iamthewalrus

Hiya,
This one's for all the Yamaha TRB owners on the forum, I'm wondering if I'm an isolated case or if anyone's had similar problems:

1) When I do a sring change, I always have trouble getting the B string to actually sit right in the slot (I'm putting the end of the string in the hole in the machine head, & then dong the string winding in the conventiaonal manner). When I'm doing the winding, the winding uncoils, & the only way I can resolve the issue is by pushing down really hard on the string in the machine head with my thumb while winding the string (I have to use a piece of paper or a dry cloth to cover my thumb while doing this). Is this a case of a duff machine head o is this the norm with all of the TRB's?

2) The pickups tend to get closer to the strings every so often, & I have to use a phillips to lower the pickups (they're humbuckers, not the P/J type on the early ones).


Can anyone help?

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.

Hiya,
Another +1 on these strings - I use thm on my 5 string OW Jazz. Considering that I never used to use aything outside of Rotosounds or Elites at one time, I think these strings are ok.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.

Hiya,
Mine was a tobacco sunburst Craftsman P-Bass which I bought from Macari's (where a certain Mr. King used to work a few years previously) in 1985 - cost me £99.

Only had it for about 4 months before I bought my first good quality bass - an Ibanez RB750. I don't own either bass now - the guitar player in my first band bought the Craftsman off me & still has it as far as I know.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.

Hiya,
Agree with the other posters & would say do it. One of the key things about a gig like this is that it will give you experience of something you haven't done before & it's a good networking opportunity.

If you cut the mustard on the gig & the other guys like you, they may have contacts within the music industry who may be able to push things in the right direction with your originals outfit.

Doing these gigs requires the right attitude - being friendly, polite & helpful wins extra bonus points. I've depped with a few bands over the last 18 years & this is just as important as playing well on the gig. The money's handy too.....

Good luck - let us know how you get on if you decide to take it.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

Mine's usually a Ben Sherman shirt, jeans & trainers for pub gigs, jeans get swapped for a Black denim pair of trouser type things I bought in Next if we're doing a gig which requires a slightly smarter look.

If it's a Black tie gig (which I haven't played for about 7/8 years) then tux, bow tie & waistcoat it is!

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

I've got 5.

No room for any more at the moment.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

Got my first 5 about 12 years ago, biggest problem initially was getting used to the extra range & playing the odd bum note! It does get easier with practice.

The other main things you have to get used to (as already highlighted by one or two posters already) is the string spacing - they do tend to vary quite a bit. Muting is also something else that you have to contend with as you now have another string to keep quiet.

I'd recommend a 35" scale neck if possible as this does tend to make the notes on the B string pop out better (my opinion only). My BBN5 is a 34" scale neck & the B on that is a bit indistinct.

Enjoy if you do decide to go for 5!

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

I did 19 with my regular band plus another couple depping for another two bands (all covers I should add - haven't done the originals thing for 17 years, don't miss it either).

Main target for the main band is to do about 20 this year, although to be honest, I would like to do more.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

Hiya,
Another Reading resident here...

Welcome to the club!

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

Got my first bass guitar June '85 & played my first gig in August '86.

Makes me wonder where the yers have gone...have lost count of how many gigs I've done between then & last Saturday night.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

I've gone back to having lessons again & I hadn't realised how bad my right hand playing technique was. I thought I was using alternate picking, but it turns out I've developed a habit of raking quite a bit.

I've now had to start concentrating more on that aspect of my playing as I hadn't realised I'd been doing it for the last 22 years .

From all the posts on the forums I've visited, the camp appears to be split between anchoring on a pickup (which is quite difficult on a 5 string as there needs to be some right hand muting) & the floating thumb technique.

I've tried the Gary Willis technique - great player, but not really for an old fart like me....

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.

I did a Jamey Aebersold course in Richmond a few years back (with an electric bass) & although nobody actually said it out loud, I got the vibe from one or two of the upright students that ours was the lesser instrument. The two bass teachers Bob Sinicrope & John Goldsby were both pretty cool about the electric guys being there (top fellas the pair of them!!).

The electric bass has already played it's part in the history of Jazz, & will continue to do so for years to come. I agree the two basses are tonally different, but both perform the same function. Doublers like Stanley Clarke & John Patitucci spring to mind - quality players on both instruments.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.

Hiya,
Just a feeler post to see if there will be any takers....

I've got a suitcase full of Bass mags dating back to 1990 - there's about 8 years worth of "Bass Player" and an almost complete set of "Bassist". I don't think I'll get around to re-reading any of thes any time soon, & I need to create some space at home within the next 6 months.

I will be looking at about 50p a mag & it will be a case of buyer takes the whole lot - I don't want to get involved with selling individual issues.

If anyone's interested, please PM me.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.

Here's my list:

Rock:
Paul McCartney, John Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, Carl Radle, Berry Oakley.
Jazz:
Jaco, John Patittucci, Marcus Miller, Ron Carter, Jimmy Blanton.
The Soul era:
Jamerson, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Jerry Jemmott, Tommy Cogbill, David Hood, Chuck Rainey.
Everything else:
Pino.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.

Hiya,
Ours was at a Golf club on the outskirts of Leatherhead - we had a guest female vocalist whos dad is the club captain. She did a set on her own while we had a break with some backing tracks & then joined us for half a dozen numbers which she normally does with us in set 2.

