Huw Foster

I agree with all the above about the Stingray - it's really quite versatile if you let it be. Very much capable of a gritty, bright sound akin to Justin Chancellor's (of Tool) if you want. Or, with an EQ adjustment, mid-range punch suitable for funk etc. Obviously, due to the single humbucker and its position you won't be able to do everything, and it you won't ever be able to eliminate that unique Stingray sound (which I still have trouble describing). It's definitely still worth a go, even just to satisfy your curiosity. And as it's been said already, now is a good time to get your hands on a used one!

I was reminded today of Dot Funk's encore at the Jazz Cafe the other week. It started out as this song before turning into an epic jam: Prince is the man. As are John Blackwell, Maceo, but not Sheila E and Rhonda Smith. Only biologically speaking of course - they're still very, very BADASS.

Generally speaking I try to treat my bass well. However, as it has been pointed out in this thread, heavy gigging can have some heavy consequences. As a result of this and some other factors (particularly my clumsiness), my two basses have some little dings and scratches. One that baffles me though, is a clump of scratches near the control panel of my Stingray. I have no idea how it got there - it was just like that when I took it out of my gig bag one day. I've since started using padded/hard cases, but I'm still bemused by that one. Actually, I'm really annoyed - if my favourite bass is going to get an inexplicable scar, it should have the decency to look like a proper wound, not a clump of pathetic hairline scratches! I've contemplated sanding it down, but I've decided I'll just let the natural wear and tear take care of it - I very much doubt I'll ever sell it anyway. Anyway, I agree with the sentiments about pristine basses - I couldn't have one without feeling nervous every time I picked it up, let alone take it out the house!

Supertramp - Crime of the Century I love it when the outro of a song makes up the majority of it.

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' post='735915' date='Feb 5 2010, 10:57 AM']LOL I was thinking of going for a style that encompasses the two greats in those videos (Carles & Marcus)... So if I had the long hair, grey beard with the wife beater, joggers & porkpie hat Do you think it would improve my playing???! B PS very jealous you caught that Chick Corea gig![/quote] I think your playing would improve exponentially with each item of clothing. Yeah it was a good gig! The sound was dodgy at times, but the musicianship was always top drawer.

[quote name='Clarky' post='735315' date='Feb 4 2010, 05:41 PM']... or alternatively a stretch limo, loaded with Cristal and bee-atches[/quote] Real talk.

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' post='722399' date='Jan 23 2010, 06:09 PM']No one voted for this guy yet so here is the great Carles Benavent: [/quote] Yeah Carles is great - as are the rest of that band. Saw them about 4 or 5 years ago at the Barbican I think. Really taken by his style. To say I'm not impressed by the technical ability of Marcus's solo here would be a lie. It's just that I'm so inspired by the fashion that everything else takes a back seat. Since first watching this video my wardrobe has gradually seen an influx of saggy wifebeaters and massive trackie bottoms. Also, whenever I'm on a gig with an alto sax player, quite without realising it I often end up next to him doing the same weird grooving leg dance during his solo.

I can safely say we've all been there. Not your exact situation per se, but the incompetent organisers? Definitely. My advice is to drop it. Not worth the effort at all. Sometimes these things can somehow come together at the last minute and actually be quite fun (well, that's happened once for me at least). However, I very much doubt that will happen in this instance.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='734313' date='Feb 3 2010, 06:21 PM']You've done the gig, now you want to wear the T-shirt. [/quote] Haha, good observation.

I'm sure they sound amazing, and it's great that you can get a massive array of tones from it... but aesthetically they just don't do it for me at all. I'm so happy Music Man have got those classic line basses on the way - I'd almost lost faith in their ability to produce an attractive instrument.

Stupid question I suppose, but I might as well ask: do they exist in an official form?

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='734231' date='Feb 3 2010, 05:01 PM']status have something similar, and music man used to[/quote] Years before I got my Stingray I used to go on that Music Man instrument creator almost every day. When I did buy one second hand I didn't get my dream colour spec, but I still got a beautiful bass.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='733627' date='Feb 2 2010, 11:31 PM']They have already been mention before [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=73623&hl=skyline"]New Skylines[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=73621&hl=skyline"]And again.[/url][/quote] I don't mind - those special edition finishes are mighty purdy.

[quote name='WarPig' post='733659' date='Feb 3 2010, 12:29 AM']Ive never noticed how nice it looks![/quote] Actually yeah, me neither! Looks the control panel looks a bit Stingray, and the whole thing almost has a classic 50s precision vibe. I have no idea what it is though. That said, judging from the headstock shape... it couldn't be a Shuker... could it? Absolute guess though. (Waits patiently to be corrected and possibly outcast.)

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='725588' date='Jan 26 2010, 07:00 PM']To give an idea as to what "Rock Fretless" [i]can[/i] sound like, try this: [/quote] That's Jack Bruce?! Haha, wow! I've never tried fretless in earnest, but it can suit whatever style of music you want it to. Colin Edwin (bassist for Porcupine Tree) uses a fretless Wal a fair bit. For fretless in a metal-ish type context (albeit not deathcore!), check out Pain of Salvation. Their former bassist Kristoffer Gildenlöw plays fretless on quite a lot of their early output. Bear in mind I am not a fretless player at all, so that's the only advice I can really give you. Better to adhere to the comments made by people who know what they're talking about.

Aaaah! Amazing. What a legend. Pow is a massive tune (although it's just a little bit daft). I love the heavily syncopated B section, at least when it has a chance to groove and isn't punctuated by loads of ridiculous interludes. He's one of the best things about Prince's Rave un2 the Year 2000 concert (aside from the Time).... just because he's [i]there[/i].

I agree with some of the comments made already - if you're breaking strings (especially if you're doing it often) then you probably need a set-up... Unless you're doing anything extreme, it really shouldn't happen much, if at all, shouldn't it? I've only had the misfortune of breaking a string on a gig once (touch wood!). No idea what the cause was, but I'm fairly sure it wasn't technique.

[quote name='alexharvay' post='731838' date='Feb 1 2010, 03:40 PM']Don't be silly. You need both.[/quote] Agreed!

Generally speaking it's the Jazz for me, but a beautiful bass is a beautiful bass.

It's always nice to see some great buskers! Maybe it's worth putting the band name somewhere, i.e. on the bass drum skin, for the sake of finding videos of yourself online (if you're that fussed)?

I wish I'd read this before a 3 week stint in Warsaw - we flew via Munich, the instruments got left there when delays caused us to miss the scheduled connecting flight... Thankfully they arrived in one piece the next morning, but it was a stressful few hours! Will take note of these tips next time.