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Kongo

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Everything posted by Kongo

  1. [quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1353714160' post='1877866'] I had no idea he played fretless! He really does have a great cutting sound [/quote] WHAT!? :-P Just kidding. Not many do until they see him live or learn his tunes etc and search. Unlike players like Alex Webster, he's kind of reclusive on the internet. He's mainly a session player though and extremely busy. Spoke on a forum once and he was the guy who said it's very possible to make a living as a session bassist in metal, and off I went. he's right though, there's more than just funk and jazz for us bassists. Ever listened to Death - Individual Thought Patterns? The re-master upped the bass volume, you can hear his fretless work on this song perfect, it's my favourite. Listen to that chorus...such a genius line! And it hurts to learn. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwT2oV9qOEA[/media] He started in 1993 with a cheap fender copy he had from early days and slapped a Fender fretless neck on it, routed the jazz pickup etc and put it in. I didn't realise that before Thor bass he used to play a custom fretless ESP F-series. I love the F-series and it made me that much happier knowing an influence of mine played them once. :-P Here's one of few vids of him with his new basses: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8uHP303Fto[/media] Real hard to find much about em tbh. Also plays in a Jazz Fusion band called "Dark Hall", for those not so inclined to the "darker" side of the music world. :-P
  2. GP 6. It's a massive upgrade, but not as easy to jump in and use. You have more realistic sounds, EQ and head / cab choices / effects etc you can put in. It doesn't sound as good outside the box but once you get a good template for the sounds it's great, and you can download actual bass sounds also. It looks like a combination of Cubase and Fruity Loops Studio.
  3. [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1353665602' post='1877073'] That's a good point. I'm guilty of that myself. I don't play fretless all that often and when I do I am very aware that I play differently - with far more slides, vibrato and so on. It's almost as if occasional fretless players have to make everyone notice that they are playing fretless... Why do we do that I wonder? [/quote] Monkey see, monkey do. It's all people seem to do, so you do it. Like in a shop, someone picks up a bass and BAM, even if they can't play, here comes the slap. :-P See, for me it didn't work this way. A fretless player once said years ago that vibrato is often overused as a way to cover up bad intonation. They said best way to get into fretless is to turn off your mind it's this scary, different mythical instrument and to just play it as you would, but remember you can do things that you could not. So, first time I got my 6-string fretless, I did a few slides but still to this day don't do vibrato often. In fact I still prefer to bend. But I will transition between notes. [quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1353673738' post='1877220'] I was being facetious which I don't think really came across. For the record, I have one bass which I actually play which is fretless. And while you can play normally and not put in a lot of 'mwah' and vibrato, the harder thing for me was not doing it all the time. [/quote] No man, I got you. I just wanted to cover all avenues and respond fully. :-P [quote name='Leen2112' timestamp='1353678411' post='1877315'] I have a few recordings of Sean Malone who always plays fretless, mainly in extreme weird tech metal jazz stuff. He's also on a Rush tribute CD called working man where he does all geddys stuff on fretless, It's pretty good, good too is his band Gordian knot. [/quote] He was the bassist in Cynic, who are a huge influence of mine. I love the older progressive death metal like Cynic and Atheist. He has such a fast and rapid percussive fingerstyle usually used in funk and people who mimic Jaco. Such precision too. :-) In case I haven't already, a fretless wizard who defied the odds goes by the name of Steve DiGiorgio. He even plays thrash on a fretless and has such a powerful and cutting tone. not at all traditional but then just like in the fretted world, there are no rules to say fretless HAS to sound one way. Two songs by him I like I shall post here for an example. 1st is from Vintersorg. It's quite melodic and acoustic, so it's safe to click on. This uses a traditional sound. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7D6_T-Zwhc&list=FLe95cea1mO9TxlriPEMR4fA&index=4&feature=plpp_video[/media] 2nd is from Sadus, this is where he uses a much more cutting tone and BOY does it cut and yes, that is a fretless. It's a Thor Mjolnir bass. This isn't so ear friendly to many so click with caution. :-P [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmZ9Ia5nEbo&list=FLe95cea1mO9TxlriPEMR4fA&index=2&feature=plpp_video[/media] Such fluid picking also. I've noticed from watching live and listening to him play that a fretless with a cutting tone like his seems to have more "thunk" to the note. It cuts but it doesn't buzz too much...hard to explain. You'll hear in on the Sadus tune when he really digs in. I'm still yet to get this tone though...working on it.
