The Combo Club

[iagtrplyr]

Samantha Fish is fantastic! She really knows how to get just the right amount of mojo into her music. Very skilled and dedicated player and performer. Are you also familiar with Larkin Poe? They make some great music too, although neither plays bass.

A fellow fan, very cool. I’m trying to remember, is this the sister or vest friends duo? If so, I watched a great video courtesy of Fender about them. One plays a Strat and the other did slide on a lap steel or something similar, I believe. Yeah, it was real good roots music.

 

[RodRy]

Don't you? Maybe you should consider taking off your mittens while playing.

I have been busy perfecting the mitten technique for years now, and I think I'm close...

 

[RodRy]

A fellow fan, very cool. I’m trying to remember, is this the sister or vest friends duo? If so, I watched a great video courtesy of Fender about them. One plays a Strat and the other did slide on a lap steel or something similar, I believe. Yeah, it was real good roots music.

Yep, Larkin Poe is a pair of sisters. Good covers and original stuff.

 

[Haroldo]

Same here (2cm),

Holy cow! I thought 1cm was a tough row to hoe. Good luck!

 

[Haroldo]

Then this discussion begs me to ask: does anyone use their thumb? I watched players use it, I’ve read where it offers an intersection tone as well as allows the fingers to do others things, and I believe Macca was a thumb-player. Good enough for me until I tried it and afterwards I decided I’d rather learn to write in Chinese...backwards! Anyone else?

Here's a thread in the 'Technique' sub-forum. Check out #3 where the technique of (ETA: the great) Joey Spampinato (formerly of NRBQ) is discussed.

Anyone Use Their Thumb to Pluck

 

[StatesideRambler]

[OT]

The hard part for me on scales is staying focused. They are just so boring. But if I break it into 5 minute sessions, I at least convince myself that I'm doing some good.

I assert that scales are boring because few of us are paying attention to the right things or varying how we approach scales. e.g.
How many different ways can you play each scale on your #1 bass?

Are you as comfortable doing the position shifts on each string as on the others?
Do you play from the lowest note in that scale to the highest or do you play strictly from root to octave?
Can you play an arbitrarily chosen scale from the highest note to the lowest without first playing up the scale?
Can you play triads and arpeggios in every key you encounter in your set list? Descending as well as ascending? If jazz is your gig: 9ths, 11ths and 13ths?
Is your LH-RH coordination equally good in all these scale variants? How about your dynamics? Equally loud across the neck and from nut to neck pickup? Are you sure?
Have you even noticed those last two after you started playing gigs?
Use all plucking combinations (i-m-i-m, m-i-m-i, i-a-i-a, a-i-a-i, m-a-m-a, a-m-a-m; “a” is “annular” or ring finger) including patterns that use the thumb if you do.
If slap is in your repertoire can you slap scales and make them sound musical?
Do you use the circle of fifths/fourths to determine what order to play?
Invent etudes. e.g. Play up the scale from the root then down to the third. Make that the root of the next scale and so on. Bonus for minor keys.
A friend of mine gets his scale playing jollies by using jazz tune chord progressions to set the order of scales he’ll practice. Getting to know the changes, eh?
Do you speak the names of the notes as you play?
Work on muscle control by slowly playing a scale, fretting so lightly that every note buzzes equally. If you can do that then only the slightest added force gives you a clean sound. Embed that sensation in your playing and you’ll never strain your fingers playing an all day gig.
All the above in both major and minor keys.

That’s a start and until now I didn’t mention modes. The floor is open to all others who have suggestions for good uses of scale practice.
[/OT]

 

[iagtrplyr]

[OT]

I assert that scales are boring because few of us are paying attention to the right things or varying how we approach scales. e.g.
How many different ways can you play each scale on your #1 bass?

Are you as comfortable doing the position shifts on each string as on the others?
Do you play from the lowest note in that scale to the highest or do you play strictly from root to octave?
Can you play an arbitrarily chosen scale from the highest note to the lowest without first playing up the scale?
Can you play triads and arpeggios in every key you encounter in your set list? Descending as well as ascending? If jazz is your gig: 9ths, 11ths and 13ths?
Is your LH-RH coordination equally good in all these scale variants? How about your dynamics? Equally loud across the neck and from nut to neck pickup? Are you sure?
Have you even noticed those last two after you started playing gigs?
Use all plucking combinations (i-m-i-m, m-i-m-i, i-a-i-a, a-i-a-i, m-a-m-a, a-m-a-m; “a” is “annular” or ring finger) including patterns that use the thumb if you do.
If slap is in your repertoire can you slap scales and make them sound musical?
Do you use the circle of fifths/fourths to determine what order to play?
Invent etudes. e.g. Play up the scale from the root then down to the third. Make that the root of the next scale and so on. Bonus for minor keys.
A friend of mine gets his scale playing jollies by using jazz tune chord progressions to set the order of scales he’ll practice. Getting to know the changes, eh?
Do you speak the names of the notes as you play?
Work on muscle control by slowly playing a scale, fretting so lightly that every note buzzes equally. If you can do that then only the slightest added force gives you a clean sound. Embed that sensation in your playing and you’ll never strain your fingers playing an all day gig.
All the above in both major and minor keys.

