Gust0o

Influence and inspiration are very personal things; I'm not sure my list would translate more objectively: 1) Cliff Burton - Metallica 2) Dave Ellefon - Megadeth 3) Steve Harris - Iron Maiden 4) Tom Araya - Slayer 5) Geezer Butler - Black Sabbath Great call on Chuck Schuldiner, above - what a talent that man was.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1203165' date='Apr 18 2011, 07:40 AM']The cheapest fanned fret bass you're going to find will be a Dingwall Combustion, they go for about £1300 new, I sold one 2nd hand for £800 recenttly. They're only 5 string though. You'll probably be looking at about £2000 for a 6 string. They're good, they feel great, sound good. I just found it was missing something for me.[/quote] Someone owes me a quid

[quote name='Bankai' post='1201463' date='Apr 16 2011, 04:55 AM']Bi-winning?[/quote] This deserves a medal. A medal fought from the mouth of a shark.

Wow, what a stunner - very nice, longtimefred. Good to see someone so excited about their bass, too

I always wanted to play guitar as a youth. My picking up bass was more driven by the fact that the cool kids had already monopolised the six-strings by the time I got round to it, and I didn't think I could convince my parents of the value of drums! I did pick up the guitar at the last rehearsal. The proximity of the strings did for me. I suspect it might be harder to convert in that direction, than the other.

I'll put a quid on the next post saying "Dingwall"...

Amen, Bassassin. I'm glad to read the above.

[quote name='tom1946' post='1202579' date='Apr 17 2011, 01:31 PM']9 at the moment, had 27 this time last year. Place is looking a bit empty [/quote] Bloody hell, Tom! You'll be able to see the floor now, eh?

Best of luck with it, it looks like a stunning bass

Will he ship to Portugal?

I love Wayne

Okay, we need another sporting analogy... Can some wit make darts work?

[quote name='Doddy' post='1200740' date='Apr 15 2011, 02:30 PM']You can go to the driving range and hit a few buckets of balls and occasionally you'll fluke a shot that goes straight for miles but most will fall short and go all over the place. If you want to consistently hit decent shots you need to learn the basics of swing and grip and all that lark. It's the same with music.[/quote] You can do that without the rule book, Doddy. So many have. Again, as you say, it's the same with music

[quote name='Doddy' post='1200658' date='Apr 15 2011, 01:41 PM']If I still played golf,then yes I would take my rules to the driving range,especially if I was even vaguely serious about it.[/quote] Good for you, Doddy. Massively wasted on the driving range, but good for you. A bit like musical theory being wasted if you're highest ambition is to play covers on Youtube, which is almost certainly the musical equivalent of a few post-work balls on the driving range. However, they might want to have a thumb through that book if they fancy a round on the course; or, as in the OP's case, if they've got a guitarist fancying slotting into a band. I'm now considering slotting some kind of golf balls joke in alongside the strong oral tradition of this thread.

For a minute I thought Doddy was going to keep it on track. However, I have had my snigger. Facial justice. Thanks guys

Can someone please make the obvious 'oral tradition' joke so we can have a good, old-fashion schoolboy snigger and get this thread back on track? Thanks.

At the heart of the Basschat community we have a dichotomy - in that the community comprises both professional players and hobbyists; with further complexity and ambiguity thrown in by the various shades of learning, natural talent, effort and mindset within both camps. I think it's quite right that those who aspire to improve, or who perform professionally, should want to read the music and understand the theory; I'm equally of the belief that large swathes of it would be wasted on many of us. That deals with the good/competent end of the community, mind - and I think it begs the questions of what the basic level of knowledge or ability is for playing with other people in any realistic fashion. If the guy genuinely has no idea - either in knowing the notes he's playing, or at least being able to hear them and work them out in his own fashion, then it's a hiding to nothing until he does.

[quote name='Machines' post='1200324' date='Apr 15 2011, 09:47 AM']As for improving your playing - sticking with one will stop you focusing on the tone you're hearing and looking to improve that, rather than your musical ability or technique.[/quote] A good point, and well made. I don't think there's any harm in playing a few - the same as with any hobby. Would you wear a single pair of rugby boots? Swing only one set ogf golf clubs? Probably not, as there's a lot to be said for mastering the game as a whole, rather than mastering a single instrument.

Whilst I'm at it, anyone oop North fancy some kind of MIM exchange? Was looking to swap my Precision for a like Jazz. Could be a longshot, given the MIM love-in in this thread!

[quote name='51m0n' post='1198611' date='Apr 13 2011, 07:54 PM']Bass last if I get that luxury. You cant record a b-line and know its right without the vocal there IMO....[/quote] I'd like to +1 the above, from my very limited experience. I posted a thread about what I might do to improve my basslines - and, thinking back over the history of the band, it was very bloody hard in the beginning before we found a vocalist. You try and do so much, whereas what you're seeking is that perfect blend. Ah well, I'm learning.