Chris2112

Sad news, and a long, long fight indeed. It seems like only yesterday that I was reading news of the crash!

They are great basses. I would love to have owned one, but mostly the realistically priced Stingrays I see come up for sale are online, and they are a bass you really have to play before you buy, on account of the fact that some of them suffer terribly with dead spots and weak D and G strings. Maybe one day!

I've tried the 90' silent jacks, didn't think much of them. I too found they were pretty hit-and-miss, to the extent that I'd switch my amp off before unplugging the bass as you could never be sure when a speaker splitting 'pop' was going to happen!

00:45 - obvious bum note. But I've made bigger gaffes so I can forgive him. The bass tone isn't bad either. Just the ticket in a glassy, open 80's synth mix. BTW, it sounds as though he is playing with a pick rather than slapping, just by listening to some of the articulation on those triplets.

I thought this was going to be a repost of the other article about the loudness wars that makes heavy reference to Vapor Trails. Fantastic album, but a sonic sludgefest!

That shot of the Thumbs together is great. Still not sure about this singlecuts though.

Back when Michael Manring got the looper out at Bass Day '98 and did a rendition of Teen Town with it, it seemed genuinely amazing. That impact has been lessened by the imitators, and yes, the looper does seem to have become the solo bassist's best friend. I lamented years ago that we weren't getting epic, Stuart Hamm style bass solos these days simply because players were falling back on the looper, getting the same lick going over and over, then noodling away for a while to little effect. Such a shame.

I can sing, if I know the song and I can get the words out without thinking about it. I can't talk though. I'm like BB King when I talk and play. One bar of playing, pause to speak and then play again!

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1365156676' post='2035975'] (But, rather like a Volvo driver offering Michael Schumacher a few tips about driving, but can't help suggest to pick up on the triplets the drummer gives to mark the end of your solo!) [/quote] Some Volvo drivers could offer him a few tips...

I doubt I'll ever buy another Streamer. It was a 1990 Ltd Edition model and it was so good it made every other Streamer I've ever played feel a bit ordinary, even Stage II's! I love Streamers but I feel I've owned the best now. Six string basses on my mind include the Yamaha TRBs (neck thru models) and then custom/boutique stuff. I appreciate a good TRB is every bit the equal for a handmade bass though. If I could have any 6 string back, it would be my first generation Status Stealth bass. I was stupid to let it go.

Even if I was gigging the Thumb, I would usually have the luxury of a seat. Though having held Thumb 6'ers before in the past, the weight wouldn't particularly bother me. If find if you wear them high and with a good strap, the balance is neutral and they are a fairly clever piece of ergonomic design. So that isn't an issue. It's mainly one of me wanting a 6 string, but loving the sound of the Thumb too! I think I will keep the Thumb and save up for something else, and then see how I feel when I had both basses.

[quote name='visog' timestamp='1364500746' post='2027443'] Can't help feeling you're exorcising some inner demons here... [/quote] Can't help but feel you're only saying this as I don't agree with your fanboi opinion of GB basses? As I can see you clearly like them! FWIW, yes, Mark's tone with them was utterly dump. Flat, lacking any zing or punch, and with no depth whatsoever. Maybe it would have suited a pub rock band, but they definitely weren't up to the task of playing in a clean Level 42 mix. Especially as we'd had years of Mark playing Jaydee, Status and Alembic basses before the GB debacle, and the aforementioned basses sounded fantastic. You might love GB basses and I agree, it can be irritating when someone doesn't love your brand of choice but clearly, they didn't work for Mark. Hence him keeping them for five minutes and having another decade with Status afterwards! Mark King going back to Status was not the reason Level 42 'took off' again, though it was for the better that he was back with Status. He sounded far, far better after ditching the GB's. I don't think Ashdown were the problem either, I wouldn't bother with any of their products other than the MK stuff. I've always thought my MK500 combo was a bloody brilliant little amp, both for recording and monitoring. And on both the occasions I saw Level 42 when Mark was using Status basses and his Ashdown amps he had an incredible tone. Quite frankly, the sort of tone that comes close to defying belief in a live environment!

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1364512142' post='2027657'] They've got a new website opening tomorrow. They've closed the current one overnight. Truckstop [/quote] I've just looked and I can't find a website.

Morning all, Recently I have found my playing massively re-energised by purchasing a Pandora. Whoever suggested that as a solution to the troubles I was having with my amp sounding crap in my front room, I will buy you a pint as it is the best bit of music kit I have ever bought! Anyway, since getting the Pandora, I have really come to appreciate my Warwick Thumb 5 string bass. I've always loved Thumbs; nothing else sounds like a Thumb and has the sledgehammer-like low mid range punch of a Thumb. Playing it through the Pandora, my playing sounds better than it has in years. I think this is helped by the tonal characteristics of the Thumb, even the lowest notes of the B string ring loud and clear. I feel as though my playing is more 'on the ball' timing wise than it has been for ages. I feel a great desire to get my bass out and play again, which is great. I had such a busy year last year I barely played at all sometimes, and feeling a passion for playing again is wonderful. I've been thinking of changing my bass, either by selling or trading my Warwick Thumb. Ideally I'm after a 6 string. After years away from the low B, I don't think I could live without one now; it simply gets too much playing time! But I would love a high C too. So therein lies my quandary...do I keep the Thumb because it sounds amazing and save for a 6 string on the side? I would be looking for a similarly high end instrument so I'd be spending approx £1000 or more on a 6 string. Or do I trade or sell the Thumb towards a 6 string? I know the obvious answer is 'get a 6 string thumb', but they don't seem to come up all that often (and I love trying new basses too).

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1363612349' post='2014677'] So, the man who helped design it doesn`t use them. [/quote] He didn't use them for very long, surely. One lame solo record (nowhere near as good as his first), where the bass was instantly forgettable. He also used it on a televised Prince's Trust gig. The sound was pretty lacklustre. I also recall reading that a lot of owners weren't impressed with the basses due to shoddy fretwork and woodwork. Mark ended up switching to GB basses quite quickly. I think he was going through a bad time then, as the GB basses sounded absolutely shocking as well. The first Level 42 record/DVD I got was the [i]Ohne Filter [/i]show. Dear me, his bass sounded f***ing crap there. Flat as f*** tonally. Even the red bass he got out for Mr Pink sounded hopeless. He ended up going back to Status; a smart move as Level 42 took off again soon after and he had left those dire basses buried in the sands of time.

Beaver is also a f***ing fantastic player. See if he will demo a bass for you!

[quote name='Lynottfan' timestamp='1363904342' post='2019428'] I must say that I have always found EBMM to be a straight as a die bunch, and its not every forum on the net where the CEO does come and chew the fat with you [/quote] As long as you're singing from the same hymn sheet and not complaining, otherwise you may find yourself censored! Vote with your feet, and buy basses from manufacturers that don't whitewash their negative press, or indeed, just don't get negative press...

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1363699836' post='2016025'] Probably plays better than a real one... [/quote] There isn't much doubt in my mind...