This is one of his

[quote name='Stingray5' post='530670' date='Jul 2 2009, 02:26 PM']I do believe Ann Boleyn was a bit of a bass player herself. Rumour has it she played a Status -- headless of course! <groan>[/quote] Not a King Bass?

Yes if you get the right boutique bass for your needs. Those needs may well include "I want to wear something that I know is really special and made for me and which looks gorgeous" It's certainly not all about playability and tone etc. .. My Shuker 5 string Precision was about the same money as a Stingray 5 at the time. I've yet to A-B it with a Fender P5 but (Sorry, Paul ) I suspect a hand built instrument made by a very experienced and skilled luthier for a specific customer will always beat a production line bass of the same type, when judged by its owner and I got side LED's

The sticking plaster answer is turn yourself up in the first instance and bluff it in the second by creating your own audible "one" once you realise you are lost. or just stop dead and count it it ... followed by a word to the band after the gig to express your preference .. if you can say "like the 1958 Jimmy Dorsey version recorded at Carnegie Hall, Decca 878876/b " they may know it ... But deps are one offs and you only get that sort of understanding from playing regularly with people .. or say no to solos when you don't know what they are going to do.

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='529196' date='Jun 30 2009, 10:46 PM']email from Jon: [i] We're not far off, I'm hoping I'll get most of it together this weekend. All the 'making' is done and its just a case of assembly. I have to spray the headpiece but thats a quick job. If I get it all together this weekend then it should be ready for you in about 10 days from then, just so it has plenty of time to settle down and I can do any necessary adjustments to the setup[/i]. so only 2 weeks to go [/quote] Ah nice to see Positive Thought in action ... My money's on August 10th

@Janek You are talking as if everyone reading BGM is, or should be, an aspiring pro musician. If they were the only readers of BGM it would have gone bust years ago. Beginners and intermediates buy the magazine, loads of beginners. Also the weekend warriors who do fine on a Squier and old Peavey TNT but who may just want to upgrade to something just a bit better. That's the readership who are not being served (by the reviews anyway).

Sounds brilliant .. This has to be a contender for a Basschat "Explain this picture" contest [attachment=28114:King_of_the_blues.jpg]

[quote name='Tait' post='529958' date='Jul 1 2009, 08:56 PM']i can't see how a bass can be so good its worth much over a grand anyway, but like you said, its all subjective. but really, pay £1,500 for a shuker, or £3,500 for a fodera, does the fodera really sound that much better than a shuker? i think not. and besides, IMO Timmy C has one of the best sounds out, and he plays a passive jazz. i just don't understand how you can justify paying that much for a bass.[/quote] That's a different thread and we've done it a few times ... I agree. They should have a standard approach, at least one Sub £500 bass each issue (shouldn't be hard to find enough) and amps/combos from all price ranges. Sure kids can stroll into Reverb and try 10 different budget basses and amps but they can't get objective views of stuff from the shop employees. That is what magazine reviews should do. Maybe Which Magazine should have a bass guitar section ..

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='530001' date='Jul 1 2009, 09:48 PM']The Bart bass. Gotoh 203 bridge Fender tuners No name aftermarket PUPs (currently being fitted with active pre-amp) It's amazing it really is after several ideas of getting it re-finished icluding having it booked in at pro shop I have given up and decided to put a PUP cover on and and bridge cover (if anyone wants to sell one?) for the vintage look, I think it could be the best money I've ever spent on a bass. I nearly bought the Fecker from you too, I'm getting a natural ATK BTW.[/quote] That one has a really nice slim aftermarket SX Jazz neck without the orange tan they usually have. It also had an Artec 2 band active EQ for a bit .. Didn't like it Is that what you are putting in Wayne? Thought you were cornering the market in P basses

I'm the current keeper of the Fecker Pretender put together by BassBunny and previously owned by BeerDragon [attachment=28097:FeckerCat.jpg] [attachment=28098:FeckerHeadstock.jpg] The chassis is SX/Noname Pbass. I've had a few SX's (Come on WaynePunk, post the Bart Bass) and usually just put Gotoh 203 bridges on them but this one's had the works. To quote BB's original sale thread: "The cavity has been lined with Copper. The scratchplate has been foil backed. A Wizard Thumper has been installed along with CTS Pots, Switchcraft Jack and Sprague capacitor. All wiring is in Vintage cloth covered wire and the pot/capacitor values were decided upon after a chat with Andy at Wizard pickups. The bridge has been replaced with a Wilkinson Vintage bridge with Brass Saddles. New string tree and Fecker transfer, (laquered over), complete the picture." A bit of neck shimming from me to line things up a little nicer for me and it's great. It goes to jams where I want to be happy to hand a bass over to anyone without worrying. Can't really do that with a Shuker It's got a big fat warm P sound and the decal always gets a laugh.

[quote name='AdamWoodBass' post='529250' date='Jun 30 2009, 11:55 PM']I remember him, very witty guy. I always enjoyed reading his posts. RIP Nick.[/quote] +1 Life really is too short.

[quote name='Rich' post='529316' date='Jul 1 2009, 07:57 AM']Good luck with the job mate.[/quote] +1 all crossed here, Steve.

This is interesting. Since evolving to mostly fingers from mostly pick (a side effect of gigging the EUB) I've noticed this barking thiung rather a lot. So the action's going up. I'm guessing this is pimarily a bridge height change rather than a truss rod change?