gjones

I'm always amazed that relatively intelligent people,when asked to pick out instruments on a recording, sometimes can't tell a bass guitar, from a banjo, or a saxophone from a piano . They just know it's music and have no idea where it comes from and have very little understanding that human beings are responsible for the end product coming out of their hi fi or radio. Try it...... ask a non musician friend or relative to name the instruments they can hear on a tune on the radio you'll be amazed at the answers you get. They also don't understand the time, money, blood, sweat and tears it takes to learn to play an instrument well either, so no wonder they don't value music makers as much as they should.

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1339796796' post='1694735'] Technique in any genre > choice of instrument. [/quote] Yes, buy a versatile bass then the rest is down to technique.

I just sold my strat on gumtree for £50 more than I asked for it. No fees and I had people fighting for it by the end. Gumtree is national and I live in Edinburgh but I ended up selling it to a dude down in Brighton. In a recession like this, there will be a lot of people wanting to sell stuff on ebay. They're just cynically cashing in on the demand like the corporate vultures they are.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1339764201' post='1693940'] Unfortunately some of the stuff he has to play is just straight finger style & doesn't require strings to be muted for everything He's even got one of those basses (I can't remember which make) that has an adjustable muting option but apparently it really screws with intonation when it's used. [/quote] Two basses?

You know what I miss with the john east preamps? An old fashioned tone control. Turning down the treble on the preamp just isn't the same somehow? By the way nice bass.

This may sound like a stupid question but has he tried muting with foam at the bridge for a more consistent sound across the full range of notes. I know some pros hate it because they have the skill to palm mute but that was how they got that original sound in the 60s and it sounds fantastic (and consistant). I'm sure his MD would love it.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1339746156' post='1693532'] I'd have loved to have played with Mitch Mitchell, he's my kind of drummer! [/quote] You'd better be prepared to go plonk, plonk, plonk all night because somebody would have to keep the beat and it would't be him. I play with a drummer like that. He's a great guy and I like him a lot but put a cymbal anywhere near him and he can't help himself he has to hit it (and usually on an offbeat). Other drummers marvel at his flashiness but in my opinion I think he should hit his bass drum now and again......after all he dragged it to the gig he might as well use it occasionally.

Noel Redding. He wasn't a bass player he was a guitarist drafted in at the last moment by Chas Chandler. In his defence though playing with Mitch Mitchell couldn't have been easy since he was the inventor of the drum style called 'drum kit being thrown down a flight of stairs'.

As far as jam nights are concerned the best advice I can give you (having played in the house band of a few) is to go along and watch, get the general vibe then find an approachable participant and tell them that you really fancy a go but are a bit nervous (butter them up a bit about their own performance first). If you're game then someone will loan you a bass and away you go. Nobody will force you to get up and play but as you get to know people and what level they are at musically you'll find the thought of getting up and playing with them a lot less scary. I recommend you play along to some rock 'n' roll (chuck berry etc) and blues (bb king etc ) at home because these are usually the easiest to jam to. Good luck and I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun and maybe find another musical collaborator.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1339504648' post='1689389'] I usually say "Thanks, glad you liked it. Thanks for coming. Are you a bass player?" Then get into a massive argument over why I don't play a fender and whether the second note of the fourth bar in the third song should have been an E or a G#. [/quote] What's a WAL? Can you not afford a Fender mate?

The last time the band was introduced at our last gig by the singer. A member of the audience actually came up on stage and gave me a kiss. Unfortunately it was a bloke. I'm not really into stubble.

The band I play with will be doing our thing once again. [url="http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/music/blues"]http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/music/blues[/url]

[size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Primal Scream 'Rocks' that'll get them off their arses. The Black crowes 'Hard to Handle'.[/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The Spin doctors [color=#000000]'Little Miss Can't Be Wrong'[/color][/font][/size] [color=#000000][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]The Red Hot Chilli Peppers ' Give it Away' [/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Or Reef .....Remember them?[/font][/color] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2--ersHZzto"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2--ersHZzto[/url]

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1339491078' post='1689066'] I think this too. I'm sure the OP is not an unreliable person but more than once I have seen second best musicians taken on because they can commit and the better couldn't - because they were good and in too much demand! [/quote] Very true.

Rubbish bass at a competitive price. Not mine by the way. [url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/bass-guitar-cheap/104350896"]http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/bass-guitar-cheap/104350896[/url]

Peavey TNTs are really loud too and cheap 2nd hand.

Don't make the mistake I made when I first started out i.e. to go for new underpowered cheap gear (carlsbro cobra 90 watt combo anyone). Go for something secondhand with a bit of power. Ashdown EB 150 combos are very loud, sound great, are relatively light to carry and are really cheap secondhand. Laneys are good for the money too. Don't get anything under 150 watts because frankly once your drummer learns to hit those skins of his anything less will not be powerful enough.

That's why I never buy anthing new if I can help it because it never stays new for long. As Andy says it gives it character and really won't reduce the value by that much. Of course if you're planning on keeping it then it's not too much of an issue.

They mime silly...........just like cheryl cole.