/ \ / / - _--__| / | | / \ ________--__- O --- ____ | | \ \ / \ =======/-/=======| |) O --- ___ \ | / / ======/-/=====================| |) O--- ___ | / =====/-/===================================| |) O--- ___ ====/-/================================================| |) -__ ___/_/ _|_ | _ ___ ___ __|__ _ \__ __ \ ___\_\\-_ | |_ / \ | ) __ | | | | / \ | | \ \\ \\\\\\\\\-_ \_/ | \ |-- |--< / \ | \_/ \_/ _ |\ \ | | \__ | \ \__/ | ____ \ o \/\ |_\ /\| \_ |___/ ____---\\\\\\| \ \ \ \ \_ /\| \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\--- \_ \ \ \ _/\/ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\------ \_ \ __-\\\/ ---\\\\\\\- Issue #256 November 12, 1992 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To post: Subscriptions, deletions, requests: bass@uwplatt.edu bass-request@uwplatt.edu (Bitnet: bass@uwplatt.bitnet) (Bitnet: bass-request@uwplatt.bitnet) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Today's topics: Various & Sundry stuff RE: Tendonitis GK400 info... Hello / amp advice sought RE: RMıs Tendonitis from #255 RE: Now what do I do? Effects Speaker How-Do Need equipment advice JACO PASTORIUS ---------------------------------------------------------- Administrative notes: Well, it seems Kevin is still busy with studies, so I get to do another issue. Thanks to all who sent in their opinions on the database. Please let us know how you feel on this subject, we would like as much subscriber input as you can provide. Once again, there has been some requests for a subscriber information database, containing such information as: full name city state country electric/acoustic/both discipline (rock, jazz, C&W, classical, etc) net address main equipment main influences any bands involved w/ other instruments played If you have any opinion on the creation of such a database, let your thoughts be heard at either bass-request@uwplatt.edu or habbinga@csn.org (please don't send to both!) Now on with the show! Erik ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 02:54:28 EST From: psunspot@aol.com Subject: Various & Sundry stuff Just a few things I've had on my mind: I saw in an English Guitar magazine, a review of a prototype Trace Elliot Preamp that solves all of the shortcomings (I Think, anyway) of the current GP12x & xv, the tube model, which I've got. The GP12 SMX (SM stands for "Sound Management) has a knob that blends between a tube and solid state input section, like the Hartke Series, has 2 pre-shapes, a stereo FX loop (FINALLY!!!!) an EQ balance knob, and (the extremely hip) separate high and low compression circuits with a knob each. the FX loop has a mono full-range out, a mono Low-Pass out, and STEREO high-pass outs, if your into that kind of thing. It's not out yet, but in the UK will retail for L499, which by today's rate of $1.50 to the L1 is $750 list, although Chris Maury from the Bass Centre informs me that that price will be considerably higher in the states. Also, Who of us are going now to music colleges? I'm interested to hear from others on this topic. I'm currently at CalArts and am probably going to end up at University of Miami in Jan., but at CalArts, I'm taking lessons with Gary Willis, and I would have lessons with Chalie Haden if I were a good enough doghouse player... Sorry I'm cramming in lots of stuff... As a multiple 10" speaker user, I love the sound of 10's, but my B string cries out for more LOW. I've tried 15"s but a 4x10 box actually has MORE low end than most 15's. I want to try an 18" box for this purpose, but I don't want to sacrifice the punchy, tight sound of the 10's lower mid by Biamping, or scrapping them completely. I'm thinking of running the 10's Full Range into one channel on my amp and then using the other channel for the 18" cab, but having the 18's output from the Preamp be Low Pass, for just the low, like 250hz or under, so this wouldn't actually be true Biamping. Are 18's too flabby, with Runaway Train Bass, or are they the answer to my prayers of Ultra-Deep low for my 5th string? Thanks; Dan Pinder, psunspot@aol.com P.S.: any Colin Moulding fans out there? ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 05:52:44 PST From: 12-Nov-1992 0848 Subject: RE: Tendonitis In #255, rm@centerline.com wrote: >I've somehow developed myself a case of tendonitis, and I have to lay >off playing for (at least) a couple of months. This turns out to be >very difficult for me- over the last three years, playing has become by >far the most important activity in my life. I find myself going home >from work and wandering around pretty aimlessly, trying to think of >something to do other than play. And of course my bass is always >sitting there, staring at me. > >My question for any of you who have gone through a period where you >couldn't play is this- How do I deal with the jones? Any ideas of other >related things I could do to keep me busy and feeling like I'm making >some progress? I have also recently been diagnosed with tendonitis although the doctor has not yet suggested totally laying off. That may come, however. My advice: work on studying music. Transcribe solos and bass lines. Take theory classes. If you sing