purpleblob

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='1112763' date='Feb 2 2011, 06:24 PM'][attachment=70923:Shuker6.jpg][/quote] That is VERY interesting. I've never been a fan of headless basses, but that really uses the whole headless concept to the nth degree. It's definitely feature rich.

Out: Warwick 6 string fretted (cannot recall the model) Warwick 6 string fretless Proline In: Sei 5 Jazz fretted (E-C) Vigier 4 string fretless Shuker 5 string fretless (E-C) Aim for 2011 are clear out gear that's no longer used enough, whether I'll succeed it that aim is another matter.

[quote name='dmccombe7' post='1111594' date='Feb 1 2011, 08:46 PM']John Gustafson - there's a very under-rated bassist who I had completely forgot about. I think he was one of the first to use / endorse WAL basses. ?[/quote] Yeah, I certainly remember him playing a Wal back in those days and it's possibly in part, due to him and Percy Jones playing Wal's I wanted one (well actually it was between a Wal and a pointy BC Rich for my first "proper" bass and the Wal won in the end ).

I don't have access to youtube at the moment so cannot post links to anything specific, but always loved Mark Egan's tone along with Yves Carbonne, Laurence Cottle has a really nice clean mwhaaaaaa tone when he plays fretless. Always loved Pino's sound back in the 80's, esp. with the octaver.

I played in a band back in the 80's that I hated - but it was the only money I earned (as other jobs were very thin on the ground). So if I needed to earn a living then yes I'd play ANY gig. However I do not earn a living from music and I play for myself only now, so no, I would not play ANY gig now. But hey, I do have my (rather high) price if anyone wants me to play a gig EDIT: Having just read some other posts, I hadn't really thought of ANY gig including the likes of Glitter or the BNP. No I wouldn't ever play any gig. My moral code wouldn't allow me to do that even if I needed the money, but this is just my personal view and no reflection on anyone who would play such gigs.

Wow this thread's been going for a while. I'm 46, used to play a lot in the 80's early 90's. Started out playing heavy rock/metal. Loved Geddy Lee, Steve Harris also the likes of John Gustafson. Used to play some of the working men's clubs around Leeds/Bradford with a less than competent singer, earned a few pounds but hated playing these places as it was all covers and not really the sort I would ever want to play if I had a choice. Also played with a couple of brilliant musicians (guitarist and drummer) who had the patience to put up with my lack of talent and help me improve. Around this time read an article about John McLaughlin where he mentioned a book on scales and harmony which inspired me to learn music theory. Ordered the book from the local library (in those it's often take take months to get a book). When it arrived learned everything I could (except reading music unfortunately - still on my todo list) and even wrote my own lookup cards for everything I learned (and wrote software to replicate these later on in my life) - this was my most productive time musician wise. Moved back south in the early 90's and formed a new band playing original Jazz Funk/Pop stuff, heavily into Stanley Clarke, Jaco, Jonas Hellborg and Mark King by now. Got tired of trying to "make it" and failing, also got married and started a family and decided time to try and actually make some money to support us, so put the bass down for a good fifteen years with occasional dabbling just to keep the fingers going whilst family and work took prime position. Playing again now, looking to try to create a little home recording studio sometime this year and start recording some music again. I enjoy improvising (possibly because I play mostly on my own and possibly cannot keep a line going for very long without getting bored), I love playing chords, harmonics, occasional slap and soloing. I still enjoy laying down funky grooves and still love heavy rock (although now classed as classic rock ). In my time I've gone from 4 strings to 6 to 7 to 8 string ERB's and now realising I'm most happy with 5 strings tuned E-C. I'm always trying to improve myself but ultimately I'm an adequate musician with desire but no real talent or time to be better. EDIT: Whoops, sorry, I hadn't realised I'd written so much

Not that anyone would wish for me to endorse their products but I wouldn't endorse anyones products anyway. The simple reason is I prefer the idea of not feeling tied (contractually or morally) to any one make of anything I use.

I'm an E-C person. I used to own a few 6 string basses as I figured why waste time just getting the low B and not have the high C option as well. But the more I played the 6ers the more I realised the low B (for me) was nothing more than a thumb rest. Ofcourse it all depends on the music you're playing and what you need. Think about what you need for the type of music or the style of your playing and choose appropriately.

