62P-Bass

Some great tunes in this thread! When I did was in that Brit Funk special article for Bass Guitar Magazine I had to name my top 3 funk tracks. I went for: Mr Magic - Grover Washington Jr Night Time in the Switching Yard - Warren Zevon It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to me - Barry White Hard to pick 3 though. I ended up making a Spotify playlist of some of the contenders: http://open.spotify.com/user/andrewmckinne...toFqBBlouB4bIsI Andrew P.S. That Warren Zevon track contains what I consider to be the funkiest bass fill in the world ever! It's at 03:51, but you really have to have listened to the track from the start to get the full effect. P-Bass heaven!

Duck Dunn on Soul Man - carries on playing the verse riff at the start of the first chorus. 00:34. Love it! Andrew [post="0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucp3FJZP2p8[/post]

Here's a pic of mine. Definitely 5 numbers! Andrew P.S. Sibob- will pass it on to Trokey. [attachment=39782:e1e1_1.jpg]

I have played through both CLs and VRs. The CL is very basic with minimal controls - gain plus basic EQ. The VR is a faithful reproduction of a vintage model that has two channels (each with two inputs) and various rocker switches to add boost etc. The VR doesn't have any input gain control though, so the only way of driving the preamp hard is by turning the whole thing up very loud. I prefer the CL because of the gain control and I like the simple set up. The amp sounds amazing anyway so I found all those extra controls and spare channel were unnecessary (and having another input channel adds valves and therefore weight to an already colossally heavy amp). I did however really like the silver finish over the black, so I managed to track down an SVT head called an AV (Anniversary Vintage), which is what Ampeg made before they introduced the CL and VR lines. It's just a CL but in silver! Andrew

I've got an American Vintage 62 RI Jazz and I'm really into it. I haven't tried a recent American Standard though. I do have a Japanese 62 RI Jazz though and I much prefer the AV. The build quality seems slightly better, but it's mainly the sound. The difference in sound between the two pickups is really pronounced - more so than on most other two pickup basses I have played. I also have a 66 Jazz bass and the AV compares favourably to that. I think it's mainly the played in feel of the vintage bass that I prefer and I generally play that one as a matter of course. I haven't really A-B'd these two basses in a comparable situation. As for the stack knobs on the AV, I'm not sure I get much advantage out of that set up - a single tone control would probably do me fine. That said, it doesn't bother me. I don't seem to feel the need to play a jazz bass with the tone on anything other than wide open (different on a P-bass). Overall though you can probably get a bass that's more silky to play than an AV and better built for less money, but it probably wouldn't be a Fender. Although in fairness, as I said, I haven't tried many of the newer American Standards. Oh, and the best thing about my AV was that I got it from eBay for £500! Still can't quite work out how that happened. Andrew

Hi folks, There's a misprint in my reading column this month in Bass Guitar Magazine (Issue 50). They printed exercise 1 twice and missed off exercise 3 - here is a PDF of the full article, including the correct exercise 3! There's also an archive of older tuition tips on the Bass Guitar-X website here: [url="http://www.bassguitar-x.co.uk/TuitionTipsBassIndex1.html"]http://www.bassguitar-x.co.uk/TuitionTipsBassIndex1.html[/url] Andrew [attachment=38939:Tuition_Tip_BGM_50.pdf]

[quote name='Sibob' post='673280' date='Dec 3 2009, 03:26 PM']Is that a natural JV?, I haven't seen the pictures. If so, I think my mate Dave has borrowed that on a couple of JTQ gigs!? Says it's an absolute peach! We still haven't found him one though haha Si[/quote] Dave Troke? Yes - he has depped for me in JTQ and borrowed the Squier. Top bloke and great player! It's not natural finish though if that's what you mean. I think they call it Fiesta Red, but it looks more like pink or orange really. I just got that colour cos it looks like Pino's! Andrew [attachment=37610:IMG_0367.jpg]

[quote name='radansey' post='672869' date='Dec 3 2009, 09:24 AM']Interesting how Andrew McKinney's 62 Fender Precision has morphed into a Squier Precision in the photo on page 28. [/quote] Well spotted! I was coming back from some gigs abroad and had to go straight to the photo shoot from the airport. I don't like to take my original 62 P-bass on planes so I had my 'touring bass' with me. It's a 1983 JV Squier 62 reissue with a Lindy Fralin pickup, also with flats. Andrew

Thanks for the tip off Bass Doc. Turns out it was him! A From: NATHAN EAST <nateeast@......> Date: 5 November 2009 08:11:06 GMT To: Andrew McKinney <andrewmckinney@......> Subject: Re: It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me I have to admit ... yes : ) On Nov 4, 2009, at 11:33 PM, Andrew McKinney wrote: Hi Nathan, Wonder if you'd have a moment to satisfy my curiosity... Did you play bass on It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me, from Barry White Sings for Someone You Love (1977)? It's one of my all-time favourite tracks! Cheers, Andrew London, UK

Hi all, Does anyone know who played bass on Barry White's It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me? I've looked online but can't find it anywhere. It's from the album Barry White Sings for Someone You Love. Thanks, Andrew P.S. If you haven't checked it out, it's a damn funky track. Robbie Williams based Rock DJ on it, but don't let that put you off...

