EssentialTension

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='343703' date='Dec 3 2008, 12:04 AM']Lets not forget there's not only competition between people, but also competition between species. Anyone who has dealt with a pest infestation of some kind will have experienced this first hand, I'm sure.[/quote] There's also a great deal of cooperation between species. It's called symbiosis. In fact we couldn't live without it. Bacteria in your gut, for merely one example.

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='343487' date='Dec 2 2008, 08:41 PM']Many socialist political theories avoid or repress the issue of competitiveness. Isn't that what it all boils down to at the end of the day?[/quote] Well, according to cooperative socialist and anarchist theories, the answer is no, competitiveness is not what it all boils down to at the end of the day. For example, like most people, I spend the great majority of my time not competing but cooperating with others: when I queue for a bus, when I play music with others, when I take turns with my partner to cook each evening, when I manoeuvre as I walk down a crowded pavement to avoid bumping into others, when I buy my round in the pub, when I come to the mutual aid of a family member, or a friend, or an acquaintance, or even a stranger, I might well be said to be cooperating rather than competing. One theme in the remake of the seventies TV series 'Survivors' - now showing on BBC1 (I think) on a Tuesday - is the battle between competitiveness and cooperation. To put it mildly, it seems to me that it is by no means obvious that human nature is purely competitive; although also not obvious that human nature is wholly cooperative. It may also be extremely difficult to separate human nature from human nurture. Nonetheless, while individualist liberals of the right have claimed competitiveness as a key factor in human nature, collectivist socialists and anarchists of the left have claimed cooperation or mutual aid as a key factor in human nature. [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='343487' date='Dec 2 2008, 08:41 PM']Is it possible for a society to repress its collective, competitive urges?[/quote] You seem to assume that these 'competitive urges' are innate in human nature; so you seem to be claiming a particular view of human nature which, as I suggest above, is exactly what is in dispute here. [quote name='Crazykiwi' post='343529' date='Dec 2 2008, 09:20 PM']Competitiveness wouldn't exist without inequality. Without inequality, species wouldn't adapt and we wouldn't have evolution. Therefore a non-competitive society wouldn't survive for very long (and by that I don't mean the society would die, but its state of non-competitiveness wouldn't perpetuate.)[/quote] This kind of theory has been commonly known as [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Darwinism"]Social Darwinism[/url]. The theory doesn't actually go back to Darwin and in fact predates him historically, owing more to Herbert Spencer who coined the phrase [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_of_the_fittest"]'survival of the fittest'[/url].

[quote name='bremen' post='342819' date='Dec 2 2008, 11:21 AM']Aren't socialism and anarchism mutually exclusive? Isn't anarchism just another word for laissez-faire capitalism? I'm going to wish I hadn't started this...[/quote] I'm going to wish I hadn't answered. You could argue that anarchism and socialism are mutually exclusive if you thought anarchism was merely another word for laissez-faire capitalism. However, anarchism is a 'broad church', as they say, and includes people who do not see eye to eye. To keep it simple, which it is not, the left-wing anarchists are collectivists and cooperativists who are commonly known as anarcho-socialists or anarcho-communists or anarcho-syndicalists or even libertarian socialists. These kinds of anarchists have much in common with socialists and are more likely to be European. The right-wing of anarchism has much more in common with classical liberalism than with socialism and is most commonly called anarcho-individualism or anarcho-capitalism and tends to be strongly linked with a very laissez-faire approach to the economy. This kind of anarchist is more likely to be American. What generally separates anarchists (of whatever kind) from other political ideologists (whether socialists or liberals) is their denial of the necessity of a state, even of a minimal kind.

[quote name='Mr Shiny Cadillackness' post='342802' date='Dec 2 2008, 11:12 AM']And does it cause any problems within your band? I ask, since I'm a vehment anarcho-socialist, yet my band mates are all pretty average, run of the mill guys (basically capitalists in this society, IMHO anyway). They're good mates though, we've been friends for years and we all love the same music so it works. We keep politics out of our music, since I'm sh*te at writing lyrics and the singer doesn't really care about politics enough. The only real problem would be in the unlikely event, that we would be offered a deal by a major label. I can handle being in a band, with people sponsored by corporations (so long as I'm never personally linked to any of it), that's their choice as individuals. However, I'd have to leave the band as a matter of principle, if the rest wanted to sign to a major label or an associate of one. As much as I love their music, bands like Rage Against and the Machine, The Clash and Primal Scream seem so hypocritical to me, promoting socialism either on their records or off (usually both), and then getting signed to capitalist corporations like Sony, CBS and Epic. I grew up listening to these bands, back when I was young and had no interest in politics. Now I've grown up and developed an interest in the sunject, it's left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, now it's become apparant that not only are they just sell outs like everyone else, but they're a bunch of charlatans on top of that.[/quote] What about [url="http://www.chumba.com/FAQ2.html"]Chumbawumba[/url]? Is their approach more to your liking?

