Marc S

[quote name='maldy' timestamp='1379841444' post='2217164'] When I first started playing bass I, shamefully, came to the premature conclusion that people who played with a pick weren't very good. There were many reasons for this, most out of ignorance. Many years down the line, I realise that there is actually I huge skill to playing with a pick and making it sound good. I'm absolutely rubbish with a pick and I sound like a bag of sh*te. I can slap the bass, which is supposedly a complex thing, but can't pick for toffee! So if the pick is so inferior, why do I find it so hard! I realise my error in judgement and one day hope to get decent with a pick. But at the moment I've got a long way to go. So respect to all you pick users. I really don't know how you get such a smooth and even sound. Hats off to you and keep doing what you are doing. [/quote] Yes, many players made a similar mistake But the key is that you realise now this is an "error" so to speak... Of course, you don't HAVE to play with a pick I just think it's good if you can play in all sorts of styles It makes you a bit more flexible in your approach and gives you different dynamics, more variety of different sounds too I try to keep my skills up, playing pick and finger Slapping is a bit more tricky still - wish I could do them all with equal proficiency Practice them all is the key

[quote name='ChrisF' timestamp='1379702661' post='2216005'] Ive used a bit of rubber matting, you know the sort with holes in that is used for lining tool chest drawers etc. I tried it doubled over, but it muffled the slap too much, but a single layer seems to work quite well. [/quote] Thanks for that advice ChrisF

I actually started playing bass finger-style Which at the time, was dismissed by my punk & heavy rock playing pals I started playing with a pick, but tried to keep playing with fingers - just to keep the ability to do so It actually gave me some confidence in my playing Because if I ever dropped my pick, mid-song, I knew I could continue playing albeit with a different sound & feel.... A couple of years back, I was in a Ramones tribute I know a lot of people think that's just simple 3 barre chord stuff, but the Ramones played downstroke only After about 10 or 12 songs, this can hurt - especially more mature fingers, shall we say It's not simple at all, the left hand may not have much to do but try playing an hour this style, at very fast pace, with only a few 2 second breaks between songs It's something of a physical workout It really gives the songs a sort of "cutting edge" style, It's almost mechanical, and a bit like an express train, thundering along the tracks - especially when you hear it live It grates on me a little to hear people playing Ramones songs when they aren't playing them this way I can't imagine how you could get this sound & style if you didn't use a pick + 1 to everyone who recognises that all styles of playing are valid

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1379592982' post='2214547'] I've never understood why using a pick to play bass gets such bad press, or why people assume that pick-playing bassists can't be deft, quick, subtle, expressive etc. Look at all the guitarists in the world who use a pick; can the same criticism be levelled at them (other than in jest!)? [/quote] +1 I tend to do both, but play more with the pick, depending on what I'm playing But certainly live, I'd say the pick gives the notes more of an "attack" sound

Hello from a rainy UK Zak You'd probably be better off selling umberellas & raincoats today Welcome to basschat Marc

Probably a [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Steinberger - although they weren't a particular favourite of mine... An earlier poster said Westone were everywhere in the late 80's My Westone Thunder Jet was a lovely bass My Ibanez Roadster 11 was even better [/font][/color]

Saw someone playing one of these on telly, years ago I can't recall who, but that's the only time I ever saw one... I wonder how many are left out there now? Looks as if it might be uncomfortable to play? Maybe.... Not a particularly attractive looking instrument in my opinion.... but that's just my opinion...

Interesting that your finger muscles didn't develop much especially as you were playing for so long... Wonder why that was? Mind you, I've been through phases where I go to the gym regularly, and never get past a certain point..... most disheartening..... Ah well, I've got a double bass to cheer me up

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1379409226' post='2212207'] I know of 3. The EDA, EDB and EDC. They had numbers, but can only recall the one I owned, an EDB600. The five strings were EDB605, just like the current Ibanez numbering system. Do be aware that the newer ones- with different designations again- are [b]Wooden[/b], not Luthite like the old ones. Luthite is a resin, not dissimilar to that used in the manufacture of Tenpin Bowling balls. The bodies are injection moulded, giving (theoretically) great consistency of manufacture, and the ability to make weird and wonderful shapes- like the EDA. Any two bases of the same model were likely to weigh almost exactly the same. The necks were maple with rosewood fretboards. 24 frets IIRC. I've never seen a fretless. I owned an EDB600. It was excellent for the £80 I paid for it. Until... It fell off the sofa when my back was turned. Our floors are solid concrete, and whatever underlay the previous incumbent had used was rubbish. Result, the entire lower bout around the control cavity cracked right through and fell off. A write-off. From an impact that would barely have marked a wooden bass. Luthite can be [i]very brittle[/i]. It sounded great with DR FatBeams on. Very neutral. Only my Vigier and Status Streamline are more neutral. The 3 band Eq was good, as were pick-ups, and I could coax some nice sounds out of it. The next one I tried was similar, but lacked something... So I didn't buy it. Probably the set-up or the strings made the difference. If you get the chance, try one. You might just like it. DO get Straplocks, and DON'T drop it! [/quote] Thanks for that LfAlex, As I said, the one I played (unsure of model) felt and sounded great It was a Luthite version, and I did wonder about the strength of the material Don't drop it is good advice, but there's always a clumsy other band member to worry about, of course and I'm not implying drummers Wish there were 1 or 2 in a shop nearby - just so I could have a try I don't exactly "need" one - so I'll keep looking Cheers again Marc

