leroybasslines

[quote name='pst62' timestamp='1325326925' post='1482086'] Yes they're tough little bastards, mine took some stick in the time I had it, I only had two problems with it. 1. The pickups came away from their covers, but that was easily sorted with a bit of sponge. 2. The nut broke at the outer edge of the E slot, replaced it with a brass nut and never looked back. I hope you get yours sorted to how you want it! [/quote] I am very fond of mine! It's been thrown, dropped countless times and generally neglected in my rock n'roll formative years but still plays really well. I put some active EMGs in it which sound great. The neck is a slab though!

The Bad Plus. Reid Anderson is a fabulous upright player, Dave King is a truly unique drummer and Ethan Iverson is a monster musician! They can push the envelope of improvisation a bit far for some, but I love them. They're well known for their covers of famous tunes (Smells Like Teen Spirit, Iron Man etc) but some of their own compositions are fantastic. Check out the bass solo at the end of Knows The Difference...beautiful playing! It's about 5:30 in. The whole tune changes utterly at 5 mins to a lovely groove having built up to total chaos! [media]http://youtu.be/3601WwQRAKQ[/media]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1325277574' post='1481761'] I've just spoken to Gaz.. he's rushed off his feet at the moment, but going to give me some more info ASAP. [/quote] Thanks for that! I got in touch with the eBay chap about MM necks and he was very helpful. He says he may have just the thing - waiting on some more info and pics from him. Would love to hear more about the Seco necks though!

[quote name='pst62' timestamp='1325269992' post='1481620'] If it's this model, (Hondo made two or three different Precisions) it's more than likely plywood, mine was. [/quote] Yours looks a little different - more of a straight copy. Mine has a more stylised headstock with a sunburst finish. It's a Hondo Deluxe! It's been a great bass - the stuff it's been through for the last 30 years doesn't bear thinking about but it's still hanging in there!

It is plywood I think. That's what I thought too - I don't necessarily want a hand made beautiful neck on a cheap body. Rather, I want something quality enough to last and play well to make a decent instrument that'll look great and be a great backup to my main instrument. MM seem the best option, but the option of no inlays would be fantastic! If I can't get that for my budget, then I'll have to compromise! Hey rumple, out of interest how much did your custom neck cost? If I could find a luthier prepared to do a bog standard neck for a decent price I'd be up for it!

Hello! Just found the post too. I play at Woodlands Church in Bristol. A big church with lots of different styles - a great place. Lakland 5560. I've posted an embarrassing clip of me rehearsing at church for a service before. At the risk of looking like an egomaniac, it's here http://youtu.be/UR5xecByNBs Nice to see fellow B Bashers on here... Liam

[quote name='pst62' timestamp='1325261970' post='1481480'] This bloke will sort you out with a Mighty Mite neck, his name is Dave. I (like a few others on here) have bought off of him, he's a good bloke, very quick delivery too. [url="http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/bluebass320&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSX:SELLERID&_trksid=p3984.m1543.l2533"]http://myworld.ebay....984.m1543.l2533[/url] [/quote] Cheers for the tip! I'll get in touch and see what he can do...

Hey @wateroftyne, anything you can find out would be great! Especially regarding quality and possibility of customisation (I'd love a neck with no inlays). Hello Nick! I have seen Mighty Mite stuff around, but again they don't give away an awful lot on their website! Also, they don't seem to do anything other than a basic maple with a rosewood or maple fretboard. I've heard good things about them though. Is there a British retailer that you know of that I can find out more from? Cheers guys! Liam

They look excellent value for money! Trouble is, when a company like this only has an eBay store and doesn't say much about their product I get suspicious! How come they're so cheap? Where are they made? Can they do custom requests, etc? I'd be delighted if someone has dealt with Seco Guitars before and could recommend them...especially for fifty quid!

Hello there! I'm interested in renovating my first ever bass. It's a Hondo Deluxe P copy that my old man got me for my 7th birthday! That'll make it 30 years old and, although it's no competition for my Lakland 5560 that is my main bass, I'll never part with it. However, I'd like to be able to use it as an alternative to the jazz style Lakland and make it into a good P style gig-able instrument rather than it just sitting around looking sorry for itself... I installed EMG pups in it ages ago which are great, but I'd like to put a new neck on it and upgrade the hardware. It's not exactly a boutique bass (!) so I'm not looking for boutique accessories, but rather good quality and reliable stuff that will take the bass to the next level. I know of people like Warmoth etc, but I'd ideally like to find a British supplier of necks and the like that could perhaps make something to spec; my ideal would be a maple neck with rosewood fretboard, no inlays. Any ideas? Local makers would be even better - I live in Bristol. I look forward to hearing your recommendations! Cheers, Liam

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='1332557' date='Aug 8 2011, 06:58 PM']Nice playing. Sorry, exceptions not allowed. I see you come from Bristol...... And horizontal stripes are a no-no.[/quote] Boom boom! And I shall conduct a wardrobe revision immediately.

Well, I'm not normally one for filming myself and putting it on the interweb, but that was before I got a video camera! So here's me rehearsing before a church service, camera on the music stand (it all makes sense when I stand up!). It's rehearsal so I'm titting about a bit and overplaying. Lakland 5560 through the house Trace Elliot. A bit of MXR octave applied at random points. Seriously though, filming your own playing is a real eye-opener, for better or for worse. I was struck at how easy it looks compared to how it feels when playing it, which was is encouraging when you think of how many times one sees other players and think 'They make it look so easy!'. Bad points are how repetitive my fills are: I basically use one of two fills applied in different positions. Time to get some new 'go to' fills I think... Any comments welcomed. Except about the moobs.

