BassTractor

Hi Greg,


Welcome to BC!


best,
bert

GAS is curable, and I'm pretty sure of this, but all the funds these days are going to what is considered more important medical research. So I think we must rather live _with_ it than against it.

That aside, for me GAS is about curiosity, and a feeling of needing to know how different pups, necks, strings, pup placements, etc.etc. are.
I feel I have to have experienced, thoroughly, some different necks dimensions, string spacings, materials used, etc. before settling for a tiny collection of gear I love more than the rest.
I think the core of my GAS is a lack of knowledge.

Also, for 300 quid, I can hang a print of an unknown artist on the wall, or a quite nice bass. A no-brainer.


best,
bert

No good advice from me, but just a big hug and wishes for a good outcome.

I may have missed some of the English in your OP, but have you pondered the question whether you want out of it at any rate, or would consider continuing if Dik says he wants to continue?
That situation could easily come up, and I'd guess it would be something one had to have thought about beforehand, and not be taken aback by, as an emotional response easily could clutter everything up.

Best of luck!
bert

Hi Rich,

Welcome to BC. I hope you'll have agood time here. Friendly community.

best,
bert

[quote name='FLoydElgar' timestamp='1337589854' post='1662242']
Why, Warwick basses are dope - Kenny higgins on bass, what a brother!! filthy groove... check it out
[/quote]



This is one of those optical things, yes? If you stare long enough at the vid, you might discover a bass in the background?

best,
bert

Hey Gavgee,

Welcome to BC. Enjoy the ride!

best,
bert

Sigh! Here goes then.
My ugly mug, pic taken at home / my shop:

[attachment=108390:Bert 560.jpg]

[b]Oh YES![/b]
Most probably my next buy. Looks and feels great. Sounds more than adequate. I am sooo not buying the expensive Fender, and feel really lucky that the shop I normally use, just 10 miles away, stocks both the VM's, Warwicks and EBMM Bongos.


[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1337408699' post='1659396']
stacked V/V/T/T control set.
[/quote]

Does this mean a Tone for each pup, or what does it mean? Anyone care to explain please?


best,
bert

Noobly and FWIW, the painted neck of the Bongo to me feels like the most balanced between "slide" and "hold" of any bass or guitar I've ever tried. To my hands, it feels so natural and secure - and it often reminds me of the reversed keyboards I used to love, with "white" keys in black wood. Always secure even with sweaty hands.
I love all three of my basses, but feeling the Bongo is like coming home.

As I said: noobly.


best,
bert

Hehehe. Tx fr da larf!

Dalbello: Black on Black

[media]http://youtu.be/TAsUct9xWuE[/media]

YMMV of course, but in my experience, many US sellers are in fact willing to send abroad when asked in a PM. Unless there's an explicit text in the ad stating they won't, many seemingly use the "send to USA" as it is simpler to publish the ad that way. Worth a try, I'd say.

Congrats!

bert

+1 on the MIDI keyboard, but if you want another synth, then the Alesis Micron / Akai Miniak is a _beast_ of a synth, both if you just wanna use the 1,000 or so pre-programmed sounds and if you wanna program new sounds.
It's like a travel through the history of synthesis, meaning it will do synth bass à la 60s just as convincingly as a synth bass à la 90s. Like the Microkorg, it's a virtual analogue synth.

If you have the money, then the Miniak version is the best bet. It addresses some technical issues the Micron had, and also has an updated, better sound set than the Micron. Opinions on the keyboard vary, but I like the Miniak's slightly better than the Micron's. Three octaves keyboard if memory serves.

Mind ya, programming new sounds should be done through a computer, as the tiny display is a huge drawback.



If you have more money, I'd go for the 4 octave Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard. A lot easier to program without computer software, with a delightful display and more knobs than the Miniak. Virtual analogue as well, but has so much its own character that some tweaking is needed if you want a historic approach. Will do everything though, and sounds more like the fantastic but very expensive Waldorf Q than even the Waldorf Micro-Q does.


Just let me know if you want to know more.

best,
bert

Hi, Ameliaoliver,

Welcome to BC. Hope you find a great community here.


[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1337458213' post='1660501']
Are you looking for a small practice amp? Have a look at the Roland cube 30 watt combo.
[/quote]

This may be great advice. However, personally and as a noob, I chose a Beta Aivin 35W over the Roland Cube. Though the Beta Aivin lacks the effects the Roland has, I think it sounds better and more present. Just my halfpence.
BTW, it was also cheaper.


Enjoy the site!

bert

That was a great read. Thanks.
I share your enthusiasm, btw.

best,
bert

Only relating to the title question (not the beginners' bit)


Yes - "Roundabout", as mentioned several times before.
It had a major impact on me. Finally something with interesting bass lines (that I knew of - I wasn't well versed in rock at the time).


