RhysP

I think it's a case of many bass players find singing back-up vocals a necessary evil rather than being something they actively enjoy. Obviously if you're also the main vocalist then you have to put the hours in & learn to do it properly.

Chris is a true bass legend & one of my all-time heros.

[quote name='ARGH' post='449134' date='Mar 30 2009, 12:33 AM']Its not often I hear a REALLY strong lp these days.....All killer ,no filler...[/quote]
That's because with the advent of digital media (CDs & beyond) more time became available to put more music on, so the critical editing process that picked the best tracks to go onto an LP disappeared.
Some of my favourite albums from the 70s are only 35-40 minutes long, but are stronger because of that. If a band now has 15 songs they all go on the CD, regardless of quality, rather than having to pick the best 10.
How many times has a classic album been re-released on CD with a bunch of extra tracks that were recorded at the original sessions that turn out to be sh*t? That's why those extra songs didn't make it onto the original album in the first place.

The argument about declining playing standards has been going on for decades, and it is one that as musicians I think we place too much emphasis on. The general listening public just want something they connect with, and whether it has 2 or 200 chords in it is largely irrelevant. It's very difficult, as someone who is passionate about music, to fully understand just how unimportant music is to the majority of people. They're certainly not at all bothered about the technical proficiency of the members of the band, least of all the bass player!

There's great music made by people who possess, in some peoples minds, no "musical" ability whatsoever (there are thousands of musicians, jazzers notwithstanding, who have had long and successful careers without knowing the first thing about theory, harmony, modes or whatever), and there are also some phenomenally talented musicians whose music, quite frankly, bores me to tears.

Depends on the bass line. Playing guitar & singing is infinitely easier than playing bass & singing. I admire any bass player that does it well, even if I don't care for their actual music.

Stress balls & the like are a waste of time, the chances are all you'll do if you use one is end up with tendonitis.
The best way to build up the articulation, stamina and control you require is just to use your little finger more when you play.

Drummers & Guitarists can often be found looking for food in the bins at the back of hotels.
Keyboard players & vocalists tend to favour damp, shady places - try looking under big rocks in a wooded area...

Progtastic!
Taurus pedals are awesome.

I'm surprised to hear this actually - I've always found Musicman gear to be very good & very consistent, far more so than Gibson, Fender & Rickenbacker.
Having said that, I haven't tried any Musicman gear for a good 18 months, so maybe they're going through a crap patch.
Typical, I've been fancying a Stingray lately......

So that pointy metal bit is meant to stick in the ground?
I thought it was an aerial of some sort.......

Ignore me then - I always thought they were tuned the same as a violin GDAE.

Edited because of talking uninformed sh*te.

[b]What [/b]made you the bassist you are today?

A combination of laziness & clinical depression, which meant I wasted a lot of years not playing when I should have been.

[b]Who [/b]do you think had the biggest influences on how you play now?

The people I decided I DIDN'T want to play like.

[b]Where [/b]do you think you want to go from here?

I really don't know. I joined the forum partly in the hope it might push me in a definite direction od some kind, even if that means giving up playing. I figure that would be better than floundering around in a mire of indecision & inaction.
What I think I'd like to do is learn some serious musical theory, as I've always felt like a fraud for not having the first idea about any of it.

[b]Why [/b]do you think you want to go there?

To give me more options on the instrument (or any instrument for that matter).

[b]Do you believe[/b] you have a "personality" on the bass?

People have told me that I have a distinctive style, so I suppose I must have to a certain extent.

[b]Specialist question:[/b] [i][b]What [/b]is it you love about that 1971 P-Bass?[/i]

That I could get a good price for it & buy something decent instead.

What's the bass?

It's an ash body.

I used to lust after Tobias basses until I played one. The necks are unbelievably skinny & I just couldn't get on with it at all.
(That was a pretty old one mind, don't know what they're like since Gibson got their mitts on 'em)
No matter how gorgeous you think a bass is make sure you try before you buy, as there's always a chance you won't get on with it.
I wasted a lot of time & money on Rickenbacker 4001's before I realised they're just not for me, even though I love 'em. Same with Wals - beautiful basses but I didn't get on with that V neck profile they used.