  4. [quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1343672680' post='1753528'] Hi chatters I always wondered why Duff From guns n roses and Jason from Metallica use Eb tuning? Can anyone shed some light on the theory behind this as I can't remember using Eb tuning when playing guitar to their stuff ( it was a while ago though!!) Cheers [/quote] Metallica used to be a thrash metal band and most bands of that sub-genre opt for Eb standard. It's a touch lower than E-standard, but not too low that their constant "thrashing" of the lowest string becomes muddy. Lots of low string pedalling is used in thrash and even though they have changed as a whole, it's where they are rooted as players personally. Guitars in standard sound quite piercing at times, metal is more about the low end. How does a guitar gain more low end? Same way a bass guitar has it's low end; lower note register. I agree, detuning can be a PITA. I hate dropped tuning though, for bass it messes up fingerings royally. The detuned standard variation I dislike however is C-standard...Hardly anyone uses it, such a limbo tuning. So when a song comes up in that tuning a bass has to go into limbo too, to rarely be played. :-P
  5. [quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1352879356' post='1868628'] This, in my opinion, is the right approach... For both hands! If your playing feels comfortable and sounds good, then there's no point in worrying about which finger goes where. Overthinking will be more of an obstacle! [/quote] Have to agree. Academic technique doesn't always work for everyone. Look at a load of professional players, some of the most advanced players have technique a schooled tutor would claw his face off over. As long as you are using all 4 fingers and not ditching one completely I'd say it's fine. Besides, economy of motion is just that. It doesn't mean you have to lock in one place per se. You could play a line in a box position, but the stretches could be crazy. You may need to move your hand up a few positions and back down again. As economy is what you want, moving your hand to make something easier for your fingers should be allowed. Otherwise, yes, your hand has economy but now your fingers are overworked. Follow?
  6. [quote name='nickytheafghan' timestamp='1353607964' post='1876586'] No one?!?!? [/quote] Post #49 has a diagram about this I believe. :-)
  7. [quote name='lowlandtrees' timestamp='1353606366' post='1876563'] Thanks for this. Apols.....I was of the impression that the low string was tuned to C..........thinking of getting a 5 string. I'm a tad old fashioned and think that bass ws meant to play low notes. The lower the better......bet that will upset some people lol. I can see that the nut thing could be an issue. Thanks again. [/quote] it's 2012, almost 2013. If playing note pitches that are usually found above the 5th fret upsets someone, just ask them what their décor is like under the rock they live in. :-D
  8. ...I seem to have forgotten about radius when it comes to necks. Odd. I must check what radius my fingerboards have. My BTB 6-string is almost flat, but I'm not too keen on it. Flat necks and radius fingerboards feel unnatural to my fingers and thumb. Not entirely sure why.
  9. There was a guitar tutor at my music course years ago who would take a left handed guitar into the room and attempt to play it. He did this if there were any students who felt embarrassed to play in front of him, he'd put them at easy by showing that he too couldn't even play a note once. By making a fool of himself they would be more at easy. Amazing how confused you get when trying this. Your brain just doesn't work, you'll be lucky if you can even get your hands to move, let alone play a note.
