
xilddx
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How the hell do some people treat their basses?!
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='davidmpires' post='736143' date='Feb 5 2010, 01:29 PM']You are being judgemental. I love animals, and my basses have dings. Granted the T-bass has a lot more than the Spector co's I bought it used with dings on it already, it seem not well cared for but i bought my Spector new and I have made some dings and finger marks on it. (being a natural oil bass it happens). It's not that I don't care about my basses is just they are tools to an aim, if there's a ding I won't cry about it, but if anyone beats up my bass they will get beaten Even custom mades I would take them to a gig, in the end you have worked hard to play a great bass why not enjoy it. Although I consider Ritters works of art and I'm not sure I'd take them out to a pub.[/quote] Ritter rhymes with a very appropriate word for those basses. I am talking about properly bashed about, not the odd ding or scratch. -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='bigjohn' post='736126' date='Feb 5 2010, 01:14 PM']Ok. So lets suppose you can model a valve, or whatever amp you like down to imperceptible differences that the player, never mind the audience can't hear. And your cabs do the biz. Do you think you should / could put a crap bass (in terms of tone) into the chain at the beginning?[/quote] Wot? Like a Satellite? -
How the hell do some people treat their basses?!
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='robocorpse' post='736117' date='Feb 5 2010, 01:09 PM']I keep my minters mint, and buy sh*tters to play live and/or abuse. If I buy a used £1000 bass off Ebay for 300 quid thats had the crap kicked out of it already, then I have no qualms about continuing to kick the crap out of it myself, changing the pups, modding it, respraying it, who gives a toss, the damage is done by someone else, and I am just adjusting the "non-mintness" to my own specs. You would freak if you saw the state of my XM2, it is absolutely trashed to pieces doesn't even have any binding left, rewired, resprayed badly in black car paint and badly applied graphic front, but OMG its a fantastic player and still a USA Steinberg underneath all the various grot. It also sounds fantastic, its my main bass at the moment. I DO keep it clean though, +1 about sweat buildup, eww. I do all my own setups etc, and my own sweat is bad enough, let alone when I used to do it for a living![/quote] I agree with you. May we have a picture of the sh*teberger please? -
How the hell do some people treat their basses?!
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='Shockwave' post='735975' date='Feb 5 2010, 11:39 AM']If your talking about my Pedulla (Which is now 20 years old, so probably not the bass your talking about), it now has a new owner because some people can look beyond the looks of a bass. The previous owner who had it before me made all of the wear it has, its been well loved and well played. If a custom shop bass has alot of wear and tear (and no deep cracks etc) I would generally think its because it was such a good bass, the owner couldnt put it down, imo that is a sign of a very good instrument. Now if there were deep cracks and obvious headstock reglues then i would say that was neglect, if it was paint chips, fret wear then i would say it was probably a damn fine bass and its gathering marks that playing bass can get you. For the record i do prefer new looking basses if i bought them new, if i bought them second hand i will buy it if i think the wear/damage is acceptable and that the price reflected the use. I would never have got the Pedulla fretted in the first place if it didnt have damage as i could never have afforded it! Rob.[/quote] No, not yours mate BUT, [i]"If a custom shop bass has alot of wear and tear (and no deep cracks etc) I would generally think its because it was such a good bass, the owner couldnt put it down, imo that is a sign of a very good instrument."[/i] I'm sorry but I think that's absolute nadgers. The odd ding and scratch I can understand, but I can't see why any instrument should end up looking like it's spent six months in the Gorbals because someone "loved" it. -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='ped' post='735554' date='Feb 4 2010, 09:57 PM']Very interesting discussion chaps. It is something I have thought about a lot myself. I was lucky to find 'my' bass a while ago, one that primarily 'felt' right, the action/relief was spot on (and hasn't been touched since I got it) and of the same importance it sounds, to me, just right. From this 'comfortable' launchpad I was then able to delve into researching and trying various rigs and processors to expand my range of sounds. You must understand that 99% of the time when recording I am DI'd straight to the desk, and still am, so this experiment was from a purely recreational standpoint. I found out that weather I played through a desk, a Mesa 400+/1516BE rig, a Hartke 3500 rig, an SVT, a Trace Elliot V4 rig, a poweramp and pod rig, an in ear rig, a DI box, an SWR redhead, a Peavey Firebass, whatever it was, I sounded the same, my bass always came through with that velvety graphite clear punchy sound. The Pod was great fun and it enabled me to emulate different amplifiers, which was great fun and also produced some cool synths. However, i found no matter what I did, I simply couldn't create another bass sound convincingly, because one thing I couldn't do was alter the way the pickups interpreted the string movement. You simply can't get a jazz bass sound from a stingray. You can EQ it and mess about with it and it might sound less like a ray, but it won't sound much like a jazz (and if anyone has a clip demonstrating the contrary I would love to see it, because maybe someone can, but I couldn't!) ...Enter the Vbass (or VB99) and associated GK pickup (as mentioned earlier - the GK2B or GK3B or even, like I now FINALLY have installed, the internal system). Now I can emulate amplifier sounds, but crucially, I can 'move' the 'pickups' on the bass. Each string is processed individually and the brain knows exactly how long the strings speaking length is. I can do a Jazz bass, a musicmam, all sorts, with extreme accuracy, because I am altering the one thing that nothing else can. I'm not changing the EQ at all, I'm moving the 'pickups' and fundamentally changing the characteristics of the sound. It's a really great tool to have if you like having the ONE bass, but having access to the classics too - I