TJ1

34 minutes ago, Judo Chop said:

I don't know why should they?

That's what I am trying to find out, from more experienced musicians than me.

It's a bit like not being a scientist but knowing the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, you may kind of think it's true, but it's good to have a singular but specific why.☺️ 

It is obviously highly opinionated question and I realize that not everyone has a shared interest for MOR rock.

But seriously, I think it relates their overwhelming consistency, which any of us who either are, or are aspiring to be, bass anchors, should admire.

Any confirmatory and/or contrary views may be appreciated, but be warned: I know I am right.

2 minutes ago, TJ1 said:

1. A band that plays bits of this and bits of that is hard to market. I know because I've been in a few and am in one now and I can't succinctly describe it. Whereas "we play 80s pop" is easy for everyone to get their heads around and makes you a potential go to "get that 80s band back!" is better than "get that good band back... Can't remember which one they were" 

I think you are being realistic about this, and if commercial consideration is everyone's priority then maybe it would be good for you to begin your venture with a recognizable classification. If things go well you can always bet on trying to be different later on.

But not probably not every person in the audience is going to like 80's music, and you have implied that some of your members would find just churning it out soul destroying.

Maybe you could  choose just  one more modern song that is not 1980's, that is possibly very different from the style of the songs in the rest of the set, that may appeal to the audiences offspring and crucially that all of you enjoy playing.

That might solve the problem - just an idea - good luck!.

30 minutes ago, uk_lefty said:

So, during the break in lockdowns last autumn I advertised to start up an 80s band and recruited a drummer and a guitarist all bought in to the idea. We tried with me doing lead vocals but it's not my strong point and it restricts what songs can be played bass wise as they need to be playable and singable. Guitarist knows a singer so we agree to give her a go and then lockdown happens. 

We met up, and it went well, except we are now suddenly in the position of too many competing opinions. It's disappointing because there's an overriding movement to move away from 80s ranging from doing disco to mostly 80s but include some more recent songs. They're good songs but it's going off script somewhat and while I'm usually willing to try most things I've got my reservations, here's why:

1. A band that plays bits of this and bits of that is hard to market. I know because I've been in a few and am in one now and I can't succinctly describe it. Whereas "we play 80s pop" is easy for everyone to get their heads around and makes you a potential go to "get that 80s band back!" is better than "get that good band back... Can't remember which one they were" 

2. I just think it's a bit sad when the band members are aged 37 to 50 and they're playing recent songs, it's like "here's one our kids enjoyed before they left for uni!" 

I don't know but it maybe some kind of commercial strategy on the part of whoever controls the play rights to Beatles music.

Firstly they definitely don't need the public exposure on radio and although radio plays do attract a fee: there maybe a real but intangible cost to this to the artist.

Obviously if people regularly hear a well known song/s on radio they maybe less likely to actually buy the music.

For instance I would never buy the Eagles 'Hotel California' when it's on everyday on radio 2/Absolute.

13 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

Why aren't you bowing like everyone else..? 

...

 

I'm fed up with trying to be like everyone else. 🙂

3 minutes ago, musicbassman said:

If you're somehow 'plucking from underneath' (and not as a part of slap and pop technique) then I'd suggest you are using a very unusual technique which most bass players wouldn't recognise. Please tell us more !   😮

My main in experience is on the guitar so thats how I started off on the bass, until I learnt from various Youtube videos that this was incorrect both in terms speed, comfort and control

But it seems that flicking the string upwards from underneath produces a somewhat richer or cleaner sound, but maybe I've doing something wrong with the standard technique.

14 minutes ago, musicbassman said:

Now I'm confused.

You'll have to explain what you mean.

That is whether rolling the finger across the string or plucking from underneath produces a better sound? I am undecided.

That's not in breadmaking.

Although I find rolling the finger on the string makes it easier to mute the above string and gives a deeper thump, I find the action of plucking produces a slightly more varied sound.

Any thoughts?

In my very limited experience I think perception can equal reality, I used to own an Indonesian made Sterling bass which was Ok but then I traded it for a considerably more expensive  Musicman Bongo which just feels a lot tighter and more precise.

Of course if you shell out a lot of money for something  you really want to believe that item is better, so sometimes wishful thinking can be a factor.

 It may be irrational but I usually assume that if it's cheap there must be something amiss. But what puzzles me is people who have collections of multiple expensive guitars that they hardly ever play.

I can't think of a single greatest guitarist. I think times and genres evolve so 'greatest of 'all time' does not actually exist. 

