MechBass: A bass guitar robot.

Without having read the PDF in full yet, I’m fascinated and scared at the same time. One part of me, the admirer of excellent technology, is thrilled but to the other more stronger side (the mediocre musician) this scares the shit out of me. I will study the document (both sides demand this).
If you want to do the same I have posted the document “MechBass – Design and Implementation” from the School of Engineering and Computer Science of the VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON, New Zealand –-> HERE.

Author is James McVay

 

 

Is this good or bad?

Alesis iO Dock

Those of you who know me, know that the last months have been very busy on my side. Non the less I try to play bass where and whenever I can. Sometimes limited to just a few minutes a day that won’t be enough to gain callus. Strange enough that I’m developing 4 or possibly 5 song layouts with that little intensity on playing (I never had an idea for a song without having an instrument in my hands).

I’m so luck to have a friend borrowing me an interesting gadget over the weekend. (Perfect timing Alasdair! Thx!). The shortest possible description that comes to my mind would be: An iPad/iPad2 docking station for musicians.

This ‘thingy’ will allow me to record the stuff that is wobbling in my head (and fingers). If you want to know more about the Alesis iO Dock then go HERE. Be sure that I will enjoy this weekend!

 

Scary! Mike Welsh predicts death on twitter

Mikey Welsh, former bassist of Weezer, passed away from a suspected drug overdose at the age of 40 in a Chicago hotel room. Oddly, two weeks before, he predicted the correct location and date of his death on Twitter.

On September 26, he wrote in Twitter: "dreamt i died in Chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today."
Then he wrote: "'correction - the weekend after next."

Read on here

Acoustic setup

Another “unplugged” or “acoustic” gig we had last weekend. It was fun, we are getting confident on what and how we play as a band. I find it easier to be tight with our drummer when he  plays the cajón with percussion than on his regular drum set.

This is my ‘acoustic’ set up:

Fender BXR 60 amp. It is a solid state amp that Fender doesn't even make anymore. This amp is a sixty watts RMS, through a 15 inch speaker. Perfect for this type of gigging, small venues and tiny stages. Loud enough to get the low end thru when the 2 guitarists push their volumes beyond what is really needed (a classic!)

Boss GT-10B, a multi-effects and amp modeling floorboard. Since we are a rock cover band this is the best way to make radical sound switches by just pressing one pedal.

Music Man StingRay MM5 is my preferred axe for this type of (small) clubs. The sound range of this bass is amazing.

 

I should explain that I call this back line “acoustic” or “unplugged” but as you can tell it is non of both. All other band mates play real acoustic though. Even if I show up with my upright (Czech, 1960ish) I would need amplification …and a bigger car.

Bill Wyman’s Family Trees

This is bizzare, and funny at the same time

At age 47, the Rolling Stones' bassist, Bill Wyman, began a relationship with 13-year old Mandy Smith, with her mother's blessing. Six years later, they were married, but the marriage only lasted a year. Not long after, Bill's 30-year-old son Stephen married Mandy's mother, age 46. That made Stephen a stepfather to his former stepmother. If Bill and Mandy had remained married, Stephen would have been his father's father-in-law and his own grandpa.

Back from the guitar shop

I have neglected my Fender Jazz bass for too long. The bass was not in the best shape with worn down frets and its neck bending backwards making a permanent loud buzz, no matter what or how you play. I could have fixed the neck problems myself, maybe. But I was overstrained with the frets issue. To my excuse I must say that I did not really have trust in the craftsmanship available in Singapore and, in addition to that, I had alternatives for playing as you can see here and here.

The Munich Repair Shop is known for its ability to cope with severe problems and damages on guitars and basses. So it was obvious that that would be the address where my 1984 J-Bass had to get fixed. Everything can be fixed; it’s just a matter of money. I was afraid the costs for the repair would be extremely high.
I bought the bass in September 1984. I’m the first owner. I was willing to pay a high price for the job.
You can imagine that I was positively surprised as I understood that 176€ (‘only’) would buy me back the joy of playing my fine instrument without any further hue and cry.

Here the list of service:

• Polish and grinding frets             79,83€
• Setup, action low                       37,82€
• Glue lose frets                             8,40€
• Strings Fender (gauge .40 – .90) 21,85€

And here now a few pics.

