jakenewmanbass

You can get a good thumpy walking bass sound by palming the strings near the bridge and plucking with the side of your thumb, not exactly a DB sound but produces a good feel for swing

More than happy to be on your list as it were. I'm in the south east but if theres money I'll travel, or any you might want covered in this area also. I play double as well. Jake

[quote name='Johngh' post='74503' date='Oct 15 2007, 11:18 AM']I had an Alembic Mark King and the neck was always on the move, I spent more time setting it up than playing it, so in the end it was sold. I've just had my Headless 6 made by Jon Shuker, and its brilliant, its the cleanest sounding bass I've ever had. I've got a Sei 6 as well and the Shuke is better than that. I would also say that the Shuke was well over a grand less to have made, and trust me, there is no difference in build quality. They will both be at the next Basschat bash whenever that is ! Then you can all judge for yourself.[/quote] I have to say I have never encountered a Shuker but he comes with high recommendation here so I would take that as read. I'm sorry to hear you weren't happy with your MK. As I said mine is perfect for me, I do agree each to his own Jake

[quote name='Alun' post='74168' date='Oct 14 2007, 03:41 PM']Hi Phil. On paper a shuffle and swing look kinda similar as they both involve triplets - dividing the beat into three. So a bar of 4/4 is counted as four sets of three - 123, 223, 323, 423 or 1 and a, 2 and a, 3 and a, 4 and a. The shuffle rythm is the stereotypical Status Quo grrove - dun -der, dun der, etc played by hitting notes on, as you say the downbeat and the third bit of the triplet so.. ONE (and) A, TWO (and) A, THREE (and) A, FOUR (and) A Often you'll hear it with the downbeats quite short and the "A" quite long which gives that du-duuur, du-duuur feel With swing, the idea is basically the same except the notes are played for their full value, so with "one-and-a",you would make the "one" last until the "a" rather than cutting it short. Regarding the metronome, if it's clicking quarter notes then it doesn't really suggest any feel/groove just a pulse. If your playing a quarter note scale, what will make it sound different is how you are subdividing the beats in your head. Weird as it may sound, counting "one and a", etc will make the quarter notes "feel" different to counting 16th notes ( one e and a). And now, the 2 & 4 idea. The idea of this is to give you the backbeat ( the hi hat in jazz, or the snare in rock, blues, etc) and leave the responsibility of the downbeat to you. I find it really helpful for swing and straight grooves. The trickiest bit is getting to hear the metronome click as 2 & 4 not 1 & 3. Easiest way is to start your metronome at about 50bpm, and you'll no doubt hear it is as the downbeat.. Click two Click four and so on. Count along like this until you feel comfortable and then drop in a bar of three before returning to four. The click will now be on two and four... Click two Click four, Click two Click, one Click two Click and so on Hope that helps. Cheers, Alun[/quote] Great reply Alun, from a fellow welshman. Jake

[quote name='bassicinstinct' post='74433' date='Oct 15 2007, 09:01 AM']Pliot error. [/quote] I must admit to being pretty short fuse on getting a good sound but the amps I have used SWR, Eden, Polytone and Alembic (pre amp) made life very quick to dial up exactly what i wanted. I did fiddle, honest guv... Jake

Save up and custom order an Alembic direct from the US. you will never play a better bass in your life (IMO) Jake

i totally agree I have a 5 string Alembic signature series and playing through several ashdowns I struggled to make it sound anywhere near as good as it can (its an awesome instrument) I think they are totally overated Jake

First question: where are you? there is a master luthier in Greenwich called Roger Dawson who is genius at achieving the best results with any bass. Oh, and he's very reasonably priced. The things you have mentioned: bridge, soundpost, strings etc [i]will[/i] make a difference, especially when done by somebody like Roger. He's completely rebuilt basses I've played and worked on all my instruments. I cannot recommend this guy highly enough he is an absolute master Jake

[quote name='Marcus' post='73657' date='Oct 13 2007, 06:55 AM']I've got some lessons booked with a local young player, who's a strong technically. I've very quickly realised that just treating the DB as a big Fretless Bass guitar isn't going to work ! Learning Double Bass, will essentially take me back to basics, and make me more hungry for the theory and technique. Thanks for the advice Mark[/quote] sounds like you have a healthy approach to learning! best of luck with it Jake

its the bass (wood) that generates/travels most of the sound, strings are important but nowhere near as important as the energy you put into them. I would suggest learning (preferably from a good tutor) how to impart energy into the string and how to stop the notes (left hand technique, not 'stopping the sound') properly. Not only will these factors make you a better, more efficient player, they will prevent possible injury which is easy to acquire on double bass when playing with poor technique. Innovation produce some good low tension strings. I have a set of silver slap on my B bass which is good for a thumpy sound with lots of bottom. hope thats useful Jake

lol

It seems to me that such interest is raised in this subject because we all know that the actions of the seller are wrong, this is uncomfortable for us. I know I'm stating the obvious but sometimes it needs to be said. The buyer whilst he is rightly saying out loud that he has been wronged, would, in my opinion, be better off putting it down to experience. Although I'm secretly glad that he persists in letting us know about this guy. I just hope he can cope with keeping it going without getting too twisted up by it. For the sake of balance, I did look at the sellers ebay feedback and he does have an enormous list of positive comments. Jake