also, take some vocal lessons. The sort of stuff you didn't have time for because you were playing too much! Brian Rost rost@tecrus.enet.dec.com 508-568-6115 DEC, Hudson, MA ******************************************************************************* "There's too many hands in your persimmon pie, when one hand is my desire" -Roosevelt Sykes ******************************************************************************* ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 10:50:50 -0500 From: gale@hep.physics.mcgill.ca Subject: GK400 info... Dear Fellow bassists; I am not a new subscriber but I have never posted here. Here goes: I have been playing bass for a *long* time if I judge from most people's experience in this collumn. I played in the 70's (yup, as a teenager) with several configurations of power trios, as they were called at the time. I then gave up playing for some time, as I was putting myself through graduate school. I picked up the bass again, a little more than a year ago. Played with a blues outfit in the Montreal area, I am currently in a pop/jazz/funk (read these in any order you wish) sextet: "Kameleon". I play a middle-of-the-line Yamaha rbx-550: sounds ok and gets the job done. So here's the question: I am looking for a reasonably good used amp. I found a GK-400RB, at $500. Canadian. I think it probably is an ok deal. Some time ago, somebody in TBL complained about the small headroom on the GK-400 design. Some people disagreed: what is the feeling out there about the amp? Let me know your good or bad experiences, please. In closing I just heard Alain Caron and his band: "Le Band" last night at a jazz club in Montreal. The American readers are now more familiar with the guy, as Bass Player featured him two months ago. An *amazing* show by a great band (guit., keybrds., drums, bass) ! Alain used two F-basses (see this month's Bass Player), one fretted the other frettless (the "Alain Caron Model"). This man is truly a gifted player worth checking out.... Bye for now and thanks for the info, ----------------------------------------------------- Charles Gale phone: (514) 398-6495 Physics Dept. fax: (514) 398-3733 McGill University Internet: gale@prism.physics.mcgill.ca 3600 University St. Bitnet: gale@physics.mcgill.ca Montreal, Que. Hepnet: muhep::gale Canada, H3A 2T8 ------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 10:06:31 CST From: wasallee@rwasic24.aud.alcatel.com Subject: Hello / amp advice sought Hello, I'm a new subscriber. Just found this group last week. My name is Bill Sallee and I've been playing electric bass for (gulp!) 21 years. I play a Jazz Bass that I bought new in 1975. It is setup with a Badass Bridge and EMG active pickups. I use Rotosound round wounds. I worked my way through college playing rock at frat parties, proms, and clubs. I also had a steady good paying 3 night a week job with a C&W house band for several years. I have also done 3-piece Jazz and 19 piece big band. I use two cabinets: a Cerwin-Vega top-loaded 18 inch bin and an Ampeg B-40 4x10 cabinet. Both are about 15 years old. My amp is an old series 400 Peavy that I bought used 16 years ago and this is my problem. The amp is getting to be very noisy and must finally be replaced. As I now have a wife and three kids and no longer make any significant money playing. ( Usually just a pick-up job once in a while ). I would like to go Bi-amp without spending a lot of cash. It won't take a fantastic amp to beat what I'm getting by with now. Any suggestions? Thanks. wasallee@rwasic24.aud.alcatel.com ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 10:20:35 PST From: Graham_McClelland.Sthq@xerox.com Subject: RE: RMıs Tendonitis from #255 RM - You didn't describe your tendonitis so this may not be of any use to you. Try flipping your bass over and playing upside down lefty. You'll be using different muscle groups that may not aggravate your condition. Remember the first time you tried to pick up a stringed instrument and play? This is worse! You'll feel totally inept, but at least you'll be able to play alittle. I did this about a year ago after injuring the tips of the middle and ring finger on my left hand during a kitchen remodeling project. I got myself a heavy guage pick and flipped over whichever bass I felt like playing (Did I say "playing"? That's stretching it!). It'll feel weird and unnatural, but given enough time you may even develop a new technique for yourself. Hope this helps. If not, try taking up blues harmonica. It's self endulgent and fun! Besides, you should be able to play better than Bob Dylan AND Neil Young within one day! Regarding Bass Player's upcoming 2 for 1 deal - all I can say is aw sh*t! I just sent in my subscription form about three weeks ago and paid bust out retail. Last year I was too late to get in on this deal and this year I was too early. Damn! Oh well, I've never had any luck in the lottery either... See ya... Graham graham.sthq@xerox.com ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 11:36:30 PST From: Alan.Henley@EBay.Sun.COM Subject: RE: Now what do I do? Some advice for rm: >I've somehow developed myself a case of tendonitis, and