Pete Academy

I've watched his vids. It's his recorded sound I like best.

[quote name='Doddy' post='540695' date='Jul 14 2009, 08:52 PM']I'm not that bad am I? [/quote] Er, well, I didn't want to say anything, but...

If you haven't already heard of him, check this guy out! What a tone! [url="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dougjohns2"]http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dougjohns2[/url]

We do get some 'interesting' versions of certain songs. Saying that, I've become rather desensitised over the years. The things that really annoy me are: People that take up half an hour of your time and then say, 'Thanks, I'll go and have a look online and see what price I can get this at. Makes my blood BOIL!!! People that come in and ask for your advice, then say, 'Right, I'll come back next week with my Uncle Jeff, who's a guitar player. He plays a bit of bass, though, so he'll know what we need.' People that blame equipment when the real reason is lack of technique. 'This bass really buzzes.' OR 'There's not much volume in this amp.' when they sit there and tickle the strings. And so on...

I can fully understand everyone's attitude to music shop salespeople, but as someone who has worked in music stores for over 25 years, you can't imagine some of the sonic bashing our ears are subjected to on a daily basis.

I've sold quite a few of these combos. They are generally quite pokey, but it sounds like it just can't keep up with the guitars and drums. It may also be how you EQ your sound or how the guitars are EQ'd. If you are playing within a similar frequency range of the guitars, then you will struggle to be heard. It's probably unlikely they will change their EQ, so it might be worth experimenting with the graphic and try boosting the mids to cut through the mix a bit more. Your P-Bass won't have that much power, so that won't be helping.

This is what happens: People that can play will turn it down; people that can't will play as loud as possible.

I didn't think the type of wood had anything to do with sound until I bought my Tobias Classic 5 about 15 years ago. Until then I just chose a bass that looked attractive. I originally ordered a quilted maple top because I thought it looked cool. However, because this wasn't available, I ended up with a lacewood top with alder back. The sound was very Jaco, with a good burpy back pickup sound. I compared it with a mate's Classic 5 that had a bubinga top and walnut back. I couldn't get that back pickup sound, but on stage his bass was really full in the low end. Another guy I know bought the same bass with a quilt top and walnut back. The sound was bang in the middle of the other two. The woods do make a difference, so it would be advisable to do some research. As for bolt-on/neck through, I think the difference is negligible. But that's my opinion. Hope this helps.

I've worked in instrument retail most of my working life, and I've heard absolutely everything over the years, but the Mark King years were the worst. There must have been a SASM - Saturday Afternoon Slap Monster - in every town! However, I must say that Flea has dominated overall. Love him or loathe him, you can't deny his influence.

I know it's all down to the player, but IMO no strings last any longer unless they're coated ones, which are going to be more than twenty quid a set. D'Addario Pro Steels are [i]super[/i] bright, and so appear to last longer. But it depends if you can stand them so bright in first place. See the thread about boiling strings, where meths for cleaning them is a useful tip.

Anyone heard anything about David Sanborn coming over at some point with Marcus? Also heard Sanborn was at death's door with pneumonia.

I reiterate what I said when I started this thread. I was playing a USA Tobias Classic 5, exotic tonewoods, Bartolinis etc. Great sound. After 15 years hard gigging it was pretty f##ked, so I looked around for a replacement. I couldn't justify a few grand for the same thing, so I looked at something from the Far East. The spec was similar - nice wood, same pickups. I bought it, and it didn't cut it on stage. I lost money. I now have a Roscoe SKB5. I did some initial research and liked what I read. Mark at Bass Direct was extremely helpful and patient. I eventually settled on ordering a custom model. However, when I went down to Music Live to meet Mark and place the order, I spotted one on the stand which I fell for. I love it, and it sounds amazing. The band members noticed the difference from the Tobias on stage. I know Jaco used a stock Jazz, Marcus uses his 70's jazz, blah, blah, but a hand-built bass with beautiful woods is IMO justifies every single penny. Because you're worth it.

I'm not sure what to contribute to this thread, but after seeing the negative comments about Janek, the word 'envy' comes to mind.

