risingson

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1331897665' post='1580544'] Markbass LMIII & Aguilar GS112... Perfect. [/quote] I always wonder about the guys using the smaller single 12 cabinets how you get on with them. You ever struggle for level or monitoring on stage? I know quite a few players using the single Markbass 12's, mostly for portability purposes, something that living up north I've never struggled with because transport has never been an issue (up until last month I had a big Eden rig), however I'm guessing that if I ever make the move to London I'll need to downsize my rig to be able to get around as well. Just curious to know your experiences really!

I'm really into 'conventional' looking instruments and probably always will be but I absolutely love the look of a few of these. I'll show them to our guitar player, he'll be really into them. Love to have a go on one! Really nice work John, and also welcome to the forum.

Probably not. My TC Electronics RH750 is great and so is my RS212 but I've always wanted the Aguilar DB750/751 so I think that will most likely be the next amp I own, providing I continue to do bigger gigs with my band.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1331834051' post='1579709'] That's exactly what I was going to say!!!! [/quote] Great minds

Longtime 5 string player Jimmy Johnson says that the best way to go about 5 string is by playing it just like a 4 to begin with, and then to throw in the low notes when you feel like the time is right to hit that low B. I think the big mistake would be to think that you should be using it all the time to begin with. There are loads of decent songs with 5 string in them but I'd just as sooner get used to playing tunes you already know with your 5 to get comfortable with it all. I'd recommend listening to 'Gaslighting Abbie' by Steely Dan, even if it isn't your kind of music, it'll give you a good idea of the kind of subtleties you can get with a 5 without resorting to using that low B all the time.

[quote name='Mark_Bass' timestamp='1331819608' post='1579403'] I like the notion of being able to use that and the TC RH450 at home with just a pair of headphones, i have tried the TC Rebel Heads and they've got a tonne of fantastic functionally but found the treble a smidge harsh sounding and also i dont think id every stop tweaking the dials lol [/quote] That surprises me if you're talking about the RH450, as I found the top end lacking, one of the few reasons why I ended up picking up an RH750 with the Tweetertone control, as well as the extra headroom I found I needed. I'd happily recommend the RH750 and I'm very happy with mine, but there are a few things worth bearing in mind. The sound isn't as versatile as I might like. That's not to say that the EQ isn't flexible (although it would be nicer to know which frequencies you were boosting in the semi-parametric EQ section as opposed to just guessing), but it very much has its own characteristics as an amp. Secondly, I think that whilst the chassis of the amp feels solid enough, I think the front panel feels flimsy. It looks great, but for me there's always that worry that the knobs on the front panel will fall off if you don't look after it properly. Furthermore the preset/shift/mute buttons are flimsy too. Disappointing, as overall I happen to think the amp is really fantastic and incredibly useable in most situations. Just protect it well if you get one! The RH750 sounds incredible with the RS212's and 210's. Definitely a head worth keeping in mind.

[quote name='MB1' timestamp='1331743920' post='1578169'] [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/page11_jp.php?&data_id=63&color=CL01&cat_id=2&series_id=349"]They make one that costs £6000[/url] MB1. Blimey! Shows how ignorant i am,i thought Gerald Veasley was a character in Lord of the rings?. [/quote] Is it wrong of me to think that this actually looks more like a £600 average run-of-the-mill Ibanez? Where's the extra £5400 gone?

Only just seen this thread. I would have walked out, so would the rest of my band. Some people will be morons for the rest of their miserable lives, the management sound like they lack a brain. Furthermore I'd dissuade any other bands you might be friendly with to play there. The fact you acted professionally and got slammed for it is one thing, but to not get paid is absolute bullshit. You've got a lot more patience than I'd have.

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1331736539' post='1577989'] That sound clip is slightly "safe" sounding as it sits in the mix and i wonder if that is more "me" [/quote] You need to check these basses out for yourself I think, I don't think clips from YT are going to be representative of what you like from an instrument. For example, the MTD's I've played didn't sound anything like that one in the clip posted up at the top of the page (great instruments by the way!).

The biggest problem with most venues with sound limiters is that they're never properly calibrated anyway. Our contract stipulates that if you want to hire us then it is advisable for you to look for a venue without a sound limiter, and if the venue does have one then we're not responsible for what happens next. Needless to say, there have been many a time when clients haven't listened and we've ended up stuck between a rock and a hard place. Chris_b is right though, the necessity to turn down in these situations sharpens your playing tenfold. But with that goes a lot of the energy of a performance too, at least for me. Not that you need to be loud to play to your full potential but let's face it... bands are loud things!

