Count Bassy

[quote name='thebeat' post='389119' date='Jan 22 2009, 11:09 PM']JJ was a bit of a Prima Donna...and not a very nice person when the mood took him. [/quote] Well he was French

I'm puzzled as to why/how Fender can say its their first 24 Fret instrument. Both the Urge models have 24 frets and the mk 1 has been around for at least 10 years.

Not a lot of help in this case, but I had this problem on a bass and ended up fitting a compensated nut which solved the problem (actually what I ended up doing was fitting a zero fret directly in front of the nut, touching the nut at the G string, but a good 4mm clear at the E string - but the same affect). I'm guessing that this worked because when ever you fret a string, even at the first fret, you're increasing the tension, and thus it will be sharp, realtive to the open string. The compensated nut means that this base level of increase is taken out by the nut, leaving the bridge end to adjust for the difference in the change as you go up the neck. What you're effectively doing is accepting that all fretted notes will be sharp, and use the compensated nut to make the open string sharp by the same amount, then tune the open string down to the right note again. Not at all sure on the theory, but it certainly worked for me.

[quote name='Ballie' post='425653' date='Mar 5 2009, 12:03 AM']Cheap active circuits or pickups are often a main downfall of a bass - take the Ibanez GWB35. Everyone who owns one replaces the p/up and circuit, then it's a truly awesome machine. Built with prettymuch the same materials used to build it's £2000 pro-level version.[/quote] I've got one of these and haven't made any mods, but I'm interested to hear more! My main problems with it are that the saddle screws adjust work down over time, but I'm sure that can be easily fixed if I put my mind to it. Generally I've found the preamp pretty useful, giving a good range of tones. The only problem I've noticed is lot of hiss when you turn the treble right up, which can be a bit annoying, but I don't tend to have the treble that far up anyway. But, having said that, I've never tried a modified one of these, so don't know what I'm missing! What pickup and electrics do people tend to upgrade these to?

[quote name='melvin' post='417122' date='Feb 23 2009, 07:06 AM']Back in college during the mid '90s , I used to have McDonald® burger for lunch to save money for a new bass. I finally got one Yamaha RBX but didn't have a decent amp. My girlfriend gave me a birthday present. A DiMarzio Model P pickup and a nice Marshall combo amp proudly made in the UK . Now I am married with a 5 year old son and 4 MIJ basses, 3 of those were bought by my wife.............who also gave me that Marshall amp almost 13 years ago I love my wife![/quote] I think we all love your wife, or rather, would love to have a wife like yours.

[quote name='mathewsanchez' post='415210' date='Feb 20 2009, 12:49 PM']I've been playing bass about four and a bit years now and for most of that time I have said 'you don't need to be able to read music to be a good musician', which I still kinda stick by. But alas with the possibility of going for a career in music; grades, sight reading and theory are seeming a better idea. So basically a few months ago I decided to take a grade 3 exam just to try it out and passed with destinction. I found it so easy that i decided to skip to grade 5 which i took a couple of weeks ago. Just a few minutes ago I got the result which is another destinction. Again I havn't really found it very challenging so I have decided to go for grade 8 next time. Obviously grade 8 will be more of a challenge and i'll take a lot longer to practice for it, but I hope to take the exam around the autumn 2009 exam period. So who else round here has done any grades? (I realise quite a few people on here will disagree with the formal approach to music but I still only play because I love doing it and I started off completely self taught)[/quote] Three points: First: Congratulations!. Second: If its anything like piano (which my wife teaches) then the step between grade 5 and grade 8 is enormous, so I'd check into it thoroughly before you jump straight to grade 8. Third: If your hoping that your achievement will help your musical career (I'm sure it will), then I suggest you learn how to spell "Distinction".

In his day Charlie Whitney did it for me. but I don't think he's doing anything much these days.

Perhaps I'm being silly, but one of the knobs on my bass is called volume, and its right there just below my right hand. Alternatively just pull the strings harder.

