moonbass

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='840046' date='May 17 2010, 07:17 PM']Something I learnt a little too late is that it's ok to mark your chart with reminders, vocal or musical cues - especially if you have a long rest section or have played the same pattern for 62 bars in a row. I used to think it was very un-professional to mark a chart like that - which is nonsense, and far less unprofessional than playing completely the wrong thing or getting wildly lost.[/quote]

+1, BUT do it in soft pencil if you're playing from rented scores and rub out at the end of the run!
Good luck!
Andy

In support of going for the audition and show I'd say that there is no better way to learn to sight read than doing a musical. You will almost certainly feel out of your depth around classically trained musicians in a pit band, but nothing focusses the mind like being terrified! I think a lot of bassists go through this trial of fire when learning to read and you can pick up sight reading surprisingly quickly if you approach it right.

Most musicals have the bulk of the notes playable in first position/close to the nut (although I've never done Rent I suspect as it's more modern there's probably a lot of notes up the dusty end of the fretboard though, so perhaps a difficult debut.) You might want to stick to learning to read notes down the nut end (ie: notes written on the lines and spaces of the stave rather than above or below them,) and learn the other bits off the record, as sight reading high notes when starting out will be almost impossible.

When I was learning to read doing pit band stuff I used to write out the chords over the bars as well, as then if your sight-reading fails you can always fall back on improvising which you probably feel more comfortable with. It's time consuming, but worth it for a safety net. You'll find you pick up rhythms a lot quicker than notes as well so it's usually not noticeable to the listener. There are several shows which are quite easy to play with minimal sight reading chops: Grease, Oliver, older stuff like Half a Sixpence, G+S. There's also ones I wouldn't touch until more confident: Chess, Little Shop of Horrors, Andrew Lloyd Weber, as they have unusual time signatures and prominent bass parts.

Of course it's best to be up front with the MD as you'll never be able to blag the whole run of a show on bravado alone; but there's a lot of qualities to doing pit work other than sight reading that an MD will find important: punctuality, easy-going, stamina, not mucking about on your instrument in between numbers, getting the interval drinks in, etc. If you get through your first show, you'll probably be hooked on it as it's usually great fun with great people, which comes in handy the 20th time you run through a show like 'Oliver'... root 5th, root fifth, when will the torture end...!
Good Luck,
Andy

Hi,
I'd second all the above - bought an American '75 reissue with rosewood board last year and it does exactly what everyone says: bright, punchy, easy to play, excellent for slap, funky fingerstyle, well made, etc.
I would just say that I think the rosewood looks amazing, and the pearl inlays look much better than the black block inlays on the maple, BUT if I was buying again I would get the maple board. I think the brighter sound from it complements better what the bass is all about. I don't understand why they didn't use the pearl inlays on the maple board like they do with the MIJ '75 reissue as they look way better (IMO).
Anyway, I've now got a non-identicle twin MM so it's all good!
A.

[attachment=42557:DSC00014.JPG]

I'm sure you're right about the deterioration in build quality during the 70's, but that makes me wonder why Fender chose the '75 jazz to for the vintage reissue? Owning one the resissue is one of the best basses I've played, so is it very different to the original? Why didn't they go for an earlier year?
A.

Just bought a beautiful Stingray from Tom. Incredibly speedy, friendly and in excellent condition. Buy with confidence!
Cheers Tom,
Andy

Thanks for the offer OTPJ... however, I accidently went and bought a natural stingray off another basschatter.... should arrive in post tomorrow!
Whoops; guess I'll find out if I like 'em the expensive way!
A.

PM'd
Andy

Hi,
I've got the urge to go Musicman-stylee with my Disco-funk band. Am ideally looking for a natural finish Stingray or Sterling 4, but would like to try as many out as possible before buying. Does anyone know any music stores who have a good selection at the moment? I'm based in Cambridge but willing to travel.
Any suggestions welcomed.
Cheers,
Andy.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MonpZ0o0RuU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MonpZ0o0RuU[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfCDwlfbgZE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfCDwlfbgZE[/url]

Shows what a good pickup can do for a 'cheap' bass eh?

A.

