SteveK

[quote]Why should an Ibanez not be £2,000[/quote] Yeah, £2,000 doesn't strike me as too much. I paid about £1800 last year for a Stingray 5. Got to select a couple of features, but it was certainly no custom build.

Funnily enough, the only bass I ever sold was an Ibanez (MC924).

[quote name='Doddy' post='1209919' date='Apr 24 2011, 11:48 AM']Yes. The thing is,there is a big difference,I think,between being offered a gig in a pub playing X Factor/Beiber songs and being offered the actual X Factor or Beiber gig.[/quote] Of course. If someone wants to do JB, X Factor or work with any artist, I wouldn't have a problem...it's a free world. However, I [i]would[/i] take issue with someone who was vociferous in their condemnation of said artist, and then, when offered a gig, accepted without hesitation. N.B. Sorry to the op for bringing X Factor into the thread. I know marginally more about it than Justin Beiber.

I know there are many X Factor detractors here (myself included). To those, a question: If asked to do the winners tour, would you?

There are certainly instances when I would refuse a gig, and , indeed, there [i]have[/i] been. But there was a gig that we did do (about 15 years ago), that perhaps we shouldn't: Did several shows in Russia with one corporate in Moscow included. Didn't realise till we hit the stage and saw a hall full of ugly, overweight be-suited men, (and I don't mean politicians, although some possibly were) with young gorgeous women on their arms.

[quote name='Darshan' post='1206880' date='Apr 21 2011, 11:20 AM']Anyone know what kind of effect the 2nd Bass player is using here for the solo right at the end of the tune? I want that pedal! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00tzcnyDL68"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00tzcnyDL68[/url][/quote] The main reason it sounds like a guitar is because he's playing very high up the neck, add some distortion and that's about it... as far as I can tell on my laptop.

How has Jools Holland managed to get away with it for so long? He always looks so ill at ease. The guy manages to make each appearance on telly look like his first. He is incoherent and got the interviewing skills of Katie Price. As a consequence I don't watch as much as, perhaps, I should. Like the format though.

[quote name='Doddy' post='1206472' date='Apr 20 2011, 09:49 PM']You mean like this...... [/quote] Oh dear!!!! WTF was he thinking???

[quote name='phil.i.stein' post='1206023' date='Apr 20 2011, 04:04 PM']ah well, the big bang theory's out of the window.. [/quote] Maybe time to get your stove serviced

[quote name='phil.i.stein' post='1206005' date='Apr 20 2011, 03:49 PM']no, just that technology enables people to get on with things without rudimentary theory. i don't know how to make fire, but i can light the stove.[/quote] " i don't know how to make fire, but i can light the stove." Me too! I know nothing of the laws of physics, but I'm certain, when lighting the stove, the laws are being applied.

[quote name='phil.i.stein' post='1205954' date='Apr 20 2011, 03:28 PM']there is, of course, a flip-side to all of this theory argument. another thread on here, the one about electronic music. some of the best producers in this genre haven't a clue about musical theory. they just experiment. it probably wouldn't help them to learn theory either, as technology and analogue/digital 'language' is the new way of communication. traditional theory is all well and good, but is also becoming increasingly obsolete.[/quote] Theory is certainly not "becoming increasingly obsolete." Just because they haven't studied it doesn't mean that it is not being applied. I'm sure chord changes and the melodies used follow very clearly "traditional theory". They just don't know it. Unless, of course, we're talking about something totally avant-garde.

Jist of this thread: "I don't read, I just enjoy getting together with mates and knocking out a few tunes." "Oh, you should learn to read music, you'll be a better musician for it." "But I make a good living doing *enter career of choice*. I have no inclination of making a career of music. I just enjoy getting together with mates and knocking out a few tunes." "Oh, you should learn to read music, you'll be a better musician for it." "But I'm not into jazz, I have no intention of doing sessions, I just enjoy getting together with mates and knocking out a few tunes. "Oh, you should learn to read music, you'll be a better musician for it." "But I don't have the time, I just enjoy what I'm doing." "Stuff your enjoyment -[b] learn to read[/b]... you'll be a better musician for it." etc etc If I was a non reader the pompous grandiosity of some posts in this thread would put me off for life. And I'm speaking as someone who's been a pro gigging musician since 1975 Incidentally, I've done many sessions and never once got a whiff of sheet music. I've generally been left to my own devices. However, if you intend making a living doing sessions , then learning to read is a must. Don't think that applies to many contributors to this thread though.