  10. 4" wide leather strap...very tempting but I'm not keen on Elixirs. :-/
  11. [quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1353606135' post='1876559'] Then why have a fretless in the first place [/quote] Because of the freedom.You can't get micro tones on a fretted and you can't transition and blend notes on one either. Neither can you slide harmonics. Let me ask this; why has fretless become "mwah only" when it comes to playing? The western world has become reliant on frets. Banjo players also have a big dabble into the fretless world, none of them speak of mwah. This kind of thinking isn't broad enough. When I play a fretless I don't always obsess over the mwah, same as I don't obsess on vibrato which is all someone will do when you hand them one. I guess another reason is option. Maybe a quieter, more ambient moment comes into the song. If you take the outlook that you must have a tonne of "mwah" and be sliding all the time in songs and yet you don't, then you'll be playing fretted and oops, now you wish to put some in you're now screwed. I guess I could flip your question around and say "Why play fretted if you don't slap"? :-P
  12. [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1353600204' post='1876459'] To be fair, I'm not sure that's a terribly good example. I find it quite hard to pick out what he's playing - especially when he is playing in lower registers. Would that sound cut through a dense mix? I have my doubts. Nice playing though! [/quote] I play fretless basses in bands where the tone is heavier than that and still cut through. The issue my ears pick up on here is when there's a heavy part he seems to put on some sort of fuzzy distortion, which isn't a remedy at all. He could tweak his EQ to fit the spectrum of frequencies they don't have. He cuts through like mad on the clean parts but when the guitars are distorted they seem to have opted for a thin sounding tone, relying on the lower tuning to thicken it. He could cut through a LOT more than he does. BUT, maybe the point is he doesn't need to. Seems his time to put the sonic signature is the clean tone. ...As I type again here comes the chorus, he's using so many shoebox mids on that distortion. That's why you feel he doesn't cut through. Also might be worth adding here, a fretless bass can just be played as is. You don't HAVE to slide and have a huge amount of "mwah" at all times y'know. :-P
  13. Kongo

    Spectors?!

    Anyone else noticed a sudden surge of Spector's up for sale at the moment? When I was looking for one 6 months ago...nothing...Then kept looking...nothing. Now I'm not, suddenly; Legend, Euro and Rebop's for sale and a lot of 5-string ones too. X-/
  14. Steve DiGiorgio would like a word with you on fretless not cutting through. He's made an entire career playing in extreme metal bands with a fretless bass. Used to use Carvin and a custom ESP F-series fretless 5's but these days uses Mjolnir 5 and 6-string Thor Basses. The album "Individual Thought Patterns" by Death demonstrates great fretless play and that was a crappy copy he slapped a Fender neck on. Failing that, give Marco Cortes a call, he has a system called "fret groove" which gives a fretted / fretless hybrid sound by use of brass plates countersunk flush into the board. Me personally, I also use fretless in rock and metal. 6-string fretless in a progressive band and a 5-string fretless in a death metal band. Works a treat. Cutting through is, once again, about EQ to me...And they way you attack I guess. :-P
  15. [quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1353319211' post='1873473'] I'm no expert but as I understand it it's prolonged exposure to loud sounds that messes your hearing up not short sharp lound bangs. I've also heard of people getting tinitus from bangs on the head [/quote] Any form of trauma can cause it. My friend got it real bad because he stood near a cymbal when a very loud drummer hit it. He used earplugs all the time until that one smack. Put him out for a couple of days with hearing like he was under water and after it cleared he's suffered from a loud "wheeeeeee" noise ever since. Get's louder the louder the noises in the vicinity. Another has never been exposed to loud volumes in their life but pissed around with a balloon. Popped in their ear, complained about a loud "wheeee" noise ever since. Keeps em awake some nights. Doesn't need to be over time, any form of trauma can cause it. It's about the amount of damage done, not how long it has been exposed.
  16. [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1353318591' post='1873464'] I am missing something or am I right in thinking the op was asking about low C rather than high C? if so that will be fine as you will be tuning the B up to C which should be ok i would say as long as its got a good truss rod as it might want a tiny tweak tighter, thats all. [/quote] In that case; of course it will. It'll be a bass in C-standard with a higher string. As for tensions, don't get into assumptions that a low-B string has lower tension than a high-C. It'd rattle on the frets otherwise. :-P
  17. I'd be happy with that man. Hope you like the finish too, this is what a lot of people end up changes basses for, true story. :-P 24 frets, lovely neck, great electronics, might even be there after the apocalypse. There's nothing you can't do on that.
  18. I'll say this, and you can go from there; ALL basses are capable of taking ALL tunings. Want a 5-string tuned with a high-C instead? Go for it. Some alter the nut but others find the strings sit more how they want them this way. :-)
  19. Kongo

    Spectors?!

