retroman

Mrs Retroman has got one of these, and it's a cracking bass. Loaded with SD quarter pounders it really growls.

Free bump for a great bass

Stick me down as a provisional. haven't got anything planned that day yet, and it's not that bad a run from Derbyshire

I can bring some basses along, but I would struggle to bring my heavy weight rig

With the weakening pound, and rising costs of imported basses, perhaps it's time we all bought British. We have some fine luthiers in this country

I'm starting to feel like custom built is the way forward....

[quote name='jezzaboy' post='722119' date='Jan 23 2010, 12:56 PM']In his book White line fever, Lemmy said that his roadie damaged his favourite Rickinbacker bass and although it could be repaired, his roadie went mad, smashed the thing to pieces and was promptly sacked!
I`m not sure which one but he said it was his favourite at the time. I don`t think it was his famoue Rickenb*stard.


[attachment=40860:lemmyy.gif]

Jez[/quote]
I wonder if it was the white one from the Overkill/ Bomber era? I think that Maple board one still survives. I was at a Motorhead gig a while back, and the Rickenbast*rd failed him, and out came old faithful.

Motorhead's "Ace Of Spades".

Awesome album from start to finish. My favourite ever bass sound

I can't help wondering what happened to some of Lemmy's old basses.........

Be careful............................


My Gibson 'Bird is lovely to play, once the action was sorted out, has a lovely fast neck, and has a really good growly Tbird sound to it. Check any potential purchase out VERY carefully, as IMHO, quality control is poor

Thats not to say that there aren't some really beautiful Tbirds out there, maybe I just got unlucky

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='721009' date='Jan 22 2010, 11:48 AM']IIRC, don't Rickenbackers have a relatively small "spreading-out" of the strings from nut to bridge? I mean, the strings aren't parallel, but they're much more so than you'd find on a Fender. That could account for the difference in feel. Unless IDRC. [/quote]

Spot on
The strings on the Ric are also really close to the edge of the board as well. The neck on my 4001 has to be my favourite

I think I can come at this from the other direction

I'm more used to Rickenbacker, Gibson, and Jazz neck profiles, so my P basses fell quite chunky, and my Stingray feels huge! The 'Ray is hung on the wall, next to my Ric, and the neck physically looks way bigger than the Ric's

I don't find P's, or the Ray uncomfortable to play, but they do feel really odd after playing the Ric. Dunno why, but I am starting to find that I like the P for playing finger style above anything else.........

[quote name='essexbasscat' post='720168' date='Jan 21 2010, 02:45 PM']Will you take my challenge ??


T

[/quote]

I took your challenge sir I like the main riff to that Bon Jovi track. I tried it both pick, and finger style, and found that fingers work best for me on that one. Did start to feel it a little in my fretting hand after about five minutes. Have to admit, I hadn't heard that track before, so it was a good challenge

OK Sir

The only parts that are not chords are the intro, and the bridge riff. Under the verse, Lemmy uses his usual trick of playing the riff around the 5th and 7th fret position, and leave the string below ringing open. For Road Crew, the first note of each verse bar is G, fretted on the D string fifth fret, then A at the seventh on the D, all the time letting the open A string ring out loud and proud, muting the E with your thumb. Play that for three bars, then the fourth bar is a root and fifth chord, G, down to F, using the D and G strings. The 8th bar in the verse riff is the same as the fourth, just reversed, then play the intro/ bridge riff.

All notes mentioned above are flat

Hope that makes sense.......I'm not too clever at all this music theory stuff! :brow:

The best "how to" for this song is on the Making of "Ace Of Spades" Classic Albums DVD. The DVD has lots of bonus features, one of which is Lemmy, Eddie, and Philthy belting out Road Crew for old times sake There are lots of close ups of Lemmy's bass playing, and you can quite clearly see how he is playing it.

I play it with a pick (as lord god Lemmy intended), strumming very fast, on my old Ricky. Lemmy is more of a rythum guitarist, than a bass player to be honest

PS, love the bit in the guitar solo, where Eddie fell over in the studio, and they just left it in there!! Loads of screaming feedback!

