Naetharu

Hi folks, I'm interested in giving listening (and hopefully playing) some Jazz a serious go and I'm a little daunted as to where to start. I've always been into rock and electronica before and so it's kind of new to me. Could anyone suggest a few artists/albums/songs that would make a good place to start? Preferably something accessible to a Jazz newbie like me (I already tried Jaco and bounced right off for the time being). Anything that features interesting bass-lines would be fantastic. Cheers

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1450014322' post='2928762'] I would have thought the Harley Benton in your sig would be the perfect bass to slap on. I'm no expert but I would have though a normally set up bass would work with non super heavy strings... you just kinda hit it with your thumb, wonder why it sounds so bad, look up some videos of people teaching slap, keep trying, it still doesn't sound great... and then eventually you are practicing and realise it sounds right! [/quote] The Harley Benton is strung with heavy gauge flat-wounds and it's quite low output - it seems to lack the kind of attack that I hear in a lot of good slap playing. The Ibanez SR-300 seems to do a really nice slap sound - probably because it has a lot hotter pick-ups than the Harley Benton I guess. I'll certainly give a go at popping some super bright slinky strings on and seeing how it goes. Cheers for the tips folks

I only came across these a few weeks back: so far I love the new album. I'm off to see them with my band mates early in the new year. Anyone else seeing them at their London gig (was the O2 outhouse but I think it's now changed...)

The simple rule that I was always told was to store my bass in a place that I would be happy to spend time in - if its too hot/cold/damp for you to want to sit in that environment for long hours then it's no good for your bass either. A good quality hard-case might help quite a bit by keeping the worst of the temperature changes and damp away, but I would still be very very careful about storing stuff in such places.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1450570437' post='2934032'] They are very good amps for the money. Designed by Soldano who make expensive boutique valve amps. [/quote] Aye, I saw Soldano put their name to them. Having done a bit more research this evening I found out that the metal band Avenged Sevenfold use Jet City amps for all their live sounds. They've gone one of the best sounds around these days to my ears so that's a major recommendation there. I think we might have to order one of them and see how it goes. They do a lovely 20-watt head with two channels and a nice simple EQ that comes in at around £200 so looks like a total bargain.

Hi folks, Have any of you got experience of the Jet City brand of amps? My band-mate is after a new amp (He's currently rocking a 1970s' Carlsbro) and these look interesting. We just need a decent warm amp sound that can offer a range of clean and crunchy tones (with heavier stuff coming from a boost pedal).

Beautiful guitar. I've always been drawn to these SE range when I wander through a guitar store - they just look fantastic. How are these when it comes to playing blues? I'm finding myself getting some GAS looking at the pics you have up there.

I spend about 50% of my practice time working on learning/playing/transcribing songs that I will probably never play live. I currently have private lessons every other week with Mark from Talking-Bass and this is something he really emphasizes. The idea being that playing loads of songs is a great way to develop both technique and train your ear. Seems to be working for me so far

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1450543000' post='2933796'] who is more valuable, this gtr or the singer..? [/quote] I totally get your point, that was my reason for posting here for some reassurance and advice. I've actually had a chat with the singer and he is going to hand around for a few more weeks and see how things go. Hence I'm really keen on getting this sorted asap as I think it is a major problem and likely to kill the whole project if not dealt with in a timely manner. We'll just have to see what comes of it next practice.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1450540546' post='2933780'] If the rehearsals are too loud and nobody can hear anything...does everyone realise the same thing...that this is not achieving anything, and surely you aren't the only one who is fed up with this situation. I've known gigs to get out of hand, but rehearsals..??? IIf the sitiation is as half as bad as it sounds, then defo band meet time.. [/quote] The singer has brought it up a few times and has since just decided to quit - he's not given a firm reason but I am pretty sure this is at the root of the issue. So yep, it's not just me. I'm keen to try and sort it out rather than just walk away since I can see potential here and I like the people, but yer, someone needs to explain to guitar number 2 that a rehearsal does not need to be at stadium volume...

The Vintage Modified range from Squire seem to be very nice quality and great value for money. I'd recommend a try before you buy with them because the few I have played have varied a great deal in weight and wood grain quality - but find a good one and they're lovely.

