Mrbigstuff

funky_numba. There seems to be a lot of utter crap on this thread. Instead of blaming it on an amp, bass, pickups, set up whatever, it is in reality all about the technique. And by this i don't just mean right hand, the left hand is just as important. On the right hand you want to really push hard on the strings to make sure your pushing the strings for all that they can give, then your left hand needs to be firm to let the note ring out propperly. Someone mentioned more treble and new strings for a funk sound? Really? Because if you look at chic/ sister sledge/ E.W.F, the strings they use are either pretty dead or flatwounds. This gives a really mellow tone which i think favours the low mids. I think at the end of the day, you should try to find a proffessional who can talk you through all this, and hopefully give advice on how to set up a bass too. I think once you have the fundamentals you can then explore how upgrading basses, pickups, and strings may help.

If your new to bass, look into the major's boot camp as theres some really good lessons in there. If i had seen that when i started i would probably be gigging a lot more!

I think im at a very similar stage to you. I had 3 fantastic lessons with Jakesbass and now im just going through Simandl whenever time allows (not much at the minute) but iv got to the third position which redicuousloy is something liek page 17 out of 200. A long but fun journey ahead then The hardest thing i find is bowing while reading, if i learn a piece my bowing sounds great and i barely get any squeaks or rub, but if i read whilst bowing i sometimes get all sorts of noises :@

The pegs were made of a very thin metal although he might have trod on it ....... But i have another friend with an american deluxe jazz bass and his tuning peg snapped off too. I think apart from the most recent models, most new fenders have been poorly made compared to musicman and warwick. Unless you just play in a bedroom i personally wouldn'y buy the bass as a gigging instrument.

[quote name='Conan' post='1049363' date='Dec 6 2010, 02:56 PM']Yeah. I always find inflatable Santas throw my timing...[/quote] i think some of them girls come inflated too

great sound, crap quality. My mate ended up replacing his tuning pegs with 50p coins as the origionals all snapped off

is molan's performance p still for sale? Its a little bit more but god i would be tempted if i could

logic's not too bad

great feel, maybe look at different finger positions in the verse, i can play it all in 4 frets except for going down to the F at the end. Could make it easier and the timing will improve because of it

[quote name='Michaelg' post='1034468' date='Nov 23 2010, 09:25 PM']to be honest, amplifiers are more integral to a bass sound [/quote] I disagree with you as the idea of an amplifier is to make the sound louder, but obviously a 15inch speeker is different to a 12 and a 10 inch. BUT, i watched the video in your sig, and thats a really great sound. Whats the bands name?

Just bought a tokai jazz off here, the only fender jazz bass iv played thats anywhere near as good is a £2k custom shop model i tried in dokota red. But then im sure theres some really great mexican fender jazz basses..... somewhere

[quote name='Beedster' post='1025593' date='Nov 16 2010, 10:23 AM']Reading a couple of threads on here this morning and they got me to thinking about the magic projected onto 60s and 70s Fenders, and the fact that it rarely extends to 80s Fenders, despite the fact that the latter instruments are often way superior in build and playability? OK, there's loads of factors for sure, but is it partly a result of the 80s simply being more associated with other brand basses. When I think about the 80s I always see names like Wal, Ibanez, Yamaha, Steinberger etc., and instruments from the 80s from these brands seem to have some vintage cache, whilst Fenders of the era don't? Just thought I'd chuck that into the maelstrom of speculation [/quote] I think most people buy basses depending on what the heroes play. A lot of great bassists played 60's and 70's fenders, wal's, steinbergers. But i can't remember seeing a picture where a famous bass player is using an 80's fender. Maybe im just too young and am very wrong, having not actually lived through the 80's.

