silverfoxnik

[quote name='Prosebass' post='376736' date='Jan 11 2009, 01:04 PM']Witchcraft......[/quote] That confirms it then!! I always thought that the luthier's craft was somewhat close to being a practitioner of the black arts!!

[quote name='Merton' post='376711' date='Jan 11 2009, 12:27 PM']Er, yes, a bit... [/quote] Thought it might... It's what the Buddhists call 'The Mire of Options'!!

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='376777' date='Jan 11 2009, 02:02 PM']* To skirt the terminological minefield ('noob', beginner, born-again etc), * To acknowledge the view that most of us are still on the journey * To optimise 'signposting' for new arrivals May I suggest any new forum, resource, Wiki or whatever be titled 'Learning'[/quote] That's quite a nice idea... Given the polarisation of opinion on this topic, I think a Poll would be useful to get a sense of how a larger number of different people think, not just those who are actively joining in with this debate.

[quote name='Brother Jones' post='377090' date='Jan 11 2009, 08:04 PM']It's a bit of a private language isn't it? . They've been pretty crap since Mark 'sacked' (ie assaulted) the band in New York in 1998 and Steve and the other decided they'd had enough. I used to have a massive discrepancy between the music I enjoyed listening to (Wire, the Fall, Talking Heads, Gang of Four, etc) and the music I enjoyed playing on my bass (the usual Jaco/Stanley fusion/funk stuff). The people who put the two together - ie played lines that I really enjoyed covering - were Norman Watt-Roy, Colin Moulding, Foxton, Dave Allen and Bruce Adamson. It's hard to take Graham Lewis from Wire too seriously because he was so pompous. And I'm not convinced that Tina Weymouth actually wrote many of the Heads lines, but could be wrong. Oh and the bloke from the Bunnymen was pretty good. I used to love playing 'Rescue' which had some funky little moments in it.[/quote] I've heard of most of those but what band was Dave Allen in?

[quote name='Hamster' post='376587' date='Jan 11 2009, 07:37 AM']Some fine basses there - I feel your pain![/quote] +1 That Moon 5 looks pretty nice as well!

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='376526' date='Jan 10 2009, 11:43 PM']There's a lot of old farts with bad backs playing bass these days![/quote] +2

[quote name='mewsie' post='376557' date='Jan 11 2009, 12:48 AM']eight - you speak wise words.[/quote] +1

That's one very versatile bass Peter! No wonder you're happy.... In particular, I thought the bridge p/up tone was fabulous...

Great review Mert! Thanks for sharing that... Apart from you now being in Alex's probably ever growing queue of customers, has the test made you rethink selling the V-Type?

Absolutely fascinating!! (he said in a Mr Spock like voice...)

[quote name='Merton' post='375802' date='Jan 10 2009, 12:11 AM']The extra knob is standing in front of it playing a Status bass [/quote] So how does it sound then Mert?

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='375942' date='Jan 10 2009, 09:49 AM']Just a query... I've been offered a Fender Mark King Signature Jazz (#02 of 42) with sims laser leds as a trade for one of my basses. What're these worth (especially in a depressed market?) Rich.[/quote] I wouldn't have thought they were worth much because MK is so indelibly etched in people's minds as using/endorsing Staus & JD basses....

[quote name='nig' post='375871' date='Jan 10 2009, 02:01 AM']If its a cover song, sometimes just playing it in the car and to yourself until you get to know the song/ arrangement from a listner view point and once familiar with the tune you can go back with a more subconcious feel for the song and jam along with it finding meters and passes and keys etc then hone the finer points. I never use tab, playing by ear has been my chosen style to roughly learn a song then put my own interpretation on it. regards, nig.[/quote] +1 That's been my approach in the main with a little bit of help from TABs if I feel I need it.. It's been said a lot of times on Basschat before but there's really nothing better than playing along to lots of different music to improve your playing and your ability to grasp different playing styles.. As for songs that leave me stumped, there are too many to mention probably but after two years off trying and some brilliant help from mr_russ, I still struggle with 'Loves Foolosophy'. It's partly my own ineptitude and partly because I hate everything JK has ever written and recorded so much that I can't bear to listen to it even to practice... Not a very professional attitude I know but thankfully, we've dropped it from the set now, much to my relief! Hope you're well by the way, nig!