[quote name='frannie01' timestamp='1450111562' post='2929696'] Hi Mate Thanks for posting this but the deal unfortunately is no more it has ceased to be shuffled his moral coil etc...... [/quote] You came a bit late to the party! I posted this over a month ago and it seems it was only that price for an hour or so.

Cheers for passing that info on - well worth knowing when it comes to sending parcels in future.

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1450468361' post='2933206'] Also, can you guys use reference material from bands playing your style of music with the guitarists demonstrably NOT using that sort of tone? The old-school prog I listened to doesn't feature guitarists using "metal" guitar sounds. [/quote] You make a good point. I think that is the direction that our rhythm player was taking - he was explaining that he wanted to get a sound more like Pink Floyd (hardly famous for their massive scooped line-6 style metal tones) - I'm just not sure the message has quite got there. My current plan is as follows: (1) Go to the next practice (just after xmas) and insist that we lower the playing volume (a major issue in itself when it comes to practice - caused I think by the offending tone) (2) Set up the bass volume to match that of the drums being played resonably (3) Personally set the amp volumes of guitar one and two to around the same point - with a flat EQ on each (4) Let the guitar players adjust EQ to taste but insist that the volume remains the same (5) Play first song finally being able to hear bass and singer (6) Deal with surprised looking lead guitar player who cannot hear a darn thing he is playing in the mix Fingers crossed this will be the push we need to get it sorted - I think I just need to get up and take a little control since it is driving me mad. Practicing when I cannot hear half the bass I am playing and the singer is totally drowned out is insane. And right now that's what is happening since the scooped guitar is being cranked so bloody loud to compensate for the stupid EQing. If after all that I still cannot get through I'll have to sit down with the band-leader & drummer and have a serious chat because right now it's just killing the fun for me.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1449072470' post='2920565'] Me, I guess I never caught on to the whole relationship thing. I've been divorced for over 20 years. However, I'd be hard to convince that a young guy with a family is going to have free reigns to bar gig all weekend. Blue [/quote] I think it is perhaps the big hold back for a lot of folks. I'm not in a relationship now for the first time in about 15 years, and I actually have a bit of time to myself but even now I have enough commitments that I can't really just gig away as and when. I guess for me (and the others in my band) it is something along the lines of a 'boys night out' - its a chance to get together and do something interesting and creative distinct from domestic concerns. I doubt we'll ever made any real money doing it but that's certainly not something that worries us.

I believe that the [i]new [/i]version of the Jazz from Sandburg has a smaller body now (The California model). It also has a shorter neck yet full scale by mounting the bridge much closer to the end of the body.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1450429951' post='2932633'] Who is the band leader? Even if it's only in a loose sense? [/quote] The main song-writer and rhythm guitar player. I've had a chat with him and he seems to agree about the issue but he's a very meek/shy person - he's a great leader in the sense of song-writing/arranging but just finds managing people a little difficult. We'll get it sorted. This thread confirms for me that I'm not being weird having an issue with this kind of tone from a guitar - this is my first band so it was worth checking as it could have been a case that I was being unreasonable and just needed to get over it. I'm going to meet up with the offending gutiar player next week and I'll make a point of having a firm and frank chat with a real effort to explain [i]why [/i]the tone is causing me problems. Hopefully we can come to some form of compromise where we set the EQ to keep as much of the character that he likes as is possible while cutting the really offending parts of the frequency so as to make the mix cleaner.

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1450394832' post='2932475'] This is the second time this has happened with public domain material in videos I have uploaded. Is this YouTube finding any excuse to put ads in front of videos? Discuss. [/quote] Sounds more like someone lodging complaints in the hope that people just go with it (since it does not stop the video, just adds adverts) and thereby hoping to make a few pounds for free. I'd imagine this is far more likely than a conspiracy from Google themselves. Will be interesting to hear if anyone else has experience with this.

