Count Bassy

I once auditioned for a band and as requested learned half a dozen or so off their list of thirty. - Got to the audition and the 'Band Leader' said 'Let's start from the top of the list then' totally ignoring the fact that I'd been asked to learn six, and which six I'd learnt. Thankfully I wasn't offered the job.

Was it the old clothes, holes in your shoes, and empty wallet that gave it away? Edited to add: PS that's a comment on most musicians I know - not on your good self of course.

Bollards more like!

This !!!

Unfortunately, sometimes, nobody seems to tell the house bands. An open mike I used to go to the house band, and sometimes any old band, would get up and play 6 or 7 songs in a row, and even then individual members would just stay on stage all night. Makes it very hard for someone who is a bit less confident to get up and do their thing. Edited to add, one of the problems was that the organisers, who we're both nice people, would go out for fags and who ever was on at the time would carry on until one came back in.

You need to work on your repairing skill my boy.

I should bloody hope so given the price.

What is this 'limit' of which you speak?

If it is to keep the volume down, what does this do that turning the volume down wouldn't do?

Not in a derogatory way, but they look more like mother & daughter to me.

Or do it yourself !! It' not a black art - it's engineering.

Regarding this clip, and indeed most bass solos, I agree with you. However there are some really nice melodic bits out there that aren't a case of technique over taste. All a matter of individual preference of course. This is my personal favourite:

This, except I disagree (quite strongly) with the highlighted bit.

To qualify fretmeister's reply a bit: not without a serious amount of of chopping about - certainly not a case of just bolting it on.

Can't play it as at work, but from the picture I'd say his fingers are longer than mine (assuming it's a full sized bass).

Or he could be nice guy, but deaf.

I appereciated the suggestion, but had new/different set on the way by then. Not sure if it was a faulty string, just worn out, or just something that these strings do.

Hooray! New strings have completely solved the problem. The Warwick Black labels arrived so I fitted those. Not only can I get the E-string action down with the others, I have been able to lower the action on all the strings by quite bit as well. Not sure if it is just a one off rogue E-string, or if this is a systematic problem with the 'Red labels'. Tension in the black labels seems slightly higher than in the Reds. They seem slightly brighter than the Reds, which may well be because they're new, but fundamentally sound much the same. Physically the Black label B and E strings have a significantly finer outer winding than the Reds. The only thing I'm not yet convinced by is that the Blacks have a taper wound B string. It seems to sound a bit 'hollow' compared to the original (non tapered) Reds. BUt whether that is the taper or something else I really don't know. Newtones are on the way and I'll report on those when they're fitted. Thanks for all your suggestions on this.

I don't actually stand up for Mr Philips, but in the past I have felt a bit uncomfortable at the way tat people here jump on the band wagon of slagging him off. Seems a bit like kicking a man when he's down. However: That clip is appalling. Why would anyone post something like that of themselves? Does make you wonder if he actually watched it before posting it.

Fixed it for you

Is it just me who couldn't relate to many of the demo pieces? All very clever, but (IMHO) none of them that related to the 'core/classic' use/function of a bass guitar. Where was the slow blues demo, or the classic rock type bass line, or the counterpoint?

AFAIK Melody / harmony assistant does all the tabs & stuff - it even does fingering for a diatonic accordion where you can specofiy your own keyboard layout. Note that I've not tried any others, so am not recomending this one over the others - just pointing out as an option.

Have a look at Melody / harmony assistant. Single reasonable purchase price and lifelong free updates.

Yes, I was skeptical when I first heard it too.

Fitting them this way will move the centre of gravity of the winders towards the body by an inch or so - less neck dive !