leschirons

After the initial pick it up, balance and weight thing and feel of the neck, I check for dead spots (notorious on Jazz basses) then any dodgy fretwork, then controls. Then, for some strange reason, I always play "Good times" by Chic?? That seems to tell me if it's the one for me.

I have to be on the hi-hat side. Great for communication with the drummer, great to keep an eye on his kick and I've put too many dings in headstocks in the past if I'm on the other side. (Bloody cymbals, except when they're drowning out ego driven lead solos with the same frequency crashes, Ha ha, I love a bit of stage tension)

Bienvenu Luc, j'habite en France aussi (23 La creuse) mais je suis Anglais. J'espere vous passez un bon temps sur Basschat.

Keith

Good post this. I reckon it makes us all think about what we're doing with regards to gear and actually playing. I've done a lot of growing up in the last few years and been as guilty as most in the past with GAS.

I sold 5 guitars and basses in the last three months to get my "dream" bass although I had wanted it for quite some time, I was sad to see some stuff go (like the Robben Ford Fender Esprit) but then, after realising I hadn't taken it out of the case for 2 years, it didn't seem so bad as I don't gig or dep on guitar anymore.

With regard to "Does it make you play any better" There is always a possibility that if you're happy in the head with your gear, it obviously affects your attitude to playing. When we buy a new bass, I, for one, will admit to picking it up all the time and the old "best bass" gets left to one side. It encourages me to practice more as I'm enjoying the instrument more so I think it can have a positive effect.

Apart from that last major bass purchase, I changed my rig last year purely down to weight problems so I see that as something I had to do at my age. I see what you're getting at though but even the most thrifty and sensible among us would be straight on the phone to Fodera or Alembic if we won the lottery.

It pisses me off to know that they don't want to rock the boat with their bread and butter advertisers. Have a rant about a Dingwall bass (unlikely I know, it's just a name example) and you may get your letter printed. Moan about the sh*te service from Fender or Peavey and you've got no chance as they each take about 6 pages in a mag like that.

Another thing (sorry, I'm in a bad mood) When Bassist mag finished, it was supposed to be incorporated into Guitarist mag. It was for about 3 months, then, as the months went by, you're lucky if they condescend to review one crappy £100 bass.

Bastards.

Here's me with obligatory fat bastard French keyboard player doing a charity gig. (He was actually eating the sweets whilst soloing)

[quote name='The Bass Doc' date='Jan 18 2009, 10:44 PM' post='384402']
I've been browsing the forum for a little while now and thought I should make myself known as one of the senior citizens of the bass world. I have already exchanged a couple of PMs with the Old Git and find I am older and gitter than him - first paying gig 1964! Iam probably not the oldest member at present but would like to stake a claim to having the oldest set of strings still in use -- my spare Jazz bass carries a set of original Fender strings for which I still have the packet marked £8/15 shillings -a hell of a price to pay back then - anyone care to work out the amount that equates to in today's money? Although new to the vast majority of you, I can say that I am already well known to a lot of fellow North Easterners including Marcus, Wateroftyne and of course Warwickhunt (what on earth were Mr. and Mrs. Hunt thinking?). To those who think you might know me, the clue is in the avatar - the slapping nun of Nun Street.
[/quot

Yer beat me, my first was 1967 at the Mildmay Tavern in North East London

Animal by Toto took me about a month to crack so I didn't get flack from the drummer. Found the best way was to just listen to it (without playing) about 30 times so it gets in your head.

I was lucky enough to grow up in London (E18 on the central line) and every week would go up to the original Marquee.

I reckon I saw Jeff Beck maybe 30 times before I was 20 years old (and Rory Gallagher even more) I've always been and will remain, a huge fan although, all through his early days after the Yardbirds, it was obvious that all the bands were "his" He surrounded himself with great players of the day, but no-one that could upstage him. Still, I suppose when you're that good and respected by world class players, maybe you can afford a bit of an ego.

He remains a truly unique guitarist.

[quote name='drumbloke' post='379200' date='Jan 13 2009, 04:40 PM']Not sure if Jeff has actually played with any 'sh*t hot' bass players ? I know he's always had top class drummers. 'Guitar shop' is one of my favourite Beck albums and only has Guitar Key's and Drums...Still an unparalleled guitarist in my opinion.

