Huw Foster

...and the price tag?

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='728860' date='Jan 29 2010, 04:04 PM']Give in.... sounds fine to me [/quote] I can hear it. Sounds like a dodgy edit - the bar ends a bit too soon.

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='728706' date='Jan 29 2010, 01:52 PM']My favourite bum note on the Bass at 3:08 [/quote] That's just amazing. Funny thing is, I never noticed it before!

I remember a lecture on music production when we were shown a track by Alanis Morissette that's full of recording mistakes. Just done a quick search - it's 'Hand in my Pocket' from the Jagged Little Pill album. Before the vocals come in there's a noise which is (apparently) the radiator in the studio, then in the second line there's a really badly done punch-in (halfway through a breath). Is that what you meant? Sorry if this is an obvious one btw.

A friend just showed me this: I'm fairly certain it grooves well, but I get distracted by her incredible stage presence. She's too cool, and of course, so very beautiful.

Lovely stuff. I'm normally not keen on black strings, but on that it somehow just works!

[quote name='silddx' post='726620' date='Jan 27 2010, 05:48 PM']Pixie Lott - some great songs on there, she has a lovely voice, but by christ it's horribly mastered.[/quote] Not to mention that it has some very, very lazy utilisation of auto tune.

Jamiroquai - Canned Heat. Through some bassy earphones. DAAAAMN I love that distorted synth bass!

[quote name='Andy Blowers' post='726925' date='Jan 27 2010, 09:34 PM'][attachment=41280:68FenderJazzBassOW.jpg] No one feeling the old girls?[/quote] Oh yes, yes, yes. It's older, and wiser.

I'm not familiar with Rickenbackers at all, but judging from the size of the tuners I'd say it's definitely a bass!

Seconded on the comments about technique. It took me years to realise how uneconomical my left hand technique was - in fact it wasn't until I had my first formal lessons at university that I really started to think about it. I also have quite small hands, but even on the biggest of necks you should be able to manage with some adjustments to your thumb positioning. Some basic rules of thumb (pun intended) I find useful include positioning my thumb on the back of the neck, ensuring that my fingers are generally evenly spaced and that none of them are ever far away from the strings when not in use. Maybe some before and after shots will help in illustrating this? Before: [attachment=41222:n5043027...927_9840.jpg] After: [attachment=41223:Photo_on...at_18.59.jpg] Generally speaking, I find that using the thumb as an anchor (rather than the 'talon' in a claw) minimises overall effort in fretting with the left hand, as well as freeing up the little finger. I noticed from the pictures on your myspace that you don't use it much - I was exactly the same for years, until I realised how invaluable it is for octaves and the like. In fact, I'm fairly certain my index and little fingers are the most frequently used on my left hand... I don't actually think about this when I'm playing, but judging from calluses and the quick noodle about I just had, I think this is a correct observation! (I must also stress that I don't think any fretting method is 'wrong' as such - depending on the context, it sometimes works better having the thumb over the top of the neck. An example off the top of my head would be bluesy, chord-based stuff a la Colin Hodgkinson.) Anyway, I'm rambling. Hopefully I'm making sense! Sorry if this is stating the obvious for most people - I'm fairly certain this is taught as standard in most books etc. I also apologise if I come across as patronising/pretentious/both. If this isn't the solution to your problem, then perhaps you need to adjust your string gauge and action to reduce the strain?

[quote name='zukini' post='724783' date='Jan 26 2010, 02:33 AM']Hey guys nice board. Just wanted to right a small wrong the Jazz Cafe wrote on its website. The keyboard player was Matt Steele not Matt Cooper as advertised (i can see how the mistake happened as Matt Cooper is the Keys for Incognito and also awesome) Matt Steele is the very cool keys player from the current line up of Brand New Heavies. He has also played with.... Errol Brown (Hot Chocolate) Shazney Lewis (All saints) Swing out sister Cleopatra Demis Roussos Heather Small Ruby Turner Backyard Dog Various artists as keyboard player for P.W.L. M'cr – including Lauren Waterworth and Steps Noel Sullivan (Hearsay) Finlay Quay Swing Out Sister David McAlmond As for the gig. It blew me away and my first time seeing Rob, Paul and Derik as a unit live. Very very slick. Been twanging at my Musicmaster all day in a wave of insperation.[/quote] Ah, cheers for that. I'll definitely be looking up anything else he's done!

