ahpook

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1432443044' post='2781468'] You know, the drunk guy that gets up in a band members face while performing acting like an idiot. [/quote] I find it hard to believe that drunk people being idiots is just a recent invention !

You'd need to be hale and hearty to keep up with his playing - his stamina is quite something.

Grace Notes ? I think I met her brother, Cliff when I was at school

I think you can safely sell it if you've not heard back soon.

I think the smaller headstock on the SubZero makes it look a little unbalanced, but I'd imagine it balances better than the Eastwood.

Looks a bit like a Warwick Star bass to me. I quite like it...nicer in black, of course.

[quote name='BigAlonBass' timestamp='1432283839' post='2779938'] Somebody did. [/quote] Who was that masked man ?

My top tip is to ignore the back pickup - the quacky, nasal 'Jaco' tone to me is one of the worst sounds you can get out of a jazz bass. Front pickup all the way - I almost never use the bridge pickup. YMMV

I had a Streamer STD (a German one) and I fitted a Barolini pcikup in it, a W4CBC-B, which was a drop-in replacement. Not sure if Bartolini do a 5-string but it might be worth checking. It beefed up the tone no end. Regret selling that bass !

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1432195527' post='2778989'] Fopr instance, I don't slap particularly well and double thumbing is weak. The reason for this is primarily that, whilst the techniques in question undoubtedly turn heads, I DON'T LIKE THE MUSIC THAT IS PLAYED USING THEM AND NEVER PLAY THE MUSIC THAT IS PLAYED USING THEM. So, in short, the techniques are of no real use to me. Hence, I do not practice them, hence, I am not very good at them. [/quote] Very much in agreement with this Mr. B.

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1432146462' post='2778666'] To reiterate what Roger said, a good setup can make a huge difference to a bass. They cost £30-50 depending on where you go and turn an average cheap bass into something that feels as nice as a premium one. I've got a Squier VM Jazz that cost me £246 from my local PMT. It played great and felt right and sounded good. Not quite as nice and refined as a USA jazz sound-wise. I upgraded the pickups and electronics and it sounds utterly amazing now. I tested the Squier against the American Jazz and both played well, and in fact I preferred the feel of the Squier. When I got it home I gave it a good setup, including filing the frets down so they were all even. It made a huge difference although it's not something people like jumping into! It will cost around £80-100 for a pro to do that for you. Luckily I went on a basschat-organised training course with Crimson Guitars in Dorset and was taught how to do it. I bought their fret levelling kit too. This is something you tend to not need to do on a more expensive bass (although there are quite too many expensive ones that do need it). However, if you get no fret buzz from a one you try and find it easy to play then you'll probably not need to do this. Anyway, as most have said, try out a load of basses to find one that feels right to you. Buying second hand is good as you get much more bass for your money and can sell it on without much, if any, loss of cash if you decide to upgrade later - or just fancy something different. Take a bass-playing friend with you too so they can give you their opinion. They can also play whilst you focus on listening to how it sounds too. That's very useful if you're starting out and don't feel like you can get the best sound out of it yourself yet. Where are you based? Perhaps a fellow basschatter can come with you. There are plenty of people on here who would be happy to do that for you. Basschat is a fantastic place for that sort of spirit. There may also be some basschatters near you who may have a bass for sale and would be happy for you to try it out without and obligation to buy. Or they may even just let you play a few of theirs to get a feel for different neck profiles. Take along some cookies or biscuits and most of us will be kept happy by that Some good cheap basses are: Squier, Yamaha, Ibanez and the new Sire Marcus Miller Jazz basses (the £300 or so ones from Thomann, not the Fender Marcus Miller signature ones - not that they're bad basses, they're just more expensive). Second hand SGC Nanyo Bass Collection basses go for £200 or so and are brilliant to play and sound great. [/quote] Excellent post !

Gary Sinise, actor (Apollo 13, Forrest Gump, CSI, etc)

[size=4]"[color=#000000]William made the admission as he presented Brinsley Forde, frontman of 80s reggae group, Aswad, with an MBE at Windsor Castle.[/color][/size]" 'Made the admission" ? Makes him sound like he's owning up to something sordid. "Hello, my name is William and I....I play bass guitar"

A guitar tech once told me that Fender specify the Squiers with mini-pots so you can't just stick some full-size CTS pots in there and make the wiring loom the same as a 'proper' Fender. True on not, it appealed to my sense of conspiracy.

[quote name='anaxcrosswords' timestamp='1432127347' post='2778383'] ...I’ve been going through a Motown medley this week... [/quote] I know what you mean - I had shedloads of trouble when I was learning 'You keep me hanging on' (I think it was) - those 'same fret one string down' notes tripped me up too ! I have problems with 'one note per string triads' - a very basic skill I know but deffo a bugbear for me

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1431265172' post='2769387'] Geddy's voice renders it unlistenable. He just can't do it any more, which is a real shame. [/quote] I agree - fair play to them soldiering on, but it's like yodelling. I've only got into Rush very recently (and quite selectively too) and I'd be bang up for seeing them on this tour, should they come to the UK, but I doubt I could sit through a couple of hours of that style. Shame, but there you go. I can't sing like I could 35 years ago either !

[quote name='BigAlonBass' timestamp='1432107470' post='2778116'] I love the fact that he can't read 'joined-up writing' and so it's either a 'Hemez' or a 'Hamez'. It'll probably end up a bargain, as not many will put those terms in a Search Engine. [/quote] If I hadn't seen that logo before I think I'd have trouble deciphering it !

Well, this thread just underlines to me that there are some highly skilled musicians on this forum whose heads work on a plane many, many levels above mine !