NAS

I've tried to put in an entry for the Midlands Bass Bash on 16th June 2007 but it doesn't seem to take (I am logged in). Is there some trick to this or is the function not enabled for "ordinary" members? Nick S

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='13443' date='Jun 7 2007, 08:31 AM']you're now soaking in it. [/quote] CK, Thanks for moving this and making the subforum visible. I'll restart my query under a suitable heading. NS

I've just noticed, this is a Worcestershire thread!

[quote name='mhuk' post='13348' date='Jun 6 2007, 10:41 PM']I found it yesterday but not today...[/quote] Thanks Mark - I thought there was something - obviously lost in one of those black holes! NS

This is aimed mostly at the site mods and operators. Just looking for an approriate place to post queries and comments about the site operation. Haven't found one yet - but very happy to be pointed in the right direction. Do move this if it's in the wrong place. A minor query about the site calendar function - I was trying to put in an entry for the Midlands Bass Bash (June 16th) and got all the way to the post button and then... nothing. Has the function been disabled, or have I just done something stupid (not altogether unlikely)? Might be useful to have a forum area for site related topics - just a suggestion. Nick S

[quote name='greenblacksilverbass' post='12812' date='Jun 6 2007, 05:47 AM']Does anyone have any complaints about the product hipshot xtender do they hold up well and stuff?[/quote] I've had two: and: Both do what is says on the tin and without any problems. I check the tuning once a month or so and find I need very little adjustment. More of an issue to remember to change my fingering! Certainly easier than retuning in a live situation.

Who first stood out when I started listening to bass music: Paul McCartney - top man for melodic pop Jack Bruce - top man for blues extensions Roger Glover - for harder rock riffs Berry Oakley - for stretching out in a melodic way Phil Lesh - for playing like the bottom end of a symphony orchestra Both Berry and Phil had a way of locking into both drums and lead guitar even when the music was really stretching. Jack did this in Cream but the formats were more limited imo. Jaco came after these guys and just rewrote the book on so many styles, although Rick Laird did some pretty impressive stuff with Mahavishnu Orchestra. Latterly: Walter Becker Meshell Ndegeocello Pino Palladino Richard Bona Victor Wooten Huge technique but no sacrifice of musicality when playing ensemble (some of Victor's solos are a bit OTT).

Back in my teens just getting hold of a bass and listening and playing along to electric music would have been a great advance. At the time I was playing 'cello in school and youth orchestras and had very little appreciation of really using my ears (as oppose to reading the dots) and none of what improvisation was about. Paul makes a good point about a framework of music theory to create a way to capture and consolidate new experience. I think you need to have the "music gene" switched on for this process to happen without a great deal of work. As I don't, I still struggle with trying to integrate what I hear with shapes on the fretboard and theory of keys, modes, and progressions. If I could have got my parents to sub me a Fender Precision in 1965 life might be a bit different!

Hi to all who are interested in attending the proposed "Midlands Bass Bash" - which started as the "East Midlands Bass Bash" and I rather hijacked by offering a venue in the West Midlands! The date we all seem agreed on is SATURDAY 16th JUNE which is now just under two weeks away. Everyone who has expressed an interest seems happy to bring some "splash and dash" food and drink, although of course the house will provide some simple fare. As to timings, we are very flexible here (we being me and my better half - Mandy - whose family are the historical occupants of this ancient pile) and so are very willing to be guided by attendees requirements. It sounds as though a number of you have quite a way to come and would therefore like the "core event" to start late morning or early lunchtime. Some also seem to have only a brief time to stay and have to dash off to undertake more serious responsibilities. Given that half the fun is meeting each other I would like to get an agreed "core" start time so we can aim to get as many people together as possible. Any suggestions as to a good way to do this? My best suggestion is to set a start time of the event of say 11:30 a.m. with a 10:30 a.m. load in time for anyone who is bringing the kitchen sink! How does that seem? People can then stay as long as they feel happy until say about 6:00 p.m. when we'll start winding down. Does this seem sensible? I hope I've forwarded directions to most people who have expressed an interest. If you haven't had these and are planning to come do let me know. Can anyone think of any other arrangements that need to be made? Best to all, Nick S

Just a little bump to keep this visible while there might be others interested. NS

