Doddy

I really don't enjoy the drive home,especially if it involves a long stretch of unlit motorway. I'll usually get a bottle of water and/or a Mars drink and put some tunes on to help keep me awake.If it's a long drive,I'll usually stop at a services for 5 mins just to walk around for a bit. Once I get home,it's normally straight to bed-bear in mind that we're normally talking about 2-3am.If it's earlier,I'll sit up for an hour. I rarely eat when I get back.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1330605763' post='1560155'] Didn't Jaco use Acoustic amps? And weren't they solid state? [/quote] My mistake....yes they were. There might be a hint of the amps built in 'fuzztone' being used,but not much.

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1330606554' post='1560188'] Instead of deciding by name alone, do we know of what kinds of lives they all lived? I'm assuming you'd want to capture something of the man in the work, so that be perhaps the best place to start - and I imagine stories of drugs, wild parties, and rock and roll (substitute for knitwear, jazz festivals and elbow patches in this instance) would make a more interesting [i]write[/i] as well as a a read, no? [/quote] Strangely,I've read a couple of (auto)biographies of musicians that are based around 'drugs,parties and rock and roll' and find them boring...I like reading about their musical background and accomplishments.

The obvious choice for me would be Ray Brown....although Oscar Pettiford and Milt Hinton would be a good choice. Cachao would be interesting but different.

It's Jaco,so a fretless jazz and a slightly overdriven tube amp is how you'll get that sound,rather than using an effect. However,there are a ton of pedals like the Sansamp that will replicate an overdriven amp.

[quote name='lxxwj' timestamp='1330465517' post='1558048'] Another underrated player (in my opinion) is John Davis of Nerve. Crazy effects there, [/quote] John Davis is cool. Another guy doing some crazy effects stuff is Tim Lefebvre...he never seems to get enough credit on here. [quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1330468755' post='1558121'] Mark White from the Spin Doctors is great and often over looked I find. [/quote] Mark White has the most ridiculous left hand technique (he's left handed-so I mean his picking hand).He's got some crazy chops.....I love the Spin Doctors. I'm just listening to some Phish right now-Mike Gordon plays some really nice stuff. I very rarely see anyone mention Reed Mathis from Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey.He's a really cool player on both electric and upright. The band is great too..kind of in a similar vein to Medeski,Martin and Wood-Chris Wood is ace too.

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1330396115' post='1556871'] Playing devils advocate here but why do so many of the world's great living bass players stick with 4 string when they clearly technically capable enough to play 5 strimgs? Just look at the polls and cast your eyes down the list - Flea, King, Wooten, Miller, Weekes, Squire, Burnel, Butler, John Paul Jones and so on. Is it just familiarity, comfort, even laziness? Surely if its a no-brainer to move to 5 they would do so? I know there are examples of great bass players who have made the leap (eg Percy Jones) but they seem to be in the minority. [/quote] Interestingly(other than most of your definition of 'great'?),over half of the players you mentioned use five string (or more) regularly,although it may be not what they're best known for. I could name you a load of players(who I consider 'great') that use 5 strings often,but very few of them will be in 'classic' rock bands,and I'll probably get slagged off for being a jazz/fusion/session w***er.

I use a 5 string Jazz Deluxe a lot. For me,it has all the familiarity of a regular Jazz Bass but with the added bonus of a fifth string. I find Fender basses (particularly Jazz Basses) really easy and comfortable to play, and the 5 string is no different.

I've tried a lot of strings over the years (Fender,Ernie Ball,Rotosound,Elixir,D'addario,DR,Hartke,GHS and others I can't think of right now),but I'm now using Elites Stadium Series on all my main basses . I really like the feel and sound of them,and I find that they last well too. I prefer stainless steel strings to nickel and I really don't like coated strings.

I play 5 string pretty much all the time now. I always carry a 4 string with me too,but I generally favour the 5's. For reading gig's I used to use my 4 string Jazz because I was really familiar with the neck,but people are starting to get hip to the 5 strings range and are writing things in the lower register,so even for those gigs I now take a 5-usually a Jazz. Of course,a lot of modern pop music has notes beyond the range of a 4,so if I'm playing that kind of stuff I need the 5 again-using octave displacement or an octave pedal just doesn't work in some situations,you need that lower range.

It's difficult to say without seeing a picture or video,but it could be the angle of your wrist that is causing you problems (depending on your positioning of the instrument)or you may be trying to grip the neck harder than is necessary. You really shouldn't need to build up strength in your wrist.

