The Walloper

My playing varies from playing with a plectrum or fingers, depending on the song. It's all down to practice then. I thought it was just the old saying that 'males can't multi task'. Thanks guys.

Recently, due to our guitarist leaving, we've brought a new guy in, who has said to us from day one that he can't sing. 'That's not a problem' we though, as he is a real competent guitarist. He'll come in, learn the tunes and we'll be out playing in no time. After dropping a few of the harmony parts our old guitarist used to sing from our songs, things have not been there vocally, and I believe that vocals are probably the most important part of any band. As a result, we had a discussion about it and I've been put under a lot of pressure from the other members to sing the parts. Now, I can sing, and I can play bass. But the problem i'm having is trying to do both at the same time. I seem to find it easy playing single notes on any particular scale and singing at the same time. It's when the bass melody becomes syncopated. That's when I'm feeling as though I need to concentrate on either one or the other. Anyone have any tips to help me overcome this?

[quote name='Wil' timestamp='1337105215' post='1655595'] I can't understand why anyone would pay so much for something that, judging from demo videos at least, seems to sound like a fart in a tin can. [/quote] [size=4]Probably for 2 reasons why it's so expensive. 1, it's discontinued, and 2, it is used by Chris Wolstenholme. Wouldn't see me pay that price for 1 effects pedal.[/size]

I'd take it back. It's only going to play on your mind. Even though it probably wouldn't bother me. It is barely noticeable and wouldn't have any bearing on your sound. One thing that would have me taking it back would be dead spots. It would be back in a minute. I'm paying £1k+ for a bass with dead spots? No chance. Heres a pic of my MIJ jaguar. Body is totally flush against the neck on both sides. An American one should just be as good.

Things would need to be pretty bad for me to let go of this;

[quote name='CBbass' timestamp='1335792516' post='1636062'] This thread went so off topic that I was confused for a while and had to re-read a few times. Then I realised you were referring to an avatar picture (none display on my screen). Anyway, don't the older Jags have a matching headstock? I heard they almost always require after-market shielding but are great basses. I love the CAR matching with blocks ones! Perhaps one day I may pick one up. [/quote] Yeah, they did. They can be noisey. A bit of copper shielding tape, and it's a quick fix. I don't think the new ones have this problem.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1335790728' post='1636015'] Depends if you like a Fender or not. When I bought my Jaguar it was a play off between that and a USA Standard Jazz, which was a little more expensive. I think, with hindsight, I made the wrong choice. But there's so much out there and it is all so subjective! New, I think £700 could get you a very nice Ibanez, Yamaha or one of the 'Sterling by MusicMan' range of basses like a Ray34 or SB14. I have just this morning got one of the latter (secondhand) and am having trouble putting it down at the moment - it is lovely. Or a whole lot of other stuff that is off my radar. Secondhand the choice for that money would be bewildering. [/quote] I actually was thinking of a musicman, and got a hold of a mates early 2000 2 eq sub bass. I liked it. Tone wise it was great. But I hated the fact I had nowhere to rest my thumb. Small and silly, but these things bug me after a while. Second hand is a lottery. The right thing has to come up at the right time.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1335787211' post='1635935'] I don't know how different the latest bunch are but I had a 2007(or 08) Jag. MIJ. I like skinny, shallow necks and it had the best neck I have played. Huge range of sounds available with all the switching - front pup/ back pup/ both. And in series or parallel. And active or passive. And that is why I got rid of it in the end - it was too complicated for a simple soul like me. Plus a little bit heavy for my particular brand of lumbar injury. I think the 2 band eq is the weak spot - maybe they have improved this but the controls were a bit crude. Edit - just seen your comment about only playing it passive - in which case I think the Squier Jag is worth looking at if the Jag shape is what appeals. I personally think £700 can get you a much better bass than this. [/quote] I take it you are going to recommend a Precision or Jazz.

It's the sunburst one i'm looking at just now. Stunning. I'd probably only use it in passive mode. Never been a fan of active basses. Played a chinese made one in a shop (was acutually trying out some effects pedals) and the neck was to die for.

[quote name='umcoo' timestamp='1335785335' post='1635883'] Can you tell us more about the sticker... Never played a Jag so can't really help, but all MIJ basses I've played have been top notch, the reviews of the Japanese Jaguars are very positive and the red one with matching headstock looks sublime. So, back to the sticker... [/quote] It's red, white and blue in colour, with the map of America and the states in front of a red and white stripey background. It actually says 'Made in America' and not 'Made in USA' as I previously stated. It has a sort of metallic look to it and has a sticky rating of about 6 out of 10, with 10 being the stickiest of all stickers. Mines is a bit faded. Probably due to the amount of times my sweaty mitts have pressed against it. I hope it doesn't devalue the bass as a consequence . I've supplied a picture for those who are interested. Any more questions regarding the sticker, don't hesitate to ask. On a side note; Anyone know anything about Fender Jaguars?

[quote name='grenadilla' timestamp='1335784087' post='1635859'] Does that sticker on the pickguard say "Made in USA" like the stickers on new Rickenbackers? Real Rickenbacker is the bass on early Bee Gees songs like "Massachuttes" and "Holliday". [/quote] Em...yeah it does say that. It's a 2004 model.

Any opinions on this bass, whoever has or has owned one?. MIJ 2011/12 model. Tearing my hair out regarding which bass to buy around the £700-1k mark. I can't decide .

Was speaking to the bass player in my drummers' fathers band (if you know what I mean) about stingrays. He's got a 2eq sub, which he said he'd give me a loan of for a week to try it out. Excellent I say. I'll give it a blast and see how it goes. Don't exactly know the difference between the sub and the ray. Need to do a bit of reading. Many thanks for all the advice above.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1334687601' post='1619847'] Really? They've got to be the third or fourth most popular electric bass in the world (don't know whether they'd be in front or behind Rickenbacker after the Fender Precision & Jazz). I've had a couple over the years (a four & a five string) but was pretty underwhelmed with both of them to be honest. [/quote] I'm not saying there are none out there. I'm wondering why they are not as popular as fenders. I'd say 2 out of 3 basses you see bass players play are fenders. In my opinion MM stingrays are superior in many ways, having just played them all at the weekend there. I see a few posters above are using rics and stringrays. I can see myself going down that route. Maybe it's just all about what sounds right for you.

On the market for a new bass and ended up in the music shop at the weekend. Pulled a few basses down and to my surprise, I was disappointed in a few. I already own a Ric 4003 and I had my heart set on a precision, having already owned one years ago. But by the end of the day, the P bass ended up at the bottom of the list. One that stood out a mile though was the musicman stingray. I tried both a mexican and USA precision, then a mexican and USA jazz. Then a lakland 5 string (which was another surprisingly good bass). I just thought the musicman had the superior tone over any of the fenders. Playability wise it was comfortable. I thought the only downfall was that it wasn't as aesthetically pleasing as the fenders. But I can get over that. It basically ticked all the required boxes. I remember playing one years ago and was put off by the fact it was real top heavy, and didn't sit well with me on a strap. This seems to have been fixed. Don't know what it is about these basses. They just don't seem that popular, which is strange. I'm seriously considering buying one. Anyone have any opinions on the stingray v fender P & J? Why are they not as popular as they should be?

I'm hearing; Chorus & Flanger