AM1

[quote name='WHUFC BASS' post='585599' date='Aug 31 2009, 09:14 AM']Thanks fellas. Looks like I'll be going down the EMG pickup route with the possibility of an Aguilar pre-amp (all depends on price). When its done, I'll post up "before and after" tone comparisons.[/quote] No! Stop it. Just stop it. NOW!

[quote name='Fraktal' post='582249' date='Aug 27 2009, 10:43 AM']"...retail price of 1200$..." Yeah, suuure... 1200 bucks for a rockbass... Now, if you'd excuse me, Im gonna LOL a big one![/quote] Aaaah don't underestimte the power of the rockbass. The rockbass is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It is seriously under-rated! I'd love to try a 4 string rockbass but haven't seen one in the flesh - but the 5 is awesome...that low B just rumbles like a f*cking beast! I really, really LOVE this bass! I'm having some quality alone time with the Rockbass as we speak, there's just nothing better than a blissful evening time bass love-in! Life is good.

Hi, haven't read all the thread so maybe someone already suggested it, but for your requirements, the Rockbass Corvette 5 would be perfect. I have a 5 string Rockbass - the tone is superb, cracking B string and nice thin playable neck. It's well within budget too, you should get a decent one for under 200 notes. They are a seriously under-rated bass! Cheers AM

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='502127' date='May 31 2009, 10:13 AM']About a year ago, i switched from being a pick player to a fingerstyle player, mainly because the joint of my thumb nearest the fingernail is doublejointed, and bends too far backwards, so i can't hold picks properly. Also for tone reasons. Anyway, at my gig last night, about halfway through the second set i started getting pain in the knuckle of my forefinger while i was playing... I don't think there is anything wrong with my fingerstyle technique, i keep my fingers perpendicular and my wrist straight, but i was wondering if anyone else gets this, and if there is maybe a detailed "how to play fingerstyle like a pro" article about so i can look at learning from the ground up?[/quote] Hi I've got exactly the same double joint issue and also have had pain in both knuckles on my plucking hand, nothing major but it's a bit disconcerting and better to rest it when you can, if this starts up. If you look at your thumb position while it's resting on the pickup, you'll notice that it's also bent too much at that joint - I suspect that puts a bit too much of a stretch on the tendons at the knuckle joint and is the source of the pain. It's very difficult but try resting your thumb with the pad of your finger on the pickup as opposed to bending that joint too much. This totally alters the mechanics of your hand when playing and reduces the stress on those tendons.

[quote name='The Funk' post='501378' date='May 30 2009, 02:26 AM']Screw it. If it's ten quid I'll get one and play under my desk, which won't look at all like I'm fiddling with myself.[/quote] Haha! I liked the suggestion that you could play it in bed - imagine whipping that out and getting down to a bit of slapping just as the other half was nodding off, priceless!

[quote name='liamcapleton' post='501016' date='May 29 2009, 03:29 PM']I've been a bass player for 9 years now, since I was 11 or so, and have never been remotely interested in furthering my guitar skills past a certain point. I've always just focused solely on my bass playing, and have worked hard at it for a very long time now. However, having broken out the Stevie Ray Vaughn, Hendrix, and Mayer tunes I've been playing guitar like mad... so much so I've got a serious hankering for a Mesa Boogie setup and a new Strat! I've always been okay on guitar, but I've never put this much effort into honing my skills at an instrument since I took up the bass all those years ago. I guess my point is that the reason I originally picked up bass was because at school, I was asked to join a band, and both my other two friends had drums and a guitar coming their way that particular Christmas, so they asked me if I would buy a bass and join them. The irony is that I was the only one to stick at my chosen instrument and get good at it ultimately... but I can't help feeling like it might have been a different story for me if I'd picked up a guitar all those years ago instead of a bass. I've always had an okay ability at turning my hand to a lot of different instruments, and I guess I was lucky to get the chance to play because it's changed my life completely. Bass will always be my first love, and probably always what I'm best at, but it did make me think...does anyone have a similar reason for picking up their first instrument? Do you all think had you been guitarists you would be where you are now? You put it all down to chance, or do any of you believe in fate? The floor is very much open for discussion![/quote] Liam - an interesting topic. I started playing bass only very recently after playing other instruments for a long time. I went through identical feelings to you for some time, but in the end couldn't ignore it. It is hard to imagine becoming equally obsessed with a new instrument, but believe me, it's astounding what can happen if you go with it! But there's no point in wondering what if...because it may well be that even if you had picked up a guitar first, instead of bass, you may not have had the inclination for it at that time. When the time is right, for a certain instrument, it's right. Sometimes it's initiated by a certain player/players. It's really, really strange to get a "calling" to play another instrument - and I don't mean pissing about on guitars, drums, keys etc, in the studio, I mean a serious, obsessive interest, like you feel with your first instrument. I have always loved good bass but it has only been recently that the "calling" to play it appeared. Some people have whims over stuff like this but I think you can judge in your own mind, the difference betwen a whim and a serious passion for a "new" instrument. For example, I used to appreciate guitar parts in music, much more than bass. One example - The Rover, off Physical Graffiti, has an outstanding guitar solo, but now I listen to guitar and just hear "twiddling" - whereas I really "feel" the bass now. I don't know what or why it changed, but when it does...you should go with it! Sometimes when you learn a new instrument, you find that you are able to express your musical personality in a completely different way. If you have music in you, the instrument is just a voice, but it's only when you find your "optimum" voice, that you can realise your true potential. If the guitar speaks to you, then do it. You'll regret it if you don't.

