skankdelvar

+1 - you're cool in this respect. At least, we think so.

[quote name='LWTAIT' post='374220' date='Jan 8 2009, 04:56 PM']when i ask questions, i like it when people go off talking about other things, i then look the other things up or ask about them, and not only do i learn what i asked about, but i learn about other things too. i always find any questions get asked, and i think discouraging a "discursive" nature in the general discussion section will ruin the community spirit we have in basschat.[/quote] I agree - I'm personally not in favour of limiting 'discursion' But I know that some beginner posters prefer less tangential debate, which is understandable. If their questions were concisely answered in a wiki, it would keep them happy elsewhere, while allowing diverse General Discussion to flower and bloom. [quote name='LWTAIT' post='374220' date='Jan 8 2009, 04:56 PM']i think a wiki aimed at beginners wouldnt work, if im honest. we havent got enough information on the wiki atm IMHO. and why cant we add anything aimed at beginners into the normal wiki?[/quote] Yes, that's definitely an approach to be considered.

I agree with the OP that there's a need to expand 'facilities' for beginners. OTOH, I also agree with other posters that there's a downside to creating a 'Beginners' forum as noted above. Rather than segregate, we perhaps need to look at our entire interaction with beginners. This could range from mods thinking about how the site's structured across to the nature of individual members' responses Some random thoughts: * A more beginner-friendly Basschat will increase membership. It may also reduce duplication of postings and 'clog'. * Beginners will often 'lurk' first, so the answer may not just lie in a revision of the sign-up process, though the page(s) could perhaps be amended to include a beginner friendly intro. * Lots of questions get posed in 'General Discussion', which exposes them to the 'discursive' nature of that place. This means that the questioner may get an avalanche of seemingly 'irrelevant' answers, which, while fun for everyone else, may not necessarily help. * Technique (a bit of a wallflower?) could perhaps do with a sticky on 'Beginning bass playing', which also links to a 'Beginner Wiki' * Gear is important. Without it, you can't play. And some beginners are going to ask questions about gear before they ask questions about technique - because they haven't got any gear yet! Other will have acquired the gear first and now be wondering how best to use it. We should (somehow) take this into account in the introduction 'sequencing'. * I don't see much flaming of supposedly 'stupid' questions. Where it's occurred, it's usually been jumped on, either by mods or other members. OTOH, I've seen lots of really helpful responses and offers of assistance. * To take a median approach, may I propose an expanded Wiki for beginners, which is [i]very[/i] clearly signposted, to accommodate both lurkers and sign-ups. * We could first research beginners' needs (some of us will have forgotten what it's like, so we should go to the source and ask them) in order to develop an approach to handling beginners. This could also generate a list of 'beginner topics' for an expanded Wiki, to which members could offer contributions, these to be subject to sub-editing by the mods. Happy to help if I can.

Having always used a pick, I've been playing w. fingers the last couple of months. Someone said pick for speed, fingers for tone; never realised how true. [quote]Hopefuly nobody will start a 'what guage of pick?' thread - if so, may I encourage everyone to trash it !!!![/quote] BTW, my pick's a large, triangular heavy 1.4mm gauge Gibson, sprayed with nitro-cellulose for a 50's 'Kalamazoo' look then 'reliced' with wire wool to increase adhesion and add 'Vintage Mojo'. The LH edge is pre-serrated for string scrapes, while RH edge is slightly filed back for false harmonics. It's also been split, chambered with a router then re-assembled to reduce mass without compromising its size. 0-20 notes per sec in under 0.3 of a second, guys! Played with the (modern style) Gibson logo [i]facing[/i] the thumb for extra grip as recommended by Carol Kaye in her evergreen classic "1001 Pick-holding Methods for Modern Jazz, Blues and Rock". I'd be very interested to see any other BC-ers modded or vintage picks, and any interesting or humourous 'pick anecdotes'.

...aaaaaaaand we have £510 at 21:14 Monday. Bargain status evaporating....

That Puke-ray's graced these pages before hasn't it? Someone's teacher owns / owned it?

Given how many BC-ers seem to hate it, it must be terribly annoying that it's so popular among non-musicians. And Van is probably [i]totally [/i]ashamed now the lumpy bass line's been pointed out. You know how he is....

[quote name='Mikey2341' post='370179' date='Jan 4 2009, 06:25 PM']Does anyone have any experience of Cort models? My friend has recently bought a Cort guitar from an online shop in leamington spa that specialises in them and they do a full set up on all purchases in with the price, so I presume from somewhere like that it would play quite well??[/quote] Couldn't comment on Cort basses, but the shop would be Richard's Guitars (formerly Regent Guitars). Good VFM, IMO. Plus it's a real shop, not an internet re-seller. Chaz, the tech, is a good guy and did a nice set up on a guitar my mate bought.

Don't do it. 'Bongo' is a silly name for a bass; crowds of small boys will gather to point and laugh. Simply de-clutter your life by sending me your Sub and your Jazz FOC.

