lukeward2004

[quote name='Sean' post='21307' date='Jun 21 2007, 12:06 PM']I'd agree wholeheartedly with Luke about Gary Willis' book but would suggest a look at the walking basslines lessons on davemarks.com and also Ed Friedland's Building Walking Basslines book as a better introduction - Willis' book can prove to be a lot to take in quickly and I know a couple of people who just gave up on it. [size=1]*I hope that doesn't sound too patronising, it wasn'tmeant to be*[/size][/quote] You are right - I am working through the Ed Friedland "building walking basslines" book and will be moving on to the Gary Willis book thereafter, as there is a lot to take in. Both Ed Friedland and Gary Willis are fantastic tutors, and I the Gary Willis book requires more of a preconcept of walking basslines in order to work.

I play for 3 bands at the moment - first and foremost is my funk band, namesless as of yet, but it is coming together. I play for Natalie Long and also for Angle Fiction (very similar to ScienceMurdersDreams) - I work on a first come, first served basis. Keep a diary of all your gigs and that way you can keep a track of all your shows.

FWIW - I played through a Pair of Dood's Tech 4x10's and they blew me away - very clean, articulate and responsive. Almost HiFi in sound, much like a PA speaker - Thinking of getting one myself!

*DROOL* Whats the XLR for on that overwater? Is is a DI?

My Streamer LX 5 has an active preamp and runs off of a 9v PP3 battery in the control cavity, and from what I can see in the pics, looks as though someone has taken the pre amp with the extra EQ control out and converted it to a passive instrument (albeit poorly).

[quote name='Cantdosleepy' post='20804' date='Jun 20 2007, 03:17 PM']Not sure how well I explained that.[/quote] Very well explained!

A good book aswell for improving your harmony and thus helping you to play more musically is "Fingerboard Harmony for Bass" by Gary Willis - a very good read and some excellent advice in there.

I kept mine - didnt need to send it back!

If you want a good song suggestion for something funky, musical and with a good rhythm, watch this: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tu08cgOzXg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tu08cgOzXg[/url] Andrew Levy is a master of writing musical and groovy basslines IMO - someone to study for sure.

Ok, some promoters I have worked with: FeedMe Music - [url="http://www.feedmemusic.co.uk/"]http://www.feedmemusic.co.uk/[/url] First gig with them was at the Clapham grand, they operate at the Grand and at Dingwalls, both in London. Promoter was a girl called Ali, and also a girl called Pauline. Ali introduced herself as "australian and a mad dyke" - however she was very professional, taking us through the contract and all the ins & outs of the venue. She introduced us to the sound guy, steve, who was fantastic and very accomodating for our sound. We met Tim, the lighting engineer, who also did sterling job, and the bar staff & Bouncers where very friendly towards us. The Head bouncer was actually a HUGE polish fella, but he was so nice, he gave us a hand loading in & out and even gave us a free beer on the way out. Would recommend these guys to anyone. BukAndSkit - [url="http://www.bukandskit.com"]www.bukandskit.com[/url] Dave & John Nash are the promoters for the local berkshire pub/bar circuit with Bukandskit, and they are a great bunch of guys. The venues they play change from time to time, and in all honesty, arent that great - but it is a good way for originals bands to get out there and play to the local audience. They also run the BukandSkit Fest every summer, and have had some fairly big name bands headlining, local unsigned acts supporting them. Venues include the Face bar in Reading and the Phatz Bar in Maidenhead. Neon Promotions - [url="http://www.neon-promotions.co.uk/"]http://www.neon-promotions.co.uk/[/url] Another London based promoter for originals bands, playing venues like the Hope & Anchor, John Swaine is the man. He is pretty decent and straight up, dont expect to get paid for playing unless you bring 30+ punters through the door. Mean Fiddler - [url="http://www.meanfiddler.co.uk"]www.meanfiddler.co.uk[/url] Carina Jirsch is the girl you will need to speak to, she is very professional and will give you the whole deal before you even meet her. You will need 30+ punters through the door to get paid but the venues, as you would expect from the UK's biggest music promoter, are awesome. Venues like the Astoria, the Jazz Cafe, the Mean Fiddler, The Garage, and the Reading & Leeds festivals are an idea of the high level of professionalism they provide.