That’s a start and until now I didn’t mention modes. The floor is open to all others who have suggestions for good uses of scale practice.
[/OT]

Hello to all. After reading ‘Rambler’s incredibly informative post, I have decided to sell all my equipment at discounted prices of up to 75% for everything in my music room...

For a moment, that’s how I felt looking at all those recommended exercises, but then I remembered what my college music professor told our freshman class when we asked why we had to learn all these dumb rules of music. Her reply was simple and has stayed with me forever. She said, “So you’ll know what rules to break later on!”

I’ll never be the bass player that many of you are, and at my age I’m okay with that. I’ve learned through my own methods and they work for the type of music I enjoy playing.

Keith Richards, I believe, never practices. He just plays instead. I practice, but I get his vibe. I play music for music’s sake, weird fingerings and all.

So for all of you who spend quality time perfecting the craft, you have my total respect. Carry on, fellow musicians!

 

[biguglyman]

Didn't The Good Rats call Syracuse their hometown?

Actually I believe they were out of Long Island. They did play a lot in upstate NY.

Another Combo came my way last week. I answered a CL ad from a person in my town looking to dump an old Anvil keyboard case. Interior foam was gone but the case is still structurally sound. As we live in the same town and it's hard for me to set up a "meet", (I work nights) he offered to drop it off at my place. I told him it was for my son who's an awesome keyboard player. Seems this and the fact that his mom's bestie is my backyard neighbor peaked his generosity. He not only dropped off the case, he also dropped off this Peavey KB-100! FREE!!! So until my son picks it up, I amd fostering yet another combo. Pots are a bit scratchy and it makes a rather loud POP when shut off, but for that price???? Thing is LOUD too...

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Actually I believe they were out of Long Island. They did play a lot in upstate NY.

Another Combo came my way last week. I answered a CL ad from a person in my town looking to dump an old Anvil keyboard case. Interior foam was gone but the case is still structurally sound. As we live in the same town and it's hard for me to set up a "meet", (I work nights) he offered to drop it off at my place. I told him it was for my son who's an awesome keyboard player. Seems this and the fact that his mom's bestie is my backyard neighbor peaked his generosity. He not only dropped off the case, he also dropped off this Peavey KB-100! FREE!!! So until my son picks it up, I amd fostering yet another combo. Pots are a bit scratchy and it makes a rather loud POP when shut off, but for that price???? Thing is LOUD too...

View attachment 3975567

Are you going to try your bass through it?

 

[biguglyman]

Are you going to try your bass through it?

Already did. It would make a good bass amp in a pinch, but my Carvin and GK combos are better suited for bass.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Already did. It would make a good bass amp in a pinch, but my Carvin and GK combos are better suited for bass.

I was always curious as to whether a keyboard amp would work for bass. Not sure why, as there are so many good options for bass, but it's is something I've been interested in. Another one are amps for acoustic guitars. Not sure if they would work for a solid body bass, but I've heard some folks using them with the Hofners. The acoustic combos usually look cool, in my eyes, as they are often brown or have Wood enclosures.

 

[biguglyman]

Another one are amps for acoustic guitars.

I know a guy who plays upright that uses an acoustic guitar amp...sounds great!

 

[GonePlaid]

Actually I believe they were out of Long Island. They did play a lot in upstate NY.

Another Combo came my way last week. I answered a CL ad from a person in my town looking to dump an old Anvil keyboard case. Interior foam was gone but the case is still structurally sound. As we live in the same town and it's hard for me to set up a "meet", (I work nights) he offered to drop it off at my place. I told him it was for my son who's an awesome keyboard player. Seems this and the fact that his mom's bestie is my backyard neighbor peaked his generosity. He not only dropped off the case, he also dropped off this Peavey KB-100! FREE!!! So until my son picks it up, I amd fostering yet another combo. Pots are a bit scratchy and it makes a rather loud POP when shut off, but for that price???? Thing is LOUD too...

View attachment 3975567

Well, now you've gone and done it. I'm gonna hafta roll my KB-300 out where I can get light on it and take a fresh pic. I used to use this thing with a POS keyboard in one channel and my THUNDERBIRD in another (leaving one MT). It's LOUD and HEAVY. My usual HD pic. It has 3 separate channels, each with its own level, treble, mid, and bass EQ + reverb and pull gain. The 2 blue knobs are Master reverb and Master level. 15" and horn and IIRC a piezo tweeter. IDK how old it is(90's?). I've managed to scratch the serial number too much to read it. Like most Peavey's, it's built like a tank and weighs slightly more. AFAIK it still works. BTW, I'm the original owner.