never really found a P or J that I was fully happy with in terms of comfort, so now I have it all on my fave bass. I know I have said this before but I really think it is a criminally underrated piece of equipment which has opened up so many doors for me. It's a whole new way of looking at the issue of emulating other sounds. That said, you can also design your own basses by choosing where the pickups go for each string. Its amazingly complicated but the possibilities are endless, and, more importantly, sound incredible. I sold everything else I had as a result. Still, 99% of the time I'm playing with everything bypassed using my natural magnetic pickup sound into a poweramp, so I value both extremes - 100% natural and clean, and 100% digital. They both work for me and both have the potential to sound perfect. Unlike the knob holding the bass. I need a V-me. ped[/quote] I heard ped's synth rig at the SE Bass bash. I have to say, his sounds were the most rich, lush, immacculate sounds and you would NEVER know it was a synth. NEVER! -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='Chris2112' post='735943' date='Feb 5 2010, 11:20 AM']If it is his selfish nature that has created so many beautiful sounds, then I wish I could be that selfish. Jaco's sound is still one of my absolute favourite tones, and the "Jaco honk" on a nice fretless bass is very versatile and can really be used anywhere![/quote] Eurgh. I hate that sound. I hate "honk" and "burp" (what in hell's name is "burp" all about??). If I want burp I'll drink half a gallon of Morrison's Cola. But I don't want "burp", that's why I don't drink it. TBH, I generally only really get off on massive dub tones, so I'm prejudiced. -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='cheddatom' post='735938' date='Feb 5 2010, 11:14 AM']Surely you listen and re-asses with every new peice of equipment in the chain? If I have an all valve rig, but then I try a POD and realise I could carry the same tone around much easier, I chose the POD, and it's not an inferior choice. Then I try the phaser on the POD and realise I can get it to sound like the vintage boutique pedal I spent £500, so I chose the POD and it's not an inferior choice. Then I try the squire VMJ and it sounds the same as my £4k super jazz, so I take the squire to gigs..... etc. I just think there's a hell of a lot of b*llocks said about tone, usually by people with more money than sense (or listening ability).[/quote] That's almost exactly what I did. Except for the basses, but I flogged my entire guit*r rig with valve amp, boutique pedals, etc. and got a POD. Best thing I ever did. -
I see basses, some expensive ones, in the For Sale section that have so much major cosmetic damage that I wonder if the previous owner lived in a skip. I can't believe how some people treat their instruments! There's one up there now (I won't say which) that's a beautiful bass, but it's got massive dents in the neck, scratches and dents all over the body, crap and dust, you name it. We are not talking vintage here, we're talkin bout a young expensive bass that looks like it's come back from a stint in Helmand Province. What the F**K do they do to them?? God only knows what their bedsits look like. I don't really know why but it makes me angry. I don't like people who have no respect for things, I make assumptions they treat people and animals like that too. Is it me being very judgemental as usual? or do I have a point?
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"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='chris_b' post='735829' date='Feb 5 2010, 09:15 AM']You're part of a team, and all that really matters to the audience, promoter and other team members is that the team does well. Professional pride should make sure that you always do your best to excel in all areas. All the bands and artists I play with appreciate a "team player" more than a self centred virtuoso, so that's my priority.[/quote] Same here. Well said. -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='Steve Amadeo' post='735710' date='Feb 5 2010, 12:49 AM']I disagree. In my opinion his sound with Weather Report on 'A Remark You Made' and 'Canonball' among others is soft and beautiful, his phrasing melodic and serving the music. Joni Mitchell employed him for what he brought to the music, his characterful playing and his tone. Listen to the other bass player who plays in a more standard manner on an album like Hejira. Meat and potatoes and nothing wrong with that. But Jaco's playing stands out head and shoulders above that because of the (at the time) uniqueness of his sound and the personality and character in his playing. Nobody could match Jaco in those days as far as expression goes. You can't get that level of expression without paying attention, in great detail, to your personal sound.[/quote] Those are fair points. -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
Yes, I do realise I have just contradicted myself. -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='jakesbass' post='735702' date='Feb 5 2010, 12:36 AM']We deal with details in music in a way that the public generally don't, but what we should never do is underestimate the sophistication of judgement that can be available to an audience. We must remember that they are responding in a very base (no pun intended) way to what we do, there is a communication on a level at which we are barely conscious.[/quote] That is a beautiful way of expressing what I couldn't. -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='XB26354' post='735696' date='Feb 5 2010, 12:20 AM']This is an interesting thread let down by what is imho a dumbass comment. How, in any way, shape or form did Jaco have a "sh*t" tone? What is a "sh*t" tone anyway? He last recorded around 1985 so what was "sh*t" then and has it become "sh*t" now due to the passage of time and imitators?[/quote] His sound was sh*t because it was never sympathetic with the music, he was possibly the most selfish bassist ever to gain glory. His technique and musicality were awe inspiring, but his sound was brash, ugly and selfish, and he was only ever out for himself. I have not let the thread down with my comment either, there has been some superb debate on this thread which has really got me thinking. Thank you for challenging my view on Jaco's sh*t sound though, I appreciate it. -
[quote name='Rasta' post='734720' date='Feb 4 2010, 07:56 AM']Here's my new band with a ruff tuff loverz reggae recording [/quote] ACE!! No question I would buy that, wonderful! LOOOVEEEERRRLY bass line too. Respec!
