Chris2112

[quote name='urb' post='1262488' date='Jun 9 2011, 11:47 AM']I've played Dave Swift's recently acquired one - see pics link below - and it is very nice - but it's an absolute beast, I honestly don't know how AJ gets around the neck without major muscle strain - and since he's such a monster on the low B - no one plays a low B like AJ, he's the king of the low end, end of IMO - but the 36" scale is crazy huge, he must be wiped by the end of a gig... I'm more of a wussy Matt Garrison 33" scale man myself [url="http://www.daveswiftbass.com/pages/basses/Fodera-Anthony-Jackson.html"]http://www.daveswiftbass.com/pages/basses/...ny-Jackson.html[/url] M[/quote] Well, that is a very valid point. However, when I've been playing a 36" scale bass (like an Overwater, say), I've found myself thinking more like AJ just because of the size of the instrument. Less notes, less speedy runs and more solid lines where the focus is on timing, feel and note choice. Not to say that I don't do that on every bass, but when you have something like that I feel it can actually force you to slow down, and I've been really impressed with some of the results! No good for when I want to slap along to a level 42 track though!

Great to hear Geddy talking about the Wal basses and the Steinbergers. I think he knows he would sound better if he was using them now but given that they're so rare and old it's best not to be touring with those basses.

[quote name='Doddy' post='1262703' date='Jun 9 2011, 02:10 PM']It's well known that Jaco wasn't an improviser-he once said to Marcus Miller "You think you're bad because you can improvise".[/quote] No, Miller is bad because he's been pedalling the same tired rubbish for years! My favourite Jaco recording outside of Weather Report would probably be the Trio of Doom record. I agree with John McLaughlin's stance that it should be heard because it's of historical value, but musically it isn't the train wreck it was made out to be. When the band gels it sounds great. Their version of Continuum is great. It's a shame Jaco's behaviour was so erratic, because if they had had time to sit down and rehearse or even write a record together I've no doubt it would be amazing.

I could listen to the first part of a Change of Seasons (great riff) but after that it goes down hill. I don't think there are many DT songs I would choose to listen to. On another note, yes, Portnoy's vocals were awful. I think was indicative of his bloated ego though, that he thought he was so important they should let him sing with his awful voice! But Ruddess has been the main downfall of the band for me. Yes, technically he is a wizard but his playing just sounds dreadful and his tone is terrible too. Sadly his ego is the biggest problem, as he constantly wants to compete with Petrucci to be the centre of attention. I'm not Petrucci fan, but he is far better to listen to than Ruddess and his dire long winded solos.

[quote name='molan' post='1262260' date='Jun 9 2011, 07:57 AM']Such a great player AJ. I saw Fodera had an Anthony Jackson Presentation bass available this week as a customer had a medical problem that meant he couldn't play it. It was a 'fully loaded' version with titanium bridge and truss rod - these babies sell at $24,000 new and I'm sure this one would have been pretty close to that price. . . . . .It sold in under 30 minutes from when it was first listed as being available. [/quote] The AJ presentation model has always been on my list of 'lottery win' basses! Didn't Eubassix from Basschat used to have one?

Portnoy? Hey, could you listen to their music day in, day out for 20 years?

Fodera, F Bass, Ken Smith...well done! If anyone in Newcastle fancies trying to beat this effort, let me know!

[quote name='BassBod' post='1261786' date='Jun 8 2011, 08:34 PM']That is amazingly crap. I've had very helpful responses from a few American companies..including Alembic (often cited as the last bastion of true hippyness). I'd just ignore KS and get searching for an equivalent - there must be good techs in France who can repair your problem for a lot less money.[/quote] Indeed. I've had free parts and manuals from Phillip Kubicki, shipped to England!

Different vinegar strokes for different folks!

Ken is known for particularly bad customer service, as well as not really caring about the Burner basses. I think his justification was that they wern't his own instruments given their Japanese construction. I don't think he was ever particularly happy with the Burner basses or what became KSD basses.

