Funky Dunky

Does decent tones. I don't much bother with the effects but it's good to know they're there.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1409139452' post='2536666'] Roccos muting comes mostly from the left hand. He frets, mostly, with his index and middle fingers, and mutes with his ring and little. [/quote] Thanks, that's interesting to know. The 'What Is Hip?' bass line is beyond my level at the moment but it's something I aspire to. Heck of a workout. MarloweDK has a fab rendition of it on youtube, his hands are so relaxed as he plays it and I'm tensing way too much.

Thanks! I'm on it :-)

Hi guys, I've been trying to polish up my staccato playing but having trouble getting it to sound nice and clipped like the pros (think Bernard Edwards, or Rocco on 'What Is Hip?'). Any tips or good tutorials out there on this particular facet? It's important to me because I'm coming up on two years playing bass and this is something I want to be quite a big part of my style - a lot of the parts and lines I create would ideally have this sound and my mind can conceive cool lines but my fingers can't quite nail that lovely clipped sound yet. How much responsibility falls on each hand when playing this way? Is it plucking hand or fretting hand which does most of the work in achieving that sound? Any help here would be great. Thanks :-)

Hmmm. I'd be interested to hear that. Not something I think I would spend money on though lol.

Anyone got one of these? I've had mine a little over a year and it's a cracking wee box. Particularly fond of the KGB and Redhead presets, and haven't even scratched the surface of the FUSE software yet. It's tiding me over quite nicely while I save up for a Genz Benz :-) I'd be interested in sharing settings and hearing opinions from anyone who has one.

Ok, put the gun down - I know what you're maybe thinking in terms of speaker size and bass etc. Humour me please. (I'm not referring to the Mesa Boogie Walkabout, btw) Pignose....Smokey......I think even Marshall, Vox and Fender make - or made - portable/pocket battery powered guitar amps which were gimmicky, but useful for backstage warmups/busking/practising when locked in a cupboard by an angry spouse. My question is, is there anything like this for bassists? Thank you for not laughing and pointing at me.

Geoff, thanks for going into the details. Sounds like a good match for me actually, I have a similar playing style to yours judging by your post. I take it the Sub cuts through the mix nicely? Was the preamp swap tricky? There are supposedly guides on how to do it over on talkbass but I couldn't find them.

Any observations? Does it do the job perfectly well? What kind of gigs do you do?

I played one of these before I eventually settled on a Squier VMPJ ( wanted that pickup configuration on a budget) and found it to be immensely playable and did a surprisingly good job of the Stingray slap sound. My one gripe was the preamp - it was too darn hot, resulting in unwanted distortion. Now that Sterling have added the red and blue finishes, both of which are really sexy, I'm tempted to get one to tide me over and satisfy my GAS until I can afford my Warwick SS1. Anyone know if Sterling have dealt with the hot preamp issue on the 2014 models? If not, I'd definitely need to do something about it. Anyone know if these basses are giggable? If not, what do they lack?

[quote name='ML94' timestamp='1408192840' post='2527981'] It maybe that your thumb isn't quick enough to pull off when you thump on the string. Even a slight touch when you have slapped the string could cause a harmonic. Does it happen with a fretted note ? [/quote] Yes, not every time but fairly frequently. It's definitely a technique problem.

It happens even when I slap an open string. What seems to be happening is, the heel of my slapping hand is touching the string just in front of the pickup, about halfway along the string between the end of the fretboard and the bridge. I sat down and tried to correct it last night but I'm struggling.

Hi Scott, thanks for posting this. Unfortunately I'm getting "an error occurred" when I press play. ps - any tips for avoiding sympathetic harmonics when slapping? I'm using the bony part of my thumb, I'm whipping it off after the slap and I'm attacking at the edge of the fretboard, but still getting an infuriating "HOOO".

Cracking bass, cracking value. Try to get one with the DD pickups if you can, much better-sounding imo.

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1406585971' post='2512860'] One thing that I don't think has been pointed out: I really wouldn't go into this thinking about spending a certain amount. Get down to a bass shop, try as many basses as you can, find basses that you like and basses that you don't, and then and [i]only[/i] then look at the prices and see if you can afford to buy new, second hand or neither. Appreciate this wont be possible for harder to find basses, but I think its the best way of finding what [i]you[/i] want, not what we think you want [/quote] This. This is really sound advice. Thank you mate. And I still want an SS1. ...and a Stingray. and a Spector.....

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1406585997' post='2512861'] ....and get a second hand SSI [/quote] :-D

The Spector Euro is a monster of a bass; it has just made my "dream collection" wishlist, but - and this will either be completely wrong or seem needlessly harsh - I'm not sure it's versatile enough for a function band. That huge, dark tone impresses me so much it borders on arousal, and if I were playing in say a rock/metal band, it's be absolutely immense.....but if I'm called to play Shania Twain and Beatles numbers, it might be too much of a menacing sound. But I'll tell you what, I'd love to have one.

[quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1406567604' post='2512543'] The OLP basses were the 'Squier' basses of the MM range about a decade ago. Nice basses if you got a good one, they rarely pop up for sale nowadays, I'm assuming because everyone who has one wants to keep hold of it. These are way below your minimum budget though so probably not the kind of quality you're after. As said above you can afford a like-new-but-used Stingray, so why settle for a budget lookalike? [/quote] Thanks for explaining that, I'd seen the term OLP floating about never knew exactly what it meant, I thought it was a really good, highly desirable but rare second-hand MM! And what you say about budget look-a-likes makes sense.

Interesting.......and what about OLP models? Or are they significantly more expensive second hand?

[quote name='Biaeothanata-Bassist' timestamp='1406508098' post='2512047'] Spector Euro 4. You can get it with either soap bars or the P/J config that you're used to with the Squier. Personally i prefer the PJ config on them. The EMGs sound amazing in it and the Spector Tone Pump pre amp in it is (I.M.O.) the nicest sounding pre amp on the market. I love the sound of them. [/quote] They do sound amazing, but again hard to get a try before you buy. Looking at what ebay has to offer, they're a good bit over my budget sadly. The tones from those basses are fat and dark, I love it.

It worries me the Warwick I want will be too difficult for me to obtain. I have had my head turned a little by the Sterling Ray 34 today, I must admit. I always loved Stingray slap tones but had doubts over the fingerstyle sound being a little clunky. This Ray 34, though, seems a bit smoother. It seems like quite an instrument for the money, too. Must play one and see.

Hmmm.....that does make it a little more difficult. I'm not looking to buy just yet, I'm doing my research well in advance, but it's starting to lean heavily in the favour of a used German-made Warwick. I will of course tour the shops first and do my own testing, but Warwicks are like hen's teeth in this part of the world.

Apparently you can pick up a Stuart Zender signature Warwick for £700-800 on www.thomann.de!! Erm....this changes things.....

Really leaning towards a Warwick SS1 at the mo. Where's the best place to pick up a second hand one? Ebay?