davesturt

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1385303404' post='2286577'] Dave, I think I'm going to get a SoftStep for Christmas I'll try it with Apple Mainstage and see what I can do. Will need an expression pedal too. So any progress on your bass thoughts regarding Gong and Hillage? I and others will be fascinated to read them! [/quote] Great! The Softstep is a really useful piece of kit - and so easy transport. I used to use a Behringer 1010 which was fine but unwieldy. The Softstep is also extremely programmable - though you'll need extremely dextrous feet to take advantage of the multi function buttons! They are now distributed by MSL who also do Markbass gear - they are very supportive. As for bass thoughts from Planet Gong . . . would love to get it together - but I'm extremely busy atm with various projects (including a new Gong album) - no time for reflection! May be a project for the Christmas holidays!

I've been through that scary visit to the MRI scanner too - one of those moments where your life could change in an instant! I got the all clear too - which was such a relief that living with hearing loss and tinnitus, as I now do, was a far better option!

It does. Markbass amps are astounding - I have an 800W valve amp that weighs less than 3kg.

[quote name='philw' timestamp='1355424313' post='1898351'] Jaco, Percy Jones, John Giblin, Eberhard Weber. [/quote] These four players were absolutely the biggest influences on me - once i'd worked out what it was all about!

Wow - I'm surprised - and pleased to see Jim Lea and Rod Clements here - It's very refreshing. There are so many fabulously talented bass players that never get a mention. My first influences were Colin Hodgkinson, John Entwhistle and Stevie Wonder (Boogie on Reggae Woman)

Hi Paul (Connolly) - thanks for the comment. I once played one of the very early Delta metal fretless Vigiers - and it was terrible! They hadn't sorted the neck very well - and I'm not sure if it was carbon fibre - anyway it's definitely worth playing before parting with money. Vigier stopped production of them a couple of years ago - I can't believe it! Mine is an exceptional bass - the action, sustain, sound (in all areas) are outstanding! I really should look after it with more care - it's looking a bit battered at the moment! [quote name='bottomfeed' timestamp='1355057818' post='1893389'] ! This is a great thread..... Very surprising & informative ...That's what I like about Basschat!... Great bass sound on the Hillage vid btw!... [/quote] I wonder what's surprising?! I have been wondering for a while about passing on some 'bass themed' thoughts regarding Gong and SHB (and Bill Nelson) material but didn't know where to post where it would be appreciated - maybe this is the place! I've learned a hell of a lot since getting the Gong/SHB gig in 2009 - from learning the (surprisingly difficult) material - to learning to play the fretless with an intense and solid feel. Let me know if there's interest out there and maybe I'll start another thread.

[quote name='paul torch' timestamp='1354865099' post='1891303'] that's great. I assume you were playing with them at the Lounge on the Farm gig in Canterbury. I thought the sound was great and was so made up to finally hear all those tracks live. I'm a huge Gong fan but this was my first chance of seeing the Steve Hillage band perform (even my teenage daughter was impressed). Would be great if there was to be more gigs. [/quote] Hi Paul - yes that was my first SHB gig - nerve wracking but a real thrill! .... all I can say about more gigs is - there's talk! Silddx - yes Mike Howlett did the UK tour in 2009 - I did all of the European dates and I've done all the Gong gigs since then. Mike moved to Australia for a teaching post - he's a great player and producer - I learned a lot from listening to his playing - he's got a great take on funk - he often displaces the beat just when you're not expecting it! As for my ambient thing - it's something I've always been into - and it's surfaced on the stuff I've done with Cipher (with Theo Travis) and Jade Warrior (and Orchestra Futura with Bill Nelson - not recorded as yet) - but I feel as though I'm taking it onto another level now - I just need to find the time to finish that difficult first solo album! Oh, and, Mep - I play bass with Kangaroo Moon when they can afford to have an extra member! I usually post on Facecloth when I'm playing - I don't think I'm doing Dec 14th! I will def keep in touch with Basschat - it looks like a great resource - with lots of knowledgeable members!

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1354663423' post='1889004'] Dave, what a delight to make contact on BC. You really were very inspiring and wonderful to hear. I'm ashamed to say I'd not heard of you until I did some research after the show Thanks so much for sharing your rig! Do you use any expression pedals? I myself use a POD X3 LIVE but I'm starting to think I could use my MacBook and a Floorboard, I like the immense flexibility, even though the POD is fabulous, I'm limited to the firmware. I want to get more synth stuff going on. I also have a Focusrite Saffire. Those [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Keith McMillan Softsteps look great![/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I was at the London show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire. You all [/font][/color][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828]looked like you were having a ball I've been a huge Gong and Hillage fan since about 1980, and never had a chance to see either live until recently. The new band is fantastic![/color][/font] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Thanks again for sharing Dave![/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]----------------------------------------[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][/quote] I use a cheap Bespeco VM 13 swell pedal - it seems to work fine - and is really light (something that I find more and more appealing these days). I'm sure there are some youtube clips of the Gong tour with better audio than these - I'll have to do some browsing. We recorded many of the gigs - so, hopefully, we'll get around to releasing a live CD/DVD at some time. I played with the Steve Hillage Band around Europe (as support to Gong) a couple of years ago - I'm optimistic that there will be something happening again in the not too distant future. Here's a clip from the Zappanale festival in Germany - [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PADGJhoBwmA[/media]

Hi all - I just got a Google alert about this thread - I think I joined Basschat a few years ago but I'm afraid I haven't visited since! So - silldx - thanks very much for your comment. I've been having a fantastic time on the Gong tour - we started in France in October, went to Holland, Switzerland, the UK and finished in Japan a few days ago. (So sorry Mep - you've missed it) To clarify the equipment I'm using - your right about the Vigier fretless - though the fingerboard is actually Delta metal - it's like brass but is harder - it is an absolutely superb bass! The Markbass gear is a Little Mark Tube 800 and Two 604 cabs - although in Tokyo I used a Momark black 800 and a Standard 104HF cab. The pedal board is a Keith McMillan Softstep - a very versatile MIDI pedalboard that is also very small and light - so perfect for touring. I used a Focusrite Saffire audio interface. On the Macbook Pro I'm using Ableton Live - I have one channel as a bass effects unit - using various plug ins - and other channels of various sound samples that I've programmed to augment some of the songs and provide soundscapes. btw - which gig were you at?