risingson

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1366397462' post='2052157'] ... and the great majority of recorded music over the last 60 years has used a four string bass. [/quote] If 6 string bass had been the standard since the start I often think that the same could have been true of the ERB. I'm a 4 string player mostly, I've owned 5 strings but currently they don't 'suit' what I play for the majority of the time. If I started doing more session stuff I'd be a 5 string player mostly because I could keep up with most eventualities with what a keyboard player might be doing with his left hand for example. 5's and 6's are just a means of extending the range around what you're already playing on a 4. They make things easy when you find yourself spread a bit too thin on a 4 string, tying together longer passages, extending what you play into a lower and upper register. Having seen Anthony Jackson play last week, I totally get why some players choose 6 string, a player like him needs that range. It's just not really for me right now, maybe in the future though.

Sound great! Most mates of mine who are bass players are using them and I can see why.

Ah yes, I know the one, suggested to Roger she might look better as a 7 string with just a piezo instead of any pickups and some Ibanez-style tuners on, those hipshots weren't doing it for me. Oh and it's got a perspex body on it now too... Haha, didn't see it, but I'm sure you're in for a treat when it arrives! What a lovely bunch of guys they are.

Was in the factory a few days back matey, might well have seen your bass getting worked on or even completed. Spoke with Kevin, played every bass in the workshop, what a great place.

Mingus, Scott LaFaro, Ray Brown, Mr. PC Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Patitucci, Christian McBride and Dave Holland.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1366433723' post='2052562'] They say you should never meet your heroes, because you'll be disappointed and disillusioned, but you were obviously lucky enough to pick a hero that's well grounded, and not someone like Flea, who's bound to be a bit of a diva. Lucky you! [/quote] A friend of mine met Flea, he stage invaded at Leeds when he was 17 and gave Tom Delonge a hug, which I don't think he liked very much. Promptly got ejected into backstage where Flea had watched the whole thing, he said he thought it was funny and gave him a backstage pass.

So cool Steve. Got talking to Simon first, talked about his PSP project with Pino for a bit then he introduced me to Anthony who was just sat backstage, one of the most shy unassuming people I've ever met but probably (IMO) the most accomplished bass player alive today. Baring in mind I'd just watched this guy blast through the most insane duelling with Hiromi and was already gobsmacked, I basically had nothing interesting to say to him and was probably a gibbering wreck! Lovely blokes the pair of them.

Simon Phillips introduced us after the Hiromi gig in Blue Note, words failed me as I tried to make conversation!!

Wow, really sad, RIP.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1365871937' post='2045477'] Tim LeFebre experiments with effects a lot : [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHAcPadx_Q4"]https://www.youtube....h?v=oHAcPadx_Q4[/url] Juan Alderete of the Mars Volta relies very heavily on effects and is bit of a guru when it comes to using them on the bass . he even has a Youtube channel devoted to them : [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcNkup2PjM4"]https://www.youtube....h?v=QcNkup2PjM4[/url] [/quote] Got there before I could, exactly the two guys I was thinking of too. Alderete uses kill switches on his instruments from time to time to cut stuff in and out of what he plays like Morello and all the great turntablists do.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1365793894' post='2044735'] I'd hunt for a nice late 80s or early 90s one, six bolt neck but two eq, nice figured neck etc [/quote] Passed up an opportunity that I will regret forever to buy a late 80's one in cream with the most amazing birdseye figured maple neck, an out and out beauty and an incredible player!

Can't help you with the pic you're after but I can say that my old DJ was not only excellent (I regret getting rid of it really but I had to) but also lightweight too. I know that it doesn't mean they all will be though, mine was Indonesian made and as easy enough to get around with. Probably my favourite neck profile of any instrument I've come across too.

Lovely, thanks for sharing! I'm going to be in NYC from Sunday for a whole 10 days, will be in and around the East Village for a bit so I'll hunt the Warwick store down.

I don't understand the 'either or' argument in this thread at all, multiple bass players have been mentioned that strongly contend the idea that a player can only be this one-dimensional musician capable of singular genres and styles. It's not even close to true! I'll admit that you are somewhat a product of your environment, maybe if your background has been growing up listening to a lot of R&B, Soul etc. then your playing is likely to mirror this, but that's certainly not true of everyone, probably even becoming less and less true as time goes on if you consider how easy it is to access such a wide range of music as opposed to what you have to listen to because your parents do (for example).

Nice to read, I'm glad you've chosen this over the newest Marcus Miller release that basically no one but a cross-section of bass players will listen to! I like the album a lot.