Couldn't find anywhere else to post this, but I've recently discovered the monster guitar player that is Julian Lage. Check him out here playing "Caravan" with Frank Vignola... Julian kills it roughly 1:57 in. Beautiful playing throughout. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ7aYeU5V-w[/media] And some more [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMgmuiV7PXE&feature=related[/media]

Aghh one contentious thread at a time! It's getting a bit too much... [quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1331642939' post='1576354'] If it can't be played on an instrument by a human being it ain't music then, is it? [/quote] I know you've been picked up on this already, but I was wondering if you could explain you position on this a bit better than just this statement. What has made you think this? Are there examples?

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1331590527' post='1575616'] If your referring to me (in a round about way..seeing as it was us who had the disagreement),then I invite you to check out my album collection.I guarantee that it is more open minded and varied than most peoples and there will be choices that will surprise you. Being a 'real' musician doesn't stop me from enjoying music any more than anyone else. [/quote] Not at all Doddy, sorry if it did look to be this way, it wasn't intended. It was just a general observation of also being a working musician and probably heavy use of hyperbole on my behalf.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1331589658' post='1575584'] I guess I just like music, although obviously not all artists. Punk, pop, jazz, metal etc, don't care really, it's ultimately not relevant. It's all just music to me. [/quote] Me too. People just seem to love quantifying it all in some respect, god knows why. Maybe if some people on this site opened their minds a bit they might start enjoying music in the way that most other non-musicians do. 'Real' musicians have a knack of making everything to disgustingly clinical.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1331584652' post='1575437'] Also, why do you automatically assume that because someone says "so-and-so influenced a lot of people" that the person making the statement is automatically a fanboy? [/quote] This part baffled me too, hence the clarification on my behalf to save my words being taken hugely out of context.

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1331579158' post='1575262'] You know you won't; you'll be back to argue your corner That's the thing with folk who claim their idol "influences" folk. It's one of my pet irks is misplaced claims of "influence"; it usually ends up that someone who's admitted to liking a song or an album by someone is claimed to have [i]been influenced[/i] by them. I rarely believe it until I hear that influencee say so themself. [/quote] You're right! Haha it's like an itch that you can't quite scratch, you persevere but you never get anywhere Flea isn't my 'idol'. He used to be when I was 14 or 15. He was just an example, Doddy was the one who initially brought him up so I thought I might run with the comparison briefly. I don't do idols really, although if I ever came across Pino Palladino I'd probably jump on him and give him a big hug for being a top lad.

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1331576254' post='1575175'] Glad it was only quite honest as opposed to actually honest. [/quote] In clearer terms then, Flea has obviously influenced countless bass players, both young and old, both experienced and beginner. You'd be wrong to try and deny it, even if the idea does offend one or two people's musical sensibilities. And with that, I shall bow out

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1331574182' post='1575124'] Indeed. Should we bail now or can we still land her safely??? [/quote] Oh I don't know 4000 these threads have a habit of blowing themselves up, I'll hit the ejector seat when my soapbox breaks!!

[quote name='blackmn90' timestamp='1331573320' post='1575106'] you've taken out of context what i'm saying, as i did you. I'm saying that those who don't know what those such as anthony jackson are doing in a theoretical format, are less likely to realise how clever he is. How can they if they haven't been taught it first? You can't recognise a major scale unless you've been shown what a major scale looks or sounds like.... [/quote] You shouldn't need to be of a certain level of musicianship to be able to enjoy music. After all, that's what music is about isn't it? It's not maths and equations, it's about enjoying yourself, whether you be the listener or the performer. Lets use your logic and apply it to a jazz fan who doesn't play an instrument. Are you saying that this person is ill-equipped to judge the difference between Kenny G and Charlie Parker just because this person has no theoretical experience? And besides, who cares which one you prefer? I mean really?

[quote name='blackmn90' timestamp='1331572318' post='1575078'] ah think i get you now. Your basically saying they deserve credit for influencing others? If thats right then i agree. [b]However, it's when you get people who aren't as educated who claim the likes of flea or McCartney[/b] are in the top 50 or w/e bass players of all time. When clearly they are not. That is when they become over-rated. For me anyway. Again i'm not arguing their impact or influence on music, but great bass players they are not. [/quote] I give up the bold part speaks volumes unfortunately about the snobbery that musicians can sometimes display. Utter madness.