Rockshool are a bag of crap. I would advise taking guildhall. I took grade 5 rockshool, i got a piece of paper saying i had a merit, that was it. With Guildhall i got a marking sheet which said where improvements could be made. Guildhall then is money well spent. Rockshcool in my opinion is a complete waste of it

what are they made like? will they damage the fretless fingerboard easily like roundwounds?

a joke i heard off stu hamm Whats the difference between a jazz player and a large pizza A pizza will feed the family

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1011920' date='Nov 4 2010, 12:21 PM']Right my band are quite established, never going to go anywhere but get some good support slots so I'm happy with that. The guitarist has just graduated as a 'graphic designer' and takes everything far too seriously and basically thinks he knows everything, he doesn't take input any more, if anyone comes up with an idea he will say "I like it but lets go my way" now he is in another band with the drummer from this band (I was in it too but I left because I hated being in another band with him) they had a gig the other day and someone in the crowd videoed it and put it on Youtube everyone in that band was happy that someone took the time, he saw it and sent the guy an email basically telling him where he went wrong in making the video and that the camera should always be pointed at the band. That is crossing a huge line for me so I'm left with a choice I can either leave or ask the guys to carry on without him, the drummer is my best friend and he is pissed off with him too. /rant[/quote] i always see it that there are sooooo many musicians, sack the bugger and find someone with less of an ego

Its going to take time to find a brand you like, as you have to try out lots of gear. But the advantage of having head and cab instead of a combo is that if you for example like the head but want to replace the cab, just sell the cab. With a combo you would need to sell the whole thing. I would look for an aguilar cab on here for around £300 and a 300 watt 8 ohms head

[quote name='silddx' post='1011889' date='Nov 4 2010, 12:03 PM']It's mainly for publicity and promotion. He does have a career to maintain you know, he's not doing it like he's Mother Teresa. I must say, it's very odd you think he does it to "Give something back", like by making music he's not doing that already. Also, you don't get to the level he is at and be happy playing a one note groove. He needs to solo. I really should have a listen to him at some point, but that Jeff Berlin album has really messed my mind up and I never want to hear jazz solo bass again, ever.[/quote] Why would he need to promote himself to us? He's already got his name with the right people all over the world and thats how he gets the well paid pop tours and thats his sorce (forgotton how to spell) of income.I think he does it for a few reasons but i doubt promotion is one

he was in ACM earlier today and i agree. Funny but everything he said this time made much more sense than it did a year ago and i admire his honesty and openess to questions

[quote name='beardybass' post='1010286' date='Nov 3 2010, 04:55 AM']Either the site hates me or my work computer is playing amateur fascist again, could be both. I'll have a look when I get home to my nice shiny mac that does what it's told and doesn't crash or do anything random and silly... sigh. Anyway Nice one captain [/quote] still broke, it ran fine last week

The reissue may not have the same decals as the original. There are many things. The best way to do it is to just google different era's and you will notice differences

Sorry didnt mean to come across offensively i don't know actually, i just spend too much time looking at old fenders (n)

SUPERBAD! FUNKIEST THING EVER

[quote name='Wil' post='1005498' date='Oct 29 2010, 05:26 PM']If I were going to buy an instrument as an investment, I'd probably try and track down a really good 50s Les Paul. Guitarists seem to care slightly more about the vintage tone mojo stuff.[/quote] 50's les pauls are more of a collection item than players guitar, the cost of them are already rediculous especially a goldtop. [quote name='Happy Jack' post='1005547' date='Oct 29 2010, 06:05 PM']It depends, mate, it depends. [b]Geography[/b] For very obvious reasons, the really good-quality vintage Fenders / Gibsons / Alembics will always be cheaper in the USA, just as the really good-quality vintage Wals / Goodfellows / Celinders will always be cheaper in Europe.[/quote] 70's fenders are reasonably priced in the states but the early 60's fenders are a lot more expensive there than here. [quote name='wesfinn' post='1005617' date='Oct 29 2010, 06:59 PM']buy a few really good condition early JV squiers.[/quote] Yes they will be more collectable but the room for profit will be a lot less compared to that of a 60's fender. Of course the more you invest the higher the risk