I have Epifani UL210 and UL115 cabs which I first used with an Ampeg SVT3PRO (not really a full valve amp, but 3 in the pre amp and 2 in the power section). All seemed to be OK although a faint "tinkling" sound developed which became annoying in quiet playing situations. Had the amp serviced and it was still there to my ears although the engineers thought I was imagining things. Ended up changing to the SWR SM900 - no tinkle. Love the cabs for their tone and their lightness. Have seen posts strongly praising the UL310 even for use with 5 strings. Lots of other UL cabs about now, but Epifani were an early adopter of neodymium so there are more available second hand! NS

Hi Brandonh, At the risk of banging on like an old git (which I am), how about having a listen to one of the US's great institutions, Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. Thing about the Dead is that besides all the twiddly stuff, they could also do good straight short and sharp versions of songs over a wide range of styles, rock'n'roll, blues, C&W. With their vast archive of live performances over 30 years you can track through the way Phil reinterpreted these numbers and reinvented his parts. From the '70s their performances were usually divided into three sets, the first of which was mostly relatively straight renditions of songs without all the improv. Certainly enough material to fill several life times worth of study! Nick S

[quote name='paul, the' post='6972' date='May 26 2007, 02:47 AM']Very nice! I have a p/j bass, it makes me happier by the day. I know nothing of Status, did it cost a small fortune? paul.[/quote] Hi Paul, yes it was quite a bit (near £1500) so I suppose only readily available to those with city style bonuses to blow! Still, those real vintage Fenders seem to require several mortgages. I just happen to have a thing about those graphite necks and love the way they play. The fact that players like Guy Pratt and Pino Palladino have been persuaded to promote these models indicates that Rob Green has got something right. If you'd like to explore Statuses (or Statii) there is the Status forum at [url="http://www.statii.com/forum/news.php"]http://www.statii.com/forum/news.php[/url] and the Status Graphite site at [url="http://www.status-graphite.com/status/carts3/frames/frame1.htm"]http://www.status-graphite.com/status/cart...ames/frame1.htm[/url] which besides being commercial is also very informative. Steve's point about strings and amps is also well made, and of course many of those classic tracks were played with a pick. I'm sure there a several amp and bass sound modellers which do a good job, but I suspect that you like the bass itself to produce the right "core" sound. If cost is a real issue, some say that a decent copy of the originals, e.g. the Squier basses, do produce a useable sound and are made remarkably well for the price. I was astounded when a friend got a new Squier PBass how good it was to play. The main thing to watch with these would be the variability between individual examples. Means you would need to try out several examples to find one that seems good. If you do find a good option do post and let us know. Nick S

Small donation on its way from PayPal. Extra server spec seems to be working. NS

[quote name='Mobius' post='6745' date='May 25 2007, 07:23 PM']Any way to get there without a car? I had a look at the map and there doesn't seem to be a train station nearby.[/quote] Hi Mobius - the nearest train stations are Kidderminster, Worcester and Ludlow, but you will need to be picked up as they are 12, 26, and 13 miles away respectively. Hope you manage to get a lift if required. I won't lay on a delivery service myself this time as I would like to participate in the event! Nick S

I'm not a great expert on vintage tones having never owned an original period Fender with all original parts (had a P Bass circa '68 with non Fender replacement neck), but I think the Status vintage range, of which I have this exemplar: make some good quasi vintage tones. Lots of pickup combinations available. These ones are passive humbucking so probably a bit "tame" by vintage standards, but the tone is more lively and less middy than lots of modern basses. Nick S

That's a real tragedy. I've sent stuff with PF before, inside case, inside bubble wrap, inside cardboard box, and all was well, but it doesn't sound as though yours was grossly underprotected. And think of all that extra insurance they don't get claims on - withholding compensation is criminal. Hope your case goes well. Nick S [quote name='OldGit' post='6397' date='May 25 2007, 11:51 AM']He's dead Jim [/quote]

So after 8 hours on the road (return via Bristol and Malvern) back in leafy Worcestershire. We plan to make a huge tureen of soup with bread and cheese and we have some cases of beer. This should provide a basic fill up for people coming, but I will assume they will also bring their own stash of favoured intake. We'll instruct attendees on the making of coffee and tea so it will be self service for doses of driving caffeine. Anyone I've missed out on directions? Nick S

