roceci

Iggy Pop forever struck me as a total Richard. Watched a bio on him recently & got the impression he's been having a laugh for the last 40 odd years & he's enjoyed it. He looked happy & you couldn't help warming to him. Top guy.

On 1/23/2018 at 13:48, bertbass said:

How about https://www.thomann.de/gb/the_box_ma5.htm

+1 for these

So good, neat form factor and great sound. We've got three. Job done.

Gigging basses - Fender MIA Deluxe Jazz V & Squier VM J5 with East J-Tone & Fender USA pups

Strings - D'addario Nickel EXL165s on the Fender, Labella 760FS flats on the Squier

Effects - Zoom B3 powered by Harley Benton Power Bank

Amps - Fender Rumble 500 V3 or Genz ShuttleMax 12.2 into Genz FCS210T (customised with silver grille cloth as shown below)

Stands - Double guitar stand by K&M, Stagg folding job for the Genz to raise it up. I've stuck a pair of AmpLegs Screwless Tilt Backs on the Rumble, great product https://reverb.com/uk/item/2256372-amplegs-screwless-tilt-back-legs-fits-all-combo-amps.

Leads - always used to be Planet Waves but after going through a load (despite careful handling) I'm now using two no-namers I've acquired from god knows where & have to say they're rock solid.

10 hours ago, Hellzero said:

That was Bootsie Collins.

Eh? Missed that, links?

1 minute ago, PaulWarning said:

imo, there's a world of difference between babies a pubescent girls (not saying in any way that's ok btw)

Really?? Is there a sliding scale the younger the victim is? Wow.

A couple of people have mentioned Lost Prophets being beyond the pale...genuinely wonder what the difference is. Without going into case details too much of course.

It's a toughie...I always enjoyed Michael Jackson's stuff (the big 3 albums anyway, Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad) not to mention playing it. PYT is one of his best tracks IMO, but when I hear it these days, it's soured. It's pretty overt, just the title alone. So much so that I probably wouldn't actively put it on to listen to myself. It's not a contrived reaction or anything, more of a natural repugnance that has developed unconsciously. To his music I mean, not to what he almost definitely got up to, cos it goes without saying that that's just above-ground repulsion. But I wouldn't castigate anyone for listening to him, I don't see it as a reflection on them in the slightest.

If I'm taking my Genz rig, I use a Chauvet padded bag like this

...it fits my ShuttleMax 12.2 like a dream with the movable partition & takes my footswitch, leads, Zoom B3 & smaller bits & bobs with ease.

If I'm using the Rumble combo I take a laptop bag-type affair my missus picked up at a conference. It's cheap & cheerful, it's made out of some thin plastic type material so isn't going to last forever but it's got loads of compartments, has a shoulder strap & is light as hell. It does say 'Mental Health Foundation' on the front, but unfortunately, I've yet to be asked if that's what the band's called  

Saw The Experience on Guitar Heroes at the BBC t'other night & did a bit of Noel-cam in light of this thread.

He looked knockout for the times but I thought his playing was very limited (Voodoo Chile - E root/octave & a few attempts at clunky pentatonic runs now & again) & there seemed to be a point towards the finale where he completely dropped out & looked/sounded knackered. Rather than keeping things grounded, I got the impression the guy was hanging on for dear life.

From this single performance I'd have to agree with those who say he wasn't much cop. I'd be interested to see footage of him tearing it up though, if such a thing exists.

Awesome mate. Will watch this space

45 minutes ago, Zummerbass said:

I like this. I'm always looking for ways to lighten/carry less gear. Could be a good substitute for a couple of stands.

Me too & this looks great. Does it/could it cater for stacked rigs though or something like my setup here i.e. taller?

13 minutes ago, Barking Spiders said:

well there of course is fair trade for stuff like coffee and choc but it's one thing to have official policies in place that have mass consumer support and another to police it  effectively from start to finish.  Supply chains are so complex these days it's easy for the criminally minded to find loopholes to abuse. Just cos a product has 'Fair Trade' or 'FSC Approved' etc on it isn't a guarantee all is 100% kosher. I'd pay extra for a guitar if it meant workers got a fair wage and the woods are sustainable but getting the proof is another matter

Totally agree with that in relation to existing products. You might as well have donated to Live Aid back in the day  

Would guitar production not be a less contentious industry than say coffee though with its turf wars/gang assocation/cartels etc...I dunno.

On 12/20/2017 at 18:06, Leonard Smalls said:

Seminal bass albums?

All the Bootsy's Rubber Band albums. 

Mothership Connection by Parliament has to be included in this, as Bootsy's first overt superfunky starting point. Every bass line is a massive, fat killer.

Some other personal favourites:

Manchild by Herbie Hancock & Headhunters. Paul Jackson's P grooving still floors me.

Destroyer by Kiss. Nothing fancy but the reason my young self picked up bass, learning the record note for note. Really melodic, driving lines that brought bass to the attention of countless kids the world over.

Graham Central Station first album. Larry Graham. Nuff said.

High Havoc by Corduroy. Richard Searle is a machine, especially on this track

6 hours ago, Marc S said:

I saw that VM fretless, and think I may have commented on it. The gist of my comment was that I had indeed owned a Squier VM fretless Jazz....
I thought about upgrading, and got myself a US Fender P fretless, and sold the Squier Jazz

Although I really liked that US P fretless......  I actually preferred the sound of the Jazz!! Of course, that may have been because I preferred the J pickup config - perhaps I feel it's more suited to fretless?
Now I have a MIJ Fretless Jazz, and it's lovely.... but neither the US, nor the MIJ  were that much better quality than the made in Indonesia VM fretless

EDIT: In fact, I miss that VM fretless, and wish I hadn't bothered to "upgrade"

I can concur that Marc's VM fretless was indeed a lovely bass, having bought it, & still is. Sorry Marc! I've not played many that are markedly better, although I admit I've never been near the £2K+ models of this world. Point is, for the money, it's pretty stupendous & we're lucky that such affordable instruments are so good these days.

