louisthebass

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1335982840' post='1639150']
+1
[/quote]
+2

Best thing to do is to practice hitting the string on the last fret of the fingerboard on all the strings. It takes a while for it to sound good, trust me...

If you're still having trouble, either check out Marlowe DK's tutorials on YT or get "The Slap Bass Programme" DVD by Alexis Sklarevski.

Tab is a pretty "Marmite" kind of subject here... I can (sort of) understand it being helpful to completely new players as they need all the help they can get initially.

However, as a long term thing, it's a pretty redundant tool on more "professional" type gigs - you won't see it on a session, in a theatre pit, or even on a jazz gig. It'll either be chord charts or dots on telegraph poles.

Best thing to do, is either get a teacher, or get some really good bass books, & start to learn to read both chord charts and dots, as well as getting a basic grounding in music theory.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1335666766' post='1634437']
+1

You won't get into the WC. I play there in one band and I can't get any of the others in.
[/quote]

It's very much a "closed shop" there - they've got their 8/9 bands that revolve around & that's it.

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1335873227' post='1637246']
Seriously guys. This is niche.
[/quote]

So was "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" which (as far as I'm aware) didn't get a general release in the UK, but I know a fair few people who've seen it.

I used to love taking trips over to Wapping when the Bass Centre was in its heyday - great staff, great selection, & a great vibe. As they say, all good things come to an end, and once they'd left 131 Wapping High St, it changed dramatically.

I've had good experiences with Bass Direct, Bass Gear, & The Gallery, (haven't visited the Bass Merchant - yet), so I think as a community we're spoilt for choice at the moment.

It's all good .

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1335364014' post='1629900']
I have to vote for BassGear - not least because I quite often cover the showroom if Phil isn't around (it's only 20 mins from my house). In fact I'll be 'minding the store' tomorrow

Phil, the owner, tries to make people feel at home and is always on hand with tea and coffee and words of advice.

I've known people spend 3-4 hours trying out basses and amps with nothing but encouragement from Phil to make sure they are really happy about any prospective purchase

He's also enlisted the help of young bassist Vic Davies for a day or so a week and he's always full of enthusiasm too. As well as this he has a sponsorship type deal with Tom Kent who's just graduated from ACM and has been supported by supplying some great basses for him to use on live gigs, sessions and tours

One of the things I really like is that most of the stock is only available from BassGear as Phil has exclusive deals with people like Fodera, Alleva Coppolo, Ritter etc. Plus he's always bringing in new stock like the range of Wood & Tronics bolt ons and I hear no less than 4 F Basses are heading over soon. It's great that there are always some of these in stock for people to actually play rather than listening to sound clips an reading about them on TalkBass

I think it's good that he's able to set up masterclass sessions too. I know he's had Joe Zon with Michael Manring & Jens Ritter so far and has one coming up with Enrico Passini from Wood & Tronics with Alex Lofoco playing. These things take a lot of organising, not least because they all involve overseas suppliers.

So, I will be in 'kid in a candy shop' mode again tomorrow if anyone fancies popping over
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Popped in there today - very nice shop indeed and met Vic - what a thoroughly nice bloke.

And I bought an Aggie 500 TH .

It's really a case of using 1-4-3 or using 4-2-1 fingerings & getting used to using them. I've seen 2-1-4 on YT but they're generally guys with bigger hands than mine.

It looks like it's going to be a documentary film, which is a much better idea than what was being bandied around about 8/9 years ago where there was talk of some kind of "feature film" being made.

Hopefully it will have a lot of great footage from the Weather Report and Word of Mouth eras, and his decline will be handled quite sensitively.

I think where us bass players will be concerned, it'll be very much a "Marmite" type thing....

Ordered 3 x speakon cables & a couple of instrument leads & picked them up on my way to the "Sidewinder" gig in Aldershot - first time I've purchased from the legend that is OBBM & the quality is faultless. I'll be buying more, trust me....

