Bassworm

How about...

'What's going on?' Marvin Gaye (Jamerson of course)

'I was made to love her' Stevie Wonder (More Jamerson)

'Rhythm Stick' Blockheads

'The Pursuit Of Accidents' Level 42

'Solid Air' John Martyn (Danny Thompson)

[quote name='guyl' post='239084' date='Jul 14 2008, 12:38 PM']Although I love d'addarios for electric bass, I was really disappointed with the Helicore hybrid on DB. They sounded great initially (although not the easiest arco) but "died" fairly quickly.

I replaced them with Corellis based on Bob Gollihur's website recommendation. They're light and easy on the hands - I agree with Bassworms comments about playability. I don't find them bassy or "rich and growly" though. Perhaps Bassworm's pickup, amp or set-up is better than mine! They'll do for now, but I won't be buying more![/quote]

I too tried the Corellis based on Bob Gollihur's website (A great resource). They did take a little while to settle down and 'bed in' but they now make a really pleasing racket, especially the A and D strings. As for my set up, all I've got is an old no-name pickup on the bridge, played through a Sansamp Bass Driver into a little GK combo (with the eq flat), but whether amplified or not, I'm dead pleased with the resulting sound.

Cheers All,
Mike E.

When I was first learning to play upright, my teacher recommended Piratstros (It was what she used) to replace the knackered old no-name strings that were on my bass when I bought it.
Well I tried them and absolutely hated them, too flat and dark for me although they sounded great on her bass.

I now use Corellis and they give me everything I want in terms of sound and ease of playing. They don't bow that well but then the mixture of blues, jazz and contemporary music I play rarely demands arco. and the Corelli pizz sound, especially when amplified is rich, growly with a nice thump to it. Plus they're fairly low tension so they're easy to play.

As the other posters have said, to a large part, the music defines the sound you want, and hence the strings you use.

Hope that helps.

Mike E.

www.pbase.com/bassworm

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='228381' date='Jun 28 2008, 12:37 AM']This belongs to my fellow Peterborough pro bassist, Jon `jaco' Bamforth - I helped build it originally!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/E-Basses-handbuilt-custom-Fretless-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ300236638180QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300236638180&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/E-Basses-handbuilt-c...id=p3286.c0.m14[/url]

A very good instrument indeed![/quote]


I've had my eye on that Nick, but as I already own two I think I'm going to have to be sensible. Hope it goes to a good home.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='228833' date='Jun 29 2008, 01:31 AM']I've had my bass in a micra[/quote]


That's handy to know, my daily runaround is a Micra. But I normally transport my bass in this;

oooh.....


Yerba Buena
Los De Abajo
Susana Baca
Ozomatli
Ska Cubana ( neat combination of Cuban and Jamaican rhythms, infectious stuff)
Jose Ferrera
Monica Vasconcelas
Monobloco


All worth checking out, and all very different

[quote name='Wooks' post='219464' date='Jun 15 2008, 09:38 PM']Holy crap that's one impressive blister You must have been really going for it during the audition! At what point did you notice it? Or wasn't it until the end?? But at least it was worth it!![/quote]

I noticed a small one about an hour in but carried on until it got as big as it is in the pic, then finally switched to bass guitar when the pain got too much. Despite all that, I had a good time with a nice bunch of blokes.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='219352' date='Jun 15 2008, 06:51 PM']Jeeezus how big are your f***in' fingers[/quote]


I've just looked at a pic of the blister (Yes, I took one as a souvenir!), perhaps a slight exaggeration there, possibly an overweight 5p instead.

Well, I don't think I've ever played my DB so fast, aggressively or for so long as I did on the audition. By the end of the night, I had a blister the size of a 10p piece on my plucking finger, and my left wrist had turned to jelly. For the last 45 mins of the three-hour session I went over to bass guitar but by then my hands were shagged.

They turned out to be a nice bunch of guys with some serious chops. At one point they launched into a fierce high-speed, long boogie-woogie that I struggled to keep up with. At the end I just let out a "F**k me! You b*st*rds!" accompanied by much shaking of agonised wrist which got a huge laugh all round.

Anyway, despite playing like a complete donkey at times, and fully expecting to get a "Thanks but no thanks" I found a message this morning in my inbox thanking me for coming and offering me a local gig! So not complete acceptance, but certainly not a Dear John either (And according to the guitarist they've already rejected 8 bassists who auditioned). I'm quite pleased.

Many thanks for everyone's advice; I may have even remembered to heed it at times during the session

Cheers All,
Mike E.

[quote name='dougal' post='216099' date='Jun 10 2008, 12:50 PM']Don't eat beans before the audition?[/quote]

Heh, good advice in most situations...?


