What's up with this forum?

oldfclefer · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 3:50 am Post subject: What's up with this forum?

I lurk this forum almost every day.

I see so few posts here.

I visit two other bass forums and their participation is lively.

So what's up with everyone here?

I'd like to find out who is here, but I rarely see the same posters returning.

I'm not sure who visits this forum so I'll talk about me.

I'm a 56 year old bassist who has been playing part time in local clubs for 40 years. Music was how I supplemented my income while my wife and I raised 5 kids (who are now grown).
I play rock from the Beatles forward and some older music that was covered by the Beatles, Stones, Doors etc.
I've played in Bluegrass bands for two years.
I played in a funk band for 15 years
I've played classic country too.

My current band is called Loco Yokels and we play an ecclectic mix of classic rock and classic country.
We play about 10 gigs a year.

I have four basses:
Fender MIM active p deluxe 4 string
Steinberger XZ25F fretless 5er
Schecter tribal 4 string
Dean Performer a/e

I have a Hartke Ha5500 head
1 x 15" Hartke xl115
1 x 18" JBL in sub cab.

I'm very blue collar.
I have a full time job in the automotive trade.

I can play guitar, but I don't enjoy it.
I've loved playing bass from the beginning.

I met Victor Wooten last summer.
He's my favorite current bassist.

SO,

What's up with y'all?

Any working bassists here?

Part time?

Full time?

Learning?

Retired?

Students?

.................

Are you there?

If my asking this offends you, sorry. Confused

SteveJazz · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 11:16 am Post subject:

We are similar in age, playing time (33 years for me), and styles played, though I have gigged jazz, don't know if you mentioned that style. I played for a Warner Brothers artist, Gary Morris (www.garymorris.com), in the late 70's early 80's. I did session work (mostly commercial jingles) during that same time period.

I work full time in real estate now, retired from full time music in 1983. I play for the love of playing now, was just playing with an acid-blues/Hendrix/Beck style guitarist and blues-rock drummer (see below), but had to drop out, they are too full time for me.

I'm currently jamming with a couple of guitarist singer-songwriters for fun.

I don't post here much, because most of the threads/conversations aren't that interesting to an old goat like me. I don't care much about pedals, effects, fancy basses, band names, etc. I've never been a gear head, I look for tone from my fingers, and play a 64 fretted Jazz and a newer MIM fretless Jazz. I don't care about amps, I can get my sound from any reasonable amp.

I enjoy discussing how to get a band to sound good, there's a recent thread about that somewhere around here.

Cheers,
SJ Cool

_________________
Current gig: http://www.philbrownguitar.com

bluesrocker · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 2:52 am Post subject:

HI,

I'll be 53 in a couple. Started a few years back with some dumb question. Stevejazz was cool and helped me out. Been playing EVERY day since then.

My rig is in my signature, and my dream would be a left handed Fender Mustang (without robbing a bank and heading for the custom shop). My daugthter has a Mustang and really likes the short scale. She found her sound on the Digitec, and some string she likes, and it sounds darn good.

I touched on bluegrass (acoustic bass), country if it rocks, and bluesrock. The old AC/DC and ZZTop is fun to play too.

I'm into wood turning, and just went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's about 30 min from my home, and I just got around to getting there. Ha!

Rudy
_________________
OLD DUDES ROCK HARDER

Fender lefty MIM Jazz
Fender lefty MIA P
Agile lefty acoustic/electric
Bassman 100
Zoom
Sansamp
DigiTech
Two fingers and a thumb

oldfclefer · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 6:30 am Post subject:

Wow,
Thanks for the detailed answers SJ and BR.

There's some forums that have lively ongoing discussions.
Talkbass is so busy, if you post a question it gets pushed off of the first page in a day or so unless of course it becomes a megathread but there's a lot of flaming going on there.

No I haven't played jazz.
I'm not a very good musician, but I can get by in the genres that I've been involved with.

