Rich44

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1343582531' post='1752337'] I'm very naughty and don't have a set technique. I tend to find it differs depending on what I'm playing. If I'm playing something slow I tend to be more B or even C, if I'm doing something technical and/or fast I go A. I always thought that A was supposed to be bad technique on Bass and believed I was doing it wrong. [/quote] On the contrary, I was always told A was good technique as it's seen as more precise/you aren't catching the other strings with your fingers. I'd definitely do it if I was playing chords on a guitar/acoustic with light strings, but on bass it's masochistic! That said the benefit of C is you can lay the fingers flat and use them to mute, and with wider fretboards it makes a lot more sense. I was just trying to gauge if B was considered "bad technique", considering its not what I'd class as the fingertip.

I've always been told to "fret with your fingertip", and typical of me I've never done it, it feels totally unnatural so I've followed the "if it hurts, don't do it approach. I'm wondering what peoples definition of "fingertip fretting" is so have included a very poorly drawn MS Paint diagram (that in hindsight looks like a thumb) to gauge people's opinions: I myself fret (as well as type) as shown in "B". I've tried fretting like with "A" (how I see most guitarists do) but find the thickness/weight of the string to be very uncomfortable (to the point where I felt I was "hitting the bone" underneath/bruised feeling); I don't have much fat on my "tips", instead have pretty bony fingers. I'd understand on very light gauges/guitar strings/flatwounds, but I just don't see how it can be comfortable on thick bass stings. Is B considered "fingertip" fretting, as I've heard from many people that this is necessary to develop a quick, clean playing style.

Thanks for all your advice guys. Just went with the Shoksafe in the end and I'm sure it will do me fine, it'll at least be better than my bass resting on a pouffe as it is now! And for what I need it for (just holding bass safe in my room between daily practice) I'm sure it will suffice. Cheers again.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1323103374' post='1459321'] What bass are you going to use the stand with? IME you have to pick the right stand to properly support the bass. The US stand that I have which looks similar to the one you linked to isn't very good with instruments that have an asymetrical bottom of the body, and while the photo on the Hercules web site shows their stand supporting a J-style bass, I've been told by the UK distributor that since the bottom support doesn't swivel (like some stands) anything more extreme won't be properly supported. I've not had any problem with the Hercules Stands that grab the headstock so long as the instruments you want them to hold have a suitably shaped headstock to grab - some of mine don't. [/quote] Thanks, I think its broad as its long really. Current bass has slightly asymmetric headstock, and basses I'm looking at having soon have slightly asymmetric bottoms. The thing I like with the designs like the shoksafe is its supported a bit at both ends, so even if it looks a bit wonky/askew, it'll still stay upright. And I guess if I end up with a jazz bass I could just wrap one of the arms up thickly to balance things no?

[quote name='basstech' timestamp='1322756902' post='1455520'] I've been using Rotosound Swing 66's for a while on a Warwick corvette five string but am getting p'd off that their tone doesn't seem to last long and they're expensive. Anyone clean strings using meths? Does it work? I think I'll try out either Warwick black labels or Elixir coated - any views/experience anyone? JB [/quote] I always take them off and clean them with a cotton pad and a small amount of rubbing alcohol/surgical spirit (you can get it in superdrug/boots for about £2). Works a treat for me and my bass tutor commented on how my year old strings looked new so must work alright! It is scary seeing the sheer amount of gunk that comes off though! Just make sure you let them dry before putting them back on, don't want the residue drying the fretboard wood.

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1323040151' post='1458667'] Hercules and Ultimate are both great stands. I would say that Hercules are more heavy duty and sturdy, and the Ultimate folds down smaller and is lighter but still very well engineered Personally, I wouldn't be at all worried about hanging from the headstock, after all this is how most guitar shops store their instruments, and if they were going to have any detrimental effect, I'm sure the manufacturers wouldn't make them. In the shop I used to work in, we used to sell Hercules GS414B stands by the bucketload; they are brilliant! I've had a Hercules Mic stand for years and it is absolutely rock solid and still feels like new many, many gigs later. Hope this helps somehow! [/quote] Thanks, I looked into the GS414B, some people said the height adjustment has broke after a while. I'm guessing this is a one off, from your experience is this likely to happen? I do like that one though and its cheap enough to replace if it did ever break which is a plus. Also how does it compare to the GS412B? They seem identical with the only difference being the bottom padding (on the tripod legs vs a seperate t-bar), is it just that the 412B is more suited to asymmetrics? It does look more sturdy. Sorry, a lot of questions I know!