[quote name='essexbasscat' post='720187' date='Jan 21 2010, 02:59 PM']Well met, Mr. Metalhead

You try mine and I'll try yours

T[/quote]

No probs T,

I'll look at the link you posted, and have a go at it tonight for "Road Crew", you need to tune down half a step The "slower" version of the song is on the classic "Ace Of Spades" album. Actually, "Ace Of Spades" is another goodun!

Mr Metalhead to you!!

"We Are The Road Crew" by Motorhead. Damned fast, and it's all chords on the bass. Normally have smoke coming off my forearm after that one!

Might also need a truss rod tweak, if there is too much forward relief in the neck. The latest Bass Guitar Magazine has a pretty good "How To" guide. If in any doubt, seek the advice of a local, reputable shop that does repairs.

Electro Music Services in Doncaster have always served me well

Real Time Music in Chesterfield are a decent bunch of lads as well.

[quote name='Conan' post='717520' date='Jan 19 2010, 09:47 AM']There's a bass solo in that track?! [/quote]
The whole song is pretty much a bass solo!! I love Harris' solo part after the guitar solo, where he well and truly gets up the dusty end, on the top string

I forgot an all time classic!

Steve Harris, on "Number Of The Beast". Fantastic playing

Another +1 to Lemmy's solo in Motorhead's "Stay Clean". Funny enough, been working that one out over the last week or so.....Not as easy as it first sounds!

here are some more of my faves for bass solos;

Motorhead- Lost In the Ozone
The Who - My Generation
Metallica - Anasthesia/ Pulling Teeth
Flotsam and Jetsam - Doomsday For The Deciever
Primus - Tommy The Cat

The 'burst one looks yummy :brow:

I recently bought a 30th anniversary 'Ray, and the quality, and sound of it is gorgeous. It's beautifully built and finished, and I love polishing it as much as playing it! Worth every penny?......Oh yes

As far as older instruments go...A few years back, I picked up a really scabby, beaten '64 Precision. Reliced would be an understatement! But wow, what a beautiful player, and a really gorgeous tone. Virtually played itself. It really did look horrible though! On reflection, I wish I had bought it now, looking at the current values

Can't comment on the pre EB Rays, as I have never played one.

+1 for the Lemmy thing. Probably why I have a Rickenbacker! Always been a big Motorhead fan......

Cliff Burton, Alan Davey, and Steve Harris banged the final nails into the coffin

One that deserves a mention;

Scott Reeder of Kyuss/ The Obsessed/ Goatsnake fame. A lefty who has been hammering out some huge bass riffs for years, and never really seems to get the mention that he deserves. Seem to remember that he plays bare footed as well!?

Over rated?

Any muso type that can play a hundred notes a second, but don't seem to be able to play a song.

The Mrs very generously bought me a 30th anniversary Stingray for Christmas. She is a star! I have had the bass for some time though, as I couldn't wait until Christmas for it

I got money from the rest of my family so I could go out and treat myself. A trip to Electro's in Donny saw me return with a set of Delano pickups for one of my P's. They have given it a lovely warm tone.

I feel that it is important that everyone has an equal say. I play in a 3 piece, so there are times when playing the root, and following the guitar line works, and then times when a driving bass line really brings life to a song. I took over the bass reigns in this band earlier this year, although I had known the singer guitarist for a lot longer. One song left over from the original line up is very simple guitar wise, so I came up with a driving, funky bass line that uses roots, fifths, and octaves, and it really brings the song to life. But if the other two guys didn't like it, I would have just taken it on the chin.

There are times when the singer guitarist will make suggestions for bass parts, and I am more than happy to try them out, and then again there are times when the drummer chips in, or I'll chip in over guitar/drum parts.

I think that it is very important that everyone has the same goals both musically, and professionally. It helps if you are all good friends too!

I would never want to play in a dictatorship though.......some people might be cool with it, but I can't stand being barked orders sgt major style. Nor can I play stuff that I am not 100% into. I once quit a band through one of those situations

Might also be worth checking out the thundering stoner rock bass god that is Scott Reader, of Kyuss/ The Obsessed fame. That guy has certainly belted out some killer low end grooves in his time.

Think there is an interview with him showing some of his techniques on YouTube, from a website called "Riff By Riff", or something like that.