Doddy

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1352547925' post='1864432'] Never heard of these before... Might get one myself! I'm always balancing mine against walls and whatnot at gigs. [/quote] Oooh no. Get a stand....I'd never trust my bass to be leaned up against a wall or amp or anything at a gig. I'd rather get a good solid stand than a little one like that. I always use Ultimate stands.

Nice..I like the Matte finish. Incidentally...FSR stands for Fender Special Run. edit...Snap!!!

As a bass player,I've never though of McCartney as being either a 'genius' or a 'virtuoso'. The way I've always heard him is as singer playing bass. What I mean by this,is that on a lot of the later studio based Beatles tunes he's basically playing vocal-like melodies on the bass and playing the way he sang.His later work,where he often takes on a more traditional Bass role,is generally more Rock and Roll influenced and not particularly groundbreaking (if at all),although it fits very well within the music.

[quote name='visog' timestamp='1352631951' post='1865265'] Now I am cool! And it sounds like a pretty high-pressure reading scenario! (I've still not heard of the programme, artist or song though!) visog [/quote] I'm sure you've heard of the show....It's called 'The Voice' in the UK.It was quite popular on Saturday nights.

[quote name='chilievans' timestamp='1352539795' post='1864319'] My teacher told me "in order to play fast first you must be able to play slow". Fair enough I thuoght but it feels like I'm going backwards not forwards. [/quote] It's totally right. You need to be able to play accurately,which generally means playing slowly at first. It's easy to blaze through something and be making mistakes-a lot of people do it. That's why you practice.It doesn't matter if it's a grade piece or 'Teen Town' or whatever,take it easy and make sure it's right.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1352471600' post='1863516'] It's a Plan B. What does the OP do if MB aren't interested? [/quote] Carry on using their stuff? If Mark Bass said no and you jumped to another company,it shows that you don't care about what you use and will only go where the deals are.Use the gear you like-if you get a deal,great.

[quote name='AaronScho' timestamp='1352414553' post='1862898'] Thanks man !! If any one has any other contacts for other company's that they like pass them on !! [/quote] It's this quote that makes me think that you just want an endorsement with anyone. I've got deals with a few companies,and have had different experiences than what others have mentioned.I'm not really what you'd call a 'band guy',but I am a busy professional player who has worked with quite a few people. My first deal with Spectraflex came after I emailed them about an order,and I got into a conversation with the owner who had viewed my website (which I link in all my emails).The iGig deal was the same.The string deal was similar in that I phoned up to order some strings and got talking to the Boss for quite a while. Amps were a bit different. A few years ago I got talking to the Mark Bass rep at Bass Day in Manchester and was offered a deal with them which I didn't take for various reasons,but mainly because I like their amps but they didn't blow me away (and I'd recently bought a Genz Benz after a head to head test). With regards to Ashdown,I'd been running into the rep at music stores for a while and often been asked about using their amps but I wasn't interested. When the MiBass was being released I was called and asked if I wanted to come and check it out. I went and tried it, loved it,and we struck a deal.I've not used anything else since and couldn't be happier-it's a great amp. I've spoken to a few people over the years either at events or in stores,some are interested in what I do as a player and some aren't because I'm not 'high profile' enough.Sometimes you speak to a rep who shows interest and have to follow up via email or phone,but the artist relations guy isn't interested-It's swings and roundabouts. What you don't want is to just hit up loads of companies hoping that one will give you something.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1352451535' post='1863122'] Yes this is true, but at least you can get the tab off the PC. I'm finding it quite difficult to get the sheet music for the things I want to play, although I am willing and able to pay for it. [/quote] That's why you use your ears too. In fact,one of the best things that you can do in this situation is transcribe. Your ears will improve because you will be actively listening and your reading will improve because you will be writing down the notes and rhythms.

What kind of stuff have you learned/are you learning?

Sounds like an MTD Kingston to me. They are great basses-I've got the Kingston Heir,which is basically the same but with an added Jazz pickup.

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1352319177' post='1861668'] From some of the replies here it looks as if enough people are persuaded by the hype and are into the luthier more than the instrument itself. [/quote] So,very much like any other bass then. I don't get the all of the slagging off it's getting though. Yes,it's another Precision Bass but people still go crazy over basses by other 'high end' manufactures that are essentially Fender copies.Even Fender themselves often get praised when they release yet another version of the same basses with some minor 'improvement' and an inflated price tag. I'm not going to rush out and buy the LaBella Olinta,but I think that a lot of it's criticism is undeserved.