I've never liked the Fender line enough to buy until recently.
Haven't tried the Mustang, but slider switches on a bass have always turned me off for some reason. There are those who do well on those instruments, but I've never been interested in them.
As far as fender goes, the p sounds great, but that neck is like a 2 x 4.
The j plays well, but I could never wrap my brain around its sound.

Read in a flyer from Musician's Friend that the p deluxe had a p body and a j neck. Went down to Sam Ash, tried one out, really liked it, and traded in my old Kramer aluminum neck 8 string for one and some cash of course.
I know of some guys who created "chopper" basses from a p and a j using the p body and p/ups for the sound and the j neck for the action.
There are a thousand clone luthiers who have been hotrodding Fender designs for decades, and it was time that Fender got a clue.
So with the p deluxe Fender created a hybrid with a j neck, a p body, a p neck side/ j bridge side p/up setup and active electronics.
It's an MIM but to my hands and ears, it sounds and plays better than any American Fender I've ever tried.

I've just recently gotten a 5 string bass. I've never played a 5er in 40 years until now.

I traded a Jerry Jones Longhorn 4 for a Steinberger XZ25F fretless 5er.

I don't know what's wrong with me lately.

I've played fretted four stringers all of my life, but recently I went on a hunt for either a fretless or a 5er.

Fretless has always intimidated me.

5ers seemed confusing.

But I was going to really try one or the other.

After meeting Vic Wooten, I've been energized about becoming a better and more complete bassist.

I was a lunchbox carrying bassist for years. I had a full time day gig and
I used my abilities as a bassist for a part time income which, basically kept me out of the job of nighttime store clerk at a convenience store.

I had never thought about expanding my horizons on bass.

Oh I thought I was good enough to be a rock star back in my 20s and 30s, but now playing bass has become something much more than a hobby or indulgence.

I'm actually starting to get a spiritual lift from playing and so want to soak up everything that bass is and has become.

That's why I come to these forums.

So anyway I saw this Spirit fretless 5er, sat down and began playing it like it had frets. It's been a challenge to learn so far, but I really feel good about my desire and ability to become better on this instrument.

I traded my longhorn 4 for it.

Last night was the public debut of me on fretless 5er. We played a pub in town. I don't think anyone noticed, but I was really thrilled.

Anyway, that's what bass is in my small world.

R.I.P.C.L.B. · Sea Monkey Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 11

I am not your age. I am in my 30's and I just wonder why you put up a post and it takes forever for a reply to get posted. I try to visit daily too. I like it here much better. People better attitudes here. But i do get annoyed that it takes so long for posts to get replied to.

Disreagrd topic with same subject line I click post new topic not post new reply. Sorry everyone.
_________________
Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

censored · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 6:31 am Post subject:

I'm a 30 year old musician, I've played live a few times but never anything serious. I always aspired to be a jazz bassist, but I mostly play rock/blues (influenced from my father and his friends). I started playing guitar when I was 7 years old, and asked for a bass for christmas when I was twelve... I got a Vox bass (I posted about it in another forum), I've played a bunch of basses, but I still only own that one bass. I maintain the strict regime of "Bass -> Cord -> Amp", and up until I was 18, I used a guitar amp until I blew the thing. I like the gentleman who posted above get my tones through my bass and my hand. I hate using a pick and I hate it when others use a pick on my bass.

I'm not so blue collar, I'm an operations supervisor in a major distribution center, watching over 200 employees... I split my bass guitar playing with my guitar playing about 40/40, the other 20 is for my drums... which bore me after 15 minutes, but I still try to be Neil Peart. My favourite bassist is Geddy Lee, and Roger Waters...

Thats just who I am.

God of Rapture · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 6:51 am Post subject:

I am a 24 year old metalhead that has been playing bass for about 10 years now. I am currently in 2 metal bands named Fallen Victim and Forget Forever.

We own our own recording studio and recorded 2 albums for ourselves so far. We are currently working on writing a full length Fallen Victim album.

