xilddx

OK, taken of the Status black tapes, didn't get on with them.

I've put on a set of roundwound DR black beauties, job done. Shame they don't feel as nice as the tapes or flats, but bwoy, they sound good!

If anyone fancies trying the Status black tapes, PM me your address and I'll send them to you. They were on a Fender 4 a-side long scale peghead so they should fit most basses - .045 - .105.

Cheers.

[quote name='redstriper' post='409175' date='Feb 14 2009, 12:16 AM']I've been playing nothing but reggae for 30 years - it's a spiritual thing and a direct route to the soul.
It's a music you feel with your heart rather than hear with your head and who feels it knows it.
To all those bassists who wish they were in a reggae band I say - form one now, today's dream is tomorrow's reality.
The sheer quantity of incredible Jamaican music over the past 40 years is unbelievable for a small 3rd world island and the message has spread all over the world with great new roots bands in every country.
It's influence is heard in most poular music from punk to rap and while never mainstream, it appeals to a wide range of people, unlike most other genres.
It's positive and uplifting with a message of one love and unity - what's not to like?
[url="http://myspace.com/redstriper"]You can check my band here.[/url]
One Love.[/quote]

Diggin it too!

Good stuff man! We have one reggae/dub inspired number in the set and it's probably my favourite for performing. I grew up listening to prog rock and reggae. It's a feeling you can't beat, when it's right, it's the heaviest, most exciting groove there is. We played last night with a reggae band, they were superb!

[quote name='Huggy and the Bears' post='406187' date='Feb 11 2009, 12:47 PM']I'm the lead singer in our band and the bass player. i don't have a problem with it now but I have a few techniques that might help others. I started singing because I was told it was difficult and so just to have one up on the rest of the band I got it nailed! And I love it! I also use a Digitec Vocalist Live4 harmony pedal which I am jumping on and off all through songs - now that's a challenge and a half but it works well. I'd recommend one to any band.

Basically when I learn new songs I learn the vocals and bass line together. Never independently! I don't read music, so I listen to the song and unpick each part in 'chunks' with my bass: intro, chorus, verse etc. I then have a listen whilst reading the words so that you get a feel for the flow of the phrasing of the words relative to the starts/stops etc. of the bass line. I then have a go for the first time singing and playing.

The key is to get the rhythm of the vocals right with the correct bass line. I don't worry about the exact words for the first few run throughs. That comes later in the night. Usually 5 times through listening to the CD it is almost giggable. I also make cryptic notes (i.e. what bass parts to play - '4 bars of the first bit' 'that funny run down') where I need a prompt on the words. I need words for new songs until after about 6 gigs.

Also, I find if I hammer a song all night, I don't make progress. 20 minutes of one song, then do something else is enough and when you come back after playing something else I find that it has sunk in a little bit.

This week's brand new songs to gig at weekend that I've been nailing since Saturday are: Stuck in the middle, Gimme shelter, Rockin in the free world and Can't get enough of your love. We do a few Weller/Jam songs and they are very rewarding to sing and play.

Easy peasy! I'll put money on the guitarists screwing up before me!

Hope this helps!

Si.[/quote]

That makes a lot of sense. I can sing and play quite complex stuff on a guitar but useless singing while on the bass. I'll try your suggestions.

Speaking of Sting, have you seen/heard the latest Certifiable DVD? It freaks me out how he's able to sing the way he does over the basslines. Pure liquid. It's an amazing DVD.

You could of course wear those shapeless t-shirts and jeans and call yourselves "The Primarks". That could work. Otherwise, do what the skankdelvar and the old git suggest.

One thing I would add, if you think your lyrics say what the band is about, you will find they won't for nearly all the audience. They will take the odd chorus hook and interpret it they way they want, even substituting words by accident. You need to say what your band is about visually, especially early on in your career.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='403162' date='Feb 8 2009, 02:15 AM']Basically, this is a function of 'marketing' So look at your market.

1) Check out up and coming bands in the same genre - what are they wearing? What does your (target) audience wear? Now spin a variation on it. Maybe bigger, more flamboyant.[/quote]

Totally spot on.