I love the Emma Electronics ReezaFRATzitz. It can go from mild overdrive to full on distortion and doesn't lose the low end. Alternatively,I also really like the Pigtronix Polysaturator. It sounds great,it's pretty small and has a 3 band EQ.The Aria is similar but more overdrive than distortion.

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1352368937' post='1862159'] this would be my choice - purely on the metal construction. [/quote] While the metal case might be favourable,I don't think it should really be the deciding factor. Sure,the Behringer pedals are plastic,but they are still sturdy.I've stomped on mine loads,and even dropped it and kicked it around and,other than a few little dings,it's absolutely fine.

You could try the tuning that Jauqo III-X does.... C#,F#,B,E. The 'high' E would be the lowest note on a standard 4 string. (I'm sure that would really piss Dewi off )

Worth a try. I've tried some Behringer pedals that I don't really like,but I've got the Vibrato pedal and it's dead good.

I've just been listening to 'Wake Up' by John Legend and The Roots. Great album. I'm now grooving to Bob Reynolds 'A Live Life'. Brilliant.

Just on the thought of sitting,while I think about it-don't hunch over the bass while you play.It's an easy trap to fall into,but try and keep your back straight. A stool is often better than a chair for this reason.

[quote name='BassYerbouti' timestamp='1352214430' post='1860213'] Our band only gigs three times a year but boy do we like to practice. [/quote] Take some strain off your shoulders by sitting down in rehearsal. I pretty much always sit down when at rehearsal,just because I can. Rehearsals are usually longer than gigs,so I don't see the point in making yourself uncomfortable. It's also worth taking a look at your technique if your fingers are aching. Check the position of your wrists and make sure that they aren't at a sharp angle or resting heavily on the bass.When you're standing,take some time adjusting the height of the bass so that it is in a comfortable position and you aren't putting any strain on your wrists. To take some weight off your shoulder try either a wider strap or a thick neoprene strap like the Comfort Strapp. Alternatively,you could try the Damian Erskine Duo Strap,which distributes the weight over both shoulders.

Doesn't look like a Fender to me

Just out of interest,I noticed that it's being made by Mas Hino who used to make instruments for Pensa and Atelier Z,so even though it's another Precision,you know it's going to be great instrument.

[quote name='leroybasslines' timestamp='1352156634' post='1859598'] Pino Palladino can't really read music, he seems to do ok... [/quote] Yeah,but Pino is in the small minority when it comes to players who do his kind of work.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1352147040' post='1859432'] Absolutely, but if you never work with other musicians who communicate through written notation then the ability of being able to read is of no benefit other than the self satisfaction that you've learnt a skill. [/quote] But,maybe the reason you never work with musicians who communicate via notation is because you can't do it yourself? (Not you personally....a general 'you'). I don't think many people start playing with the intention of doing reading gigs (I certainly didn't),but they get reading gigs because they learned how to do it.

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1352140940' post='1859298'] What they said. A baffling bit of design fail. [/quote] I know. Interestingly,I had a Corvette in the late '90's that never had that problem,yet my Streamer (which I think is around mid-late '00's) does.

Generally index and little fingers because it's less of a strain on the hand especially in the lower positions. At the top of the neck I sometimes play index/ring or middle/little if it's brief,but for the most part I still use index/little.

[quote name='ken_white' timestamp='1352120351' post='1858895'] Ok, i mainly play in covers bands, but is reading music actually useful?? [/quote] Yes. [quote name='ken_white' timestamp='1352120351' post='1858895'] Is it worth me learning how to read music, will it be beneficial to what i do? Will this give me a better understanding of time signatures and timing? [/quote] It can totally help with the understanding with time signatures and timing because you will learn to read rhythms and subdivisions,which,at it's most basic,is all time signatures are. [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1352131027' post='1859113'] If your band decides that it's going to communicate all it's musical ideas by notation then learning to read is probably going to be a good idea. You could learn it if you want to be part of another musical project that requires reading or you just want to learn for your own personal satisfaction, or not. [/quote] I don't think it's a matter of what the rest of your band do or think.I often work with people who can't read,but it doesn't make my ability to read redundant...in fact,it often makes things a lot easier. Some people have suggested learning theory...this is a good idea,but for the most part,reading will make this easier. Buy a book on theory and generally there will be examples written out. Likewise,if you can read you can pick up literally any book or magazine on music and be able to play it's written exercises or transcriptions and take advantage of the vast amount of information that is available. You may never get a reading gig (if you can't you definitely won't), but there are many other benefits. [quote name='Wil' timestamp='1352131372' post='1859122'] I can read bass clef but never learned the bass or guitar fingerboard [/quote] This need's sorting out I think.