I played in a band in Meribel for the winter season 2000/1. We were doing 10 gigs a week and our gear got hammered. Doing apres ski gigs at the Rond Point packed with pissed up punters in ski boots all took it's toll - especially when they were crowd surfing! The worst casualty was our keyboard as it was right in the firing line - it drunk its fair share of beer and toffee vodka. I wish I had saved the answerphone message from the repair guy I took it to when we got back. He was amazed that it worked at all and offered kindly to put it in the skip. All the accommodation is shared and I think you'd be lucky to find somewhere safe and lockable to keep your bass. That being said, everyone is in the same boat and there was a really great community vibe and I never heard of anyone's stuff being stolen whilst I was there. It might just be less of a worry for you if you had a cheaper bass that you weren't so attached to. I guess that live band circuit is still going so you should get to know the players and you might even get to do a few gigs. There's always band members going down with illness and injuries. In our days they were playing at the Rond Point, Le Pub, Dicks Tea Bar and the Ski Lodge in La Tania. I found this old article about us still up on the web 8 years later: [url="http://natives.co.uk/news/2001/0201/06superfly.htm"]http://natives.co.uk/news/2001/0201/06superfly.htm[/url] I'm playing my old Musicman 5 and wearing a dodgy wifebeater - it was hot! Andrew

+1 for the love of flats! To me their an 'economical' sound. They really emphasise the bit that you can still hear when the rest of the band is playing, and don't have much of the rest. I tried a few sets out. The Thomastiks were too low tension for me. I've still got the same flats that were on my 62 P-Bass when I bought it about 5 years ago. I'm pretty sure they're Elites, and I put LaBellas on my reissue. Andrew

I find it more useful to think about the number of the note in relation to the chord/key, rather than the actual note name. As time goes on you get better at understanding what effect each interval has against the chord, which will be the same regardless of key. This should help you to improvise as you will start to know in advance what each note is going to sound like in that context. Also, because of the layout of the bass fretboard and string tuning, the fingerings will always be the same which is a big advantage. Of course you do need to know the names of the notes as well as this is how we communicate with other musicians and read chord charts etc. Check out Gary Willis' book Ear Training for Guitar and Bass. He gets you to associate the sound of each interval with a fingering, as well as knowing what it's called. This means that you have a more direct link with what you hear and how it would be played. Andrew

I'm covering for her in a couple of weeks time, although I'm not so camera friendly! She's also doing a clinic for us at Tech Music Schools on 7th May. Again, Basschat people welcome to come. Andrew

I've travelled a fair bit on planes and the SKB Bass Safe works really well. It's just a big tube with wheels on it - you put your bass in a gig bag in the case. It's real easy to move around and when you get to your destination you can just use the gig bag: [url="http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/proddetail.php?f=sku_has_wheels-1-75&id=13&o=&offset=1&c=75&s=75#"]http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/pro...;c=75&s=75#[/url] [url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/strings.html"]http://www.thebassgallery.com/strings.html[/url] I've never slackened off my strings and had no problems so far. Anyone else a firm believer in slackening?! Andrew

There's a review and video of Julian's Masterclass here: [url="http://www.guitar-x.co.uk/bass/MasterJCrampton1.html"]http://www.guitar-x.co.uk/bass/MasterJCrampton1.html[/url] He blew us away and really nice bloke as well. Andrew

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='424644' date='Mar 3 2009, 10:56 PM']im still umming and aahing over this...[/quote] I'll put you on the list - just in case! Andrew

The Julian Crampton master class at Tech Music Schools this Thursday is free to any of you basschat people that want to come. Details in original post: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=41879"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=41879[/url] Andrew

I was fortunate enough to play this tune with Billy Cobham at a masterclass at Drumtech in 2006. I've attached an audio of recording - not great quality, but reasonable enough to get the idea. It's with John Wheatcroft on guitar and Simon Carter on keys. For solo/fill ideas, it's B minor pentatonic/blues scale heaven! If you want some alternatives, you can try superimposing different pentatonics - in this case F sharp minor, or C sharp minor. This will introduce some of the upper extensions to the chord, but allow you to use a familiar shape. This sort of thing is best used for a short while to create a bit of tension, before falling back into the regular minor penatonic. If you want loads more tension, try playing G melodic minor over it! You've got to be real careful though and make sure you resolve it well. Andrew P.S. There is a video from that masterclass where we're playing Red Baron here: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaGHVcE5mDM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaGHVcE5mDM[/url] Apologies for the terrible syncing - Billy looks like he's clapping on the beat!

They also have some at the Bass Gallery in London, but didn't have my gauge in stock. I had to get mine from Thomman in the end. Had to pay over the odds, but I don't plan on changing them so figured it was worth the investment. Andrew

I do admit to being a bit of a strap-whore and will change the length depending on the gig. Generally though, having it so it remains the same height standing or sitting is a good place to start. In terms of avoiding pain/injury, your hands will operate best when your wrists are as completely straight. However, this is impossible to maintain without having a bass that bends round a corner! Compromise is the order of the day. If you have your strap high, your left/fretting-hand wrist will be nice and straight, but your right/plucking-hand wrist will be bent. If you play with your strap low then it makes your right/plucking-hand wrist straight, but now your left/fretting-hand wrist is bent. Go for something in the middle that reduces as much bending as possible! On a gig you'll probably want to be projecting the right attitude and image for the style you play. This is fine, but if you are spending a lot of time with your bass in your hand, either practising or rehearsing, it might be wise to do the thing that's best for your body for the majority of the time. I've actually just done an article on this very subject that will be in the next edition of Bass Guitar Magazine, along with a warmup exercise. Andrew

I teach private lessons through the school - give them a call on 020 8749 3131. At the moment I have a time slot on a Tuesday afternoon. Andrew

I saw her at Indigo at the O2 last year. If it's the same band you're in for a treat! Really good reworking of their songs, played with a contemporary gospel feel, but without the overplaying. I don't know who the bass player was but looked like he was also the MD. Seriously on it! Andrew

Hi Jake - yes I do remember! Good to see you - hope things are going well. Andrew