doctor_of_the_bass

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='597873' date='Sep 14 2009, 12:09 AM']Just as a bit of proof, here are a few pics. The previous owner did a few messy patch ups on the paint and added/removed a thumbrest. It plays amazingly well though.[/quote] Nice Roadie! Where did you find it? Nick

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='597784' date='Sep 13 2009, 10:22 PM']I've recently got my hands on a Roadie IIA from 1987, tobacco burst. The main power L.E.D. was intermittant after i changed the batteries, so I E-mailed the guys at Jaydee for advice. Considering the bass is 22 years old, and i didn't buy it from them, they were great. Andy Diggins e-mailed me straight away with a schematic for fitting a replacement, full of advice, he then offered to fit it for me, as i wasn't 1000% confident, for next to nothing. He then contcted me to say newer Duracells don't get on with the older battery connectors, so there was no fault with the bass. He didn't charge me for anything other than the shipping! The bass is a winner, a boyhood dream, it sounds just like Mark King on the Level 42 Live At Wembley 1986 DVD, without being as expensive as the MK model. But it sounds like so much more, and plays like the b*llocks, a great bass. I think after all the service, and the fact the bass is a revalation for my playing, i may just start planning my custom order. Heavilly recommended![/quote] Great stuff! If you get chance to get down to Birmingham, nip to see the lads - the workshop is quite easy to find. I used to own the red JD on Live at Wembley - awesome basses! Cheers Nick

Peeple!!! I think the bottom line is that we are all different, thank the Cosmos! Each player has their own view and again, thats what makes life interesting! Speaking as someone who realistically has more basses than most music stores, my collection reflects the fact that A. I have a tiny thingy* and B. I'm completely fascinated by basses (both cheap and boutique) and have been for 27 or so years. Having made playing my profession also helps me to justify said purchases (actually, its the voices that make me do it - and of course, the basses talk to me `buy me daddy, please buy me - don't leave me' !!! Please keep chilled and let the discussion continue! * bank account! Nick

[quote name='Leftbass' post='597516' date='Sep 13 2009, 05:30 PM']If that was age 19 + 29 some of us might get it. LOL[/quote] Hehe! I'm 17 stone!

Allo! This is quite an early Roadie I passive in mustard (or is that custard?!) yellow! Its got the early body edge contours; possibly dates from around 1980 - Series II body shape. An interesting model: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jaydee-Bass_W0QQitemZ320422794878QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item4a9aafd67e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jaydee-Bass_W0QQitem...id=p3286.c0.m14[/url] Cheers Nick

[quote name='endorka' post='596998' date='Sep 13 2009, 01:10 AM']That's me done the last night of the show tonight - as mentioned above, it was great stuff to play, the band were cooking, and I really like the way the bass is featured a lot more than you usually get in shows. Probably my favourites would be the high widdly fretless stuff such as Halloween and the gospelly tunes like "Seasons of Love". The real rock out tunes are great as well, but having the closing number finish in F# major is just sadistic! :-) Santa Fe did give me a few problems, some real awkward shifts in it if you are reading it, so as stated it is best to remember that one and the other couple of numbers with similar parts. I imagine it would be easier on a 5-string. It's not often you get an excuse to have a total rock out, do slap bass & noodly stuff, with the bonus that it actually sounds good :-) Jennifer[/quote] Hi Jennifer! Glad to hear you had a good time - Santa Fe went really well for me in the end; memorising it did the trick - couple of mates actually came to see the show and they said that the bass made the tune - I said that I wish I'd written it!!! Hehe! Cheers! Nick

Nice one! Darren and Chris (ask him about Widow Tw***ey!) are both great lads - was that fretless Vigier brand new?? I've been thinking about one for some time!! Must get dahn there soon! Nick

[quote name='BB3000S' post='596926' date='Sep 12 2009, 11:21 PM']Hi, name's Matt and I'm a recovering GASoholic - or so I think. Over the last 14 months I have bought/sold 36 basses, but since mid June I've kept myself quite clean. All I need is a proper Jaydee and I will be completely GAS free. Oh well - as long as it's enjoyable why fight it, right? [/quote] We can help you ....there's a Series I with a quilted top, saturn inlays, LEDs front and side....! Resistance is futile!