Got me tickets for the Mcr Apollo gig in June...yay ^_^[/quote]

What about Randy Hope Taylor and Tim Bogert?

[quote name='4000' post='378390' date='Jan 12 2009, 11:39 PM']Arrgghhh. Another one. You're the third person to say that in about 3 weeks (and the last 2 were women). Doesn't make me feel too good as I really fancy her! :blush:[/quote]

If you really fancy her and she's got tiny hands, that should make you feel better

[quote name='johnnylager' post='370883' date='Jan 5 2009, 02:39 PM']Are you all related?[/quote]

Everyone in Suffolk is related

I just bought a cheapy 6er on UK Ebay and the guy sent it via the Post office. Got here (France) no problem and the £30 he charged me included packing materials too so it can be done reliably and economically.

Not really worth the extra in my opinion. I had a Squire jazz in sunburst (defretted) and relic'd it myself in about 6 hours. Punters thought I'd managed to get one of Jaco's and I sold it for a huge profit in France and was quite honest about what it was. Get a cheapy and do it yourself.

Who's looking at the bass?

"Signature" strings. What the f***'s that about?

And people who use the words "Custom built" when they're trying to sell a heap of crap on Ebay that no-one's heard of.

Gimme about another 30 mins and I'll have cracked "I wish" (Stevie Wonder)

Hi, don't need to try one as I live in France now but just for interest, here's a point of view.

I borrowed a Musicmaster some time ago while a mate was away for a month. Although I'd only been used to regular scale instruments, I decided to gig it one night for a laugh. Although a bit short in the tone department, I was amazed at how less generally tired I was after playing it all night. It wasn't the weight, it was the fact that there was just no effort in using it and found that I wanted to play it more and more. Yes, it would look daft strapped on Anthony Jackson but I think you're onto a winner if you can crack the issue of a good usable sound which nowadays should not prove too much of a problem with available electronics. I think there is a market for this product and not just for youngsters with small mits.

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='367496' date='Jan 1 2009, 01:00 AM']TO ALL FELLOW LOW ENDERS! LETS HAVE A BASSMUNGUS 2009!!!!

Best Regards!

Nick[/quote]

Happy new year to you too mate. I left school 41 years ago. Just off to slash my wrists.

Do yourself a favour, put it on French Ebay using the built in translation programme, or even just in English. Most players here speak English. Put a starting price of what you'd really like for it (say £1200) It's just Ebay.fr

Status basses go for about 40% more here than in the UK. I've seen Energy series basses go for €1,000 on French sites and with the current exchange rate, you could have a serious result. The delivery is no problem if you use a good courier service and they all use Paypal here so no probs getting your dosh.

If it doesn't sell, it's only cost you a couple of pounds.

At this time of year and in the current climate, you would be able to pick up a bog standard Fender Jazz 5 (USA) for about your budget. I was in a busy function band in the UK doing loads of Soul, Disco, R&B etc and to be honest, that bass did everything you'd ever need for that sort of stuff. I really regret selling it. Tough as old boots. Bit floppy on the low B but you can string the B to the "E" machine head and vice-versa (although I had to turn one machine the wrong way) It really solves the problem with the extra length. Check one out.

Incognito, superb. been trying to nail "Colibri" from Tribes,Vibes & Scribes for about 50 years now. Got the notes, got the speed, got the groove. Just can't seem to keep it going for what feels like 20 minutes. Ha ha.

I saw a TV live show of CK a couple of years back and Nathan East was on bass duties.

Out.
Eden WT500
Eden 4X10
Fender Jazz fretless
Epiphone Riviera
Ibanez Jem 555
84 Fender Esprit Elite
Fender Roscoe Beck 5
Pearl Maple Piccolo snare
Pr Avedis hi-hats
Studiomaster 16 desk
Pr Carlsboro powered monitors
Digitech RP12 effects
€500 import duty for the f***ing customs dept

In
Markbass 3x10H combo
F bass BN5

Yeah, I know, but I had to have it.

Other, F Bass