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Bill the Buddha Dickens

#21
Bryan R. Tyler said:
People always focus on his slapping and showmanship, but behind that, he's one of the best fingerstylists I've ever heard.
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I'm going to have to agree for the most part - some of his slapping is wanking, but when I heard his fingerstyle playing, especially his soloing - I was super impressed...

:)
 
#25
Bill is a very intelligent man.Very knowledgable, and a nice human being. I've heard him play some really beautiful chord melody arrangements on 8-string bass (not the 4 string in octaves).At NAMM,I have seen him go into a 10 minute "slapping frenzy" for the sole purpose of drawing a crowd over to the booth he is at to promote the product.Many people seem to love that.
Bill is a pro player,and would not work as a bassist if he couldn't play what is expected of him. Hopefully those of you who haven't heard Bill will come across a recording soon.
 
#28
Suckbird said:
I saw a video with wooten, sheehan and a couple of other guys at bass(some year) i guess and one of the other guys was a pretty big black guy who was pretty ****ing good, was this bill dickens?
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Yes, this video is on Bills website.. To be honest, out of all of them (like I said before), I thought Bill was the most melodic finger style soloist on that video.. Although, I might tie him for best with Oteil because I love when he sings his lines while he solos..
 
#29
Wrong Robot said:
This is the only way to practice. Otherwise you're just doodling and wasting your time.
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Hardly. Even if you run D Dorian scales for ten hours you're still improving your finger flexability and sure as hell working on endurance whether that's your goal or not.

And back on topic, the buddha's fingerstyle kung fu is strong. I don't dig his slapping all that much, but he's one hell of a melodic finger player.
 
#30
Fretless5verfan said:
Hardly. Even if you run D Dorian scales for ten hours you're still improving your finger flexability and sure as hell working on endurance whether that's your goal or not.
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That is the only thing one can gain from idly noodling for 10 hours. Endurance/stamina. That is also one of the most basic things one can achieve(and something that can adequately be achieved via other means). YMMV but as far as I'm concerned, practice must be structure, thought out and with purpose, otherwise you'll just be running around in circles(though you'll certainly gain great finger dexterity, such prowess is useless unless the other aspects of your playing are well rounded)

Of course, bill knows this, though.
 
#31
Wrong Robot said:
That is the only thing one can gain from idly noodling for 10 hours. Endurance/stamina. That is also one of the most basic things one can achieve(and something that can adequately be achieved via other means). YMMV but as far as I'm concerned, practice must be structure, thought out and with purpose, otherwise you'll just be running around in circles(though you'll certainly gain great finger dexterity, such prowess is useless unless the other aspects of your playing are well rounded)

Of course, bill knows this, though.
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True, but hardly a complete waste of time or as worthless as walking in mud :smug:
 
#32
Bill has TONS of material out there fellas, two instructional videos, a cd with Bobby Rock(drums) and Neil Za Za(guitars) called "Snap, Krackle and Pop" with covers of jungle boogie, walk this way and I wish by stevie wonder, and some Sly Stone on Paranormal Records(if you can find it) and studio work on a gang of stuff. The video in question is "The day the Bass Players took over the WORLD" Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey,Otiel Burbridge and Bill Dickens. Theres also a new album on his website called "Tha Truth". Bills fingerstyle is unbeliveable, Victor, Steve and Oteil are good but they just just paled in comparison to Bill on that video.
 
#33
Ya know, I haven't really contributed this thread save for my little quibble about the definition of practicing. But I have to say. Bill brought it on himself, the criticism. He made himself known via gimmicks; his ultra fast wanking and extended range basses. No matter how great of a player he is(which, he definitely CAN groove and has some nice solos too) the impression people get of him is "wanker" solely because, that's the niche he's put himself into. Whether it's fair or not.

There are plenty of cats with absurd chops that you basically never hear, but they can still tumble with the best of them, when their names are brought up the debate over "aw he's just a wanker" doesn't. What does that say?

I mean, Bill is a great bass player, edited, there no arguing that, but the fact that this stuff follows him around says something about what he's doing more than the people who talk about him imo.


edit: edited
 
#34
Yeah......and maybe not. He still draws the biggest crowd at NAMM shows and sells out all his shows on tour so.....I think there is a small group of people that are misinformed. Some bassist are called "wanker" because they UNDERPLAY, and that too isnt really fair. Whats underplaying?, whats overplaying? all of it is about style and everyone doesnt like everyone , thats cool, but Bill's doing SOMETHING right ,endorsements, records, videos, tours and a signature model. I'm sure he aint concerned if someone thinks he's a "wanker". He's probably hanging out with Conklin or the Accugroove guys : . Pretty damn good for a "wanker". :rolleyes:
 
#36
Lo end PUNCH said:
Yeah......and maybe not. He still draws the biggest crowd at NAMM shows and sells out all his shows on tour so.....I think there is a small group of people that are misinformed. Some bassist are called "wanker" because they UNDERPLAY, and that too isnt really fair. Whats underplaying?, whats overplaying? all of it is about style and everyone doesnt like everyone , thats cool, but Bill's doing SOMETHING right ,endorsements, records, videos, tours and a signature model. I'm sure he aint concerned if someone thinks he's a "wanker". He's probably hanging out with Conklin or the Accugroove guys : . Pretty damn good for a "wanker". :rolleyes:
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I have never heard a "underplaying" bassist called a wanker. I have heard the terms "in the pocket" and "tasteful" thrown around.

The fact (is it a fact?) that he pulls the largest crowd isn't always the best thing.

I don't care for his tone or his playing (from what I've heard). An endorsement from Tom Waits and Miles Davis' ghost wouldn't change those facts.

I recognize his talent, but his playing isn't listenable to me.
 
#37
His stuff with Ramsey is absolutely solid, no wanking. With many producer credits, bass-playing credits and he is way more known for being a fixture on the recording/producing scene than just being known as a NAMM wanker.





Digs against his weight or singing-ability isn't cool. :scowl:
 

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