Conan

Martin Orford - The Old Road Great stuff - prog-tastic!!

Hi from the Toon!!

[quote name='OldGit' post='734072' date='Feb 3 2010, 02:15 PM']I have a drummer mate who's joined a covers band where there is only the one way to play things - the guitarist's way[/quote] Funny how its usually guitarists who take this attitude... although I have experienced it to a lesser extent from singers too

[quote name='OldGit' post='733800' date='Feb 3 2010, 09:56 AM']Bit of a side track. The "leader" is usually the person who can be arsed to do all the non playing work involved in playing in a band; organising gigs, rehearsals, PA's, set lists, audiences, marketing etc... Sometimes it's great to have all that done for you so you can just show up and play the gigs.... The pay-off is that sometimes bad decisions come with the good ones...[/quote] That's a bloody good point!!

[quote name='Oggy' post='733803' date='Feb 3 2010, 10:00 AM']I’ll keep an eye out and ‘perhaps’ pick up a cheap fretless to try it, I hate trying things out in music shops with the assistant breathing down my neck .[/quote] You could buy mine! I defretted it, so if you wanted to re-fret it I guess it wouldn't be too expensive.... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=72579"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=72579[/url]

Cort don't appear to manufacture a case to fit their slightly wacky Curbow basses! I have the 5 string version, which has a very small body for its size and a pointy headstock. Can anyone recommend a case or gigbag for such an instrument? I am not gigging much (or even at all) at the moment, and when I do I tend to take my own gear in the car - so heavy duty protection is not necessary. I don't want to have to spend too much (ideally under fifty quid). Opinions welcome!!

Jean-Jacques Burnel. Now THAT'S growl!!!

This makes me laugh! How do you compare a burp to a growl? A clank to a .... The Daryl Jones clip is great, and his sound is cool - but I would never describe that as a "growl". Much too smooth. To me, the "Jazz growl" (if there is such a thing) is typified by Geddy Lee's sound. But is that more "zingy" I wonder? A "nasal snort" even? Whatever a growl actually is, I'm damned sure that my Status doesn't have it!! It just shows how subjective sound is - in hearing it and in describing it!!

I think it is easier if the drummer and bass player get along on a personal level, but its by no means essential! I've played with drummers who I have had no personal time for, but we have gelled well - and another guy who is a great mate, but I just can't get into the way he plays! It's really frustrating, and maybe it just needs more practice - but I do believe that there is a "compatability" thing here sometimes. Maybe he's just not "my type"!!

Porcupine Tree - Deadwing

Lots of good, sound advice above! Without knowing the people involved its hard to be specific but what you need to ask yourself is "am I enjoying this"? If the answer is no, and you can see no way forward then it seems to me that life is just too short and precious (think about Tim Kennelly!) to waste your time in a voluntary situation that you have outgrown! On the other hand, if they are your mates and there are positives - speak to them and see if you can turn the situation to your advantage. "Better the devil you know" and all that... Just my opinion of course!

[quote name='Toasted' post='728615' date='Jan 29 2010, 12:51 PM']This would have been a lot simpler if he'd just spent £40 on travel insurance.[/quote] I think that lesson is there for us all to learn. How exactly do I donate by PayPal? I've never done it like this before...

[quote name='silddx' post='728590' date='Jan 29 2010, 12:33 PM']Never heard Ged's, must check that out.[/quote] "My favourite Headache". Its a good album IMO!

Thanks for the tips guys! A few things for me to look into there...

Recently bought one of these basses, and I'm really chuffed with it - especially for £320!! Problem I have is that I have lowered the action as far as possible, and its still on the high side! Now I usually like my action slightly high as I play very hard most of the time, but it is frustrating that I cannot lower it any further due to the curvature of the body. I have the saddles down as low as they will go!!! I suppose I could use lighter gauge strings, but this is not a route I would like to go down. Back in the 80s and 90s I used to use the Superwound strings that had a "piano wire" design whereby the part of the string that went over the saddle was not wound - just the core. This might solve the problem, but I don't know if those strings are still available. And I seem to recall that they were only available in very light gauges... Has anyone else experienced this, and is there an obvious solution that I am missing?!

[quote name='LauraBrokeTheBass' post='726417' date='Jan 27 2010, 03:06 PM']- What is this Red Dog of which you speak? It sounds like a good dog, I mean, option.[/quote] Red Dog Music is at the bottom of Grassmarket in Edinburgh city centre - or at the bottom of Kings Stables Road if you are coming down the hill from the Lothian Road end. Good music shop. Not the cheapest maybe, but good service!