Chris2112

We often take drummers for granted here but they really do make or break the band (along with singers). Talented guitarists and bassists are ten a penny. Same for passable keyboard players. But to get a good drummer is a magical thing. I find every drummer is a bit different, so you need to take time to get to know their style and the whole band needs to adjust to their sense of time. But when it clicks, it's great!

The thing for me is, I don't like much about Thunderbirds as it is. But the sound is a real downer for me. A new electronics package could be a hefty chunk of change, especially if you can't do the fitting work yourself. But if the bass isn't delivering on tone, then you can either dive in and see if you can improve it to the point where it is going to be of use to you or just let it go.

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1346078283' post='1784929'] Great stuff, thanks....will check it out. BTW, are the Wiki rumours true about him living on the streets around the time he died? Did he give up playing? [/quote] Yes, by the end he was living on a park bench. Sadly, he'd become estranged from his family, been the focus of attention of undesirables who wanted to use him for their own gain and was often sleeping rough. He lost the bass of doom too. His behaviour was such that he was pushing his friends away, Joe Zawinul describes how he took him under his wing in Weather Report, only to see him spiral downwards in his later days. He became erratic and unreliable, something which seriously impacted on his ability to get work. My favourite Jaco record would be 'Dara Factor One' from the 1982 Weather Report album. Joe described Jaco as being in a bad place when they made that album, but still able to turn up and put on a world class bass performance. That track is the absolute highlight.

It is often said that you can't polish a turd, and this is often true. I would maybe go out and try some different basses and really get a feel for what you're after. If you still keep coming back to the Tbird, then think about maybe getting some new pickups and an active preamp. Though I really do think you'd be better off looking at a different bass entirely.

Because only prats smash their instruments.

I've always thought of the German Warwick basses as having that quality of never sounding out of place. Like a Fender Jazz Bass, you can get away with using them at any gig and they still sound great!

Old as the hills.

Never having to hear 'Sex on Fire' would be pretty good, actually.

There are plenty of basses that will do a decent, honky back pickup sound, but for an authentic Jaco sound you need a passive bass, I think, or some very transparent electronics. It may seem obvious, but the most apt bass for that sound is a Fender Jaco bass. I've got one currently (soon to be traded to another forum member) and it has [i]that[/i] sound. As in, the sound you hear on the records. Not an approximation of that sound, not a passable impression of that sound. Just that sound. But then, it probably won't deliver on the other side of what you want. The neck pickup blend adds depth and bass, I suppose.

Nice one, it came quickly too! I have heard some horror stories of people waiting for Zon basses over the years! I used to have a Sonus myself, and it was very good.

[quote name='x_Morning_Star_x' timestamp='1345806977' post='1781752'] i know that 90% must be his bass that accomplishes that tone so im guessing its a long shot but worth asking about :-P [/quote] The Musicman Bongo will get you very close with the right effects. I've said it before and I'll say it again, but there isn't much of the typical Wal sound in Justin's tone. He is so often souped in effects, which swamps most of the tone and then the pick gets it to 'clang' without the typical burpy mid/soft treble sound you might hear from a Wal. The Bongo is a great choice, especially as it's dual band mid controls give you a lot of flexibility. My old ACG was also a good one for getting that big, fruity Wal sound. Mind you, it was all that and more. The ACG circuit is a much newer design than the Wal circuit, and it shows.

Nothing else really sounds like a Warwick, does it? The Thumb especially. Instantly recognisable! I couldn't stay away from the Warwick sound for long. I have one coming to me now, a Thumb 5 string.

I have felt for a while now that 'new' bass virtuosos are just not as exciting in a musical sense as the older generation. Looking back to the 70's, 80's and 90's, you had the likes of Stuart Hamm, Victor Wooten, Jonas Hellborg, Jaco Pastorius etc etc. Within just a few notes, you knew it was that player. They were musically distinct and had their own identities. I feel like now, a lot of the youtube virtuosos sound pretty samey.

[quote name='ziggydolphinboy' timestamp='1343688767' post='1753866'] i deleted my photos the other day so heres mine again. Was told saturday by the band i was depping for the sound was too clean!!!! [/quote] Translation - they are too sloppy!

If it's costing you earnings then drop him. You don't need your time wasted, especially not time in which you could be being paid.

[quote name='zero9' timestamp='1345725333' post='1780878'] I liked the Big Band album (the earlier one with MM et al on it). I thought that, for instance, Mr Miller sounded like MM rather than JP playing (I believe) Teen Town. Maybe an extreme example, but certainly, some of the other bassists also had their own 'feel', rather than just being Jaco clones. [/quote] It was a very good album indeed, though Marcus Miller wasn't really a high point on it for me. Victor Wooten, Jimmy Haslip and Richard Bona on the other hand...

[quote name='El Bajo' timestamp='1345715076' post='1780744'] What does the mahoosive bridge do to the tone? [/quote] Some people say it adds sustain and resonance. I'm not convinced, though I have never liked the ugly look of that bridge even if the rest of the bass does a fine take on a Stingray.

Lovely, but as Molan says, it takes a brave man to buy one new! Used, like this, they make a delicious bargain!

Always thought they were an very interesting bass design but the tone was never really for me.

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1345574274' post='1779065'] I like the look of the rebop, I'm a bolt on sort of guy, but I don't understand why it has Hz pickups when the neck thru version has proper EMGs. For the price I'd expect the tidy pickups. [/quote] Remember that they used to be about half the price they are now! My Rebop 4 DLX cost me £549 new from Sound Control Preston! The Hz's weren't a big deal then, at that price. They are a fantastic pickup though.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1345497845' post='1778297'] Last time I saw him he didn't even touch his Alembic. Spent all evening on DB [/quote] That's a damn shame. He is my favourite DB player, but I can only listen to about 5 minutes of that before it gets boring and I want to hear him playing an electric again. I'd be very disappointed if I went to see him live and he just played DB! Nothing new about him playing 5'er though, though it is the first time I've seen him with a 5 string Alembic IIRC.

I used to have a Rebop, it was a superb bass. It had a zebrano top that would put some custom builders to shame, it played beautifully (a thick-ish neck, but nicely rounded and very well finished) and sounded amazing. The Tone Pump is a superb preamp. There are plenty of people who have took the Tone Pump from their bass replaced it with a supposedly 'superior' preamp only to find the bass doesn't sound as good afterwards!

Nice playalong. Shame the player's bass tone seems to be getting a bit swamped in the mix there, but he seems to have the line spot on.