Doddy

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1353154396' post='1872124'] It is the musical equivalent of a comedian saying 'when is a door not a door? When it is ajar'. [/quote] Maybe,but there is always going to be someone who has never heard the joke or song before and enjoys it. Interestingly,the only people who seem slag the song off are people in bands who think it's cliche and cheesy.To be fair,it would be easy to say the same thing about many 'classic' rock songs that nearly every other band seems to play.I've heard far more bands play the same Thin Lizzy,Free,AC/DC etc. songs than I have play Mustang Sally.

I didn't see it tonight,but I saw the short show on Tuesday,and he was using a Moon bass like he's been doing for years (I bet Warwick weren't too chuffed). Did he invent slap bass? As far as the Electric Bass goes,he is usually credited with doing just that,although there are claims that Louis Johnson also developed the technique independently around the same period. Yes,Upright players have slapped for years,but Electric slap is a very different technique

[quote name='Bobo_Grimmer' timestamp='1353089429' post='1871615'] Ok so your saying the amp and cab are the over kill bit? or all of it? The rack effects and the pedal board are all stuff for sounds we use..... The good thing about the amp is that it goes loud enough for playing big venues like the O2 and is tonally lovely at a lower volume in my local [/quote] I wouldn't take out an amp that big for small gigs.It would be way too much..I reckon you could get your sound out of a much smaller amp. Even for big venues like the O2,you could use a much smaller rig because you'd have massive PA support. If you feel that the rack is a necessity,that's fine,but again I wouldn't be happy carrying an 8u rack to gigs and you could probably downsize. I'm not telling you what you should be doing,just what I'd do,and while it's great to have a big fancy rig with lots of gear (I know,I have more than most) it all starts with your hands.

Look at the Ashdown Mibass cabs. They're great...I use the single 12" for everything.

I'm a big believer in the sound being primarily in your hands...with that I'm now using an Ashdown MiBass 550 with the Mi12 cab. It's a really small rig,but I'm getting the tone I want and enough volume for any gig- plus it's one trip in and out. If I take my pedal board out,it's one plug socket more than normal and that's it (I always use a volume pedal and tuner). That's a massive rig you've got.I reckon that you could totally downsize (especially the amp and cab) and you'd still be able to get your sound.I'm sure a rig that big is overkill for a lot of places.

I always run my tuner out of the tuner output on my volume pedal,so it's not running in the effects chain. I tend to run my octave pedal first so that it gets the strongest signal,then envelope filters, distortion,modulation, and compressor at the end. With your set up (assuming you're using the Hartke for gain) I'd go- EBS>Hartke>Ibanez>TC. Maybe put the tuner in front if you want,but I've always taken it out of the chain. Edit....Try moving them around too,pedals react differently depending on what's in front or behind them.

I wouldn't necessarily call Korean made instruments 'budget' anymore-not when companies like Lakland are producing great basses at around a grand. There are some ace instruments coming out of Korea right now.

[quote name='baseline9' timestamp='1353071259' post='1871231'] Funky Docters? [/quote] Yep

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1352933695' post='1869645'] It's only rough because he plays so hard. i love it though. you won't fall asleep listening to this though. (he has an INCREDIBLY bright amp, doesn't he?) [/quote] That's horrible.

[quote name='Angel' timestamp='1352898007' post='1868976'] Who's that black player that plays slap with the bass mega high up and his right arm seems to come up from under the bass? That's a pretty mad technique to be starting off with, although he was pretty darned good at it! Anyone recall his name? [/quote] Quentin Berry

The thing with Mustang Sally is that every band moans about it and calls in cliche,and because of this very few bands actually play it anymore. I don't see what the big deal is,it's not like it's a dreadful tune and it get's people dancing and singing along.It's not my favourite song,but I don't have a problem with it-especially if you really get grooving on it.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1352842858' post='1868380'] the "live" instruments did little justice to the power and majesty of the recorded synthesisers and samplers. Sometimes you just have to accept that the bass guitar is no match for a good synth bass no matter how well it is played. [/quote] Exactly....Which is why there are so many guys doubling on Electric and Synth Bass now.

[quote name='blamelouis' timestamp='1352844724' post='1868433'] The singer, whose Fields Of Gold is a staple of talent show auditions, went on to say that X Factor encouraged contestants to "conform to stereotypes". [/quote] I'm sure he's not complaining when the royalty cheques are rolling in.

I've been using the MiBass 550 for a year or so now (since they came out) and a Mi12 cab for about 6-7 weeks (again,since they came out). I've used the head and cab (just 1 cab) on every gig,from an 8 piece soul band with 3 horns,to heavily effected dance music,to Jazz standards and it always sounds great. It is small enough to fit in my car without droppi cab.ng the seats and to carry in with one trip,and it is loud enough to cut through with a great full range sound. Put it this way-I stopped using my Bergantino HS410 in favour of the Ashdown Mi12,and I couldn't be happier.

I don't have any problems switching between 4,5 and 6 strings-although I play 5 strings for the vast majority of gigs.....Pretty obviously my Upright gigs are all on a 4 string,but all my electric gigs lately have been on a 5 string,although I usually carry a 4 string too. I haven't taken either of my 6 strings out for a while,but I like the upper range for gigs where I'll be soloing.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1352826551' post='1868014'] And that Whitney Houston Track , while it might not be to everybodies taste , has in fact got a prominent bassline played by Ricky Lawson on his Ken Smith 5 string . How can you cite that as an example of pop music without bass guitar in it ? The bass is massive on that track . Try listening to it . [/quote] You know Ricky Lawson is a drummer right? I'm guessing that you actually mean Ricky Minor,who is credited on the track.