[quote name='dmz' post='342472' date='Dec 1 2008, 10:31 PM']Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and seeing the photos on the Decade when it arrives. I nearly ordered one through the Dudepit around the time you ordered yours but ended up going for a US Glaub in the end - that took only a year to arrive....... Enjoy your new baby when it arrives.[/quote] Only a year, eh, the Decade has taken 17 months! Well, it's a jump in the dark really but I am hoping very much to enjoy it.

[quote name='ianrunci' post='342415' date='Dec 1 2008, 09:38 PM']Problem with that is often boutique Basses are difficult to sell as most people tend to plump for well known names. I mean look at Warwick's, you pay £1100 for one and its worth £450 the week after, what's the point of that? The only names that really seem to hold their price are Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker and Gretch. The rest are down to finding a buyer who actually wants a particular instrument. You also seem to get trends where certain boutique makes are popular and then 2 years down the line no one wants them[/quote] That's all fair comment. I guess I was thinking of well known names more than boutique stuff. I was probably thinking like that because most boutique basses don't really appeal to me.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='341741' date='Dec 1 2008, 11:31 AM']I don't know why you lot give such a sh*t about it. Its just chatting sh*t. I know I'm a role model to many, but I seriously don't expect my comments about Mark King to have any effect on anything. I don't like slap, others do. The world moves on. If you're so bored by these discussions, move on a let it die a death. People throwing their toys out of the pram because not all of us are Mark King fans make it sound like BassChatters are supporting apartheid. They're not, they just don't like slap![/quote] +1 It's just people chatting and talking sh*t about bass. I don't hate slapping or even care about it much at all. If people want to do it it's up to them it doesn't mean others can't say what they think.

[quote name='BeLow' post='341564' date='Nov 30 2008, 11:58 PM']That's cool enough, you would not catch me at a Motorhead concert (to pick an example at random) but I would generally try not to suggest Lemmy was a bad bass player for playing the way he does even if I don't particularly like it myself. Apart from that he would probably hit me. Thinking about the topic this will be debated again in a month's time, and then a month after that etc etc. How about a discussion on more than 4 strings we have not done that for a bit![/quote] Well, strangely, I saw Motorhead recently and after about 5 songs I'd had enough. It's limited musicality was all used up for me. I'm sure Lemmy would never hit you and anyway he's 62, you could probably take him. I've got nothing against Mark King and I could never do what he does (including the singing) but nor do I want to (except the singing). I didn't suggest he was a bad bass player but, actually, when I think of bass players and bass playing I would never in a month of Sundays think of Mark King. And, by the way, 4.

I favour a 'not too low' action. Sometimes I have a tendency to play quite hard with my right hand - 'digging in' I believe some politely call it - and a higher action leaves room for that. However I also feel a higher action makes the bass sound more vibrant most particularly on a hollow or partially hollow bass but even on a solid body. Something about how the whole thing resonates. I think you can hear this if you play without any amplification.

[quote name='BeLow' post='341549' date='Nov 30 2008, 11:43 PM']The clip of Mark King needs to be understood in context. I am taking an educated guess that the critique on the clip was done by someone who is not a Level 42 fan, but I think you need to think it through a bit more. That clip is probably the bit of the show where King demonstrates some amazing technique, I don't think that it is very musical, but in context it is great showmanship. If you went to see Eric Clapton and he played rhythm guitar in the background all night you would be upset, Mark King is pretty much duty bound to do some showing off in a Level 42 gig because that's what people go to see, and they would be pretty hacked off if he played root and fifth with a plectrum all night.[/quote] Well, there might be some truth in what you say but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Which is why you wouldn't catch me at a Level 42 concert - it is wholly of no interest to me. YMMV.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='340786' date='Nov 29 2008, 09:24 PM']It's just a matter of priorities... I couldn't imagine spending a "couple of grand" on a car that's going to then cost me even more to run and no doubt give me no end of grief when I could spend it on a perfect custom-built instrument that meets my requirements in pretty much every way.[/quote] Spend £2000 on a car and a few years later it's probably worthless. Spend £2000 on a bass and a few years later it's may still be worth £1500 or even more if you wait long enough.

