Lo.

I was a demonstrator for Phil Jones at NAMM in January, so I'm biased, but I would recommend any of Phil's products without fear of anyone being disappointed. If you're like me and don't mess about with EQ's much, the main difference between all the different PJB options is wattage. IMHO the Briefcase and Flightcases are for "smaller" gigs, with the Suitcase and M300/M500 + cabs covering medium to stadium sized gigs. I have the Suitcase + 4B extension cabinet and it's just amazing. Crystal clear, deep, punchy bass - no mud. Most people call it a hi-fi sound, but I've never been able to afford a hi-fi that's as clean as this rig. You hear your hands and your instrument, no matter where you're stood in the room or what volume you're playing at - it's just plain weird compared with the many other rigs I've had. I plugged Earth Wind and Fire's bass-god Verdine White into the Suitcase rig it and he ordered one within 3 minutes (please don't tell SWR, or I might not get to meet him again)

I was a demonstrator for Phil Jones Bass, working alongside Bob Babbitt at NAMM in January, so I'm biased, but the Suitcase combo with an extension cabinet is small and deep and punchy - I'm taking delivery of mine in the next few days, and I can't wait. I had the pleasure of plugging Verdine White into it - he ordered it within a few minutes. I was a Hartke 3500 user for a good few years (it died on me, sadly - it was one of the early versions which I'm told were better than the recent ones, but I haven't A/B'd them). I really loved it - I ran it through an SWR 1x18 (Bag End driver, no tweeter) and the bottom end was amazing. For Motown - I have to say it's more about the hands, strings and setup than the instrument or amp/cab.

Oooooh - y'all got that Kirk Franklin thing going on - I like!!! Still going through 'em - great playing on "Breakthrough"! Tak!!

Thanks for the responses! I'll see if I can try the EBS or the new MI one. I try to stay away from ebay, pity I missed that sale - I would have definitely won!

Not that it matters or is surprising, but Jamerson invented it....here's a hook-jam using it... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjz571HJ3Dk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjz571HJ3Dk[/url] LOL - I read that Chuck Rainey showed Jamerson his two-finger RH approach, and JJ called it cissy.

Hope someone can help - I have the Pearl OC-07 that can be heard here: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgkO85Jp-6o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgkO85Jp-6o[/url] I want an up to date pedal as a replacement to use so I don't have to risk losing this one on gigs - can anyone advise something to try that's similar. I've had no joy whatsoever to date with any incarnation of the Boss pedals I've tried, and hope there's something out there. Thanks!

Learning any instrument is just a wonderful thing to do - I know we're all biased here, but I'd never discourage my kids from having a go. You can get some real bargains on instruments, but I would recommend going to a shop rather than buying off the net if you can afford the extra few quid. My nine year has been playing guitar for a few years - I don't push him - he's often just happy to practise on his own, and he obviously wants to be a bass player - he likes playing chords and melodies, but he often tries to learn the bass line from his favourite tunes, and has even got into copying some of my Motown noodlings. If she's like most of us, she'll get motivated by playing along to her favourite pop tunes I guess - you might be surprised how much she takes to it! And of course, bass is the best instrument ever invented, so it shows how wise she is!!

I think the 1st part of this is a truly beautiful solo instrument piece. My favourite Wooten performance. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SSGhcHcm5g"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SSGhcHcm5g[/url] If you feel it, and mean it, whatever you say will have an impact - I'd try to avoid it, but if I had to solo I'd try to jam a lot, but sprinkle lots of little famous-tune melodies in there, in an effort to connect and reduce the chances of them throwing pint pots at me.

I daren't even look at a V&R list.....if someone mentions a 62' p-bass I'd have to ram-raid the place or sell a kidney or something...

[quote name='Oscar South' post='202934' date='May 20 2008, 03:33 PM']Same attitude I was talking about in my original post.[/quote] ??

[quote name='stevie' post='202458' date='May 19 2008, 09:59 PM']Really nice job, Lo. You didn't happen to transcribe it while you were at it, did you?[/quote] Thanks - it was a quick take and I didn't have time to learn the verse, but I hope it helps. Sorry - I don't write stuff down, and just learn it by ear. Is it too difficult to see the notes on my vid, or is it just too fast or something? Heh, unless you were getting paid a lot of cash to get it spot on, I wouldn't try to learn the verse note for note, but the intro riff and chorus are worth tryin to pick up accurately.

Don't like funk? Nah, you just need a better definition of it or something. Jamerson was the original funkster and everybody copied the spirit of his lines, they still do....it's not infallible, but the funk reaches the parts other genres can't reach. Hope you get back on board, in the meantime I have to prescribe: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC-sbplJZ9E"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC-sbplJZ9E[/url] - Sweet Charles Sherrell or: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njU3TYBuGHQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njU3TYBuGHQ[/url] - Bootsy Collins or: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fllTMtl6dxs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fllTMtl6dxs[/url] - Will Lee or: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZbRXyeRr_I&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZbRXyeRr_I...feature=related[/url] - Verdine White

I couldn't resist a quick jam along for you: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opISPvcdoAI"]The Night [/url] I did not try to learn the verse - some of my passing notes are very dodgy - if I played it right it should have been Fm/Bb/Gm/Cm sequence, I think

DH is a [b]great [/b]bass man. So much to choose from, but that spell with Miles Davis was sooooooooo sweet!!!