To see them all please check my flickr

USAF Band hiring bass player

Anyone? Found this in my inbox today. The US Air Force is looking for a bass player to join the AF Band.

Here is what you should be able to deliver (besides being a native American)
 
Bass Guitar Audition Requirements: 
 
Scales and Arpeggios:

Perform all scales and arpeggios from memory throughout the full
practical range of the instrument (lowest open string to the 19th fret). Scales may be performed with finger or pick (performer's preference) Minimum tempo for all scales: 16th notes at quarter note = 92. 
 
Diatonic scales: Perform all major, melodic minor and harmonic minor scales. 
Chromatic scales: Perform the chromatic scale through the specified range. 
Arpeggios: Perform all forms of seventh chords from memory, two octaves, ascending and descending, using two different left hand positions, demonstrating accuracy of intonation and tone. Tempo for all arpeggios: 16th notes at quarter note = 60. 
 
Jazz Profile: Improvise an appropriate bass line and solo for selections in the following
categories: 
 
Blues: Blue Monk, blues changes in any key 
Rhythm Changes: Anthropology, Wee/Allen's Alley, Salt Peanuts 
Standards: All the Things You Are, Joy Spring 
Latin: Blue Bossa, Desafinado, The Girl From Ipanema 
Ballad: In A Sentimental Mood, 'Round Midnight 
Selections are recommend titles. Other appropriate selections may be substituted 
 
Performance Repertoire: Perform excerpts from the band's current performance repertoire similar in difficulty to the following excerpts: 
 
Classical: 
 
Grainger: Molly on the Shore, m 18-27 at quarter note = 112 
Smith: Variations on a Hymn by Louis Bourgeios, m 4-23 at quarter note = 132 
Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever, intro and 1st strain at quarter note = 132 
 
Jazz/Pop: Performed with a minimum of a full rhythm section: 
Double bass: Sister Sadie, 1st 8 bars of the head at quarter note = 176 
 
Electric bass: 
Harris: Mira, Mira, meas. 125-145 at half note = 20 
Brecker/arr.Taylor: Some Skunk Funk, quarter note = 108 
The New Real Book, vol. 3: Dancin' in the Street, quarter note = 132 
Classical Solo: Perform a solo demonstrating intonation, rhythmic accuracy, and overall
musicianship. Selection chosen by auditionee to demonstrate ability level. 
 
Recommended solo: Eccles: Sonata in G minor (or solo of comparable difficulty)

www.bands.af.mil

BTW, here a take of Eccles: Sonata in G minor (4th movement)

So? What are you waiting for?

BASSIDA aka Ida Funkhouser

For a long time I thought that a good bass amp must weigh enough to dislocate your shoulder. If you want to make something happen at the low end you will need pure mass to get through and set your tonal and rhythmical mark. But technology also advances in the music world and so the light weights start to make ground by improving in all areas.

In one of my visits to a local music store I came across one of this little fellows. I had read a lot about tc electronic bass gear, specially the RebelHead RH450 bass amp top. Unfortunately I was not able to test it and check it out not even superficially. But despite the short glance, something grabbed my attention: 3 individually programmable presets!

Once home, I went straight to the net to see what I can find out on the pygmy with the bold name and the presets. YouTube is always a good source and the best audio/visual search engine. And so I found “Bassida” demoing the RH450 during NAMM show 09. Nice little video explaining the basics of the tc electronics amp. The RebelHead looks really good! But in the video you will discover more eye candy... Njoy!

 

BASSIDA aka Ida Funkhouser

Memorabilia

Do yourself a favor and follow this link

http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/

on the search box (the one on the left, not the one on the upper right) and type in “bass”. Now make sure you have a few spare hours and …enjoy!

Elixir Strings

When we moved to this small little town, I thought we had moved close to the edge of the world. What could this place have to offer??? (At night it reminds me of “Radiator Springs” from the movie ‘Cars’)

What a surprise when I discovered this: The European HQ of Elixir Strings (Gore Inc.) is located in Putzbrunn, just a few blocks away from my home. I must admit I have never played Elixir strings before but this will change soon.

