risingson

I'll PM you the link in a sec!

[quote name='fatboyslimfast' post='1278574' date='Jun 22 2011, 02:39 PM']I have been using the left hand more yes - maybe that's the issue. I'll have a play around and see if I can work out a way to mute the E - it's not so much when I'm playing an open A (as I tend to try playing A on the E string), but more when I'm playing things on either the A, D or G strings (normally the top two, as my fingers come to rest on the E when playing on the A) that the E seems to start singing along muddying everything. Should I be using the side of my hand (i.e. nearest the little finger) to do this? Whilst I can see how the hairband would work, I would prefer to sort me rather than the J if at all possible [/quote] Ahh so the problem is that your E is ringing out sympathetically when you play on the other strings. Most bass players I know including myself anchor their thumbs on their E and A strings, occasionally their pickup as well. This largely helps to eliminate the problem you describe, however, even players that don't anchor their thumbs and and a floating thumb technique instead should be able to play fluently without having to worry about excess vibrations from the strings that they're not playing. Whichever technique applies to you I would recommend practicing scales to get both your hands working together to stop excess noise. I can upload a few examples to my Youtube account if it would help at all

Are you using your left hand to mute open strings? If so try and get used to using your right hand instead. Remember that if using your open E and A strings in quick succession is causing you difficulty then you have a perfectly usable A at your 5th fret on your E. Using open strings is effective in some situations but other times it is much easier to fret notes. Being adept at both is the key. I would personally recommend looking closer at your technique before taking more practical solutions up such as the hair band idea, this is no offense to dc2009 but if the problem is fixable with technique then you should sort your technique out as opposed to compensating for it

Nothing to discuss! Nothing beds a track like a P, and they work in every context imaginable. They are the working musician's choice, they are the pro's choice, they account for thousands of successful recordings that we hear every day. Get one!!!

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1277441' date='Jun 21 2011, 06:11 PM']I couldn't give a rat's ar*e; the point is that the audience for both is similar so neither can be called self indulgent. Unless 2m watched the JT video and one person watched the wooten video 2m times? It could happen![/quote] I wasn't passing judgement on either audience. Let people listen to what they want, everyone has a choice etc.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='1277432' date='Jun 21 2011, 06:07 PM']one is a kettle of fish the other is a fettle of kitsch[/quote] Had to do a bit of research for this one fet·tle/ˈfetl/ Verb: Trim or clean the rough edges of (a metal casting or a piece of pottery) before firing. Noun: Condition, esp. physical; trim. I'm baffled, I knew i shouldn't have gotten involved [quote]Someone once teased Bilbo for liking clever music[/quote] There's nothing clever about moping around in your trilby and pants at home late at night listening to modal jazz at full crank! (I joke of course, horses for courses!)

[quote name='Doddy' post='1277411' date='Jun 21 2011, 05:56 PM']Going off the Wooten and James Taylor videos,which are both great-is there anything more self indulgent than sitting alone with an acoustic guitar? It's not a bad thing,far from it,but it is still very self indulgent-possibly even more than someone like Victor improvising a solo as a guest at a Dave Matthews Band gig. Yet,I'm sure that more people would say it about Wooten than they would of Taylor.[/quote] The intimacy and appeal of an acoustic guitar and a voice like James Taylor's isn't comparable to a Victor Wooten video, or any bass solo video. They are two totally different kettles of fish!

[quote name='jakesbass' post='1277389' date='Jun 21 2011, 05:40 PM']Some, super elite, hyper, mega, self indulgent SELFINDULGANTISM for you. Notice the complete lack of melody, shape, form, poise, groove, beauty (abstract or otherwise) in it....! Yes folks it's COMPLETELY IMPROVISED.[/quote] This is a classic case of me judging a book by its cover. I saw Keith Jarrett and was a little weary, but that whole thing was really quite brilliant, poignant and moving.

Is music just about enjoying yourself, or is it about entertaining an audience? Is it both? If something strikes me as being 'self-indulgent' and a bit ego-ridden I won't listen to it, but if you have an audience then I try and remember it's as much about them as it is about me.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1276461' date='Jun 20 2011, 10:17 PM']It comes down to this for me: What can YOU do to make ensure that YOU can play that gig. As a bassist, I can take my own amp. That way, my bass won't be the problem. I usually take 2 basses, 2 cabs and ideally 2 heads (only one atm but I'm planning on getting another ASAP), enough cables and spares. I like to think I'm covered for any eventuality, including if the PA isn't substantial enough to support bass at gig volumes.[/quote] Agreed, totally, I subscribe to this mentality.