Bass collection or possibly a Tune Bass Maniac (which the bass collection basses were modelled after).

[quote name='Zoe_BillySheehan' post='458965' date='Apr 10 2009, 12:19 AM']I completely love the Eat Em n Smile album

Z
x[/quote]

Hey there Zoe,
Have you ever heard the Spanish version of "Eat 'em & smile"?
Dave Lee Roth recorded a version with all the lyrics sung in Spanish - a friend of mine has got it on Vinyl

Billy really is a lovely guy, he couldn't be any more down to earth if he tried.
I've got a copy of "Sink your teeth into that" that he signed "To Rhys from William"!

I think the body may be smaller than a Fender Jazz - I've never compared it with a Fender side by side but Fenders always feel much bigger when I play them.

[quote name='Stingray5' post='458044' date='Apr 9 2009, 03:05 AM']Yeh, nice finish.
Is that an original Blade neck? Or maybe a retro-fit? I only ask as it doesn't seem to have the usual Blade headstock I remember.
Steve[/quote]

It's the original neck (one piece rock maple with an ebony fingerboard) - they had the Fender shape headstock before Fender made them change to a different, more pointed shape. I've got an old Blade Texas Standard Str*t with the same headstock too.

The bridge pickup does look a bit off in the photo, I've never noticed it before! I checked the bass & I can safely say that the bridge & pickup are both as they should be. The control knobs look weird as well - must be a trick of the light (and the fact that I'm sh*te with a camera).

It's active & the pickups are the original Levinson ones. The little switch is for bringing in the active tone circuit - there's a three band EQ circuit in the bass that you can preset. It's also got a hum cancelling pickup in the back & the tone control is an active low pass filter rather than a standard passive type.

Here's my wonderful Levinson Blade B4, bought new from the Bass centre in Wapping on 30th May 1989.
Bloody great bass, a real workhorse & the build quality is superb.
I actually part exchanged a custom built Jaydee Supernatural for this - some people thought I was nuts but I've never regretted it for a second.

[quote name='Stingray5' post='457014' date='Apr 8 2009, 02:07 AM']Might we see the Blade now? [/quote]
How can I possibly refuse the request of someone who has "In the court of the Crimson King" as an avatar?
I'll put some Blade piccies up in a new thread.

Some pictures for "Jam", who mentioned on my Introduction thread that he wanted to see my Zon.
(and of course for anyone else who wants to see it too!).

SOLD! MANY THANKS.

[quote name='Jam' post='456309' date='Apr 7 2009, 12:20 PM']Welcome!

Am curious to see your Zon..[/quote]

I'll post a couple of piccies in the Gear Porn section then......

Hello Zoe! Thanks for the Hello. Ooh, that rhymes!

Hello there,
I've made a few posts so I thought I'd better put something in the introduction section.

I've been playing bass for 30 years, though certainly for the last 10 or so the basses have been in their cases for 99% of the time. I used to gig, but got fed up with the whole interpersonal bullshit that seems to be inevitable in any band situation so I tend to just do the odd bit of recording now & then.

To be honest one of the reasons I signed up to the forum is I seem to be at a "sh*t or bust" time for the my bass playing. I fell out of love with playing a while back & play much more guitar & keyboards these days. I'm basically trying to work out whether my interest in bass is just dormant or stone cold dead. I've invested so much time & money into playing over the years I can't really bring myself to knock it on the head permanently.

Anyway, this is starting to so like a therapy session so I'll shut the f*** up!

I've owned loads of basses (& a Chapman Stick) but am currently playing just two - a 1989 Levinson Blade B4 & a Zon Legacy Elite four string fretless. Amp is an Ashdown ABM 300-C110 combo.

Rhys.