Maybe Chuck Berry in the 50's, George Harrison in the 60's. The pink Floyd guy in the 70's but nowish I think the Foo Fighters guitarist is pretty good. He seems to be very good at interweaving with the vocalist, rather than doing flashy solos.

But for me the best piece of bass playing of all time is on 'Stayin Alive'

I've got a Bongo and a USA Silhouette - there were pricey, but each feels well put together and solid in a way that cheaper guitars I have tried just don't.

I realise people should buy guitars to keep and not move on. But a factor in buying the Bongo is that I could probably easily sell it for 1200, so really I only paid £800 for it not £2000.

I recommend these - they are extremely sensitive as well as being very sturdily built. Their padding gives them excellent noise cancelling.

I have wasted money on cheaper haedphones - which have basically broken after a few months ago. But at £120 these yams are in a sweetspot

I don't know if it's been said - but I find it really helpful to do handfinger exercises before a session - that is basically extensive finger wriggling in every possible direction/position. That and taking the time to find a comfortable playing position.

Like in Althetics/football these warm up exercises may decrease the risk of long term injury.

6 hours ago, Cato said:

Are you leaving the cable plugged into the bass when you're not playing?

On most active basses plugging the cable in switches the preamp on.

 

YES! thank you, it's knowledge about these details that makes Basschat great

Thanks for the replies - has anyone else got any recommendations?

 I am not sure whats up with this bass - but even duracell seems to only last a week or so

Don't know what your budget is, but generally, if it is an item you can only use one at a time, I think it is wise to spend the same money buying one expensive thing rather than lots of cheap stuff of the same thing.

With an active preamp and 2 pickups, my bass runs through disposable batteries at a rate which, over a few years, might end costing more than the guitar itself. Plus I don't like to think where those used batteries end up.

Amazon has a bewildering display of rechargeables, all with 4 or 5 stars, so to the uninformed there is no obvious 'right' choice.

So I wondered if anyone was able to recommend a good and durable 9v rechargeable battery and charger? Don't mind paying a bit more than the lowest price.

Any advice appreciated.

I think Elton John's Lucy in the Sky is better than the original.

It just seems richer instrumentally and ironically Elton sings it with more feeling than the Beatles did.

On 21/03/2021 at 10:17, Combed20 said:

 but also saves the hassle and potential rippoff from an Ebay scammer.  Any thoughts/advice?

Maybe Ebay can be a bit of jungle, but I have a several good experiences with it, I have always tried to be careful about researching the detail of a buyers history - looking for a pattern of  him her buying differing items at a similar value - and then researching those sellers details to make sure they are not related to the buyer and thus not giving false feedback.

The downside is they charge 10%.

Basschat charges a flat fee of £7 to list an item, so it might be a better bet, particularly for a specialist bass. Although ebay's % only kicks in if you actually sell the item.

1 hour ago, Cato said:

No idea whether OP is genuine or whether he's just winding people up

Genuine and I think important question, particularly for those at beginner level, I could have worded it less obnoxiously though.

I'll get my my coat.

7 minutes ago, Maude said:

I don't think how many notes you can play in a given time is any kind of indication of ability at all. 

Is a badly timed busy bassist playing a hundred miles an hour all over the fretboard better than one who puts in that perfectly timed single note per bar, whilst locked in with a great drummer to create the heaviest funk groove in town?

Sometimes busy is good, sometimes sparse is good. The bassist who knows when to do what will be the most respected. 

🙂👍

This is true, but I believe the ability to be competently busy, to a realistic standard, is key to all round versatility

I've got my own ideas on this but it would be interesting to see other people's opinions on this momentous,foundation subject.

That is the minimum finger/plectrum string strikes per minute across all/any notes on the fretboard.

For me it has to be comfortable to hold, if you are going to spend hundreds if not thousands of hours with an instrument, it does not matter if it sounds  John Entwhistle's thunder or whatever, if it is uncomfortable and does not 'fit' your physique, then can be somewhat of a masochistic exercise.

I'm sticking with my Bongo for this reason, obviously a good fit is a personal thing, but it has the added bonus of being unusually light.

44 minutes ago, Nicko said:

I honestly don't think that even if I had tens of millions I'd go out and spend a few thousand on a bass, I wouldn't go out and spend  £1500 on a pair of jeans and I couldn't see myself drinking £500 bottles of wine*.

* maybe one - as I have one that was a gift.

Why not? I don't believe you could take it with you into the afterlife.