Burns-bass

It’s very logical and simple to follow, but it is bloody tough!

It’s slightly more expensive, but the Ibanez Talman is a really well built bass you could gig with. And it comes in cool colours (I’m saving up for a pink one!)

Any bass is a good bass. I’m not a huge fan of endless widdling on a bass, but that’s as pointless and indulgent on a 4 string as it is on a 5 and a 6. Play it, love it and gig it!

It’s like a CTI record from the 70s come to life. I’m a lover of funk and jazz and even some jazz funk but this certainly wasn’t for me.

Sounds about right! At least you didn’t question the sanctity of vintage Fender basses 🙂

The problem with these threads is that people who have bought expensive US basses feel that this is a criticism of their choice. The original post missed one crucial point, it’s not the pursuit of ‘the’ ultimate jazz bass, but ‘your’ ultimate jazz bass. You can play a packed out show at the Albert Hall on a £400 bass - I did. Now I play a US Fender because I like it the best.

As an update to my initial review, the strings have now softened (D'addario hybrids) and make a beautiful mellow sound. The output from the pickup is slightly uneven, with more bass so I use a Fishman pre-amp to even it out. Does it sound like a DB? No, but the floating soundoard is much, much better than any other EUB I've ever used. It's also easy to set up, take down and play so I'm very happy with it.

Here’s a pic of it in my bass corner. I don’t have to take it down at the moment as it can stay up, but I will next time I go to a gig or practice.

Agreed. I bought a bass from Paul Bryant who essentially built it for me and we had lots of chats about it via email. He’s as much of an enthusiast about instruments as we are, and it was wonderful. I was a little surprised when he told me to take the bass and pay him when I could though...

The problem is that customer service issues can escalate quickly if you don’t deal with them. It’s true in any business... Touchwood, I’ve never had an issue like this and I’m sure this was probably a bad day for the seller. If you go the boutique route you will meet some unique characters, but that’s why they’re in the funny business of making instruments.

The problem here is that he should be trying to fix your problem not raise more issues. You are entitled to a full refund if you’re unhappy and he has to oblige you. If you paid PayPal or with your credit card you can force a refund. I’d do this if I were unhappy.

This discussion goes on forever. There’s no need for the string to be over the middle of the pickup poles and on most basses it doesn’t. It’s not a failure of the builder or a shifted neck.

I’m not sure if people are zooming in on the neck picture but that’s a crack in the finish that shouldn’t have passed QC. If it was damaged in transit that’s still the manufacturers responsibility to fix it or replace it. I bought an FSR US jazz from a U.K. shop and it had the tiniest mark on it that was impossible to see unless you shine a light on the bass. The seller told me while packaging it up to send it to me and they offered me a £200 discount on retail and a new set of strings. Its so disappointing when you receive something new that doesn’t match expectations. I think you’re right to speak to the builder. I’m sure there’s an amicable solution.

I currently have an MK bass which really does collapse down into a small package. It’s similar to the SLB basses, but most EUBs are easy to store. Dont want to detail the thread, it just that I found applying the knowledge is acquired playing EB to EUB and DB was really exciting.

I use an electric double bass that folds away to nothing and can be stored under the stairs, so it’s not always the problem that it may first appear to be. The problem with buying a new bass is that you’ll use it the same way as the old ones. You’re doing nothing to tackle the fundamentals cause of your malaise. For me it was bass didn’t really hold much of a challenge anymore, but DB (or more accurately EUB) did. That’s why I suggested it.

Play double bass. This transformed my entire perspective on music, helped me to meet loads of new people, join bands and fall in love with playing again. i spent my 20s in bands and hated it by about 28. Picked up DB in 2016 and all changed.

Adblocker should see you right. It’s cookies basically, and the fact that advertising algorithms are very crude. I done ant to detail the thread, but it should take a few seconds to stop that happening.

I wanted to kickstart DB again, which I finally did at the end of May. This coincided with a decision to drink much less during the evenings. While I love a glass (bottle) of wine, I realise as soon as I’ve had a glass or two I won’t practice DB because of the hassle. It’s either booze or bass!

When my kids got some stickers they tried to stick them on my bass. They succeeded once when I wasn’t here so we negotiated and I let them stick a few on the back of the headstock.

Long shot this, but easier for me to ask than record it myself... Does anyone have recordings of the intervals in all 12 keys? (R then 2, R then 3, R then m3 etc.) I'm working on my intonation for DB and having recordings would be useful. I can do them myself with a glass of wine, but thought I'd ask and see if anyone here had something similar. (I've actually got some recordings in my old folder I did, but it's not comprehensive so if not I'll do them again). Piano would be best, but bass is fine.

I’m not entirely sure we should be criticising anyone else’s response to this crisis, or indeed laughing at what passes for entertainment in North Korea. Have you actually seen the sh*t on TV here? I wonder what the North Koreans would think of Naked Attraction? (A show once seen and never forgotten).

I hope you enjoy it! It really helped me. The idea that you can visualise patterns was quite powerful for me. I’ll say that the book is quite dry and will require some concentration, but it’s good fun. Why don’t you start another thread and we can work through them all together? One exercise every few days or something? Like an online book group. I’ll do it on DB. Be good to get reacquainted with it.

Sorry, I meant the book that Gary wrote. I have no view on the course but this book is great and appears to cover much of the same ground. I’m sure Scott’s course is more in depth and worth the cash, but this seems to be similar at least in terms of content. Arpeggios don’t change, I guess. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fingerboard-Harmony-Bass-Builders/dp/0793560438

Buy the Gary Willis fingerboard harmony for bass. Scott is a student of Gary’s (or was) and he’s internalised a lot of this stuff - and for good reason: it’s brilliant. Gary talks a lot about how to use visual patterns on the bass. Book is cheaper than the course I guess. Good luck to Scott, seems like a fantastic chap and the courses look brilliant. As with anything like this what you put in, you get out. When I was teaching I’d get so frustrated with people who expected to internalise concepts in an hour long lesson without practising them at home...