Doddy, with respect, you're starting to come across like one of those stuffy old piano teacher ma'ams I vaguely remember hearing about in my childhood, reciting the same old mantra at every opportunity, [i]"study - scales - notation"[/i]. If someone asks, "I'm at this stage, how can I improve?" Then I think it's reasonable to suggest learning to read. I do think, however, that you have to accept that for some, that have no intention of following a career in music, being told that they should learn to read can be a big turnoff. May be there just aren't enough hours in the day for work, family, learning songs for their fun band and a bit of practice as it is. It's obviously good advice for those that want to be serious about music, but there are many that only intend it to be a bit of fun with their mates, maybe with an occasional gig thrown in.

[quote name='skej21' post='1202354' date='Apr 17 2011, 07:58 AM']Paul Westwood's 'Bass Bible' as that has A LOT of good small snippets of lines to read and means you can mix it up and change what you're playing before you get the chance to remember any of it![/quote] I believe that's the book that features my ex band-mate John Trotter on drums, great "groove" player.

[quote name='merello' post='1202103' date='Apr 16 2011, 08:16 PM'] The same as slipping in a mention or your latest book/film/album your book on Loose Women?[/quote] Latest?

[quote name='dmccombe7' post='1201858' date='Apr 16 2011, 03:05 PM']Come on Steve. I recognise your name from MM era. That was their best time IMHO so take credit where its due. I bought the best of MM a couple of yrs ago and it has some great tracks on there. Cheers Dave[/quote] ooops! Edit: You do of course mean MM[u][b]EB[/b][/u] (I hope)...I was nothing to do with '60s MM...How old do you think I am?

Don't want to come across as the party pooper here, but surely, the biggest compliment is the[i] roar of approval/clapping of hands[/i] between songs and the end of the set. I know this is supposed to be a light-hearted thread and we all like to be complimented, but these compliments usually come from small talk where the punter is perhaps struggling for something to say. Nice to hear nonetheless, just trying to put it in context.

More fretless from JG [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_Tango"]on this album...[/url] oh, look, another familiar name on bass...at least, familiar to my mum.

The more time I spend here the more I realise - some BCers are bass [i]players [/i]and some are bass [i]collectors[/i]. Nowt wrong with being a collector. But remember though - A collector does not a player make

The last time I actually tried before buying was about 1980. Sold it 18 months later, hated it (Ibanez MC924, the only bass I've ever sold). I bought a Stingray 5 last year online - took 6 months to arrive (bit fussy about the spec), so not possible to try. I did have my reservations after ordering and wondered if I would would regret my moment of madness... However, a wonderful instrument - couple of little adjustments, then ready to go.

Just to clarify - You are a band doing gigs and Hi Heel Sneakers is part of your setlist...that's it? I do find the email a little strange. Half the bands in the world have played this song at sometime or other. I certainly wouldn't "appease them verbally and carry on playing it." In my experience, it doesn't pay trying to be smart.

I have a Stingray V and haven't encountered the problem, although I have heard of the quiet G. If it's ok on your practice combo then it could possibly be EQ related. Do you like a sound with loads of bottom end? Are the strings quiet even with the EQ set flat?

In my, nearly 40 years, of playing bass, I don't recall [i]ever[/i] breaking a string - and trust me, I ain't no string tickler. If strings break "Easily" I would suggest that the nut and bridge/saddles may need some attention. Although, If your strings are a hundred years old or if you're a heavy gauge pick player with an aggressive style, then, a string break is obviously more likely.

GustOo, Bass players have made a great living (and contributed to the bands success) by pretty much just playing 8s. On the other hand, others have made a living out of faffing about all over the song. Adam Clayton and John Entwistle are two extremes that spring to mind. A question to you: When your Job Centre guitarist plays his riff or chords, what would you [b]like[/b] to hear from the bass? What in your head can you imagine that would sound really cool? For now try recording the riffs etc, take them home, play back, shut your eyes and get a feel for the song (or how you would like it to feel). Hum something that you think would sound good and then try and learn what you've hummed. After a while you'll probably find this process becomes a lot quicker. There's no law that says that you have to come up with a bass line immediately at rehearsals, you're not a session musician where the clock's ticking. Allegedly Paul McCartney would often go home after a day in the studio and work on his parts at home.

[quote name='J.R.Bass' post='1194942' date='Apr 10 2011, 07:17 PM']I'm worried that you didn't realise you were out of tune when you were recording it.[/quote] The op put too much reliance on what the dial said - not enough reliance on what his ears said. Bottom line?...You've got to trust your ears.