risingson

A friend of mine did a clinic playing kit with him a few weeks back. The guy amazes me, just an astounding bass guitar player.

Different instruments, totally different approaches in loads of ways, similar looks and tuning but it's really like comparing apples and oranges. I think if you have musical ability or a love of music then you'll be fine on either, that's what matters.

[quote name='bobbass4k' timestamp='1364752604' post='2030437'] Re: The second one, I find it odd that people are criticizing it because he's playing it like a guitar, what's wrong with that? "He might as well be playing a guitar" is an entirely non-existent point, if it's so similar to playing on a guitar as to be indistinguishable, then why would a guitar be preferable? I just don't get why we bassists as a general collective seem so keen to lock ourselves in a box and limit ourselves to an extremely small range of styles and playing techniques. The bass guitar is a piece of wood, a variable number of metal wires, a couple of magnets and some electronics. I so no reason that one method of playing it should be more "valid" than any other. [/quote] If I considered that a bass guitar could do a better job than a guitar re: the second video then I would agree, but I don't. The tone is out, the instrument is voiced in a way that doesn't lend itself as a strong accompaniment to the voice, and I think in reality a guitar or piano could do an infinitely better job and lend a lot more to the song. That's my own opinion, it is likely not shared by some others round here (this is a bass forum after all, some people will be into it) but I think the bass is more novelty used like it is in the video.

Fair enough that you like them! The first video made me so upset that I had to stop 22 seconds in, almost immediately I had to put on the original record to remind myself why no one should ever try to tap it out on a bass and why it is such a brilliant standalone Macca track (can't improve on a masterpiece, just IMO). The second I was pretty indifferent to, fair enough if people like it, it wasn't offensive but it is times like that I would personally reach for a guitar as I don't bass fills the role even half as well.

[quote name='Pembo' timestamp='1364669741' post='2029550'] I really don't understand this. Each to their own, but this just sounds like a bloke who is moving his fingers as fast as he can whilst hitting random notes. My idea of bass is all about locking in the rhythm and providing a feeling and groove. I prefer to let the 'Thin 6 Stringers' masturbate over their fretboards. Again, each to their own, but i see this kind of playing as sheer diva glitter. [/quote] I'm not a huge fan of Feraud usually, but those aren't 'random' notes that he's playing, that's really just a man that knows his jazz, his skill is actually pretty mind-boggling. He's got 5 strings there as well, not 6.

Love nickel strings, do not like steels at all, too clanky.

[quote name='Jellyfish' timestamp='1364424485' post='2026457'] Yeah it's not bad if you want a bass that looks pretty much the same as every other Fender-alike. [/quote] In fairness if you didn't want a P-Bass clone then go and buy an Ibanez or something. We are talking about a group of basses that are incredibly similar looking with the possible exception of the Dingwall that looks like it's been left out in the sun! (I jest)

[quote name='magcom1977' timestamp='1364412597' post='2026201'] All of the above are gorgeous so there will be no winner based on looks alone. [/quote] I'll have to disagree with you on the Dingwall I'm afraid, that fretboard looks like a melted chocolate ladder! Not for me. My vote goes to the Lull looks wise, I think it nails it and whilst I'm not completely sold on the looks of the Xotic, I must admit it looks quite cool I think. Plus if it sounds like this then you're winning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrovlaxtU1o

[quote name='wombatboter' timestamp='1364292724' post='2024317'] Maybe some consider it a bad idea but I always thought Billy Sheehan would have been a good alternative... not the tapping Sheehan but the rock solid bass player he has proven to be in some occasions. [/quote] Spot on actually, if you were looking for a bit more of a dead ringer type fit.

When I asked for a bass guitar when I was 12 for Christmas, my dad was advised by his then bandmate who was a lefty to get me, also a lefty, a right-handed instrument. I do thank god I learnt the way I have, although I've got a lot of respect for left-handed players as I know it can be tough finding instruments.

Really great and lovely to watch but the original tracks are nearly 10 years old now. edit - Adam Blackstone gets all the best gigs right now!

