uncle psychosis

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1358501839' post='1940223'] I can agree with that, but to dismiss players because they have technique is quite ignorant. Vai may have technique but his music is incredible not just for shredding. Great composition, melody, harmony and development. When i was younger in my teens, I was all about technique and difficult music but as i grew up i pretty much got into everything and enjoyed stuff on it's own merit. What i've found, in most cases, is snobbery from both ends. People with great technique and musicianship are snotty to music that's not. Conversely, those who don't go down that avenue are snotty to technical music as if it as no merit, when of course it does. [/quote] To dismiss [i]any[/i] player is ignorant as far as I'm concerned.I don't really like what Victor Wooten does and have no interest in the slappy-slappy thing but I watched some of his tutorial videos and picked up some cool tips on groove and time. People might not think Hook's music is worthy of a "masterclass" but to categorically state that he'll be unable to impart any musical wisdom to anyone is just arrogant twaddle as I said before. Some of the most useful tips I've ever learned came from so-called "inferior" players and I've taught things to players much "better" than me. I've learned all sorts of things from all sorts of people, and the day I start thinking "this person can't teach me anything" before I've even heard what they have to say is the day I stop playing.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1358508573' post='1940409'] I saw it in the cinema with my friends, and afterwards when we were leaving, they all started saying "That was amazing" and all the film clichés that people come off with, and i said something along the lines of "Yeah, it was alright, i wouldn't go as far as saying all that though", and it was like i had just admitted to being a pedophile or something. Sorry, but being funny does not make a good film. [/quote] That says far more about your friends than it does about modern cinema.

[quote name='jackers' timestamp='1358505280' post='1940325'] I agree to a point,[b] but I would say that it is much easier to listen to an album over and over than it is to watch a film over and over.[/b] To me, watching a film is more of a one off experience, with things I've seen going into a 'films I've seen' category, whereas when I listen to an album it goes onto my iPod and into the 'albums I like' category. Ofcourse there are exceptions; most pixar films, for example [/quote] To you and me, yes. But I know lots of film geeks who feel the same way about their favourite directors as I do about my favourite bands. Its just horses for courses. [quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1358505394' post='1940329'] [b]People always said Step Brothers was an amazing film[/b], i thought it was alright. Funny, but not anywhere near a great film. [/quote] I can assure you they didn't

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1358504405' post='1940291'] And I disagree with that ;-) When I watch I film I want to see something new and be surprised by the way the plot develops. Surely watching something you've seen before over is the equivalent of "old geezers down the pub saying "all modern music is auto tuned sh*t""? [/quote] I'm definitely a music-nerd and not really a film-nerd, but watching a film twice is not much different from listening to an album twice. Each time you might notice something new, or take something slightly different from it, or just take pleasure from something awesome. Not all films stand up to repeat viewings, but many do.

Bought a strap off Eddiehoffman---paid for it on Monday evening, had it on Wednesday morning. Friendly emails, pleasure to deal with. Cheers!

[quote name='Shambo' timestamp='1358497973' post='1940123'] Q. How many musicians does it take to change a lightbulb? A. Ten. One to change the bulb and nine to stand around and mutter, "I could have done it better than that". [/quote] Give this man a cookie!

Remember that you're auditioning them as much as you them. I'm generally of the opinion that if you have to "try" too hard (either musically, or personality wise) then its not the band for you. Good luck---sounds like a good gig.

Never tried one but I've never really heard anyone say anything other than good things about them.