[quote name='pete.young' post='370100' date='Jan 4 2009, 05:12 PM']Except when it's narrower. My CIJ 70 has a 38mm jazz width neck.[/quote] Yes, that's true. At one time Fender used to supply in diff neck widths and the re-issue 70 CIJ's pick up on that, I suppose. Gen speaking tho', Jazzes slimmer. (Except if they're fatter)

[quote name='Gamble' post='370057' date='Jan 4 2009, 04:37 PM']I think that's a Manta Ray[/quote] It's a yellow manta ray, my dear Watson

[quote name='Hamster' post='370056' date='Jan 4 2009, 04:37 PM']If you add your location to your profile we can see where you live and therefore tempt you with cheap secondhand kit that you can save the courier charges on [/quote] You're a fiend in human guise.

Vintage v4 has a good reputation and would probably make a better starter than the Squier affinity. SX is another mfr that some people on here rate very highly. If you trawl through the bass guitar and general bass discussion sections here, you'll find lots of threads about starter gear, Squiers and other 'bargain' brands. If you use the search facility, you'll find bundles of advice and opinions. Also worth checking the Wiki area of the forum - there's some good advice there too. As regards amps, you only need a little one for practising at home - under 100w and pref with a headphone output and audio (mp3/cd) input for late night practising. I haven't bought a small amp for a while so can't recommend any, although I'm sure others can. Have a look in the amps section, where there's a fair number of threads on small practice / bedroom amps. (Remember to budget for a strap and a lead or two -£10 per item. You may also wish to purchase a tuner £12-25). When you decide to join your first band, you'll probably want a bigger amp, say up to 300w. Hartkes, Ashdowns and Peaveys get a reasonable rap, but again, opinion varies. The trick with all this is to buy in stages - no sense in getting an expensive bass and colossal rig when you're just starting out. There's a law of diminishing returns, and you'll see a lot of posts on here about £2000 basses and £1500 rigs(!). While there's a lot of sense in buying quality gear later on, the improvement, while satisfying, is often marginal. Don't feel that lower cost items are 'inferior' - in fact, a lot of them give the bigger boys a run for their money. Buying secondhand is good, and there are lots of bargains out there, as long as you know what you're doing. If not, take someone with you who's got some experience. there's a good pinned thread here - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1880"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1880[/url] - which covers how to check an amp out before buying. You may also find some starter gear in the 'for sale' section here. Most sellers here are pretty straight but some buyers here also like to take into account the number of posts that the seller's made, in order to judge whether they're a serious member of the forum (with a reputation to maintain) and therefore (potentially) less likely to sell you a lemon. There's also a seller's feedback section, but not everyone bothers to use it. Good luck with your quest. Feel free to PM me with any further q's if your thread goes quiet.

You'll get lots of more useful and erudite stuff later, but for now, here's my concise take: Precision: Wider neck (41-42mm) up at the nut; only one pickup so use of tone control advised. Allegedly less versatile. Makes "Dumm" noise. Jazz: Narrower neck (38mm-ish) up at the nut so easier for those of us with smaller mitts; two pickups to play with, thus allegedly more versatile. Makes "Doomm" noise. Over the years I've played lots of styles with both types and neither would let you down in a pinch. IMO, less difference between the two than between, say, any Fender and a Rick or a Warwick.

Not yet, but it's stoked my GAS something awful.

I'm sure someone here will know the full details, but FWIW, I think read it was alleged that MM had a problem with OLP's inconsistent quality control. True? Who knows...

[quote name='bremen' post='367350' date='Dec 31 2008, 06:54 PM']Not so much Off Topic as Out of Character - you just turned into tBBC! Happy new year, y'all.[/quote] Everyone must have a dream...(sigh) Happy New Year, peoples.

Heads-up. That's a fake. Wrong logo. I hate scammers, me.

I have a simple means of dealing with the intricacies of the melodic minor. I stop playing and wave at the audience.

[quote name='clauster' post='367215' date='Dec 31 2008, 04:36 PM']It's probably gotta be just 1 of the three due to those famous bugbears, time and money.[/quote] Shame...then best keep on with the band. I've found that occasionally working with a different group of people and shiftily strumming some rtm chords has actually helped my bass playing. If you ever find the time, grab up a cheapo £80 acoustic and bang out some chords. Very therapeutic. And it means you can deliver 'Happy Birthday' on request...

It's like another planet...

Er...why not do all 3? Keep doing the band, learn a new instrument (keyboards or guitar (E-Z!) so you can play choonz that people recognise?) and quietly launch a side project in a different genre to the main band. So, practical example - how about an acoustic duo, coupla guitars and work on your singing as well. No rig to lug around, different set of people, opportunity to look a bit 'poetic' and get laid by women called Briony and Rhiannon...(sorry wandered OT there)

The upside of the currency crisis. Now we're all exporters...

The academy will teach you how to play your bass. Working with the band will teach you so much more. Looks better on the CV too.

[quote name='Musky' post='366429' date='Dec 30 2008, 05:36 PM']Wow, my ideal strings. Are you going to be producing a 60's version using roundwounds and the scent of Jazz cigarettes? [/quote] The Jack Cassidy-endorsed "Haight Ashbury" range will proudly debut Fall 2009, available in 2 exciting 'original vintage' Red and Brown Lebanese Olfactory-finish versions. Thank you for your interest and welcome to our mailing list.