Second heaviest instrument I owned, expect a lot of them to be solid. I've played heavier examples on the wrong side of 10lbs (for those with back issues at least, not me personally).

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1365617082' post='2041924'] Didn't really want to make this about one player but in this example... he doesn't groove by any defintion I understand.so yes, I'd call him a rock player pure and simple ... [/quote] Interesting, I actually find that a tiny bit hard to believe myself (difficulties separating personal musical preference from it all maybe) but you're entitled to your opinion!

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1365612652' post='2041831'] But funk is not rock, and vica-versa. [/quote] They're incredibly closely related! Trying to separate them is a pointless exercise as most if not all genres are able to cross-polinate to an extent, even folk and hip-hop which are fairly far removed from each other (for example). Two genres as closely related as funk music and rock music it's going to be easy to fuse together, the former wouldn't even exist without the latter. They're different to an extent but inextricably linked, they share very common attributes. You've also got to remind yourself what you personally consider constitutes 'rock' music. Is it Buddy Holly? The Beatles, Zeppelin, Nirvana, Soundgarden, The Arctic Monkeys... Cannibal Corpse? So to sum up then, I think what you're trying to explain is that if you play rock music you can't play funk, and vice versa - sorry if that's not what you're saying and I've misconstrued you.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1365608440' post='2041767'] Oddly enough I think "Beat it" is a good example of TRYING to rock and failing miserably. It sounds stiff, contrived, false and forced. The solo is the only thing that keeps it from being totally lame. [/quote] It's certainly not dated well in the context in which it's being discussed so I'd kind of agree to an extent. Jacko had some big rock tunes though, it almost became his thing.

I played a new American AM Deluxe 2012/3 model that made me almost go out and get a credit card to make the purchase, it was that good, stood up to a few Sadowskys I've played no problems. I was most surprised at the usability of the actives in the bass, in the past active Fender circuits have left me less than inspired but man, I can't remember I was that excited by playing a bass.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1365598577' post='2041579'] Didn't really want to post this..but ..? Flea is a rock bass player who uses a perceived funk technique...( slap ) Only rock bass players think it (he ) sounds funky. and this is why funk players don't really want to talk about his technique/style.. IMO. I have this 'discussion' about 'Higher Ground' which seems to be a default rock slap part. Some guys want to play it exactly as Flea does... in order to be called a slap bass player... (this is true, IME) whereas the point should be..IMO..is it funky..? [/quote] Agreed about Flea being a rock player with funkier sensibilities but I definitely do not agree that he can't 'groove' (eugh the more I see that word the more I don't like it!). There are loads of tracks with the RHCP that he didn't slap on but grooved all the way through. Would you describe him as a rock player with no other sides to his playing? The funk influence on his musicianship and feel are pretty obvious. Is he the archetypical funk player? Obviously not, leave that to George Porter Jr. Not everyone is going to have heard of the Meters though so let them discover down to the bone funk bands through common influence on players like Flea. There's no need to so rigidly define stuff.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1365597872' post='2041567'] I just don't see it. Of course, this does all depend on people's viewpoints and definitions of what rock and funk actually are (i.e. I could never define Michael Jackson of having ever rocked). I have never been aware of a player that is seriously outstanding at both. Would love to be proved wrong though. Suggestions gratefully received. [/quote] Didn't JPJ from Zep already get suggested? Timmy C from RATM was also a great one. AC/DC's Back In Black 'grooves' hard, it made it easy for Jay Z to rap over, typically an artist who is known for rapping over funk/R&B/soul samples (at least in the earlier days when DJ Premier worked with him). Michael Jackson never rocked? You ever heard Beat It or Dirty Diana? Discreet was right in as much as definitions will vary from person to person but it's all to easy for musicians to get hung up on the perception that styles cannot overlap, of course they can, and should.

Like one or two people have said, they're linked so it's not like you need to be exclusively good at one. Michael Jackson used to tell his band "keep the rock funky and the funk rocking". Personally I hate all this groove talk amongst bass players, if you've got an interest in playing then it's in your interest to have a great feel across genres. It's just a word that gets bandied around a lot.

I'll be visiting here next week so I'll swing by and check them out. It's a lot of money but then Rudys is a lot of money anyway, factor in the fact that people will pay the price for a bass once owned by MM!

One of my absolute favourite bass players, my second favourite fretless player below Jaco, probably above Pino... but Pino is still my favourite fretted player. Work that one out!