As a lined fretless player I can just about get away with playing an EUB neck with side dots. BUT I would love to know how you unlined fretless players manage to hit note's in tune on an electric bass neck when making big jumps. For instance if you needed to hit aBb on a D string... in the dark... in a quiet bit of the song... how do you do it?! Is there some arcane secret that you're not passing on to us mere mortals? (And no, I won't accept 'practice' as an answer!)
A.

Hi,
I couldn't agree more: have seen them live a couple of times and they have been stunning (and loud... really, really loud!)
I have to say though, their new album has failed to impress me so far... maybe just needs a little more time?
If you're checking them out for the first time definately recommend starting with their first album 'Frengers', but second album 'And The Glass Handed Kites,' is brilliant too... really dark and complex; each song segueing into the next!
They're really bass heavy, very melodic, but it's the rhythmic complexity that astounds me. They frequently change time signature several times in a song although it always seems to make perfect sense, unlike a lot of prog experiments.
Definately, definately give them a look!
Andy.

Hi,
I've got one of the new NS WAV4's and it's great (cosmetic build quality issues aside - and actually the body looks great!) I also don't really agree that you can't get a good acoustic upright sound. As long as you amplify/record appropriately I think you can get pretty close. I think the trick is to not treat it like a bass guitar, the minute you start getting rid of high mids or over-compressing the sound, you definately slip into fretless bass territory. In fact the WAV4's polar pickup sounds exactly like a fretless in arco mode, but has a great acoustic thump in plucked mode.
I've also tried the Ergo EUB which is hard to get hold of in the UK, but which has a brilliant simplicity to it, and sounds great if treated right.
If I were you though I'd wait until the new NS NXT EUB comes out and see if you can try one out as it definately sounds interesteing on paper.
Andy

Hi,
Is the 1x12 still available?
Andy

I've got the same problem - straight shaft as on my '75 reissue I presume. I'd love to know the answer too! Chrome telecaster type that I've got have too small a hole.
Andy.

Hi,

I'd really like a pearloid scratchplate for my Fender '71 Reissue Jazz, but the only one I could find doesn't quite fit (screw holes not in correct position and 1cm gap between scatchplate and metal knobs plate (you know what I mean). Any ideas where I can get one that fits properly?

Also ordered some replacement metal knobs for it (flat top chrome telecaster type), but the poles are too big for the holes? Anyone had success making holes on metal knobs bigger (drilling or suchlike?) Or know where I can get metal knobs that fit the '71 reissue? (Presumably they're fairly standard sizes on Fender?)

Cheers,

Andy

I've got the Fender Jaco Fretless Jazz. It's a great bass; thin neck, very warm and funky passive pickups, looks great. Has reverse elephant ear tuning pegs which take some getting used to. The fingerboard is also surprisingly flat, and I can't help thinking that jaco's always seemd to have a smaller radius. But it definately sounds like Jaco's. If you want a nice glossy modern fretless sound, you'll struggle to get it from this bass - but the warm yet agressive 70's thing oozes from it.

One other thought though - before this I had a Squier Silver Series Jazz, which I defretted (using simple instructions off t'internet) and added a Badass II and EMG JV pickups to. Finished up with a really, really great sounding and playing bass for about half the price of top end Fenders.

Andy

Congratulations Mick! Hope she's as good to you as she was to me!
Andy

Steve, I'm feeling really guilty now! Someone is getting an amazing bargain!
Andy

Hey Steve,
Shame to see this going so soon, though you're right; it really isn't anything like a Fender! BUT I can vouch that it's an amazing bass and will never let you down. Records like a dream too; absolutely no noise, and even volume across all strings without compression: session players dream...
...having said that I'm loving my new Fender '75 reissue jazz, even with all the hiss and buzz!
Have a Bump on me Steve,
Thanks,
Andy

Just a few thoughts:
1) It's something that will probably come with time as long as you know what your hand should be doing - as strength builds up in your hand muscles the shape will follow
2) Try not to just think of the finger movement as just coming from your knuckles - the tendons that move your fingers start up at the elbow - and so you've got to think of it all as one unit, with tension and force coming from your forearm, wrist, hand and knuckles/fingers.
3) Without a bass, try sticking your thumb up like you're hitchiking - this is more the sort of position your thumb should be in to get a good anchor on the string /pickup/fretboard to get a good pivot
Good luck
Andy

