SpondonBassed

[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.

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1470306871' post='3104901'] This may be sacrilege here but are there any proper bands - not duos like The White Stripes, Black Keys etc - that managed just fine without one or could they've been much better with a bass player. The Doors first come to mind. Cant stand them meself and am not convinced the keyboard bass lines sufficiently compensated. [/quote] I used to think that The Doors had one until recent years. Turns out that the session bassist(s) used to catch my ear. Once that hooked me I was interested in their music. Take this as meaningless hindsight if you will but I don't think I would have listened to The Doors at all if it wasn't for some of the memorable bass lines like on Roadhouse Blues or LA Woman. Stevie Wonder seems to interchange keyboard bass, string bass and both together on some of his numbers with little problem. Not sure what that says for us poor lot!

I was only pulling your leg Steve. The live clip above was interesting enough though, I thought the live vocal arrangement was good. If they hadn't got the recorded backing of 256 voices (overdubs for the pedant) it may not have struck me the same way. So much of what I perceive is subliminal that I would only miss it if it were gone. Did that make sense?

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1470229965' post='3104288'] This is publicity. Why no name the time, place etc. Maybe folk here can come along? [/quote] Excellent suggestion.

Heeheehee. There speaks a man who has eaten a LOT of traditionally made rice pudding.

I had two recorded versions of Marley's "Sheriff" along with an Eric Clapton recording. Two versions were in G and one in F#. I found it fun to play along to each of them. I noticed however that the F# version appeared to be detuned by the way it had been recorded. The pitch had been slowed down possibly due to the recording medium running faster than it should have. We're talking about pre digital, SMPTE time codes and pitch correction of course. When I was offered a place in a band I was given some new songs to learn. I learned some songs off of the set from yooboob clips. First I learned them in their recorded keys. Then with some of them, I re-learned them in the key that favoured the vocalist's range. I feel it was a worthwhile exercise as it helped me to understand the dynamics of the songs a bit better. Hope this helps.

Ummm, somehow the topic has gone from tape to disc and therefore digital... Still wanting to know who got burned buying into Elcassette. I would have if my pocket money had been enough. Very glad my Dad was tight. Heeheehee.

Surface over substance? I like to have both ta.

[quote name='Trueno' timestamp='1470242954' post='3104444'] I saw them live in the mid 70s and I was really looking forward to how they were going to deal with it. Well, they just had a backing tape and played over the top of it. One of my first big disillusionments in life (musically speaking). Went off them mightily after that. Luckily I also saw Dr Feelgood around the same time... none of that sort of nonsense with them. [/quote] Not sure what you would have expected to see. Perhaps this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5mqR-ehY9s

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1470256078' post='3104591'] Would PAT Testing come under the umbrella of being "recently serviced"? [/quote] No. PAT (Portable Appliance Test) certification is a safety requirement for public liability insurance.

I've heard of people "gig-proofing" their instrument. What's that about?

It's a bit like wanting to know if a used car has been a private hire car I suppose.

Best of luck with it Aidan. I know how satisfying it is to work with one's hands.

[quote name='chickencole' timestamp='1469870724' post='3101578'] It would be fair to say he is loving it at the moment! [/quote] That's very good to hear. I hope you get some good pointers off the forum, there are a good few double bassists here I believe.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1469796673' post='3101106'] A pedant writes: You're both wrong. The word (not words) is "heyday". [url="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/heyday"]http://www.oxforddic.../english/heyday[/url] [/quote] I stand corrected. Sorry Blue. Thank you for that. Pedantry aside, I am amazed at how easy it is to go through life with a notion that is fixed in my head and then find that I've had it wrong all the time. I've seen this in others too but this time it was me! Whoops.

Welcome Chickencole. A couple of years ago there was news that double bass players were a diminishing commodity and that some orchestra directors were seriously concerned for the future. The size of the instrument was apparently the reason it was no longer being taken up by significant numbers of students. I'm very glad to hear that your child is having a go. Electric Upright Bass (search for "EUB" in this forum) may be a solution. I have looked longingly at some of the skeleton uprights but I have yet to try the DB. I think that's something I'll leave for my dotage. Is it too early to ask if he's liking it?

[quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1469404976' post='3098074'] I was looking at buying a certain bass until I checked out the sellers demo video , & to be honest the sound quality was so bad It's put me off . People need to put a bit more effort than sticking some unsuitable mic in the corner of a room . [/quote] A demo video that has been recorded by an amateur (non-professional camera operator) is just that. I'd use it as one of the deciding factors as to what the instrument looks like in its current condition. It would not be the deciding factor however if I was in the market for the sort of instrument being offered. Instead the vid is merely a means to making a shortlist of sellers to consider seriously. You wouldn't expect to do a sound check via Skype would you?

[quote name='interpol52' timestamp='1468614487' post='3092220'] Anyway, if you haven't seen it I hope you enjoy. [/quote] I hadn't and I did so thank you. I agree, Carol has a lot of musical achievement to her credit. I am only getting to hear about it now even though I've listened to her basslines embedded in a LOT of the music that influenced me in my formative years.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1469749420' post='3100888'] Wasn't the "hey day" of Motown over when they moved to the West Coast? Blue [/quote] Sorry Blue but didn't you mean "hay"? As in hay days are those that come once a year and you have to make the most of them. Sorry but being of a family that had to gather in the hay by hand I have to pick you up on it. But HEY what do I know. Heeheehee. I take your point however about Motown. I am prepared to believe it too.

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1469704812' post='3100451'] I think one of the main reasons for trading up to the Trace was handles. That one strap on top was a killer, compared to the comfy spring loaded side handles on the Trace. [/quote] Yeah. I had the same problem with my Ashdown but I put some side handles on myself with Ashdown's guidance. I have a thread about that in the forum somewhere. Even though combos are seen to be "small" or compact, the one carrying handle does not give you good control of it like you get using both hands.