louisthebass

8 minutes ago, Jus Lukin said:

I haven't watched the video (I've often disagreed with some of what he says in the clips I have seen, and while he seems a lovely chap, any kind of 'Youtube positivity' doesn't jive with my own general grumpiness) but this whole thing is starting with the assumption that producers do insist on a Precision.

It's quite normal to work with whatever comes in, although heavily EQ'd actives aren't always appreciated, as they can very well tie the tech's hands when it comes to the mix. A P-bass is easy to work with for a mix engineer, but the times I can recall I've been asked to play a different bass I was using a passive Stingray, and was asked to try a Jazz (which may have sat better, but it wasn't as well set up as my Stingray, so I stuck) or was using a P and was asked to use a Stingray, which was definitely worse for the blues-rock we were recording (and once again, was worse set up).

The entire notion that there are any absolutes here is kind of a straw man in the first place.

Q. Why do pro's use a P?

A.  They don't, necessarily.

@Jus Lukin - interesting points brought up here.

I'm assuming that if you do pull out an active bass on a studio date, the engineer just wants all the eq on the bass flat?

I think there's a Janek Gwizdala video on YT that mentions a recording session he did, where he ended up using a Fender Musicmaster in preference to his Fodera or any other name bass he might have had on the session. Can't remember if it was someone else's recording date or if it was for one of his own projects, but I suppose it proves that a P bass isn't the only passive bass out there that can do a job.

I've met Scott a few times, and he is a good bloke. I respect the fact that he's a working class guy made good, and he's worked hard for it. I agree that some of his recent YT videos have "gone off topic" in places, but his heart is in the right place.

40 minutes ago, Sonic_Groove said:

What a load of trendy wendy poppycock. Find Your own sound if that's 80's or 90's so be it. I am sure that Scott guy is making plenty of money spouting this PARC.

I don't own one but the P bass is probably one of the most recorded basses in the last 60 years... So as an instrument in the hands of a good player, it must be doing something right? From my perspective, I don't think the point of the video was "a passive P bass is the be all & end all" in the studio, it was just what some producers or engineers preferred to record with...

On 28/11/2018 at 09:48, Silvia Bluejay said:

I think they're moving to a NAMM-style exhibition too, as the target dates for the bass show appear to be the same as the guitar show, which suggest they are trying to house both shows in the same building (albeit - I think - separately), thereby optimising space renting costs and offering visitors the option to go to both shows.

I'm looking forward to a full detail press release.

I heard pretty much the same thing from a reliable source a few weeks back. I'm not sure it's such a good idea, especially if it turns out like the old BMF's from the 1980's...

Did a search and couldn't see a thread - this is mine. Picked it up from Bass Direct last Saturday...😊

Spec is:

Xotic XJ - 1. Swamp Ash body with an all Maple neck which has a nice satin finish to it. Weighs about 9lb, which is lighter than my Overwater J5 Deluxe. This bass can be run passive or active (Volume is a push - pull pot). The controls are Volume, Pickup Blend, Tone, Bass, Middle, Treble, and comes with a nice padded branded gig bag.

Action is low(ish) and as you'd expect from a bass with the woods used it sounds quite bright and snappy, even unplugged. Plugged in it does exactly what it says on the tin - all the typical Jazz bass tones are in there, and it's just really nice to play. Have used it in a couple of rehearsals with my bands this week, and the feedback has been very positive. Gets it's first run out at a gig tomorrow night 😊

My favourite strings - have been using 'em for most of my bass playing life - started using them back in the late 1980's (Stadium stainless steel 40 -125 gauge). I can usually make a set last about three months before changing.

An establishment I still hold dear in my memories - spent loads of money in there. Strings, a Trace Elliot bass rig, my first 5 string, my first ABG, repairs to bass gear, and copies of Bass Player mag... And an Alain Caron clinic 😊 The Wapping store was a great place to visit in the mid 80's to early 1990's, especially when the likes of Pino, and MK were pushing bass to the forefront in music. The staff were absolutely brilliant too.

Happy days! 😊

For most, Scott's videos are going to be more accessible - his output caters mainly for intermediate players, but he also throws in stuff that is useful for beginners. Joe's material is definitely aimed at intermediate / advanced students - very focused on advanced harmonic & rhythmic concepts. 

I watch & subscribe to both on YouTube as there's always something to learn from both of them - TKenrick's channel is pretty good too. 

The other two music channels I find I learn bits from are Aimee Nolte's and Rick Beato's, even though they aren't bass players...

Played a Blues Festival in Woking last night - bit of  shame there weren't many punters there 

It will be interesting to see how this all pans out. BP and BGM were good mags in the first few years of their initial existence until adverts took over, and the quality of some of the player interviews (imo) started to decline.

Stopped buying BGM regularly last year, and will only pick up a copy if there's something that might interest me...

Ryan Madora playing bass with Robben Ford last year:

Just happened on this thread, and have been wondering about the pros / cons of a bass with a Swamp Ash body as it's supposed to be lighter than the regular Ash or Alder bodied basses out there?

