louisthebass

On 01/08/2021 at 16:45, Grassie said:

Thought that those of you of a slappy persuasion might be interested in this - pictured at Camp Bestival yesterday. Not sure if this is a permanent switch back to the Jaydees, but it's good to see it get an airing...:)

About time he did, best tone he ever had in Level 42 was with a Jaydee...

I don't think you can go wrong with the Aebersold books. I've still got quite a few: they are very well written and have a lot of great ideas you can use and learn from (the ii - V - I and Maiden Voyage are my favourites). 

I was fortunate enough to go to one of his Summer Schools in Richmond in 2003 when they were being run, and it was an experience that will stay with me forever.

2 hours ago, attackbass said:

Hi everyone,

 

Just wondering if anyone has bought a John East Preamp directly from the website?

They seem to be all out of stock at Bass Direct and Bass Gallery and I've sent John a couple of emails asking questions in the last month but haven't had any response. Just wondering if he is still making them at the moment before I put in an order!

 

Anyone have any info as I'd love to get a J tone in my bass! 

 

 

I bought a J-Tone for my Overwater Jazz 5 a couple of years ago direct from John, and he's pretty quick in getting them out to people.

A gig I was scheduled to play next Saturday has been cancelled as a result of lockdown being extended to the 19th July. On the upside, I've been able to do 4 rehearsals with my bands but have only been able to rehearse with a complete line up once. 

On 27/06/2021 at 07:51, wateroftyne said:

The content of those videos has moved on over the years (how can you explain what makes a song great to someone who doesn’t think the song is great?) - they’re just song teardowns, and I find them compelling.

I like Rick.

This - I think Rick is the best YouTuber out there. The guy knows his stuff extremely well, and while I don't agree with some of his WMTSG videos (horses for courses), there's always something to be learned about chord voicings, melody, arrangements and production. 

What I also like is that he's not just "a rock guy" - he looks at other styles of music in a very insightful way. 

Best gig: Steely Dan at Hammermith in 2007 - glad I got to see them while Walter Becker & Cornelius Bumpus were still alive. Keith Carlock played his backside off that night.

Worst gig: Toss up between Martin Stephenson & the Daintees at The Forum Kentish Town (audience spent half the time talking through the gig, so went home early) or Chris Rea at Wembley Arena (rubbish sound).

On 13/05/2021 at 19:02, StickyDBRmf said:

Oh Jeez. Let's get on w/ the "eclectic tastes"  topic. So, being from NEW JERSEY USA, I can't stand the likes of BonJovi or Bruce Springsteen. Now. Full disclosioure. The woman I am dating is the daughter of the gym teacher that taught J Bongiovi (real spelling back in Sayreville NJ) and mentions him in a song (Hey Coach T., I finally cut my hair) I admire the man&band but his music SUCKS, Same w/ Bruce. ( I went out w/ a girl that was enamored w/ the bastard 'cause he says WENDY 3 TIMES in BTR-her name was Wendy and he didn't know who she was) But I admire Bruce Springsteen. Just can't stand the music. Really. REALLY. I have tried. Watched the EPIC  P.ERFORMANCES. WITH THE HAT. DON'T GET IT.

Springsteen's greatest era was 1973 -1985 (imo) from "Tunnel of Love" onwards, I don't think he's made a great album. Maybe it's because he's getting older and the characters he once wrote about don't appeal to him anymore, but I don't hear any great songwriting or passion in his output since.

I'm doing a street party on July 10th - also have the possibility of an indoors gig later in the year (not a pub) but to be honest, that's all I'm expecting this side of 2022.

The pub thing; I'm not even sure things will change much if the authorities are still going to insist on masks being worn inside and it's seating only after June 21st. There was a prediction back in March or April that we're still going to need masks for a very long time, even after all the vaccinations have been completed and social distancing ends.

Great... ☹️

Guessing quite a few have seen this:

Bass Albums that Changed Music. Ep 4. Rush / Moving Pictures - YouTube

2 hours ago, chris_b said:

We can all reel off names of our favourite players, but who were the guitarists who actually changed guitar playing, rather than just being very good.

My list would include Les Paul, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Robert Johnson, Jimmy Page.

Any more?

This fella:

Along with Scotty Moore, Cliff Gallup, Chet Atkins, and Chuck Berry, one of the most influential guitar players of the 20th Century. George Harrison and Jimi Hendrix were fans of Cochran's music and his playing. Cochran was one of the first musicians to realise the power of overdubs in recording studios. He was also one of the first guitar players in Rock & Roll to really embrace the Blues (check out "Eddie's Blues" and the live version of "Milk Cow Blues") in his playing.

Still got my OBBM cables - continuing on 10 years later! 😉

Hi all,

Posting this on behalf of a guitarist mate of mine who needs a replacement bassist (only reason I'm not doing it is because I'm in two bands already). The name of the band is "Go Go Juice" and the material (all covers) is primarily in the Soul / Funk / R&B vein (Chic, Bruno Mars, Daft Punk etc..).

Link to the band's Facebook page: Go Go Juice | Facebook

If anyone's interested, please drop them a PM on there 🙂

I remember trying out a "Tanglewater" in Guitar Works when it was open in Reading years ago. I was especially curious as I own a custom OW, and thought it was really well made. Quality of the electronics was good too.

