Dingus

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1361468135' post='1986208']
Always depends on budget, but I`d go for a US Standard first, then CIJ second. Nothing wrong with Squier or MIM I might add, both very good, having had a few of them, but the US & CIJ are, in my opinion, better basses. Plus, the dreaded GAS is an awful thing, once you go down the start of that route it will be "I can upgrade to...." etc, may as well go for the better one asap.
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+1 on this .

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1361547133' post='1987358']
Can someone explain the science as to why they would change your sound or sustain please?
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The materials , weight , density and overall mass can have a very noticable effect on the tone of some basses . A significant part of the tone of a Fender bass comes from the fact that it uses a fairly lightweight stainless steel bridge , which generally gives a brighter sound with more open sounding harmonics in the note . Heavier bridges made of denser materials like brass give a noticibly darker tone on the whole . Bridges definately do influence the overall sound of a bass , to varying degrees .

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1361544477' post='1987297']
A replacement bridge makes very little difference to the sound of a bass, IMHO. It may be the placebo effect, who knows? I'd get a replacement bridge only for cosmetic and/or aesthetic reasons. There is generally very little wrong with the stock bridge on a bass.

Given the high price of some replacements, you'd be better off investing the money elsewhere. Again, IMHO.
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[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1361544799' post='1987306']
I agree. The only reason I'd replace a bridge would be for adjustability.
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I agree with these two fellas to an extent in so much as most basses have adequate bridges to begin with and swapping a half decent bridge for another one won't garner much of a worthwhile or perceptible improvement in sound . I have found from personal experience however , that on Fender - style basses some alternatives to the stock BBOT bridge such as the Badass do give a bit more clarity in the upper registers of the D and G strings and a slightly more defined sound in general . It's a subtle improvement , but worthwhile , to my tastes at least . The HMV bridge on the latest American Standard Fender sounds great and looks just like a traditional Fender bridge , but I don't know if they sell them as an aftermarket item . Tracked saddles on a bridge help stop the intonation slipping , too .

I think these would be really nice basses , and I am sure that the neck joint / heel block wouldn't bother me in the slightest . I would be very interested to know the retail price - quite a lot of money , I expect .

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1361541217' post='1987213']
I have the reverse P on my Streamer, it sounds like Godzilla. I also love quite a few trad Precision players who also sound like Godzilla. Theoretically the trad P pickup design and the reverse P should sound different from eachother, the trad having deep low strings and zingy tops, the reverse P having more evenly balanced output over the strings, but in REALITY, it don't mean sh*t.
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I have also found this to be the case . I can't hear a huge difference between a reversed P Pickup and a non - reversed one . However , theoretically at least , one reason for reversing the P pickup is to affect the sound of the P pickup when used in conjunction with the Jazz pickup at the bridge . By moving the P bass coils for the D and G strings further away from the Jazz pickup coils it is supposed to diminish the pinched and overly nasal sound that some PJ combinations can have due to the close proximity of the rear of the split Precision pickup to the Jazz pickup coils for those same strings . From memory , I think it was Yamaha who first got the idea of reversing the Precision pickup on the old BB series basses back in the 1970s , and their P pickups are usually very slightly further from the bridge than a traditional Fender .

That first self titled solo album aka the Brown Album is my favourite . It must rank as one of the all-time great fusion albums , and is a terriffic record not just on a muso/ bass playing level .

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1360971037' post='1979397']
I have two, the first is Kit, from the first EP of two years ago, and it came very quickly. I had a crap iPhone recording from Kit of her singing and playing piano with the drummer on a leccy kit. This was the second part of the audition, to write bass lines for four songs. Kit told me she wanted staccato in the verses and long notes in the bridge and chorus. I had it done in a few hours, recorded and mixed it and sent it to her, she and the drummer loved them all, but this is my favourite for its lyrical nature and use of space and texture. They especially liked the trick low note in the middle section. This was the EP version I recorded at home over the studio mix for the EP which 51m0n later mixed and mastered beautifully for the EP. I love my tone, Warwick Corvette $$ into a POD X3 LIVE direct to desk.