Price dropped again - £125!! Someone's gotta have use for it - makes excellent feature coffee table if nothing else!!
Andy

Price dropped to £150 - Bump
Andy

Hi,

For sale, my well used Trace Elliot 7210H combo. 2x10" speakers plus high frequency horn. Vinyl covering (rather than later carpetted versions), all knobs and buttons intact, but there are several tears in the vinyl and scratches on the metalwork, plus some pint glass rings on the vinyl top courtesy of 15 years heavy gigging! Would probably brush up very nicely with a bit of TLC. There is also a minor dent in the seperate horn grill.

More importantly, sounds as new; transparent with huge headroom (I have rarely needed to turn up past 3! I once added a 1x15 extension cabinet to get the full 250W experience and easily drowned out a drummer and two Marshall stacks!) Tone shaping is easy with the two switchable preshapes, 7 band eq and EQ balance knob (which basically works like an overall tone control.) All usual gubbins as well: effects loop, tuner out, ground lift switch, mute button, and DI out with pre-post pre-amp switchable. The sound is punchy and great for slap, pick or fingers. The horn isn't hissy at all (but can't be turned off).

Two downsides to this amp: 1) It's heavy - but is virtually indestructable because of this!, and 2) The fan is a little loud - only so you would use it live rather than for recording; no biggie (and I suspect nowadays you could quite cheaply change for a silent fan if you were really bothered.)

I'm selling because I (hopefully) take delivery of my new Markbass rig this week. Rest assured this thing has never let me down, and I've owned it since new. Priced for a quick sale and due to wear and tear: £125. I'm based in Cambridge and am happy for pickup or delivery if not too far, but can't post I'm afraid.

Cheers,

Andy

Thanks All,

That was quick. Am I sure I want to sell it? Well, just been to rehearsal with my band and I have to say after all these years it's still difficult to imagine using a different bass, it really is lovely. But it's time to move on and I'm sure it's going to a good home - thanks Steve; I've PM'd you so look forward to hearing from you soon.

I think loz is right, Alembics do take a bit of getting used to, but they definately pay it back in spades! I'd have to liken it to a Wal in that respect (but soo much lighter!) The Epic has such a solid piano-like undertone when you're accompanying, but dig in and it cuts through in a very natural and even way without any compression or effects.

Thanks to the others that PM'd me - if the sale falls through I'll let you know.

Cheers,

Andy

Hi,

I've had this beautiful birdseye maple Alembic since new in 1995. It's served me very well but after 14 years it's time for a change. As you know Alembic's are handmade in California with amazing attention to detail. The Epic is their lower priced option but are still listed at £2900 which reflects their craftmanship. The tone is modern but not harsh (Flea used an Epic for most of RHCP's 'One Hot Minute'.) It has the best sustain I've ever heard on a bass. It can really turn it's hand to any style, and finger, plectrum or slap all sound great. It's 9v active and the battery lasts over a year with moderate usage.

It feels incredibly solid and keeps it's tuning exceptionally well. Intonation is perfect all the way up the neck with no dead spots. The finish was originally matt, but with use and cleaning it turns to gloss around the edges in a very nice way. I've been gigging it for quite a while and so there are a few marks. There is some buckle rash as shown on the pictures (actually belts have no impact on the mahogany body... the rash on mine is sadly due to a friends sporan!) The brass nut and bridge are tarnished, but will come up as new after polishing with Brasso. There are slight scratches on the gold hardware, but not severe. There are a few wood scratches which I've tried to show in the pictures.

Controls are volume, pickup pan, treble and bass. There is really no hiss even with treble up high. The nut and bridge are fully adjustable. The neck has an ebony fingerboard and has a 34" scale (although feels longer than that with quite high string tension.) There is a dual truss rod which I've hardly ever needed to touch. I'll throw in the gigbag free.

Going for £950, but would swap for a Fender '75 reissue Jazz. Bass is for pickup only, or I will deliver within reason in the southeast/midlands. Happy for people to come and try it out (PM me, I'm based in Cambridge.) I'll really miss the old girl...

Cheers and good luck,

Andy