spongebob

I'd give money to see that guy's 'tache 'ripped' off.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PifUGdROd9w"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PifUGdROd9w[/url]

Anyone else see the Bee Gees programme on BBC 1 last night? I always think Maurice was the coolest Brother Gibb.....and he plays bass! I love the images of him in his mid-70's threads, playing his Ric 4001. He played a good few throughout his life - in fact, a chap over on Rickresource owns his sky-blue 4001 which he played in the late 60's on loads of TV and video. Everyone seems to have their own fave era - I love the pre-Fever 70's material, Fanny Be Tender, Love So Right, etc. Superb, soulful stuff no matter where they came from! Must admit, quite like a lot of their other stuff too....This Is Where I came In....great tune! Couldn't find a decent pic of Maurice to post here with Ric and shades, but the prog is well worth a watch if repeated. Oh...and he sure could play bass as well!

I feel guilty with any more than two!

+1 on EW&F. Great albums band as well....the 'big' singles get a lot of cred (rightfully so), but they have produced some cracking long players IMHO.

The addition of Hugh Lawrie to this week's later is an all-time low for me. Maybe it's just been on too long, or his bookers just need to be shot...but as the only main channel 'live' music show, doesn't it need to offer us more than a millionaire Oxbridge actor/comic dabbling into his music hobby? The show's had some great performance is years past - it was always worth a watch to try and catch something new. However, it just seems to now be pretty obvious stuff, and often bands/acts returning series after series. Another thing is the sound....you watch an older show, like Whistle Test (repeat for me, too young first time round), etc, and the sound is a bit more defined. I've always thought Later sounds like an aircraft hanger.....there's never any bass tone going on, no matter what they play. Maybe I'm in the minority here, or hard to please, but I just feel that the show used to offer more. Lawrie's appearance reminded me of something on BBC4 last week about the state of Top Of The Pops, etc, in 1976, pre-punk light entertainment and variety acts....it had to change. Now Later, once the home of scary one-off's such as At The Drive In's chaotic trashing performance, showcases him from 'House'! Time for a shake up?

I always use the method I was told years ago - all bass settings to the top, and do the tweaking with the amp. Mind you, I've always played passive.

I am fully GAS free. Got the Ric, and a J and P Classic Vibe. I was actually thinking of selling one of the CV's - I love them both - but feel guilty having 3 basses....even though 2 cost less than £600 together. Tone-wise, it's more than I'll ever need - got a solid amp set-up, and I've never GAS'd over amps anyway! So I've kind of got reverse GAS, to sell rather than buy!

Congrats, GW. That looks totally fab....you'll have me GAS'ing for another CV at this rate! These basses are just sooo good. They've actually got me playing Fenders!

+1 on the Classic Vibes. I've never been a P-bass player - tried some in the past, but really couldn't get the feel. Tried again with a 60's CV-P after reading glowing reviews. Upshot is, I love it. Far prefer it to any other P I've played, all of which cost a load more cash! It just felt great from the box, and really has a vibe of it's own. And it sounds great!

[quote name='steve-soar' post='1192427' date='Apr 7 2011, 11:31 PM']I really liked George Melly as a kid. He use to be on Grananda Tele a lot in the 70's and when I went to see him he was amazing.[/quote] George Melly and The Stranglers - 'Old Codger'????? .....hello.....????

My jazz introduction came a little sideways. Listening to some time back to early Santana in the early 90's - particularly his jazzy period 72-74 - and his album with John Mclaughlin, on which they covered some Coltrane. I'm also a fan of certain parts of rap and hip-hop - 'The Low End Theory' by A Tribe Called Quest is built heavily on old Blue Note samples. This led me to check out some of the key records, which led me to get in other elements of jazz. So I kind of came into it by default! The first jazz track I really enjoyed after this introduction was probably something like 'Better Git It In Your Soul' by Charles Mingus.

Look forward to reading a review of this and maybe some soundclips! I think it's one fine looking bass!!

