miles'tone

Guns of Navarone - The Skatalites

After replying to the What Are You Listening To Right Now thread I thought it would be a good idea to start this one. I love the bass playing of Scott Thunes who played with Frank Zappa, always interesting with his gnarly, tight and punky P bass with a pick sound. He was the first (and maybe only) musician that Frank hired to be given "carte blanche", free reign to improvise however he felt when they played live, usually providing out of the box lines, colourfully harmonising with counterpoint melodies and instant responses to Franks improvised solos. Zappa trusted him that much. Scott, although playing hard like a punk, always cites many classical composers as his main inspirations. Add to that seeing Sting gush about Bach during the excellent and fairly recent Rick Beato interview and I just have to take a peek down the classical rabbit hole! I don't know much about this kind of music at all, other than being familiar with the names of the biggies. What pieces should a noob like me be seeking out? Initially I would like to check out some music that I could try and play along to myself while I develop my classical ears, see what I can glean from it and hopefully get my basslines sounding more harmonically interesting. I can read bass clef but not sight read in real time if that matters at all. Any pointers or suggestions will be most appreciated! Thanks gang.

Béla Bartók. I'm heavily inspired by Scott Thunes who played bass for Frank Zappa. He always gives Bartók a shout out for influencing his own playing so I'm trying to give him a whirl. I know what I like when I hear it regarding classical music but I don't know anything about in any depth. I did this with jazz about 20 years ago (still happily got one foot down that rabbit hole), so it's the classical composers turn now I can "hear" it better these days. I'm going for a walk, I may be some time...🤞

Eternal Flame - The Bangles

CHOOOON!! 👌 (as the kids say)

Even My Vest Is Against Me - Rhos

I'd be looking at installing a Dimarzio Split P pickup and a Gotoh high mass bridge if it were my bass. That would sort you out. Cheaper and easier too.

No Pu55y Blues - Grinderman

Cool! Will go for a look-see 👍

Church of the Pigeon Mind - Vulture Club

Brilliant! Is that you?

Made me think of Matt Hoffman, high above his mega ramp 😙👌

Be A Litter Picker - Mary Green and Julie Stanley

Same! ☺️

Another vote for the HB Shorty P. It's a great bass, hilarious for the price.

Fat Albert Rotunda - Headhunters Sorry, it was Herbie.

A fretted Jaco Artist. I know you fretted a fretless Jaco but Fender made a few factory fretted versions. I tried one in a shop many years ago but couldn't afford it at the time unfortunately. Otherwise, I'll have a nice 70s reissue with a fat neck please if you're buying. 😉

Congratulations mate! Looks gorgeous 😍 No the pots wouldn't bother me either. I agree with dad regarding his tyres analogy. They were replaced because they needed replacing. Now you have the bass you wanted and you know it's tip-top and can be relied upon. Winner winner...

Interesting! I've not heard of this before. Off to delve deeper...

Newport State of Mind - GLC

Praise You - Fatboy Slim

Sheila Take A Bow - Smiths

Don't forget to measure your nut height while you're at it. Too high and it will cause all sorts of fatigue when you're wanging around the beef end.

Crosstown Traffic - Jimi/Green Cross Code Man