Hot Tub

Finally got around to putting new strings on my Cort. Decided on [url="http://www.rotosound.com/nexus_bass.html"]Rotosound Nexus[/url] because of some good reviews. Got the 45-105 set plus a 130 B-string. OMG!!! What a sound! It's everything I've been looking for; my bass has a voice again and it's bloody gorgeous! Many thanks to all for your suggestions and advice in a previous thread. I've had a set of Elite Stadiums laying around for ages, and they'll be going on my 4-string in the next few minutes! Very happy bunny!

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='507894' date='Jun 8 2009, 12:38 AM']....., patience is the key. Keep at it, and it will improve.[/quote] <cough> <splutter> Thirty freakin' years! Seriously, I've been trying to learn this technique since I first picked up a bass in my mid teens, and absolutely cannot do it. I don't mean I'm not very good. I mean I just can't do it. At all. To the OP: Maybe it's just not for you, mate. There are some things that some people simply can't do. If you're anything like me, you absolutely will not accept this! Keep trying! Good luck!

October 28: Richard Bona. Jazz. Typical.

Welcome, all forty-two million unadjusted dollars - minus payload of course, of you. Can't help on the violin bass question I'm afraid, but this is a great place. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Dunno for sure, but have a look at the serial number? Most serial numbers which aren't just sequential contain a date code of some sort.... Just a thought

I have the SR16 as well, and find that I really have to sit and spend some time with it if I want to program a pattern/song. I think it's a pretty good little drum machine, but it's certainly not intuitive.

[quote name='51m0n' post='503655' date='Jun 2 2009, 12:07 PM']Enjoy the course, how long is it?[/quote] It's just 5 weeks, 3 1/2 to 4hrs a week. It's intense, but great fun and with only four people in the tutor group we all get a chance of "hands on" experience.

I'm doing a short college course on Monday nights. It's basically learning about mixing & stuff on a 24 track desk & digital recorder, and I fancied doing it 'cause I thought it'd be fun. Our little tutor group of 4 people just recorded a song tonight. One of the daytime college students layed down a drum track and the idea was that we'd all just jam over the top of it and see what happened. Then we'd have a play around on the desk and see what we could do. But it turned out that I'm the only "musician" in the group. So, one of our group sang some made-up lyrics in Spanish. The drum track was already done. I ended up playing bass, rythmn guitar, background keys, and organ solo at the end. I haven't even held an electric guitar for close on twenty years. But the really amazing thing was listening to the track at the end of the session. It's a rough mix, but it sounds good! And apart from the drums and vocals, everything else is me! Sorry to blow my own trumpet (it's possibly the only instrument I didn't play tonight!), but this has really given my self confidence a huge shot in the arm. I'm always the first one to say that I'm sh!t, and I'll absolutely NEVER play in front of anyone, but tonight it just sort of.... happened. And it was absolutely bloody amazing! Sorry. Just wanted to share.

[quote name='Faithless' post='500213' date='May 28 2009, 08:18 PM']Once more, I'm not intending to offend anyone - it's all from me to make Basschat a better place Cheers everyone, Faith.[/quote] No offence taken mate! You correctly highlighted a valid point; no problem Now tell me what strings you're using, why you like 'em, and what you'd change to if you had to?

Faithless is right - this should've been in Miscellaneous Equipment & Accessories, as the subtitle to that board includes "strings". Mods - Please move this to the correct board, and accept my apologies. Many thanks!

I wanna put a new set of strings on my Cort Artisan B5. It's bog standard with 2 x Bartolini Mk1 soapbars. I'm happy with the thumping bottom end and don't want to lose any of that, but I'd like a bit more mid growl and a bit more top end "zing". I'm comfortable with the tension and overall feel of standard 45, 65, 85, 105, 125, and definitely don't want to go any lighter than that, but would be happy to try a heavier gauge. I like the sound ([i]sic[/i]) of coated strings from a maintenance point of view, but does the coating dull the sound? Now, bear in mind that I haven't changed the strings on this instrument in 2 years, and I haven't changed the strings on any instrument I've owned in over 20 years, where should I start? I have no idea what's on it at the moment - it's whatever it was supplied with. So, will I get what I'm looking for with pretty much any new strings, or is there anything to particularly consider or avoid? As always, thanks for any advice/suggestions.

PMSL!!! "We grow all our watts locally."

I'm finding Bowie's "China Girl" very satisfying at the moment. Dead easy and sounds great!

Hey, just had a look at your sight! Beautiful instruments! The Custom Nouveau 5 just made me do something I haven't done since I was 13....! :blush: That is absolutely gorgeous!

Oh, and pop into the Introductions board and tell us a little about yourself! And welcome to Basschat!