Wow, Lakland are getting slammed! I agree if you're paying upwards of a grand for a bass you should be getting a much better level of QC but I really can't fault mine. In fact it killed my Fender Jazz stone dead in terms of playability and sound, so much so I sold the Fender recently.

Having my Eden rig behind me gives me all the monitoring I need, although I try not to saturate the stage with it (which is easy to do). I D.I out to the desk for the FOH and my drummer's in ears. I haven't really found another viable means for me to monitor on stage and for me to be happy with my level, although I'd like to try in ears in the future. My rig is big so most of the time it lives in our Mercedes Sprinter. Easy.

Nice to find that perfect amp isn't it! Enjoy it mate.

The best thing to do is walk away from it and come back when your ears feel refreshed. There's nothing worse than realising you've spent the past 2-3 hours putting a coherent recording together and then over-egged it. It's easy just to keep throwing tracks on top of each other and then finding that you've lost the ability to be subjective about what you've just recorded.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1274284' date='Jun 19 2011, 12:15 AM']my lord..[/quote] Quite

Practicing licks is great so long as you are aware how they function over a chord, when not to use them and making sure not to overuse them in your playing. Everyone has their goto licks!

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1274251' date='Jun 18 2011, 11:17 PM']oh Ris this is where we part..i bloody love that red jazz!.. man i want to ply one of those... i doubt they look cheap up close or in the wallet[/quote] Fair enough mate! Different strokes and all that. I bet they sound terrific but I find myself being reminded of Fender's efforts with the FMT Jazz's and they didn't do it for me at all. It's the fancy wood tops, not my thing really... with the possible exception of this:

[quote name='Grant' post='1273994' date='Jun 18 2011, 06:28 PM']I think that Incubus have become a band that just oozes quality. From what I've heard of the new stuff (the two singles) I can't fault them in any way. They are writing (for want of a better word) mature, elegant, classy rock songs that have an instant appeal. Sure, they're not writing stuff like "Glass" or "Redefine" any more, but why should they? They (and countless others) have done that. There is nothing worse than a band releasing the same, tired old albums again and again for the duration of their career. It bores the f*** out of me. If a band can't do something different after three albums, then they lose me. As for Dirk leaving, well, yes, it certainly had an effect on their music, but not as sudden as everyone seems to think. "Drive" was not typical Incubus at the time, and was the first hint that this band could be more than just a one trick, pubescent-rap-funk-metal band that was rapidly becoming old hat. And this was in 1999, some 4 years and a further album before Dirk quit. Brandon's voice has gotten better and clearer, as evidenced on the "Adolescents" single, and Ben Kenney can groove like a mofo without having to resort to out-dated slap. I love 'em. Nuff said. [/quote] +1 on the Ben Kenney comments. He's a much more rounded player than Dirk Lance. Their first few albums were just a regurgitation of what the Red Hot Chili Peppers had done a zillion times, and over the years they seem to have found a style that suits them, so more power to them. Brandon Boyd's vocals still don't do it for me though.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1274238' date='Jun 18 2011, 10:57 PM']I didn't realise they were in fashion. After all, I've never seen one being used live on stage. Perhaps I need to get out more.[/quote] The same, I really can't recall anyone apart from Anthony Jackson. Not a big fan of the 'boutique' looking single cut instruments such as Seis, Foderas etc. but I appreciate the work that goes into making them and I'm sure many of them sound excellent.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1274116' date='Jun 18 2011, 08:52 PM']Got tosay I didn't think much of that. Perhaps a case of 'too many cooks', but it seemed like everyone was just waiting for their moment in the spotlight as opposed to acting as a cohesive unit. In that sense, I found the song a bit disjointed and the Hammond organ sounding solo near the end was awful.[/quote] Duly noted Chris!

[quote name='silddx' post='1272917' date='Jun 17 2011, 04:27 PM']He also liked to play reggae sometimes.[/quote] Fixed, possible idea for a future epitaph

I guess in the same way you wouldn't use a newer B.C Rich bass with the word 'death' inlaid in your fretboard in an indie rock-type band, you shouldn't be using a Hofner Beatle bass in a metal band. With that in mind, I'm sure your P-Bass is absolutely fine, providing it's in drop F#.

[quote name='steve-soar' post='1273875' date='Jun 18 2011, 04:08 PM']That's not Marlowe, that's a deeply stoned Jarvis Cocker.[/quote]