I have to lay >off playing for (at least) a couple of months. This turns out to be >very difficult for me- over the last three years, playing has become by >far the most important activity in my life. I find myself going home >from work and wandering around pretty aimlessly, trying to think of >something to do other than play. And of course my bass is always >sitting there, staring at me. > >My question for any of you who have gone through a period where you >couldn't play is this- How do I deal with the jones? Any ideas of other >related things I could do to keep me busy and feeling like I'm making >some progress? First of all, if your doctor is telling you to stop playing for a couple of months, then by all means stop. If you don't give yourself time to heal, you could make the problem a lot worse. I know it's tough when you're hot to play and you're being told not to. (Just ask Joe Montana!) The main thing is not to despair, this could actually wind up being a good thing. I stopped playing regularly when my daughter was born and I'm just now getting back into it (she's nine now). During that time, I would go for months without playing. It's taken a while to shake off the rust, but I feel that taking the time off made me a better bass player than I would have been had I continued with a full-time gigging and rehearsal schedule. The inspiration for playing great music comes from the things we do that are unrelated to music (IMHO). So try to look at this as an opportunity to go out and get some inspiration. Some suggestions: * Read lots of books. It's amazing how many writers get ideas from books they've read. Movies are also good. So is live comedy. * Take some classes. That'll suck up some spare time! Try a drama class if you just can't do without the performing rush. * Home improvement. This is somewhat like aversion training... After banging your thumb a few times with a hammer you won't feel like slapping that bass a whole lot! Besides, if you're anything like me when it comes to mechanical stuff, home projects take forever! (Don't believe me? You should see my (ex-)lawn.) Things not to try: * Picking a fight in a bar. This didn't work for Jaco either. * Live concerts. This will just frustrate you by making you hot to play. This is kind of like abstaining from sex at the last possible moment. Your fingers get stiff, swell up, and turn blue. The only cure is a cold shower. Kind of unsatisfying. And of course, one ridiculous idea: * Some people try to diet or quit smoking by substituting sex when they feel the urge to eat or smoke. If you did that every time you wanted to play, you'd eventually be too exhausted to pick up your instrument (bass, that is ;-)). Of course, this approach requires a dedicated, tireless, (and willing) second party. Someone not afraid of sacrifice. Someone willing to lay down their... their..., (well lay down, anyway) and share this burden with you. Better start those interviews now! (See? I told you this could be a good thing!) Hope this helps. Alan Henley ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 14:55 EST From: Blues Subject: Effects Hello all -- Well I finally took the plunge and started shopping for effects. Up till now I have been a "purist" in the sense that I only used EQ on my sound and nothing else. But now I am faced with the need to "fatten up" my band's sound (I play in a typical quartet, b, gtr, d, voc). I have been doing this up till now by playing chords under our guitar player whenever appropriate. But that is getting to be a pain! So here are my questions: - Does anyone have any experiences with BBE's Sonic Maximizer? I've heard that you can program/set it to play sub-bass notes under the notes you are playing. - Ditto for compressor/sustainers. Brands? Features to look for? - Does anyone know how Tony Levin gets the sound he uses on his work for Peter Gabriel? I have already heard several opinions including "Buy a Trace Elliot" or "Buy a Chapman Stick" but I'm not convinced of either. (If you have not heard his playing, it is a very growly midrange tone with lots of rumbling bass underneath.) If anyone has any ideas about this please let me know or post to the list. Thanks! -- Mike (hutchins@ithaca) ps In my introductory post I said something about "learning as much as I contribute" which sounded kind of elitist. What I actually meant was the other way around ... I guess I should stop writing at 2am! -m ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 17:01 EDT From: RWILLIAMS@rabbit.ess.harris.com Subject: Speaker How-Do Dear Gentle Readers: Someone mentioned a magazine called Speaker Builder. Here is an excerpt from Elektor Electronics Magazine: Speaker Builder The Loudspeaker Journal The Magazine that finally deals seriously with the art and craft of speaker building.... Rates: 2 years (12 issues) $45.00, 1 year (6 issues) $25.00 Canada add $6.00 per year postage. Audio Amateur Publishing Group P.O.box 576, Dept E92 Peterborough, NH 03458-0576 (603) 924-9464, fax:(603) 924-9467 Looks like just the magazine for all you speaker builder types out there! Ritchie ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 