Only just spotted this thread, and fairly new to the forum, so apologies for this post being a bit "late" But I've owned several basses, incl Fender, Rickenbacker, Ibanez, and briefly a Yamaha I've played many more, and have pals with Warwicks etc but my Ibanez Soundgear SR500 has THE slimest, fastest neck of the lot it's much slimmer than a Jazz, by a long way The only bass which was similar was another soundgear bass the SR520, I think... EDIT: the slim nature of the neck is not just at the top - it's slim along the whole length of the neck too

Slightly off topic, but what's the general consensus on the Ibanez Ergodyne basses? I only ever had a quick go on one It was a really odd shape, but it played beautifully and felt very comfortable Access to the notes at the very top of the neck was easy, due to the shape and design of the body of the bass EDIT: and the neck was quite slim & fast I've since seen a few different designs of Ergodynes, And the guy who owned the one I played said there were very big differences in certain models... I never seem to see them come up for sale in shops near me, so I don't get chance to try any out Any thoughts on them folks?

Hi guys Bass players shouldn't get wound up - being the coolest member of the band anyway Just thinking about this left-right dominant hand thing this morning I was watching a video clip about using the 3rd finger to support your little finger on your left hand One great plus is that I only did this for a few weeks Being a lefty, I think I had a fair amount of accuracy and strength in my little finger already I know a few right handers who still don't use their little fingers, even after years of playing mind you, depends on what sort of stuff you play too I suppose.... Cheers all

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1379352423' post='2211619'] I am having a wrist Op tomorrow so I will have to be a passive learner for a few weeks, [/quote] Hey Pete, hope the op goes well and wish you a speedy recovery - then you can get back to playing again Marc

Wish I was a bit closer Would like to get to a bass bash..... Have a good one anyway folks Marc

[quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1379343988' post='2211482'] There is such a thing as a free lunch [/quote]

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1379077057' post='2208429'] And as Ffloyd has been known to say, practice three octave scales. PS Not teasing. they work for me too. [/quote] Is there a youtube vid of someone doing this on a DB? Marc

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1379336884' post='2211386'] ...The origin of the fork being in the left hand is because you fend off the enemy with the knife in your right hand. Well... some folk do/did. Whatever. Richard [/quote] Don't think I've ever tried to continue eating, while fending anyone off lol Some good points here folks And I really didn't mean to get you wound-up lefty bassman Was actually thinking about this thread last nite I tried to play my bass the other way around It just felt so uncomfortable & un-natural Bit like dancing to me.... Marc

Yes leftybassman, You could add to that list of right = good That if someone is said to be a deputy / assistant that you can't do without they're said to be your "righthand man / woman" .... not your lefthand man / woman ..... so there are some good lefthanded dancers... ah well, bang goes another theory

Another question / observation thingy Years back, someone told me that left handed people can't dance He obviously saw me on the dancefloor! Anyhow, I continued to find other left-handers who are all equally bad at dancing as me I was at a celidh a few years back, with 2 left-handed colleagues and both these young ladies admitted to being bad dancers... We all watched the other dancers, and the usual pattern to celidh dancing seemed easy enough, however, when we were forcibly dragged into the group, we managed to completely destroy the whole dance! I'm terrible at all sorts of dancing and to this day, I've only ever knowingly met one good dancer who was a lefty and he had to work really really hard to get any good at all while other pals who started the same time picked it up more quickly.... Any thoughts / observations on this point? NB. Bad dancers are said to have "two LEFT feet" - not two right feet! Marc

Thanks for that... Haven't checked them out yet I'm fairly new to DB So I will check them out soon Cheers

Not seen a lined EUB I often wondered about playing double bass I had a few very brief "dabbles" - just a few minutes really.... Last year, I bought a Stagg EUB and though the strings were awful, I persisted Then I got some much better ones, and loved it I've just recently bought my first "proper" DB and I just wish I could play it all the time Yes, you may end up buying an acoustic DB after buying an EUB But I fully intend to keep my Stagg as a backup & more portable DB.... You could always pick one up on here second-hand? They aren't lined, but you've got the dot position markers on the side of the neck.... I'd say go for a 2nd hand one If you don't get on with it, well you haven't spent a fortune and you could flog it on anyway For me, it convinced me to buy an acoustic DB Have fun....

Ooooooh, loverleee

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1378991130' post='2207434'] ...I think some people are more left handed than others, if that makes sense [/quote] It makes perfect sense to me

Who knows? One bass to rule them all? .... oh no! groan!

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1378987513' post='2207361'] I don't get this knife and fork thing. I thought it was left handed to have the fork in your left hand, but it seems not! When I visit my girlfriend's parents with her, they set the table with the wine glass/glass/cup on the left side for me. I admit it looks very odd against everything being on the right hand side! I do most things right handed, I suppose I've just had to get used to things being right handed, ie bread knives, tin openers, scissors, etc But veg peelers are impossible right handed. Whats the one thing lefties here really struggle with? Dan [/quote] I don't get the way right-handers use their knives & forks either I'm not sure what I "struggle" with most I use right handed scissors, tin-openers etc and seem to get on well enough with all these things.... I used to struggle, when sharing an office and computers with right handers However, I learned to be more ambidextrous with the mouse too.... Marc