Spoombung

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1428177857' post='2738923'] What makes them wrong, and you right ? [/quote] Well nothing, obviously. It's an opinion. I do hear lots of people on here complaining about the diminished role of the bass player, however. Do you think there might be a connection...encouraging players to go lower rather than going up the neck? I honestly think a D played half way up the neck on an E string sounds a hell of a lot juicier than a D down on the B string. Yes, you can do it on a 5 string but given the option which direction will the player go? My bet is he'll go lower. So if there's more bassists playing down there might be more weight and fundemental but it'll be harder for the ear to pick out. You'll rely on the other instruments for it and you'll be reduced supplying 'feel' and 'width' and 'bulk! rather than harmonic content.

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1428164973' post='2738727'] You might want to go get your hearing checked out by a professional if you can't hear bass below the low E in standard bass tuning. [/quote] Well, I wonder if YOU can indentify the notes? I did a blindfold test at a bassbash a couple of years ago. I played a C then a Csharp and asked people to identify whether I'd moved up a tone or a semitone. Only half the people got the correct answer. The ability to hear notes that low is difficult unless you include harmonic resonance - something the bass guitar does not have. I'm making very straightforward points. You don't need to accuse me of deafness or throw other insults at me.

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1428160584' post='2738664'] Exactly - I'd love a top quality 4 as well as 5 but, for now, I'm limited to the 5 being where the £s got spent. It can do everything a 4 can plus has a number of tricks beyond the reach of a 4 - not just below the 5th fret on the B-String. As others have pointed out (maybe Spoonbung needs to read the preceding posts?) the ability to work in different parts of the neck is one of the most important features of a 5 and the criticism of inventiveness and tonality of a 5-string are just plain odd. The E-G on my Dingwall sound great, tighter and clearer than many 4s. The B is tonally in keeping with the progression of string thickness - but not too pronounced due to the added scale-length. [/quote] Okay, I should make this a bit clearer then -[i] it's not specifically 5 string basses I object to[/i]. It's bass lines played below the E because they a) contribute to the widespread cult of anonymous and boring bass playing are therefore pointless C) and largely inaudible

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1428160283' post='2738659'] I don't enjoy hearing players who overuse the lowest notes, but to blame that on them playing 5-string is akin to having a go at your keyboard player because they showed up with a 76 note keyboard instead of a 61. [/quote] Good point - but why in that case why play a 5 string (given all the disadvantages I mentioned above?)

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1428160050' post='2738656'] There is no down side. [/quote] How about increasing inaudibility the lower you go in pitch?

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1428159847' post='2738650'] Anything recorded by Nathan East in the last 30 years. From Anita Baker to Daft Punk. [/quote] C'mon then, post an example and we'll have a look.

My advice is super-straightforward and sensible: stick to 4 strings. Set you sound up bassy and move up the neck and play melodies so you can hear the instrument...JUST LIKE YOUR FAVOURITE BASS PLAYERS DO! Don't waste your time below an E.

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1428159630' post='2738645'] Fantastic trolling Spoony! Utter bunkum but top effort. [/quote] Oh good grief, this isn't trolling! I'm trying to help, honest. It's an uphill struggle pointing out the obvious to other bass players ;-)

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1428159521' post='2738640'] +1 for you needing to try better 5 string basses. Your description doesn't fit any 5 sting bass I've played or heard on record. [/quote] How about my other point then; can you name some distinctive, melodic bass lines played below an E?

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1428158694' post='2738629'] [i]Another Brick in the Wall[/i] goes down to the D below low E. EDIT: From your other posts, do I get the vague impression that you don't like 5-strings? [/quote] Hahaha! I'm just trying to rescue all you 5 stringers. It appears I'm too late.

Again, I'd advise any young bass player: [b]stick to 4 strings[/b]. Set up a nice full sound and go [b]up[/b] the octaves and play melodies and contrast that with lower notes from the E upwards. Leave the 5 stringers somewhere in the murk of their own B strings.

The growth of the 5 string has coincided with a decline in memorable, melodic bass lines. That's more than a coincidence IMO

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1428157867' post='2738613'] You've played the wrong 5's then... there is no reason why the B string shouldn't be as focused as the E string and therefore as balanced as the others. Well, there are plenty of reasons, but none that you should make you buy those basses.. IMO. [/quote] I think the make of bass is immaterial. Can you think of any well- known, distinctive bass lines played below an E on a bass guitar? I bet you can't...

