urb

Interesting to see this thread pop up as I'm thinking very seriously about adding a MIDI thing to my Single Cut sei, as I already have a piezo pup system installed, just looked around at various interfaces, and I've obviously checked out the amazing Rolad V bass that you have Ped (very impressive but a biut much for my needs) and I found this: [url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/roland-gi-20p-midi-converter/10087"]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/roland...converter/10087[/url] I think that's my kind of budget and it looks like it'd work well for both home recording via Logic and some live stuff as well, thoughts and opinions welcome on that unit, and I'll let you know as and when I get it installed, my main desire with it is to be able to effortlessly create synth/piano parts in my recordings and even some midi drum beats etc, instead of labouriously writing the stuff out in a score... which I'm rubbish at anyway! Cheers Mike

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='720138' date='Jan 21 2010, 02:21 PM']Anyone else recommend some new stuff they have found?[/quote] Hey Bilbo Just a quickie - the new Dan Berglund (bassist who was in EST until the pianist died) album 'Tonbruket' is gorgeous - kind of a cross between Eberhard Weber and Pink Floyd with a whole load of other stuff in there - very tasteful, melodic and atmospheric - that's released in March. The new Brad Mehldau album is pretty cool as well - Mike Janisch's Purpose Bult is a good album, love Emperical as well and Troyka's debut album on Edition Records is a corker. Check them out! Mike

I know this is a real nightmare and I have tinitus myself - thankfully it's quite mild but always there - anyway the ER20s are pretty cool but seeing as your hearing is priceless I honestly suggest you invest in a pair of proper custom fitted ear plugs - once you've tried them you won't look back - and the great thing is they still allow perfect, clear sound but just get rid of all the harmful frequencies - these are the ones I use: [url="http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=121"]http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/index.p...&Itemid=121[/url] Yes they are pricey - and if you play very loud music then you can up the filters to 25db which should cope with very loud guitar/drums [url="http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=123"]http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/index.p...&Itemid=123[/url] My latest pair are so comfortable and the filters so good I almost couldn't believe they were working properly when I first got them - they were that clear - but still cutting out all those evil ear splitting noise levels... I regret not getting these sooner but at least they've made my gigging/rehearsing life a lot more pleasurable and relaxing - knowing that my ear drums are being looked after. Hope that helps and definitely see the hearing doctor - sorry to generalise here but most GPs don't know jack about the specifics of hearing... IME Mike

Hey Ray all good advice here, I'd like to add a couple more suggestions, the first is that I did one the instore Apple courses last year, it costs about £80 for a year but that's for a session a week if you have the time to do that - more details here: [url="http://www.apple.com/retail/onetoone/"]http://www.apple.com/retail/onetoone/[/url] Secondly there's a brilliant guy on Youtube called SFLogicninja, put his name into the search box on YT and look at the stack of videos on his channel, he covers just about everything I think he's great, but there are shed lads more help vids on YouTube so search around and you'll find them. Personally I started with Garageband and then moved to Logic pro after a couple of years, the cool thing is that you can open any Garageband project in Logic and so if you have any previous tunes in GB then load one up in Logic and that should get u going. GB is a much more basic version of Logic but does have all the functionality of it, so you can still use MIDI, automation, and a ton of instrument and effects plugins - if Logic is still too daunting get going in GB then move over to Logic when your confidence is better. Hope that helps Mike

I think this is what you might be lookng for... - er, don't try this at home or on stage: Epic fail... PS I think it's actually a Sei bass that gets trashed... doh! M

Hey guys and gals Here are a couple of tunes recorded live at my gig last night - I used my iPod mic and then ran the thing through Logic to boost levels and EQ etc. Cissy Strut is obviously the Meters classic - me and the drum have a bit of a head to head duel towards the end which was all off the cuff stuff - Saleem is a brilliant drummer - great groover and soloist. [b][url="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=131707"]Listen here[/url][/b] Cold Duck Time is pretty hyper and uptempo and features our singer Julia. [b][url="http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=131706"]Listen here[/url][/b] Hope you dig - let me know what you think Thanks for listening Mike

