Northy

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1369594351' post='2090710'] Columbus Jazz bass. My first bass. Plywood and horrible. No, really. Of course there might have been different ones, but mine was just horrible. I can remember the smell of sanding the neck down even now. I stripped the body in a fit of misplaced lutherieal excitement. It was horrible plywood. Frankly we live in a golden age of lutherie now. It is actually difficult to buy a nasty new bass now (setups withstanding obv). I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would buy a 70's plywood bass. Opinionated? Moi? [/quote] Ooooops it's exactly what I just started with an old SG bass I was given!! Wished I hadn't too BUT . . . it needs finishing now! Incidentally I have a USA 5 deluxe Jazz and a 4 the same, also a Sandberg TM4 (with extras) so it isn't a dosh thing, I just felt sorry for it! You know what, playing an SG is actually fun! They're so naughty rock and roll, think Bowie Tribute! ;-) If anyone has any bits to donate I really would be soooo thankful!

[quote name='David Nimrod' timestamp='1203457948' post='143409'] Sorry, but I've seen some really badly built Sandbergs (problems with the frets). [/quote] I really find that hard to believe, one thing people usually rave about is the frets being amazing AND they have some incredible fret levelling systems in place too. Sandberg have to be one of the best finished basses I have ever seen.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1499423151' post='3331459'] Check out the interview with Trevor Bolder [/quote] I am so grateful for this, thanks a lot! :-) Cheers

[quote name='Gottastopbuyinggear' timestamp='1499360189' post='3331031'] You two have beaten me to it, but that's the way I'd play it - G A G#. Maybe the faintest hint of a hammer on to the G# sometimes. [/quote] I tried that, mehhh, but try G#-A-G hahaha really, I like it!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1499350690' post='3330931'] Just to throw a spanner in the works I'm liking the sound/feel of G natural on the way up and G# on the way down. Fits very nicely if I play along with the album version... [/quote] Hahaha I actually mentioned that on the Talk Bass room I think, facebook at least. My guitarist friend suggested that might be a solution.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1499334371' post='3330779'] Sorry to disagree yet again, but we have quite a few die hard Bowie fans come along to our gigs and they know that we'll play the Reality Tour versions of Loving The Alien and Life on Mars? as well as the BBC version of Ashes to Ashes. The list goes on. We keep to Bowie versions, but not necessarily the original. The uninformed might notice that 'it's not quite like the single', but the real fans know where we're coming from and appreciate it. [/quote] No, we agree on that, if it's a VERSION by the artist then cool, I'd go along with that. The point of this thread is weather or not a note is wrong or right, G# is wrong whichever version I have heard. It really doesn't matter. I spoke with the would be Mick Ronson (Dave, Guitar) last night and confessed that something so simple had really got me 'caught up'. I also told him about this thread and that more respected and accepted players than me (yourself Hiram) were also not entirely sure. All he said was: "I think either of them would do!!" lol laughed my head off! Agggrrrhhhh I was in pain thinking they would sack me for not knowing something so seemingly trivial. That'll learn me! Thanks for all your input guys, really appreciate it.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1499341114' post='3330831'] It's Tab, so that's hardly surprising. [/quote] Ahahaha! Perfect!

[quote name='pineweasel' timestamp='1499337718' post='3330805'] Surely the "early bass cockup" is in fact the rest of the band not going into the chorus on time. [/quote] Well he plays the A at the end of the 15th bar rather than the usual 16th . . . I would say it was Mr Boulder at fault BUT who can criticise him, he's ace! AND It fits now, !!! Love it :-)

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1499346239' post='3330878'] Yes, the blues scale flat third G natural is, well, bluesier, sleazier, dirtier, bent a bit 'off-key', it's the blues and not the neat tidy unflattened third of the G major scale. And isn't the second G natural played under an A chord making it flat seventh not flat third, in that case? [/quote] Totally and absolutely what I feel inside when I hear the original (Bolder version) rather than the semitone error versions. I am not declaring war here, I just can't be doing with the G# version, it's like fingernails down a chalk board But that's just MY opinion.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1499345979' post='3330875'] Here's piano sheet music with left hand showing G natural .... [/quote] Agreed!

[quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1499337742' post='3330806'] You (I) can clearly hear the difference between the Bolder and Dorsey versions [/quote] Exactly my point! :-) I prefer Trev's version of the early tunes. I once played in a Tears for Fears tribute too and really love what Gail does there AND with Bowie though . . . it's win win

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1499330208' post='3330741'] It's a 'G'..... The line/riff is Root/minor 3rd (G)/ 4th intervals. . .. [/quote] Thank you :-)

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1499329936' post='3330736'] is that in the single version? . . . [/quote] Aladdin Sane version does have the early bass cock up in it actually.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1499332277' post='3330759'] I think Bowie himself would have taken issue with that. . . . [/quote] I get what you're saying Hiram, but that's the Luxury of Being the Tributed and not the Tributer for want of a better expression. For most people, if you deviate, they'd just say, "It wasn't quite the same??"

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1499325181' post='3330696'] We haven't ventured that far yet . . . [/quote] Incidentally your band sounds great.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1499286898' post='3330587'] I used to play this (see attached from Ultimate Guitar) and shows G# A G# Not saying its right but it certainly sounded right when playing. [/quote] Well that's just some guy's transcribe to TAB (Which I don't read actually, easy to work out) But as we have found, it's not right. Just sounded too much like Block Buster by Sweet lol

[quote name='acidbass' timestamp='1499290174' post='3330614'] Always G for me [/quote] Good lad! I cannot believe people can't hear that different interval, the G Natural (as was mentioned prior) sounds much better, more raw, more feisty. It has to be right. I am not bothered really who's played G# etc even Gail D, I just wanted it to sound like thew original. I also told the band leader tonight I want to play the "early B mistake too!" The word Tribute has to make sense to me, failing that, you are a single act cover band.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1499284819' post='3330570'] The Jean Genie and the G is natural not sharp. [/quote] Great Stuff! Phhheewwww!! Especially when the existing Tribute man said G# Then I started to believe it was, but no, it's G Natural. Ace!

[quote name='Heathy' timestamp='1499284709' post='3330569'] I have played it as G A G for years. . . . . [/quote] Please Do!!! That's cause you're right pal! :-)

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1499280605' post='3330535'] I think they're miming on that, . . [/quote] Hi Paul, Thanks for joining in. Nahhh He is playing the open G look at the Right hand next time he plays the phrase, he's hitting the open G then onto A on the G string. That's what's making that G-A-G sound lol :-)

dlloyd, I think I win here ehh? lol Mate thanks for being gracious enough to post that! Sorted then E-E-E-G-A-G Fellow Yorkshire Man, You Rock Trev!

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1499273249' post='3330465'] This guy has a slightly different take with a G>G# hammer on [media]http://youtu.be/hF0bVGbaHRM[/media] [/quote] He gets the very first bit the triplets wrong so I don't trust the other bits! lol Thanks though!

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1499271330' post='3330444'] We play it occasionally, and I've always opted for the former. We're a trio, and so it would show if me and the guitarist were playing different things! He's a long-term Bowie fan as well. Hope this clears things up - a bit! [/quote] Thanks!! I needed support hahaha It just sounds more Raw, more Trevor Boulder lol

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1499271916' post='3330450'] yep E G# A G#, but what he's doing on the chorus is another story, the intro is tricky as well and wait till you get to the triplet bit. [/quote] Funnily enough I can do all the bits and the odd little twiddles BUT I am stuck on that part, just G or G# lol mental! Thanks

Hello Gents (and ladies xxx) I have an issue! Having been asked to join a Bowie Tribute band I am faltering on my third song in!! A simple one, Gene Genie. The main Riff on the Verse is it is it E-E-E-G-A-G or is it [font=inherit][size=3]E-E-E-G#-A-G# [/size][/font] Any help on this matter would be great! Hahaha soooo embarrassed. I mean both sound right BUT I think it's the two semitone one from G-A-G sounds rougher. And by the way Isn't Trevor Boulder a flippin ace bassist! Love and hugs guys Mike