[quote name='Toadonroll' post='341332' date='Nov 30 2008, 07:24 PM']Ouch! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yioVmqlt2Fk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yioVmqlt2Fk[/url] This sounds like a bag of crisps, makes my teeth feel like I've just chewed tinfoil.[/quote] The longer that lasted, the more eager I became to listen to something musical.

I'd say at £436 that was very possibly a very good buy. Guy I know has an early 80s Squier Precision that is much better than his 70s Fender Precision. But you might think that's not saying much.

[quote name='ARGH' post='341051' date='Nov 30 2008, 12:33 PM']If people think or say that being a Bassplayer is being a failed musician,play them Cream's 'Crossroads' live at the Fillmore,The entire "Ace of Spades" Lp by Motorhead,'Le Freak' or 'Good times by Chic or pretty much anything slaptastic by Larry Graham or Louis Johnson..or and this is the swinger..some classic Motown. And if they still have not changed their mind THEN KILL THEM.[/quote] If that doesn't change their mind then they are as good as dead anyway.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='341094' date='Nov 30 2008, 01:17 PM']Sorry - that was about the crappiest pun [i]ever[/i] . I'll get me coat... (But it's still a brilliant tattoo. Totally different from the usual stuff. And it is very nice to have you among us once more)[/quote] I thought it was both clever and funny ... but I've been wrong before.

[quote name='Sean' post='341040' date='Nov 30 2008, 12:26 PM']Chi humbuckers on it? Active or passive?[/quote] Yes, Chisonics. Originally it was going to be active but due to the state of the £ versus the $ I moved to the passive. Maybe I'll regret that but money's tighter than it was. If it was still $2 to the £ I would have stuck with the active. Problem is when the exchange rate gets worse not only does it cost more but the customs duty goes up too. I believe from what John at Lakland told me - excepting the prototypes - it was the first production Skyline Decade to be assembled. So that's cool.

[quote name='BassMunkee' post='340812' date='Nov 29 2008, 09:51 PM']LOL - "'Ere, 'e's a bit of a communard 'e is..."[/quote] Who are you calling a communard?

And it's leaving Chicago tomorrow.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='340324' date='Nov 29 2008, 10:15 AM']I played a new Lakland JO 4-stringer the other week. Lovely bass with through body stringing, etc., but it had very narrow string spacing. Definitely not 19mm. Is this normal on Lakland jazz models?[/quote] This is particularly strange as all the Lakland 4 string models (according to the website) are 0.78 inch spacing at the bridge except for the DJ and the Hollowbody which are given as 0.75 inch. But even 0.75 inch is 19.05 mm.

[quote name='Rusty Shackleford' post='341007' date='Nov 30 2008, 11:45 AM']as above does anybody have an opinion on them. Just thought they looked quite nice in certain colours. i seem to be in to that shape or there abouts with my basses now.[/quote] My Skyline Decade is leaving Chicago tomorrow. I'll let you know.

[quote name='Sarah5string' post='341014' date='Nov 30 2008, 11:56 AM']I don't buy cds. I nick copies of other peoples. [/quote] I do buy CDs but +1 on the second bit. It's usually a case of 'Don't buy that I've already got it'.

[quote name='Adam.M' post='340790' date='Nov 29 2008, 09:27 PM'][b]It's simple, Gibson keep all the great Gibson's in America, they send the lumps of muck over to Europe.[/b] So if you want a good Gibson, you go to America for it. A friend of mine came back with a Gibson from the USA and it kicks the ass off every other one I've played, ever. Same with Japanese manufacturers, though what they send out is brilliant anyway - the absolutely exceptional stuff is sold in Japan. You have to remember, we're not really worth much for their income. Gibson make 85% of their cash from there American sales, we're pocket money.[/quote] There's definitely a lot of truth in the idea that Gibson send the 'B grade' instruments to Europe. But I think Gibson's quality control is so poor they can't even get this right and occasionally an 'A grade' escapes to our shores.

[quote name='lowdown' post='340719' date='Nov 29 2008, 07:16 PM']What Your Ex Hubby was a singer? Do you like the The Communards ? Garry[/quote] Ha Ha - very good. As it happens, I did quite like the Communards but I have to say I am not of their persuasion. I hope I am not protesting too much.

+1 on Steve - it was only a small exchange of cash and goods but we had a great time chatting.