[quote name='Faithless' post='713925' date='Jan 15 2010, 03:46 PM']Ok, so I've seen John P playing Ken Smith basses a while ago, but now he sticks with his custom Yamaha. I must admit, I can't stand his sound on Yamaha, but I love him on a Ken Smith. I've checked Talkbass, but could find it anywhere, so.. Anyone could tell me, from when till when he played Ken Smiths, and what albums should I check out, where he uses a Smith? I've seen him doing his thing on Smith, when playing with Chick Korea, but, that was a live thing.. Any info greatly appreciated, Faith[/quote] Hi dude - I know what you mean but I was very pleasantly surprised by his latest album Remmbrance it's the best thing he's done in ages and his tone was a lot warmer and his bass lines and solos were truly superb... I've just checked and I think it's just his first two albums 'John Patiucci' and 'On The Corner' have him playing his Smith, 'Sketchbook' seems to be the first with the Yamaha... I have the first two on vinyl and they are signed Hope that helps Mike

I add it to solos on my recordings but never to bass lines - it helps create a bit of space in the mix - but you have to be careful not to overdo it - live I've never really used it, I like the natural ambiance you get on a gig anyway - no need to drown yourself in 'verb... A small example of how I use it

[quote name='51m0n' post='709804' date='Jan 12 2010, 11:04 AM']To be honest I like a lot of pretty hard on the ear 'experimental' stuff, Zorn, Ground Zero etc etc, and I've played a fair bit of 'room clearing' music too (whether or not by design ). As such I feel very definitely in a position to cast judgement over the efforts as represented by this ickle vid - since my taste and experience include stuff along these lines (and way harsher). My conclusion is it is just poor. Its definitely hiding behind a veil of "we're so complex and on the edge that you couldnt understand, man" but in fact its tedious, uninteresting, uninspiring badly written and as far as I can tell badly played (difficult given the medium to be sure though). Give me Torture Garden by Naked City any day, that's really amazing entertaining, inspiring and damned fun to listen to. Cairo Chop Shop, Dead Spot and Dead Dredd are three of my all time favourite tracks of all time like (look up [url="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/album/Torture+Garden/2194056"]Torture Garden on GrooveShark[/url], stick with it though, you will struggle ). N.Y Flat Top Box is hysterical too! Damn I forgot how good Speedfreaks is, funky as hell in places JauquoXXXX please go back to the drawing board, its in there somewhere mate, but this isnt it IMO....[/quote] +1 JauquoXXXX believes because he plays ridiculously low tuned basses that he's somehow pushing the envelope - well even if he is it still sounds sh*t to me - there are so many great 'free' music bands out there (like those you mention) - or this amazing UK band (with no bassist!) called trioVD that I absolutely love - if you want to hear something truly mental (but good) then check them out - especially live Just MHO M

[quote name='davidmpires' post='709872' date='Jan 12 2010, 12:20 PM']That's what I've been thinking as well. I have a mate that could do it, but if it goes wrong we'll have a problem. I think I'll have to go all the way up there. Do you know what time it closes?[/quote] Opening times here: [url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/contactUsLocation.cfm"]http://www.thebassgallery.com/contactUsLocation.cfm[/url] Martin is a wiz with electronics - shouldn't take him long to do and won't cost much as you already bought the circuit - best to get a pro to do it too. M

