Senior's Guff... what do you think?

**bassybill** · #1 09-17-2006, 05:43 PM

We did some recordings last year that have been sitting on our trumpet player's hard drive waiting to be mixed for about 11 months. Anyway, he just emailed me a rough mix of one the tracks for me to check out. I'd be really interested to hear what you guys think of it - you can download it here.

Just for info, the bass I used on this track was my Warmoth/Status fretless (swamp ash body with maple top, graphite neck, EMG J pickups, BAII), just DI'd straight into the desk.

I'm pretty pleased with the way this one has turned out, as are the other guys in the band. You can hear some more stuff from an earlier session on our website (linked to in my sig), and there's a little video as well. I'll post the rest of the newer recordings as soon as they're mixed.

So, what do you people think then?

**bassybill** · #2 09-17-2006, 06:59 PM

Is the link working, guys?

Seems okay on my machine, but a fellow TBer told me he was having trouble downloading the track.

JAUQO III-X · #3 09-17-2006, 07:04 PM

Hey Bill,I like the Bass line and I can feel where you guys were coming from,you are definitely no slouch your intonation is dead on.Bill your Bass lines were definitely supportive and this is from a rough mix and that in itself lets me give you get two thumbs up.

what ever your own personal concept as a Bass player is,from the track it seems to be working fine.

**bassybill** · #4 09-17-2006, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Hey Bill,I like the Bass line and I can feel where you guys were coming from,you are definitely no slouch your intonation is dead on.Bill your Bass lines were definitely supportive and this is from a rough mix and that in itself lets me give you get two thumbs up.

what ever your own personal concept as a Bass player is,from the track it seems to be working fine.

Hey, thanks for that! Glad you liked it. I can't take too much credit for the bassline though, it was written by the guy who wrote the tune and arranged the chart (our trumpet player). Obviously in the keyboard and guitar solo bits I was able to stretch out a bit more.

The intonation - well, I guess it's pretty close; have to confess that I would struggle on an unlined bass a bit more though.

My personal approach to playing is very much in the "just feel the groove and keep it going" school.

Thanks for listening and getting back to me, Jauqo, much appreciated.

JAUQO III-X · #5 09-17-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

I can't take too much credit for the bassline though, it was written by the guy who wrote the tune and arranged the chart (our trumpet player).

That's even kooler because you were able to deliver what was expected from the person who wrote the song and I'm sure that put a smile on his face that's a + in a studio situation and showing that type of attitude toward the music will get you called back.

tombowlus · #6 09-18-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Hey Bill,I like the Bass line and I can feel where you guys were coming from,you are definitely no slouch your intonation is dead on.Bill your Bass lines were definitely supportive and this is from a rough mix and that in itself lets me give you get two thumbs up.

what ever your own personal concept as a Bass player is,from the track it seems to be working fine.

I agree 100%!

The tune has a nice vibe, and both you and the drummer push it along quite nicely. I like the general mix of the instruments, with the possible exception of the two "chorus lead" guitar tracks, which just seem a bit more sharp and attacking than the rest of the instrumentation (including the rhythm guitar and longer lead track, which are a bit more mellow and seem to sit better in the mix).

I like it a lot. That is pretty much my only 'constructive criticism' type comment.

Tom.

**Blackbird** · #7 09-18-2006, 08:36 PM

I hear a lot of Steely Dan and Level 42 in there. I like it.

Thumbs up!

4x4Given · #8 09-19-2006, 11:04 AM

Mod Squad!

Just kidding. Seriously, I enjoyed the groove. Solid and smooth.

**MAJOR METAL** · #9 09-19-2006, 04:44 PM

Bill you have the chops ! All the best with moving foward in finishing the project.

**bassybill** · #10 09-19-2006, 04:59 PM

Thanks to all of you for having a listen and taking the trouble to post. It's very much appreciated here.

I have some more numbers filtering through from fellow band member Chris as he gets them mixed, and also some older material. Your opinions are very helpful in evaluating how we've done; as you'll know, it's often hard to know whether you're hearing your own stuff the same way others do.

The point of the recordings is really just demos for our website, hopefully to bring in a few bookings. I'll ftp a couple more onto my web space in a bit and post some more links. You've really gone and asked for it now!

**bassybill** · #11 09-19-2006, 05:23 PM

Okay here’s some more, as threatened!

From the same session as the first track, a rather rough mix of our take on the Beatles track Come Together. Needs a bit more work on this, methinks. The bass was my Warmoth/Status fretted with Nordy NJ4SEs and J-Retro. Still waiting on mixes for two tracks from this session, the Corduroy number Red Mercury and a pretty standard cover of Car Wash.

Some earlier stuff, recorded with my MIM Jazz (EMGs on this one) before I got the bass above. Another instrumental, the Crusader’s track Rockslide. And three short clips that are actually part of a medley we did for the video on the website – I Wish, I Want You Back and September.

Isn't life fun when you're in a band you enjoy playing with?

**MAJOR METAL** · #12 09-19-2006, 05:41 PM

Thats some clear quality , great playing Bill !

markjazzbassist · #13 09-19-2006, 06:01 PM

cool track man. i dig. nice bass playing. i liked the horns and stuff too. good luck.

edit: the only critisicism (sp?) i have is that the keyboard sounds real 80's. I'm guessing it's not real fender rhodes.

JAUQO III-X · #14 09-19-2006, 06:26 PM

Hey Bill,I listened to all 5 tracks and I'm digging what I've heard,you are definitely focusing on the pocket and I'm really digging how you are allowing your Bass playing to support the vocalist(not stepping on her toes at all)and that is a great asset to have,again Bill keep doing what you're doing and stay focused because it will only get better.I would definitely have you for a sub with no worries that you couldn't handle the gig if I was doing tunes from that genre.