BassBus

It's the great slab of wood on single cuts I don't like so this variation really works for me. Lovely bass.

Maybe this should be in the double bass forum. Anyway, Thomann have one for sale. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/alfred_stingl_by_hoefner_as_060_b_1_8_double_bass.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/alfred_stingl_by_...double_bass.htm[/url]

Absolute filth! The top of that instrument needs a right good wash. Still it is very beautiful.

Todd did a great job with all the photos he took. Lovely basses. Remind me what the extra knob is for on the moowood KB.

That is just beautiful, Rich. Bet you're happy with that. Did you have it in time for the Statii meet?

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1001929' date='Oct 27 2010, 12:21 AM']A local guy I know has a Realist on one of his basses and a Full Circle on the other, both his (fully carved) basses sound lush amplified. He did say, though, that the bass I currently own has had a Realist on it in the past and it didn't work out too well, so maybe bridge wing pups are a better choice on basses like mine with laminate tops.[/quote] Pickups are a bit like strings; some suit you, some suit the bass. I have used a realist but it packed in. Tried my old Fishman BP100 on my current DB and it sounded fine. It sounded horible on my first DB. Eventually put a Shadow SH 950 on and that has been very reliable and sounds fine. I've never liked the sound of Fishman Platinum Pro EQ but I use a SansAmp BDDI to good effect.

As always two different people hear the same piece differently. The bass sounds just great to me. Lovely full, transparent sound and your playing is very good too. Keep up that quality.

That's really spooky. I was just reading the story of Mark Manley's Wall double neck at the top of the page. He talked about slapping on a fretless neck and suddenly I remembered about Wilkes basses many years ago. He put a small metal plate at the end of the fretless neck to give something of the metalic snap. Then I scroll down and here is this thread. Just a lovely looking bass you have there. Bet you enjoy playing it.

[quote name='lojo' post='987693' date='Oct 14 2010, 08:55 AM']After an assessment from jake a while back, although I cant read a note, left me with the feeling that technique wise, id not done bad as a self taught player, mainly from books (Jake correct me if I wrong ) Do I wish Id had the chance to take lessons when I was young and learn technique properly along with reading skills, yes of course, but it was not possible in my circumstance But this does not stop me and the people who dance at our gigs having fun, and thats my simple goal based on what I have to hand Same as not being perfect technique football player does not stop me, my teammates and our opponents having some fantastic days out doing that Technique is important, but I know that there are martial artists out there with great technical technique, who would come a cropper in a street fight against a strong, determined street fighting headcase I wish I had more technique in many things, but if I wait for it, i will miss out in life big time[/quote] I think this sums up my feelings. It's all down to the individual to relate to the people he/she plays with and for so that we can achieve a level of satisfaction we are happy with. There are no shoulds or shouldn'ts in life. In some individuals searching for what might be regarded, by some, as perfect technique can shut the fun out of what you do.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='986728' date='Oct 13 2010, 11:00 AM']My feeling is, why wouldn't you want to do something as well as you are able?[/quote] I might be splitting hairs here but "...as well as you are able" or 'as well as you want to' [quote name='greyparrot' post='986730' date='Oct 13 2010, 11:01 AM'][size=4][color="#FF0000"]yes[/color][/size] end of. You use bad tech, it will sound loose, and worse still you will or can end up with damage to your wrists hands back you name it it can happen.[/quote] There seems to be two distinct types of technique being talked about now. Having suffered muscular problems in my back I would agree that paying attention to posture and hand/wrist action is esential. However, the technique I originally intended this thread to be about is that of the amount of ability one has at playing the instrument. A number of examples of those without great flourish to their playing have been given. These players do fit so well with the music they play in though.

