EssentialTension

[quote name='BigRedX' post='898015' date='Jul 18 2010, 01:15 PM']Rotosound Bass Strings are like Fender Bass Guitars. Superior when there wasn't much competition, but technology has moved on since the 60s and they haven't really kept up.[/quote] Yes, technology has moved on and there's no need for strings at all, just get a synth.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='898001' date='Jul 18 2010, 12:59 PM']Cheers but I don't like his sound or his solo stuff, and I was never a fan of Luther Vandross either tbh! I know he's a skilled player but I don't listen to songs because the bass player's good.[/quote] Ah, excellent, we agree.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='897925' date='Jul 18 2010, 11:47 AM']I have heard of those players but beyond their most famous output I can't listen to them because I don't know what records they're on. If they've made a living doing this then presumably they're on hundreds of records? Most of them bad records?[/quote] Here's a Marcus Miller discography from Wikipedia to get you started: Solo period (1982–present) * 1983: Suddenly * 1984: Marcus Miller * 1993: The Sun Don't Lie * 1995: Tales * 1998: Live & More * 2000: Best of '82-'96 * 2001: M² (2002 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album) * 2002: The Ozell Tapes * 2005: Silver Rain * 2007: Free * 2008: Marcus[3] * 2008: Thunder (as SMV, with Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten) Luther Vandross Period * 1983: "Busy Body" * 1985: "The Night I Fell In Love" * 1985: "'Til My Baby Comes Home" * 1985: "It's over now" * 1986: "I Really Didn't Mean It" * 1986: "She Won't Talk To Me" * 1986: "Give me the Reason" * 1987: "Stop to love" * 1987: "See Me" * 1988: "Luther In Love - Megamix" * 1988: "Any Love" * 1989: "The Best Of Love" * 1989: "Come back" * 1991: "The Rush" * 1991: "Power of Love / Love Power (Uno Clio & Colin and Carl Remix)" * 1991: "Power of Love / Love Power" * 1991: "Power of Love" * 1993: "Never Let Me Go" * 1993: "Heaven knows" * 1995: "This is Christmas" * 1995: "Power of Love / Love Power (The Frankie Knuckles Mixes)" * 1996: "Your Secret Love" * 1996: "I Can Make It Better" * 1998: "I Know" * 2001: "Luther Vandross" * 2003: "Dance With My Father" * 2007: "Love Luther" David Sanborn period (1975–2000) * 1977: Lovesongs * 1980: Hideaway * 1981: Voyeur * 1981: As We Speak * 1982: Backstreet * 1984: Straight to the Heart * 1987: Change of Heart * 1988: Close-Up * 1991: Another Hand * 1992: Upfront * 1994: Hearsay * 1995: Pearls * 1996: Songs from the Night Before * 1999: Inside Miles Davis period (1980–1990) * 1981: The Man with the Horn * 1981: We Want Miles * 1982: Star People * 1986: Tutu * 1987: Music From Siesta * 1989: Amandla * 1991: The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux The Jamaica Boys period (1986–1990) * 1987: The Jamaica Boys * 1989: The Jamaica Boys II: J. Boys Film Scores * 1990: "House Party" (featuring Kid & Play) * 1992: "Boomerang" (featuring Eddie Murphy) * 1994: "Above the Rim" (featuring Tupac Shakur) * 1994: "A Low Down Dirty Shame" (featuring Keenan Ivory Wayans) * 1996: "The Great White Hype" (featuring Samuel L. Jackson) * 1997: "The Sixth Man" (featuring Marlon Wayans) * 1999: "An American Love Story" * 2000: "The Ladies Man" (featuring Tim Meadows) * 2001: "The Trumpet of the Swan" (featuring Reese Witherspoon) * 2001: "The Brothers" (featuring Morris Chestnut) * 2001: "Two Can Play That Game" (featuring Vivaca Fox) * 2002: "Serving Sara" (featuring Matthew Perry) * 2003: "Deliver Us from Eva" (featuring L.L. Cool J) * 2003: "Head of State" (featuring Chris Rock) * 2004: "Breakin' All the Rules" (featuring Jamie Foxx) * 2005: "King's Ransom" (featuring Anthony Anderson) * 2006: "Save the Last Dance 2" (featuring Izabella Miko) * 2007: "I Think I Love My Wife" (featuring Chris Rock) * 2007: "This Christmas" (featuring Idris Elba) * 2008: "Thunder" (featuring Stanley Clark and Victor Wooten) * 2009: "Good Hair" (featuring Chris Rock as SMV) * 2009: "Obsessed" (featuring Beyoncé Knowles)

