miles'tone

I had to buy online for my main squeeze. I really wanted a first run Fender Japan Jazz Bass Special (which is actually a PJ). I got Danny the bass hunter at Bass Japan Direct on the case and he found me one over there within a couple of weeks. Bit of a gamble but it paid off. It's incredible.

I have an Epiphone El Capitan. Played with gusto it is loud enough to play with an acoustic guitar. The pre has nice features which help eliminate feedback when plugged in.

Doubt it. They've always been a pair of misery derrières who don't mind showing it. 😆

I'm surprised really. They were getting on perfectly well when Dave performed on top of Rog's wall at the O2 a few years back. Nick Mason in attendance too.. Apologies if this has already been talked about...

I like it. Good size. I can actually read that without gurning. 🤓

Wildcard: Harley Benton B-550. I have a fretless and it's so easy to play. The neck is super comfy, sounds great, weighs 8lbs dead on and well balanced. Won't hurt your wallet.

Part of my 'kitchen music' collection, affectionately named "that clangy sh!t" by my other half.

That was brilliant thanks! What a lesson on just how to be. Cool guy. So revealing to watch his left hand technique, quite unorthodox but he definitely found a way to play that suited his body and used great economy of effort. I need to watch it again to take more in! That jam he had with Keith Jarret was a treat too. Wonderful. Thanks Clarky. 👍

The Sterling Stingray is also great (obviously - Julia kills on one). I used to play a Stingray years ago which was fab but I ended up selling it to get a Jazz as I missed the sound of the Fender middle pickup tone (P or J) that I love on my favourite records. So if it's just about having one good bass then for me it's either a Precision or a Jazz. Lucky enough to have a second good bass? Definitely a Stingray. Hope that makes sense!

Hello and welcome! Ahh, juliaplaysgroove... When my friend sent me a vid of her playing Aeroplane by the Chili Peppers I couldn't believe it. I told that I want to play like her when I grow up (I'm only 48 so there's still time! 😄). Regarding your bass question - I did indeed play the new Classic Vibe 70s Jazz and found it to be amazing, and not just for the money. It did play and sound as good as it looked. The neck felt lovely and easy to play. Sounded so funky! One of those would be a great companion to have in any musical situation. Personally I would go for a black one, the sunburst was only let down visually by the miss matched grains of the wood showing through the burst. The black looked cooler to me anyways.. I can't comment on the contemporary Jazz sorry. One thing is certain though, a cool assed funky 70s Jazz will NEVER go out of fashion! Have fun on your musical journey, good luck!

Sorry to hear that you're isolated away from your family mate, that's a toughie. Have you tried working them out by ear at all? I don't know your level of ability but it will help no end to pick things out by ear. A lot of Northern Soul records were US imports from Tamla Motown (the label name we got on these shores) and the bass was mixed well and pumping! Should be easy to pick out. Great idea for isolating /lock down by the way. If we can't go out, stay in and dance! Uplifting vibes needed now more than ever! Dancehall Ska would be a another positive style to get bopping to. Good luck friend.

Interesting concept, keeping my mind open about these, although fwiw Piano bass strings do 'lump' up but stay that way along the whole length of the string, instead of 'lumping' down again like this idea though. Different instruments though of course. Whilst discovering how piano bass strings are constructed (hey I'm self isolating/educating!) I had a thought - If piano bass strings are bronze wound (on round cores too if they're good ones) and Acoustic bass guitar strings are mostly bronze wound, then why are metal double bass strings not bronze wound? Why? It would make sense, no? Anyone know? I have a double bass and more than enough things to be worrying about as it is! 🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️😷⏳👩‍👦‍👦

I recently put a set of the new GHS Bronze Pressure wound strings on my acoustic and I'm VERY impressed! Perfection actually. No horrible scrapy finger noises either!

Hold tight @AndyTravis. It's been a crap winter, pissing it down pretty much since October and I reckon we're all at the end of our tethers. Not long now til we start getting some sun on our backs and a spring in our steps again. I'm sure it will make all the difference to our outlooks on most things.

Yes Yes Yes Very important, but mainly due to the moisture content. A well dried body wood makes for a pleasingly resonant bass IMHO. Wood type is secondary to me. Simple aesthetics every time.

I really wanted a double bass. REALLY wanted one. I got an extra evening bar job and stopped smoking to fund it. 2 years later I got that double bass. Go fund yourself, it's perfectly doable.

Thanks man. My son is also autistic which is how I ended up taking this path. I found myself needing a career change (self employed plumber, long hours, weekends..) as I hated my job and wanted to be more present at home. Now I actually feel useful and fulfilled at work, finish at 3.30pm and get the school holidays off with my family. Although I will never have that retirement nest egg to look forward to, it's worth it.

I'm a teaching assistant at an autism resource base within a mainstream primary school. The money is crap but I do actually enjoy going to work in the morning. It's the first job I've ever had where I don't have to pretend to be a something or other, I just show up as me and it's valid.

These days 9lbs and over is much too heavy. 8lbs is perfect for me if it balances nicely.

I saw the band James a few times years ago and their bass player played a Sterling. Simple basslines but you could actually hear every note as well as feel it.

Oh I could live with that 😍

Two tone but with cream bits instead of white. If you can't find cream the white still looks more interesting then the usual!

I just try and see the positive and embrace the times we live in. True we didn't have youtube when we were learning in '89 but we do now, great! I'm learning a lot from watching ' 'juliaplaysgroove' on yt and I'm probably nearly old enough to be her grandfather. I'm digging her energy and brilliance playing ace covers and it's inspiring me to practice more and more. On the other hand I pity the youth of today in that they will never know life without the Internet or smart phones, when human interaction was more social, natural and done in real time. Video added for extra grump factor..

I use 'Amazing Slow Downer' app on my phone. You can add a song and, as it says on the tin, slow it down while keeping it in the original key. You can then loop different parts of the song if you wish until you get it down. There is also an inbuilt graphic equaliser to fiddle with to get the bassline to pop out even more. Also you can whack the whole track up an octave which really makes the bassline jump out on hard to hear parts if you can stand the Alvin and the chipmunks effect! Really useful little app. https://www.ronimusic.com/asd_android.htm