ngombe

bonin in the boneyard (sp?) by Fishbone [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcJ9MDPkPxE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcJ9MDPkPxE[/url]

I've spent quite a bit of hard earned at [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk[/url] They have a shop in Newcastle I believe but I've only ever ordered via the net. I'd rate them as follows: Range 8 - Good coverage of all the big labels. It's an all round music retailer not a bass specialist though so expect Warwick, Fender, Yamaha, Rick and Ernie Ball but not uber brands like Modulus etc. Check stock before ordering though! Price 9 - seldom beaten in my experience. Always great for getting a price to haggle with at your local store. Helpfulness 9 - They've always been great at fixing problems when they've (occasionally) happened and will normally throw in a sweetener if there's any inconvenience. also +1 for PMT in Birmingham and [url="http://www.andertonsonline.co.uk"]http://www.andertonsonline.co.uk[/url]

Thanks for that great review Ped. I've been interested in these guys since I tried a bass with their pickups in - couldn't believe they were passive. I'm thinking of trying out their P bass pickups - not sure if I need the tone booster as well. I'll email them and ask. Joe

[quote name='tredders' post='25096' date='Jun 29 2007, 07:58 PM']Hey Joe (good name for a song that), how are you getting on with the Jazz? Love the Sub - I'll scoot over probably next weekend and drop some cash off if you're around mate? Mark.[/quote] hey I really like that jazz, I used it on the first tune currently posted on my myspace. Love the flats on it. I did have to shorten the strap by a foot or so though - at 5'11" not many people make me feel short If I had a bit more spare cash I'd be out looking for something very similar. next weekend should be fine, I'll be around, send me a text. Joe

one small tip I have (from a Marcus Millar workshop) - try slapping just below the neck and compare the sound when you slap down onto the neck. You'll notice quite a change in sound - it's a lot deeper when you don't make contact with the neck, there's more of the fundamental and less harmonics. Either way is fine, but it's worth listening to the difference and deciding which you like. MM hits the string below the neck for his sound but plenty of top players make contact around the last fret.

Thanks thumb4bob. They're just doodles while I'm waiting for a band to practice with. Two more weeks to wait and then I've got a meeting with a singer, keyboardist, trumpeter and (hopefully) a drummer to see if we've got the makings of a Band. All going well I'll be able to post something a bit more musical after that.

I can help you there... I'm sure you don't need that old Jazz anymore

Lovely tone and great sounding mix. Not really my scene but I have to say I prefer it to the old TFM (I used to sit next to Damon at work - sorry if you're reading this D - you're an awesome drummer but it's all too heavy for me). Glad to hear you're all back out there Joe

Hit me with your rhythm stick

I like it - I've downloaded it to have a mess around with. I might record my own horribly sloppy playing over it - otherwise I'll add it to my collection of practice pieces. either way - thanks for sharing it Joe

In Bass Player magazine (dec 06) Deja Vu is credited to Jon Jon Webb. I agree it's an awesome line though

Hey Snap. I for one don't think there's anything wrong with slap bass - There's plenty of funk bands around still using it just as there are bands using fingerstyle and pick. OK it might not be used in the charts much but most of the new pop music is either based on post-punk / indie (stuck in the 80s?) or computer generated / sequenced / sampled with no bass player at all. We live in recycled times more than ever. Have a look for Bootsy Collins / funkadelic, Victor Wooten, Sly Stone (Larry Grahan on bass as mentioned above) - I'm sure you'll find more. also here's some resources: [url="http://www.bassplace.com/fub.html"]http://www.bassplace.com/fub.html[/url] Joe

[quote name='mhuk' post='20789' date='Jun 20 2007, 02:45 PM']Style was probably the wrong word; I think I meant playing notes (however simple and whatever style) so that it sounds musical rather than just a sequence of notes. Is the word I'm looking for rhythm? At the moment I'd like to play a few tunes or riffs that feel musical. For example, Rapper's Delight and Deeper Underground are both enjoyable to play but are also probably beyond me (to give an indication of performance); sometimes they sound/ feel good to play, other times just a bunch of notes played sequentially.[/quote] Hi again. I'm not even going to try to add to all the musical theory and other technical advice above, it all sounds top notch and it comes from far better sources than me. I'm in a similar position though, albeit a couple of years down the line, and I've found a few non bass specific ideas help me. With dance music (e.g. Rappers delight / Good times) it's important to remember it's dance music - stand up and move with it. I'm not talking Justin Timberlake (as you can well imagine having met me ) but loosening up the shoulders, tapping your feet and swaying to the rhythm will help get the feel. Also listen to the song and sing / hum the bassline while tapping your left hand fingers in time. try and get the essence of the timing without worrying about all the technicalities of playing the actual line. This way you can develop your feel along with the technique and theory above and hopefully this will avoid the "sequence of notes" effect. I think it's worked for me - I've still got a long way to go too but I've definitely taken a few steps. Alternatively you could slip MikeyD a few quid to have a few one-on-ones - that's my plan B...