Buy with confidence .

In Surrey:
Windsor Castle, Carshalton.
The Kings Arms, Dorking.
The Castle, Chertsey.
The Barley Mow, Shepperton.

In Berkshire:
The Swan, Arborfield.
The Hope & Anchor, Wokingham.
The Bier Keller, Bracknell.

In Bucks:
The Red Lion, High Wycombe

If you don't mind travelling out to Hampshire:
The Swan, Farnborough.
The Fox & Hounds, Fleet.
The Beehive, Aldershot.

Now I know where I can get a cheap dep from......

I've tried both & TBH, the CV wins it for me. It just sounds like a great 60's/70's Jazz for a fraction of the price.

"Nah, sorry mate - we don't do any ABBA...."

Hi all,
Just a heads up to let you know that "Sidewinder" will be at The Beehive, 264 High St, Aldershot this Saturday.

We'll be playing our usual mixture of Blues, Funk, Rock, and some other bits & pieces. Kick off at 8:45pm.

Hope to see you there

The Gallery in Camden or Bass Gear in Twyford would probably be the nearest bass shops to you if you're driving, or commuting by train. I've yet to visit Bass Gear (am planning to do that in the next week or so). I've visited The Gallery a couple of times - has a lot of gear (it looks like it's shut, but just ring the buzzer to gain access).

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1334965815' post='1624304']
Did Billy Bragg completely pass you by? Love him or hate him you can't deny he was both angry, young and political. And is still one of those things, and proposes alternatives now rather than just shouting no.
[/quote]

No he didn't - I remember hearing "Life's a Riot With Spy vs Spy" when it came out. Bragg was ok, but not in the same league as Weller at the top of his game. I admire his (Bragg's) continuing commitment to his cause, whereas I think Weller's "copped out" since the early Style Council material (by the way, I think The Jam were a much better band than The Style Council, but Weller ended The Jam at the right time).

Just my opinion...

The last "angry young man" (from this side of the pond) was Weller. Although I like a lot of his solo work, he's never written a great political song since the early days of The Style Council.

There's never been (IMO) a greater political songwriter since then, and I don't really see one coming up any time soon.

Have yet to see the copy I'm due in the post - normally arrives about the middle of the month

This is for Levon:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLCmxMrgfDA&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLE019C6310B9B8B46"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLCmxMrgfDA&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLE019C6310B9B8B46[/url]

RIP

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1334765372' post='1620918']
Brilliant musician, and from what I've read, Levon's a lovely man as well. Such sad, sad news.

The Band's records are timeless classics IMHO......they were a true 'band' in every sense, as you can't imagine their part being done by anyone else...they certainly created magic together.
[/quote]

Big +1 to that - there will never be another outfit like "The Band" - unique in every way.

I think it really depends on what you think you need. Is there a particular type of bass that you'd like to try that you think you would use a lot?

The only thing you have to remember with a boutique is that the resale values at the moment are pretty poor - last thing you want to do is buy one and then 6 months later decide it's not for you?

Jeez... That's terrible news, only Robbie Robertson & Garth Hudson left .

I watched the "Classic Albums" documentary about "The Brown Album" a month or so back, and I really like the bit where he talks about the drums & singing the lead vocal on "Up on Cripple Creek". A band I'm in does "The Weight" - we'll have to dedicate the song to Levon next time we play it.

The man's an absolute legend - he will be missed.

Most pub gigs tend to be the £180 - 200 mark nowadays (if you're getting more, you're doing really well). If you're doing a private function, I don't think it would be unreasonable to charge £300 - 500, depending on the budget they're willing to go to, & if you have to go quite a distance, factor in all your additional costs.

Gotta agree with all that's been said previously - my wife bought me my iGig bag from Bass Direct last year & said he was really helpful. I got to meet him at the LBGS this year & passed it onto him which he seemed quite chuffed about (& he remembered the wife calling him about it) .