Reminds me of the liquid metal terminator when he's getting blown to pieces. Well it'd certainly get you noticed

[quote name='Rich' post='1104051' date='Jan 26 2011, 05:10 PM']What on earth is going on with the ramp and the bridge p/u..?[/quote] Good grief, you're right. I didn't look closely enough when I saw this first listed and wondered what the hell had happened to the bridge pup.

[quote name='Rayman' post='1104278' date='Jan 26 2011, 07:55 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEI-Flamboyant-5-string-Bass-/160536016090?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2560b134da#ht_500wt_949"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEI-Flamboyant-5-str...da#ht_500wt_949[/url] Not mine, but it is a good mate of mine who's selling it, top bloke, and it's an outstanding bass. Buy with confidence.[/quote] Ah yes, I've been lusting after this all week, it is a beauty.

Neil Peart and if we could bring him back John Bonham, Michael Shrieve would prob. be another.

I'll go for Carlos Santana If I was technically good enough John McLaughlin and just for sheer fun, Jimi Hendrix.

[quote name='Doddy' post='1096783' date='Jan 20 2011, 08:49 PM']Initially it's the aesthetics. Then it's a combination of weight,balance,neck feel,tone...pretty much everything is an important factor.[/quote] I think that pretty much covers it. Ofcourse the look is the initial thing that'll get me interested in an instrument, unless it's such a unique sound or high quality instrument that the look becomes secondary. For me it's then do I think it's worth the price to me and assuming it is then it's whether everything else on the instrument fits what I like in an instrument. For me I like the neck not being too thin, I want a contoured body, modern sound and I like something that's a little individual.

[quote name='setekh' post='1092635' date='Jan 17 2011, 03:44 PM']That is quite a good point. I have come across a few Brazilian luthiers whose work appears excellent. Quite innovative, too. But without any references, how can one prevent the possibility of ending up with a (too expensive) lemon?[/quote] +1 One of the problems is that even if it's not a lemon, if it doesn't suit the owner it may be very difficult to sell it on. Mind you seeing the price you were sellling this Grosmann for I'd have been very tempted to take my chances on it had I see the sale thread (and had any money at the time ).

Well I finally got chance to take a look at this guy's videos last night and I was so disappointed as it was just such a non-event. All I can say is thank goodness for those 44 pics of the blonde in the bikini that I downloaded from Clarky's post

I think "Victa" is an incredible musician. The problem is there's so many youtube clips of him messing around or doing the pyrotechnics like the two handed stuff or fast slapping that people simply associate him with the flash side of playing bass, whereas on the various albums, whether solo or with Bela Fleck the guy simple knows how to play bass.

I haven't had chance to check this guy out. But being that there's people on this site who think the likes of Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten & Janek Gwizdala (to name but three) are not much good. This guy's at least in good company

Must search BC and see if I've done this before and whether my choices have changed but for now I'd say (and in no particular order) Xanadu - Rush (I'm sure I could list many more Geddy Lee lines, but this was one of the first that I heard when I got into Rush) Tempus Fugit - Yes Ramble On - Led Zeppelin Good Times - Chic Hit me with your rhythm stick - Ian Dury & the Blockheads Holy Spirit - Yves Carbone I'm gonna tear your playhouse down - Paul Young (could list quite a few of Pino's 80's work, including Go West and more Paul Young) Come on, Come over - Jaco Pastorius (could mention others by Jaco, but this one's just damn catchy) Blood Brothers - Iron Maiden Blow your mind - Jamiroquai That'll do for now

I was never a fan of Japan, but Mick's sound, feel and playing always stood out from the norm. an inspirational musician and a great shame to read this news.

In order of influence 1. Geddy Lee 2. Steve Harris 3. Stanley Clarke 4. Mark King 5. Jonas Hellborg Good to see Jonas mentioned in the previous post also EDIT: When I say in order of influence, I mean time line wise, i.e. Geddy was the first bassist I really noticed along with Steve Harris, then I heard Stanley Clarke and the world opened up for me and so on