Right chaps - off to London for 24 hours so will be off air. Will pick up on what seems like probable June 16th Bash plans when I return. Venue - sorted I think, Attendees - getting there, Timings - flexible for the whole of that day, Food and Drink - to be finalised. Best to all, Nick S

Yes, this is the most recent, a Status Vintage custom with jazz profile neck and passive PJ pickups. Rob Green thought the figured ash top was so pretty he shouldn't cover it with the standard scratch plate, although he made me one anyway in case someone wanted it in the future. My favourite at the moment. Nick S [quote name='subaudio' post='5752' date='May 24 2007, 02:02 PM']Welcome sir, nice bass in yer pic, Status?[/quote]

Sorry Machines - definitely not trying to hijack this event, it was just a spur of the moment offer which seems to have escalated! If your plans change and you can make it then you would be more than welcome. Nick S

Hi Mark, Sounds like a plan. You'll see from this thread - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=307&st=0"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=307&st=0[/url] that I've become ravelled up in trying to arrange a Midlands Bass Bash day. Would you be interested? I'll PM you contact details. Nick S

I can see this is going to be a challenge! It would appear that skywalker and Paul Cooke are mutually exclusive on dates. Trying to gather information from earlier on the thread we've got: Gazm - 16 June presoulnation - no preference? Bernmeister - no preference skywalker - 16 June (not 7/14 July) birdy - 16/23/30 June Machines - no preference? Mobius - before 22 June Sugden - 16 June Paul Cooke - only 7/14 July NAS - 9/16/30 June 7/14/28 July 4/25 August. So, the 16th June would be OK with many except PC - sorry about that. [b]Shall we go with the 16th June anyway and do the best we can with that? [/b]This url should take you to a map showing the location. [url="http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=367284&y=273022&z=6&sv=367284,273022&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=367284&ay=273022"]http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=36...4&ay=273022[/url] Once we have list of possible attendees I'll send out full instructions via PM or email. Anybody else interested? Nick S

If we can get a quorum (say four or five) who are prepared to make a core event, and then agree a date, I am happy to open it up to any others prepared to come and join in. If Saturdays are the days of main interest then I'm able to do this on the following Saturdays: 9 June 16 June 30 June 7 July 14 July 28 July 4 August 25 August. Any preferences? Nick S

Hi all, was g4ui83tp2 on BW and BT (just an easy to remember jumble when most combinations of Nick were always taken already). First attempted to play bass back in the late 60's and joined a college band in '71. Was the worst ever bass player but loved joining in. Even managed to sing and play when the two parts were really simple (I'm Waiting For My Man). Tried to take music seriously for a year playing 'cello (my true instrument in my youth) with Paul Brett and Mike Piggott '72-'73, even co-wrote one song on the resulting album, but unlike them I don't really have the music gene switched on and find playing a continual challenge. So, to the late '90s and a desire to recapture a bit of my youth after what seemed like a lifetime in corporate IT. Started playing with some local north London bands from bluegrass to indie/punk and then moved on to covers bands and tried to develop a bit of a repertoire. Used millennium bonuses to acquire some lovely basses, most now sadly gone. Currently Modulus Q4 with passive Villex pickups, Status Smartbass with passive soapbars and Status Vintage custom (J neck) with passive PJ pickups. SWR SM900 into Epifani UL210 + UL115 for band gigs with drums, Ashdown ABM-C210T-300 for home studio, SWR Workingmans 12 for acoustic gigs. Pretty standard D'Addario and Status roundwound strings for fingerstyle playing. Always liked a low action. Being my age (55) was brought up with Jamerson, Dunn, McCartney, Wyman, Bruce, Entwhistle and co as early influences. Fell in love with what the Grateful Dead were doing and would sell my soul to be able to do what Phil Lesh does. Would steal one of Richard Bona's little fingers given the chance. Left London and headed for my wife's family pile in the country about a year ago so out in the sticks (Worcestershire) and would love to find some more playing opportunities and someone nearby to give me some lessons and help with the lack of discipline. Attempting a bit of a link up with bassists up here via a Bass Bash - hope it comes off. Thanks to all the guys who keep these sites going and share their enthusiasm and expertise - great sanity preserver. Best to all, Nick S