geoffbassist

@TheRev you are playing some COOL gigs! Great photos and that band looks like a lot of fun!

[media]http://youtu.be/giY9sMombtE[/media]

Check out Mathieu's latest video. Man I LOVE his style! He really is such a cool guy and a hell of a player! Whenever I see his videos it inspires me to practice.

This is supposed to be a great pickup. I've never heard one, but they have a great rep. What kind of strings are you after Laurence?

I'm using a Heil Pr40 for my lessons and it makes a big difference how you position it. I don't think I have I'm using it to it's full potential yet as I'm pretty new to the recording with my own equipment.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1381677711' post='2242157']

Unlike you Jake, I presume, I have already died on stage many times.
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I've definetly died inside a few times! I'm ok with dropping off on stage as long as its not playing Mustang Sally :-)

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1381682323' post='2242240']
Gigging? I doubt I'll be alive. Seriously though, I'm past 70 now and although I still average three a week I've got to face the possibility of stopping soon. I still play OK and knock up an awesome amount of miles up and down the country but I don't want to be 'the old guy in the band' and certainly wouldn't want to be a 90 year old curiosity.
[/quote]

Great bass playing never goes out of fashion Roger. To get booked as much as you do you must be doing a great job!

I love the Milt Hinton video as well.

[color=#000000][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]I know there are often posts about age and playing the bass so thought this would be of interest.[/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]This video is a real gem. The moving story of double bassist Charlie Burrell who is aged 90 and still giging, What a cool guy! [/font][/color]

http://vimeo.com/26489908

Great idea! I've played a few Alpher basses and they were all superb so whatever the test bass is it will be top quality.

It's great looking back and seeing the way it's changed. Also the amount of gear thats changed hands! I've loved being part of both BW and BC, but it has caused my bank balance to take a hit once in a while :-)

Great post Ben.

[quote name='Basstroker' timestamp='1381307237' post='2237140']
Yes, some bass players use devices like this to "age" the sound of their basses: [url="http://tonerite.com/bass/vmchk"]http://tonerite.com/bass/vmchk[/url] . The inventor was Prof. Gerhard A. von Reumont and the procedure in German is called "Vibrationsentdämfung", VED. The devices Mr. Reumont used were much bigger and louder, maybe more effectiv than the Tonerite. In my opinion it is better to play a new instrument and to hear how it develops. - Best, Thomas
[/quote]

a massive +1 why anyone would bother with I dont know. Just spend 20 mins practicing scales with a bow instead.

When I've had work done on mine it sometimes feels a bit tight and seems to vibrate less, but very quickly it opens up. I think a lot of the time people may be reporting the sound of new strings settling down, but I do think there are subtle changes that happen after work. Even moving the sound post can have an impact. I expect new basses are much the same and after a few weeks of serious playing do tend to sound a bit more open, but I wouldn't expect a bass to improve in sound when you buy it, but be happy if it does :-)

Awesome job! Really creative and super impressive working in odd meters so fluidly.
Thanks for sharing!

awesome result! Very nice looking bass.

Just checking out an awesome website called the WayBackMachine which indexes old websites and is really interesting........I tried the old Bassworld.co.uk site and here it is...

http://web.archive.org/web/20050216021003/http://www.bassworld.co.uk/pn/index.php

It's weird looking back and remembering what it was like.... I LOVE basschat now, but bassworld was really cool and had a great vibe. Check it out for some Tuesday night bass forum nostalgia :-)

... and what about basstalk that was only about for a little while before we found our new home....

They are both great and for me the weichs work better as I find the mediums hard work on the right hand. That said they do have a bigger sound as you would expect, but I really like the tone of the weichs.

We could talk forever about string choices, but it is a very personal thing. It also depends what suits your bass. I love spiros but they never seem to work for my. I also like helicore lights, obligato, zyex and probably a few more. Belcanto are my preferred arco string.

I leave an old set in my car as I tend to drive to most gigs. They are a set that have been played to death by me in the past but would work as a last resort.
I have never broken a string, but expect it will happen at some point.

[quote name='Steeve85' timestamp='1381155072' post='2235041']
Geoff, these videos are [i][b]absolutely brilliant[/b][/i].

For someone like me coming back to bass-playing (and not even a proper EUB, apparently ) so many years after I got rid of my DB, and never having had any formal lessons, this is exactly what I need to kickstart the whole thing off again. You are an absolute star. Next time I get to Leeds, there are several pints heading your way.

Thanks loads

Steve
[/quote]

That's awesome Steve! Thanks for your feedback mate.

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1380924662' post='2232612']
There is very little that would give me more satisfaction than building my own DB. Sadly I am very aware of my lutherie skills and it is something which will never happen.
[/quote]

I have much the same thoughts Owen. I would love to be able to work on basses as I'm so interested in it. However I'm terrible at this stuff. This is a great thread to follow, I will really enjoy seeing how it turns out.

I really like the MarkBass amps and they do seem to work really well for upright. I did a big band residency in a club that used a 12 markbass combo and it was really consistent. I LOVED not having to carry my own amp :-) I think the flexibility of the Headway will really help handle real world gig challenges and strange acoustics.

[quote name='ShergoldSnickers' timestamp='1380981685' post='2233085']
Two lessons that have really stood out for me so far are the right hand technique and the shifting lesson that's split into to parts. Using the arm properly to almost squeeze and then release the string, suddenly gives some semblance of dynamics. As for shifting, the idea that by remaining in contact with the string, you not only 'measure' the distance, but can also hear it has been a bit of a revelation. Clear, informative, logical and inviting. Great lessons — they really are.
[/quote]

That's awesome Ian. They are probably my 2 main topics in terms of explaining how to get about the bass that I think are often overlooked. The left hand shape is of course a huge topic, but much more obvious. Shifting and using the neck heel are so crucial. I don't think of the traditional positions at all.

I'm looking forward to filming several lessons covering thumb position. Some lessons looking at using the bow ....as well as a funk tune that I think will be fun to play.

Good luck with the stitches Pete. Take it steady when you start back again and I hope you will be enjoying playing in no time :-)

[quote name='ShergoldSnickers' timestamp='1379606190' post='2214764']
Ready to get stuck unto some of your lessons now Geoff. Got Matilda back now and she's greatly improved. Much better action, and the Eva Pirazzi's are just sublime. Yep, raring to go.
[/quote]
Awesome Ian, I really like the look of your bass, I hope your enjoying practising :-)

Here's a new lesson following on from my last one on harmonics. Just giving a few examples of where I use them in my lines....Apologies for the somewhat heavy breathing the lapel mic picked up :-)

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O8XDE8AqyQ[/media]

Incredible Ben, really awesome! I can't wait to see how it turns out. The slide shows is really effective too.

I love his approach to the instrument. He has is own sound and is a really expressive player.

....+1 on his intonation and its so cool that he uses his back pocket to hold his bow!

I'm pretty sure thats my online bass buddy Mathieu Verlot. He is a legend! His playing is so cool and he's always trying out new stuff on the upright. I love that fill he plays just before the vocals and he NAILS his intonation in thumb position.

For more check out his youtube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/one4dabass2fordabow