[quote name='Doddy' post='1319308' date='Jul 28 2011, 01:52 PM']I'd recommend learning a blues in F and Bb-both standard and jazz changes.[/quote] +1 for me too. Freddy Freeloader by Miles Davis comes to mind. In fact, lots of Miles Davis tunes are simple enough to have a play along too and hear some fantastic upright players. Try All Blues for a start. And Herbie Hancock stuff like Watermelon Man, Cantaloupe Island, etc.

[quote name='stewblack' post='1324196' date='Aug 2 2011, 01:23 PM']Thanks guys, I know what you mean about Duran being a bit of a secret, but many a great bass line has had me listening to stuff I might otherwise have ignored.[/quote] +1!

When I was a kid I was quite inspired by 'Rio'; my dad won it for me on a tape in some scratch card competition in the 80s! Quite aggressive and punchy finger-style playing and a nicely busy line. I think he throws in a few pops in the chorus for good measure. A good track for learning about muting with your fretting hand to get ghost notes etc. I was a young metaller at the time and Steve Harris was my hero, so liking that track was a guilty secret. I still think it's a cracking bass performance though.

I can't offer you advice on batteries etc, but I use a Suitcase for both electric and upright and I love it. An awesome little amp. It is on the quiet side, but whenever I need more volume I'm usually going through a PA anyway. It sounds great; I barely touch the EQ etc as the sound is so clear and balanced. Can't recommend PJB stuff enough. Let us know how you get on with it!

Maybe the Plan B player (I think he's called Jodi Milliner) was going for some kind of anti-branding look, a kind of reverse logic cool thing. We're so obsessed with gear and labels - I like the idea of shunning all that and just being a kick ass player. And he was good - quite simple and punchy with a couple of really well chosen melodic flourishes at just the right time. I'm going to vote for the sunburst Sadowsky on stage with Aloe Blacc. Very tasty!

First Bass Owned: Hondo Deluxe (P copy) 'Go To' Bass: Lakland 5560 'Your' Bass: Fender P I suppose...but I don't have one. I just seem to end up making every bass sound like a Precision - if doesn't I'll find a way. Maybe it's time to get one!

5 string double basses are most commonly seen in an orchestral setting. Lots of classical music requires low notes beyond the standard range of the double bass - lots of British players added a C extension onto their finger boards but on the continent the 5 string was more common. 5s do seem more common nowadays though, even though they've been around for many, many years. You rarely see 5 strings being used anywhere other than a symphonic orchestra to be honest - they're pretty much exclusively a classical music phenomenon.

Alreet me babber!

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1146321' date='Mar 1 2011, 08:00 PM']Hakim was astonishing with Weather Report. Catch this duel with Joe Zawinul!!! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLVG4Q8_Rqs"]Omar Hakim[/url][/quote] +1. I remember Weather Report being on the South Bank Show when I was a kid and the Victor Bailey/Omar Hakim rhythm section really got my attention. Hakim was so flamboyant but ultra-tight and Bailey was for me the epitome of what a bass player should be - funky and looking cool! My favourite track with those two playing is Waltz in Db off Domino Theory. From his opening fill to the end, Hakim is amazing! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJIS1vVfVaU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJIS1vVfVaU[/url] This is good too: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq1ygko_PQ8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq1ygko_PQ8[/url]. Loving the 80s visuals!

[quote name='BassBus' post='1144621' date='Feb 28 2011, 04:39 PM']If you're thinking of going that far why not give the Violin Shop in Glasgow a call. They usually have 10-15 basses in stock at all sorts of different prices. All professionally set up as well. I bought my Stentor Arcadia for £1500 there and a number of people have commented on how good it sounds. [url="http://www.theviolinshop-glasgow.co.uk/bass_room.html"]http://www.theviolinshop-glasgow.co.uk/bass_room.html[/url][/quote] +1 on the Stentors. I have one that I bought for a grand from a classical player who was upgrading to a mega-bucks German 200 year old instrument for her orchestral playing. She'd been playing the Stentor since she started out but it wasn't quite up to the highly refined world of top level classical music. It's a great entry level instrument that can be used beyond starting out. I'd recommend buying from a player if you can - it was great to talk frankly with the previous owner about the bass and find out about its history, bumps and scrapes and character. In my experience, double bass players are very honest about their instruments and their shortcomings and good points. At the very least, try and get to a shop that has a range of basses to play. I've heard the Thomann instruments are really good, but I personally would be worried about not playing them before buying. Acoustic instruments with such major variations in construction, tone and dimensions as the double bass have to be taken one at a time! No two are alike. When I bought my bass, I tried to play as many different instruments as possible and some were truly duds for me despite much salesmanship on the phone and in the shop! P.S. I've never been to Thwaites but they have a very good reputation. I'd say they'd be the ideal place to go and play a range of basses and chat with folks who know what they're talking about. Give them a ring before you go to tell them what you're after and they'll sort you out I reckon! Sounds like a fun day out!

[quote name='lettsguitars' post='1135019' date='Feb 21 2011, 02:49 AM']there's a recommended luthier thread here somewhere. surely there must be one near you. what do you need doing?[/quote] I've had a quick look for that thread (about 15 seconds...a proper boy look as my wife would call it) and I can't find a recommended luthier thread. If someone can find it, it ought to be a sticky! Along with an upright bass shop list. MODS!

I had a crack repaired by a guy in Bristol Violin Shop and he did a great job - saved the bass really. He was worried the top would have to be removed but that wouldn't have been cost effective on a bass like mine. I begged and he managed to do some keyhole surgery! I think he's freelance but works in their workshop upstairs from the showroom. Can't remember his name, but he was described to me as their cello/bass specialist. Give them a call - 0117 9259990. I'm sure they'd have some good suggestions at the very least.