I passed the age of 55 in September 2018 and was gigging until Covid stopped everything. I'm looking forward to getting back out there starting July, although I don't anticipate many gigs this side of 2022.

In terms of the crowd demographic it's usually age 30+ but that's mainly pubs.

On 27/03/2021 at 18:48, Woodinblack said:

To be honest I have no idea who drake is, but that isn't surprising, not my demographic

I've heard of him, bores the pants off me but somebody likes him...

I thought at the time when The Beatles were popular, I thought they were an "ok" band. When I first started playing bass, I didn't rate Macca that much and didn't understand what all the fuss was about. 

It was only when I bought the twin CD anthology 1967 - 1970 in the late 90's and listened to it through headphones that I finally "got it" about Macca. Great playing with a pick, note choice, phrasing and musicality was definitely the order of the day, and having seen Rick Beato do a breakdown on the harmony on one of their (The Beatles) songs last year (he couldn't name it in case the video was blocked) confirmed what a bunch of musical geniuses they were.

It's a bit sad that I've seen a lot of hate on YouTube and Facebook about The Beatles in recent times, but it's also great to see a lot of musically clued in people chime in and say how great the band was.

On 23/10/2020 at 13:49, obbm said:

The neck was fitted for me by Rob Green in 2005 and this bass was my go to for over 10 years.  It had an almost piano-like quality sound and rarely went out of tune. Sadly it moved on a few years ago when I realised that no longer needed a 5-string.

I thought that was a cracking bass - I wish I'd had the funds at the time to take it off your hands...

My favourite Joni Mitchell era when she was employing Jazz musicians to bring her work to life - Jaco's playing was outstanding in that period between 1976 & 1980. 

Sadly it was also the time when JP's star was about to go into freefall... ☹️

I started playing bass when slap was the technique to learn in the 1980's, and as rubbish as I am at it (and playing with a pick), I think it's still a valid playing style for bass guitar (although I'm aware that a different slap style exists for the upright). It either floats the listener's boat or it doesn't. Guys like Mark King, Marcus Miller, Flea, Larry Graham (of course), Alain Caron and a myriad of session players use it as and when required in the right setting. That's when it's at its most effective (yeah I know Mark King does it a lot, but people overlook how good his fingerstyle playing is - "True Believers", "Living it Up", "The Chinese Way" - all numbers that don't feature him slapping a lot).

100% agree that it's overdone when someone on YouTube uses it to demo gear - 99% of the time it's either going to be pick or fingers on a gig, so I wish these people would do that. I think I might have seen a couple of minutes of a Charles Berthoud video, and have never watched a Davie 504 one either (as soon as I see the thumbnail, I avoid). Sadly it turned into a "party piece", but with the lack of any great electric bass playing on most commercial records nowadays, the sound of a slapped bass (within the context of a song) would be most welcome...

22 hours ago, Trylle said:

I've seen a lot of tips for one finger per fret saying you'll be able to stretch your pinky with practice. My issue is my ring finger curls towards my middle finger, making it a chance between hitting the second or third fret in the position.

Don't like the look of that sharp bend in the wrist nor the way your fingers look all maxed out. If you've got "Jaco fingers" then it won't be a problem...

Using 1-2-4 below the 5th fret works fine (for me anyway) but adjusting your strap so you get a straighter wrist would definitely help. If you're going to use OFPF below fret 5, relax your fretting hand and shift accordingly.

1 minute ago, Al Krow said:

There could well be some truth in that, certainly for a few months while pubs get back on their feet. The bigger chains are tapping shareholders for cash but obviously smaller pub operators aren't in a position to do that.

I suspect that there are going to be a lot of weddings - all those postponed as well as the ones planned for this year, which will likely be paying as much as they have always done. 

And it's clear that the demand for live music hasn't gone away! Festivals selling out after map to end England's lockdown announced | Festivals | The Guardian

Yep, think the function bands doing weddings will still be ok financially. I've seen a pub in Surrey advertising for bands on Facebook in the last 48 hours wanting bands, and I've got my first gig since January last year in July. Will be nice to get out and play with other people again...

1 hour ago, fleabag said:

Found this on a pal's FB page

Think a lot of bands will be playing for nothing in pubs and clubs for a while. The pub / hospitality industry has been one of the sectors hardest hit by the Pandemic, and I don't see many bands getting much in the way of gig earnings after June (if things get better). 

Started using a 5 in 1996, and remember using a 4 once since then on a gig. Picking up a 4 and playing it feels really strange now, although I wouldn't mind getting a really nice 4 string J bass to have in my collection.

I watched the video the OP put up, and can honestly say that the Hipshot D Tuner wasn't for me (lasted on my old Yammy BB1100s for about a month before it got canned in favour of the original tuner). A 5 (for me) fits better, especially if I'm playing bass parts like Stevie's "I Wish". Still love the sound of a 4 in the hands of a great player though, and it still has a place in modern music.

That kid can play - I'm a subscriber on her YT channel too.

19 hours ago, leftybassman392 said:

At that time I'm pretty sure the Guitar school was called The Guitar Institute - certainly was when I was there in the mid-90s. Run by Tony Limbrick IIRC

As to the tune, I can't help I'm afraid. Sorry.

It was indeed the Guitar Institute - Alan Limbrick was head of G.I. Tony Muschamp ran the Bass Institute (I was there Autumn / Winter 1987), and Francis Seriau ran Drumtech. My first experience of class room education for bass 🙂