Bilbo

The $64,000 question is 'what does the bass actually sound like'? All the mics, pick ups and pre amps in the world won't polish a turd. For me, it is all about mic placement. And good leads

Guitar and soprano sax bought through them without problem. Packing is second to none.

Anytime

That Roth bass is crap.

I think the transcribing thing is about absorbing the syntax of the language of Jazz. The characteristics of Jazz bass playing are easy enough to explain but, in practice, difficult to understand, Walking basslines are a simple example; follow the chords and play 4 notes to the bar. But that is a lifetime's work. Author Stephen King writes for 4 hours a day. He also READS for 4 hours a day. Listen to the greats, transcribe them and PLAY them (studying them is all well and good but hearing yourself playing the notes, the phrasing, the time feel etc is crucial to the absorbing of the concepts). As Dad says, don't just learn bass parts, learn melodies and solos from other instruments to take you out of the bass comfort zones. The problem you have is that the learning is incremental. You don't 'learn' stuff today and incorprate it into your playing tomorrow. It takes months, if not years. There is also a lot about playing Jazz that you can't pick up anywhere but on the bandstand and in the rehearsal room i.e. its not all learned in your bedroom. It is impoirtant to talk to and listen to other instrumentalists (my two greatest epiphanies as a bass player came about from conversations with a drummer and trumpet player respectively). I have been playing Jazz for 25 years and, yes, I am still learning big time. Playing your own lines is not something to get hung up about. You actually can't help but do it

I use this http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1366-SUPER_ENDPIN_BALL_ATTACHMENT_FOR_UPRIGHT_BASS_TIP_COVER.html

[quote name='Phil Adams' timestamp='1379081427' post='2208486'] Practice [/quote] Bloody good idea, old sport.

Whilst I try as hard as time allows to be the most rounded musician I can be, there are areas of my playing that are pretty much nailed but, equally, there are areas where I have to acknowledge shortcomings. My time is pretty good, I can find my way around most chord charts, my reading is ok, my Latin bass playing is quite sophisticated, my walking lines can be quite creative on a good day, I can improvise reasonably convincingly over most Jazz standards etc. On the other hand, I have no more than a rudimentary slap technique, my two-handed tapping is negligible, my knowledge of harmony is more limited than I would like it to be, my intonation on double bass is shaky and my thumb position playing is grim. Walking through town this lunchtime, getting some air, I was thinking about a gig I recently did with guitarist Nigel Price (who I have know for about 15 years). When I first gigged with Nigel, he was great but in the intervening years he has progressed at an astonishing rate and is now absolutely world class. Nigel still practices 4 hours a day. Running this over in my mind, I had a revelation..... [b]Things I have practiced diligently in the past[/b] Time Finding my way around chord charts Reading Latin bass Walking lines Improvisation [b]Things I have hardly ever or never practiced but just ‘picked up as I went along’[/b] Slap technique Two-handed tapping Intonation on double bass Thumb position playing I see a pattern developing.....

The interest shown has wavered so, if anyone wants it, let me know. Will give it a few days then offload to Oxfam.

I have an expression of interest so bear with, bear with!!

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1378907403' post='2206328'] Would love to see a list and maybe take some off your hands, but suspect you're after a quick and easy all-or-nothing job? [/quote] Absolutely - even doing a list fills me with dread! There is Marsalis, Mahavishnu, Mingus, Ellington, Scofield, Corea, Wheeler - the list is chock full of monster goodies but I can't afford the time to prepare a comprehensive list.

Thanks, CT. I love the idea that folk are listening to my stuff all over. It's cool.

Anyone want a couple of hundred vinyl lps? . Mostly Jazz, Fusion or variants thereof? Free to a good home.

Ps I played an lp on my deck last night and it had seized up though non-use. I guess it is telling me something!

I recently went Pro on Soundcloud as I kept having to delete stuff every time I posted something new. I just looked at my stats and have had well over 7,000 views to date. It would take me years to play before that many people in real life!! As, increasingly, a lot of the material on there is my own stuff, I reckon that's bloody marvellous!!

I am watching the youtube video of a live performance of Anna Maria Jopek with Pat Metheny. If you know Metheny's stuff, you gotta watch this. It is a wonderful reframing of Metheny's stuff. (Can't post a link in work so if someone else can do it....). Great band and I particularly the vocals/backing vocals thing - sublime.

The argument over fact vs opinion is an interesting one and it is surprisingly hard to find fact when discussing music, basses, amps etc. Kind of Blue was recorded in 1959 - fact. Kind of Blue is the biggest selling Jazz lp of all time (dubious fact - define Jazz). Kind of Blue is the greatest LP of all time - opinion.

I got rid of the first 100 or so last night (to a vinyl loving friend). Interestingly, I noticed several LPs as we were searching throught them that made me think 'I love that' so, this morning, I am sitting in work with Spotify playing some of these 'greats'. Only they aren't as 'indispensible' as I thought. There is nostalgia value, absolutely, but I am not really one for looking back so feel surprisingly ok about letting them go.

Your options are almost infinite but the suggestions above are all perfectly credible. Personally, if you are struggling with the massive range of options, I would recommend you find something you know already (as in 'can whistle', not that you know the chords etc). This will make it easier for you to process and improvise.

Yes, I heard. But the space is needed and I can't remember the last time I played a record. At least a year ago. Spotify covers a lot of it so it needs to go.

400+ lps left ( had a purge a few years ago). A vinyl loving friend is coming around on Tuesday to have his wicked way with my collection and then the rest will find its way to Oxfam. I may keep a couple of dozen for old times sake (my own stuff, for instance) but, otherwise, the dust collecting has to stop. End of an era.

That was where they started to lose me. Move from progness to song orientation. Like Genesis and Yes around this time, ended up a little less exciting for me.

Yes.

Jethro Tull Broadsword and The Beast

Enjoy themselves?! Outrageous!!!