I don't like 5 strings at all. The B string sounds dull and bloated and is pretty inaudible below a D. It's a big thick cable. Revolting. It has fundamental but very little harmonics. If you play from the E on the B string you lose all the taught quality of a 4 string. Unlike bass synths that go below the E, bass guitars have [i]no resonance and no oscillator buzz.[/i] Bass guitar sounds lifeless and the notes unidentifiable in that range... and it cannot replicate a synth. I'd advise any young bass player against a 5. And playing below the E is the [i]quickest way to give your playing no character[/i]. Instead, set your sound up properly and try going up an octave on a 4 string (Come together by the Beatles) ! You'll get more BASS. You need harmonics to hear the bass. That's the mistake people make with a 5 string.

[quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1427913113' post='2735855'] Maybe it just wasn't meant to "B" [/quote] clever!

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1428015219' post='2737223'] And what a show...Prescott were superb...angular and minimal. Mrs Pook and I had a groovy time indeed. [/quote] Thanks, and nice to meet you and the missus, Mark.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1427975569' post='2736523'] What time are you guys on? [/quote] Should be just after 9pm, Rob.

T O N I G H T

Look forward to seeing you there, chaps.

I was a big Stravinsky, Debussy, Bartok, Penderecki, Messiaen, Varese fan in my twenties and thirties but now I find myself very critical of classical music...( by that I mean [i]music featuring orchestras or large ensembles[/i] ) which is what 'classical' music really means. I haven't been to a Prom in decades. Most orchestral film soundtracks appall me these days: they are stuffed full of dreadful cliches and re-hashed, recycled themes and dull chord progressions. I know this sounds grumpy but I don't think it's any better than any other type of music.

[b][url="https://www.facebook.com/WovenEntity"]Woven Entity[/url][color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,] & [/font][/color][url="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prescott/280644805358909"]Prescott[/url][/b] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,]With djs Mike Keelin & Micky Donnelly[/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,]£6 on the door[/font][/color] [b][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][url="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Total-Refreshment-Centre/749873671744357"][color=#000000]Total Refreshment Centre[/color][/url][/font][/b] [color=#9197A3][color=#000000][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]2a Farleigh Place, N16 7SX London, United Kingdom[/font][/color][/color] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,][b]WOVEN ENTITY[/b] are a unique proposition. Built round the percussive talents of Patrick Dawes, Lascelle Gordon and Paul May (whose credits range from Groove Armada to Beth Orton to The Brand New Heavies to Alexander Hawkins), they offer a wholly improvised and extremely rich stew of spiritual afro jazz, dubby post punk, lo-fi electronics and eccentric ethnological forgeries. Comparisons have been made to Sun Ra, The Art Ensemble of Chicago and Can, to name but three. Bassist Peter Marsh and rising star saxophonist Julie Kjaer complete the lineup. The band had their first CD released by Babel records in September.[/font][/color] [b][color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,]PRES[/font][/color][/b][color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,][b]COTT[/b] is the brainchild of former Stump bassist Kev Hopper, who's distinctive bass style was one of the most striking elements of the band's sound during the 1980s. Alongside Hopper is Rhodri Marsden [Scritti Politti] on keys and Frank Byng [Snorkel] on drums. Jabbing heteroclite riffs, circular rhythmic patterns, vibrating harmonic clashes, irregular note intervals, all contrasted with pockets of beautiful melody. The bands debut album 'One Did' was released last year on Slowfoot Records. "...a tantalising glimpse of what's in store if Hopper continues this joyously wayward course." [Prog Magazine] "Prescott make music that is hilarious as it is infuriating." [The Wire] "…As far as British-politician-themed art-rock bands go, Prescott are a unique and mischievous proposition." [The List] "For sheer verve this will be a tough album to beat - by turns odd, melodic, exciting." [Terrascope Rumbles] "Best band in the world...ever!" [John Prescott][/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,][url="https://youtu.be/RqMR2t-5F48"]https://youtu.be/RqMR2t-5F48[/url][/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,][url="https://youtu.be/ZZSLRUh-n3Q"]https://youtu.be/ZZSLRUh-n3Q[/url][/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,][url="https://youtu.be/cP6Nm5ozpQk"]https://youtu.be/cP6Nm5ozpQk[/url][/font][/color]

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[quote name='kevvo66' timestamp='1426464202' post='2718326'] Hiya people ,as the above suggests I'm bored of my basses all of them sorry no high end models here they are harley benton j bass vintage series , lindo bass, Columbus ,ephiphone eb3, only one I like is my squire p bass fitted with flats , eden combo 180,eden American made cab 300 watt ,tc electronics 250 tone print head ,mb blackline 250 head .is it time I flogged the lot just a thought? [/quote] Are you interested in music?

Amazing