[quote name='Boneless' post='411443' date='Feb 16 2009, 08:10 PM']But what is, really, the appeal of a short scale? I have never found a short scale with the right string tension, and the lower strings tend to sound muddy and without much clarity (the only exception maybe being the Danos, since they are so bright and jangly). I understand some may appreciate the punchiness of a short scale, but I don't really get it I'm not criticizing, but what do short scale enthusiasts actually like of short scales? (By the way, I have a medium scale and I hate it ).[/quote] Ease of playing, especially for any multiple note work. The tone, you can get quite a 'poppy' tone (not as in slap and pop, or as in pop music). The fact that you can bend them further. Just the general feel - I'm a big bloke but I find that the medium scale just feels like an extension of your body, whereas the a 34" scale feels less like that. Obviously other people may dislike short/medium scales for the same reasons as I like them.

+1 on the Fender Urge Mk1, although this is a 32" scale. I've got a Mex and a US one and they are both good instruments. You might get the mex one for 2-300, and on a good day you might get the US one for a little over your 500 limit. The Mex is fine, but the US one has an extra pickup, string through body, different electrics, screening, micro tilt etc. I also have a Westone quantum which is 32" headless, and is great for lugging around hotels etc. these don't come up very often, but only fetch 125 to £175 ish. Passive, but with immense output and tone. Aria make both 32" and 30" basses.

Tippex!!

[quote name='chris_b' post='401917' date='Feb 6 2009, 12:10 PM']Ah, the Nigel Watson band featuring (occasionally) Peter Green!! The bass player is Pete Stroud. Since the demise of the Splinter Group he’s playing local gigs in West London with Papa George, Bad Influence, Chuck Farley and others. He’s very good but I would prefer to listen to John McVie any day.[/quote] I've always liked pete Stroud's playing since he was with Roger Chapman and the Shortlist about 20 years ago, but having seen him playing with Buddy Whittington a few months ago he has become the Bassplayer I woiuld most like to be able to play like.

I've got D'addario half rounds on my fender urge, strung through the body, and they're great. Mellowed the tone down a bit so that I'm not always running with the treble backed right off as I was with the round wounds, but still plenty of zing (for my taste at least) if you wind the treble up. Obviously half round (Ground wound), but not had one fail on yet.

[quote name='leschirons' post='399344' date='Feb 3 2009, 07:57 PM']It's all relevent in the world of music as far as I'm concerned and is no different from a bass player using a distortion pedal because that's not what a bass sounds like really is it? I wonder if all the upright bass players of the 50's slagged off the first guy they saw with a Precision and said it's not really a bass but an electrified plank of wood. Probably not.[/quote] Probably yes!

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='399952' date='Feb 4 2009, 01:35 PM']A synth is often thought of as an electronic keyboard instrument that makes weird noises as well as replicating the sound of traditional instruments. Understandable as the marriage of a synth with a keyboard to trigger it's sounds inside one 'box' is -probably - the most widely used and convenient form of a synth. In fact , a synth is a box of electronics and it's sounds can be triggered by almost anything. Drum pads , guitars , basses , footpedals , wind instruments etc.[/quote] Fair point. I suppose a theramin is just anotherform of synthesiser really.

To me a synth is something that creates a sound from fundamental components, as someone has already said. This is quite different to a keyboard with sampled sounds, which most keyboards seem to be these days, or something that takes an already complex sound and adds effects to it.

Anyone out there play a contrabass recorder? Big buggers aren't they. Don't worry I've a brilliant solution that overcomes the size problem. My contrabass recorder is tuned 3 octaves up and because of that will fit in my shirt pocket. Don't worry - its still a contrabass, just tuned up a bit. But seriously, I have no problem with what the bloke is playing. I have no problem with what anyone wants to play. It's just a case of whether it should be called bass or not. To me 'Bass' doesn't say anything about the size of the instrument, or the technique used to play it. It does say a lot about the pitch range you'd expect to it cover however.

[quote name='jake_tenfloors' post='397804' date='Feb 2 2009, 01:06 PM']That video has been messed up by youtube, if you go onto youtube and search for marlowedk you will see that he has more than enough skill to play this tune![/quote] I've not checked, but I'll take your word for it, and I'm happy that this is the case.

