Mykesbass

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1357492525' post='1923465'] I like fretless because it sounds different, and it's a sound I like... that's about it. Those typical fretless slides can get tiring pretty fast, but -like slap- if not overdone, they add another level of expression on bass. And when using an octave pedal, or some kind of synth, the fretless can be extremely cool. You can play it like a fretted bass... "with extras". Lined fretless are extremely easy to get used to, in my experience, but unlined is easier than it seems. The side dots are enough to help with navigation when jumping abot the fretboard a bit. The thing is that, if you have played bass already for some time, your hands know where the notes are better than you probably realise. Of course, on fretless you need to be pretty accurate or it sounds terribly off, but it doesn't take too long to be able to play it "alright". You quickly get used to "cheating", like adding a bit of vibrato immediately if you fall short or overshoot a sustained note, and if in doubt aim short and "microslide" up to the correct note. etc. To get to play like Pino... yeah, that's going to take a while and a lot of dedication... but you can play alright without as much effort as many think. Of course, it's not instant either... Another cool thing of the fretless, in some situations, is that you are less likely to get asked "can I play your bass, mate?" [/quote] Same here, I don't play in an obvious fretless way, I just always liked them and ended up going that way exclusively a couple of years ago. And yes, I love the "can I play your bass" quote - even more so, mines 5 string

So our 12 year old Swedish friend finally nails his colours to the mast and proclaims The Mahavishnu Orchestra to be music whilst Jennifer Lopez isn't. Well, tell you what, I'm very happy over here in the clown camp 'cos I gave up on that masturbatory twaddle thirty odd years ago when someone opened my ears to the Count Basie Orchestra - never looked back!

Just been listening to some live Average White Band so got to say Alan Gorrie/Steve Ferrone, although on some tracks Gorrie and Hamish Stuart swap bass and guitar duties.

We're really happy with our Mackie Thumps - both 15 and 12. We put vox, acoustic guitar, mandolin and sometimes DI lead guitar (mainly for monitoring). We're not a loud band but they've always done everything we've asked of them and never had them turned up past halfway. Brilliant to carry about as well!

Heard them on Craig Charles a few months back, couldn't believe I'd never come across them before. Wonderful stuff and hoping to find some affordable vinyl for my new turntable - bet it sounds great analogue!

[quote name='Johngh' timestamp='1357155312' post='1918360'] [/quote] Bit harsh - he doesn't really deserve that (yet)

To argue if it is possible to be better or worse at art means that someone must set out agreed standards of what is good and what is bad. It's a bit like trying to compare Rothko to Constable, it can't be done, or if it is, it is meaningless. Whether you like it or not, popular music is art - just like I don't like John Constable but I couldn't argue that his populist style is not art. Part of the art of popular music is the image - from band logos to record sleeves to what the bands wear and play on stage. So cut out this absolute nonsense of the mediocre, stop belittling some great forum members who work very succesfully in this artform of which you obviously do not approve and then perhaps we'll join in your threads in a more constructive manner. A clown

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1357124197' post='1917651'] Its all a bit pointless, anyway. Music isn't a competition, its an enjoyable experience. [/quote] Sorry no, that's entertainment

[quote name='Inti' timestamp='1356953452' post='1915444'] We know were you stand. No need to be offensive in an individual manner. [/quote] "Et Tu Brute"

[quote name='Inti' timestamp='1356948857' post='1915375'] One of you is a musician while the other is an entertainer. Simple. Entertainers don't like the idea though so they think they are musicians...hence the confusion. A true musician doesn't approach music from an economical or an image-fixated standpoint. A musician cares about sound and creation, not how many chicks he'll have because he looked cool or the check he may get for moving his ass behind a fender. f*** the music industry. [/quote] What a ridiculously arrogant and pretentious post! Why on earth can't a musician be an entertainer? It's art, and art is there to be appreciated/enjoyed, and if you are appreciating/enjoying something then it is entertaining.

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1356917546' post='1915231'] Big difference between 'want' and 'need'. We all only [i]need[/i] one bass, but the wanting is a very different story entirely for many of us. I have far more than I need, but there's still 5 or 6 that I want! [/quote] [quote name='MrTaff' timestamp='1356920462' post='1915239'] I certainly need more than one, we swap between standard & drop c tuning a few times during a set, so that's 2 different basses needed. Are people really gigging without a backup? [/quote] Again, you don't really need a second bass - you could play the standard tuning songs on the drop C bass or learn all the repertoire on a 5 string, so really, the two bass option is still a choice, making it a want reather than need. Not criticising your choice here by the way, just making the point that it is a choice not a necessity.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1356749851' post='1913289'] I don't get this at all. You wouldn't presume to comment on what gear the drummer or guitard are using, so why people think it's acceptable to make a decision about what instrument a bass player uses (when they know nothing about bass playing) is beyond me. [/quote] Not so sure about this. I have come across drum snobbery - a jam night where the guy that ran it (a drummer) once brought just kick, snare and hi-hat with the comment "that'll sort the men out from the boys"!