Pino is my favourite bass player by a long shot, he's incredible. He kind of echoes most closely the kind of bass player I'd really love to be if I could do it. He's probably the most in demand bass player in the world right now as well, which I'm sure has its perks. As for Entwhistle, he was totally unique and I've learnt to appreciate his playing over time, he really was an extraordinary musician with his own pace on the bass that no one really ever matched in rock music. He and Pino are almost at total opposite ends of the spectrum playing wise, I don't think Pino fits the role of Entwhistle well but if we're being totally honest then basically no one would have filled the role capably, so why not ask Pino to fill in in his own capacity? He's going to do a better job at bass playing than anyone else out there, and who wants to hear a copycat Entwhistle anyway, his tone was dire in later life.

Absolutely love the spirit of this forum. A lot of really intelligent people that post some fascinating stuff I personally could never fully understand but love reading.

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1363893397' post='2019111'] Hated flats first time around but have in the last few months fallen in love with halfwounds [/quote] How are you getting on with your halfwounds out of interest? Not tried 'em myself but would might like to.

I love those Status Hotwires! Excellent, glad you like them.

Played a Behringer head at the weekend through a no name cab at a gig (it was their back line stuff) and thought it was pretty naff, so I switched it out for my TC RH750 head which is handily portable. I don't have anything major against Behringer but I have suffered their quality control issues in the past and it does make me think twice about using their stuff. It's all about expectations though and what you're using it for, we're all different in this respect.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1363833909' post='2018421'] You can deny it all you want. [/quote] Cheers, I will.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1363824734' post='2018373'] But there are musicians, engineers, band leaders, who will all make assumptions based on what they see. [/quote] Definitely, not the decent ones. If you're a good enough player then you can expect to get calls from people who will want to work with you regardless of the instrument you're using. Engineers and producers may have their own ideas about what kind of bass they'd like you to play, but the good ones won't discriminate providing the end result is there, that's their job. I know countless players that use cheap instruments in professional environments with big names that you wouldn't dream of pulling from a gig for the sake of their choice of guitar/bass.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1363821630' post='2018330'] Incorrect. [/quote] Then talk me through your thinking on this one. Here's mine. For starters, 99% of an audience don't give a rat's ass about what bass you're using full stop, and in fact depending on the audience they probably aren't even aware of your musical function in a live situation. Those that do care/might care about what bass you're using and might turn their noses up at the fact you're using a cheap/inferior/smalltime brand instrument (delete as applicable) are so low down on the scale by this stage that not only is their presumption totally ignorant, it actually pales into almost total insignificance.

Love that documentary! Really great album.

It's fun, I like most of what I play, I can keep my live playing sharp, it's taken me all over Europe and I can pay some of the bills.

Sold a Stingray 5 to [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Ferenc, it was the first time I've sold to anyone outside of the U.K and things just could not have been easier (actually easier than a lot of the UK transactions I've had). Do not even give it a second's thought selling abroad to this guy, he's sterling. [/font][/color]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1363723750' post='2016650'] [url="http://liutaiomottola.com/myth/perception.htm"]http://liutaiomottol.../perception.htm[/url] and other pages at that site. [/quote] Cheers! Just saw the word 'compliance' getting tossed around the other day and figured I was wrong to be calling it 'tension'. I need to read. In any case the Thomastiks are lovely strings. Also can't recommend the Status Hotwire flats enough either, superb and incredible affordable as flats go.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1363721161' post='2016584'] I like and read both Shakespeare and Dickens - I would never think of them as 'virtuosos' but great storytellers. I've never heard of Chabon and Franzen - I looked them up on Wikipedia now. [/quote] Why would you I guess if you hadn't had read their books, the same applies here I think. Purely trying to put it into perspective. By the way if you do like reading then definitely check out Michael Chabon and Jonathan Franzen!

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1363721317' post='2016587'] TI Flats are low tension but high compliance. [/quote] Not at all clued up on the science of anything string wise, what's the difference here?