Skybone

Have you tried advertising it on the RickenFakers Facebook Group? Its possibly the only place left to advertise and sensibly discuss Faker's. All the debacle about selling on Faker's made me think long and hard before I bought mine, but as the only possible replacement for a Ric (I had to sell my old 4003), I had kind of decided that whatever happens, I'd be keeping it for quite some time to come! I still want a Ric, but I'm unlikely to get one any time soon, where my Faker was affordable, highly playable, and now, virtually unsellable! I'd say that you should keep your Rockinbetter as a backup if nothing else. At the end of the day, they're still superb basses in their own right.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1491679594' post='3274779'] " 'E were a great bassist were our dad"......... [/quote] "E'd lug 'is own gear to the gig on t' bus, nip back for everyone else's, including t' drummer, play a 14 hour set non stop, note perfect, load out on 'is own while everyone else went t' bar, and still 'ave time for us lot"

Ba Dum... tish

All good advice, as ever though, it's getting the time to learn new songs and styles. It's hard enough trying to find the time just to get some practise time in at home. Can anybody recommend any technique books / DVD's or online content? Dave, we're trying to do something along the lines of "classic rock", and I have a classic rock/hard rock/metal background, mainly root & fifth or following the guitar riff with fills thrown in. With this, I'm trying to do something different (for me at least), and work something around the guitar lines while keeping a groove going. Oh alright then, I'm just trying to make the basslines more interesting to play!

By 'eck lad...

Apparently, it's all about that bass, 'bout that bass, no treble.

I was going to post this in the "Having a Tutor" thread, but it's a bit of a tangent, so a new thread might be a better place for the query... I've been playing for "a while" now, switched between bass & guitar over the years, but bass was where I started and where I'm happiest. In the ongoing saga of trying to get an originals band going, I teamed up with a guitarist a few years back, and we've been working on songs for a while (when time & life allow!). The thing that's currently bugging me about my playing is that my fills & runs seem a bit "samey", and when I try other ideas out, they just don't work or sound quite as good as I'd like them to, and I end up going back to those "samey" sounding lines. The guitarist seems happy with the stuff that I'm doing, but I'd like to add something else in there, as well as adding to my knowledge & skills. Does anyone know of any good resources for fills & runs, be it online, in a book or on a DVD or something. I think I need to expand my knowledge. I'm not particularly interested in learning a new playing technique, but some new ideas for the fret board hand wouldn't go amiss. Yours, Frustrated of the Highlands

Looks great, want one, but might have to sell some body parts first.

Well I for one loved my old 4003, gutted when I had to sell it. I'd love another one, but I don't see that happening for some time (or a lottery win!). So I'll stick with my Faker for now. I do wish my old one had the Vintage push/pull pots, but it pre-dated that feature by a few years. Other than that, it was just a superb bass. IMO of course. Of course, they aren't for everyone, but give it a bit of time and play it often. Congrats on your purchase, and pics when it lands!

I remember buying a brand new Gibson LP Studio from a reputable retailer, it had all the requisite brand & distributor tags on etc. as you would expect with a brand new guitar, except the serial number was for a guitar made three years previously. It was still a great guitar, all the warranties were in place (brand & distributor tags), no worries.

RIP

I only have 2 basses, and they're both the same, so you could say that I quite like mine.

The new CITES regulations are going to make this more and more difficult for buying instruments from overseas. Dealers should be doing something about licences, but where does that leave the private individual???

I admit it, I should know more than I do, but never really have done much about it. Other than having some friends showing me bits'n'bobs through the years, I'm pretty much self taught. I had one formal lesson many, many years ago which was a catastrophic failure, so never really sought out anymore. Maybe if I'd had more formal lessons, maybe I would be better than I am, but there again, maybe if I had, I'd still think I should know more.

Yup, been there, done that. Another "financial pickle" situation (though not desperate), and the realisation that my treasured bass was worth far more gone that sat in it's case. It kind of made some sense at the time, as it was one of the few instruments I've ever owned that actually was worth more than I paid for it. With the "profit" from selling it, I bought another bass (that I didn't get on with, and sold soon after). I do wish I still had my old 4003, but, I needed the money.

[quote name='paddy109' timestamp='1490887994' post='3268844'] Just to update - I met up wth the band. They were great, very relaxed and happy to take time showing chords and structure of songs! As suggested I kept things simple and playing a different genre wasn't as challenging as I imagined. By the way I also got the gig! [/quote] Great stuff.

Watched the highlights show yesterday, and TBH, I was thinking the same thing about the basslines, but I suppose the intricacies of the jangly, intertwining guitar lines don't require anything more then a relatively simple bass line. I thought Jesus & Mary Chain were good, Warpaint's music wasn't my thing, but the bass player was very good (and played a Ric). Goldfrapp's bass players Plexi P bass was very nice indeed.

Try it both ways, before and after, and see what sounds best to you. Could always try it in various points in the chain too, after any Dist/OD/Fuzz, before any modulation effects? Experiment.

[quote name='christhammer666' timestamp='1490081493' post='3261925'] i have no desire to pay £2000+ to record albums I have no desire to pay £3000+ to tour abroad to play to 50 odd people I have no desire to sit in a pub ad talk about my band like were metallica I want to rehearse with a set of guys on my level pay gig and just enjoy the music. is that so wrong ? [/quote] Nope

Get well soon, hope it's not too long before you're back to normal (avoiding any reference to "it'll pass" Sorry). Shame you had to sell your upright, but if it funded your Jazz, then fair enough. Still think using an upright (electric of course) in a rock band would be a "Unique Selling Point" (and sound quite cool).

Some people think it's cool to not look after their guitars, kind of a "relic" vibe. "A good workman looks after his tools" says a lot.

Or you could always turn up with your upright bass if you wanted to something "different" into the mix, especially if you're more comfortable playing it than a bass guitar. If they are playing "dark, melodic rock", then it could well fit in quite nicely (and be something novel at a gig - people will remember the rock band with the upright bass).

I've spent most of the 30-odd years I've been playing, doing original material. The times I had played covers in new bands, I've always found I got very bored, very quickly, especially when one or more of the other band members criticise it at the end because a couple of notes weren't nuanced as the original. Sort of joined a local covers band after a number of years away from being in a band. Lo and behold, it was excruciatingly dull. Been working on getting an originals band going. Far more gratifying and fun.

The nickel wound ones are available in 5 string sets.

Fender 7350's on eBay: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Set-of-Fender-7350-Stainless-Steel-Bass-Strings-7350ML-7350M-Available-/332151995303?var=&hash=item4d55cd3ba7:m:mLCYWWfeDm16mh5FAGmJNPw"]http://www.ebay.co.u...Dm16mh5FAGmJNPw[/url] £13.65 a set.