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1358475482' post='1940058'] I think things are getting mixed up here.....He may have had a long career by playing in a couple of successful bands,but I can pretty much guarantee that there are players on this forum who know a lot more about 'music'.By his own admission,he doesn't know much about it. Could he tell some interesting stories about being in his bands,and how they went about things? Yes. Could he teach anyone about music? Probably not....and [b]that's not being arrogant.[/b] [/quote] There's far more to music than knowing where the notes are. I imagine Hook knows a few things about songwriting, for instance. He'll certainly know a thing or two about copping his own unique sound---often imitated but very few people actually get it right. The idea that someone who has written songs that have sold millions and influenced thousands can't teach anyone anything is completely and utterly laughable.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1358465275' post='1939943'] Really? I can't understand anyone over 10 needing to see a film more than once every 5 years. IMO most films made in the last 20 or so years are mostly eye candy with substance to the script or characters. Plus once I know what happens I find little attraction in ever seeing it again. [/quote] I disagree. This is the film equivalent of the old geezers down the pub saying "all modern music is auto tuned sh*t" I'm afraid ;-)

Maybe the masterclass is on songwriting, or his approach to creating sounds. To be blunt, anyone who thinks that they couldn't learn anything from one of the most influential bass players in British - if not world- history strikes me as an arrogant muppet. "yeah, but apart from create whole genres, writing some of the most distinctive and best selling singles of all time and having a career that's lasted 30 years what can he possibly have to teach me about music??? " honestly, just think about how that sounds.

Its gotta be some Chic. Everybody Dance would be my choice.

Unlike many of the master-class types I've seen at many of these events he may well be able to offer a unique insight into what its like to sell absolutely shedloads of records and be a major force in new musical trends. Miaaaaaaaaaaow.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1358349845' post='1937515'] I think you'll find that Skol has chosen the neck through design mostly on the fact that he has so many frets, so for playability, he has opted for neck through. [/quote] I wasn't talking specifically about Skol, I was talking in general.

Personally I think people spend too much time thinking about the tonal effects of things like bolt on vs neck through, fretboard material, etc and not enough considering the (probably more important) aesthetic and playability implications. If you have a bass that is comfortable to play, has a good basic sound, and the right kind of design for what you want (pickup position, fret access, right number of controls, etc) then you can easily make minor tweaks to the electronics to fine tune the tone. Worrying about whether or not your double-mocha-skinny-latte-wenge fingerboard might be brighter than a ekky-ekky-ekky-ptang-nuwop-ni fingerboard seems a little silly to me.

Thanks guys The Lakland videos were really helpful---just followed through them and used the Yamaha Bass Guitar Manual as a starting point for the string heights etc. Was able to lower my action quite a lot without getting string buzz and make the intonation better (its not perfect, but I think its as good as I'll get without a better tuner). Its definitely better than it was. I guess moving to a much warmer house and changing strings had a much larger effect than I'd anticipated! Cheers Sam

Hi guys I recently changed stings---went from .45 rounds to 0.40 flats---and now I'm fairly sure that my intonation is out: I think all of the strings are sharp roughly the same amount at the 12th fret. 1. Changing gauge is liable to change the intonation, right? 2. Should I adjust each saddle or would tweaking the truss rod be sensible? 3. How accurate a tuner do you need to do this "properly"? I've got a Korg Pitchblack... Yours technically-incompetently, etc etc

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1358185402' post='1934496'] Yes,because obviously the time it takes to sort out the important requirements is going to be well spent sorting out brown M&M's. [/quote] I'm sure the stadiums they were playing at probably had a teaboy to do the simple tasks

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1358170568' post='1934119'] Correct. I used mine direct to desk, sounded huge. [/quote] I use mine DI'd into a mixer for headphone practice and really like it. Glad it scales up well.

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1355182700' post='1895253'] As long as our M&Ms backstage are the right colour and I've not had to waste time folding small sandwiches at the tour manager I'm easy [/quote] [quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1355183737' post='1895264'] You won't go onstage unless you have 10,000 brown M&Ms to fill a brandy glass? [/quote] Funnily enough, I read an interview with one of the bands who were famous for their "10,000 brown m & m" requests (I think it was Van Halen). They said that the reason for it was simple---their requirements for things like power supply, lighting equipment, etc, were pretty complicated and very particular. If they turned up and the M&Ms hadn't been done then they could be sure the rest of their requirements wouldn't have been met correctly either!

The Bass Attack is basically a preamp. I don't think putting it in the loop would be a great idea myself.