SpondonBassed

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1470386009' post='3105597'] It would be nice to see a few more names on the list and a few more basses that I agree with, I'd like to see more people who want an introduction to upright to come along too. [/quote] I was thinking it's not too far from home. An introduction to the instrument would be of great interest although it is not one that I plan to take up for the foreseeable. It is just that as one who only plays EB I feel I should absorb some of the DB culture to round me off a bit. I'll have a better idea nearer the time as to whether I shall attend and will add my name if so decided.

Bump. Is there no-one? I was hoping to get to the open mic night stage with a lickle band this year but...

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1470584218' post='3106895'] Jaco was not actually that technical; he was funky as fcuk. [/quote] Funky definitely. Technicality is relative especially to an amateur like me. Before looking closely at Jaco, I had no idea that you could make artificial harmonics. I suppose there are other examples out there but for me, that technique came from observing Jaco and listening to clipped interviews. Posthumously I might add. Is that not impressive?

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1470574346' post='3106793'] ? [/quote] I can only think you are wondering what "Heeheehee" means... It's just that I h8 using acronyms, abreviations and initialisms such as lol and I dislike txtspk generally. Sorry for any confusion but I thought what you said was funny and I larfed.

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1470573123' post='3106781'] Look mate... [/quote] Heeheehee.

...and Marmite

Just caught up on this. Well done Neil Hannon! Marc Almond... very odd how he kept sharpening the high notes. He hasn't improved except that maybe he looks a bit more like Liz Taylor than before. J Cale, didn't seem to have practiced much. He struck me like those "walk-on" guests that turn up in the likes of "I love Lucy". The audience recognises them for an achievement that was made in a previous generation and the enthusiastic applause promises a performance to remember but that's the ONLY thing going for him. Still and all, I appreciate that they loved Bowie too and that is what counts in a tribute. I loved your work David. Thanks for keeping us interested to the very end of your life.

I started off enjoying this thread...

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1470520787' post='3106565'] If you put the Land of the Giants headstock back on that (for show) it would be the ugliest thing this side of the black stump. In fact a black stump with strings would be prettier. [/quote] "Land of the Giants headstock" Priceless! The ugliest motorcycle I ever owned was a black 1995 Triumph Tiger. It was PLUGLY (plug ugly)!. Bear in mind that I had had TWO CX500 Hondas before that. I loved my Tigger. Its looks were bizarre but strangely functional. It may be controversial to say but I think ugly is the new pretty in cases like this. Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that.

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1470499993' post='3106428'] Turns out Cort were reading this thread for inspiration, then jumped into their time machine and popped back to 1985 to create this: [url="http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/LanterneRouge/media/Random/CortHeadlessP_zpsgrgxb6eb.jpg.html"][/url] Including genuine Steinberger-licensed bridge! But yes, looks are very important. Fortunately I like basses in general so can find something to love in most styles, colours and designs. Not seen too many singlecuts that I like, but I think that's down to trend-led aesthetics rather than the underlying concept. There is no intrinsic need for a singlecut to look like the misbegotten offspring of Snoopy and a sperm whale. But most of them somehow do. Jon. [/quote] Oh wow! Thank you for that. The only modification I'd make to its appearance is to fit a second strap button so's it is more stable when leant against my amp.

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1470485792' post='3106335'] Oh, I don't know, have you heard Mathcore? [/quote] Oooooh! That's quite, er, niche. I had to look it up and I am none the wiser, sorry. I wouldn't like for us to go back to tape formats but this thread coincided with my "rediscovery" of all my old recordings, some being over thirty years old. Deep joy. I remember always being fascinated by reel to reel decks, turntables and finally four track cassettes. I reckon it was because all of them had spinny things on or in them. I wont apologise, I was very young then.