[quote name='blackmn90' timestamp='1331568598' post='1574970'] I don't really care about much else of this thread but this stuck out. Yes Anthony Jackson and Richard Bona deserve more credit because they're technically very good. They're very good because they've practised a lot more than most individuals. I think that deserves recognition when it pays off, which it clearly does with both of them. [/quote] But you misunderstand my point entirely. You'll find that both aforementioned bass players already get enough credit. As far as I'm concerned, Anthony Jackson is probably the best technician of the bass guitar that has ever lived and I'm get to hear anyone that lives up to his level of 'technical prowess' for lack of a better term. Every bass player that knows the circles in which Anthony Jackson has performed will be aware of this, as is the same of Richard Bona. But using Flea as an example again, has he not worked hard to get where he wants to be today? He's been part of a band that has widely influenced other bands and has sold millions of albums worldwide, and if we're quite honest has influenced a million other bass players too. Which one deserves more credit? Who cares. They both have their place in music as it exists today. Comparing them is a totally fruitless endevour.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1331562520' post='1574813'] But the thread is about 'over rated bassists' not do you like the band/song. Possibly my favourite band is Primus,but I still think that,in a way,Claypool is over rated because he gets lauded as a bass playing genius when there are big aspects of his playing that are very sloppy. Marcus Miller is probably my favourite bass player,but I don't think that his last couple of studio solo albums have been particularly great. I think Flea gets lauded waaay to much,but it doesn't stop me digging a bunch of the Chili's albums. There is a big difference between liking/disliking a song/band/album and saying that the players are over/under rated. Just because I like a band doesn't mean I rate the players highly and vice versa. [/quote] It's obviously something we won't agree on I'm afraid Doddy! I find the concept of critiquing your favourite bands or songs based on technique utterly strange. Can't you enjoy music for what it is as opposed to what any one person is doing wrong? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 'Overrated' - what does it even mean? That more people like talking about Flea than Anthony Jackson or Richard Bona and that this is for some reason wrong? Umm... why? Do Anthony Jackson and Richard Bona deserve more credit because they're the real technicians or the instrument? It's all very silly.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1331560876' post='1574767'] So,you've never looked at a copy of Bass Player (for example) and though "Bloody Hell..not him(again)! He sucks!"? There are bands/albums that I really like where I would never call the individual players amazing (or even good in some cases)by any stretch,and vice versa. There is nothing wrong with saying "I like......." or "I think....... gets too much attention" or whatever. Everyone does it. [/quote] I don't read any music publications currently, but no, I don't do that. And the reason is that variety in music interests me much more than only listening to one style of music, whether I enjoy it straight away or not. The other reason is that I've learnt better than to equate seemingly poor performances with bad music. I'll never like the bass part that John Lennon played on 'The Long and Winding Road' for example but will it stop me thinking that it's one of the best records of all time? Probably not.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1331559346' post='1574727'] So..that says to me that the problem with these threads is that people don't like others being negative towards their favourite players/band. [/quote] Trust me, it's not. Hypothetically, if you were to put forward Andy Rourke from The Smiths into all of this, it's not going to stop me from enjoying The Smiths' music. I'm more aware of music as the sum of the parts as opposed to any one person being under or overrated. What I'd prefer to highlight is the futility of arguing the toss either way.

[quote name='mep' timestamp='1331558593' post='1574699'] How long before someone mentions Adam Clayton again? [/quote] Adam Clayton is overrated. There, I saved one or two people a lot of time [quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1331558638' post='1574701'] I know it's all subjective...but I find it interesting that when there is an 'under rated' player thread, everyone is quite happy to to say about players they like who they don't think get enough coverage,yet when an 'over rated' thread starts its wrong because it's 'subjective'. Subjectivity is whole point of both threads. As far as I'm concerned,there is no difference in me saying that players like Robert Mercurio of Galactic or Raphael Saadiq of Tony,Toni,Tone are 'under rated' and saying that players like John Entwistle or Flea are 'over rated'. Unless,of course,the real reason is that people don't like to hear others being negative towards their favourite players/bands? [/quote] Subjectivity is what is seen as part of a reasoned debate, but I've never seen a 'who's the most overrated bass player' thread end with anyone being even close to subjective.