The Bass Doc

[quote name='rjb' post='488783' date='May 15 2009, 12:37 PM']2k+ on an old Fender that was bolted together on a Friday afternoon from a parts bin, or 2k+ on a handmade Celinder or Sadowsky. I can tell you which I would choose.[/quote] I reckon you would choose the Celinder or Sadowsky - as long as you appreciate that the day after the Fender at £2k+ has been bought it's worth is £2k+ (and rising) and the other two have probably lost a grand. I'm certainly not advocating everyone should avoid well-built custom type basses but just be sure you want to keep them if you don't want to suffer the depreciation factor. I have a foot in both camps as I have built some exotic 6 string basses for guys and at the risk of even losing their business I've pointed out that they need to be prepared for a shock if they want to sell one day since they will be lucky to receive an offer of half the build price. The other foot/camp is my personal preference for vintage Fenders - mainly stemming from having grown up musically in the sixties - they sort of fit what I still play. I really enjoy creating modern spec instruments for players who have specific requirements - there should always be scope for improving on earlier designs but try asking you favourite maker of the 'exotic' what they think of Leo's early products and I will be very suprised if any slate them.

[quote name='OldGit' date='May 15 2009, 09:38 AM' post='488545' What's the TV logo? [/quote] The larger block lettering (as opposed to the smaller script which wouldn't have shown up on telly)

There's good and bad in all eras - I would say that newer basses are more likely to be consistent in quality simply because of modern manufacturing techniques. The early ones varied considerably as a result of more hand finishing (You know the idea of a 'Monday morning' or Friday afternoon' one). If and when you are lucky enough to find a good early Precision or Jazz however there's nothing quite like it. The investment angle is a bonus 'cos they ain't going to go down in value whereas a new (particularly exotic high-end) bass takes a dive as soon as you walk away with it.

I have a 1962 Fender Jazz which I don't use now so I was going to store it in the loft. I'm now thinking that when my next of kin re-discover it and put it on E-bay you lot are going to jump out and say "Oh yeah...another 'genuine' old Fender found in a loft...yeah right". What shall I do? Answers please on a £20 note.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='487655' date='May 14 2009, 10:39 AM']Manring! Man-ring! As in a man's ring (piece)! Gedditt?? Funny ain't it![/quote] Wouldn't it be good if his folks gave him the first name of Roger? Carry on.

It may be that hitherto his prices have been perfectly reasonable and that this is just a silly phase he's going through.

[quote name='chris_b' post='486130' date='May 12 2009, 05:05 PM']Kenny Gradney has been playing Kubiki basses for years.[/quote] Guess I'm stuck in a time warp wherby I could only picture him on Whistle Test with a Fender Precision (and lovely afro).

Yes I was there - in disguise of course in case Kenny would be too embarrassed to play if he saw me. Super cool performance making everything look so easy. Thought it was an unusual choice of bass but he was obviously comfortable with the Factor. Might still try and make the Ry Cooder gig.

A 10K PA rig and a microphone - don't want to spend any longer than necessary there.

I always wanted to find a chorus pedal with about 6 inputs so that when it came to the popular part of a well-known number the rest of the band could all join in the chor.......never mind.

[quote name='Clive Thorne' post='480540' date='May 5 2009, 11:39 PM']but the drummer does look a little tired[/quote] Did you not mean exhausted?

Contenders have to be the Burns range with 3 or 4 piece styling. Mosrite do an interesting style in the 'one piece'.

Actually I meant to edit that earlier post - it wasn't an ordinary person in a top hat - for 'person' substitute 'basketball player' (you can stop worrying now funkyhobbit, OK?)

A friend of mine used to describe my action as one whereby a person with a top hat on could limbo dance underneath the strings - slight exageration perhaps?

It all depends on your playing 'weight' - if as in my case you are fairly heavy-handed, too low an action will cause notes to choke if you set the action low whereas you will get a 'cleaner, bigger' note if you stay high. I sometimes wish I could cope with a lower action but when you have learned waaaay back on poorly set-up basses with high tension old strings it's very hard to change to having a light touch - try asking an experienced drummer to hit softer - his technique would go to pot. You simply have to have the action that suits your playing style.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='479170' date='May 4 2009, 05:57 PM']It's all valid, reading or not, music is music. if it sounds good, it is good thats the only test... whether it was brought to you by readers or non readers or the soup dragon[/quote] Well said that man - there should be more of us who sit firmly on the fence with this one. I sit there so often that in the spelks department my bum looks like Desperate Dan's chin.

I'm a tad surprised that no-one on the side opposite the 'should read' part of the discussion hasn't mentioned the talents of Stevie Wonder 'cos apparently he doesn't (read that is - unless there is a form of braille 'notation'? - Serious query that BTW)

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='479006' date='May 4 2009, 02:29 PM']if things go tits up[/quote] Surely you mean 'down'?

I guess it will go a bit quiet for you on the forum whilst you transact the move and we should also allow you time to settle in there because I suppose you'll be a bit upside down for a while. Good luck.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='476702' date='May 1 2009, 09:22 AM']Of course you can gig every night of the year by learning a 12-bar shuffle in E[/quote] I did try that once but to save both the band and the audient (singular) getting bored we thew caution to the wind and learned 'Crossroads' in A - really brightened up the set.

Oh dear - we are descending into the pit now - can we not just accept the point I made earlier - I LOVE listening to bands that have that feel without music stands but I also accept that if a musician wishes to make a career out of music he or she is best advised to become a proficient reader either in the classically trained orchestra direction/ as a session person allied to a recording company/or as a writer and arranger of original material etc... There's room for everyone.

[quote]we all know nothing of any value has ever come from classical music[/quote] Best bass lines ever written? - J. S. Bach (Yes I did get the irony)

Most of the bands I rate don't put up music stands at their gigs - it's about feeeeeel (for me, poisonally speaking of course) BUT I admire tremendously classical musicians whose dedication ensures they will always work.

I blame the parents.