Soliloquy

Just bought a really nice Markbass LM3 from Andy. A very easy transaction, highly recommended.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='983474' date='Oct 10 2010, 04:46 PM']IMO technique is only important if it gets in the way of the music that your playing. It works both ways in that a lack of technique may prevent you from playing what you really want/need to, but conversely it's just as bad to play something inappropriate to the music simply because you want to show off a new "trick" that you've learnt.[/quote] Having good technical ability and playing something 'inappropiate are two entirely different things. Having good technique enables you to play what you are hearing, or what the band/MD/producer/artiste wants you to play. Playing something inappropiate is just showing off or not caring about the music. Good technical ability is as important in music as it is in football, snooker, tennis or anuthing else 'physical'. It is not and cannot possibly be a hindrance to your creativity if you are able to play comfortably what you are hearing in your mind. Anyone who says otherwise is talking rubbish.

A Stingray sounds nothing like a Wal, I've owned 3 Wals, and 3 Stingrays. The Stingrays sounded like Stingrays, and the Wal's like, well Wal;s . The main thing that gived the Wal it's characteristic sound is the electronics, the pickups and pre. It's a filter based pre a bit like the Alembic and the ACG. The closest I've got to a Wal sound is my Sei that's fitted with an ACG circuit.

Where does the lead guitarist bit come from, that's what puzzles me. His fingerstyle playing is just groove, he's laying down a solid groove, the same as his slap lines. OK, he has some solo lines, but listen to Chic, Incognito, Rush, Paul McCartney and John Entwistle with the Who. They too have similar up front playing styles.

He's a huge influence on me, even thoughI rarely slap. I just love his groove, and his choice of notes is amazing. His playing is heavily influenced by Stanley Clarke, but don't forget that he went from being a drummer to being an amazing bass player in a very, very short space of time. He was doing stuff like Stanley after only a year or so, and then he took Stanley's stuff further. Stanley Clarke had a decade or more headstart on Mark King. So carry on and critiscise him, but he is a truy amazingly talented bass player. He's so far above 99% of the people on this forum who are criticising him that he's out of sight.

No, they're really not worth it. There are plenty of better builds for less money.