fatboyslimfast

Hi all, I work in an office where I have a 1 hr lunch break. Normally I end up on t'interweb whilst eating me sarnies at the desk. Not a hugely productive use of my time. Not much to do outside except spend money, and in winter it's tedious. I do have a server room which has a fair bit of space in it (and is basically controlled by me). I'm thinking that maybe 1/2hr a day during lunchtimes would be a good way to get some extra scales practice in. Thing is, the office is very quiet, so using an amp is out of the question. So here's my thinking. Get hold of a 2nd P-bass as cheaply as possible (sub £50 - just something to noodle on), mod it to include a small headphone amplifier and space for a 9V battery to power it, using the volume control as a volume control for the amp. I've found a tiny little 1W amp[url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/1w-amplifier-kit-220054"] from Maplin [/url]for a fiver or so... I did consider the VoxPlug thing, but I don't want to spend another £40 on top of the bass, and the idea of buying a cheapy is so I can leave it in work without having to lug the VMJ in and out on the bike! Any thoughts?

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tURFlf_cPfE"]Give me a ride (roller coaster)[/url] - the 1st track of REO Speedwagon's Lost In A Dream album (while they still rocked and hadn't gone all slushy). Good fun track to play.

Every day, almost without fail, I've picked up some more tips on how not to be an annoying/showy bass player from this place. Now, if only I could remember them all...

Interesting Q. I'd like to have a go on a fretless to see how I got on, but don't think it would be a good idea at the mo - I'm still at the basic neckgazing stage so it might be just too much of a jump at present.

I'd say it depends on what you want to do with the setup. If it's gigging in big venues, maybe spend the cash on the amp. Perfect your Vic Wooten technique? Get the right bass. I think what I'm saying is that there isn't a one-size answer to that Q....

I picked up my near-mint Squier VM Jazz '77 (that's as in '77 style, not actually 1977) for £175. Plays lovely, feels lovely, sounds lovely. Rather like the Yamahas as well though - see if you can play both and see which "fits" better.

Great to hear - I'm a D'Addario fan, so news like this is always welcome!

Bassbanter... now there's a good alternative name for the site. Welcome along!

Hi Mewis and welcome - I'm sure a few posts here and there on the forum should set you on the right track...

Cheers!

That would be handy - if you don't mind! I tend to thumb-anchor permanently on the pickup, so maybe that's where I'm going a bit wrong...

I have been using the left hand more yes - maybe that's the issue. I'll have a play around and see if I can work out a way to mute the E - it's not so much when I'm playing an open A (as I tend to try playing A on the E string), but more when I'm playing things on either the A, D or G strings (normally the top two, as my fingers come to rest on the E when playing on the A) that the E seems to start singing along muddying everything. Should I be using the side of my hand (i.e. nearest the little finger) to do this? Whilst I can see how the hairband would work, I would prefer to sort me rather than the J if at all possible

Hi all, Please excuse the newb nature of this - just want to garner some opinions as to whether this is expected/normal. I'm finding when playing that even when trying to mute the E/A, the sound seems to sustain for a long time - sometimes 2 or three seconds after touching the unplayed strings to attempt to mute them, I can still feel the bass vibrating. Because of this I'm finding the sound a little muddy/muddled. Is this to be expected for a J-bass with flats, or is it just my muting technique which needs improving? I'm playing fingerstyle if that makes a difference. Any comments welcome...

[quote name='Rich' post='1274763' date='Jun 19 2011, 02:38 PM']You have obviously never walked down Bedminster High St on a Saturday afternoon [/quote] Well, any afternoon really. Not yet in a band, so can't comment on the water scenario, but I do suffer from "biker's bladder" - or the need to stop every services on the M-way and fumble through three layers of overclothes, leathers and thermals. Will now be keeping an eye out for stage piss if I ever get good enough for a band though. And as for sneezing going past a lorry, try doing that with a helmet and visor 1.5" from your eyes...eugh.

euuugh...pass the brain bleach.

Hello there Sir!

Hiya Sam, and welcome to Basschat!

Welcome Chrisabian, hope you hang around!

Or Clubs/Golfer, Lenses/Photographer, Motorbike/biker. Been there, done all that. Which is why (I'm hoping) that I don't seem to be getting too much of a bass GAS attack. Well...so far.

+1!

"right said tobermory"? Could be...

Just 1. But that's down to me not really knowing how to play 1 bass properly yet. Give it a few months (christmas?) and I'm sure multi-bass GAS will set in... ...if SWMBO allows, of course.

How on earth did I miss that one...

Always had a soft spot for Juliana Hatfield in her Blake Babies days... There's something about a girl and a Rick...

Best? Doubt it. Fastest? Well, he could have a claim for the highest amount of notes(?) played in a 10-second period. Impressive if only for the dexterity displayed. Not what I would call a groove though...