miles'tone

Cor that is a well sexy finish!

[quote name='Hector' timestamp='1418383694' post='2629715'] Welcome to Jazz! Feel free to PM me if you ever have questions. Wondering what you mean by this:[i] "[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] to jumping straight to songs made up of the choruses where the chords change every single time![/font][/color]" [/i]? I would recommend getting the absolute best teacher money can buy (even if you have to travel a bit), and listening to a lot of records. Start working on your ear straight away too - try to play along with records, and pick out chord progressions. Learn your intervals by ear, and practise playing melodies by ear. You'll need a book on walking bass for starters. That's the most important part of your role as a bass player in a jazz setting. I learnt with this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Building-Walking-Bass-Lines-Builders/dp/0793542049 There are a few other books out there on walking bass that people recommend, but I can't personally vouch for them. I would focus principally on working through this book, as the techniques used in it are invaluable, and the chord progressions are of the sort that come up all the time and should be memorised (Blues, Rhythm Changes). Take it slow and really master each bit before you move onwards in the book, it's tempting to move onwards but you've got to internalise it all. If you can only get one book, the walking bass stuff is most essential. Start just with that and practise some walking over standard chord progressions (there are play alongs on youtube). You'll also need a decent book on theory, and this is basically the standard reference text, and is well worth getting (I'm always digging up new stuff in here): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jazz-Theory-Book-Mark-Levine/dp/1883217040 Other books that really will help are: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Putter-Smith-Improvisation-Muscians-Institute/dp/1423477715 (How to structure your practising, and how to get sounds a particular chord-scale relationships in your head) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Serious-Electric-Bass-Complete-Contemporary/dp/1576238830 (Will give you lots of ideas about shapes of various scales and arpeggios on the fingerboard) http://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Goldsby-Technique-Tradition-Musicians/dp/0879307161 (First half is biographies of great players, gives you an idea who to listen to - which is the most important bit of developing as a jazz player - and the second half is instructional. A "nice" book with a deceptively large amount of information) If you're wanting to start soloing, David Baker's books on Bebop are excellent as a starter to that particular style too. [/quote] The John Goldsby book is excellent! The history of the development of jazz bass playing is fascinating and the lessons are well thought out. Helped me out no end and by delving deeper into the players covered really made me fall in love with jazz in a big way.

[quote name='badboy1984' timestamp='1418371803' post='2629567'] I think I kinda sorted for now. A friend of my got a Westone unline fretless bass lying in his house for over 5 years and he will borrow the bass to me for long term or give it to me if I like the bass. I guess is a good way to try fretless without buying one to see if i like it or not. [/quote] Result! Nice one, and have fun

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1418343048' post='2629470'] You may have to file the nut if you're going for the fretless. The one I bought needed it (but it was good otherwise, apart from the tacky controls). [/quote] Yes, for that price I would expect to do some finishing tweaking, which I don't mind doing myself. But in what way do you find the controls tacky? To look at, or in operation?

I'm going for one of these Harley Bentons in the New Year, since the general consensus on Basschat seems to be that with HB you get a lot (relatively) for little outlay: http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_b_550fl_bk_progressive_series.htm

Battery.

[quote name='philw' timestamp='1417770331' post='2623799'] the fretless neck I'm after would end up attached to the body of a Squire Jaguar HB so something with serious vintage credentials would be a waste. Police Squad and Pfretrock's suggestions are more in the right ball-park but side dots between frets on a fretless are a pet hate (along with being one of the stupidest things know to man) The hunt continues. Phil [/quote] Why not just go for one like Police squad's and pick/drill out the side dots you don't like, little wipe of light wood filler (couple of quid from b&q for a small tube) and just sharpie pen some dots where you do want them? Easy, and keeps your project cheap and fun.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1417943751' post='2625224'] High F on the E string? Try starting from E on the A string, it allows easier playing for the rest of the song. I was like Neepheid, band's basslines. I did chuck in The Waking (kurt elling) and some of bach's cello suite no.1, but in D major. [/quote] Well, yes you're right and I do (but I start on the F on the A string ), that's how JPJ plays it. We're talking about what we play when testing basses out and I play it up there when I do.

I usually play Ramble On by Led Zep starting on the high F on the E string. If I can play that whole opening sequence up there without any fret buzz then the bass is usually a winner (as long as it doesn't get away with it simply by having a stupidly high action). Other than that, it's usually lines from my band so I can get a feel for the differences from what I'm used to.

Here you go: http://www.wdmusic.com/tele_knob_aluminum_chrome_plate_1_4_hole_set_2.html I bought some myself from here as I've also gone all-out lightening up my VM Precision V (9.8lbs down to 8.6lbs) by way of aluminium knobs, Hipshot aluminium A style bridge, Lic by Hipshot Ultralite tuners and finally routing out most of the wood under the pickguard. Balances perfectly and sounds better now actually, alot more resonant. You have my deepest sympathies regarding your back mate and I know it's no joke as I have a big prolapsed disc and two desicated discs at the base of my spine. I just can't bear any weight anymore but now I can play my bass again standing up for a short set. I hope you getting some decent physio/rehab treatment as strengthening my core has improved my condition a bit. All the best and good luck with the knobs!