[quote name='mildmanofrock' post='500609' date='May 29 2009, 09:24 AM']Screw 'em, I say. Good luck mate, Steve[/quote] Nicely put Steve!

Oh - I meant to mention one more thing and it may not be relevant as you're probably more experienced than me - but the way Sampson positioned the role of the bass in his beginner stuff has been pivotal for me. I can honestly say I did not properly and fully understand the role of the bass in contemporary music until I read his manual, when a lot of stuff just clicked into place. I think that understanding of the role of the bass is crucial in developing the judgement of how to construct basslines that compliment songs and not overplayed "guitar playing on the bass" stuff. I now know that when people describe bass players as failed guitarists, that they do not understand how to think like a bass player and they do not understand the role of the bass. His best description was that the bass is like a mini drumkit, with dozens of little pitched drums. He also emphasises getting to know the drums inside out, another concept which has massively improved my ability to play grooves in the verse and add bass fills that fit with the drums. I'd say ignore the naysayers, who, let's face it, if they haven't bought any of these resources, cannot comment with any valid context - and try one of his learning methods. There's no need to go mad, I only paid £25 and it was well worth it. No magic secrets, but lots of very useful learning methodology. Cheers AM

[quote name='saibuster' post='500509' date='May 29 2009, 02:02 AM']Thanks for that, exactly the sort of opinion i wanted to hear! I've just found a topic about it on Talk bass and the reactions where very interesting. People who actually bought his products where very happy and the ones who didnt called him a scammer, and got very upset at him for using words such as "magic" or "formula". I think his marketing method does create a very negative effect, but Its important to note that he writes everywhere that he used these words, like magic and formula, just because they sound cool and there is no magic in becoming a good bass player, its all about hard work. I will report back once i get the DVDs. I must say I am very curious about it.[/quote] I thought exactly the same when I read all the ridiculous marketing spiel but at the time there was a deal where you got the fretboard stuff but also a whole bunch of much better stuff. I am lazy on fretboard stuff and have managed to get away with playing by ear but now I know it is limiting me which is why I am going back over all these resources again. The fretboard stuff is just one of many of his resources, the really interesting ones are stuff like groove secrets, licks, chord mastery etc. He has a real knack for identifying where people are going wrong on the learning side/hitting walls..and giving you some tools to get past it, but the onus is on you to do the work. I got some excellent drum groove software free on that original deal. Seriously, the guy is really passionate about teaching - I just decided to take a punt on it for £25 and it was well worth it. I am just amazed he is not more well known but as you say, the over the top marketing is detrimental. I am instantly turned off by seeing bass guides with nonsense like "be a bass guru in 2 weeks" and such hilarity but Sampson emphasises again and again in his material that if you don't put the work in, you won't see results. On the subject of learning and practice material, I have a ton of other stuff I can send you if you PM your email address. This stuff is free but takes a bit of chasing down. As to Sampson, remember, I can't vouch on the DVDs..and I don't know where you are in relation to me, I'm bass pondlife. Cheers AM