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"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='Marvin' post='735576' date='Feb 4 2010, 10:12 PM']I feel so inadequate sometimes. [/quote] Don't mate, music is a purely individual set of choices. BTW, wasn't slagging your Ibby off earlier -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='Happy Jack' post='735529' date='Feb 4 2010, 09:32 PM']I'm up for that. Which band is this, Si? Re-Cover or First Signs Of Frost?[/quote] Excellent! -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='Sibob' post='735285' date='Feb 4 2010, 05:17 PM']Silddx, I'm playing in Ealing on 12th Feb if you're about! Si[/quote] I am, as it happens, mate! Anyone else up for it? Happy Jack? Where and when, Si? -
[quote name='Malc62' post='735502' date='Feb 4 2010, 08:46 PM']Did you say "Holy Crap" or "Total Crap"?[/quote] I think the body looks cool, the headstock looks like I carved my girlfriend's name into a piece of dry dogshit.
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"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='thodrik' post='735487' date='Feb 4 2010, 08:30 PM']I don't think anybody would care if bumped the mids at 500Hz for a certain song or used a pod to change my amp from a GK to an Ampeg![/quote] So get a POD and save your money and your lumbar region for drinking and dancing! Also, the space your amp used to take and the money you have saved makes a sports car much more viable -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='skankdelvar' post='735473' date='Feb 4 2010, 08:15 PM']Bilge. The place just below where they kept the pineapples. It is a matter of incontrovertible fact that [i]every[/i] pineapple in the world comes [i]from[/i] Hawaii. Hence, "long 18th century sea journeys [b]to[/b] places like Hawaii" would be pineapple-free. More likely, ships on "long 18th century sea journeys [b]from[/b] places like Hawaii" would be the ones with pineapples. On arrival in Blighty, these pineapples would then be bartered for, say, sprouts, cabbages or coconuts, which would then be used on the return journey [b]to[/b] Hawaii. I can safely say that few (if any) ships carried pineapples to Hawaii in the 18th century. Sprouts, yes. Pineapples - never. Or perhaps. But then they would be [i]returning[/i] to Hawaii, which is entirely different. It really boils my piss to a mile-high plume of steam when people get simple historical facts wrong. It's a feckless betrayal of Britain's impressionable youth. My father, Sol Hoopii, would be spinning in his grave. As he never ceased to remind me in his twilight years:[/quote] The usual brilliance! -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='riff raff' post='735398' date='Feb 4 2010, 06:51 PM']i think that you are my hero.[/quote] Not sure how to respond to that Thank you! Old Holborn and green Rizla? -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='MacDaddy' post='735423' date='Feb 4 2010, 07:26 PM']+1 fruit has no business being on a pizza.[/quote] Ah, well now, there's a lot of history to the use of the pineapple with ham, the particular enzymes in it fights bacteria and preserves such things as ham, especially on long 18th century sea journeys to places like Hawaii. -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='Maverick' post='735417' date='Feb 4 2010, 07:19 PM']Basically, everything's subjective.[/quote] A very objective statement if I may say so. -
"Core Tone" isn't very important in your bass.
xilddx replied to xilddx's topic in General Discussion
[quote name='Happy Jack' post='735267' date='Feb 4 2010, 05:08 PM']I'm staggered that this has remained on-topic for so long, and I will immediately rectify this by pointing out that playing bass in a covers band makes versatility WAY more important than core tone. In the space of 10 minutes I may need to sound like McCartney, Wyman and Watt-Roy. For a given value of "sound", of course. YESSSS!!! Covers -v- Originals topic introduced. Now, what about jazz ...[/quote] Shut up, you! My bands are originals and i still need loads of versatility in two of them. The other one is fine with just a tweaked Jamaican 360 model for the whole gig