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Hey guys I know it's been ages but I think I can make this - would be nice to nice to see you all and I'd like to bring my Ableton/laptop rig plus Softstep pedal etc to make some noises - not sure it's worthy of a workshop but I'd be happy to demo it - if I was to do it as a workshop then I would want to do it earlier in the day or around lunchtime - PM me Nick if that's of interest - otherwise I can just set up in the jam room - a couple of monitors in the auditorium is all is need Otherwise I may just come to jam! Mike

Thanks for the positive feedback - Skol's done a monster job on the mix and Si is a mastering don so the whole thing should be great when it's done - we have a few gigs coming up - next one is Hideaway in Streatham (London) on 4 June - it's a great venue and the band is banging live http://www.hideawaylive.co.uk/j-sonics-thursday-4th-june-2015 More videos and album coming soon - well more like September time - will keep you posted Mike

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1419638042' post='2641581'] Nice thread! Here's mine so far. All subject to flux... as is everything in life Ambitions and goals: 1) Stop noodling around and dedicate some proper time to productive practice (bass and guitar). 2) Finally get round to accepting a kind family friend's offer of an upright piano. Then learn how to play it. Once we've worked out where to put it... Firm plans so far: 1) Finish and release an EP with Mike Flynn (Basschat's 'Urb'). We have a couple of tracks to do, then it's done. Very happy with it so far. 2) Mix an album for J-Sonics. Great musicians, so that should be fun. 3) Start new material with singer Paula Rae Gibson (another Mike Flynn collaboration!). On paper, I'm happy with that [/quote] Looking forward to all this stuff too Paul - my ambition is purely to keep doing what I'm doing - just maintaining a life/work balance while managing to do some creative stuff AND run a band... it's quite a lot to handle!

[quote name='rOB' timestamp='1422388717' post='2672104'] Great stuff. Love it. [/quote] Thanks dude - these guys are great (not so sure about my solos) but this was just great fun - thanks for checking it out

The other thing you could look at Rob is creating a Hackintosh - a PC that runs OSX http://www.hackintosh.com/ Never done it but I know people who have no problems - but a bit of a faff - might be better just to buy a refurbed Macbook Pro http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_air/13 Not 'cheap' but will last you years and years

Sounding great dude - is that an F-Bass you're playing? Hope you get some gigs with this - although running a band of this size must be a nightmare - I have problems getting my 6-piece crew all in the same place at the same time... sounds great though!

Awesome news Chris - this is some heavy sh*t but all the better for it - will give it a proper listen soon - amazing news you have a label supporting you too - much deserved

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1421061511' post='2656600'] Lovely stuff Mike! Great playing from you, as always mate. And the two brothers are pretty damn nifty too. Now for the dubstep remix... Catch up soon. Paul [/quote] Thanks dude - like you say - now for the remix! PS here's a mellower tune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObCTiMoIglE

Eh up, Happy New Year all - just wanted to share a little seasonal jam I had with two of my oldest/bestest friends the Watson brothers from Stroud http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo16plXVn3g Hope you enjoy

[quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1418994068' post='2635545'] What the hell has happened to you that you have to piss over everyone's chips in practically every post you make? Whatever it is I hope you get over it or it resolves itself soon - it can't be nice feeling this bitter all the time. [/quote] +1

The Jon Cleary vids are great - I love this about him: Jon Cleary is a funk and R&B musician based in New Orleans, Louisiana. [b]He was originally from Cranbrook in Kent, England[/b], and has studied for the past 20 years the "musical culture and life of New Orleans," according to his website. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Cleary_%28musician%29"]Wikipedia[/url] He's playing at the Barbican with John Scofield next April http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=17298 Should be a great gig

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1418919493' post='2634870'] I can imagine what being trapped in a lift at Smooth FM must be like now. [/quote] ???

[quote name='crag42' timestamp='1418913480' post='2634770'] now I like that. ... The drummer! ! What's with the headphones though? [/quote] They are recording their last album We Like It Here - hence headphone monitoring - v impressive as it's 100% live and it's the take that's on the album

This lot are alright... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_XJ_s5IsQc

Just made this video recently as I've kind of rediscovered the joys of my Sei Jazz - still want a 6 string but this baby is still kicking ass 5 years after I had it made for me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6q3aQVuzPI

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1417381213' post='2619846'] Sometimes a song just sounds best when it is stripped down to the very basics. This is one of them. [/quote] Thanks man - I don't do many duo jams anymore (I used to do a lot) it's hard to stay completely tuned into each other but this one was fun Phil is a monster guitarist - still in his early 20s... a name to watch out for

So I went to the Warwick Bass Camp in September, bumped into this amazing young guitar player and we jammed - the dude from Bass The World filmed it and so here's a little tune we played for the first time together - hope you enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtlgS3uEA3A Mike

Dude - sounds lovely - likewise the soundcloud stuff. You've clearly got your shiz together - very nice indeed

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1415612414' post='2601877'] Love it. Those Sei basses all sound so good, Mike, so clean. Perfect for what you are doing. [/quote] Thanks Rob - wish it was a bit more tuneful but like I say (er, not Sei) I've suddenly got back into this bass and all its goodness so have been working (noodling) on some more focused ideas - but yes, it really does sound ace

Hey folks - hope you don't mind another little post - just wanted to point you in the direction of a vid I made a couple of weeks back with my Sei Jazz - a bass that is truly wonderful in every way but one I have been slightly neglecting - but no more! I've strung it with some of them new fangled Super Brights Stainless Steels from Dunlop and I am truly in love with this bass again - and was digging the strings so much I thought I'd throw down a little thumb style jam - this is a variation on the Wooten technique but is mainly using thumb, index and middle fingers to get a lot of triplet stuff happening - with the fretting hand adding in the extra notes via hammer-ons and taps - anyway it's a bit noodly - hope you enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6q3aQVuzPI Cheers Mike

This programme is bloody brilliant - completely nails the problem of 'slap' being a bit show-offy and a complete valid technique - as Mitch Benn says, it's probably 'the most un-British thing you can do with a bass guitar...' - a genuinely well put together doc this and a thoroughly enjoyable listen, even if you hate slap bass... http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04n62k3

Thanks Steve - I appreciate the feedback - cheers

Can't make it now sorry - I'm away seeing my family so at least I have a legit excuse! Shame as I wanted to demo my laptop FX setup - it'll have to wait until next year - I posted a video of some of the sounds here http://basschat.co.uk/topic/247708-synth-bass-ableton-live-fx-rig-tunage/page__pid__2584054#entry2584054 Cheers chaps - hope it's as good as it usually is Mike