Wasn't really sure how well we were going to do as most of the punters were over the age of 50!! We've got another gig there in three weeks with one of our old guitar players (keyboard player is on another gig that night).

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

Hi,
Thought I'd chip in on this one as I've got two (a cheap BBN5 with an EMG BTC circuit added & a TRB5). I also had a really nice BB1100S which I had to sell to help pay for my wedding last year.

IMHO you really can't go wrong with Yamaha - it's well made kit with a decent rep & you can't fail to get a good sound of any of their basses provided they've been set up properly. My BB1100S had a great tone & I gigged that for 7 or 8 years with no complaints from anyone whatsoever. Same with the other two which I've got now (I used my TRB5 on Sunday night & it cut through very nicely indeed).

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

[quote name='Mike' post='79146' date='Oct 24 2007, 11:02 PM']Yeah, not always the cheapest but service has always been good to me - great selection of high class basses too! +1 for Alex.[/quote]

Would definitely endorse Mike's quote. Good quality shop & service - my wife bought me two Epifani cabs earlier this year (1st Wedding Anniversary pressie - thank you Sonia ) & Alex was as helpful as ever, always keeping us up to date with the transport from the USA.

No hassle about trying gear out either - would definitely have no qualms about visiting & buying from The Gallery again. 10/10 all round.

Mike - which part of Chelmsford are you from? (live in Reading now, but lived at Spalding Ave for the 1st 7 years of my life).

Cheers,
iamthewlarus

[quote name='Rich' post='52768' date='Aug 30 2007, 01:26 PM']OK, these are the pics sent to me by the seller... as you can see, he also had one of the matching guitars up for sale.
The headstock repair has unfortunately resulted in the Overwater logo being painted over -- I have emailed those lovely O/water people to ask if there's any chance of a new logo decal to put on it once it's finished, not had a reply yet.

[attachment=1996:Project_...__guitar.JPG]
[attachment=1997:Project_...r___body.JPG]
[attachment=1995:Project_...adstocks.JPG][/quote]

Hi Rich,
Might be worth sending Bleedproof a PM - I think he works for Overwater (?)

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.

Hi,
I think the Lakland DJ & JO models may be what you're looking for if you don't fancy a Fender. OBBM has a great Lakland 5 string Jazz which I've seen him use at one of the Blues jams in Worplesdon.

Have you thought about another custom job like a Shuker / Overwater / GB (or even another Sei)? (can recommend the Overwater one very highly....).

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

Some good stuff listed on here that I hadn't thought of - here's mine:

Bass, amp head, 2 x cabs, Kettle lead, 4 gang power strip, guitar strap, tuner, 3 x guitar leads, small spanner for my schaller straplocks, phillips screwdriver, guitar stand, speaker leads, small wheel trolley & a music stand.

Hadn't really thought about a DI -might be worth investing in....

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='28501' date='Jul 8 2007, 08:05 AM']Just have to say that last night's Steely Dan gig at Hammersmith was absolutely fantastic. I would even go so far to say it was the best I'd ever been to.

Great atmosphere, band were as tight as the proverbial camel's arse in a sandstorm. Freddy Washington was top drawer and f. me what a drummer.

A lifelong ambition fulfilled and I wasn't disappointed.[/quote]

+1 to this post - SD were absolutely superb that night, & was really chuffed they did some of my faves such as "Peg", "Josie", & "Kid Charlamegne". Keith Carlock was definitely the other star of the show alongside Fagen & Becker, & Freddie Washington did a great job holding the bottom down - Chuck Rainey would be proud!

Now that the band are moving onto Europe, I would advise you guys to get your tickets & go, 'cos it's a great night out!!

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.

[quote name='bleedproof' post='22968' date='Jun 25 2007, 01:36 PM']










My newest bass - The shots show off the bass in a number of different lighting conditions. The bass looks very dark in person - with the maple showing through.

Overwater J5 Fretless 24 - Mahogany body with Figured Maple bent top.
[indent][b]
Overwater J5 Fretless 24 Contemporary
Mahogany body with Figured Maple bent top.
Trans Black stained finish - High Gloss
Lightly flamed maple neck - Satin Finish

Audere JZ5 Deluxe Pre Amp
Nordstrand Fat Stacks
Hipshot Style 'A' Bridge
Hipshot Ultralite Tuners
Through Body Stringing

[/b][/indent]

Take a loo at the next post for my other Jazz[/quote]

OMG!!
That is one hell of a bass there Stu, I bet it sounds the dog's nads. When are you going to post it on Matt's site?

Enjoy!!

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.

Here's a few I'd recommend:

Music Reading for Bass by Wendi Hreovcsik (MI Publications)

The Working Bassists Tool Kit & Building Walking Bass Lines by Ed Friedland

Funk Bass by Jon Liebman.

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

This is me at a gig last year with my Yammy BBN5

Cheers,
iamthewalrus

[quote name='G.S.T.Ring' post='2681' date='May 20 2007, 06:05 AM']welcome to dood's home for wayward bassists..... we had to move coz homer kept jumping the fence
thumper encouraged him to do it.... and the rest is history

where are you from?[/quote]

Thanks for the warm welcome gents!

I'm originally from Chelmsford, but moved to Surrey when I was Seven. I lived there until I met my wife three years ago & moved down to Reading.

Woodenshirt - I've been to Stoke quite a few times for the footie, but those were the days of the old Victoria Ground (the days of terracing having now long gone).

Cheers,
iamthewalrus.