    I'd love to have a chance at trying out a Spector. Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse and MANY others I see and hear wielding them get phenomenal tone and once they get one, they never change to another bass again. But the Euro series is too right for my blood currently. I have looked into the Legend but I'm not sure it'd be wise to compare as they have the Tone Pump jr. (easy to swap as I've installed these on my non-Spector basses) and EMG Hz, which are passive. So nothing like the real deal...and the dot inlays look bland in comparison. BUT, I would love to try one sometime. If I didn't love the LTD F-series as much as I do I'd be tempted by a 5-string Legend that's up for sale on here somewhere...It's also in a pleasing colour. :-P
  20. [quote name='hollywoodrox' timestamp='1352809907' post='1867622'] which one has crystal mountain, that is great, chuck schuldinner was a great guitarist, the guy out of necrophagist is awesome, I like that very melodic album carcass did I think it influenced the Swedish melodic death bands like skyfire dark tranquility etc [/quote] That would be "Symbolic", which many consider to be one of the best albums in Death Metal ever...One of my favourite songs and albums so I won't disagree. Plus y'know, clean guitar etc. If only others would realise quality death metal doesn't always have to be balls to the walls, unless you're in a brutal death metal band, then yes, go ahead haha! Didn't realise we had people of such refined taste here. :-) Now you influence me; Crystal Mountain. What a song! Such melody. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8g5QsT-RSw[/media]
  21. Been in a lot of "loud" bands and listen to some really "loud" music but my ears are still fine. Usually have an earphone in one ear at work playing for about 6 hours a day at least each day I work, but only softly. I wear earplugs when I'm rehearsing and at gigs, so that maybe explains it. You dudes do realise it's not just "ear bleeding" bands that cause damage, right? As I'm seeing a pattern. Could be something as simple as a balloon bursting near your ear, or an Ambulances siren. The trauma doesn't have to be prolonged to get it, although it doesn't help either. :-P
  22. I have a Bass Overdrive pedal by them, it's a BOSS clone by sound. Build wise it won't survive as much punishment, being plastic...But tbh, who throws their pedals out of windows anyway? :-P Tempted by a compressor so I have one in stomp box form I can take anywhere.
  23. They are fantastic on electric guitars for "squealies", them ultra wide pinch harmonics you can hit and bend forever. Again, these will mainly be used in metal, usually Extreme Metal styles (Death, Thrash, Black etc) and have been adopted into the hardcore crossover sub-genres too. Guitarists don't seem to like them for clean tone because they don't overdrive the valves like classic pickups do. Also, guitarists are very funny at trying "new" technology. Graphite necks and active pickups are very taboo in the guitar world. [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1352715490' post='1866346'] They sound good on this video [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3-uPgqcHuo[/media] [/quote] [size=2]"The all new EMG[/size] [size=6][b]JVX [/b][size=2]pickup." [size=4]Jesus that made me laugh! He does it each time haha.[/size][/size][/size]
  24. Only 4-string I use is my P-bass I built and that's just because it's a P-bass decked out with DiMarzio Will Power set and everything else. It's a tribute to a few of my influences. Beyond that I rarely touch beyond 5-string. I play 6-string as well, mostly for my main band because I feel they cater better for progressive styles...But I may bring the 5's back into it. I like the spacing and the way they feel. The necks are wider which helps with my long fingers and large palms. I like having the option of having that lower foundation, or higher if I tune it that way / play 6-string. I don't "camp" on the low string, still root myself around the E and A but TBH you should play how you like, never mind what people think. If you wanna camp on that low-B do so, like a baws! :-D
  25. [quote name='Inti' timestamp='1352748556' post='1866990'] The Human album is absolutely gold. Never heard something as good as that in Death Metal again. Listening to: Some songs I'm recording and I'm really getting tired of them... [/quote] Perhaps try: Atheist - Unquestionable Presence. Great album, death metal band with loads of fusion influence. I agree, Human is a fantastic album, features Steve DiGiorgio also. :-) And so by that I am listening to; Atheist - Mother Man.
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