Pete Academy

[quote name='BottomE' post='1347504' date='Aug 21 2011, 08:52 PM']Its a product of immersing yourself in different aspects of the genre and understanding where funks origins lie. There is also the whole sub genre thing - jazz funk, latin funk, soul funk even acid jazz to a degree. I guess i am saying that it wont happen overnight but the more you listen the more things will start to rub off.[/quote] Exactly.

[quote name='Blademan_98' post='1347482' date='Aug 21 2011, 08:38 PM']So what you are all saying is, if I can't feel it, I will only get so far? How much effort do you put in before deciding that you will never make it as a funk player? I am being serious, as I really would like to join a funk band. I've been listening and playing along to various bands (Earth, Wind and Fire being a fav at the moment). Cheers Blademan[/quote] I really think you need to listen to this kind of music for some time to be able to master it. The same with reggae. Play along to the great funk bands and you will grasp it eventually.

This one is different from 'groove'. Everyone likes to think they have mastered, say, slap and can play funky, but it's far removed from that. So, do you think it can be taught, and if so, how?

We have Bootsy's Funk University and countless books and DVDs. You can show people riffs and try to explain ghosts notes and playing 'on the one', but I still think you have to listen and immerse yourself in this style for a long period before you can master it. Any thoughts on this?

Even at a new price I consider this bass to be one of the best out there for the money. Snap it up!

The bass I've got is extremely bland sounding, and there's no power whatsoever. I tried raising the pickup, but the screws just came out without any effect on the actual pickup itself I looked up the spec on this bass and the Street one at £249 and couldn't see any difference to justify the price. Absolute pile of crap.

I have a used Flea Bass in our shop. Cost around £350 new. Probably the worst bass I've ever played. He's obviously just using it for the video.

Excellent.

[quote name='chris_b' post='1342530' date='Aug 16 2011, 10:55 PM']Good grief!![/quote] Sorry, but it's true. Does anyone really notice the difference, and does anyone care?

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1343652' date='Aug 17 2011, 08:47 PM']Agreed. And actually, that's a rather different issue to the online issue really. I know what you mean but I wouldn't really see it as 'selling out'. If they end up selling to online companies it will be because economics forced them into it. If that's the only way they can eventually stay in business then it's not really selling out is it? I agree with that wholeheartedly. But how long can shops survive in the face of people trying out instruments in the shop and then buying them online? I don't see the demise of shops as some sort of planned conspiracy, just a natural consequence of the advantages of buying online. There you go . . . .[/quote] As Steven Wright said: 'You can't have everything...where would you put it?'

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1343620' date='Aug 17 2011, 08:18 PM']You're right, I have no idea how a music shop is run, but I have a fair idea of the retail experience from the customer's perspective. And these sort of threads rarely seem to put music shops in a favourable light, based on the experiences of other customers. Fender might not supply online stores at the moment but I seriously doubt that policy is set in stone for eternity.[/quote] Fair enough, those shops need to get their sh*t together. I sincerely hope Fender don't sell out. As stated previously, music shops are the best place to try instruments out, not online back and forth...how stupid is that? I would love to stock more brands in our bass dept, but funds just don't allow it. Mark at Bass Direct is the man for that. For God's sake, don't put him out of business.

Regarding the OP, I agree it's frustrating when you don't get an email or phone call back. I keep stressing to our staff that we answer all emails immediately. Buying smaller items from your local store, which need to be ordered, is difficult for the store to maintain price matching. For instance, if you wanted to order a power supply and the store had to order it specially, the companies charge anything up to £20 in posting and small order handling charge. If someone needs a guitar part I generally refer them to WD Music or Allparts, and tell it's the cheaper option, as those online stores specialise and keep stock. Flyfisher, whilst I understand your comments, you have no idea how a music shop is run. You forsee doom and gloom for real shops, which is happening, as the other month four music shops closed down, including Dolphin, who have luckily been rescued by PMT. Don't forget, many major companies, such as Fender, will not supply online-only stores. What's the point? Eventually, those manufacturers will come under strain. Companies like JHS, who do the Vintage brand, will supply your local f***ing bakery. They were one of the first companies to supply Argos, which says it all. Last Xmas we saw a major slump in guitar package sales, thanks to Lidl and Wilco selling packages for around £70. Attractive for the cash-strapped parents. Regarding customer service, if a family comes in for a starter guitar for their six-year-old, I will ensure they get an instrument that is the right size and ensure the guitar leaves the shop tuned and with the strings stretched in. For a forty quid sale. Argos, anyone? As a retailer I'm becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the online buyer being able to return something which he or she doesn't like, and have the shop foot the carriage fee. We have carriage free for £100-or-over sales. However, collection is more expensive. It reeks of the Marks and Spencer 'buy a dress, wear it to a party over the weekend, and return it for a refund on Monday' syndrome. We recently had a customer buy an expensive Engl Steve Morse head online. He used it for a gig and said it didn't work. The distributor collected it and found no fault whatsoever, but this customer moaned about his rights and we will have to refund him. Turns out we have discovered he has done this with other shops in the past. Very frustrating.

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1343209' date='Aug 17 2011, 02:59 PM']I reckon people only used shops because there was no alternative, so we've built up a sort of nostalgia about them. But the reality is that they're pretty crap really. They only stock a tiny proportion of the products available in their marketplace (how could they afford to do anything else?) so you have to traipse around lots of shops if you want to really check out what's available, which takes time and money. And even if they do normally stock it you can't be sure they will actually have stock on the day you decide to buy. And none of that even starts to address the overhead issues which increases prices. These days we have the internet. We can browse through entire product ranges at the click of mouse in the comfort of our own homes. We can read product reviews from real people, we can see video demonstrations. If we buy, the goods are delivered to our door in a day or two and if we don't like them or change our mind we have a statutory right to return them for a full refund. And, of course, prices are generally lower because they don't have to support expensive property leases, staff and demo stock. If both these options were available at the dawn of commerce then shops would never have got off the ground. They've had a good head-start, so will take a while to die off, but remember that the web has only been with us for 20 years and we're now seeing a generation of consumers who've grown up with it and can't understand the point of shops. I'll give shops another 20 years or so.[/quote] See you in the dole queue.

I think it's bollocks, just like a Badass bridge, and adds nothing to the sound, except maybe 1 millisecond more sustain. Same with 'bolt on' vs 'thru neck'.

Ten members, sometimes nine if we can't get a full brass section. Two girl backing singers included. I'd love a percussionist and a trombone player, but the logistics would get silly, and so would the payout.

Amazing stuff, Mike. Top class.

[quote name='Craigmartini' post='1339000' date='Aug 13 2011, 06:53 PM']An original bass jam I wrote call "I was Bored" I posted the song a while ago, but here is a video. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v="]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[/url] [/quote] Great composition. Lovely sound, technique, and timing. Winner. Really enjoyed it.

Contact Ashdown's repair dept, number on their website. The after sales is second to none.

I've bought low Bs from Strings Direct in the past.

Last minute bump if anyone's interested.

Some years ago we did Gaslighting Abbie. There's an intricate middle part riff in the song that is played by bass and piano only. When we came to play it, all the band members including guitars, brass and vocals did the riff as well. Sounded a right mess.

[quote name='Sue' post='1338086' date='Aug 12 2011, 07:34 PM']Looks like I might have to miss this one - (damn!). And it's such a great venue.[/quote] No probs, Sue. Anyonr else going?

I've tried every known brand throughout the years and DR are, IMO, the best ever.

Entirely by ear.