[quote name='charic' post='596569' date='Sep 12 2009, 02:27 PM']Playability wise the first comparison i made was to dr of the bass, nick's vigier as it was very similar. it plays a breeze for tap, slap, pick or fingerstyle. More detail later [/quote] If that's the case I'd better order an ACG!!! Well done son! Let me know next time you are up here in the big city and you can drop it off at the studio!!!

[quote name='bobbass4k' post='596903' date='Sep 12 2009, 10:50 PM']I realise I probably should have given it another go, and not all teachers are like that, but I think self teaching is a very rewarding experience, I would hate having my playing scheduled, as it is, if I don't feel like playing for a week, I don't, If I want to play for 16 hours straight, I do. After the first year or so of playing through books etc, I mostly learned by learning/figuring out and playing songs I actually liked and wanted to play, instead of the stodgy generic instructional stuff I'd been playing from the books, and that enjoyment of actually doing it is what still keeps me playing, I know quite a few people who are actually very talented at various instruments, but gave up because they were forced to have lessons which they found boring, still, as i said, to each their own[/quote] I fully agree with what you are saying! Give me the name of the teacher and I will make him eat his shoe! hehe!

[quote name='jakesbass' post='596457' date='Sep 12 2009, 11:59 AM']Pah, you speaking from experience, all you've got is 65 basses [/quote] I know! Hehehe! Seriously, reliability and consistency are the by words for the working player. Cheaper instruments for example, may have machine heads that slip etc so buying a more expensive instrument will normally (not always!) give you better quality hardware for example, that will stand up to the rigours of the live gig/show/cabaret environs where you can't afford to have a bass fail in a very important aspect of performance. I took a Crafter Jazz into the theatre once; ok it was a rehearsal not an actual show, sounded great but it went out of tune after two pieces of music - it was like NEXT BASS please!!! You do get what you pay for of course!

[quote name='bobbass4k' post='596875' date='Sep 12 2009, 10:13 PM']To be honest I never got along with teachers, like you, I kind of hit a plateau after a couple of years, so I went to a very well regarded bass teacher, I quit after one lesson, he made me play his way, he made me wear my bass at a certain height, rest my thumb in a paticular place, attack the strings in a certain way, I may be biased, but there was nothing wrong with my technique before that, i never had any physical problems because of my technique, never couldn't play anything beacuse of my technique, but he insisted his was the only way, I quit and never looked back, to me self taught is the only way to go, but everyones different[/quote] He might have been well regarded as a teacher but to me, to insist there's only one way to play is a completely blinkered approach! What he should have asked you was `where do you want to go playing wise to leave the plateau and what needs building upon'! Its all common sense really! I've just started teaching someone who had one lesson from another `highly revered' local teacher - his approach to someone just starting out (first ever lesson!) was to tab out the blues scale!!!! Twot!

In the most simple terms (don't forget I'm from the Fens!!): 1. Get used to working out note length values using one single pitched note. Write down as many combinations of note length values as you can (in four four time!) and practice them until its second nature. Use a drum machine or loop to help you maintain time. Someone has already noted that after a period of time, you will start to `see' note length combinations as phrases and your brain won't have to read them - you will play them as second nature etc 2. Start writing out exercises that contain different note pitches (starting in the key of C Major for example; no sharps or flats) for example, A up to B, again, using various note lengths. Then, write out further exercises, going through all the pitched notes on the stave. Since you are now happy with the note value/rhythmic work, these should now become very easy to read. 3. Write out the Cycle of Fifths and start with a new set of exercises (similar to what you've already done in 2. above) with each Key in the cycle - you've already looked at C major above so start with G major which contains the F# note. You've already looked at all of the other natural notes in C major so all you need to do here is think to play each F as F# as denoted by the # symbol on the F line. Don't forget that any F you see on the stave is to be played as F # (in this particular key!). Once you've done this for each key, you should have a much better understanding of reading! Don't forget that each key has a relative Natural Minor key (e.g. C major and A minor) so when you are reading, these keys share the same set of notes/accidentals! ciao! Nick