Bass Direct did do them,but I got mine direct from iGig and it was arrived within a week of ordering it.

We all know that I recommend iGig cases,but they honestly are the best gigbags I've used.The straps are very comfortable and adjustable so that it doesn't sit too high up on your back (which is the biggest problem with my old Protection Racket). They also offer great protection as they are super well padded. I'll happily carry any instrument in one without worrying.

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1330259452' post='1554683'] I have noticed one or two 'name players', who played standard 5 (BEADG). Looking at their current gear, they have more than one bass. So , one is EADG,the other is BEAD etc. This means that they only need the alternate tuning for a couple of songs in their set. Not a bad thing , if you feel overwhelmed by the extra string. [/quote] It's a pain in the arse to keep changing basses though,especially if you don't have much time between numbers. I've got a bunch of 4 strings,but have used a 5 on every gig for the last few years.I could comfortably play most of them on a 4,but I prefer the 5 for various reasons.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1330251976' post='1554512'] I'm gonna be totally 'up front' here and admit that my experience with Squier is based on the brand when it first appeared. [/quote] Interestingly,when Squier first appeared in the early '80's they pissed all over the US made Fenders. Hence the popularity of the JV and SQ series.

Do you know how to count subdivisions? If you are counting on the beat-1,2,3,4...you can then break it down to quavers(8th notes) by counting 1&,2&,3&,4&. If you are tapping your foot to the beat,it should hit the floor on the beat and be in the air on the & (the off beat) You can then take that further by breaking it down into semiquavers(16th notes) by counting 1e&a,2e&a,3e&a,4e&a. If you are using a metronome,set it at a steady tempo (something like 60-70 bpm) and try playing on the beat while counting out loud and then start to break it down to quavers then semiquavers. Make sure you are saying the subdivisions while you are playing and try to be as accurate as possible. Once you can do this comfortably,it makes it easier to play different combinations of quavers and semiquavers...for example,if the pattern is something like quaver,semiquaver,semiquaver, (disco style) you can count it as 1(e)&a,2(e)&a etc. and not play on the (e).

[quote name='lxxwj' timestamp='1330189958' post='1553964'] Sounds good! Glad I wasn't just hallucinating at the playability of that bass! [/quote] The thing is,if you think it plays and/or sounds great it doesn't matter what make it is and how much it costs (unless you are worried about what other people think..in which case,get over it).

Yes they are-especially the Vintage modified and (particularly) Classic Vibe series. The quality of Squier instruments has really improved over the last few years.I've got no problem gigging my Squier CV 50's Precision.

[quote name='simwells' timestamp='1330103463' post='1552884'] Personally I currently use the OC2 and the EBS Octabass, OC2 just has that fantastic synthy tone to it but the EBS tracks much better and is cleaner sounding so depends on what sound you're after really. [/quote] Exactly the same as I was going to say. Personally,the OC2 is one of my favourite(and most used) effects,but the EBS is much better for smoother applications. I tried the MXR Deluxe,and thought it was a little 'dirtier' than the EBS and not quite as nice.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1330074848' post='1552199'] Of those who do come along, half of them seem to turn their backs on the band and dance, as if the band were simply like a DJ. [/quote] The Bastards. It's awful that people actually dance to the band rather than just sitting there and 'appreciating' the music.

Interesting approach. I'd rather listen to the music and feel it. The whole reason for having a solid theoretical knowledge is that it should be internalised so that you can just play without thinking about it,yet it is always there in your subconcious and helping to make life easier for you.

I'd have to gate check it,but like I said,it's never been an issue..especially with the cabin crew-Smile and by friendly and you'll be fine. Whenever I've known anyone to have problems it's always been at the check in desk and never with the cabin crew.The only time the cabin crew have mentioned my bass is when they've asked if I would like it stored in the first class locker.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1330007481' post='1551317'] And what would have done if they'd insisted that the bass couldn't go with you into the cabin? [/quote] I'd have crossed that bridge when I came to it. But on the many occasions I've flown with my Bass,it's only been an issue when other band members have made a fuss about it by going up to the desk and saying stuff like "we've got guitars..blah,blah,blah". When I've approached the desk confidently and said nothing,it's never been a problem.

[quote name='JakeBrownBass' timestamp='1330004798' post='1551230'] Out of interest Doddy, what gig bag were using? I've got some flights later this year and i'm unsure as to whether they'll let me take my mono case on board. [/quote] I used my iGig case. Although I've also flown with a Protection Racket gigbag too.

Everyone that can,should go to this clinic. Bryan is a monster player and a great guy too.