spongebob

Probably already known, but I read this morning online that Gerry Mcavoy has left Nine Below Zero. His last gig will be in December around the time he turns 60. I'm quite new to his playing - really getting into Rory Gallagher over the recent months. I find Gerry's playing really inspirational, and perfectly fitting the songs. I'm aware he uses a Stingray now, but also in the past a couple of Precisions. I'm currently digging his tone on 'Live In Europe' - any idea what bass he used on that? His tone just slays everything in it's path! Anyone else a fan of the great man?

Great article and pics - cool!

I'm a big fan of the Mahavishnu Orchestra - I think John Mclaughlin is a true great. His latest album (To The One) is superb, BTW! Anyway, both of the MO's bassists, Rick Laird and Ralphe Armstrong are pretty ace in my book. I did some digging recently on Mr. Armstrong, and found a great interview here - [url="http://www.forbassplayersonly.com/Interviews/Armstrong.html"]http://www.forbassplayersonly.com/Interviews/Armstrong.html[/url] The Jaco story is great....I never knew he was after the job as well! Nice to see Ralphe still going strong. There's loads of stuff on Youtube, but here's his red P-bass he mentions in action - [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOFzVYh-v_A"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOFzVYh-v_A[/url] Between Ralphe and Rick.....just both amazing players!

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1318512406' post='1403132'] Here's me hoping this was about Caz Campbell.I have studied her in depth,but never really looked at her bass. [/quote]

Leave? +1000!! I left my last band earlier this year with nothing to go to. First time I'd ever done such a thing with nothing in place. Best thing I ever did....the band was stressful, getting nowhere (ie people not turning up, etc.) I'd started to hate the idea of even wasting my time being involved with it. Sloppy too! Had 12 weeks with a gap. Didn't rush, just got back into playing at home, jamming with decent records, etc. Actually made me want to get back out there, on my terms. Forward fast 5 months to today, still in the early days of a (so far) fun band. Look forward to meeting and playing, and now planning the diary for gigs and stuff. I've learnt one thing this year - if it starts to go sour, I'm out. And I wouldn't wait as long as last time either, trying to hope things will improve after the latest band chat. It didn't, and 9/10 wouldn't again!

Looks great - how's the tone vs. a 'standard' J?

Thanks Dave for a very enjoyable transaction! A true gent in the BC world - enjoy the Ged.

I'd love to hear the jazz and how it compares to a standard , say MIM or CV....if the tone would be very different, or just a turbo jazz on steroids!

I think they look quite good, and at £400, that's not bad if the build quality is any good!

I love AWB. They re-issued all of their albums a couple of years ago, and I've got them all! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiDn_YpZwIA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiDn_YpZwIA[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr4pJT0sYRY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr4pJT0sYRY[/url] You could paste these all day long - just a great band. I'd love to see them, I had no idea they were in Brighton recently. Other day I was listening to 'Warmer Communications' - great laid back feel. They are so tight, it's unreal!

I've been doing this for the band recently. I just jammed it straight through...I learnt it from the crappy speaker in the laptop via youtube! Apparently it is a little more complex, so I too would be interested in how it should be played properly!

Must admit, I'm not much into the carving either - but it is Lemmy's, which immediately makes it cool!

Lovely basses, Mr. Wazoo.....those new Fenders look the biz!

I played Rics for a good few years - didn't really click with the Fenders....probably considered them a bit obvious if I'm honest. Bad move. Owned a Ged Jazz a few years ago, had to let it go but loved it....that was the start of the slide! Since then, all the regular Ric problems got me looking elsewhere....bass collection now consists of just two, both Fenders (one Ged, one P). They cover all the spectrum I need. My live sound has improved 1000000% (actually cut right through now, top and bottom), and I reckon these were just built for the job. What more do you need? What I really like is the range of sounds - even from the P - you can play classic Motown right through a down 'n' dirty JJ Burnel. The Jazz goes from Ged...to well, Jazz and beyond though a million stops. Millions of records and artists tell the story after all!

+1. I only ever buy from Stringbusters and Stringsdirect. Both firms offer excellent service....good service breeds customer loyalty, and I would never go anywhere else!

I had one for a while a couple of years back, but struggled with the shape. Plus, there were so many options on the tone, I just kept fiddling the whole time I should have been playing! I was always - 'nice precision tone' or 'nice jazz tone'....eventually, I just picked up a jazz and a precision....! Now I just plug in and play.....

50's Precisions, MIM, £600.....excellent basses. Was tempted to part with mine after getting a Ged Jazz, but just can't let it go. More likely to keep the P really. Gigged on Saturday with some other bands, and opted for the P, just because I knew I could get a great sound wherever. Always think a Jazz takes more fiddling with, whereas a P just works.

Give me feel over technique any day of the week...

Jean-Jacques Burnel signature model in green!!

+1 on all of this!

Passive for me. Had one active.....couldn't get on with it, just the whole battery-in-the-bass thing! Passive - plug 'n' go. Active - plug 'n battery runs out at a crucial time!!

I agree with the OP. I also feel that so many modern records lack real bass tones as well - not just pop. Love The Mars Volta - but as a modern example, just wish JA's bass parts had more definition and less thump. Many modern records for me have too much general thump, and no actual 'bass'. I for one far prefer bass on older records..... Another example is Lemmy. Motorhead albums used to have a really defined bass sound. I still love the albums, but in the last 10-12 years, Lem's bass tone has all but vanished into a low-end rumble. I played drums for a long while as well - so don't get me started on drum sounds. It's the same problem there as bass as far as I'm concerned! Just my 2p's worth.....

[quote name='Doctor J' post='1346418' date='Aug 20 2011, 03:30 PM']Get some Black Rose into you.[/quote] Just take out the thorns first.

I'm a recent convert - posted on BC a few weeks back for some recommendations. Since then, picked up a good compilation, followed by 'Johnny The Fox' and 'Vagabonds Of The Western World'. I will definitely be continuing my Thin Lizzy journey. Really impressed by the diversity - not at all total rock as expected, as you always hear the same old tracks. They were on TOTP 1976 this week performing 'Jailbreak'. Really getting into a lot of the tracks, and that bassman is no slouch either!