indiegrungesound

After seeing the list of legends listed in the "Top 3 Bassists who influence your playing(sic)" thread; I'd just thought I ask to see who out the newer bands, artists & sessioners you good people rate. The criteria I've gone for is for bass players on their 1st or 2nd albums. Here's mine(Not in rank order mind.): (1) Tom Fleming (Wild Beasts): Goes from firm groove to Flamenco style playing. Good singer too! (2) Jenny Lee Lindberg (Warpaint): Easily matches the aforementioned Mr Fleming for chops and groove, but more effects heavy AND poppier. (3) Charles Cave (White Lies): Solid and tasty distorted 8th note goodness. What do the rest of you think? I realise this shortlist is very hipster indie rock, so if there are any Metal, Jazz, R'n'B/Hip Hop or Folk players that you good people think should be mentioned, then do tell. Thanks!

[quote name='Marvin' post='1022734' date='Nov 13 2010, 06:24 PM']Probably for their approach Paul McCartney Mike Mills - REM Kim Deal - The Pixies (despite not actually owning a Pixies record I like her style) - but a nod and a wink to the chap from Doves.[/quote] Good taste Sir!

I've a Steinberger Spirit bass. (It's made of wood not graphite & has EMG Select pickups.) It's a great bass. Lovely tone & action on mine.

This is a tough one! At this moment in time I'm going for : (1) Mike Mills (R.E.M.) (2) Kim Deal (Pixies) (3) Jimi Goodwin (Doves) This is based on the fact that they are all from my favourite bands, can also sing and play other instruments and cover the areas of being great bass players whether playing root notes or melodic flourises. Now, if I mention who I DIDN'T pick... ;-)

[quote name='Ian Savage' post='1017107' date='Nov 9 2010, 01:40 AM']As far as I know/have heard, the ones to not touch with a bargepole are are original black-fronted MAGs (I THINK only designated as MAG250s). I had one of those, which broke down and went in for repair twice - after the third time the retailer wouldn't repair or replace it and insisted that I move up to the MAG300 (grey-faced), at extra cost to me. Apparently, from what I've been able to ascertain (as I wasn't very happy with Ashdown at the time!) the idea was that the highly conductive magnesium alloy chassis (hence MAG) was supposed to do away with the need for cooling fans on the heatsinks, hence making the units smaller and cheaper. Surprise surprise, the MAG300 replacement I got for my (broken!) MAG250 +some money had cooling fans. Methinks someone at Ashdown dropped a major bollock with the initial series of these; although the replacement MAG I had broke down eventually too (after a couple of years' gigging), and kind of put me off the MAGs entirely.[/quote] I always thought they were called the "MAG" range because the "ABM" ones were known as bass MAGNIFIERS. Probably me being dense mind! ;-) Ta to everyone for the info and anecdotes! Always appreciated!

[quote name='geoffbyrne' post='1015731' date='Nov 7 2010, 09:14 PM']I have an original UK-built MAG 400 (485 Watt redface job - the white MAG 400's are Chinese built & are 400W) which I've gigged for the last 4 years & it's never missed a beat. I've recently gone to a GB Shuttle 6. After an initial problem caused by a bad valve, it's sounding great. As soon as I've proved the Shuttle by gigging it, the MAG may be up for sale - no compressor, though - I use a pedal on the board instead. G.[/quote] Thanks for the offer Geoff, but'll have to politely decline I'm afraid. Think I may have to hang fire until after Christmas before I shell out for anything.

Good afternoon to you, Liam! Nice to see another Manc bassist on here!

Once gave my Yamaha to the bassist of a covers band the band I was in supported when his Aria packed up. The worst thing that happened to it was that he drop tuned it.

[quote name='Protium' post='1014720' date='Nov 6 2010, 08:12 PM']Caught by the Fuzz - Supergrass Strange Ones - Supergrass Alright - Supergrass Richard III - Supergrass Moving - Supergrass Mansize Rooster - Supergrass Sun Hits the Sky - Supergrass Lenny - Supergrass Lose It - Supergrass Grace - Supergrass[/quote] Big fan of the 'Grass I see. Good call! Mick Quinn is a great bass player, probably the best bassist out of all the Britpop bands IMO.

Thanks flyfisher! What's the compressor like on it?

[quote name='rmshaw37' post='1014266' date='Nov 6 2010, 01:47 PM']does anyone have an opinion on the nexus range? sorry if i'm thread jacking, but they look ace! i have an ampeg 115 thats fantastic, but I like the look of the nexus range, and was thinking 2 15s and a 410 for my distorted top - will the nexus compare to the ampeg 15 at all? cheers[/quote] Feel free to hijack it. They just seemed like a good option to me, hence why I asked in the first place.

Further to my previous posts about getting new cabs, I now think I might be better just getting a back amp to my Hartke that puts out less than 250 watts @ 8 ohms, meaning I can just use 1 of my Warwick cabs for practice purposes. I'm thinking about one of the newer Ashdown MAG 300 heads, having previously owned a MAG 15" combo that I had to part with. On the minus side, I was told to avoid any non British made Ashdown amps by Manc amp fixer Dave Lunt, who cited their unreliablity. On the plus side, my old one never broke down, the new ones have compressors AND I've heard them used to great effect live by bands like Warpaint & The Joy Formdable. Any thoughts from you good people would be greatly appreciated. Ta!