[quote name='jakesbass' post='706616' date='Jan 9 2010, 02:40 PM']If you consider me a village elder then I'll offer you this. What I want in any discussion is for people to distinguish between what they like and what is good, and similarly what they dislike and what is not good. Just because you don't like something does not render it bad. I'm afraid opinions don't come into that as certain elements of what is good are not debatable you can argue their relative merits or whether they are fit for purpose but that is a different conversation. If somebody decides to be condemning of something without recourse to reason, whether I'm considered a "village elder" (which is a childish definition) or not I will utilise my right which carries exactly proportionate weight to yours to try to bring a little balance to the debate. What you don't see the "Village Elders" doing is making sniping little remarks which achieve little more than to create a divided bad feeling in the thread. If you don't want to hear the views of people be they "Village Elders" or some such other imagined splinter group of basschatters then don't read on.[/quote] Absolutely 100% my thoughts on this thread and the millions like them on the interweb... perfectly illustrating the futility and pointlessness of saying "loads of people think X is briliant, but I don't, therefore they are massively overated..." it just doesn't stack up, people love to dis Jaco but whether you like the guy's music or not there are enough people out there, like Joni Mitchell, Pat Metneny and Wayne Shorter, who will attest to his genius, as well as his failings and flaws, all these people are human beings too. Re 'maintaining the status quo' not quite sure what that entails either, should we all fall in line and agree that certain styles or techniques are acceptable and others aren't? I think BC is a very tolerant place and there's room for every POV here, but provocative rants based on pure opinion to get a reaction are just plain annoying, if it's meant as a joke then cool, but this thread is typically how these 'debates' pan out, i.e. going round in circles and achieving pretty much f*** all. M

[quote name='J3ster' post='705914' date='Jan 8 2010, 07:32 PM']Not a chance he would have me at an Open E Well maybe a bit beyond that But that wasn't the point and that video did not impress me one bit[/quote] The point was - he has great timing - not the notes he was playing... I really am going to let this lie now - toooooooooo many threads on th internet slagging off Wooten, Jaco et al - it's ALL been said before - I have pretty much listened to almost everything Vic has done over the last twenty years and I am fully confident of my belief that he is a brilliant bassist and musician - not for every gig out there granted - but overall the guy has his sh*t down - end of - and he plays great in bands. He is however an individual - just like the millions and millions of other bassists out there - all doing their thing - right and wrong - good and bad. Life's too short for this sh*t. M

[quote name='J3ster' post='705903' date='Jan 8 2010, 07:22 PM']My GOD!! Are you serious!! That was supposed to show how talented Victor is and that he should be regarded amongst the best in the world... Wow you know I think i could play everything he does there and even improve on it.. Hey maybe I'm underated.. Seriously are you a Bassist? ............ Pick up some sticks boy... I think you'd make a good drummer.. I give up!![/quote] How to make friends and influence people

Esbjorn Svenssen - Swedish jazz pianist who drowned in a tragic accident two years ago - they had to choose between him or his ten year old son... so they saved his son. Met the guy a couple of times and he and his band EST changed jazz so much in the last ten years - his death also killed off the band... a double tragedy and one that definitely moved me.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='705706' date='Jan 8 2010, 04:44 PM']Re-read the comment you made, then try to find as much Vic as you can, not the YT stuff, but the album material. Personal opinions are OK, but in my "opinion" you made yourself look like a dickhead.[/quote] +100 A quick example of Vic's many talents - ignore the first 20 seconds of slap - this is well worth watching for the full 10 minutes - maybe you'll learn something

FWIW I saw the incredible job Martin at The Gallery do on that F Bass that fell out of a car boot on the motorway - the neck was seriously smashed but when he'd finished it looked immaculate, give him a call first and see what he says Hope that helps Mike

HI Maza Welcome aboard - always nice to hear from other London bass types - I'm in Brixton myself - not sure ALL women make great bass players but I'm lucky to gig a lot with a superb drummer called Sophie Alloway and she grooves brilliantly and unlike a lot of male drummers has a wonderfully understated style - any gig with her on drums is always great. There are loads of amazing female bassists out there - Meshell Ndegeocello, Esperanza Spalding, Tal Wilkenfeld, Rhonda Smith, Yolanda Charles just for starters - all with different approaches and very cool attitudes. If you want to learn a lot of great technical stuff here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showforum=31"]this forum[/url] is packed with good advice on everything from picking techniques to theory from the basic stuff to some pretty out there advanced things too - don't be shy to ask any questions too as there are loads of pros, and very knowledgable types (same difference ) - who will be happy to answer them - but a heck of a lot of stuff has been covered here so do bung a couple of key words in the search box and there's probably already a few posts already on the site. Happy posting and keep up the practice - little and often is my moto - just do some every day if you can. Cheers Mike

