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[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1363691662' post='2015826'] How bizarre. So you have no love for the instrument itself? It is merely a tool of your trade? [/quote] Nothing wrong with that is there? I live for the gig too, but I have to play and write and record and whatever, there is no way I could turn that compulsion off. If I didn't have to gig and wasn't in bands, I'd probably start learning piano and drums in earnest and the bass and guitar would be tools rather than first love. The music is what counts, not the instrument.

Only the roots But I'm never thinking of note names and note or interval relationships when I play.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1363686342' post='2015672'] Yes, Nigel, you look very youthful in your avatar. Couldn't say the same for your previous one though. [/quote] S'all the blackeye peas I've been eating

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1363685333' post='2015641'] I was going to say this!!! Nige, you do not look anywhere near 50 from what you've posted up of your gigs with Kit.... blimey, I thought you were about my age. Maybe this is conclusive proof that healthy living, the love of a good partner and regular gigging with bands you love are the secret to staying youthful..... I have 2 of the 3..... I live in hope to start turning the clock back on my appearance [/quote] Well thank you! However, healthy living has never played any part, I've smoked for over 30 years, drink too much, don't really get enough fruit or veg, (although I just started making fresh smoothies at home every morning so that helps, and I always cook fresh food from raw ingredients) and I don't really get much exercise. I think it's having some Indian blood on my mum's side, and a lifetime of steroid cream for my world class eczema

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1363683883' post='2015606'] I must admit that I find that difficult to understand from someone with your experience. There is no reason why any member of the audience should have any higher appreciation of music - the only thing expert opinion that they may have is in what they like. If anyone in the audience feel moved to comment favourably on what I do, then I thank them kindly without taking it too seriously - at least that is one person who has been entertained for whatever reason! [/quote] + a lot. NEVER disrespect your audience.

I'm writing an album at the moment, and when it's done, hopefully by the end of the year or early 2014, I intend to put a band together to play it and get some gigs. However, I am not going to be in it, I just want to watch the band playing my music, so in that sense I am both gigging and not gigging at the same time I think

[quote name='spencer.b' timestamp='1363652037' post='2015457'] just listened to the feraud and gwizdala clips and i think that's a bit harsh on the latter to lump them in together, for me feraud is just finger wiggling nonsense but I thought gwizdala has a sense of harmonic development and space and has tons of modern jazz vocab. Isn't all bass shred music a bit bollox though? great shout for thunes and fowler [/quote] You're right, some of Gwiz's passages are really nice, but most of it sounds like faux Coltrane, too many of em sound like that sheets of notes thing, but it sounds like dad dancing because you can learn the artifice and the techniques, but unless you have a well developed aesthetic that incorporates your personality it can come across as a too stylistic and without nuance and real personal expression. No real fire. I know this sounds a bit poncey and above my station, but you know what I mean?

I think I must be really f***ing lucky or something All my bands are a delight to be in, I can exercise my creativity, get funky, get really challenged, all with ace musicians who are a total pleasure to be around. All playing original material of high quality and musical interest. A couple of the bands are old friends, and I found Kit advertising for a bassist on here. It can be done. But you have to look, and luck plays a big part. Just keep going, I'm nearly fifty and playing with the best bands I've ever been a part of. It's got better and better over 30 years. If music is your passion and you have some skills and a good ear, you won't give up, you'll get there eventually.

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1363632933' post='2015070'] I feel really stupid but I just don't get music where the bass starts doing much more than a good groove. I watch these guys with awe, but I can only enjoy it when I see them playing with my eyes, if its listening only its not quite the same. Should I be struck from the bass playing community ? [/quote] I totally get what you are saying. I think it's about doing what's right for the song, whatever the song is, but doing it with real attitude. If you only like bass doing a simple groove that's perfectly fine. I don't like a lot of the virtuosos I've heard because of what I see as a failing in their ability to transcend their exercises. Even players Hadrien Feraud and Jimmy Haslip seem to sound like they are doing exercises, ultrafast descending scale runs in fours and stuff like that seems prevalent in so much of what they play, the same little chords they use, they way they 'take it down' with the quiet little nippy notes, and so many of these players sound like that. But when I listen to Scott Thunes or Tom Fowler, their lines are just so much more harmonically interesting, there's real harmonic and melodic depth in their lines, and they are played with fire, real energy. But then they had superb compositions to work with. I mean, where have the composition skills gone? All the new virtuoso chops jazz sounds much the same, same old progressions but nothing inspiring. And what's with all these daft effects they're using now, these comical dub step and auto wah sounds that seem so popular with so many virtuosos. I know I sound really prejudiced but I honestly think most of the new breed of virtuosos sound dull, boring, sparkless, and often the same as each other, all the old transcribed jazz trumpet runs on bass. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K59V8q74juc[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q46vu25KByM[/media]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1363543680' post='2013896'] There's a guitarist near me that uses a digital modelling pre-amp which was seriously expensive. Every time I hear it I know almost immediately that it's modelled and not the 'real thing'. Always sounds over-processed and lacking in the natural warmth and zing of a good valve guitar amp. Maybe it's just the way he's programmed it though [/quote] Almost certainly.

