Chris2112

Well, they deserve this award! They rock!

I think the thing with slap bass is just not to get hung up on it! So many saddos will harp on about it being out of fashion, old hat, tacky etc etc whilst thumping 8th notes on the root. It's another tool in the box and one that is there to be used. If a track requires a relentless 16th note slap line like some Level 42 stuff, go for it. If it requires a shifting groove with double thumb pops and clicks, do that. Collectively, bassists have to become comfortable to be in the limelight again. It was common place in the 80's but we became marginalised in the early 90's. If there is one thing that must go with good slap, it is practice. Do anything poorly and it will sound awful.

[quote name='phil.i.stein' post='969759' date='Sep 27 2010, 05:46 PM']i've posted this previously, good demo here. [/quote] That is an incredible sounding bass, particularly at the beginning of the video!

Typically ebony will be more expensive. I recall some discussion between luthiers over how it was becoming more and more difficult to get ebony blanks of sufficient length and quality for making fretboards. I would expect this to be reflected in the price, it is typically considered a premium wood unlike Indian Rosewood. If you're buying Indian Rosewood blanks it should be about as cheap as exotic hardwoods will get. Brazilian rosewood will cost more, and coco bolo and bocote are sometimes sold as rosewood, though they'll be significantly more expensive than bog standard Indian Rosewood.

True, but with some balancing they're all usable. That said, I don't know anyone who uses the passive modes!

[quote name='urb' post='971054' date='Sep 28 2010, 07:30 PM']I disagree - learn the masters note for note and then use what you've learned to feed into your own style of playing - it's how they did it - ask any top pro and they list the players they listened to and copied - if it's good enogh for them it's good enough for you and I [/quote] back in the day when you were doing those Victor Wooten style lines on your Thumb, that was cool! When I was 16-18 I studied Stuart Hamm's slap lines religiously and leared those, applying the skills I gained there to pretty much all of my slap playing. That was my foundation.

And both mine have been "pre Fender" with the 18V 6 position preamp both with high outputs...

No, mine has a very hot output, amongst the hottest I've had.

For me, the elements are: Bass: usually something modern with a hi-fi sound. Kubicki, Status, Alembic, Fodera with EMGs, Spector etc etc Strings: stainless steel roundwounds (sometimes thin, never heavier than .45 guage) amps: Again some thing a hi-fi sound (or Trace Elliot). I'd suggest something like an Ashdown Mark King setup effects: none (although a touch of chorus can be useful for fingerstyle parts in between slapping)

[quote name='Tdw' post='968647' date='Sep 26 2010, 06:13 PM']On the subject of gauges, the kubicki strings sold on the website are only 45 gauge, somewhere else on the website it also says that a slightly heavier gauge string is required for the x factor because of the 32" scale. So it looks like kubicki recomend 45 gauge.[/quote] Well, this is what Phil recommends for getting a "normal feel" from the bass. With the decreased scale length there is a small loss in string tension compared to a 34" scale bass, hence Phil recommending the slightly heavier than normal strings to get a "familiar" feel in the fingers. Of course, the bass works perfectly well just .40's. I used to use Fodera Stainless Steel .40's and they were really, really good strings.

[quote name='bluesparky' post='969803' date='Sep 27 2010, 06:11 PM']And he's a lovely bloke too! (i met him at the bass merchant Hartke clinic thing - top evening out).[/quote] Absolutely, I've spoken with Stu a few times and he's been more than happy to just chat or answer my bass geek questions (I blame Stu for my love of Kubicki basses, nothing else gets that sound!). Probably the best night of live music I've ever seen (aside from Rush) was seeing Joe Satriani live for the third time. Stuart was playing bass and me and my brother had front row seats right in front of Stu. I was mesmerised all night, he is amazing. He even gave me the pick he used to play "Flying in a blue dream". Seeing your hero in front of you on stage is just incredible, and I suppose Stuart Hamm is the musician who inspired me to move in the direction I did with bass playing!

[quote name='tyronebishop' post='957792' date='Sep 15 2010, 10:29 PM']I just received one of these basses today and I'm afraid my experience isn't quite as pleasant as yours. I can't believe how shoddy the workmanship is ! I'll take pictures tomorrow and show close ups to all the flaws. Can't do it tonight really as i need daylight for best image results.[/quote] I suppose that is the risk you take with cheaper items like this, the workmanship and the quality control can be variable to say the least!

Where can these recordings with McLaughin be heard?

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='969665' date='Sep 27 2010, 04:47 PM']I think you should. Infact everyone should own one [/quote] Well, one day maybe! I'd still worry about the criticism that some find them uncomfortable to play sitting down as that is really where I do all my playing!

[quote name='Delberthot' post='968558' date='Sep 26 2010, 05:10 PM']i remember doing a gig in Tain, up the north of Scotland. To get into the gig, you had to go down some steep steps into the cellar. I rmember seeing my guitarist falling into the cellar - with my brand new Trace 4x10" in hand to break his fall. Luckily there was hardly a mark on the cab.[/quote] Good thing it didn't land on top of him! That Trace Elliot 4x10" cab I've sold sounds amazing but it feels as though it's lined with lead!

[quote name='urb' post='961267' date='Sep 19 2010, 03:48 PM']Sounds cool Chris, but you can get beautiful long notes by plucking at the end of the fingerboard as well, Gary Willis is an absolute master at this, his melodic playing really sings, same fir Jaco and Mr Giblin too. M[/quote] This is also true Urb, but I find the sound and feeling of giving 16th note finger funk at the bride too much to resist most of the time

Just watched the intro there, Stuart Hamm just keeps on getting better and better! He has also been recording a new album too, which is very exciting news!