Chris2112

Yes, if you're looking to get into proper session playing, then superb ears and reading skills are essential. If you can't sit down with a track that is completely new to you and either work out the bassline from listening to a rough chord structure and click track or read it once or twice and be able to nail it then you're not going to go far. And, as has been said, because there are relatively few sessions on the go these days you've got to be fantastic, every time. I have been fortunate in that the few sessions I have played I've had the material well in advance so I was able to produce on the day of recording. Otherwise, I know for certain I couldn't cut it on the "real" session scene, yet I have no trouble finding my way around a bass guitar! Try and read of Jeff Berlin's articles online about session playing. He will tell you the harsh, ugly truth about just how dedicated, talented and lucky you have to be!

At a time when we are surrounded by cheap, vacuous crap like Joe McElderry, it is great to see a star with some actual star quality. But then, Mark King comes from days when things were better...

[quote name='chrisba' post='687531' date='Dec 17 2009, 05:24 PM']I went past a place called Air Guitars in a taxi earlier today. Couldn't tell you where, as I don't know Newcastle well, but I was going from Jury's Inn to the Airport. Didn't stop to have a look though.[/quote] That'll be on Moseley Street, and if you were going to the airport you'll have most likely travelled over Swan House roundabout and onto the central motorway and away! I was in there just a couple of days ago, the blokes who run it are alright but the stock is usually terrible. In McKays you'll find the occasional cool item, but really I just go in to see the owner. He's a bloke called Doug, absolutely fantastic. Hell of a guitarist too!

That was a hell of a bassline!

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='685731' date='Dec 15 2009, 09:20 PM']Yeah, Sounds Live deserve a good mention - it's owned and run by two bass players (allegedly).[/quote] Well, there is the ginger bloke who works there, with the goatee, I remember him telling me he was a bassist with a custom bass a couple of years ago. Presumably a left handed custom bass, since he is a lefty player! They often have the better selection of basses in the toon, especially since Sound Control with it's Spector collection closed down!

[quote name='Huge Hands' post='685358' date='Dec 15 2009, 04:15 PM']Ha ha, the shop in High Bridge Street! I remember often trying to look through the window whilst on my way back to Worswick Street for the bus home![/quote] We must be going back some years now if buses used to run on Worswick street! Now there is bugger all there except the office for NODA taxis, a closed down "Smokey Joe" style pawn shop and a couple of closed down takeaways! And High Bridge has bugger all on it now too, escept for a tattoo parlour and a few people using it as a toilet on a friday and saturday night! Only metres away from the 24hr Bigg Market bogs! I have to say that Windows is terrible these days and as far as I can remember, it has never been any good. However, it has always been the "new" Windows too me. That is, crappy guitars and basses of the least reputable names, that are hideously overpriced. That, and crappy practice amps, and staff who know nothing about what they're selling. I wouldn't spend a penny there simply just because there are simply better places, and it does seem to be frequented by "first time buyers", who I really think could find better stuff at Sounds Live! The other Windows store at the Metro Centre is naff too, which is a shame.

I look after my basses, but they are tools and I accept the "playing wear" they will suffer. I just try not to be too clumsy with them! However, my Warwick Thumb is very well looked after these days. Some gigs I can do from a chair, and otherwise I just try to create a big space for myself, even if I'm on a small stage! But most of the stuff I play with other people is jazz fusion, so I don't have to worry about bandmates jumping around the stage like idiots! Lets face it, when does John Mclaughlin ever jump about the stage? etc etc But yeah, the Warwick is well looked after, waxed regularly and polished with lint free cloths every couple of days.

This bass always reminded me of a Bass Collection, and it sounds stupidly good! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH2Wp_b9COs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH2Wp_b9COs[/url]

Ah, my old Spector. It was so good it made me sell my Status Stealth 6 string! I picked it up when I was in Preston, it was an awesome bass. I wasn't planning on buying when I was there but a sit down with this bass made me change my mind! It was so good I even took it on a torturous journey home in a gig bag, complete with having to travel over the most dire parts of England across to from Preston to halifax and then on to York before getting home! It was an absolute beast. So much bark and growl and with an amazing bright slap tone. I sold it for peanuts too, chasing another Status which I sold to buy my Warwick!

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='677767' date='Dec 8 2009, 12:23 PM']I'm an anti-smoking Nazi, but even I'll admit The Bass Place was never the same after the air cleared. [/quote] I'll admit, it had a certain smokey charm before the refurb! I've played some cracking basses there over the years!

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='677730' date='Dec 8 2009, 11:54 AM']It won't work. Howard.[/quote] I dunno, I'm not sure how happy I'd be smoking all over the brace of Alembic and Fodera basses I am planning on stocking! Maybe I'll buy basses that are exclusively headless so I can have more room for stock!

Sadly Howards shut down, and thus the chance of finding anything really cool for a good price is gone! I might reopen the old Nun Street store as a bass boutique now, no smoking allowed!

Sounds like he has his bass plugged directly into a farting elephant!