[quote name='Mog' post='897504' date='Jul 17 2010, 07:08 PM']How many of the basslines in chart music are standout nowadays. How many make you sit up and think, Wow what an unusual place to play X, Y or Z. None.[/quote] I wouldn't know. As far as I'm aware I don't listen to chart music - although if I did I probably wouldn't know it was chart music anyway. Also, I wouldn't expect every bassline (or even [i]many[/i] basslines) to stand out or make me sit up and think. I'd expect the bassline to be doing what works for the song and its arrangement. Which might well be I-V. [quote name='Mog' post='897504' date='Jul 17 2010, 07:08 PM']Like I said in an earlier post, I've done the money thing. My first well paying gig as a session musician was at a blues/jazz and country music club, on some nights I'd have to cover bass, guitar and keys depending on the bill. I've seen what others do and how they approach different styles of music. From studios to clubs 99% of session musicians go through the motions. No feel, no personal touch. Just do the job, get paid. How long they last in the game is another thing Dave. Its not like theres an overabundence of quailty musicians. Those who last are the ones who do it well. The 1% I mentioned.[/quote] While I bow to your greater experience as a session player, I'm slightly shocked at your negative attitude to other musicians. I'd say that, in fact, there is an adundance of quality musicians - that's certainly my experience. And, going by my observations of my son and his group of musician friends, there are two kinds, roughly speaking: the ones who can play only one style and the ones who are actually rounded musicians and can play in a variety of styles and desire to learn more. [quote name='Mog' post='897504' date='Jul 17 2010, 07:08 PM']Do you really think artists in popular music, who have no input in the songwriting process, have a notion what a session musician is or is not doing? Or even care for that matter, Considering the bassist who lays the track in the studio is rarely the same one(s) who will playing on tour.[/quote] I don't really understand what your point is. Does 'artists in popular music, who have no input in the songwriting process' mean 'young singers who happen to be marketable but aren't themselves songwriters'?

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='897752' date='Jul 18 2010, 02:55 AM']Didn't you have a f***ing rock star to look up to?[/quote] No. I've always preferred listening to music and playing music.

[quote name='Marvin' post='897473' date='Jul 17 2010, 06:22 PM']This is what I've been adhering to for the last 6 months since I've started practising properly. However, I find my plucking hand feels restricted and hunched up. With the longer strap it feels much easier, especially for using 'floating thumb' to mute, that's probably just me. I've played a little more since posting this thread and must admit to being a little concerned about the reach of my fretting hand though. It is restricted and a little choppier. I may have to find a compromise height. It's OK at the moment as I'm not playing anything particularly taxing but I should imagine anything above plodding pop music may get awkward for me.[/quote] As well as height of the bass, the angle of the bass to the body is important. Parallel with the floor may make left hand more difficult when the right hand position is correct. Forty-five degrees to the floor (i.e. headstock raised) may make both hands feel more comfortable - but that means getting the balance on the strap over the shoulder correct as well as the strap length.

[quote name='Mog' post='897453' date='Jul 17 2010, 05:47 PM']IMO, 99% of session bassists are merely going through the motions in most cases.[/quote] If that was true then I doubt many of them would still be working.

I like my strap adjusted so that the bass is in roughly the same place standing as it is when I am sitting down but sitting up straight and the bass is resting on my thigh.

[quote name='Sarah5string' post='897117' date='Jul 17 2010, 09:46 AM']I've got my grade 4 exam in 24 hours! (10am on sunday) ohmygodohmygodohmygoooooooood[/quote] Don't worry, you are going to pass. You might even get a merit or even a distinction, but you're definitely going to pass.

[quote name='algmusic' post='897169' date='Jul 17 2010, 11:18 AM']What size do you use?[/quote] Trubass are 65-75-100-115 for the standard 34" scale.

If you sell, you will regret it. If you don't sell .. well ... you can always change your mind and sell later.

Versatile is much preferable.

Very nice.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='896543' date='Jul 16 2010, 02:06 PM']You do know there is a 10 page thread already on this topic dont you ;-) [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=90084"]Squier Jag thread.[/url][/quote] He does know, he posted there saying he was going to open this thread so as not to hijack the other thread.

I'm happy with what I've got ... but I'll take the Funk Machine.

[quote name='bigjohn' post='886523' date='Jul 5 2010, 05:51 PM']I've never seen a band busking with electric bass. Have you?[/quote] Yes, quite a few, both in Brighton and London.

[quote name='Major-Minor' post='892303' date='Jul 11 2010, 09:38 PM']The stack is a Park. A UK company I believe.[/quote] I think Park were actually rebranded Marshalls, although I can't recall why that would have happened. Very nice Jazz bass.

[quote name='merello' post='886689' date='Jul 5 2010, 09:23 PM']I've emailed his management company![/quote] But have they replied?

[quote name='Tee' post='888603' date='Jul 7 2010, 04:04 PM']agreed and don't forget 'Stunning'[/quote] .. and plays like butter ...

Many basses are not at all aesthetically pleasing. Exactly the same is true of guitars.

[quote name='Mickeyboro' post='886529' date='Jul 5 2010, 05:56 PM']My point was - I wouldn't play a guitar they'd taken my name off! Would you? Edit: My pint was....[/quote] I always play basses they've taken my name off ... or was that a dream?

[quote name='Mickeyboro' post='886487' date='Jul 5 2010, 05:20 PM']I thought Lakland had stopped doing his anyway?[/quote] It's just a name change - now it's a Lakland 44-64.

[quote name='goblin' post='886467' date='Jul 5 2010, 05:10 PM']I've got a VW... does that count as it's still VAG? [/quote] No, a VW is only a copy of a Skoda, it's not the real thing.

[quote name='Conan' post='886264' date='Jul 5 2010, 01:30 PM']Wasn't there a similar thread to this a few weeks ago?[/quote] Probably, there usually is. [quote name='Conan' post='886264' date='Jul 5 2010, 01:30 PM']But then again, I drive a Skoda - so what do I know?! [/quote] Me too. Can't beat them.