urb

I have it on very good authority that JT is now in possession of and is using two Sei 5 string Jazz basses, one is a smoky black colour - I missed this show but I'd be interested to know if that sounds like the bass he was using...

This is what I use - very good though there are much better things out there now - I'd love a RME Fireface 400 - just don't have £650 right now [url="http://www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/info_56376.html"]http://www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/info_56376.html[/url] The Mackie Onyx Satellite's are good though - and there are a few used ones out there - it's great as it can run powered monitors without having to have a mixing desk (which I have in a virtual sense with Logic anyway) plus you can pull out the central section and have a small portable interface that you can take for remote sessions as well. M

A good bass goes a long towards getting a great sound through virtually any 'working' amp (i.e. it helps if you're borrowing a less than decent amp at a gig or rehearsal that it's not falling apart!) so if the speaker in the cab/combo is half decent the most of the EQ can be dialled in from the bass - and then it's just a question of volume levels, which in a small venue are likely to be far more within the limits of a 'cheaper' amp's capabilities. I've heard similarly great tones from Laurence Cottle using just his Yamaha 5 string through a whole variety of amps - a lot of a great sound is actually in the fingers first and foremost, bass second and then your amp... being a great player helps most of all! M

[quote name='WalMan' post='1162513' date='Mar 14 2011, 10:27 PM']Watch out for MusicTech magazine in Smiths every three or four months the WHS copies include (or they used to anyway) aDVD of all the loops & samples from the previous few months.[/quote] Future Music is also worth buying as every month they have a free DVD with the issue that usually contains hundreds of royalty free drum loops of all varieties - plus a bunch of very useful lessons for Cubase, Logic, Ableton etc - it's a good mag as well for tech reviews and a lot of tips for home recording/producing - the interviews and features tend to be geared toward the dance music side of things but there's plenty of other cool features in there as well. [url="http://www.musicradar.com/futuremusic"]http://www.musicradar.com/futuremusic[/url] Just thought I'd mention it M

It's like anything in life - say food for example, a fine piece of fillet steak is a real treat - but just eating fillet steak morning, noon and night you'd soon be sick to your stomach... I love really well played slap bass in the right musical context - listening to a wall of Mark King wannabes with no musical feel, timing and excessive volume is just unpleasant. I think we need to stay away from confusing a perfectly acceptable playing technique with certain 'playing' situations that basically end up as a battle of volume (and occasionally ego) rather than actual MUSIC making... One point I'll make about the use of slap bass is that I don't do it very often in a live context but when I do I use it to cut through the mix, as sometimes it's the only way you'll get heard on a solo! I think sadly the same principle can apply at guitar shows, when the volume gets that loud the only thing that cuts through is some clickety-clackety-pop... such is life.

Yep, 26 years and counting for me too - though happily cohabiting and a parent now as well

Hey folks - check this stuff out - it's very good indeed... Cheers Mike

[quote name='Sibob' post='1161563' date='Mar 14 2011, 11:28 AM']Love your playing mate!, gutted I missed you on saturday! Btw, do you do lessons by any chance? Si[/quote] PM you later on that Si - but yes occasionally! Sorry I missed you as well - would have been good to catch up Mike

Cool Andy - you've really done a great job, I can hear the amount of time and effort that's gone into this - not just on the playing side either - I'll PM you later when I'm home - I hope this is a success, get out there and push it - you've got a great sound and style, it'll only get better with time. But like I say, it's impressive stuff. I'll be in touch Cheers Mike

Hey Andy Great stuff man - you've got a lot of sh*t together here and it's really impressive for a first effort - if I had to criticise (only in a friendly way that is) there is a danger of this kind of slap-n-tap stuff sounding a bit repetitive on each track and harmonically using open strings can also tie things into sounding like they are in similar keys etc. Technically however you are totally on it and the producion, bass tone and performances are first rate - I know you're more of a funk-rock into Manring style player but a little fingerstyle and the odd melody line would be nice too. I'm assuming the drums are live or are they cleverly programmed? I'd be interested to know - and it was nice to hear some other instruments coming in on the album tracks too. But seriously well done and I hope you keep developing - you've made great leaps here. Mike

I love these by this killing Dutch drummer KJ Sawka - they are all high quality WAVs and work for any DAW - all played live and great for all kinds of grooves in a D'n'B stylee [url="http://www.loopmasters.com/product/details/208"]http://www.loopmasters.com/product/details/208[/url] They really are good!

[quote name='Clarky' post='1160308' date='Mar 13 2011, 11:15 AM']Hey Mike, it's not the type of music I would normally listen to but I have to say that was a superb demonstration of amazing technique and improvisational ability. I wish I had a tenth of your abilities![/quote] Thanks Clarky - I appreciate your feedback - it's the kind of stuff that is impossible to play at bass guitar shows! Hence I played very little yesterday as it's kind of a waste of time - plus I'm very happy with my basses... thanks again I know this fusion jazz stuff isn't everyone's bag, and it's only one side of the music I like to listen to and play. Mike