Bagged by Chimike. For anyone who fancies a bit of a tinker. Yamaha BBT 500H - early class D haven't been able to find anyone to repair this - may suit electronic buff. Hartke HA2500 - This developed an odd fault - would have to put a lot of signal through it and all of a sudden it would burts into life. This started to take longer and longer, and now I don't think it will fire up. Free to anyone who can collect but if you do get them working I'd like you to promise a donation to BC! Cheers, Mike

[quote name='sshorepunk' timestamp='1356353121' post='1909410'] Yeah, Slade and a Shiraz, Tony [/quote] Ould have at least kept in the spirit of teh age with some Hungarian Bulls Blood or Watney's Red Barrel!

In - 5 string fretless take on a 50's P by Shuker Out - Cort GB75 with fretless board by Shuker Out - Lovely Peavey valve power amp and Pevey valve pre - got to heavy for my arthritic hands In - Fabulous Carvin BX500 valve pre, Class D power. Still wary of Class D reliability but this sounds great and I'm sure the technology has improved from my first foray into it.

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1356105386' post='1906952'] It had to be done, sorry.......... [/quote] Nah, you're right - made for one another, can't stand either but will stick with what I said earlier.

Now that is seriously out of order

OK, really going to stick my neck way out on the line here....... Oasis!!!!!!!!! Now the reasoning; I think they almost single handedly broke down a generation gap in music and made it OK for a new generation to like old music. And I mean the general public, as on a music forum it is easy to forget that the wider public don't always view music the way we do. Don's tin hat and flees the country for Christmas

I think you'll find Dale Winton, David Dickinson and the cast of Strictly have stockpiled it all

Emperor's New Clothes? Surely this man is the Emperor's tailor: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/190191-guess-who/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/190191-guess-who/[/url]

[quote name='Jellyfish' timestamp='1355825946' post='1903118'] Thanks, at least I know I won't be let down whichever guitar I buy. On a slightly unrelated note, I have a couple of guitars in mind and as I'm a beginner, I could do with some pointers! I have my eye on either the [url="http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/guitars-basses/el-guitars/pacifica/pacifica112v/?mode=model#tab=product_lineup&page=2&mode=paging"]Pacifica 112V[/url], [url="http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/guitars-basses/el-guitars/pacifica/pac120h/?mode=model#tab=product_lineup"]Pacifica 120H[/url] or the[url="http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/guitars-basses/el-guitars/pacifica/pacifica212vfm/?mode=model#tab=product_lineup"] Pacifica 212V[/url]. They all seem like good guitars of course, but I'm not sure whether the slight variations would make a difference. [/quote] They've really been playing around with the pick-up configurations - used to all be the same, two single coil and one humbucker. That is probably the version you want, humbuckers on a Strat style guitar is a bit of an acquired taste. The 212 just looks like another £39 for some fancy finish - may be a photo flame top, so I'd go with the 112V. Great guitars for the money, shame they've messed up the range as the old more expensive models were fantastic, not very popular so therefore often could be bargains. (I used to own a guitar shop and sould uqite a few of these just to let you know where and how I formed my opinion).

Greatly neglected bit of politics from Simon & Garfunkel - think I've only heard this on the radio once (some may say once too often but I love this)! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgYFXCUEL4Y"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgYFXCUEL4Y[/url]

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1355334392' post='1897137'] Shops should be discouraged from taking the p*ss out of customers. [/quote] There is another side to this - all those shops (that we bemoan are fast disappearing) that have to hold stock and allow us grimy musicians in to play their instruments for us to then turn around and say "this is ex-demo" or "yes I like this but can I have a boxed one" or worst of all, "yes, I like this but I'll buy it from GAK/Thomann/A.N.Other". Instruments are not like TV's, fridges etc, they are all that bit different and we should be going in to shops to try out and find the one we like best. The fact that the scratchplate covering is marked is the whole point the covering is on there in the first place! Ex music shop owner rant over !

[quote name='Wil' timestamp='1355157457' post='1894753'] I hate every second until we get up on stage and start playing. Anxiety! [/quote] No anxiety but yes, I hate this time - complete waste - would rather get started right away and play longer sets.

Curbow's are an acquired taste - I really wanted to like one but didn't. I went for the Squier VMJ Fretless to start with for the very good reason that moving it on was painless and a very small depreciation. It was a very OK bass (sorry, not meaning to damn with faint praise) but I did move on quite quickly getting a fretless board on my Cort GB75 and then on to a custom built Shuker 5 string which is now my only bass.