Chris2112

[quote name='Clarky' post='983712' date='Oct 10 2010, 07:58 PM']Having recently taken ownership of a Wal (a '78 ProIIE) I have to say I think my Alembic is better put together and I prefer the tone of the Alembic. Not saying the Wal isn't a nice bass, just that I prefer my Alembic. I'm sure plenty will disagree with me but the Alembics I have played are just the height of craftsmanship, whereas the Wal is more like a quality step up from Fender with superior electronics. Waits for bricks from the Wal devotees ....[/quote] Couldn't agree more. Wals are amazing, and for what they do, they're unique. However, Alembics are better made and generally feel more "incredible". FWIW, I think the Alembic electronics are generally better too, particularly the "space ship" setups like the Series II Anniversary stuff. However, they're very different basses and suit different things. I wouldn't take the Wal to a Level 42 tribute show, for instance.

As I've said before, I believe the "true" Wal tone is in the fingers. Geddy Lee and Jonas Hellborg got it. When you're playing Wal basses with a pick they lose that wonderfully voiced magic they have. As I've said before, the Bongo is a perfectly acceptable substitute for Wal pick tones, especially if you're playing TOOL songs. Justin smothers his basses in so many layers of effects that the essential tone of the Wal underneath is masked. A Bongo with some fresh strings and the treble backed off slightly with the mids accentuated is a perfect substitute for a Wal in these circumstances. Similarly, the Bongo will be a fantastic second best in terms of fingerstyle playing, but with a pick and notably, with a load of effects pedals most people would certainly struggle to tell it from a Wal.

[quote name='anty' post='981661' date='Oct 8 2010, 03:00 PM']always thought a stringray with a treble boost on it would get you close-ish[/quote] The Bongo is about as close as production basses get but nothing except a Wal sounds like a Wal IMO.

This is just an incredible groove. Great bass playing on an amazing. The arrangement is just fantastic, I love the subtle key lines and the horn parts too. Excellent stuff.

[quote name='the_skezz' post='983259' date='Oct 10 2010, 12:38 PM']Dexys Midnight Runners version of 'Jackie Wilson Said'. Pretty easy to figure out and play, but a nice bit of fun.[/quote] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DXS4_y6fU0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DXS4_y6fU0[/url] Check out this performance from [i]The Young Ones[/i] TV show. The bassist is playing an Alembic, those first couple of notes in the first few seconds demonstrate the "Alembic sound" perfectly!

You're sure to become a convert then! There are few things better than a good carbon fibre neck. Expect to have excellent sustain and clarity all over the neck, which is great for getting that aggressive burpy sound that graphite necks love to make!

I'd have love to have played with John McLaughlin and Trilok Gurtu in the McLaughlin trio of the late 1980's.

I'll check it later mate, I'm on a laptop atm so I doubt the speakers would do it justice.

Bubinga, please don't think I'm trying to be rude. I do find Meshell's stuff dire, and her playing quite dull. However, as we've seen there are plenty of people who think Mark King is crap and overplays. Different vinegar strokes for different folks. Of course, I do play for myself. What reason is there to play in bands and situations you don't like when you don't rely on your playing as your sole way of generating income?

The big shame with Spector is the price hike. I remember a few years ago when you could get an NT Euro with EMG P/J pickups for £1000 new at Sound Control. They were incredible, they sounded like Victor Wooten's Fodera basses! Sadly, they're a bit overpriced now IMO. Warwick's new prices, on the other hand, have always been absolutely ridiculous, whereas Spector used to be reasonable!

If it's anything like my old 80's 4X10" Trace cab then it will weigh a ton! Moving them is a two man job! Impressive sound though.

Yep, those finishes can be a bit much! I really liked the Flea basses with the maple tops, they look awesome.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='982667' date='Oct 9 2010, 04:31 PM']Well ive been playing for 15 years and im a good bass player...i know many L42 songs and i love them,but i dont know any of the bass lines...does that make me a bad bassist.. some of the plodding along you refer to can be the most musical bass playing...it doesnt have to be technical to be great bass playing...ever heard willie weeks on Donny Hathaways tracks..?[/quote] For a start, Wojtek is very talented but just seems to apply tricks from Mark King's trick bag without the great note choice that makes Mark's playing so compelling. As for your playing, I see you talk a lot about that Meshell D'Negeocello or whatever her name is. That kind of music, to me, is about as naff as it gets and if that your style, then no I probably wouldn't like your playing and it would fall into what I would call "bad" or at least the type of thing I wouldn't want to listen to. But I play for myself and listen to what I like so YMMV, everyone is different. At least we can all be united under the common banner of Mark King and agree that he is class. As for Mark being a an LJ copyist, I don't buy it. He borrowed a lot from Stanley Clarke to start with, but almost immediately improved on it. "Dune Tune" was like a better version of the School Days interlude and the solo from "Foundation and Empire" was better than anything Stan had done IMO despite using his signature triplet feel! Mark was lucky to bring a new style of playing to a new sound much in the same way that Jaco and Wooten did.

In the 80's there were two blokes who I think were as good as Mark King: Geddy Lee and Stuart Hamm. Plenty of great bassists around at the time but these three really knew the score.

Bubinga, no I'm not joking. When I see amateur bassists who can really play they've usually got a few King licks up their sleeve. But then I do like bassists who aren't afraid to really work the bass rather than just plod along on it!

[quote name='steve-soar' post='982647' date='Oct 9 2010, 04:04 PM']Ouch, aching forearms.[/quote] I forgot just how incredible your stamina has to be for that song! By the first chorus my arms were starting to ache! I ended up slapping with a much lighter touch from the thumb and that allowed me to rattle the song off without my arms seizing up!

In keeping with the recent Level 42 theme I went back to "Lessons in Love" and got it tight with the drums!

Mark King is of course the boy! And despite the fact he could play rings around anyone here on the forum, he remains to be a nice guy. I think his impact goes far beyond the fact he was the face of bass in Europe in the 80's, and I don't think there has been anyone since to have dominated the scene in the way he has. I think today you can spot a good bassist a mile off, usually if he has his Level 42 licks together. A little bit of "43" here, a bit of "Mr Pink" there, most of the guys who have got their chops together now did it with Level 42 records! I do think he would have been great in other musical situations but he enjoyed so much success with Level 42 that he didn't need to branch out. When I think of this, I always go back to the Princes Trust video with Mark playing bass on Midge Ure's "If I Was". Mark forms a huge groove with Big Country's mark brzezicki on drums, incredible stuff.

I loved having my Thumb. It was one of those basses I had always wanted to own and it was very useable. Would I want to own another Warwick? I could be tempted by a Streamer, but as it stands I'm not really wanting to rush back to them. I'd rush back to Spector though!

Very nice basses to play and quite a nice aggressive sound too. Definitely a "studio" bass though, unless you play in a disco or cabaret band!