[quote name='Muriel' post='596849' date='Sep 12 2009, 09:42 PM']I've been playing bass for a year and a half. I've self taught the basics and have worked and worked on them till my fingers bleed. I still don't think I any good but I want to progress to the next level. There are several reasons for not wanting a bass teacher, one being I don't have any spare cash for lessons and the other is I love working things out for myself and doing thing my way. But now I feel I can't progress without proper guidance. Is there any alternatives or is having a proper teacher the only way?[/quote] Being a teacher myself I would normally say yes, get a good teacher but there is of course, gratification in being a self-taught player (which is how I did it) - however, as a teenager back in the '80s, I would have progressed much further and would have spent much less time messing about working stuff out and spending way too much time wanting to be a clone of a certain Mr King if I'd had had lessons from a decent player and they would have hopefully inspired me to become a more versatile player (turned out that I was something of a bass whizkid round 'ere but when it came to reading etc, I could only follow chord charts at that age!). You are the best judge of what you need to do. A good teacher will be able to help you; not necessarily change the way you play but be able to perhaps, through experience, show you easier or more efficient ways to do things etc etc.

THERE IS NO CURE - GAS IS PERMANENT - I LOVE IT! says the man who has owned over 150 basses in 27 years! hahahaha!!! Nick (you might say I'm slightly mad!)

One of the best uses of the word `sausages' is to use it to replace the word `Subdivisions' in the Rush song of the same name i.e. `sausages - in the backs of cars' etc. Try it, you will love it! Nick

The drummer can make or break a band - I've worked with some pretty atrocious drummers over the years and some who are the exact opposite. My personal philosophy is that as a bass player, I'm really only as good as the drummer is, so when playing with a numpty drummer, my role has to change and I have to drive the music. I actually shout at them - `watch your speed' being one most often used quote and `SIMPLE!!!!!!'! It works, for a few bars!! Seriously, the use of unnecessary fills and those blummen double-bass drum pedals are my scourge. However, in the right hands such technique is great! As has already been pointed out, overplaying by any musician is not good - when I was 16 I was very much guilty of this but as I've got older, I've got so much more understanding of what I need to do as a bassist and my aim is to serve the song! If that means excessive fretmelt wazzing and quadtruplet fills using slap and pull technique then fine! Nick

Great thread! Speaking from experience, there are: 1. Crap cheap basses 2. Outstanding cheap basses 3. Crap expensive basses 4. Outstanding expensive basses If you can find a cheapo that does it for you, then great! I love brand new boutique basses and yet, my overall favourite is my Vigier which could still be classed as boutique but if most of you saw it would perhaps compare it to the Millenium Falcon - beaten up and tired looking but its still a fantastic bass and covers all the sound requirements I have as a pro bassist. Obviously, each and everyone of us has their own taste and again, if we all played the same type of bass it would be a very dull world! Nick

[quote name='Mowac' post='592177' date='Sep 7 2009, 03:50 PM']Yeah.....especially where the paint was peeling which leads me to believe that it may not be an original Jaydee paint job. I haven't seen any other Jaydees paint jobs peel like that.[/quote] I mentioned this bass to John last time I was over at the workshop and he recalls the `pearl champagne' colour so it is an original JD finish. Mark Kings pearl pink bass had a similar loss of paint round the strap button - I would assume the damage is perhaps due to negligence on part of the owner!

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='594709' date='Sep 10 2009, 01:20 PM']My recollection is Karn is completely untrained and doesn't know what he is doing, he just does it. Or was that just 'anti-establishment' posturing? Who care? He pushed the envelope and that is always a good thing. I'll read it. And he had great taste in basses [/quote] Travis Beans!!! Hehehe! Actually, Mick's main Wal bass has a unique African Tulip wood facing - its the only one in the world like it as Wal could only find one piece of said wood big enough to do one bass! He's another bass legend, `My New Career' is one of my fave basslines. Nick

This is somewhat boring but the eyes are the window to the soul! Wish I'd still got that Status...and the hair! (taken around 14 years ago)