Brilliant thread chaps, Two weeks ago my bass teacher asked if there were any song I particularly wanted to learn. Having thought about it for a week I came up with this one and the Wishbone Ash's 'Handy' (of their first LP), so this thread has been brilliant for the former and the various sound tracks are now loaded onto my bass trainer. Don't get me wrong, I doubt I'll ever get to play these out, but they'd both stretch my technique and agility somewhat, and after all, if you can play Rhythm Stick a lot of other bass lines must suddenly seem a lot less daunting. That first video of someone playing it does seem a bit odd. Has he recorded it slower (to make it easier) and then sped it up to make it look more impressive? If so, then shame on him. If not then well done. Clive.

Well, as far as I can see if its tuned an octave up then its more akin to a lead /classical guitar, but with the top two strings missing. Surely the very word 'Bass' implies something to do with the pitch of the instrument.

[quote name='Rayman' post='385104' date='Jan 19 2009, 04:05 PM']Superb gig, JB's one of my all time favourite players, guitar royalty. I had the pleasure of meeting him once, very nice bloke, and he leaves the likes of Clapton in his wake IMO. As far as his band goes, I thought they were all top notch, including Tal, who's a very talented bass player, and backed JB up perfectly. That's what she was there to do, not show her chops off to other bass players.[/quote] Personally, I'm not convinced that she did complement him that well. I agree that she wasn't there to show off her chops (what bassists are?), but I just found what she did a bit bland and wishy washy. However, if I may. I'll change my previous comment to say: "personally would be happy to play as well as Tal, but that doesn't stop me thinking that there are lots bass players [b]I prefer [/b]out there" Also please note the first part of this comment: I am not saying that she is not a good bassist.

[quote name='largo' post='384262' date='Jan 18 2009, 07:10 PM']I watched the show when it was shown last year. I always rated myself as an OK bassist, played for 20 odd years now and "think" I can hold a tune, although the stick I get from the guys in the band might suggest differently. All I can say is, if someone asked me to sit in on that gig I wouldn't have a chance ! I'm in very esteemed company if those that don't rate Tal think they could have stood on that stage and held the groove any better.[/quote] I don't think anyone here has claimed that they could do better. I for one was simply dissapointed afetr all the hype I'd heard. I personally would be happy to play as well as Tal, but that doesn't stop me thinking that there are lots of better bass players out there. You don't have to be better than someone to have a view on them.

[quote name='rayfw' post='382253' date='Jan 16 2009, 12:20 PM']Ah, right. I'll give that a try. How about taking them out? I can't seem to do it without it making an awful ptpthh noise through my amp with my active basses.[/quote] I've never had any problem taking a straight one out from any bass in one movement. Yours isn't one of the right angle ones is it? Also, is yours one of the latest generation Neutrik ones (maroon coloured)? If not then I can't comment as I've only used those. Clive

[quote name='rayfw' post='373867' date='Jan 8 2009, 10:48 AM']Re. muting jacks. I've found the Neutrik straight jacks work well enough (but not with some active basses as mentioned above) but that the right angled ones are useless. They seem to stop muting after a while and the plugs start to wobble about. I made 3 leads with them on and they are all the same after less than 6 months use. Not what I would expect from Neutrik as I've got some cables with Neutriks on that work perfectly after approx. 20 years use.[/quote] Same experience here - the straight ones are good, the right angle ones are useless. It seems that any slight sideaways pressure on the RA ones stop the sleeve sliding, and hence it doesn't mute. You wonder how someone like Neutrik managed to let them out of the factory. On someones elses point, they do mostly work with active basses, but you need to put the plug in up to the sleeve and wait a second while the pre-amp powers up/stablizes, and then plug it in the rest of the way.

[quote name='3V17C' post='378780' date='Jan 13 2009, 11:27 AM']Back to Tal though - am I the only one who found the constantly smug look on her face annoying? [/quote] No.