Another positive experience for balance: When I was shopping for a Squier VM P5 this summer, I rang around all the usual big online stores to see if anyone would weigh one of their stock items (I have a really screwed back so getting as light a bass as possible is the main deal for me). Anderton's were the only shop who could be arsed to send someone over to the warehouse to weigh a couple for me. They did indeed find me one of the lighter ones and I bought it very gratefully. All the other stores would do is send me a bass and I could return it, at my expense, if it was too heavy.

Good luck indeed! I moved over to a 5 string earlier this year myself and I'm loving it. I just wish I'd got one about 3 bands ago! Enjoy, and happy NBD!

[quote name='streather' timestamp='1417566014' post='2621928'] [size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font][/size] [size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]It was the B-550FL progressive, not sure if it's the older or newer model though, I bought it in september if that's much help. I'd have bought the fretted version but I absolutely hated the way the fret markers looked in the photos, and i figured I can scratch the 5 string and the fretless itches in one go[/font][/size] [/quote] You've got the new one, they're not long out actually. I know this because I've been up half the night gassing over them after discovering them yesterday! I have to get one - not only is the price so right but I think they look really cool, a lovely shaped bass. Always wanted an all black, unlined 5er fretless. What's the weight like? I know the american ash HB basses are a bit weighty but these are alder so I'm hoping they might not be too heavy. Congrats on your nice score Mate!

[quote name='Badass' timestamp='1417519266' post='2621183'] Guys what album do you recommend to a newcomer to Ozric Tenticles? [/quote] Live Underslunky was my first Ozrics album and still my fave. My fave live album by any artist actually. Strangitude, Erpland and Pungent Effulgent are the high watermarks to check out first otherwise. I've been really digging their latest, Paper Monkeys this year too (came out 2011). A stripped down band now with Ed Wynne's wife Brandi Wynne on bass and his son on keys + an awesome drummer. Not the album to start with as an introduction to the band but I think it's still quality. Nice that Brandi is using a 5 string on it which suits the bands vibe well I reckon.

[quote name='Drax' timestamp='1417522601' post='2621247'] Will have a look as well. I saw him play many times, but never really appreciated him properly live - at that time Ozric gigs were more about trying to see straight. Also their gigs never achieved the clarity they manage on record. If you're interested in Roly, you might already be aware of the great facebook tribute site, 'boy on a dolphin' - partly curated by his sister (the current Ozrics bassist), and input from his daughter. Lots of personal pics and stories on there, it's a great site. (I recently left FB so can't send the exact link, but this should get you there >> [url="https://www.facebook.com/damidge/posts/545892315495067?stream_ref=5"]https://www.facebook...67?stream_ref=5[/url] ) [/quote] Hey thanks for that, I've just sent a request to join the group. Nice one!

I never got to see Roly Wynne play live as he had stopped gigging by the time I got into them, so I've been going through loads of YouTube vids of the band to check out his playing style but drawn a blank. Has anyone here got a link to a decent vid where you can see him playing? Not really sure even of what he looked like other than his eleven year old image that is immortalised on his father's famous "boy riding dolphin" sculpture by Chelsea bridge (which I have driven past many times without realising it was him until yesterday!) Roly has been a big influence on many great bassists, not least Stuart Zender for one. Anyone?

Short answer: Yes, it would.

Spending time soaking up some Willie Dixon will do you good. Great blues bassist who wrote many many of the blues classics that we know and love.

[quote name='Drax' timestamp='1417384067' post='2619918'] Means only the most organised people end up going. Who wants to go to a party full of really organised people? [/quote] This actually made me "LOL" as the kids might say

[quote name='Romeo2' timestamp='1417377257' post='2619766'] miles'tone - thank you [/quote] You're welcome.

[quote name='Romeo2' timestamp='1417365733' post='2619592'] Hello BCers, I'd like to put Hipshot's Ultralites in my Sq VM PJ, simply because the body is light and it does not balance that great. Which ones will fit- HB6 1/2" or 3/8"? Also, you mentioned that buying form US ebay seems to work. No duty tax etc.? Can you recommend a seller on ebay? Thanks! [/quote] Yep, ordered mine direct from these guys as they're not on eBay anymore. I got a 5 string set posted to my door for £60 all in. No customs etc but maybe I got lucky. It is the 1/2" tuners you need by the way: http://www.sporthitech.com/hipshot-ultralite-lic-hb6c-1-2-bass-tuners-4-string-4-inline-2x2-etc-satin-chrome/

I love the Ozrics! I pretty much learnt to play bass from jamming along to Live Underslunky I saw them live many times with Zia on bass (the player on this track) and he always had a pair of Precisions at gigs. His fave seemed to be a white one, white pickguard and loaded with an EMG active pickup I believe. The other P was a passive. I'd love to know for sure myself but that's what I gathered from my own snooping at gigs!

The Doors - Gloria (live version): http://youtu.be/zPv12pjykVk I've always much preferred this version to the Van Morrison/Them original.

Another option is to contact Andy Baxter www.andybaxterbass.com and ask him to find you an original 70's example. He's super-hooked up with guitar traders globally and he could probably find what you're after (year, finish, condition, etc..) I think you might be surprised how much less this option will cost compared to a special order Custom shop build. Better investment longterm too I imagine. Edit: I have no affiliation with him at all. I just drool at his website every once in a while! I personally would love a Y.O.B. '72 fretless P myself.

Will do..