[url="http://kitrichardson.bandcamp.com/track/you-always-did"]http://kitrichardson.../you-always-did[/url]

My other is the one I did for the Basschat composition challenge last December. I had great fun composing it, and what I heard in my head pushed my playing technique to my limits. I really like the composition, the madness of the middle sections and the sensitivity of the final sections, I played to the story and I've never had so much fun with the bass, and guitar keys and drum programming, I had an absolute blast doing this

[url="https://soundcloud.com/silddx/you-cant-touch-me-now-or-the"]https://soundcloud.c...h-me-now-or-the[/url]
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I can see no reason why I wouldn't hear that Kit Richardson track just as it is on Radio 2 and similar stations alongside other established artists . Very professional sounding production . The solo track is a bit of a t[i]our de force[/i] too . Great work . You ought to be doing this for a living .

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1360971047' post='1979398']
Here you are Nigel. My meagre submission recorded 10 years ago in Austin.

[url="http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=25231875&ac=now"]http://www.myspace.c...25231875&ac=now[/url]

Although many of the tracks were roughly tried here in the UK the parts really only came together in the studio. Nothing very technical or exciting but that's not my style. I reckon the bass drives the song along nicely with a nice bit of tension from the use of 3rds in the verses. Stingray 5
through a Sansamp straight into the desk. There's a bit of fret rattle as the actioned had changed following the transatlantic flight.

When I was playing for Micky this was always a popular song - the alternative title is "Die You Bitch".
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There's something about feel on this song that reminds me of Nick Lowe / Rockpile , and I mean that as high praise indeed .

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1360969994' post='1979377']
Can I be proud of a made up bass line in a paternally related way?

This is the lad playing bass, the first track is the one submitted here. Better than anything I can do, I love them as they are so imaginative (and, of course, I'm biased).

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQZUizsC1tY[/media]
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Your lad is a player , that's for sure . Some really nice creative ideas in that bass part . It may well be that I am out of touch with fashions for young people and all that , but why is he dressed like a Ghanain rug salesman ?

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1360969451' post='1979371']
I'm only as proud of the bass line that I've put down on a track as I am of the track itself. I've played far more 'complicated' bass parts on records we have made, but the three notes that I played on this tune are all I ever felt that it required for it to be a song that I'm very proud of. The rest of the bass is synth bass (which I also played )

[url="https://soundcloud.com/54321band/everest"]https://soundcloud.c...321band/everest[/url]
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I really like this track . It sounds like the finished article , and very commercial . The vocals are fantastic , and is it just me that finds some of the vocal melody at the beginning reminiscent of Cry Me A River by Justin Timberlake ?

What would you say your maximimum budget would be Milty ? £200- £300 is what I am guessing . If I was starting out again today I would be nagging my dad for one of these :


[url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Yamaha-BB424-Bass-Guitar-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst/D9P"]http://www.gear4musi...wn-Sunburst/D9P[/url]

Just a bit more than your budget probably , but not so expensive as to be out of the question . A Squier would be my other choice .

John Shuker in the Sheffield area has got a reputation for top quality work .

I would say Yamaha . They are widely available and are usually excellent for the money at whatever price point .

There is lots of different kinds of "good " playing , depending on the context and the intent of the music , and not least of all the aesthetic qualities of the final result . I enjoy a lot of players who are not " choppy " players but who I think are extremely capable and crafty musicians , and I like a few chops - orientated players too , but not neccesarilly for their chops . Sometimes less is more , but in some circumstances more is better , too . There is a trend nowadays towards the less -is - more school of thought , but I would say that I have heard as much poor and nondescript minimalist playing as I have heard ill -judged overplaying . Economy is not justification in itself any more than elaboration is ; the final result is what matters . If you[i] really [/i]want to get into how people identify and evaluate what is good bass playing then I would have to say the psychological processes of perception , cognition and empathy are what define how human beings assess and classify any art , including music . We asess how other players are dealing with things we have found difficult ourselves , how much the exceed our own imagination and how much they recognise our own emotions .

I would also say that , if you keep an open mind , you can find some very impressive bass playing in some unlikely places . For example , one of the best constructed and most effective bass parts I have ever heard on a record is on Through The Barricades by Spandau Ballet .

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1360871804' post='1977781']
I've thought about replacing the strings with a set of DR Lo-rider lites - 40-60-80-100-120 - anybody tried these??
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I've used Lo Riders in the past and found them [u]very [/u]stiff feeling . If you like a more elastic feel then I would go for some round core DRs such as Hi Beams or Sunbeams .

Rob Slutwalk And The Femidoms .