Hello again - I'd love to be back there again today but I'm knackered - such a fun day, mainly because I didn't spend too much time in the trade hall - Gary Willis was absolutely my highlight, he's simply one of the best bassists ever and makes great music with astounding technique and has also fully mastered the incredible technical possibilities of bringing studio technology to the live environment... Janek was great as well - he's really developed as a player and person and his clinic was cool, but sadly the out front sound was pretty crap - amazing playing and great chat though. Right - I meant to post this yesterday but couldn't be arsed to switch on my laptop - I think this may qualify as 'pic of the day': Mark King, Gary Willis and Janek Gwizdala all in the same room backstage: [attachment=74686:mark_kin...nek_lbgs.JPG] All lovely chaps and all very cool in person - Mr King particularly erudite and funny Hope today is as well attended and hope this all bodes well for future events. Two interesting things I heard mentioned in relation to how successful this has been in context of other 'bass days': This was the biggest of it's kind even compared to things in the US and others on Europe - secondly Bass Player Live (sponsored by the US bass mag) only sold 200 tickets at its last event - and that featured Stanley Clarke, Vic Wooten, Marcus, Matt Garrison etc - so if they can book some more big names for next year this could be repeated. All good IMO M

Thanks for the kind words chaps - all appreciated kindly - now it's time to go and write some new tunes! Cheers for watching Mike

It's silly to dismiss any technique as irrelevant as all things in the right place are fine - but high volume and tons of clashing slapping going on at the same time = instant headache I still love slap in the right context and with musicality and groove it's all good - though personally speaking I'm pretty much using fingerstyle exclusively these days.

Yes a great day - lovely to see and speak to many bass playing buddies and make some new ones - upside was the phenomenal Gary Willis, and ace Janek and Dave M, Mr King was great but sadly slap bass (even in his hands) soon starts to grate, and it was the scourge of the trade hall - but I spent much of the day avoiding it and had a lovely time M

I've just pinned this so hopefully you guys can make it a regular stop for anyone with a new demo/tune they want some feedback on... M

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='1156934' date='Mar 10 2011, 05:26 PM']I'm grooving... head nodding... fingers tapping... yeah, man. Cool and funky as hell. [/quote] Thanks fella - I'm particularly pleased with the loop at the end - and this bass records so well (it sounds great anyway) but having just DI'd it for this I'm happy with the sound - and I didn't even switch pickups for the solo... cheers for watching M

[quote name='cheddatom' post='1156897' date='Mar 10 2011, 05:05 PM']I go on the muse messageboard, and there's a "plug your own band" thread on there. I try to listen to as many as possible when I get a day off, but I would only comment on 1/10 of what I listen to, because the other 9/10 is either sh*t or just not my thing.[/quote] This is a point that comes up in professional CD reviewing, there's simply too much music around to possibly listen to it all and have an informed opinion on it - and I think the point about personal taste is also relevant here. RE my own postings I know I've been doing this sh*t for a long time now and I only do it to point people in its general direction - if I get a couple of positive or negative comments here then hey it's nice to think someone enjoyed it (or not) - I'm all for criticism, and yes I'm my own hardest critic - plenty of people have said I suck, quite a few like what I do - hey that's life innit? So I don't mind but I think it's good to try and encourage newbies and those really seeking advice - if people can post a bit more in that forum and give friendly but honest feedback I think it would be a positive move - we all know our shortcomings but we can't be blamed for trying, so yes, post a few more responses if you can peeps. Mike

Looks cool man - having worked with various websites over the last ten years my overriding opinion now is, simple is good. Layout on yours was very nice easy to read etc - if I'm completely honest I wasn't that keen on the second audio track, nothing wrong with your playing, I just thought the song sounded a bit dated - the Jackson stuff and the vids are all very cool though - maybe record something original and new and bang it up there - just my thoughts, but overall great effort and lovely playing. Mike

Hey Sorry to post another of these improvised things but I took the time to record things properly and film it in HD - the looped melody at the end is my fave part - but let me know what you think - played on my Sei Jazz with my Boss RC2 looper Incidentally I'm working on some new recordings - some with a singer - and it's going pretty well, but I'm not previewing anything until it's completely ready - so these little jams are just me letting off steam - hope that's cool with y'all? Cheers Mike

[quote name='chris_b' post='1156276' date='Mar 10 2011, 09:39 AM']If you can't gat a train directly to Olympia all you have to do is go to Hammersmith underground station (District and Piccadilly) and walk 1/2 mile down Hammersmith Road in the direction of Kensington.[/quote] There are loads of buses too that run from outside Kensington High Street tube - they go left (not right!) - pretty much any bus going that way will get you there in about 5 - 10mins depending on traffic... might as well get the most out of your travel card! They ain't as cheap as they used to be...

[quote name='Sibob' post='1155724' date='Mar 9 2011, 07:08 PM']Good to have a chat again, enjoyed it at the last bass bash Si[/quote] Yeah man - do say hello - should be a good hang - I'll be around all day, that's about all the bass I can take

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1156199' date='Mar 10 2011, 08:09 AM']I wonder why they're called Glass Onyon PR ... couldn't they spell Onion, or was someone else already using the name? Either way, as a piece of marketing from a complete stranger this is the Forum equivalent of a cold-calling salesman.[/quote] I couldn't agree more - look Onyon PR we have no problem with you lot posting here but this kind of thing, like with the Jeff Berlin PR postings, as if they were from an over zealous 'fan', are really f-ing amateur if you ask me - in fact if you want to do this kind of thing properly contact Ped and pay up like the rest of the affiliates. PLEASE NOTE: As a professional journalist myself I find this sort of stuff incredibly off putting and it's more likely to make me want to avoid the artist you are trying to promote through this kind of spamming - I suggest you contact magazines and or bass websites (like Bass Musician Magazine and NoTreble) that might actually run a proper news item on the said artist and the particular album thing or whatever it is they are pushing... Thanks for your attention Mike