I'd say play as many instruments as you can. You know roughly the "Look" you want, so go and have a listen to all the "sounds" that are available. You'll be amazed at the variety! You won't find two basses that sound the same. You just won't. And at the budget you've got available, the world, my friend, is your lobster! Enjoy!

[quote name='dlloyd' post='467929' date='Apr 20 2009, 11:03 PM']Speed it up a couple of bpm each day and you'll be there in no time... make sure you can get through the verse before speeding it up. The song is actually quite forgiving... believe it or not. If you can pick up the bassline quickly after making a mistake, nobody will be any the wiser.[/quote] Exactly what I'm doing, a little step at a time, and it's working! I've got the whole thing nailed now, playing at a consistent 90bpm (360 notes per minute!)... still a bit to go yet...! I can do some of it faster, but I'm only counting when I can play the whole thing with no errors, several times reliably. And it's all thanks to folks on this thread and elsewhere. I'd never have attempted this without the encouragement, tips, suggestions, and general support from this amazing forum! Thank-you!

[quote name='dlloyd' post='467435' date='Apr 20 2009, 01:32 PM']It's at 108 bpm, which (ignoring rests) is 432 notes per minute.[/quote] My heart sank when I read this. Then I checked my calculations. Currently at 320, so a way to go yet, but not as bad as I initially thought! <[i]PHEW![/i]>

[quote name='dlloyd' post='465623' date='Apr 17 2009, 11:02 PM']Stop right there. Which 'score' do you have? There is some horrendous crap out there that has been published in magazines, and the verse is the worst bit in most transcriptions. Do you have to learn this for a gig? The biggest piece of advice I can give (apart from learning the correct version in the first place) is to make sure you're able to pick the line up at the next bar if you trip over your fingers. Build up the speed slowly from 90 bpm to 108 bpm (IIRC?) and use a drum machine, making sure you can get through the whole verse before you bump up the speed.[/quote] The score I have is [i]VERY [/i]similar to the one posted by Stickman (many thanks!) in this thread. There are a few very subtle differences, and actually Stickman's score is a tad easier. I estimate the NOTE SPEED (not bpm) to be around 220 notes per minute - does that sound about right? I'm currently playing the whole thing at 180 NOTES per minute (got my drum machine playing a click track), and gradually pushing the speed up. This may or may not be the correct/best approach, but it seems to be working. Especially when you consider that barely a week ago I couldn't play a note of this! Thanks to everyone for all your suggestions - apart from being an interesting and challenging bassline, it's a very good technical workout!

That is gorgeous mate! You're photos ain't bad - I'm liking some of the close-up detail stuff and nice use of depth of field. Why not pop 'em into Photoshop or similar and make up a nice sort of collage, or sommat?

[quote name='KASH' post='463835' date='Apr 16 2009, 12:23 PM']I think I'll try the Behringer...got nothing to loose for the price, if I don't like it, I'll keep it as a DI back up [/quote] Good choice!

It's really the right hand (plucking) that's the problem. My fretting hand has always been way quicker than my plucking hand (go figure! ) I've got the intro, instrumental, & chorus sections at full speed; it's just the verse I'm having the trouble with. I don't usually play that high up the neck tbh, so maybe it's partly a lack of positional familiarity (if there's such a thing?) [quote name='silddx' post='462453' date='Apr 14 2009, 08:21 PM']I would play a few scales and patterns playing twice per note like song and start out VERY slowly (80 bpm - one note per beat) and concentrate on getting each note to sound even volume and smooth with no swing. Pick a pattern, play it ten times perfectly before moving the tempo up a few notches. If you make a mistake, carry on up to the ten times anyway, don't stop and start again. Don't increase speed until you can play it perfectly.[/quote] Excellent idea! Thank-you - I'll have a shot at that over the next few days/weeks.

Although I can hardly believe it myself, I'm in the process of learning Norman Watt-Roy's original bassline to "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick." I "acquired" the musical score for the part some time ago, and have been following that very, very, slowly, and actually reading the notes rather than counting frets from a tab chart. It's a challenge I deliberately set for myself, and it's paying off! Part of the verse is gonna take me another while to get down, but the intro, chorus, instrumental, are all nailed. Well, I say "nailed" in the sense that I can play the notes, and I have the timing & phrasing right, and the rests & ghosts are in the right places, etc., but it's just not fast enough. My question is: Is there a specific technique or "trick" to playing fingerstyle at that speed and with that degree of accuracy? Let me know what you think? Any hints/tips greatfully appreciated!

It's a bit like my mate's wife. Good to look at, but I wouldn't want to be seen with it.

I know what it is and what it does, but what alternatives are there? Does anyone else do anything similar? (I have actually tried searching this time! )