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1450371965' post='2932163'] If you think you can get away with duff notes you have obviously never been in a band where the guitarist has cocked up the intro to Sweet Child. [/quote] And here is a wonderful example of that experience for everyone to enjoy [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcibYABRm9E[/media] [quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1450398235' post='2932506'] Is the problem that "sloppiness" is a pejorative term?[b] ​[/b]​Santana plays in very free time on occasion, but "sloppiness" would be an excessively harsh judgement. [/quote] I guess there is a distinction to be made here: sloppy playing is where one is not in control of the timing and pitches, which is distinct from laid back playing where one [b][i]intentionally [/i][/b]plays with a loose timing to create a certain feel (BB King is another wonderful example of someone who does this - most certainly not sloppy)

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1450379484' post='2932273'] I don't get it.... why are betters players playing with the guy... ? Do they not see or hear the problem... and why did you join? [/quote] Reasonable questions: (1) They are pretty desperate to get a 2nd guitar player and felt that they might be able to train him up - they were trying for quite a long time to find someone and got to the point where they were willing to give anyone a shot so long as it meant they could get going. (2) I joined because I really like the songs they had written and I enjoy old-school prog rock. It's not easy to find an originals band in the first place, let alone one that plays massive prog-rock songs. I stayed (and continue to do so) be cause I really like the chaps, including number-2 guitar. The main song-writer is a really nice chap and pretty good at what he does. The drummer is ace and playing along with him is great practice for me and has moved my playing forward leaps and bounds. It's tough as people mentioned above: it's not like there are dozens of prog-rock bands in the middle of the Essex countryside looking for bass players. I love the band for the most part, and have a great time. It's just driving me nuts that this fellows tone is getting in the way. I can live with the bad playing for now (I'm fine with the 'lets train him up' view) but the tone is god awful and I cannot hear myself, the singer or the offending guitar most of the time - it just sounds like total mush.

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1450370882' post='2932148'] Forgot to add my 1st bass cost me £1,that might have helped. [/quote] Hehe, wow! Mind if I ask what it was?

Hi folks, I was just reading another thread which got me to thinking about why I took up playing bass in the first place. It's funny really, since its not an obvious instrument to go for. I guess for me it arose as an interested after seeing lots of live music and being really impressed by a few of the players. Also, I think bass seemed a little more 'exotic' than guitar, which was played by everyone and their mother. So, if you feel like sharing I'd be really interested to hear what reasons you had for taking up bass in the first place?

I think that with bass carrying the groove in a lot of music, a faux-pa results in a break with the music that is easily noticeable. Guitar players more often than not are playing lead fills and such over the top, and so a dud note can be covered up much easier. From my days of simply going to see lots of live music before ever playing I came to the conclusion that the bass player, more than anyone else, can really transform a band. I think back to the acts that really blew me away when I saw them and each time it was because the bass player was top notch and brought the music to life. Not always complicated playing, but just really great solid lines and a feel that carried the music with it. I guess it was that which made me take up bass playing myself rather than guitar. That, and that I find bass interesting in a wider range of music than guitar.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1450165560' post='2930086'] I do like the look of the White one... How tight is the string spacing? [/quote] Standard 19mm at the bridge on these so the spacing with the right hand is pretty normal. It is very narrow at the nut however, around 38mm (my tape measure is a little iffy) so a bit thinner than a Jazz bass. Add to that the thin nature of the neck front to back and it feels very small. I love the look but I find mine gives me terrible wrist pain after playing - just too small for my hands I guess. One thing I would say is that these have the most amazing slap sound. I have no idea what causes it but they just have a beautiful metallic 'pop' that I have yet to find on anything else other than perhaps a very expensive MM Stingray I tried.

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1450294229' post='2931498'] All the more for me . Stick to Corvettes (German, as low as £375, Rockbass versions pretty good as well for cheap as chips money) and enjoy what must be the bargain of current times. [/quote] I'm sure they are lovely, but their after-market service stinks if the above email is taken as an example. Getting a bass at that price (£8000) should warrant you some serious after-care - it's clearly a lifetime instrument that someone is purchasing after all. To refuse to repair a fault without also undertaking expensive and unnecessary additional work that the owner does not want or need doing is just disgusting to be honest. I appreciate that they don't do custom work but it is pretty clear that that is not what is being asked for here....