[quote name='baseline9' timestamp='1352811345' post='1867664'] I like the sound of those "filthy" tunings! lol! Small world - I would be intrested to hear how you know Dewi Paul! [/quote] He runs sound on some gigs (Ben plays sax too)

[quote name='Jarhead' timestamp='1352778382' post='1867352'] If you want to here some decent bass, don't listen to pop, for the most part you're only going to be disappointed. [/quote] Like I said earlier though,there are some great synth basslines in a lot of pop which I think is just as valid as a good bass guitar line. Listen to 'Toxic' by Britney Spears-it's a killer synth bassline (that's just the first tune I thought of). I don't think that synth bass is used just because it's easier either.It's used because it gives a sound and feel that you just can't get from a bass guitar-the old Michael Jackson stuff is a perfect example of this. Personally,I think there have been some decent pop songs in the charts lately-They may not be bass masterclasses,but it doesn't stop them from being decent songs.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1352691747' post='1866220'] sure money is the driving force behind every band ive ever listened to but when it takes over to the point that its all that really matters, its different.. Louis Walsh doesnt care about musical integrity, and his boy bands are his puppets.. he and mr Cowell care about making lots of money, and from that they have done very well.. Berry Gordy or Quincy Jones were the polar opposite to these clowns... [/quote] Honestly,I don't think that Berry Gordy is the polar opposite of Cowell. There were some great Motown songs,as we all know,but there are a hell of a lot of songs (possibly the majority?) that are just as dodgy as the music that Cowell puts out. Gordy was about making money-that's why he started using some of the hit songs again with other artists and eventually moved Motown to LA.

I'm sorry,but just because there is no bass guitar or double bass in some pop music doesn't mean that there is no bass at all. There is some heavy synth bass parts in a lot of pop,and some of these lines are great..often better than many of the root note or riff doubling lines of many rock and indie bands. With regards to making music for phones-I disagree. That's not a reason for not having bass in a song. Prince has some big hits that have no bass guitar-listen to 'Kiss' and 'When Doves Cry'.Take a listen to Blackstreet's 'No Diggity'-it' great,and it grooves,but there is no traditional bass on the track.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1352686326' post='1866209'] ok... im walking a fine line here as i dont want to come across as unfair or a snob when it comes to mine,or any individuals musical taste..... a band such as JLS, or Girls aloud are, in there entity bands that make pop records governed by money... ..music like this is my the point of my OP..... is the quality of there music going to inspire younger people... yes they prob will.. will it inspire them to create music that is going to break new musical ground, i dont think it will... im aware that these bands are all a bit of fun, but when said bands are pushed in the face of young people.. i think its a detriment to music in the future.. money is the worst thing that ever happened to music, but i guess thats the nature of the beast [/quote] As much as you or I may dislike some of these pop acts,I think it's entirely possible that these groups will inspire people to create new music-just maybe not directly. Some kid might be listening to Girls Aloud (who have had some good pop songs),and going to their concerts and it starts their interest in Music,or they may watch the X Factor and hear one of the contestants sing a song,search for it on Youtube,discover the original and get a whole new inspiration. Also,let's be honest about this,name me one band/artist that is getting airplay and album releases that isn't governed by money? Sure there are people who are doing it themselves,but all of the 'big' names from the past god-knows how many years have had a lot of money behind them and are expected to turn in a profit for their labels.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1352682772' post='1866191'] yep its all subjective... beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but i dont think that can be a rule for music always..... there can be music that is maybe not as good quality as some others, or as interesting, compelling, inspiring... [/quote] But again,the quality or how interesting etc is again down to the individual. I can guarantee that there is music that I find compelling and inspiring that others don't. Likewise,I often hear about people raving over bands that bore me to death after a minute.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1352679360' post='1866157'] but my problem is that the good stuff is being pushed under the surface... the younger generation should have great music as the norm, just like i was shown when i was watching tv as a youngster... [/quote] It depends on what you are calling 'the good stuff'. Over the last few years there have been some really good pop tunes that get a lot of airplay.People like Beyonce,Usher,Rhianna,Robbie/Take That,Lady Gaga,Justin Timberlake,Christina Aguilera and a whole load more have done some really good stuff. Personally,I'd rather listen to most of them than 98% of the 'credible' bands that appear on shows like 'Later....'. I don't watch X Factor,and most of what I've heard that has come from the show I'm not a fan of,although there is the odd good tune there. 'The younger generation should have great music as the norm'? I think pretty much everyone starts off by listening to current pop music and eventually begin branch out and find their own idea of what is 'great music'-whether it's by going to gigs with their friends or searching through their parents record collection or whatever.

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1348818722' post='1818558'] True but they are all slapping against the background of loud guitars and drums. Seems like overkill for a jazz/fusion guy! [/quote] Maybe...but by their own admission,Return to Forever are a loud band.

Right now,I'm failing to see a problem. Play it in E minor.If your only worry is about strings ringing,then I'd suggest maybe working on your muting technique. You can do a couple of songs in the same key so it makes an easy segue..again,it's not really a big deal.I depped with a band last night,and there were a few songs where they changed the key for segue reasons.Great,no problems. With regards to him saying it's in E when it's in E minor-let's be honest,there are loads of people who just say "It's in E" with no regard to actual key signatures.