When my recently-split band made our covers CD last year, it didn't do us any good at all. Partially due to the lackluster approach of the other members in promotion, and also because pubs (our market) never seemed to actually listen to it. Countless phone calls with the words - 'send us a demo', and in the following weeks 'haven't had a chance to hear it'....and the almost classic 'never received it'! One place gave us a gig because he liked the sound of us - without even hearing the disc! It's a great fun thing to do, and a nice memento of a band, but I've seen guys getting more gigs through contacts and word of mouth than most manage from a CD.

I was checking out Sky Arts the other night, and managed to catch the Rockpalast performance from Echo back in 1983. There's a bit about it here - [url="http://www.rockpalastarchiv.de/concert/echobunnymen.html"]http://www.rockpalastarchiv.de/concert/echobunnymen.html[/url] I hadn't listened to the Bunnymen for a long while. Really love their first two albums - not so big on 'Porcupine' and the others that followed.... Les seemed to have a really weird pick technique - up strokes only! Love his work on those early tracks - some very inventive basslines, and a great Jazz bass tone as well. 'Heaven Up Here' - forgot what a great album it is...I think a massive part of their sound was Pete de Freitas - totally under-rated drummer who really drove them. It's repeated a fair bit, so a concert well worth checking out.

I've had 2 cases from them. First was a Fender-style tweed one - under £50 and totally amazing for the price. Has become my take-everywhere case. Second was a small bass-shaped one for home storage. A shade under £40 - and TBH, I would happily take it out of the house if I needed to as well. When you see the tat on E-bay they pass off as hardcases, it makes this place even better. I've paid loads more in the past for inferior products. Superb service, very quick delivery, and great cases at a great price. BTW, I don't work for them or have any affiliation - just a very satisfied customer who will got straight there again if needs be. Good service should be rewarded!

I've always found that when the rot sets in, that's it. I've normally ploughed on for a bit longer hoping things will improve, which is what they've never done! You normally get a vibe when things are going down....listen to your little voice, and do what makes you happy.

Quite interested in the new BGM with (from what I've read here) the Ricky cover and Geddy interview. Trouble is, nowhere around here seems to stock it! Anyone know if any of it can be accessed online, or any other solution to read the great man's thoughts?

I bought my CV Jazz from Thomann a couple of months back. Out of the box, it was superb - haven't tweaked it at all! The CV-P I bought from over here needed a small adjustment, but TBH, the basic Squier set-up impressed me no end compared to some high end stuff.

Don't rule out the Classic Vibe Jazz either. I've got one I adore. Actually prefer it to my old Geddy Lee Jazz I sold! Plays like a dream out of the box, and sounds superb (as the CV's all seem to).

4001 vs. 4003? Every Ric is a little bit different - very good and very bad! You can find a great 4001 and bad 4003 and vice-versa. I would always say play if you can before you buy! I've owned 6 Rics - 4 4003's and 2 4004's (not at the same time!!). Just got a single 4003 now. Been problematic, but now it's on fire and the best I've had. If you going for a 2010, avoid the early part of the year as there is a problem with the bridge saddles. Some basses have been returned, but obviously that will be a problem buying here if not from a main rip-off merchant - sorry, importer. Oh, and swerve the early 2009's in MG as a chemical in the hardcase made the finish turn green! My JG is a late '09, and it's the best neck I've played on a Ric. I've always found how they differ on the first fret by the headstock does it for me. It's personal taste at the end of the day!

I've got a set of Chromes (flats) on my Ric 4003. Agree on the above that with practice, or through a little practice amp, they sound very dull indeed. But crank them up with a decent amp in a band/volume context, and the difference is immense. I used to find my Ric tone a bit 'bottomless' - put on the flats, upped the treble settings a little, and now it sounds superb....very bass-y at the top end as well. It's really up to the individual - I for one prefer the J+P tones with rounds - but the Ric just needs the flats! Maybe try some half-wounds first to see if you like them? That's what I did - took the plunge gradually!