Austin7

Actually, I thought I'd heard everything, but I guess not.

That looks like quite a good job.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z9tXP5IsRg[/media]

He may not be able to do at 68 what he did at 28, but Jack Bruce's accomplishments are legendary. It isn't necessary to like him, but to ignore his importance is historical revisionism. I'm not one to be starstruck by celebrities, but if I could pick one person to get an autograph from, it would probably be from Jack Bruce. That's how I feel about him.

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1332079339' post='1582856'] Gibson make basses? ;p [/quote] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdwVVI4B3oY[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGQDWj4pnNc&feature=related[/media]

A Fender Precision. I've hated them since I was forced to borrow one for a gig I played many years ago. I did fine and made no mistakes. But what a friggin' nightmare that neck was for someone mostly used to Gibson necks. I absolutely could not wait until that gig was over. I was very grateful to the guy who had lent me the bass, but was totally baffled that he seemed to like it so much.

[quote name='Adrenochrome' timestamp='1331674985' post='1577123'] Sorry but I disagree with this. It is very rare for a band to not be paid at all and is totally unacceptable. [/quote] +1

[quote name='YouMa' timestamp='1216689787' post='245005'] Well retro i thought they were crap but hendrix seemed to like them. [/quote] +1

Nothing that any of the ex-Beatles did as solo artists was comparable to their earlier work, IMO.

Legal action seems to be the only answer to this. The way they acted was outrageous. Just unbelievable.

[quote name='shizznit' timestamp='1331035311' post='1566558'] If I can syncopate the vocal phrasing with the bass line I can just about manage, but if the phrasing of both are out of unison that's where I really struggle. My girlfriend has suggested that I should go to a vocal coach, but I dunno how they could help? [/quote] Unless the vocal coach is someone who has experience singing and playing bass at the same time, I don't know how going to one would be helpful. If he is someone used to singing and playing guitar, conceivably it could make things worse. When it comes to singing and playing at the same time, there is a world of difference between guitar and bass. Of course, I'm sure there are vocal coaches out there famiiar with the singing and playing bass issue, but likely a substantial number are not.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1330979667' post='1565813'] I quite agree! I remember a quite few years back when I was quite a bit more impetuous, I replied to a thread that had been started about Bill Dickens saying that a recent video I'd watched sounded like someone 'throwing an 10 string bass down some stairs'. My post wasn't worded maliciously (although very poorly thought out and very tongue in cheek), but almost immediately my post was edited by moderators and I was given a 'warning' saying that further replies like that would see me banned. I was younger at the time and probably looking to cause a bit of a stir but at the end of the day, it was just an opinion. I saw similar heavy handedness with opinions being used elsewhere. Add to that everyone being so incredibly sycophantic to the mods, it made for a general lack a broad opinion and a very close-minded type of forum that was no fun to use. I actually happened to speak to some incredibly helpful individuals on TB, but I almost never find myself using it anymore and I never post there. To much silly mob mentality and way too much sucking up, not enough opinion on what really matters music wise from a bass player's perspective. I'm sure the majority of the users don't 'live in their parent's basement' but some people over there obviously like to hammer out their obnoxious opinions without any real knowledge of subject matter 'X' from the safety of their swivel-chair and behind their ergonomic keyboards. A proper hobbyist's forum I suppose! We're obviously all hobbyists here too, but this is a much more vibrant place to be where opinions can be challenged, and you can actually have a decent conversation without psuedoscience and popular opinion getting in the way. [/quote] You're right. I honestly bear no ill will toward the place, but like you said, it's just not any fun over there anymore. Yesterday, I was helping a friend who needed to find info on a bass she wanted to buy. She needed the info quickly and due to various reasons, just couldn't look it up the way I could. I checked TB and did find a few things. But I ended up finding by far the most valuable info on BassChat.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1330973524' post='1565672'] I think you very eloquently summed it up with this. And congratulations on a stunning instrument, I'm utterly delighted for you Just make sure it gets played! Instruments exist to create music, not to sit as eye candy on a guitar stand. Might I also suggest you stick around here? We're a much friendlier bunch than TB and if you're going to be learning to play bass, then this is the place you're going to want to be! [/quote] I agree with the statement that it "must be a tough world living in mother's basement" and with your statements, too. There are many positive things about TB, but especially in the last year things have taken a turn for the worse. Although the mods are great, I'd say there are just too many problems there for humans to solve in any meaningful way. But things are always changing in life and maybe some day the situation there will improve. Having said that, the "Basses" section there is often pretty good as well as a few other sections. Sometimes it's about the only way to find info on certain basses, etc.

I'm not sure if there is any kind of formula to this, although I'd say learning to play bass and sing at a young age is an advantage. That's what I did. Now that I'm older and got out of practice by being in a band that didn't require my singing, it's a lot harder whenever I try it now. "Young" being defined as 16 or so, BTW. My advice to anyone who now sings and plays bass at the same time is to not stop doing it. If you stop, you may be sorry. You may just end up having to learn it all over again. Actually, the same can be said for playing bass, too. It's amazing how much you can lose by going long periods without practicing.

I didn't even know they had a signature bass for that. I have to say Dusty always does get a great tone even though, strictly speaking, I'm not the biggest Fender fan.