I love my Overwater to bits, but it's starting to feel a bit heavy now (even with a nice wide DeGier leather padded strap) 

Won't be the same without WB - glad I got to see the Dan at Hammersmith when they came to the UK in 2007 or 2008.

Played a lot of the classics like Peg, Josie, Haitian Divorce, Kid Charlemagne, etc.. Rhythm section that night was Keith Carlock & "Ready" Freddie Washington.

On 30/08/2018 at 12:21, mic mac moe said:

I personally think that reading is paramount, maybe not for getting gigs in dad rock bands, but it certainly gives a deeper understanding of time, subdivision and maybe groove. I'm currently trying to brush up my reading and writing. Even bought a nice caligraphy pen!! My last few bands have been heavy on the covers, and me being as lazy as poss, tend to trust tab sites etc. How many times I've been wrong!! 😆 

Agree - wish I had learned to read years ago, and definitely needs to go hand in hand with theory study. I think it makes you more rhythmically & harmonically aware (imho).

I was chatting to the keys player in the band I was depping for a few weeks back, and he said l've got the technical facility to do the show gigs that he leads on (he does a lot of small theatre / show stuff), but the thing holding me back is my reading ability.  I started learning to read about 7 years ago as I was fed up with feeling as though I was missing something in my playing, and am really glad I did it. 

Great album - one of the original "Jam Bands". 

Main reason why I've had to quit bands is (mainly) down to situations occurring outside of music that have had to take priority. I've never left on bad terms, even on the one occasion when I got an email saying that my services were no longer required as a much more versatile bass player was taking my place. S**t happens, and I have had to (occasionally) resort to quitting by email myself. That said, I've also had to do the face to face thing over the years a couple of times.

In 33 years of playing, most of the bands I've been in have just naturally seen themselves through to a natural conclusion, but even though I'm happy playing with the two bands I'm currently with, there may come another time in the future when I have to put other things in my life first and step down from either (or both).

On 20/08/2018 at 01:51, Bluewine said:

A once in a lifetime artist. I'm so lucky to have been the right age to grow up with her career and gift.

 

By the way, ever heard this type of description, " she's the new Aretha" ?

Well, there is no "new Aretha" and they'll never be one. Aretha, end of story.

Blue

Agreed - many have tried to emulate Aretha, but they didn't call her the "Queen of Soul" for nothing. So much Soul, Gospel, and passion in that voice...

Aretha was the greatest female Soul / Rhythm & Blues vocalist of our time. When they made the likes of Aretha & Otis Redding, they broke the mould...

20 hours ago, peteb said:

You might not consider it to be blues, but the OP specifically referenced John Mayer and various other high profile guys currently playing blues based music. 

Would add some of the newer kids (?) on the block like Joanne Shaw Taylor, Matt Schofield, and Josh Smith.

6 hours ago, chris_b said:

You might be over thinking this. Bass has a support role in Blues (old and new) so just get a good sound and play well. Listen to Pino, Carmine Rojas and Sean Hurley, and you'll hear totally different sounds and styles. I'd just use my go-to 5 string active jazz bass with rounds and my regular Aguilar/Barefaced rig. What you play will be twice as important as what you sound like.

More importantly, find a drummer who knows the difference between a 4 on the floor Texas shuffle and a Purdy shuffle and can play an interesting pattern on a slow blues.Then youonly  need a guitarist with a brain and a singer without an ego. . . good luck with that search!!

Agreed - the bass players job in a Blues band is to help make the other players sound great, and lock in with drummer. Can't go wrong with that 😊 

Did a couple of gigs Friday & Saturday night.

Gig 1 was in a pub in Whyteleafe to a small (but appreciative) crowd - probably the wrong night to do a gig as the temperatures that day had hit the mid 30's, but good fun all the same.

Gig 2 was a dep function gig with a band I used to play with on the outskirts of Farnborough. First one I'd done for a long time and brought home the fact that punters at these events can be very difficult to please. The band played straight through with no break and had to change the set list on the fly, so props to the front man in reading the audience...

1 hour ago, marleaux62 said:

Hi I'm going to bass direct next week to take a look at them both.

at the moment the Vertigo with the tick 2 could be the winner it gives me the option to have the bag with or without the storage.

Tanks for all the advice.

+1 to the Vertigo & Tick attachment - I've had that set up for my Overwater & my cables, tuner, etc for about 18 months. The Tick increases the storage / carry options greatly 😊

Not sure if they were ever really classed as a Blues act (more R&B / Jam Band?):

Joanne Shaw Taylor:

Josh Smith & Matt Schofield:

On 19/07/2018 at 10:59, EBS_freak said:

People. Be nice.

This....

I was playing with The Upstagers at The Whyteleafe Fair this afternoon. Managed to get some of the passers by to watch a bit of the band but these events are always hit or miss.

Good news is that one of the local pub owners was running a beer stand and we're now doing a gig at his boozer in a couple of weeks - result! 😊