Kiwi

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='328971' date='Nov 14 2008, 12:28 PM']As an engineer with some knowledge of pitch tracking, I'm disappointed to hear this. There shouldn't be any particular difficulty in tracking pitch bends even with a fretboard pickup system.[/quote] The pitch sensing is done electronically by fret position not by sensing the note. I don't think you could get the MB4 equipped systems to pitch bend any more than you could do it with a piano. If you did want to pitch bend then it might be quite simple to set up a MIDI controller to do it (like on a MIDI keyboard). I'd agree with you about the application of MIDI and stringed instruments though. I think there is still going to be a use for it regardless though.

Thats a good point and I was thinking about it yesterday myself. If I wanted to minimise the depreciation on any future automotive purchase I might make then going classic might be a good route in the future. However, not at the expense of modern comforts or reliability. Hmmmmmmm... ...a desirable marque from early 90's might be good value next time I'm looking to buy, maybe.

[quote name='escholl' post='453617' date='Apr 3 2009, 07:33 PM']Agreed. Also, a car is not, generally, a piece of art in its own right. A bass, an expensive bass, can be -- thus it's more.[/quote] You can define for yourself what constitutes art of course. But I think anyone who diamond encrusted and pickled their SX and then went on to ask for a few million quid because it was art would find themselves coming up a bit short on covering their costs of production. You can certainly turn a bass into a piece of art but so long as a bass is originally created with the primary purpose of being played then its not a piece of art, its a piece of craft. And if its created as a piece of art in the first place and as a piece of craft in the second then I'd suggest its value would be highly undermined to a bass player. Thats why I don't find the justification of high price tags on basses because they're pieces of "art" at all plausible. I think such claims by the makers are pretentious, to say the least, however we've all seen examples of accessibly priced basses whose makers have had artistic intentions and these instruments tend to blur the boundary a little more authentically (for me at least). But back on topic I think the points made about cars being plentiful and costing money to own is probably as good an explanation I can think of myself. Certainly if someone is looking to buy a used car there is a tremendous variety and range of conditions to choose from and I guess that is what drives the depreciation. And the point about the role of craftsmanship in adding value shouldn't be underestimated as well. Cars such as the one I own are very much a product of a manufacturing process rather than craftsmanship and are priced to take advantage of scales of economy and highly sophisticated, automated manufacturing process that gets cheaper to fund the more cars it produces. Having said all that, out of context, a comparison of the two still defies belief.

All donations are gratefully received! Ped and I have been considering setting up the forum so its eligible for gift aid too...but I think we'd have to register BC as a charidee.

Nice, there was a little over-singing but a lot of soul. Great how the feel was maintained all the way through the song too, despite changes in musicians.

I've just had a look at the value of my car and its about the same as the price as the Celinder Update J I sold recently (depreciation on the car of about 50% over the 3 years I've owned it). When I compare the two in terms of mechanical sophistication, technology and sheer amenity, there's no comparison. The car should be worth way more. I know its to do with market forces and all that but still nevertheless, the idea of trading my car (with its ABS, airbags, electric windows, cd player/radio, precision engineering etc.) for a couple of bits of wood bolted together with some hardware, magnets and basic wiring doesn't seem quite right. Any one else feel the same way?

[quote name='walbassist' post='451899' date='Apr 1 2009, 08:11 PM']No, as all that info was in the manual I assumed it's preloaded in the unit.[/quote] If you check the version number that comes up when you start up the unit, it might tell you for sure.

Well if its any consolation to anyone who still doesn't quite see the funny side of it, I was caught out in a major way myself this morning by a close friend. I fell for it mainly because I didn't think they knew about April Fools and served me up my worst nightmare on a plate! Just goes to show eh?

[quote name='walbassist' post='451513' date='Apr 1 2009, 02:19 PM']To answer CK's question about the tracking, some of the patches worked perfectly all the way down to open B, but others were rubbish below open A.[/quote] Did you download and install the bass compatibility update from the Roland site? [url="http://www.roland.com/products/en/_support/dld.cfm?ln=en&dsp=0&iCncd=311"]http://www.roland.com/products/en/_support...0&iCncd=311[/url]