17:25:42 EST From: doran@runabout.ICD.Teradyne.COM Subject: Need equipment advice Fellow Butt Shakers, [ That's a gretting I've never heard before! bass-mgr ] Now that all the chatter on amps and speakers has quieted down, I'll stir it up again. I have been trying new amps as well as speakers. The sound difference is astounding! I brought my current amp (Peavey mark III (1978!) and basses (Fender Jazz Plus V and an old Ibenez Musician) First experiment: Try Hartke 3500 amp with "state of the art" SWR (2 10" + horn) speakers, my bass, and then swap in my amp to A/B the sound. Conclusion: All Amps are not created equal! Both amps are supposedly similar in output (210-240 watts into 4 Ohm), but the sound is totally different. The Hartke was ballsy on the bottom and then clean all the way up. (It does have the advantage of both a tube and transistor preamp that is mixable.) Wow! People of told me my Peavey amp is lacking in bottom - here's the proof! - no wonder I am always turning up the bass knob - to compensate! (I ran the Hartke *FLAT*) Ok, I need a new amp. Next: (at a different store) Try out a recommended inexpensive speaker enclosure - Peavey 210TX, 2 x 10" with tweeter. Try with store amp (Peavey Alphbass) and then my amp, using my basses again. This speaker sounds great! It sounded as good as the "state of the art (SWR)" one from the previous store (from memory, of course) It didn't sound as good w/ my amp - same issues - but didn't suffer nearly as much w/ swap out of amps. Where to go from here? 'The misses' frowns on both an amp and speaker purchase at once. There are also Impedence problems. Third, There is an inexpensive 4 x 10" cab that is also supposed to be good that I need to give a listen to. It is a Sonic 410, which is an SWR ripoff for much cheaper ~$360 US. Anybody tried this one? The Amp I like (Hartke) costs ~$500 or ~$800 in a biamp config - that is - 2 amp sections, each producing 240 watts at 4 ohm. (PS, I called the factory for an RMS rating - they said about 180 watts at 8ohm, 220 watts at 4 ohm) I will need the biamp if I get the Peavey 210TX as it comes only w/ 4 Ohm and my current speakers (15" Thiele) are 8 Ohm - an impedence mismatch when used together. ( I THINK that I will need to use both speakers on louder gigs). If I like the Sonic 410 speaker I will be in better shape for a gradual upgrade. It is an 8 OHM cab, so I can use it with the existing 15"' sprkr without disaster (Yeh, I know they'll be mismatched, but compared to my currnt sound it will be heavenly.) Anyone out there using this stuff? Hartke 3500/7000 Peavey 210TX Sonic 410 Are there other amp/spkr combinations in the definately < $1000 range for both that I should be listening to? My apologies for this long posting Thanks for your time, Tom ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: 12 Nov 1992 21:24:19 -0600 (CST) From: CRF_KNEAM@CRF.CUIS.EDU Subject: JACO PASTORIUS Hey - Just to introduce myself, my name is Matt Knea - I play a '76 fretted Fender Jazz bass and I love the sound of it. My main music influences are: Jaco, Led Zeppelin, Steeley Dan, Sting, John Coltrane, and great jazz in general. Anyway... so there I was shopping at a second hand music store here in Chicago , looking for some Coltrane and some Jaco, when a friend of mine comes across an album by the Brian Melvin Trio. This album has Jon Davis on drums, and Jaco on bass (Brian on keys). The name of this album is "STANDARD ZONES" and the music features two really tight rhythm guys playing straight ahead jazz tunes with Jaco on bass. I love being able to hear Jaco in this sort of setting because it's a different sound than Jaco with Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, ect. I mention this album because I think it must be hard to find (I could be wrong). Also I mention it because I guess this is the same trio that recorded the album "NIGHTFOOD" which I saw a post about a while ago - or maybe a long time ago. By the way, does anyone know when Jaco's biography is coming out? I've heard a lot of people ask this but never heard an answer. A Japanese friend of mine already has it in print in Japanese (go figure). That's all *celebrate Jaoc's b-day on Dec. 1* --- bye. ---------------------------------------------------------- Anonymous ftp access for back issues, etc.: kappa.rice.edu (128.42.4.7) in the /pub/bass directory (Username is 'anonymous', password is your e-mail address. Try typing 'help' for more info once logged in.) _The Bottom Line_ is a digest dedicated to the art of playing electric and acoustic bass. It is distributed on a basis that coincides with the amount of material received, from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville, USA; Kevin Tipple, Erik Habbinga, editors Copyright _The Bottom Line_, 1992 The contents of _The Bottom Line_ are solely the opinions and comments of the individual authors, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the authors' managements or the digest management. The editors do not assume responsibility for copyright infringement of submitted material. *************************** End of The Bottom Line #256 ***************************