^ It would be my guess Paul chose the Hofner because it was cheaper, although I suppose other factors could have been involved. It's my understanding, though, that Hofners were pretty cheap at that time. Also, since he was in Germany anyway, that's were they could be bought the cheapest.

[quote name='MelP' timestamp='1330607254' post='1560216'] Thanks for that tip - looks good. I don't particularly want to stay with Epiphone and I'm happy to pay something like £500 for the right one. Do Fender or Ibanez make any short scale basses? Just seen this on ebay, 15 miles from where I live - 1964 Gibson EB-0 with an extra pick up added. Would this be a good thing to bid for? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200719981800?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648#ht_500wt_1390"]http://www.ebay.co.u...8#ht_500wt_1390[/url] Thanks. Paul. [/quote] Besides vintage EB-O and EB-3 basses which are short scale, Gibson also has the EB-2 and EB-1 which I think are both short scale but extremely expensive collector's items. I know of no famous bassist on earth who plays an EB-1 except Jack Bruce. Even that is on a limited basis. For newer Gibsons that are short scale, there are the SG and the Les Paul Junior DC (which is only a limited run.) There was also a limited run Thunderbird short scale which would be hard to find now. Out of all those choices, to me the most sensible choice for a band would be the SG. But that's just my opinion. Fender has the short scale Mustang. Ibanez has some short scales, but they mostly seem to be entry level basses.

[quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1330540075' post='1559136'] +1 to Billy Cox and Noel Redding too, and Jimi was no slouch either, evidenced by All Along the Watchtower, as if the guitar playing wasn't enough! Could I nominate Johnny Colt as well from the Black Crowes? Can't have a tight but loose band without a tight but loose bass player! [/quote] I was planning on mentioning Noel Redding, but then of course I saw your post. Some good points. In Noel's case, I'd certainly say he tends to get too harshly criticized, IMO. I keep hearing stories that the only reason he was in the Experience is because of his hair. His hair may have been a factor in helping him get hired. However, my question would be, did Hendrix keep Redding as bassist for 3 years just because he liked his hair so much? Another misconception is that Hendrix overdubbed much of the bass. On "Electric Ladyland" Hendrix did play on all but 5 of the songs. However, Noel played on all the two first albums. He can also be heard in various other places such as on the excellent Winterland album which was finally released last year. Possibly the biggest misconception is that Redding was a frustrated guitarist who felt tortured having to play bass. If that was so, why did he play bass on so many albums after the Experience and Fat Mattress broke up? This involved several obscure bands (with the exception of Mountain and possibly Randy California's Kapt Kopter band in which Noel played bass under an alias,) but that is beside the point.

[quote name='MelP' timestamp='1330605789' post='1560157'] I've got a Epi EB-0 and I love playing it due to the short scale but it is neck heavy. I'm not keen on the sound particularly. I'm looking to go for a new better bass but it must be short scale and must look good in a rock band, like the EB-0 does! Could go for Gibson EB-0 but some of these posts have put me off! Any suggestions? [/quote] If you want to stick with Epiphone and not pay the enormous amount of money Gibsons usually cost, you could try the Epiphone Allen Woody RumbleKat. It's short scale and--from what I've gathered--is a good bass at a reasonable price.

In the interview at the end of the Winterland album, Hendrix speaks of the importance of the melodic in British music. I've been meaning to go back and listen to that interview again. I think Muse is an excellent example of the melodic in modern British music.

[quote name='CalJock' timestamp='1329989965' post='1550776'] It's passive [/quote] Thanks

[url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Hagstrom-FXB-200-Bass-Guitar-Vintage-Sunburst/A7I"]http://www.gear4musi...ge-Sunburst/A7I[/url] Does anyone know anything about this kind of bass? I've chanced upon one in a local music store, although I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. It's used but only $200. One thing is that I'd like to know is if it has active or passive pickups. I know some Hagstroms have passive, but I don't know about this one.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1329956753' post='1550566'] The main problem I had with them is I just couldn't get on with Matt Bellamys voice. The vocals are always the deal maker or breaker with me, no matter how good the playing or writing is. [/quote] I have heard several people say that. I get what you mean, but it doesn't bother me very much at all. I feel that it actually fits into the music which is being played. In the case of my guitarist friend, though, she didn't much like anything about Muse. This was a surprise to me because we have almost the same taste in music. I value her opinion greatly, but it's clear that she'll never like Muse.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1329954616' post='1550528'] I've heard "Absolution" & "OOS" as well & I think they're bloody awful as well to be honest. I only bought "Black Holes..." because it was £2.00 in the Virgin closing down sale. [/quote] Then I gather your taste in music might be quite different than mine. I also like Hendrix and Cream very much. Possibly, you don't. I bought the "Absolution" album in December 2004 and have been a fan ever since. I shared it with the guitarist I was playing with at that time, and to my surprise, she didn't much like it. So, I realized from the very first that not everyone would be as struck by Muse as I was.

[quote name='woodyratm' timestamp='1329947613' post='1550333'] Defo focus on OOS and Absolution. Although The Resistance does have some cool lines. [/quote] The Resistance would be right below Absolution for me, although OOS is also great.