Funky Dunky

I really wanted to go to this but my work changed my damn rota last week and now I can't go. Would've happily had a beer and a chinwag too

I almost can't watch Mohini, she's so good it upsets me.

No argument from me, I've not heard the album yet, only Moth To Flame, and based on that, I agree it's closer to old-skool Metallica than any of their last few albums. I watched video of the band bashing through a few songs on The Howard Stern Show, and have to say I was REALLY impressed with Rob, especially on Master Of Puppets. I love that they're allowing the bass to sit higher in the mix now, and Rob's timekeeping is exceptional, he is really locked in and it sounds giant. I just wish Kirk would stop with the damn wah-wah pedal.

And then there's this: [media]http://youtu.be/k0XbH_qMXso[/media] I mean......come on......that's not fair...

Aaargh! How did I not find this? This helps immensely! Thank you so much for sharing

[quote name='Stickman' timestamp='1476722090' post='3156654'] In order to cop Rocco's staccato feel on the verse, play the E on the A string with the first finger of your left hand and gently rest the other fingers flat across the strings to mute them slightly. Rocco plays a [i]lot[/i] of his lines like this, watch him play and you'll see him moving his hand around the neck to fret with the first finger whilst muting with the others as opposed to playing 'in position'. [/quote] Ah, very helpful! Thanks for this, exactly the kind of tip I'm looking for. It's particularly this that's eluded me thus far, so thank you!

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1476812429' post='3157523'] I say this as someone who can't play rhythm stick. But surely there many many famous great bass players who couldn't also play it and could more than "just play a bit"? Just like many famous bass players can't slap etc. [/quote] Oh God, absolutely. Surely you didn't think I meant that if you CAN'T play Rhythm Stick, you're no good? Apologies for any confusion, but this is not what I said or meant at all.

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1476798757' post='3157327'] At the age of fourteen I thought the bass solo in My Generation was amazing, and it inspired me to choose bass over guitar. There are many great bass players I like and admire, but my favourites are John Entwistle and Norman Watt-Roy, and yes, Rhythm Stick is probably my favourite bass line of all time. So my choice is Rhythm Stick, it just works so well with the song. [/quote] It is a barometer of sorts, too. If someone can play Rhythm Stick, they can play a bit. A bass line which is harder than it sounds.

Thanks for posting this, that sounds pretty good, especially for £40!

Some great responses here, thanks! Some I know and agree with, others I don't know and will have to listen to. For me, 'I was made to love her' is up there. It's simply exquisite and just a wonderful line with that unique Jamerson feel. Some of the Bernard Edwards lines are incredible, too - I prize feel over technique, and Bernatd gets me every time. Mark King's line on The Chinese Way still floors me, as well. There are a few, and I will no doubt visit back and add more to the thread.

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1476733214' post='3156818'] Mine is a Deuce 4 in satin nitro yellow. Really well made and nice to play. [/quote] Can you elaborate, tell us about the tones, the weight, and/or post some pics? You have me intrigued, sir.

Much as I often roll my eyes at quests for the greatest this, that or the other - purely as a study in open-mindedness and learning, I ask you this: What represents bass Nirvana, to your ears? The line to end all lines, or solos, or riffs? What's the part that, every time you hear it, makes you think "It don't get much better than this"? Or the piece of bass-playing genius that first truly dropped your jaw, be it for feel, technique, musicality or whatever?

This has got me thinking - I always thought that, if you use it correctly and tastefully, the volume manipulation technique known as violining (on guitar, a la Yngwie Malmsteen) can be quite cool. I wonder if there's a way to make it sound good on bass? Kinda doubt it, but it's got to be worth experimenting with.

I fiddle with my volume depending on the style of music I'm playing, or what job the bass is doing in the song. For instance, some parts suit everything fully open, but I've come to love the sound of a Jazz bass with the neck pickup rolled back to 6 or 7 and the bridge pickup maxed. I went to a Stu Hamm clinic a couple of years ago, and noticed he was constantly adjusting his volume and tone knobs. Prior to that I had been very much been an "everything set to 10" kind of guy, but Stu got me experimenting and I've found some lovely, usable tones I would never have known about otherwise. A little experimenting/judicious tweaking can yield smashing results.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1476700687' post='3156337'] It makes me feel like a man with big wood. [/quote] Brilliant!

Thanks Ambient! My ability to read the bass clef isn't fabulous but I reckon it's enough to get me through that.

That would be great if you could find the notes. I set myself the challenge of learning it by ear but I may have to admit defeat and look for tab online at some point. In the meantime, here's Leslie Johnson's absolutely smoking cover. For some reason I can no longer embed videos on BC http://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=5yC4CEof_20

It is my oxygen. It nourishes me and sustains me. It is a magic wand that can temporarily stave off depression, and heal pain like nothing else can. It releases the same kind of rush as love and sex, and feels every bit as magical. Time stops. Wounds heal. There is no rain, no pain, no storms, no sorrow, no outside world after the first five/ten minutes with the bass in my hands. I'm a scientist, in his lab until the wee small hours of the morning, experimenting and searching, lost in the process, knowing the answers I seek are in there somewhere. I'm a traveller whose destination is unknown, content to explore the roads and learn about the world. I am a pretentious cretin, over-poeticising my relationship with a lump of wood. It can be frustrating at times - but then, everything wonderful is the same. I love the bass. It has definitely changed my life for the better.

I'm looking to learn this Tower of Power classic, and I've had a look at it before, but found that my right hand wasn't quite up to the task of keeping the required tempo, evenly and consistently. It's got to be incredibly steady. I've found a few decent bass covers on YouTube (Leslie Johnson's is possibly better than the original!) but no breakdowns or studies with tips on right hand attack. If anyone has learned this RH tour de force, are there any tips you could impart, aside from starting out really slowly and nailing each part before moving on? There seems to be a very specific approach to keeping the staccato feel, but I haven't figured it out yet. Any help at all would go a long way. Thanks

I got 5m of bubble wrap for £3 at Tesco. It's for shipping a neck though, not a full bass. The rest of the packing is newspaper. There's a great thread in the Marketplace on packing your bass for shipping, came in handy when I punted my Sterling back to Thomann to get the preamp mended under warranty.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1476375130' post='3153797'] I doubt they get paid for cardboard boxes. It's more likely that they pay to have it taken away. [/quote] Picked up a shipping box from a local shop yesterday, offered the owner a few quid but I got it for nowt, he said "we have to pay to have cardboard taken away"

Thanks for posting this, I'm a big fan of Tim's work. He may not be Jaco, but I love the way he holds the low end and keeps it phat and phunky.

I'm modding my Jim Deacon Precision copy, and I took 'er to get the neck assessed. I've been informed that there are a few uneven frets and it would cost more than the bass is worth to get them sorted. Booo Hiss, etc. I've seen replacement necks for £35, and this looks like a perfectly agreeable solution, but it's knowing if they're decent or terrible, or if they'll even fit my bass. They claim to fit Fender and Squier Precision basses, but not sure how the Deacon stacks up measurement-wise. Is there any way to find out? I don't even know how to contact the Jim Deacon company as I've heard they are now SX. I'm in the same position for all my planned mods - bridge, tuners, pickup - I don't know if standard Fender or Squier replacement gear will fit it. I'm wondering if I'm going to have order all the stuff, and if it doesn't fit my bass, send it back and hope for a refund. Pain in the tights.

Tempted by the endorsements of Hi Beams. Might pick up a set.

Give it to me?