The Funk

Now I know what my guitar-playing cousin's wedding present will be!

Would prefer a slightly larger headstock, I think.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='333065' date='Nov 20 2008, 12:52 PM']Cue marketplace for semi-discharged 'vintage' batteries and arguments over whether Tesco's or Duracell have more 'Mojo'.[/quote] Oh, that's brilliant!

Advice noone gives a beginner: your first amp will probably not be your last.

I quite like it - wouldn't mind an f-hole in there too.

Have you thought about a Pod?

I run my DHA into the input on my amp. The output level control lets me balance it with the clean signal.

I love it! [i]I Fought The Law[/i] and [i]Purple Rain[/i] were superb!

Find a decent quality photo of it, buy the Fender 70s Classic Jazz Bass, take it to a good place for a refinish - and bam!

[quote name='phil_the_bassist' post='332596' date='Nov 19 2008, 08:04 PM']or (for those of us who loath the growing number of artists that sample killer funk basslines with no implied recognition to the original) Good Times by Chic, and Super Freak by Rick James /pedantic outburst [/quote] I was just about to write that. Thanks for not making me feel like the only one!

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='330492' date='Nov 17 2008, 10:42 AM']The problem is when I'm playing live and start thinking 'damn I'm playing well' it all goes to sh*t.[/quote] I know that feeling!

A 13-string made of a light, low-density wood and water-resistant finish => doubles as a boat.

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='330757' date='Nov 17 2008, 04:03 PM']Two observations: * Chops are something you put apple sauce on. * Sex Face? I'm 44 and married - I don't have a sex face [/quote] Chops = technical ability; a wide vocabulary of stock phrases Sex face = gurn a musician pulls to demonstrate overwhelming intensity, passion, focus and concetration (cf. gurn = an odd or unusual facial expression, often unflattering or undignified)

If you're a really simple bass player who doesn't have much in the way of chops just do this: 1. Walk up to the front of the stage 2. Raise your fretting hand aloft 3. Put on your sex face 4. Bang out 4 half note open Es over two bars 5. Bang out 8 quarter note open Es over two bars 6. Bang out 16 eighth note open Es over two bars 7. Bang out 24 triplets open Es over two bars 8. Whack all 4 open strings at once and let them ring for one bar 9. Gesture at the crowd with your left hand to applaud 10. Get back to playing the tune

I keep a bass next to the bed (yes, I'm single now after many years). I also think going to simple blues jam sessions and joining in is a good idea. It gets you back into playing and after a couple of times, you won't have any nerves at all.

Get a bass teacher.

Duff / Izzy / Slash - it just works!

Try one. In my mind it makes perfect sense but I have the same problem as you - never tried one.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='328216' date='Nov 13 2008, 10:41 AM']Its a 'less is more' tune. Just play the roots and let the harmonies speak for themselves. Give the notes space to breath.[/quote] I get the guys to play the Freddie King arrangement of [i]T'Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do[/i] instead these days. It's got some nice gospel/blues/jazz changes.

[quote name='bremen' post='328172' date='Nov 13 2008, 09:53 AM']Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn[/quote] [quote name='wateroftyne' post='328187' date='Nov 13 2008, 10:13 AM']Cropper and Dunn.[/quote] YES! [quote name='rayfw' post='328186' date='Nov 13 2008, 10:13 AM']Nile Rodgers and Nard.[/quote] YES! I'd add Bootsy/Catfish as well.

[quote name='bassace' post='327667' date='Nov 12 2008, 02:58 PM']Incidentally, we were playing Georgia on my Mind last night with a four piece rhythm section. Bass, piano and guitar were all playing different chords and insisting each one of us was correct. Only the drummer was right. Funny how it usually happens with that tune.[/quote] That song is so hard to play well. I've never played a good version - only train wrecks.

Seems to be that the two most popular pre-gig rituals are tuning up and taking a piss. That's what I do too. I tend to wash my hands a lot before a gig with warm water - the ghetto warm-up.

Jazz, Rock n' Roll - they both mean f***ing. Funk = the smell of f***ing. It's all filthy.