[url="http://www.idioverse.net/"]http://www.idioverse.net/[/url]

blimey cantdosleepy, just had a listen to some of their stuff - I couldn't count any of it easily (not saying much though). I don't think their drummer is a fan of the number 4. very best of luck though - I really hope it goes well for you

Just like to add my huge thanks to the host. It was great meeting you all and I'm already waiting for the reunion bash next year Joe

DR lowriders on my stingray - never found anything better. a bit pricey though

I've never played a Rick either so that one gets my vote

[quote name='mhuk' post='17831' date='Jun 14 2007, 08:11 PM']Look - yes; but sound/ play like? no. Personally not so bothered about amps/ cabs, more keen to have a play with as many basses as possible (however mundane they may be to some ) [/quote] more than happy to bring one. I'm quite new here and with so much bass porn flying around it's quite easy to start assuming everyone else has a private arsenal of basses that'd shame a small trade show. There'll only be room for one though - I'm leaving room for Mikey's gear cos it looks amazing. Quick show of hands then between now and saturday: a ) Stingray - I need to feel the funk! b ) US Precision - I like my groove rocksteady c ) Cort - It's the middle way for me.

I'm still planning to be there. I've promised lifts to Mikey D and Mobius but I haven't heard from Mobius for a while. I wasn't planning to bring any gear - I'm sure you all know what a Stingray and a Precision look like. I could bring my Cort A5 if anyone's curious to see one but I don't have any boutique gear or rare stuff like a lot of you so if I don't hear otherwise I'll be going down to drool (not literally I hope) over the real good stuff that I hope others will be bringing. I could probably throw my rack in the car if anyone's interested - Ashdown Labs MK500, bass pod pro and compressor. Once again it's nice stuff but it's not on a level with a lot of the gear here on basschat. The cabs won't fit though so I'd have to borrow. pm or reply if any of that stuff appeals Joe

As a fairly regular punter at places like this I'd list my priorities as.. 1 - reliability. If the kit is always out of order or the place is often shut unexpectedly I'll stop going very quickly. 2 - location - parking for those that drive, not too far out of town for those that don't. Remote industrial estates can be hard to get to on sundays with public transport. 3 - availability - most amateurs will need late evenings and weekends, 9pm during the week is quite usual round my way. 4 - price - I usually pay £7 - 8 ph peak times and as little as £4 ph for off-peak hours (usually if you book a few hours at a time) 4 - quality gear - Fancy kit is quite low down my list, if I'm rehearsing I'm not to worried what I'm playing through as long as it works. 5 - nice munchies and reasonably priced coffee. I'm sure you could get quite a bit of market research from the good people of BC to help with the business plan

Osibisa too - that's my Saturday taken care of.

[quote name='Mikey D' post='17546' date='Jun 14 2007, 12:47 PM']He's playing the 30th of June in Birmingham, in Digbeth somewhere I think.[/quote] At the custard factory: [url="http://www.myspace.com/rootsvillefestival"]http://www.myspace.com/rootsvillefestival[/url] even better - he's in the free (before 6pm) section

[quote name='slaphappygarry' post='17282' date='Jun 13 2007, 11:32 PM']If your serious about the band you will [i]make[/i] time for it as well as the job. G[/quote] + 1 I'm a single parent with a full time job and a 1.5 hour commute and I find time for music on the side. Sometimes the less time you have the more energy you put into it and the more you enjoy it when it happens. I play more now than when I had all day to myself 20 years ago. The keyboardist sounds like he rates you so I'm sure he'll try and be flexible - he's working too. Rehearsals can be moved. The gigging side is a toughy though - I rarely gig and I can manoever my on-call shifts around them so I don't get faced with that problem. I'd be very wary of choosing a band over work as I know there's always people around to jam with and there's always bands looking for new members if the worst comes to the worst. Not only that but you could turn down the job and find the band breaks down for other reasons.

[quote name='BB2000' post='13498' date='Jun 7 2007, 10:55 AM']You're a troll, and I claim my free prize ..[/quote] I've just learned what that means! d'oh - such a noob! (I thought it meant a big ugly monster - I'm happy to own up to that). Apologies if you thought I was trying to be divisive, far from it! I genuinely wanted advice and appreciated all that I got As it goes I've decided that me and the P bass are going to get to know each other a bit more and we plan to live together happily ever after.