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1013489' date='Nov 5 2010, 04:42 PM']You can use one fine with your LH500, just as you can use one of your current cabs happily with it, because the LH500 comes equipped with a volume control.[/quote] Turn the volume DOWN??? Are you mad man? ;-) In all seriousness, I take your point, but seeing as each Warwick has a headroom of 300 watts @ 8 ohms and the Hartke puts out 350 watts, I really don't fancy risking the chance of my speakers blowing, no matter how remote. Anyone else tried these? (N.B. I think I might actually go to my back up plan of just getting a 2nd amp head as a back up that I can just use with 1 cab.)

Does anyone own any of these or even just tried one? Considering upgrading from my 2 Warwick 12" Neo Pros. (The idea is that, as the Laneys are rated @ 400 watts @ 8 ohms, that I could use just 1 safely with my LH500 whilst having a 800 watt capacity monster rig for gigs-provided my prospective new band gets off the ground.) Any thoughts are appreciated!

I'm not sute about this TBH. My LH500 is a blinding amp. My cabs are light too. Great set up for both 1 man/self roadieing(sic) and tone. If I had the money though, there are FAR TOO MANY cabs that I'd go for. (The new GK 2x12"s, Ampeg, Markbass's 212s, Hartke Hydrives. Considering a couple of Laney Nexus 15"s too.) The thing is, for each time I've played live, I've played through various combinations of Ampegs, Ashdowns, Peaveys, Rolands, Hartkes and Warwicks. Apart from my time using a Little Giant 350, ALL of them have sounded great, so perhaps getting the mix right at sound check is probably the main thing. Also, the bass players I admire have all had great bass tone regardless of the numerous amp/cab set ups they've used. (E.g. R.E.M.'s Mike Mills has used Ampegs, Mesas, Traces, Peaveys, Fenders and GKs. He could play with the shoddiest amp in the world ever and he would still sound great IMHO.) I'm sure this isn't any help. Sorry! ;-)

Just mulling over something that happened at a gig the other week. I went to see "Warpaint" play @ The Deaf Institute in Manchester. Brilliant gig. Their bassist Jenny Linberg is really good. The thing is, at the end of the gig, I saw a guy whip out his iPhone to take a picture of her pedal rig. The man in question was Mark Cuppello from Manchester's current head indie boys The Courteeners. So, to cut to the chase, has any one seen another famous(ish) bass player scope out another famous(ish) bass player's effects pedal set up in this manner?

Still have my ME-50B. Not used it for a while, as it upset one of my former bands when I used the Sansamp emulator and the bottom boost on the pedal... along with the bass boost on my Yamaha's EQ! Never mind! Have to say it's a decent, sturdy pedal. The "Line Driver" Effect(the aforementioned Sansamp copier) is the best distortion on it. Plus it has a mute facility on the pedal section, a compressor and tuner as well. Always liked the chorus and echo effects too. I'm now SORELY TEMPTED to start using this again! Thanks for the reminder folks!

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='987362' date='Oct 13 2010, 08:12 PM']Yeah, it's the Castle Hotel they've had it done up by English Heratige, it's really nice. Think it used to be a rough'un in the past, but they've done a really tasty job and priced the knobheads out, decent jukebox too. Looking into setting it up. Trav[/quote] I'd be up for it too.

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='986138' date='Oct 12 2010, 07:54 PM']Yeah im very suprised with the tone from the head.....love it to bits, although i would kinda disagree about the cab matey, I think the 2x10 has a wicked sound. In saying that i aint gigged it yet so I totally disagree......YET hahahahaha[/quote] Actually, I've gigged with this quite a few times with other bands using the amp as well. It worked pretty well in a small club venue without either a mic or the use of the DI. So basically, you should be fine if you use either of those. (Mind you, if the DI the head if you use it with your 4 x 10" then you'll have no problem at all.) Hope that is of some help.

Re: Litte Giant 350s I had one last year, apparently one of the first in the country at the time. Had to do a LOT of EQ boosting, gain boosting & turning the volume up to get a decent sound. I noticed that it would die after a certain point. When I went to have it fixed, I was told to get rid of it as they are known for being dead unreliable!

I had a full Ampeg Portabass 250 combo a few years back after my old Trace Elliot Commando died a sudden death. Dead light. Nice tone. I like the head more than the cab though, as the 2 x 10's only went so far. Ended up part exing it for a Hartke rig as I wanted a louder rig. I think Hartke's heads are fantastic. That said, I'd be more than happy to get a Portabass head if one ever turns up 2nd hand somewhere! Anyway, just my own opinion. Hope you enjoy it!

Just wanted to repeat what everyone's been saying about Bass Day yesterday. Great way to spend a Sunday. Had a go of many nice amps and rigs, including Dave Marks' EBS stack. (Apologies again for any bum notes if you saw it folks! :-)) Just to say it was nice to meet tayste_2000 and Dood too (Btw, I'm dead ENVIOUS of sshorepunk's Green Fender Custom Jazz and Dood's Blue Shuker. Lovely pieces of kit. Thanks for letting me have a go!)

This is to Stu. Just to say that I was that guy who got up onstage for the Dave Marks session to do jam. Thanks for the props!

Afternoon all! Thought it was about time I introduced myself. I'm Mike. I've been playing bass for 10 years. I play a Yamaha BB 614 & a Steinberger Spirit. My rig is a Hartke LH500 powereing 2 Warwick NeoPro 12" Cabs. I play as my username describes. Thanks for having us onboard!