Lovely - Just Lovely.

I must say, despite not being huge stingray fan (never been able to get on with the neck), OBBM's old SR5 with Status graphite neck was sublime - if I ever wanted a Stingray, it would have to be one like that.

Ive just recently p/x'd a streamer standard 5 string for a Streamer LX 5, and I have to say that the Streamer LX 5 is lighter than the Standard I had. My Standard had two soapbar pickups, and a tone control that did sod all, however the neck was sublime and the build quality was typical of a warwick - tough as you like. However, my Streamer LX has twin Jazz pickups, a MEC pre-amp, and a Ovangkol/Wenge neck - it plays just as well, but I am able to dial in many more tones that I was before.

Actually, how lightweight are these DR Bass Cabs? Id be keen to find out some more info - do they have a website? Do they have a website? Do they make a 4x10? Just curious....

SWEET !

I have a Warwick Streamer LX - Awesome bass. Im sure you will love it! Very Nice Collection mate.

MIKE! Welcome back buddy, glad you are back with us! I too remember the family - that warwick is low end sex juice, just lovely!

Nice Gear!

That is identical to the MIM Jazz I had for years - lovely colour. I traded it in once I got the jazzbasstard....

Well, I got through the gig with the new wireless, and it sounded great - no noticeable loss of tone or low end, and I think "The Funk" can vouch for my rig sounding Beefy on the night!

DEAL!

Hi Mike, No worries mate - good luck with the move and send my regards to Kelly. Maybe give your lovely sister a nudgeand see if she can make it?

[quote name='Merton' post='17680' date='Jun 14 2007, 04:30 PM']As I've already said, good luck dude! it's a cracking venue, I play there a fair bit and love it. Air con makes it a bit chilly during sound checks tho!! Would love to come but am off to the IoW to play a wedding so will have to miss out :-( Say "Hi" to Paula from Feedme if she's about (er, it's Mert from Cengiz... That'll confuse her). Tip: Good Morning Vietnam is just about 20 seconds form the Grand, best place for a meal between soundcheck and giggage. Really good value, don't be greedy and get start and big main coz you'll never finish it all![/quote] Cheers Mert, will do mate - ill have some live photo's to show you all after the gig too!

Natalie plays Pop-Rock I guess - described as a cross between Blondie and Greenday. Man, Im crap at describing music this way, so here is what others have said: "What do you get if you mix the dynamic and sincerity of Alanis, the retro chic of Blondie and the high energy and zeal of Greenday? Introducing Natalie and her mind blowing band. Singer/guitarist/songwriter, this little firecracker will give you something" - Feed Me Music If you go to Natalie's website, www.natalielong.co.uk, you can check out some of her music and a live video that was shot a month before I joined her band, so it will have a different bassist and drummer. The one thing I will say is that Natalie, IMHO, is 10 zillion times better live than recorded - the production and arrangements do not do her justice. We have spiced things up for the live show, and almost everyone that has come to see us has said we are better live than on record.

In a change from the normal "Avoid this company at all costs" type of rant, i thought I would Highlight Digital Village - for a positive reason! I bought a nice new AKG WMS400 wireless unit from them recently, and it arrived within two days by courier. Upon opening the box, I noticed that it came with a US power supply and yet the transmitter operates on UK frequencies??? Sent them and email and they are sending a UK mains power supply on an overnight delivery, and should be with me tomorrow morning. Smashing service, no messing around, no fuss, and very pleasant to deal with. Just wanted to add a positive as we often hear horror stories about rubbish service in this country.