Great customer service and trusting the staff. That's why I will go back to Andertons, Nevada, and GuitarGuitar in Epsom.

[quote name='Jack Cahalane' timestamp='1363461212' post='2013097'] What do you mean by gunslinger? [/quote] What I said in the OP

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1363448131' post='2012868'] He's even more of an inspiration to me since I f***ed my hair up ! [/quote]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1363446916' post='2012854'] Is Tony Levin a gunslinger ? He's got the skill , confidence and true style in his understatement , so I would say he is , albeit in his own unique way : [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i037HTohUhw[/media] [/quote] How in god's name did I forget Tony!! Total gunslinger virtuoso!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1363445721' post='2012837'] I would have to agree with you on both counts , but I think they might just scrape in some peoples estimation by virtue of their up-and-at-em attitude to playing .Similaly with Squarepusher , he plays a lot of notes and has ability , but a virtuoso ? Not in a million years . The thing that divides those players and those who have a higher level of ability is musical knowledge , and by that term " knowledge " I would include the taste and judgement to know what to do with what they know for the best effect . Great chops and great feel , in other words . [/quote] Totally right. But there are tone of unschooled gunslingers out there anyway. I'm looking for the virtuosos who still have the gunslinger attitude, players with real vitality.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1363292433' post='2011248'] No. G. [/quote] +1

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1363439874' post='2012725'] I suppose someone has to nominate him , and it might as well be me ...: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FrI5lNvCnQ[/media] Flea must be the most well known and most admired bass guitarist in the World today . I think he's a good player in many ways but not a great one and certainly not a virtuoso , but if Les Claypool is included then Flea should be too . [/quote] IMO, Claypool should not be included, he's not a virtuoso schooled player, neither is Flea.

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1363437711' post='2012678'] Is no-one gonna say it? [/quote] What, Wooten?

Someone posted this yonks ago, Mingus .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqWLSe0FS0I

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1363377468' post='2012175'] This fella has got real depth to his playing , too : [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR6UYcWZA38[/media] [/quote] These are great man, keep em coming!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1363377228' post='2012170'] This guy is the real deal too : [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvBtX_omY4o[/media] [/quote] He's got it! In spades!

There are loads of virtuoso bassists out there who can play almost anything, and with some feel. But so many of the ones I've heard seem a bit passionless, a bit too 'theoretical', too 'dry' in their choice of notes and phrasing. They often don't seem to have transcended their schooling. So who are the technical masters who are also real 'gunslingers', the ones who really have some attitude, where they go beyond the idea that everything has to be perfect. You know, the ones who can really thrill you, like they generate lightning, not just a few volts and actually look like they are really into it. I'm not sure I can include people like Geddy and Chris Squire, they are not virtuosos who can sight read and play any style. In my mind I'm thinking Scott Thunes, Tom Fowler, Jaco, Paul Chambers, Marcus .. Got any good uns for us? Here's my favourite Gunslinger .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly79mkffp7M

BTW, the vid in the OP is fabulous! And that's one of the coolest bassists I've ever seen.

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1363312998' post='2011544'] IMost of the people who rag on Line 6 are either anti-digital elitists, or have only heard the little guitar combos from 10 years back or more. Those things really were shocking! [/quote] I do wish people would actually try digital modelling before they slag it off. The trouble people go to with trying to find the 'right rig', the problems they seem to have getting a good tone, throw, portability, yaddayadda, and when they find it they only have a few sounds at their disposal. When they could have a world of tone and versatility at their fingertips in a little bag