[quote name='johnnylager' post='375060' date='Jan 9 2009, 01:21 PM']Recently got a lend of the fabled Demitriades 1x15 with which to annoy me council scum neighbours and Nik organised a spur of the moment micro-bash with him, Walman & me, saving me from the indignity of wasting the courier charge on Wayne's BC 5'er! Nice one fella![/quote] Happy to help out John and the very least I could do after your free contribution of the control knobs for my Fender Jazz 5 and your help at the SE Bash back in September.. So how's the Hartke helping your 'fostering more neighbourly love project' then?

[quote name='Tee' post='374868' date='Jan 9 2009, 10:32 AM']Dave Allen of 'Gang of Four'. Check out "Entertainment"[/quote] +1 I loved that album but lost my vinyl copy years ago.. Time to check out YouTube and Limewire I think...

[quote name='BassManKev' post='375285' date='Jan 9 2009, 03:33 PM']multi effect pedals in general, alot of boutique pedal snobs wouldnt even consider buyin digital multi effects, but some are in fact fantastic, the best value one imo is the zoom b2.1u, fantastic for the money. and from what iv heard from Ped the V-Bass is brilliant![/quote] +1 Isn't Basschat the most underated piece of Bass Kit.. And it's free!

[quote name='AM1' post='375646' date='Jan 9 2009, 09:08 PM']It is growingly increasingly obvious that it is not just absolute beginners, whom will benefit from a new players/beginners section. Expediting a beginner's forum here can only be of benefit to those persons, as well as many more experienced players and will strengthen the community, by facilitating pupil/mentor relationships and encouraging interaction. A beginner's section is undoubtedly something that needs to be an integral part of the forum. A number of people have volunteered to assist in the mentoring/moderating capacity and I am certainly prepared to contribute as many resources and reviews as possible since I am on the learning curve. It will save others so much time in locating valuable information and I would like to share the benefit of my research, to assist others.[/quote] +1 There's some very interesting stuff being talked about in this discussion, so if that is any indication of how stimulating and interesting a Beginner's Forum could be, then I think it can only be a good thing..

[quote name='AM1' post='374640' date='Jan 8 2009, 11:41 PM']Hi Nik I meant to respond to your excellent first post on the topic, but you beat me to it with another excellent contribution. To set up another forum is a simple administrative task and achievable quickly. To run it, the adminstrative overhead is small, however the moderation overhead may be a different matter. With the right positive attitude, a well-managed beginner's section will enhance the forum significantly and I would be happy to kick it off by adding my reviews of some beginner bass books I am currently working through. I have emailed the authors and afforded them the opportunity in the first instance, to see any reviews, prior to publication. If enough people contribute this kind of material, eventually it should be possible to create a directory of reviews, which will undoubtedly make matters easier for the average beginner, picking up the instrument for the first time, who may not have the resources for private lessons and finds themselves faced with a vast array of bass learning books. Regards AM[/quote] Ok - so the real challenge would be to moderate it... In the world I work in (Voluntary Community Sector), mentoring plays a valuable role in helping people new to a situation gain the skills and confidence they need to progress, whether they're new to a job or a school, a charity etc, etc.. and as a rule, it works really well. One definition of mentoring is: [i]"Mentoring is to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be." [/i] It's also about allowing the new person to explore new ideas in confidence.. So if your idea were to become a reality, then perhaps more established members could contribute to a Beginners Forum in a sort of mentoring capacity, leaving plenty of space for beginners to interact at a level that's comfortable for them but being there to help if needed? Just a thought....