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='71092' date='Oct 8 2007, 04:03 PM']Possibly - from what I've seen people seldom take much notice of unsolicited advice no matter how constructive it is. I've seen it before where good advice is rejected out of hand as its seen as criticism or oneupmanship. If someone hasn't asked "what do you think?" its usually best to keep quiet.[/quote] +1 " it is better to keep ones mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt" Jake

[quote name='3V17C' post='71042' date='Oct 8 2007, 01:43 PM']yeah I kinda read into it that he was a musician too....anyways heres my reply to him! (bear in mind it was a country pub) [color="#000080"]Hi there Ha ha! - Thanks for that - seeing as you've taken the time to write in then I'll take the time to reply. It certainly cheered me up on a Monday morning! To be honest yours is the first negative response we've got .......now, if you'll allow me to retort...... Firstly, it was a surprise to receive your email as I wasn't even sure that the internet had been discovered out in your neck of the woods. I suppose you're right though, it IS 2007, but even so it must be difficult typing with webbed fingers while perched on a bale of hay surrounded by sheep looking for a little bit of affection of the kind that only you country boys can give. Yes, in your view we may look ridiculous (I'm the one with long hair by the way so probably the most ridiculous looking of all? - oh no - hang on, that'll be our singer! :-)) and we may play dated, cheezy rock from the 80s - BUT - that is what we do! We are a Classic Rock/Metal covers band after all! Surprisingly for you perhaps, but there are alot of people who do like that music! We could hardly go out playing Artic Monkeys or Razorlight now could we? ...and at least none of us wear spandex or wield a flying vee! (By the way we have two guitars because most of the material we cover originally had two guitars on it - we wouldn't go to three guitars because only Iron Maiden do that and even we think thats a bit ridiculous!!!) We normally play at larger venues than xxxxxxx and we only played there because we were recommended by someone who, unlike yourself, rates us as a good band. In fact in rock circles we are considered to be pretty good which is why 200+ people come and see us on our home town gigs. I think also that you were perhaps in a minority because most of the comments we got after the gig Friday were along the lines of 'best band we've had in here all year' and 'far too good to be playing pubs'. Also by the end there were alot of young ladies dancing to us which is always nice to see - I won't say much more as being locals they may well be related to you - perhaps your sister or your mother ....or possibly both rolled into one? I've seen the big-eared boys on farms..... Also, reading into your comments about guitar sounds/'tired riffs'/Les Pauls etc I assume that you're maybe a musician yourself? If so, regardless of what type of music you're into (or not as the case may be!) you should appreciate (as we do) that everyone has different tastes and of course not everyone is going to like the same thing, but at least we're out there doing it. We go out, we rock out and if you don't like it you can get the hell out!....oh .... you did! Fine by us. Keep an eye on the gig listings for next year at xxxxxxx though because theres a good chance that we'll be back at some point and when we are I'm guessing you'll want to be as far away as possible! In the meantime take it easy and make sure you protect those eardrums of yours you delicate little flower! Peace[/color] ah....feel better now! c[/quote] Beautiful reply mate, I pissed myself, especially webbed fingers and mother/sister thing Jake

The answer given by dlloyd was excellent and comprehensive the only thing I would add is that to achieve a linear sense to your improvisation its worth learning modes globally as they relate to a key, and to apply melodic concepts as much as possible (listening to the way melodies work through changes is a great starting point for this) be musical where possible rather than applying techniques and your solos will feel much more natural Jake

Hi I'm just south west of London. I was Bass tutor at Salford University for 8 years before relocating south due to proximity of work and airports. I have also taught at the arts centre in Liverpool. I teach all styles, reading, theory, technique etc etc If you want a reference ask MikeyD (I taught him for a short while) I'll travel if costs are paid (any distance considered) PM if you're interested Jake PS I teach double and electric will provide CV of gigging and recording experience if required. (Includes Ike Willis and Bobby Martin of Frank Zappas band)

I have gigged professionally (and for fun) for twenty eight years but that is not what makes me a musician. Its that I could not live without playing in some form that makes me a musician. which says to me whatever you do in music if you love it and are compelled to continue then you are a musician Jake