Indeed Dad. Don't let the whippersnappers grind you down. You can honestly claim to have hand crafted your code. (Off-topic again! Oh well, partly my fault I suppose)

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1470469285' post='3106166'] "Digital" and "tape" are two words that should have never gone together ever. [/quote] Now hang on a minute. If it weren't for tape (paper tape at that), how else would programmers do their voodoo back in the day? Would you have them revert to cards?

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1470307678' post='3104912'] OK, for those of you local to Watford [url="http://www.lemonrock.com/firefly?page=gigs"]http://www.lemonrock...refly?page=gigs[/url] Don't forget to wear your BC tee shirts just to put the pressure on. [/quote] Unable to attend but all the very best. Have a laff.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1470467109' post='3106152'] I'm 63, I really don't attract anything. I perform, have fun, get paid and go home. [/quote] I hear that. Heeheehee, at our age it would be good to attract owt other than flies.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNPx6RS8PiM[/media] Has anyone suggested a uBass? Edit: Yes someone did. That'll teach me not to skip whole chunks of thread!

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1470340457' post='3105376'] A few years ago I cracked out my old Spectrum 128. All the games that were on tapes [/quote] Off topic for a post entitled "Music Tapes in 2016"? Sorry to be a pain in the 'arris KB. That would be a great thread all on its own though - cassette storage for digital media.

[quote name='Trueno' timestamp='1470382677' post='3105554'] Funnily enough... now I've quit gigging. I've even been thinking of joining a choir just to... erm... get my performing rocks off (so to speak) [/quote] Done it for a year just for a laff. Very glad I did too. I can recommend it as long as you don't get involved in any sort of committee business.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1470387105' post='3105613'] Not that it really matters, put my fingers in the correct starting position, click Go, and go to sleep. [/quote] Heeheehee. I like your style.

[sniggers inwardly so's not to disturb the afflicted]

Have you attracted any "gropey" groupies Blue?

Someone's already mentioned headstocks. They seem to take a major part in how the instrument looks. On basses they tend to make an already long instrument a little longer. I avoid the problem by avoiding the headstock altogether. I've grown to prefer tuning from the other end and I like the space saving benefits. I still want the instrument to look good though. Headless for me then apart from my fretless at this time. I'd love to see a decapitated Fender (P [i]or[/i] J) with Steinberger bridge done by someone who cares. [Ducks behind flameproof sofa]

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1470342019' post='3105401'] Surely a 'bassist' is anyone who plays the bass part of the song? If that means it is played on a keyboard or pedals or whatever then fine, but it's still the bass part and it is being played by the 'bassist'. I realise this will sound pedantic but I read the topic title as bands that don't have a bass part in their music, whereas it actually seems to mean bands without a bass guitarist - a whole different thing altogether. [/quote] It does sound a bit like that. I take your point but I think it was generally taken to mean "bass guitarist". I don't play keys myself but I have no objection in principle to picking it up at some point. Bear in mind that I want to become skilled with my guitar before playing with keys. Not quite accurate I know but when "Ace of Base" released their early hits I thought the spelling was "Ace of Bass". I'd joke about how misleading the name was because I was expecting lots of percussive bass (Level 42 were THE thing at the time). I still feel short changed on that one.

[quote name='bassjim' timestamp='1470319576' post='3105086'] i learnt stevie wonders do i do playing along to the record.This was long before the youtube army turned up to show us all how. I down tuned the E to an Eb (4 string bass obvs) but the A,D,G in standard tuning. Absolute bitch to learn. Got it sorted but couldnt get it exactly on the money.Then I sussed out Nathen Watts (i think it was him) tuned a half step down on the recording which makes this already challenging to play not half as much. [/quote] I've seen an interview where Nate Watts says that from way back he detunes his guitars by a semitone. He runs a high action to suit the additional slackness and likes it for the sound. More growl, I think he said. It's a sound that I felt to my core when as a child Songs in the Key of Life was released.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1470309199' post='3104934'] The Doors had former Elvis bassist Jerry Scheff on LA Woman and Roadhouse Blues IIRC. [/quote] Good to know. Many thanks.