My original bass stand (just a cheap generic folding A-Frame stand) broke nearly damaging my bass (one of the arms snpped clean off). I'm looking for a good quality stand (preferably under £35) that won't break anytime soon, I'd like one that supports from the bottom (I don't like hanging all the weight of the bass by the headstock) BUT has some form of neck support/holder to stop it from toppling (which was another problem i had with A-frames). I was going to go with the Herc 402B but like my old stand, theres nothing to stop the bass falling over. I've narrowed it down to these two, anyone had any experience or opinions? Hercules Shoksafe: [url="http://www.herculesstands.co.uk/product/85317/GS405B/Floor_Stands/ShokSafe_guitar_stand"]http://www.herculess...fe_guitar_stand[/url] US Genesis 200: [url="http://www.ultimatesupport.com/product/GS-200"]http://www.ultimates.../product/GS-200[/url] The Hercules is cheaper, and I like the flexibility to prevent from knocks etc, but the Genesis is much more portable (on saying that I don't travel with it often). Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[quote name='Bass Awkward' post='1240004' date='May 22 2011, 09:20 AM']And don't let anyone tell you it's an inferior means of playing - in fact, it's essential for a particular sort of good rock sound, and the only way to keep up with a certain sort of metal (unless you get into that three finger alternation a la Billy Sheehan, or the flamenco four finger tremolo). Somewhat in concert with the experience of others - that different things work for different people - I found guitar picking techniques really useful. I think John Petrucci's 'Rock Discipline' videos sorted out some sort of picking technique for me (at a basic level, alternate strokes and string skipping are really important). After that, apply these techniques to scales, and speed up the metronome. Then play Misrlou for kicks, too. Try a variety of picks - they all give different sounds - but thin, hard, stiff picks are the fastest to play with.[/quote] Cheers I'll check out the vids. I guess its just practice really, and fingerpicking was equally as alien when starting out.

Thanks for your replies, they've made me laugh. I was more thinking that it "might" rein my little finger in and give it a bit of independence.

Allow me to be your slight knight in shining armour. I'm only 21 but have had back pain for as long as I can remember. Obviously tried all the gimmicks, physio, meds etc and nothing was particularly working. However I've recently tried wearing Equmen products (I have the core precision vest which generally goes for £40-50). Very expensive I know, but whilst you are wearing them I'd say pain is definately improved and you certainly feel better. [url="http://www.equmen.com/"]http://www.equmen.com/[/url] Also, pilates or its lesser strenous cousin yoga can really help, theres a good book called "complete pilates for men" which is great. Other than that its really just diet, posture and exercise really. Maybe an ergonomic bass strap? The Mono ones look really comfy.

I'm working on a bit of a theory of mine. Since starting office work I have noticed that whilst I am a fast typer (have typed from an early age), I am still unable to touch type. I am typing using about four fingers maximum. I've been thinking that the fingers that are not being used often in typing (for me the little and ring finger) must be neglected in terms of muscle memory, and the used fingers are getting overworked and strained. Not to mention the wrist is moving around too much. I've started to learn to touch type now using freeware, and I'm "hoping" that it will improve my left hand dexterity and strength, particularly the little finger which has always felt comparitavely weak. Apparently it takes a month or two to get touch typing, but even if it only helps slightly at bass it seems a win-win situation as I'll have learned one skill at least.

I've pretty much always played exclusively fingerstyle, as I feel I can get more accuracy that way. However, there are some songs I want to play which i think would sound better with a pick, so its something I'd like to learn. I've tried a few times playing with a pick, I'm fine just playing down or upstrokes, but as soon as I try to alternate it all goes to pot. I struggle with catching the pick too much on the string with the upstrokes. Are there any tips on holding the pick, or just generally starting out with a pick that could help?

I play a quite a mixture of styles (funk, new wave, disco), but mainly punk/post-punk/pop-punk etc. I really like the sounds acheived by bands like Elastica, Wire, Talking Heads etc. I love this sound of the bass in these tracks (Annie holland is great): -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul6XBsLLAFY -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djjw3BKUV28 Very punchy, grungey sounding. I'm wondering how to get a similar sound in terms of instrument, effects and playing technique. I play a P/J style bass pretty much exclusively with the split-coil/P neck pickups, I was wondering the advantages of P v J or even P/J style basses for punkish sounds. From what I can gather J basses sound brighter, but maybe a bit too bright with a pick? Anyway, any thoughts, recommendations etc would be greatly appreciated.

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1123995' date='Feb 11 2011, 04:20 PM']Transcribe is great - I live by it. Learn to read music and it will be even better. Which little town is Wales (I'm Welsh)?[/quote] Cheers, I'll give it ago. From around Flintshire/North Wales. But living in England now (student/graduate etc)

Alot of music I want to play is untabbed anywhere on the internet. I'm completely useless at playing by ear, and whilst not tone deaf, I don't think I'll be able to even transcribe mary had a little lamb anytime soon. I've been looking for software that will at least give a rough indication of what notes are being played, to at least start me off on note recognition. Transcribe sounds good, sounds too advanced for me, but it should be simpler for bass as apposed to guitar chords right? [url="http://www.seventhstring.com/xscribe/overview.html"]http://www.seventhstring.com/xscribe/overview.html[/url] Failing that, are there any companies/websites that transcribe music for a fee? I'm doubting this with artist royalties etc but surely tabs get created somewhere? ;P