I think it's very good too, but the slow quiet parts later in the number need to be, er, downsized in my opinion. Well played, well recorded, I quite like the voice too. I think a good producer would give it a bit more "guts". Damn good work though.

Horrible to my ears. I listen to my pop music and suddenly realise how one-dimensional a lot of Jazz can be. None of them in that clip exhibits a shred of sensitivity.

Dunnery [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AveJxs_TmY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AveJxs_TmY[/url]

If the Alan Murphy mentioned is the same guy who played for Go West, he was great. I used to work with his cousin, so very sadly I knew he wasn't long for this planet. Great player.

You've reminded me there, I love Pepe Martinez and Juan Martin.

Plugged in, my lord, they are so different to the LaBs. They are more "acoustic" in voice. Not much bass response but a lot of thin treble, slappy sounding, interesting. Some eq and compression and they were kinda cool. They feel very nice to play and my perception is they are more responsive but slightly more difficult to intonate accurately. Not sure what I think really but they do look lovely on my white Fender Jazz Special with the MightyMite ebanol fretboard with black hardware. For the look alone I want to get used to them, I'm sure Bilbo will find that morally abhorrent ;-)

Alex Lifeson
EDIT: and
Francis Dunnery

Very nice people at Status. Had to phone in the order yesterday afternoon and they arrived this morning. Long scale, single ball, black tapewound, 105 - 45.

They are very low tension compared to the La Bella Deeps I just took off, really flabby. My neck profile has changed a LOT. The E feels slightly lumpy, but they have so much zing! I thought they'd be as flat as a flounder. Haven't plugged in yet though.

They look ace!

Crikey, I had no idea! Norman's awesome.

I'll almost certainly be meeting Mick Jones next week, I might ask him!

Because I started off as a guitarist, I used to borrow friends basses for recording my songs, so I only started playing because I had to. It turned into a love affair. I don't get a kick from guitars at all anymore. Borrowed a cheap Yam BB and a SGC Nanyo Jap Bass Collection. The first bass I bought was a s/h Jap Squier Silver Series Jazz for £90. It was a very nice bass. Then I took all the frets out and stripped most of the paint off and generally f*cked it up. I refretted and resprayed it last year, didn't like it, broke it up and flogged all the parts and made a small profit. I then got a Hohner Pro Jack Custom which was excellent but I eventually sold that and got a Corvette $$, I completely adore it.

This is a bootless argument. It's strictly personal.

Just ordered the Status tapes. Looking forward to getting them!

Thanks a million chaps.

Oi! I wear leather trousers! They're kind of semi-retired though. I'm thinking of black wetlook leggings and lapdancer thighboots with plexi soles and 4" heels for my next outfit.

Super, thanks Paul. Do they sound any different?

Anyone seen them in black? I love my DR Black Beauties but I would love a set of black flats for my fretless.

[quote name='William James Easton' post='398928' date='Feb 3 2009, 01:57 PM']*screams, runs, jumps out of window*[/quote]

I'll join you.

Absolutely agree an Alesis SR16 is the way to go. It's designed for live use as well. I've been using the SR16 (and HR16) for donkey's years. They are superb and you can pick up a near mint one on ebay for £50 or so. Dead easy to use, great sounds, etc.

Yes, good luck!

I'm in two bands. Both feature past and present lead singers with Transglobal Underground, global dance fusion pioneers. TGU founders Hamid Mantu is on kit with both bands and Alex Kasiek plays keys with Doreen.

They are all brilliant singers and musicians and I feel very humbled to have the honour of playing bass with them.

[b]Doreen Thobekile[/b] - Formerly of TGU - Zulu Funk. Zulu township songs over TGU music and production.
Album - [b]London Zulu [/b]on Mule Satellite. www.myspace.com/doreenthobekile

[b]Krupa [/b]- currently in TGU and previously of One Giant Leap - Urban Desi Funk/Dance/Ambient. Album coming soon. www.myspace.com/krupa

Transglobal Underground's seventh album [b]Moonshout[/b] is available from all the usual places.
[url="http://www.t-g-u.com"]http://www.t-g-u.com[/url]
www.myspace.com/transglobalunderground