I'd go with [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk"]Strings Direct[/url] myself.

It was absolutely obscene, in my opinion. I echo the sentiments about Paul's playing - solid groove, plus he seemed to be in slap mode which was good to hear. Always tasteful, mind! I could immediately tell just how much the three guys from Jamiroquai play together. They gave the impression of being a coordinated 'unit'. I love their playing anyway, but it was impressive to see them working together close-up, in a context away from the 'day job'. Was also blown away by Matt Cooper, the keys player. Maybe it's because we were stood right in front of his keyboard amp, but I was astounded by his solos and his playing throughout the night. One of my friends who attended is an accomplished keyboardist, and even he said he'd heard nothing like it. Anyone know who this guy has played for? The horn section were tight on the unison figures, but I think they blown out of the water when it came to the enthusiasm displayed by the other band members.... Again, maybe it was because of where I was standing, but it seemed like the rhythm section were really, really getting into it all the way through the gig. Always a good thing to see! I enjoyed the two vocalists as well, although I have to admit I wasn't really taken by Michelle's tone - she was very impressive in a technical sense, but just seemed quite generic in terms of her sound. Dan, on the other hand, is a brilliant showman. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't he in One True Voice? (Popstars the rivals, anyone?) If he was, I'm glad he's doing something worthwhile now! Very, very talented. I've probably missed loads of points I wanted to make, but I've got to head out now. In summary - one of the best gigs/displays of musicianship I have witnessed first-hand in a very long time!

Just chilling in a pub down the road, about to head down. Happy Jack, don't be offended if I don't buy you a drink - I'm very poor!

I'd all but forgotten about this thread! Thanks for the positive comments. I haven't done any composition or production (in the loosest sense of the word) since I the last post - I should really try to do some more sometime!

That's terrible. I can't begin to imagine what you and everyone else close to him are going through. RIP.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='721423' date='Jan 22 2010, 05:24 PM']I used to have another customer who bought guitars in always the same colour so his wife wouldn't suspect a new one.[/quote] Haha, brilliant. Yet sad.

[quote name='budget bassist' post='720732' date='Jan 22 2010, 02:06 AM']tell me about it, i used to have a fender reggie hamilton jazz, the neck on that was amazing. I just don't get on with the jazz sound, give me one with a slightly smaller body, dual mm style humbuckers and a 2 band pre and i'll be happy now there's an idea....[/quote] Talk to Sandberg, maybe?

I don't know what I'd do with myself in your situation. Sometimes, when I'm away from home for more than a couple of days I like to take a ukulele with me. It's... not really the same, but it's got four strings. Anything to curb the cold sweats. Anything more than a week and I'll be huddled in a corner fretting the bassline to Mustang Sally in the air, sobbing quietly.

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='721250' date='Jan 22 2010, 02:46 PM']So, yeah: which famous ground breaking planks [i]were[/i] designed by players?[/quote] I have no idea who designed them, so I thought I'd ask - anything by Rickenbacker?

[quote name='Doddy' post='721260' date='Jan 22 2010, 02:55 PM']I was actually really disappointed in the 'Live at Ronnie Scotts' DVD. It didn't live up to my expectations-even Vinnie's playing didn't excite me like it usually does. As far a Tal's playing goes,I've never been a massive fan to be honest. I really enjoyed her solo album,but that's about it. Her solo in 'Cause we've ended as Lovers' does nothing for me-I think she really overused the vibrato. I think that Rhonda Smith is a better player and grooves harder.[/quote] Point noted on the vibrato in that solo, but what everyone is forgetting to mention is how young Tal is. She's what - 23, maybe 24? Don't get me wrong, I love Rhonda's playing - she's got amazing groove, and there's no doubt this new line-up will be ace. However, no matter what you think of Tal's overall feel, groove, sound etc, you've got to remember that she's not even in her mid-20s, yet she's already played with a considerable amount of legendary musicians. She comes across as totally fearless, and I think that has a lot to do with her appeal (other than the obvious 'assets'*). Sorry for revisiting what is probably a tired argument on this forum, but I just felt it needed to be mentioned in this particular thread. [size=1]*Heeeeheeee look at the way her boob pops over the top of the bass![/size]