[quote]Think about what it is that makes you love to play.
Know your parts.[/quote]

Interestingly, I've no idea of most of their setlist "It's all 12 bar blues, you'll be fine" said the guitarist


Many thanks for the advice everyone, keep it coming.

Mike E.

Crunch time. Since first taking up the DB a year ago (and having not played any bass at all for the last couple of months due to playing guitar and mandolin for a lady folksinger instead) I'm having an audition on Weds evening with a local-based but high profile blues/boogie-woogie band, who are damn good to say the least

This'll be the first time I've played the upright for any reason other than practice/noodling and certainly the first time I've ever auditioned with it and I'm pooing myself with terror. Well, that's possibly a slight exaggeration, although my cats are keeping a wide berth due to the fear-induced flatulence.. Any suggestions how to cope with it all?

Mike E.





www.pbase.com/bassworm
www.myspace.com/the_bassworm

That's an interesting idea. My lad is a drummer, do you think he'd miss a stick?

At home volumes, my EA stage rig just sounds muddy, indistinct and pretty inspid. Cranked up -wahey!!

However, I have tiny GK combo that I use for practice that sound fab at all volumes. This morning I plugged in my Aria for the last time before the new owner comes to collect it, the sound was pant-wettingly good and made me wonder if I'd made the right choice in selling it. :-0

[quote name='Golchen' post='208175' date='May 28 2008, 04:25 PM']There are different reasons for watching. Sometimes I watch am item if I'm considering selling something similar, sometimes I'm just curious as to what an item will fetch, occasionally I'm going to bid later but forget cos I don't visit eBay for days!

And if I do bid on an item, I leave it until the last 5 minutes of an auction, otherwise you could just be inflating the price getting into a bidding war. My philosophy is don't give people time to think about whether they want to go higher than their original maximum![/quote]

Heh, true, I have been guilty of this myself in the past. I'm just feeling a tad anxious because I sold a great Overwater recently and out of thirty-odd watchers, only one bid was made.


[quote]Aria Pro II - I knew a guy who was a hot bass player and he absolutely loved his APII, and I have a really old guitar APII which I would never part with. They are very good instruments.[/quote]



It is a great instrument, fun to play and makes a great racket.

[quote name='Scoop' post='207602' date='May 27 2008, 09:32 PM']Mike, seriously.

If you're putting anything else up for sale give me first refusal by mail before you throw it on the 'bay. Dammit man, if circumstances change you can always buy them back at cost from me coz I know how much some of these have meant to you over the years!![/quote]


Dave. you are as always, a prince among men. Hopefully see you soon (and I'll tell you the story of Your Demise and their encounter with the Belgian legal system)

[quote name='NickThomas' post='207403' date='May 27 2008, 05:33 PM']47 watchers hoping to get it at £251.01 lol[/quote]


Heh, 56 of the buggers now.

Would you believe it? 47 watchers and only one bid....

Thanks for all the positive comments, it's a real shame to have to sell it on.

Hi All,

Due to financial circumstances beyond my control, my clearout continues :-(

My 80s Aria is now up for sale on Fleabay. at;

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330238630098&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=014"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...E:IT&ih=014[/url]


Any questions/observations, please get in touch.

Cheers,
Mike E.

Hi Ian,
Nice to see you in here. Warwicks seem to be one of those instruments that polarise opinions a bit. I personally can't get on with them at all, I find the necks to 'clublike' and chunky (And don't get me started on the look :-0). UKMG's own IanM by comparison absolutely loves his. And makes a great noise with it too.

If it's any help, I'm told that the earlier Warwicks have a much slimmer neck profile than the recent ones. Phaps you need to do a swap? :-)

Cheers,
Mike E.

[quote name='OldGit' post='197958' date='May 13 2008, 01:46 PM']It's not bad sometimes too loud for me but they have a great Pinball machine out back
I sometimes get to play at the Jim Jam there on Thursdays ..[/quote]



Great Cardiff pubs I have known....

I left the city in 74 to seek my fortune (Still looking), but few boozers come to mind that I used to frequent and love. I suspect many of them won't exist any more, especially the ones in the bay area. The Glastonbury, the Freemasons, The Custom House f'rinstance. Any of them still around?

[quote name='OldGit' post='197544' date='May 12 2008, 09:37 PM']Ace of Bass Special Award.
I'm right by Albany Road, down at the classy multicultural resturant end... and the Claude.[/quote]


The Claude! Haven't been in there in a few years....

Oh I do like that. Have a free bump on me

Big hiya from a Rumney boy

Last chance before the Ebay gets it....