 

[GonePlaid]

I was always curious as to whether a keyboard amp would work for bass. Not sure why, as there are so many good options for bass, but it's is something I've been interested in. Another one are amps for acoustic guitars. Not sure if they would work for a solid body bass, but I've heard some folks using them with the Hofners. The acoustic combos usually look cool, in my eyes, as they are often brown or have Wood enclosures.

See 12093.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Well, now you've gone and done it. I'm gonna hafta roll my KB-300 out where I can get light on it and take a fresh pic. I used to use this thing with a POS keyboard in one channel and my THUNDERBIRD in another (leaving one MT). It's LOUD and HEAVY. My usual HD pic. It has 3 separate channels, each with its own level, treble, mid, and bass EQ + reverb and pull gain. The 2 blue knobs are Master reverb and Master level. 15" and horn and IIRC a piezo tweeter. IDK how old it is(90's?). I've managed to scratch the serial number too much to read it. Like most Peavey's, it's built like a tank and weighs slightly more. AFAIK it still works. BTW, I'm the original owner.
View attachment 3975583

Gotta get to bed, but I've mentioned anytime you've posted this that your combo looks like it'd kill a man if it toppled over him. Why on earth did manufacturers of this age think it needed to be so heavy? I know a lot of the weight is the MDF cab, but sheesh! They must've thought everyone had roadies.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Actually I believe they were out of Long Island. They did play a lot in upstate NY.

Another Combo came my way last week. I answered a CL ad from a person in my town looking to dump an old Anvil keyboard case. Interior foam was gone but the case is still structurally sound. As we live in the same town and it's hard for me to set up a "meet", (I work nights) he offered to drop it off at my place. I told him it was for my son who's an awesome keyboard player. Seems this and the fact that his mom's bestie is my backyard neighbor peaked his generosity. He not only dropped off the case, he also dropped off this Peavey KB-100! FREE!!! So until my son picks it up, I amd fostering yet another combo. Pots are a bit scratchy and it makes a rather loud POP when shut off, but for that price???? Thing is LOUD too...

View attachment 3975567

Hey Bigs! Nice catch if ya need one. I could be wrong, but my buddy has this same amp and used it for years to run his keys though. It's never let him down although he says it is a bit of a chore to move. Gotta love Peavey... unless you're someone's back!

 

[biguglyman]

Nice catch if ya need one.

If I can talk my son into using the Peavey, I'll get my Carvin powered speakers back!

 

[GwenOnBass]

Loud and heavy pretty much sums up all of period Peavey amps! And in my experience, that was enough for regular folks.

 

[GonePlaid]

Gotta get to bed, but I've mentioned anytime you've posted this that your combo looks like it'd kill a man if it toppled over him. Why on earth did manufacturers of this age think it needed to be so heavy? I know a lot of the weight is the MDF cab, but sheesh! They must've thought everyone had roadies.

Or was 25-30 years younger. ........wait.....

 

[GwenOnBass]

[OT]

I assert that scales are boring because few of us are paying attention to the right things or varying how we approach scales. e.g.
How many different ways can you play each scale on your #1 bass?

Are you as comfortable doing the position shifts on each string as on the others?
Do you play from the lowest note in that scale to the highest or do you play strictly from root to octave?
Can you play an arbitrarily chosen scale from the highest note to the lowest without first playing up the scale?
Can you play triads and arpeggios in every key you encounter in your set list? Descending as well as ascending? If jazz is your gig: 9ths, 11ths and 13ths?
Is your LH-RH coordination equally good in all these scale variants? How about your dynamics? Equally loud across the neck and from nut to neck pickup? Are you sure?
Have you even noticed those last two after you started playing gigs?
Use all plucking combinations (i-m-i-m, m-i-m-i, i-a-i-a, a-i-a-i, m-a-m-a, a-m-a-m; “a” is “annular” or ring finger) including patterns that use the thumb if you do.
If slap is in your repertoire can you slap scales and make them sound musical?
Do you use the circle of fifths/fourths to determine what order to play?
Invent etudes. e.g. Play up the scale from the root then down to the third. Make that the root of the next scale and so on. Bonus for minor keys.
A friend of mine gets his scale playing jollies by using jazz tune chord progressions to set the order of scales he’ll practice. Getting to know the changes, eh?
Do you speak the names of the notes as you play?
Work on muscle control by slowly playing a scale, fretting so lightly that every note buzzes equally. If you can do that then only the slightest added force gives you a clean sound. Embed that sensation in your playing and you’ll never strain your fingers playing an all day gig.
All the above in both major and minor keys.

That’s a start and until now I didn’t mention modes. The floor is open to all others who have suggestions for good uses of scale practice.
[/OT]

One at a time is all I'm good for. And taking care it's done correctly keeps me plenty busy.