My current rig is:

Basses:
Spector Euro 5 LX
Ibanez SR885
Ibanez BTB405QM

Amp:
Ampeg SVT-3Pro
Ampeg BXT-410HL

Effects:
Sansamp RBI
DBX 31 Band EQ
DBX 166XL COmpressor

I work full time as technical services for a Library System. I basically make sure the network, servers and staff workstations are always functioning properly.

oldfclefer · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 9:04 am Post subject:

ripclb
I see some questions that don't get answered, and like you're saying, sometimes it takes days for a response. I don't know if you have to be in a clique to get into a conversation here.

GoR
That's some sweet gear you've got there

censored
What kind of bass gear do you have?

SteveJazz · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 12:22 pm Post subject:

oldfclefer: I like some discussions, but I have to admit that if the question doesn't interest me, I don't post on the thread. You got one of the cooler monikers here, I'll say that. I'm going to search for an old thread from the days when we had some major discussions and story telling going on, and bump it up. Watch for it. Any veteran of the "bar wars" will relate...

SJ Cool

_________________
Current gig: http://www.philbrownguitar.com

R.I.P.C.L.B. · Sea Monkey Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 11

oldfclefer · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 4:24 pm Post subject:

Well,
I think the more discussion the better.
Keeping it bass.
Nonsexual, nonpolitcal, nonsarcastic while being encouraging and supportive about the low enders who come to these sites.
Just about everywhere else on the net, people are just trying to get laid-to say it painly.
I enjoy getting into conversations with individuals who are exercising their brains on a daily basis with some disclipline like music, and in my case, I like to talk to other bassists online.
I go to other bass forums and sign on using the same moniker.
This forum looked like people had their minds screwed in right and were talking about bass, gear, music and performance.
That's why I'm here and why I'm asking this question.

So what is up?

R.I.P.C.L.B. · Sea Monkey Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 11

I understand what you are saying about sarcasm at other bass sites. I like visiting another forum since it gets a lot of traffic and post are answered rather quickly. But, I am gettting sick and tired of the sarcasm that others use when they answer your posts. I post looking for an answer to a question I have about something bass related or reply to a post someone else made and the next thing I know someone posts some stupid smart alec comment. I hate that.

Sometimes it may take a while to get a reply to a topic, but it is worth it in the long run because I have not seen anyone reply in a sarcastic smart alec kind of way. I respect that about this forum. As times passes I am leaning to frequenting this forum a lot more than that other one because of how my posts are answered.
_________________
Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

4STRUNGJAZZ · Newbie Alert Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 2

I want to introduce myself to the musicians at this website. I am new here and found this site searching the web for a bass players community.
I am 44 years old and have been playing the Electric Bass on and off since I was in high school. I played in 3 Rock bands years ago and now only play occassionally and record as a hobby with my long time buddy who is a drummer when we get together.
As far as my continuing music education I recently have had the honor to study music for the last 5 years under one of the best Arrangers,Composers,Orchestrators,Musicians in the Hollywood Studio scene learning to play Jazz. I have learned more in the last 5 years compared to playing since I was a teen.
I joined this website hoping I can interact with other musicians who are serious about music . I am always learning and try to keep a open mind to other ideas. I am looking foward to being a part of this site.

4strungjazz

oldfclefer · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 1:57 am Post subject:

Wassup 4STRUNGJAZZ?

Do you play electric bass only or do you play doublebass as well?

Sounds like you've got a great teacher there.

What kind of gear do you have?

4STRUNGJAZZ · Newbie Alert Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 2

Hi oldclefer,

I play the Electric Bass only and have no experience playing a Double Bass.
I do love the sound of a Double Bass.

I am fortunate to have studied under a great teacher who has showed me alot.

My gear is pretty simple. I play both a Fender Jazz and Precision Bass.
My amps consist of a Crate BFX100 and a Fender Bassman 100. Besides that I have a Boss Parametric Bass Equalizer foot pedal.
My music composing and recording software consist of Finale and Sony Sound forge. Other than that I compose the old fashion way with pencil and paper.
I am trying to appreciate and understand what it was like to do it without software. It amazes me how my instructor orchestrated,arranged and composed music for a entire big band freehand.
I am wet behind the ears when it comes to talent like that. I still struggle when composing a single bassline, lol!

Tell me about yourself .