la bam

Theres a composer on youtube who videos himself listening to rock and metal songs for the first time. It's actually quite good. He talks through as hes listening and calls out the notes, chords, changes etc and you can tell he loves the interesting changes. Then he listens to queen from the 70s and his head is mashed he cant keep up with anything!

To me, the 70s bassists were just a different breed. Even just with Queen - its music on a more full level. Not just playing wise, but creative wise. Just a different level. Listen to some of the funk songs of the 70s, pop songs, the major hits, minor hits. It's like a different way of playing that's been forgotten. It's easier than ever to pick up on these with YouTube and isolated tracks, but it seemed quite obvious to use the full 20+ frets of all 4 strings, whereas nowadays (massive generalisation I know, but...) it seems just to be playing in a certain safe area. But seriously, if you have a spare day and want to tab out a song, do The Game by john deacon and play along to it. It was never one of my favourites, but once I'd done the bassline it really opened the song up and it's a joy to play, and gives you a real insight into how to create even over a simple song.

I'd def recommend the markbass set up. Very light, very powerful. Also add another 2x10 if you need anymore power, which you wont. I prefer mine over my previous barefaced set ups and ashdown rm combos, but it just depends on what you like I suppose. You're spoiled for choice now re lightweight set ups.

John Deacon is an absolute master. The common consensus out there in the public that hes average is mind boggling. Try learning then play along to something like 'The Game' and you'll see just how inventive and brilliant he was. Fits the song superbly and is indeed all over the fret board.

Cheers, did the ones from 10 years ago use the same US hardware / pickups as the 'proper' stingrays, like the new ones do?

Bizarre to have a massive event with millions spent on it, celebrating everything British over the last 70 years........ and having Alicia Keys beltin out "New Yorkkkkk" for 10 minutes. And not to have a British act headline seemed a bit off the mark too. In other areas, I dont like how Queens bassist never gets shown or any limelight, and the running order of everything never let the concert really get going - much too stop and start. I was impressed though to see John Taylor from Duran have that Trace Elliot.

Hi all, I know the sterling ray34s are held in high regard now, but it looks like theyve been out for years. Does anyone know the history of these - ie are the 10 year old ones the same as the current ones in regard to hardware etc? Thanks.

Makes so much sense. The vu dial is tailor made for something like that. Even a small digital display would do. Even Harley benton when they ripped off the abm design put a tuner in there.

They're still missing the biggest trick. Use a VU meter for a built in tuner. I know loads of people who want an all in one amp, and go elsewhere because they have to take a separate pedal, plug, cable etc. I'm sure they could stick one in that chasis. Then itd have drive, comp, eq, octave, and a tuner.

That's the beauty of the abm style combo - it can be connected, unconnected and daisy chained, and enabled to take a spare head. That's one reason I wont use the new type of combos (rumbles, gk etc) as you cant disconnect the speaker from the amp if the amp fails, rendering the whole unit useless.

A young lad at work actually thought the celebrity juice presenter Keith Le Mon was the lead singer in Duran Duran when he was younger.

Hi all, I know there are a few drummers on here, but has anyone taken up drumming after years and years of bass playing? I've just bought a used cheap ish electronic kit, with the aim of learning to play. It's a mesh kit so quieter than a rubber one, and to be honest I'm very impressed with the sounds available. Headphones on, aux in, and away into my own world! I'm the type of bassist who really concentrates to lock in with the drummer and get really tight to work as a rhythm section rather than just a drummer and bass player. However, after just a few short goes using online lessons I'm blown away about how wrong I've been for years regarding what makes up a simple beat, or what i was hearing as a straight 4/4. It's really made me appreciate a lot more what is actually going on. For example, a simple beat: Kick on 1 and 3.5 Snare on 2 and 4 Hi hat doing straight 8ths. Even the fills- completely different to what I thought I was hearing. If anyone gets a chance, or has the opportunity to give it a go, do it. It can only help your appreciation and playing. I do believe though being a bass player has really helped with the timing and rhythm feel, luckily i dont think bassists have to start from scratch and learn rhythm, timing and feel as well as the drums. Only had the kit a week, and loving it!

I think lizzos great! Funky, catchy, great vocals, fun.

The originAL was a great pre. I also found the drive had much much more drive than the amps. They are 18v though so not easy for a spare psu. Great abm sound though.

.....even my evo 1.... It had almost everything.... tuner, compressor, chorus, amp modellers, x2 DIs, a mute switch ....... and only one mid dial..... doh!

Nice! Markbass do drive me mad sometimes! I've seen great amps from them that I've wanted then they all seem to have one thing missing for no reason at all.... ie one will not have a mute switch, then another will but no DI, then one will have both of those but no parametric eq etc! They're a madcap company sometimes!