jacko

6 hours ago, Nicko said:

I think the bigger issue is how have Fender, who were started on the basis of producing instruments in a cheap and innovative way, managed to promote themselves as a high end maker while having innovated almost nothing since the 50s.  They maintain a premium price by continually moving the lowest end product to a cheaper location, and rebranding the previous base model at a higher price.

 

I am not anti Fender, but we should be honest about what they are actually producing.  Fender is the Ford of musical instruments - and we shouldn't think about paying Ferrari money for them

500 quid for a bass is more like Kia money. I'd be expecting a Fodera or Alembic for Ferrari money

Sold my Double bass to Nick.  He drove all the way to Scotland from the deep south to pick it up!.  Had a great chat and exchanged music before he had to drive south again.  I'd recommend him as  buyer anytime and would also suggest anyone down south tries to see him play - his 'isle of Everything' CD is superb.

Graeme  

1 hour ago, Ricky Rioli said:

I'd rather play the bagpipes

I'd rather you didn't

Now on Hold pending the usual.

Just wondering if anyone here is using Mackie SRM450's for their PA.  I've just noticed a very faint hiss along with a high pitched pulsing sound from the horn - only about 3 years old and not pushed too hard. I've always thought it was something wrong with the desk but I get it when nothing's plugged in apart from the kettle lead. I've tried different parts of the house and the garage and it's the same wherever they're plugged in  It's not very noticeable and certainly wouldn't be heard at a gig but it's not something I'd expect from Mackies. Quite likely a standard sound as both speakers are doing it.  

Graeme

I only play Alembics and look down on the rest of you mere mortals. Does that count as snobbery? 

Unpopular music opinions? Where do I start.  Firstly, Bob Dylan's original all along the watchtower is so much better than Hendrix'.  

second, bass solos and bass noodling are a waste of time. Jim Rodford's line on Hold your head up is as near to perfection as any bassline could come.  

and finally, amy whinehouse was just shite.

I was at the Newcastle show. Probably the first time in 10 or 12 shows I've actually heard Myung properly. I guess the sound guys have finally listened to the complaints the bass community have been raising since John stopped using amps onstage. Also good that they tailored the set to James' voice for a change. The past 10 years or so he's really been struggling to sing stuff he had no problems with when it was written. Really glad they played 6.00 and finished with the count of Tuscany; great songs showcasing the whole band. The last couple of albums have seemed more a showcase for Petrucci's noodling rather than songs played by a band.  

Squire is an easy win for me. If I hadn't seen him in the mid 70's I might still be struggling with ragtime guitar picking. I like some of entwistle's stuff but there's a bit near the end of 'an Ox's tale' where he's demonstrating his tone and it's just an over distorted mush. Chris on the other hand was as clear as a bell every time I saw him.  I will say that both YES and the Who should have stopped the minute their bassplayers pegged out.  

3 hours ago, drTStingray said:

 

80s

The decade of the synth bass and where bass player’s and guitarist’s jobs were under threat….. 5 string bass guitars invented to combat synth basses

Influential basses were Steinberger, Ibanez Musician, Aria, Musicman Sabre, Wal. 

Alembic built Jimmy Johnson's first 5 string (low B) bass in 1975/76.  

Don't understand the thread title. Simonon gets loads of respect.

I'm selling my 2018 3/4 size Strunal 5/35 five-string double bass bought from Thomann in october 2018 and gigged twice. It's in immaculate condition - only a single tiny scratch near one of the f-holes. Carved solid top with laminated sides and (shaped) back. It comes with a piezo bridge pickup, robust padded gigbag, Hercules stand and a Dan Armstrong magnetic pickup that I never got round to glueing to the end of the fingerboard.

Collection only from near Forth, Lanarkshire.  

@tinyd maybe he lives in a small flat. I have quite a big house and my DB still takes up far too much room. 

10 hours ago, mikel said:

I saw them at the City Hall in Newcastle when they toured Topo, they played it, all of it. It was interesting but too overblown for me. Have a listen to the first album "Yes" and you can hear them trying to find their direction and morphing between 60s psychedelia and the invention of prog. Their cover of the Beatles "Every little thing" is a standout for me.

I was at that concert and seeing how much fun Squire was having was what made me become a bassist. He's always been my biggest influence.

100%.surprised myself. 

4 hours ago, pete.young said:

Organisations the size of Yamaha, and the companies that make instruments for Ibanez, will hold huge stocks of tonewoods. Some will be bought to season for 10 or 20 years prior to use. So even though there is a ban, it seems reasonable to me for companies to use up existing stocks.

Pretty much exactly what I was going to say. I visited Alembic in 2012 and they had huge stocks that they probably haven't touched yet.

4 hours ago, Angel said:

Wow, I've never seen anyone mention Grand Funk/Mel Schacher ever before! I'm actually a massive GFR fan, I bought all their albums on vinyl back in the 80s. I think that Mel is a real kick-donkey bassist, my fave moment of his being the extended bass solo on I come Tumblin which was probably quite a rare/innovative thing for a rock album back in '71.

Glad to see that someone else here appreciates the man!

We have Are You Ready in our setlist for the classic rock pubs. They love it. The sex on fire brigade just look blank.

12 hours ago, Skybone said:

The Live DVD isn't.

Ah well, if you'd said the live dvd..... 🤔

2 hours ago, Skybone said:

 

Rush: All The World's A Stage, Exit Stage Left, R40, Clockwork Angels, etc., 

Clockwork angels is a studio album

Stanley clarke has a bigsby on one if his alembics

Jimmy Johnson has exclusively played 5 string Alembics since the mid 70's.

10 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

Geddy lee played a steinberger for a while. That never looked quite right

I disagree. It was the perfect bass for his crocket and tubbs 'big money' video.

I play my fretless 5 string alembic in my blues trio. Couldn't give a stuff what anyone thinks.

5 hours ago, sykilz said:

Boring bass is a hard term to quantify, in as far as has been said, it's surely the player that is boring, but I guess maybe the image that the bass lends to the player can be boring...? 
I can never find the Fenders boring as my favourite two bassists are Steve Harris and Geddy Lee, and I grew up musically in the mid eighties so I love the futuristic and pointy basses and sleek new designs. The only design/image combo that I personally would consider boring are those huge semi acoustic things with "f" holes on them. I find them ok visually but can't imagine anything musically exciting happening on them. 

Both Phil Lesh and Jack Cassidy played big semi-acoustic basses with f holes early in their careers and I think it's safe to say they played some of the most exciting basslines you could have heard back then.

Steve Bailey gets my respect simply for having the audacity to play an unlined 6 string fretless.