[quote name='Floyd Pepper' post='1261500' date='Jun 8 2011, 05:36 PM']So, here's my latest arrival. I'm reliably informed that it's a 1994 Series II - Graphite body, Blue Sims LEDS. Taking it to rehearsals tomorrow night for a good blast. I doubt it will replace the Miller Jazz as my main bass but not bad for a back up and encore bass! [attachment=82115:DSC_6983.JPG] [attachment=82114:DSC_6982.JPG] Cheers, Jim[/quote] Looks fantastic! But is that not the Matrix body shape? Possibly a one off custom graphite bodied Matrix with soapbar pickups? Anyway, here are a couple of shots I have of the Series 2 that will be travelling to me soon. I hope the previous owner doesn't mind me using them but they are better than my usual naff iphone efforts! Quite simply one of the most beautiful Status basses I've ever seen. I have dreamed of owning an 80's Series 2 for years, but I never thought I would find one with a maple facing like this. It's the best look for them, IMO, the contrast between the black graphite and lighter wood looks amazing and it really brings the accent line and the chamfered edge next to the bridge to life, much better than similar models with say, a walnut facing or another dark wood; not to say that they don't look great because they do!

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' post='1260975' date='Jun 8 2011, 11:31 AM']+1 he looks great! I wonder how he did it? (I am thinking it may even be easier for me to copy his weight loss than even dare to try and get in the same playing league!!) LOL[/quote] IIRC he lost that weight as he needed an operation. Not sure how he did it but he put it back on pretty fast! Anyway, I was thinking of the track below earlier today. It's from one of Simon Phillips solo albums. Simon is a fantastic drummer who played with Big Country at one point. He has some great fusion chops, and Anthony's playing on this tune is amazing. It's huge and listening to him is often akin to like having a grand piano churning away in the background when he hits some of those low notes. This is great fusion too, very tuneful and groovy.

I work shifts, so being in a band which regularly rehearses would be a nightmare to arrange and playing live would similarly be difficult to arrange. However, I gave up on live music years ago so it's not something that bothers me. Instead, I'd rather just play with people who work for the same organisation as me, it's fairly large and there are plenty of people who play instruments so getting a few guys together to make music isn't really a problem.

[quote name='4000' post='1261562' date='Jun 8 2011, 06:16 PM']Yeah, but I prefer his cliches. And his tone. Jaco was a fabulous, creative player, no argument here; a giant amongst electric bassists (although certainly not the only one). However I have to agree with Wombatboter overall. I never liked his live solo playing; always found it disjointed and not very musical (to my ears). I really don't think he comes across as much of an improviser; his written solos are far better.[/quote] And herein lies the truth, that Jaco never was much of an improviser. He could improvise if he wanted to but he always came back to those licks we know, progressions he was familiar with. That was where his sound lay. He much prefered being able to write a solo out, and being able to take time in the studio to get the best cut. For example, the legendary solo in Havona is, IIRC, three separate takes spliced into one. Jaco was really more about composition and arragnement than playing. He even said so himself, when he remarked that that ill-fated steel drum album he had composed was the best thing he had ever written. I get the impression he spent far longer writing and arranging than he did just playing bass, and that he found that much more enjoyable too. It simply happened that he had learned to play bass to a good standard, so that was where he stayed! FWIW, I thought Joe Zawinul was a better composer, although having Jaco onboard in Weather Report was a boon for them since Anthony Jackson turned them down!

I have always loved Jaco, but I've never liked Portrait of Tracy. It falls completely flat after about 30 seconds.

[quote name='steve-bbb' post='1261492' date='Jun 8 2011, 05:30 PM']please please please please please.... if you must indulge in technical excess, then do it with some flare and expression [url="http://&quot;%20&lt;a%20href=&quot;http://youtu.be/hEtZpLk1jjc&quot;&quot;%20target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;http://youtu.be/hEtZpLk1jjc&quot;&lt;/a&gt;"] <a href="http://youtu.be/hEtZpLk1jjc" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/hEtZpLk1jjc[/url]</a> i thank you [/quote] That was pretty crap as well to be honest, plenty of aimless noodling but played to a small audience than Dream Theater would entertain.

It'll probably be just as naff as the rest of them, and Myung still won't sound as good as when he used a Tung bass, and Petrucci won't sound as good as when he had an Ibanez bass. Same old, same old...

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='1260386' date='Jun 7 2011, 10:08 PM']It's good to hear that the 'special one' is in good hands [/quote] I could never sell it, it's far too good. Looked after religiously, as fresh as the day I bought it from you. It still looks brand new and sounds incredible. Best bass I've ever bought!

[quote name='Clarky' post='1260684' date='Jun 8 2011, 07:58 AM']Likewise, I may be wrong but I assumed they were cheap, good quality copies of Western brands but essentially flouting copyright/patents. Not something that should be encouraged in a legitimate bass forum IMHO Besides I prefer the semi-clad ladies in the figleaves ad [/quote] I assume it pays the bills. Where you spend your money after is up to you!

One of those Sandbergs would seen an ideal compromise, Precision shape neck and body with a humbucker at the bridge for big Stingray sounds.