[quote name='6stringbassist' post='451832' date='Apr 1 2009, 06:28 PM']He's from London, his dad was Polish hence the name.[/quote] Ah cheers for that. [quote name='6stringbassist' post='451832' date='Apr 1 2009, 06:28 PM']I agree with everything you say about hoping people don't spoil it for others, there are a lot of people on here, mysellf included who do want to improve as players, and having people like Janek, Steve and Jeff Berlin can only be a good thing.[/quote] I couldn't agree more myself. I think that it would be a crying shame for one or two members to spoil it for everyone else. I could approach quite a few pros myself and no doubt there are other members within Basschat who could do the same. I think its worth asking the question of whats in it for them though. Some of these Q&A sessions are like chat shows and that big name stars only come on when they've got something to push. So there's got to be a bit of too and fro here. No point in them making the time for this forum if they and their product are only going to get slagged off. BTW BBC, next time you say something tongue in cheek, might be useful to use an emoticon perhaps? It does reduce the potential for miscommunication and saves on the need for moderation too. Thanks.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='451792' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:56 PM']The trouble with these "stars" is that they're a bit highly strung.[/quote] That's a pretty sweeping statement.

[quote name='The Funk' post='451783' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:51 PM']You might not like him as a composer or even as a person but he's a good bass player and one of the few Brits making a name for himself in the jazz session scene in America.[/quote] Am I correct in believing he's polish? Anyways, insulting people spoils it for those who have a genuine and serious interest in understanding what these people have to say, regardless of whether they agree with it or not. That doesn't impose a requirement on everyone to suck up but chips-on-shoulders won't be welcome either.

Its been done in a bass too. I present the Sandberg Reggie Worthy.

[quote name='bootleg' post='451440' date='Apr 1 2009, 01:14 PM']That would be amazing. Ever had anything like that before on Basschat?[/quote] Not on Basschat as such. Hopefully it will stir up some interest though and who knows, we might be able to do it with other bass maestros as well. Whether the questions are subject to prior approval depends on whether we feel there's a risk that someone is going to be insulting to him or not.

but some of the reactions were revealing perhaps?

OK people, it's probably time to let some of you off the hook because its midday... ...Basschat is NOT for sale. It WAS an April Fools joke. Thanks to those of you who spotted it early and refrained from posting.

[quote name='Maxcat' post='451047' date='Apr 1 2009, 01:10 AM']A bit of a shock but really well deserved for the guys. I hope you made a good whack Kiwi and Ped.[/quote] No we didn't unfortunately. They offered us £1500, mainly because they said this forum has too many difficult members compared to some of the other forums out there that they had looked at. However Basschat has size in its favour, so there we go.

Ped and I have been approached by a well known bass publication and have recieved a cash offer plus a percentage on advertising in return for signing over the forum database and Basschat brand. We've thought long and hard about it and decided that with the personal attacks we've both had to put up with in the past and the limited funding we get from the site, its probably for the best. So from May 1st, Basschat will have new owners. The advertising and direct marketing will probably increase quite a bit but, simply put, the forum has to pay its way. Essentially you'll all see Basschat transformed from a voluntary effort to a grounded business. We'll be keeping the same moderating team and staying on as advisors for a few months but after that it will be up to the new owners. We'd like to thank you all for your support and contributions over the years and hope the forum continues to grow and improve.

[quote name='Ballie' post='418872' date='Feb 25 2009, 12:07 AM']At the same time, Hadrien Feraud owns a Beez Elite 5 custom built to the specs of his Burner 5 which he plays more often.[/quote] I've heard from one source that he's not that keen on his Fodera and is still shopping around.

Jeff has approached us as well through Funkle, so stay tuned while we work something out.

[quote name='steve-soar' post='449865' date='Mar 30 2009, 08:22 PM']How does one sit in a sofa? [/quote] One buys a sofa capable of being sat in.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='449846' date='Mar 30 2009, 08:06 PM']Status basses used to be fashionable? I remember a kid at my school got a Status Empathy when they came out, that must've been 1989-90-ish, and they were even naff then.[/quote] OMG, u went to a school where someone actually owned a Status bass?!!! Ewwwwwwwwww...u r so uncool.

It's all very well for highly critical readers to sit in their Habitat sofas with their plasma screen TVs and be uber critical about something they have no background knowledge on. However I understand that the mag changed ownership recently and, given the current economic situation, there's bound to be some cutbacks one way or another if they're planning to turn the business around and make some money out of it. Of course if people care more about running the mag into the ground more than having a decent bass-focussed publication, then thats up to them. FWIW, they actually some major problems in even getting companies to send them review basses. Not even the manufacturers appear to be that enthusiastic. So I'd suggest that the readership have probably got [b]an opportunity[/b] to shape the publication into something that they'd be prepared to buy every month. Alternatively, there's always basschat. Just my 2p.

SWR are the kiwi bargain tip. They've been a bit uncool since the early 90's but the cabs are damn fine (and pretty light for non neo). The amps are scoopy but thats OK with jazz basses or any basses that are a bit aggressive (eg. Modulus Quantums with EMG's).