[quote name='risingson' post='984934' date='Oct 11 2010, 09:39 PM']Technique is a nice thing, the problem comes when technique compromises your musicality, I see it all the time when I go to gigs and see people compensating for a lack of musicality with a flurry of slapping and tapping, executed with little to no discretion. IMO there are too many bass players that suffer from the idea that without mind-bending technique, their position as a bass player is going to be viewed as a simple/easy post that anyone with basic knowledge of music could fill. Wrong... bass is all about feel and timing. It takes years of practice to get it right.[/quote] Perhaps this makes your point. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLwLPseckQ4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLwLPseckQ4[/url] Very competent playing but for me it doesn't really fit in with the latic rhythm behind it. [quote name='chris_b' post='985095' date='Oct 12 2010, 12:37 AM']I don't know of any great bass players who have no or poor technique. Can anyone name one? ps, James Jamerson had a lot of musical training, on the double bass. He could fluently read music and while his electric bass playing looked awkward he had a mountain of technique and musical knowledge.[/quote] I could have phrased that better. Players like Geddy Lee and Phil Lynot have not, to my knowledge, had any degree of training. They have developed their own technique which has worked very well with the music they have played in.

[quote name='risingson' post='984630' date='Oct 11 2010, 05:25 PM']No way, Jamerson didn't have appalling technique! He had unconventional technique, but in no way was it appalling. There is no right or wrong way to do anything in the realms of popular music. Your technique isn't up for severe scrutiny unless it is unnecessarily impeding the song you're playing, that's the only time technique becomes an issue. It's preferable to have good technique of course because otherwise it proves difficult to play what you can hear in your head. But ultimately surely technique is the thing that should compliment your musicality and not the other way round, that's when you develop the bedroom players on Youtube that can fretw*nk till their hands fall off but give them a I IV V and they go to sh*t.[/quote] Now this is the point I was trying to put across. There are great players out there without any training and technique to their playing that is not accepted as the norm. Perhaps it's those players who move ability forward taking it to new areas which the rest of us follow.

It seems to me that most are saying the same thing in their own way. You develop a level of technique that you are happy with. Some spend a lot of time developing a higher level others just play in a way you want to.

As the title suggests. I appreciate that there are certain areas of playing where a good technique will be required such as orchestral playing and probably general session work. However, I find I have no shortage of people who enjoy having me play with their bands. Even recently, after a two year layoff from regular playing due to academic commitments, I was asked to play by a guy who is a professional player. That was after a depping gig in which I made loads of mistakes. Now, I’m the first to admit I do not have a high degree of technique on either electric or double bass. I am also only an amateur and don’t intend to be anything else as that gives the fun I want in music. There must be something else that attracts people to my playing. I also work as a counsellor and it is widely regarded in that profession that the relationship is the most important requirement for success with a client. Counsellors who have a high degree of knowledge and technique, but no ability at building the relationship, are far less likely to be useful to the client than those who have a lower level of knowledge and technique but a great ability at building the relationship. Therefore, does the same not work in music if we just wish to remain as amateurs? We are building relationships not just with the band in which we play but also the audiences we play to. Is it not more important to "play for the music"”(groan, cliché) than to have all the technique under the sun. Discuss.

Thanks for the review, Chris. Very in depth. I think if you had time to play around with the sounds a bit more and use it in a band setting you might find even more that suited your taste. I dearly love my S2000 and it's my first call fretted bass. Rob has refined the design of the SII/S2 bass over the years and having a fretless S2 I can hear what you mean about the sound. I've never tried a Kubiki so I can't compare but my Status basses give me everything I need in a bass, looks, feel and sound. Oh yes, and I'm just back from seeing Mr. King and the boys at Gateshead. All on top form as ever. The lights on his new basses are amazing.

I've used Todd Phillips' DVDs [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Todd-Phillips-Essential-Techniques-Acoustic/dp/B00024OR4Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1285510048&sr=1-2"]here[/url] On Jenefer's reference to side on plucking, definitely. I find it gives a much richer tone to the sound. It occured to me that the position of your plucking fingers will also depend on the height you have your bass on the end pin and the length of your arms... So many things to consider.

I think it all comes down to your own personal taste. I'd agree with everything thisnameistaken has said but if you experiment plucking at different points on the string you'll find the point that produces a sound you are happy with. Watch orchestral players play pizzicato and they pluck the string quite high up the neck. To hell with what anyone else says, it's what pleases your ear that's right for you. Most of all experiment.

[quote name='Prime_BASS' post='951364' date='Sep 10 2010, 12:53 AM']What makes them cost so much.?[/quote] The people who buy them.