[quote name='rslaing' post='534577' date='Jul 7 2009, 12:13 PM']I have a number of basses, from both ends of the price scale, and although I understand a lot of the comments made for and against so far, there is no way that a high quality hand made bass can be matched by a factory and machine made instrument, generally made by a person who doesn't even play an instrument and a company whose quality control would never match that of a good luthier. It's not just the wood etc on a custom/boutique instrument, it is the attention to detail, the quality of workmanship, the electronics, the after sale care, and so on. I have basses that cost from £200 up to £3500, and they improve in quality as they increase in price, without exception. I am only saying this because I feel it gives me the facility to give an unbiased view on the matter. There have been one or two quips that people have made about cheap instruments being better than "boutique" basses. In which way? If it is the playability, then I agree it could be the case, but only if the boutique bass has not been setup properly, or set up to the individuals requirements. This thread is pretty much along the lines of a lot of the others in BC. It's all about opinion, and people who post are more often than not justifying their purchasing decision, rather than look at the matter objectively. And then if someone else does offer a differing opinion, the whole thing deteriorates into mayhem and the debate is destroyed. [url="http://www.seibass.com/millenium.html"]This one[/url] is the best bass I have ever picked up and bought, because it is as close to perfection and my requirements as I could want. And the main reason for my buying decision was not only the people I was buying it from, but the lifetime warranty that came with it. And it happened to be the most expensive. Not a coincidence. I also understand people not being able to justify or understand why an instrument would, when admittedly of higher quality, cost 10 times more than a bass that is pretty good but "off the peg". That is because a luthier and a private commission will always seem to be disproportionately more expensive unless there is an understanding of the costs behind it all. It's not just the cost of raw materials, it's the time and care spent making a unique instrument by an expert who justifiably can charge a lot for his expertise and the finished item. I have noticed in this forum that people who own expensive instruments do not denigrate cheaper instruments (on the whole). We've all been there, and had some great (and some poor) low to mid cost basses. It seems to be people with the cheaper instruments that shoot down the expensive stuff. But I suppose that's human nature [/quote] Good comments. I don't denigrate cheaper instruments. This has never been a better time to buy a quality instrument for the price., and I've seen and owned all sorts. I just agree that you can't beat a hand-built bass with beautiful woods...and believe me those different woods do make a difference.

I'm looking for an [i]uber[/i]-comfortable strap. I currently use a Comfort strap, but the day after a gig I feel as if my shoulders are ready to drop off. Does anyone know of anything? I looked at those double straps that go across each shoulder but I'm not convinced.

I've been playing for over 35 years and have worked in music retail since the early 80s. The instruments now are amazing. My fave for beginners is the Peavey Millennium...unbeatable! I remember buying an HH amp in the 70s only because it lit up!

A few years back I saw one of these basses on ebay for £1500. I should have bought it. It is strange that they have not gone up much in value. I think they are worth about £2500 tops. Weird, considering there are only 200 worldwide.

Aaargh! Don't do that to me! I bought one in 1989, waited months for it and took 2 years to pay off the loan. Mine was the same, burl walnut. Amazing bass! Sadly, I sold it to fund a Tobias Classic 5 because I was taking the Alembic and a cheap 5-string to gigs (just started using a 5 then). Regret selling it since the day it went. Incidentally, did you have any trouble with the pickups? How's this for a saga: When I first plugged it in, I noticed it was microphonic...at a few gigs it even had feedback. I contacted the Bass Centre, who sold it to me, and they told me to take it back. I had no transport, so I went all the way from Stoke to London on the train. The Bass Centre tech put foam under the pickups, which was useless. I contacted Alembic and was eventually told there was a batch of faulty pickups. How could a bass of that quality leave the factory without the fault being noticed? Anyway, to cut a very long story short, after losing my rag with the female owner of the company and being told I was being a 'nuisance' (I bet Stanley Clarke wasn't told that if he had a problem), the Bass Centre finally got me some replacement pickups...14 months later! I heard from a guy in Manchester who had 2 of these instruments, and one of his had a split in the wood. He told me phoned Alembic about the problem and was told they didn't have a repair dept, as they never needed one. To which he replied, 'Well, you better f###ing open one then!' Anyway, I'm very envious that you have one.

If you missed Steely Dan's gigs last week, fear not. Nearly Dan play at the Jamhouse, 1 St Paul's Square, Birmingham on Thursday 9 July. www.thejamhouse.com 0121 200 3030

[quote name='Linus27' post='531478' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:50 AM']I imagine he is going to be rather expensive. Just looking at the website now. EDIT: The correct link is [url="http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/"]http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/[/url] The link provided took me to a wool making website. Had me very confused [/quote] Oops, sorry! I think you might find he's not as expensive as you think.

If you want live shots then Tony Woolliscroft is your man. He was the Chilis official photographer for 15 years. His work is amazing...www.tonywoolliscroft.com. He has a book of Chilis photos out called 'Me And My Friends'. He's done virtually all the name bands over the years. He's based on Stoke but will travel. I have his number if you're interested.

I wanted to replace my 15 year-old Tobias Classic 5 and had limited funds. I looked at the spec on an Ibanez BTB - thru-neck, great woods, Bartolinis, and a lot less money. I probably should have tried it first, but I went ahead and ordered it. It ended up sounding nothing like and I sold it. Money wasted. However, I do know the player makes all the difference. Would Jaco have sounded better on a 4K Fodera?

[quote name='OldGit' post='531407' date='Jul 3 2009, 09:28 AM']Just thought .. By "boutique" do you mean a custom built bass made for the person who owns it or do you mean a bass you can buy off the wall in a posh bass shop like BassDirect?[/quote] By 'boutique' I was referring to any bass 2K upward, but custom-built counts.

I must admit, some basses go beyond boutique. Ritter basses seem like works of art. I'd still love one, though!

Thinking about it, has anyone seen the European guy on YouTube who shows you how to play cover songs? He seems to have the sounds and lines near as damn it.