Chris2112

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1368176173' post='2074009'] Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead etc recently said "You've gotta have a damn good reason to play an open string on a bass." - not entirely sure why to be honest, I mean look at James Jamerson. [/quote] Probably more so the case back in the day when many basses sound crap, and an open string would sound even worse. Even today though, in inspecting a bass I always check to see if the open strings are suitable for use! Some just sound too 'thin' to of any use for more than a passing split second. Although for the OP it sounds more like a mental coordination issue. Much like anything else that takes you out of your comfort zone; be it string skipping, pedalling, slapping the right string or whatever, slow practice will see it right. I wouldn't rely on transposing things as that is a crutch and a further obstacle to overcome before getting it right. I do like to use open strings though, both for pedal tones and as 'stepping stones' on to other notes in quicker runs.

I've always enjoyed the look, feel and sound of a mk1 Kingbass. They're one of those basses that has been on the menu for me for a while but I've never went for one. Yet. Mind you, back when I had my old 80's Series II, I considered that the pinnacle of Status basses that I had tried until that point and once I sold it I had had my fill of them, for a while. You always go back.

[quote name='dudi8' timestamp='1368215195' post='2074649'] why would people buy a Ferrari over a subaro, they both drive [/quote] Depends. The Ferrari is an Italian purebred classic. The Subaru (thinking of the Impreza rally models rather than the agricultural vehicles) is a classic 90's rally rep of a car that was at the top of it's game and won the WRC. Both very different, and once again, proof that car to bass analogies are usually flawed.

[quote name='Johngh' timestamp='1368206302' post='2074525'] [sub]Here we go[/sub] [/quote] Here we go again! It may get ordered, it may not, it may come, it will be the best thing since sliced bread, and will be sold in a few days to pay for something like a car! Real life always gets in the way.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1368189912' post='2074268'] Isn't Koa quite difficult to get hold of now? I remember reading somewhere it's now quite highly protected, going the same way as brazilian rosewood. [/quote] Indeed. It used to be much cheaper. Back in the day every other Carvin seemed to have a Koa top! I think it's absolutely stunning, but stocks have run down and the time has come to try other woods.

I thought it lacked all the drama and excitement of the original.

Looked blue in the video for Electricity!

Sad news. He was a fantastic guitarist, what a riffer.

The first time I heard Jaco I didn't quite 'get' what the fuss was about. Then I checked out the stuff he had done with Weather Report and it all clicked. He is for me, one of the best sidemen of all time but I am slightly less interested in his stuff as a soloist or a bandleader. His groove is as strong as steel!

It seems there is a thread on OTPJ every year or so asking where he was. The answer is always that he's very busy with work, though that answer seems to have turned up once or twice so I can only assume he is bored of Basschat or similar. As he has been gone for what seems like quite a while!

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1366973943' post='2059637'] A Thumb Bolt on has a really unique vibe to it, I actually prefer the bolt on to the NT, more snap in the high notes. [/quote] This is a very good point. I have usually reached for a BO Thumb first because they sound a bit better than the NT Thumbs to my ears. A little bit more sizzle in the output, a richer and more prominent midrange. The notes have a real 'pop' to them and they respond very well to right hand dynamics. The NT's sound a little more softer and more muted to me (but also distinctive and very good). The Thumb bass epitomises Warwick for me, because unlike the Streamer etc etc, there is nothing else really like it, and they always sound very distinctive!

I have always loved that percussive style of his. And his chordal playing is fantastic too. I love this video; it used to be on youtube in small snippers but I don't think I've ever seen it all in one go with the intro piece intact. Absolutely marvellous playing. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a7IfNlwuJU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a7IfNlwuJU[/url]

I've had mail about my basses over the years, often asking if I would sell something, or how much I would sell it for, or would I get back in touch if I ever did decide to sell. I can't say it ever really bothered me and usually I would just delete the mail and move on.

Howard always does a good job. Enjoy the bass!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1366462962' post='2052895'] I'd say the biggest factor in the punch will be the compressor he's got in the signal chain to allow him to sound even over the track he's playing along with. [/quote] This, I think, mainly. It's not that the bass sounds good [i]per se[/i], just listen to the 'Locked out of heaven' video, it sounds dump there! Rather he has put a lot more time into getting the sound right for the Daft Punk video. In the Daft Punk video, you've got that obvious compression to even out his playing and really push it to the front of the mix. And the track volume and EQ will be adjust to suit too; this is after all a bass video he has made so obviously he wants to be right up front in the mix so we can hear what he is doing! And as mentioned, his keeps his playing tight with good damping on the notes and smooth, consistent attack on each string aided by the compression. It's not so much about the bass, OP, as my Warwick Thumb will easily mimic that sound if I'd fiddling round with my Pandora unit. Obviously, the Thumb will tend to a little bit of a 'burpy' sound and has more low mid growl, but with the right processing it shouldn't be too difficult to get most humbucker/soapbar basses sounding like that. Also, there is nothing wrong with his thumb and he won't end up having problems. I've been playing for 13 years with a similarly double jointed thumb (albeit not quite as dramatic as that!) and I've had no problems. Come to think of it, I've had no problems with either thumb for a quarter of a century so I think I will be ok!

[quote name='barneyg42' timestamp='1366179915' post='2049193'] Sharing a moment with my keys player........I hope the guitarist doesn't get jealous [/quote] He is looking at that nice Status bass!

The soundtrack in the video no longer works!

I've never been on a cruise, but I can imagine I would quite enjoy this sort of thing with the right bands. The bands have a good time and enjoy a cruise, you get the benefits of a good cruise holiday as well as seeing the bands performing small shows. Better than paying £90 to see them at a muddy festival or a booming, echoing enormodome!

Always the case. You see a bass that piques your interest, decide to get hold of one and by the time you're ready to buy there are none to be seen!

[quote name='Basschatfield' timestamp='1366146490' post='2049034'] Okay awesome thank you guys. Well i already hang out with a bunch of musicians and i play hundreds of gigs with my bands so i'll just start asking around. [/quote] This is probably the best way forward. It sounds like you know a few people already, so ask around and let them know you're available for session work. All you need is one good session to get you started. Nail a recording in good time, get a pat on the back from whoever is financing the project and keep your fingers crossed that your star rises from there. Make sure you're ready for the session on the day though, as a bad session will do you far more damage than a great session will do you good. Even if you can get some work though, I suspect the days of being a 'proper' session man are over. The likes of Anthony Jackson, who made a living off high end session work, will never be seen again, as there just isn't enough session work these days to sustain that kind of thing. Even less so in the UK. The best session players these days all have alternate revenue streams like online lessons, music college tours etc etc, which should give you a hint as to how the industry is going!

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1366141556' post='2048953'] I'm sure that when i saw Weather Report in 1982/83 Victor Bailey was playing a plain old Fender Jazz Bass. So there you are, who needs a Victor Bailey signature model anyway? [/quote] Of course he was, but then that was 1982. Signature models weren't exactly all the rage then (though they soon would be). So Fender said to Victor: "hey, we'l make you a cool bass with your name on, and you'll do a few adverts. Are you happy with that?". Did you expect him to say no? Mind you, no Victor Bailey thread would be complete without this awful video: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBSnps-iIzQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBSnps-iIzQ[/url] Such a hokey song. No doubt meant as a heartfelt tribute to a hero of his, but it is dire.

I've always enjoyed the VB Jazz bass. I thought it was the best of the Fender Jazz basses that you could go into a shop and buy fairly recently. It was priced to match, mind you.