Later, this next song REALLY had an impact: "Total Mass Retain" (starts at 5:47, but the rest is quite fun too) from "Close to the Edge" by Yes, here in a bass cover version:

[media]http://youtu.be/Ami8TQr6sq8[/media]


bert

Hi Bassick Man,

Welcome to BC. Apparently you already added yourself, so now just enjoy the ride.

best,
bert

Hi William,

Welcome to BC from one of the Dutch boys here!

best,
bert

[quote name='Warwick_Official' timestamp='1337339720' post='1658387']
Hello Bert,

Whether you believe it or not, my post was meant to inform...and I completely see your point of view. While trying to provide a bit of historical reference and pointing out the relationship between Warwick & Framus...as well as what makes Framus different today than what it was historically...I suppose I overstepped. I did not mean any abuse, or blatant adspeak. For this, I apologize. I'm very enthusiastic in my position, and will proceed with a greater awareness of what you're saying. I hope we can move forward. I would like to be a part of the gang, to be present, join in on some great chat, and have a nice time. I'm certain you will come to see this...so thanks for giving me the opportunity. And truly, all comments and feedback - positive or negative, are welcome.
[/quote]

Wow, Garey! I think that that was very classy. Thank you!
I'm very confident that we'll go along just fine, and in fact have felt confident from the beginning that we would get to this positive outcome, or else I wouldn't have bothered.
Now shut up so I can use my time on saving money for my new Thumb NT!

best,
bert

As said before, I'm no bass player yet, but I am a musician. My take, and one I can't stress enough:

[b]Do not train for speed. Train for quality. Speed is the bonus result.[/b]

Speed is the result of playing a lot and playing at the highest level of quality that you can. This means you play the stuff in the same way next time you play it (same fingers on same strings and positions, using the same technique for damping, etc.), and that you play at your top level as to musicality. The core is that you do this at slow, comfortable speed for a rather long time, and augment speed (carefully) only when the stuff sits perfectly.
This way the muscles are trained, yes, but way more importantly, the brain area for playing is augmented considerably. The more brains cells are freed up for it, the more you'll be able to do exactly what you want.


Good luck with your hand!
bert

Hi Debs,


Welcome to BC!
I'm sure you'll like this friendly site.

Can't really help you with recommendations on online courses, as I'm a total noob myself (one without any substantial guitar experience at that), but I just went the cheap way, and bought some books off Amazon that came highly recommended in the Amazon reviews. Satisfied with that. YMMV and all that, of course.


Enjoy!
bert

[quote name='walplayer' timestamp='1337253426' post='1657826']
What's wrong with a company wanting to establish or improve customer relations ?[/quote]

Nothing. I welcome it.


[quote name='walplayer' timestamp='1337253426' post='1657826']
Would you rather the opposite or a J.Hall Rickenbacker approach?[/quote]

No, I wouldn't like "the opposite", whatever that might be.
No, I wouldn't like a J.Hall Rickenbacker approach. Not that I know what that is, but I understand from this forum that J. Hall is an a**hole.

So, did I answer your questions?
I think so.
Did you really relate to what I'd really written?
I think not.
Rather, you set up straw men. I fail to see why I should be the target of your straw men, seeing as I first welcomed Garey, and only reacted negatively after his over the top adspeak. Up to this point, Garey has warmly thanked for any support, but has failed to adequately respond to the core of the criticism: that he abused the forum with adspeak when he could just have relaxed and be one in the gang, and a highly appreciated one at that.


[quote name='Warwick_Official' timestamp='1337255041' post='1657872']
Thanks Walplayer. Our goal is that, exactly. We are interested in bridging the gap between company and player. In the end, we hope it will be a benefit to everyone.
[/quote]

I still warmly welcome this, Garey. You are in a position where you can be an important part of building the finest of relationships between factory and user. Boasting about the superduper range and what important people use it, should not be part of that.
Also, being sorry for the effect of your words is not the same as being sorry for the words, you know.

Now please be a good boy, do your work well, and we'll be good friends.

/condescendence


best and good luck,
bert

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1337092887' post='1655289']
I see your point, Bert, I was slightly irritated by that post of Garey's too, but I think we should cut him some slack, as he's new here, and stick to constructive criticism. I'm sure he - and his company - are more likely to take our suggestions on board that way.
[/quote]


You may be fully right, Bluejay, and I hope you are.
However, I have a hard time seeing this as a newbie's need for slack. I honestly think it's a result of corporate thinking, and planned ahead, including plans on how to tackle criticism. I do however hope that I'm wrong.

best,
bert


Edit for spelling "Bluejay".