Regarding the playability of your beautiful new Roscoe , your five string has got a 35 inch scale and so whatever strings you put on there will feel about as taut as a guage heavier on a 34 inch scale bass , so if you like and are used to a slacker tension with relatively light gauge strings on a 34 inch scale bass that would account for the perceived lack of responsiveness on your new bass . If you try some slightly lighter gauge strings it may feel a bit more familiar .

A good wide strap ( 4 inches + ) preferably with a suede backing for plenty of friction can help with awkwardly balanced basses such as your Thunderbird .

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1360853434' post='1977442']
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Quite. Best if you both just stay home, watch TV and say nothing to each other. Works a treat.
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Works for me ! I quite often catch Mrs Dingus sitting there on the sofa looking at me and thinking about how lucky she is .

Wow , that must bring back a few memories ! May 1986 - I remember it well . I hope you still have that beautiful Wal Pro bass , and the dodgy moustache . I believe that look is now known as " dodgy German porn star " , and is well back in fashion .

This women expressing opinions business is getting completely out of hand ! Shoes and home furnishings -yes . Music -no ( unless they are Joni Mitchell ) .

If these women they are musicians and are going to play in the band then that bodes a lot better than the much more common scenario of someone who has got a girlfriend who thinks she can sing . That one can get tricky , and is always a disaster . I think the Fleetwood Mac situation is unlikely to happen in reality , but it's worth bearing in mind that there are lots of other potential scenarios , such as Sonny and Cher or Ike and Tina Turner . As long as you realise that you are giving yourselves one more thing to potentially fall out over .

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1360800748' post='1976899']
100% agree with that.
PP I can only marvel at his mastery, while not being totally into his music.
As a demo as to what makes me want to nick someone elses hands; I was at JD's to accidentally meet MK because I wanted a bass to sound like this & John put the circuit in.........
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffZXnWkbkgs[/media]
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John made me a bass once and he is without doubt one of the nicest guys you will ever meet , and a true master craftsman .

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1360798604' post='1976872']
I wouldn't entirely agree with that; they weren't together that long beofre the hits started (IIRC) but at the time his slap bass was very different in the mainstream, just recovering from New Romanticsm ( the NWOBHM), so it was different to the general public, most of who wouldn't be aware of Stanley Clarke et al.
I'm no huge L42 fan, I liked what they did then, but I don't like slap bass as a rule; I prefer bowel distorting bass, except for Lemmy's but that's just so unique it's just awesome.
Still - always ready to hear anyone else's [i]qualified[/i] (as in cited) opinion.
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That's fair enough Stu , but let me try and put what I am saying in context . I am a big fan ( indeed I am a product of ) that great era of up-front bass playing in the early 80s , and I vividly remember Mark King and Level 42 when they first came out . Mark was a "hot " player , but even back then his tone was thin and wimpy because he had to use such skinny strings to play in that style . With the benefit of hindsight , once you strip away his indulgences like the slap solos ( that are all basically different versions of the same event ) he isn't really any better (or even as good as ) some of the other young British players of the day such as Nick Beggs . What I object to is people who say that Mark King is one of best players of all time , when in fact he was just the most prominent player of [i]that [/i]time . They are very different players , but the comparison I would make by way of contrast is with Pino Palladino . He is everything that Mark King is not , and he [i]is[/i] a truly great player .

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1360797984' post='1976859']
Comparing Mark King with Marcus Miller is like trying to compare Brian May with Larry Carlton - the former are musicians but also entertainers of the common people whereas the latter are much more "musicians musicians". Both endeavours deserve equal respect.
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I am sure that Mark is an entertainer too , but then again Marcus Miller is also a band leader in his own right . But just for the record , I am judging Mark King purely on his musical ability not as a showbiz entity . .

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1360796876' post='1976835']
Not at all, at least in your posts you've cited people and particular songs that to endorse your point. Maybe it's an internet thing, I've just never found it in real life................. though I suppose a "yet" would be in order at this point.
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For what it's worth , I've known quite a few pro musicians over the years , and on the whole they were just as bitchy as anyone else , although the older they get the less dismissive they are of other musicians doing certain things because they need the money ! I've also known a few people who have met and worked with Mark King , and they all have said that he is a really , really nice bloke and the most down-to -earth fella you could ever meet . But the fact remains that he gained a reputation as being some kind of leading virtuoso of the bass guitar , which he quite clearly is not to true cognicenti . Strip away the show pony stuff ( which doesn't sound very good anyway ) and you are left with a very capable player , but not a great one .