No that's it - I've lost the will to live

[quote name='Doddy' post='702974' date='Jan 6 2010, 03:46 PM']I've never found it to work, to be honest. Take your example of 'Santana' for crotchet triplets-I automatically say it as a quaver and 2 semi quavers ( 'San-tana'). That's where confusion sets in. I have never taught using words for rhythms,and have never had had a student who hasn't been able to grasp rhythms by counting.[/quote] Here's a phonetic rhythmic language that works perfectly [url="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konnakol?wasRedirected=true"]http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konnakol?wasRedirected=true[/url] I've only learnt a little of it but it really does work and is founded on hundreds of years of development, but can easily ne applied to any playing situation, it's well worth a look Cheers Mike

[quote name='FuNkShUi' post='700954' date='Jan 4 2010, 08:53 PM']Coulda done with filling in the blanks a bit. A little too simple for my ear............ Cracking mate, obviously very gifted and technical video. Should try loop some of the chord sequences off that and play quite a simple solo over the top. Think that would sound cool! IMO anyway![/quote] Thanks fella - to be honest this was completely imrpovised and it's a bit messy as a result - I'd like to work it into an original composition soon and make some kind of duet video - with the lead part on fretless. Glad you liked some of it anyway - thanks for watching. Cheers Mike

[quote name='TimR' post='702340' date='Jan 6 2010, 12:01 AM']If you ever see a piece of music in F# or Gb run![/quote] Those are two of my favourite keys! Seriously - F# minor is great and is really just A major but starting on the 6th... M

Other commitments permitting I'd love to come along - I'm based in Brixton but I think the idea of a big pub somewhere would be great - and re the idea of bands playing I think that's a good one - maybe Mr Dave Marks could come along and do both a fusion and rock thing - I may be able to rustle up a few musos as well - if not a decent drummer to come and groove with. Keep us posted chaps Mike

What's frustrating when listening to us bassists discuss theory is that some feel that because it's bass that we play that somehow we are exempt from certain ares of music, and just shut up and sit in the background, not make any fuss and not speak up when 1) we have a musical idea or 2) don't understand a musical idea. Obviously some of you don't feel this way and have a high degree of musical skill regardless of what instrument you play - I'm constantly striving to learn new things and always try and practice something new, but I also love working on creating bass lines, grooves, learning tunes - all that stuff. I always wonder if sax players or pianists sit around and think whether or not there's some areas of music that they should never stray into - much like some are here. I went to a jazz gig last night (at Ronnie Scott's) and I could guarantee that all the bassists playing were fully interacting in the music, creating musical spaces, pushing the groove and the harmony - albeit in a more subtle way than the sax player or pianist - but with the greatest respect to all you lovely people it annoys me that some bassists feel like it's their right to have an inferiority complex about understanding music at a decent level - there's absolutely nothing to be afraid of, scared about or worried because you could and should know a bit more about how this stuff works - dive in and discover a bit more and see how much better it makes you feel as a, wait for it... musician.

Hey Peeps - Happy New Year - Firstly I'm really pleased to see this forum is busy as ever with loads and loads of different music from all of you (you're also to be thanked for making my modding job far too easy - thanks guys). Secondly I hope you'll dig a little clip from me just trying to develop this chord-thumping thing I've been mssing around with for a while. This is mainly improvised so forgive the odd loose end or unfinished idea - I have a plan to do a duet between a chord bass and a solo bass on top but that's gonna require a bit more time and planning than I had today... let me know what you think: Cheers people and keep up the good work Mike