10 minutes ago, leftybassman392 said:

Is low-end gear too cheap?

Really?

You think maybe manufacturers are cheating themselves out of profits?

^^ This. The question here is, how many of us would be prepared to pay say £100 more for the exact same bass it was ethically produced? I like to think I would if there were such a thing as fair trade manufacturers.

Shame mate, they were great. Nice venue too.

Just saw Chas & Dave in Brighton. It's been said on here before as I remember, but Dave Peacock is a fantastic player. Beautiful lines & effortless execution. That is all.

There was a part of me hoping they'd honour this just before crimbo...but a bigger part of me knew they wouldn't. Worth a try tho eh.

Nice spot! Just ordered, all went thru fine...let's see what happens. 

Gene Simmons is a high profile bassist, has been around for donkeys years & has doubtless inspired many thousands of kids to pick a bass up the world over. Love him or hate him, & it's easier to do the latter, he easily qualifies for a signature bass in the crazy world of signature basses I'd say.

2 hours ago, SteveK said:

Curious to know which of Lennon's songs you consider "shocking".

 

EDIT: Actually, forget that! I've reread your post and realise that it's not worth bothering with.

I apologise that that didn't come thru clearly enough on your first read. I hope that I've not wasted your time by making you read thru 6 pages of peoples' opinions who took the time to have a proper discussion.

1 hour ago, FuNkShUi said:

It's funny to me how people are getting so worked up because of other peoples opinions.

Chill out! We don't all like the same thing. The world goes on!

If someone else dislikes something you do like, it shouldn't diminish your enjoyment. 

There is no "right" or "wrong", just opinion.

Indeed Kert!

Btw, what do you think of the Fab Four

2 hours ago, bazztard said:

Sorry OP, but if you have no knowledge of The Beatles and their legacy then you DO NOT have a well rounded knowledge of music.

 

Those that rubbish Ringo's drumming just show their ignorance. 

I think it's pretty well rounded, but acknowledged there was a gap in my original post...

"I consider myself pretty well-rounded/versed when it comes to musical knowledge & listening experience past & present but there's always been a big Beatles-shaped hole in my knowledge"

...a hole which I'm attempting to fix (haha) by chucking my observations on here & inviting responses. Is that not allowed?

By your logic mind, how far back do we take this? Are we not qualified to think we know anything about modern music because we're not au fait with the great composers say who preceded it? It's a silly thing to say & pretty sanctimonious.

Also, how does not enjoying Ringo's drumming make me ignorant? It means I just don't like Ringo's drumming. To me, it seems you may be a tad over sensitive when it comes to anything Beatles, but unlike you, I'm fine with that being my impression & not making damning cast iron statements from it.

6 minutes ago, chris_b said:

If you Google trolling you'll understand the difference.

I do mate. No trolling here.

44 minutes ago, Bluewine said:

On point,

 

I think this is a good example of what the OP is getting at.

Blue

I dunno, the OP says "the band that come to mind when when you think of who had the greatest impact on you" which is a different topic to "the band who first blew your mind". For me there's several who all have equal stake in what I regard as timeless, peerless & by extension as a musician, have fed the most into how I approach & play bass to this day.

Mine probably goes KISS (up to '81 - yes including Unmasked & Music From the Elder for those in the know ) > Zep > Doors > Stones > Steely Dan > P-Funk > Pink Floyd > Bowie. They've all blown my mind the most, they're all still my go-to music when everything else gets tedious, I've learned tons of their songs & elements of what they do/did still come thru in my playing & writing. Many other bands & artists in many other genres have challenged them from time to time & a few are a close second to the list, but these guys win out equally for me when all's said & done.

& yeah, music was so much better in the very late 60's & the 70s despite me being too young to enjoy it then  

Edit - I missed the bit about the "your band" thing Blue. True enough.

The first three definitely felt like my bands & no one else's - I was pretty unique poncing around a Cardiff council estate in the 80s with big hair, flairs & a Jim Morrison complex. Definitely fostered a private siege mentality that probably only I was aware of!

Smooth Hound vibrated off the top of my rig, crashed to the stage, power cable came out & no bass. Wouldn't have been so bad but happened half way thru the only number I sing lead on in our set! Proper train wreck, had to stop the song, fiddle around in the dark for 2 mins odd to find my gear bag that the keys player had thoughtfully stashed, fish out a lead & start the song again. Horrible.

Another time. Not mid gig, but just finished a wedding & thought I'd get started on the packing up straight away. Tilted my stack slightly to free a trapped lead from underneath & the whole thing went over sideways, two cabs & a head on to my two basses on a stand & the whole lot on to the DJ's lighting rig & decks. DJ was good as gold as I hadn't damaged his gear somehow & he just felt sorry for me. I felt like the biggest tool in the world & had major I've-f*cked-my-gear worries until I could get home & test it. Horrendous night.

Most hilarious although not involving me - I was in a power trio nu-proggy thing many years ago & the drummer played like a juggernaut. Got so carried away one one number he literally drummed himself off the front of the shallow stage. I'll never forget the look of terror & confusion on his face as first his kick tumbled over the edge followed by the rest of his kit, leaving him sat there with his sticks held aloft & security rushing in to find out what the hell was going on. Still cracks me up now