Although I have a Phil Jones Suitcase/4B mini-rig on order, I loved the sound of the Walkabout - I would like to see how it compares A/B with a PJB "super-Flightcase" - I expect they're similar - but you're unlikely to be able to try them side by side anywhere that I know of. It's tone and bottom octave are simply unreal for its size - I'd bet there is no 1x12" out there that gets anywhere near it. I say go for it, although beware that I would not think it would be suitable for big/loud stages, and I would rather go for the mpulse 600 +cab than run the Walkabout at 2ohms regularly. Heh - I wish I could afford one as a "spare".

Labella's are great, and I've heard great things about Thomastik (which are more expensive). I also like Rotosound Jazz strings, too. You can hear the Labella's on all my P-Bass stuff on youtube. For a given string thickness, I believe the Rotosound have the highest tension, followed by Labellas and then Thomastik. For a Jazz bass you need long scale length. As for slapping 'em, well plenty have done, but they sound nothing like the slap you generally hear on most tracks - so most people don't slap flats. To confuse it further, SIT do strings called "Silencers" which are compression wound semiflats - they feel similar to a flat but sound like a round (so you can slap 'em) - they're OK, too.

I wouldn't try to replace drivers in the Ampeg cab either - chances are the tone will be very different to what you have now. Bear in mind that you also might not be saving a more than 20lb or so even if you go to a NEO cab - depends on which brand. Maybe also consider 2 cabs instead of one if you're going to change.

Phil explained to me that although it takes 4x5" drivers to get the same area as a 10" speaker, it's like a 10" speaker with a HUGE voice coil (which you can't get), which gives it a bigger punch. Also the stacking of the drivers really helps you hear a consistent tone as you stand at varying distances from the rig - more so than any other rig I've tried.

[quote name='kennyrodg' post='196235' date='May 10 2008, 09:41 PM']hi and welcome i just watched your Gladys knights version of"heard it through the grapevine",great job,thats one of my favourites.ive been trying to nail it with two fingers and failing miserably,you got it down with one great collection of videos btw. pete.[/quote] Thanks - that's a great line ain't it? The "secret" of course is that it's easier to play it with one finger - I've been meaning to put a full playalong vid of Grapevine up there...

[quote name='ednaplate' post='196237' date='May 10 2008, 09:44 PM']Welcome to the forum. Great playing I love a lot of that stuff. Whereabouts in this wonderful city are you?[/quote] Thanks - I'm near Chorley at the moment - I keep escaping back to Manchester though, I miss it!!

I was a demonstrator for Phil at NAMM in January, so I'm bound to be biased........ His stuff is simply clean and clear - I've used all sort of stuff through the years and they all seemed to have their own sound, and change the bass tone to varying degrees. Phil's stuff doesn't do that IMHO (unless you start messing with the EQ) - you hear the instrument and your hands 1st. The Briefcase was great - I expect the volume control and bass setting must have been a bit extreme for it if it farted. I spoke to a few upright players who swore by it for small gigs - the bass volume increases drastically when tucked into the corner of a room. The Flightcase and Super Flightcase were really popular at NAMM because of their weight. and those upright firing drivers are a really cool idea for gigs where you don't have much room on stage. I have a Suitcase and 4B extension cab on order at the moment as this was my favourite rig at NAMM for its power/size/convenience. I had the honour of plugging Verdine White into that rig (after trying a M500/big cabs) and he decided to get one almost straight away! Tight, deep bass like I've never heard before - it was fun playing a few reggae riffs through that rig and seeing all the passers-by looking at the much bigger rigs, thinking that they were being used instead. And if you want loud - just check out the M5000 and 24B - Phil's chief engineer calls it the killer rig - "if you want to kill someone, get this". Bob Babbitt said he used one and his friends driving to a stadium gig heard him warming up (just using the PJB rig, no PA) from 2 miles away.

For Jamerson's Motown stuff - there's the "Standing In the Shaodows of Motown" book and CD - it's a great introduction to Jamerson's genius. But the best way to learn is by ear, trying to copy your favourite stuff. I've not tried one but those "Bass Trainer" CD thingies look good to help with that.

Hello all - I'm sure I was here in a previous life a few years back. I'm just another bass addict from the Manchester area - been playing 20 years. I have a CIJ 2003 P-bass, a 73 Jazz, a 2006(?) Maverick S4 and a much neglected Status Energy 5. Here's my youtube stuff: [url="http://www.youtube.com/user/jamersonshook"]http://www.youtube.com/user/jamersonshook[/url] Look forward to chatting bass, and maybe answering a few Motown questions if I can. I was lucky enough to have worked demonstrating Phil Jones Bass gear with Bob Babbitt for a week at NAMM in January - I met a good few other bass heroes too (Freddie Washington, Verdine White, Bobby Vega and others). All the best - keep the funk alive!!