Unfortunately you cannot put your own set together by choosing individual strings. The sets are available in these gauges:

http://www.elixirstrings.com/

Brandy Anderson

Brandy is actually a photographer. To be more precise: a baby and child photographer in Calgary, AB, Canada.

I made this picture to my favorite in my flickr account last year already. The unity between the big double bass and small little baby is great. You can almost hear the bass, playing slow and low and making it cosy for the little kid.

Brandy is an amazing artist! Check her out here:

http://www.flickr.com/people/tvchicklet/

http://www.freshsugar.com/

Brandy, thank you for allowing me to post this picture on my blog!

Brandi Disterheft

Finally back to my favorite category: ‘Female Bass Players’.

This time I want to introduce to you Brandi Disterheft. She’s a young Canadian from North Vancouver, born 1980. Her first album “Debut” brought her 2008 a JUNO Award, kinda of a Canadian Grammy. Oscar Peterson notably said about Disterheft, "She has the same lope or rhythmic pulse as my bassist, Ray Brown. She is what we call serious."

Here a ‘video’ taster:

 

Awesome tune.

Relocating physically

The date I wrote my last entry here was the last day I played on my basses before the movers arrived. Meanwhile we moved to Munich, Germany in Europe. Yesterday I unpacked my MusicMan MM5 and plugged it into my Boss GT-10B. So, I said to myself this is the right moment to reconnect with you via this blog.

We are settling in well so I guess I will be posting the findings of this new old world.

Breaking balls Sonata – for Vuvuzela

This is not much related but wanted to share. It’s just too good.

Ashbory, Ibanez and MusicMan

Sorry. I’m just showing off: My MusicMan StingRay (Ernie Ball, 1999), Ibanez Roadstar II Series (1985) and the Asbory, now by Fender, 2005(?). More details will be shared at some later point. Today it’s all about …showing off :-)

Plutoneium

I once promised to myself that, no matter what, this blog would be a ‘guitar stuff’-free zone! Today I’m breaking that rule.

I visited my buddies at their Plutoneium Headquarters in Singapore. They just launched an amazing product called the Chi-Wah-Wah: A high quality Wah Wah pedal with a form factor not yet seen in the market.
Primarily targeted at guitar players, but I will check out on bass. I can’t resist.

 

Todd: co-CEO/CTO of Plutoneium

Their blog shows many of the production steps (never thought about that before). You can download the owner’s manual already.

Slipknot bassist dead

Police say a hotel employee found the 38-year-old Gray dead on Monday in a room at the Town Plaza Hotel in Urbandale, a suburb of Des Moines. Foul play isn't suspected. An autopsy is planned for Tuesday.

Known for its grotesque masks, the band won a Grammy in 2006 for best metal performance for the song 'Before I Forget.' Concert industry trade publication Pollstar ranked Slipknot 18th in its Top 20 Concert Tours list in 2009

 

aka “No. 2”

 

A lot of f-words wrapped around a lot of “ya know?”

Basstees.com

Show it to the world! You can groove with only 4 strings (if you wish). Let them know you’re not a treble maker!

No, I’m not participating in their affiliate program, I don’t even know if they have one. Just thought of getting a tee from their site myself and decided to share you.

Don’t expect haute couture but check it out yourself to see if the claim on their website is true: 
“Your #1 "On-Line" Source for Bass Apparel”

 

http://www.basstees.com/product.html

 

Btw, please feel free to click on the links provided by AllPosters.com and Google Ads. The quality is really good. Most of the content or offers are relevant to bass players and it helps me to pay a few bills related to this blog. Thanks.

Headless Bantam

Almost forgot that I used to play a Washburn Headless Bantam (because I could not afford an original L-Series Steinberger). It was easy and fun to play but not playable without a strap. Too tiny to rest on your lap. I loved this bass but I sold it for a beer or two, I think.
   

 Me and the amazing Alex Haas.

The sound was crisp with a bunch of nice highs. The thin low end though, always forced me to fumble with the EQ of my Trace Elliott. I still have this one, in storage unfort…

Fender Jazz Bass turns 50!

Congratulations! The Fender Jazz Bass turns 50 in 2010. Details and very interesting facts about the ‘J-Bass’ can be read here:

 The Jazz Bass® Guitar: A History and Appreciation

Scroll down to see my baby or click here, if you don’t see the posting on this page.