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The Combo Club

Just found this one under special features in the owners manual of one of the thingies that are heading my direction soon:

"THE TOP
Almost every musician we talked to told us that at some time or another they were going to end up sitting
on the amp. With this in mind, we would like you to know that we spent a great deal of time and
effort to remove all mounting screws, vents and other obstacles from the top of the combo and covered
it with carpet just to make these times more comfortable for you. Enjoy."

:laugh:
 
Just found this one under special features in the owners manual of one of the thingies that are heading my direction soon:

"THE TOP
Almost every musician we talked to told us that at some time or another they were going to end up sitting
on the amp. With this in mind, we would like you to know that we spent a great deal of time and
effort to remove all mounting screws, vents and other obstacles from the top of the combo and covered
it with carpet just to make these times more comfortable for you. Enjoy."

:laugh:

Excellent!
 
OK. If the song was recorded originally with droning roots, then that's gonna sound 'right' 'cos that's the way we first hear it. Still bores me to tears.
Take the bass line to the Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself(Sugarpie Honeybunch)". That's an interesting bass part. And again, I'm not saying I'm right*, but I am saying how it hits me.

*actually, I am;)
Have always been a big fan of ZZTop so thought what the heck, I ordered the Bass book of top ZZTop songs. Was I surprised. It really does show droning root notes....forever....augmented with synthesizer..... But, now I know for sure I had it right......There are still times when Sharp Dressed Man just makes it.
 
Have always been a big fan of ZZTop so thought what the heck, I ordered the Bass book of top ZZTop songs. Was I surprised. It really does show droning root notes....forever....augmented with synthesizer..... But, now I know for sure I had it right......There are still times when Sharp Dressed Man just makes it.

You may know this already, but if not it is easy to get the synth sound for that song on your bass. Just run you bass through a compressor, fuzz and chorus. Good times.
 
Have always been a big fan of ZZTop so thought what the heck, I ordered the Bass book of top ZZTop songs. Was I surprised. It really does show droning root notes....forever....augmented with synthesizer..... But, now I know for sure I had it right......There are still times when Sharp Dressed Man just makes it.
Dusty does do some octaves. Breaks up the 'drone' a little.
'Course if droning 8ths is what the BL wants,...
 
Have always been a big fan of ZZTop so thought what the heck, I ordered the Bass book of top ZZTop songs. Was I surprised. It really does show droning root notes....forever....augmented with synthesizer..... But, now I know for sure I had it right......There are still times when Sharp Dressed Man just makes it.
I, too, am a big ZZ fan. I just think there are a few spots where Dusty could go with Billy's changes and be effective-r. Like on "Legs".
 
ZZ Top is in my top 5 for favorite bands, so I like Dusty's playing and singing. Michael Anthony seems like a great guy (he now plays with Sammy Hagar after d@uchebag Eddie kicked him out of VH so Eddie's son, Wolfie, can play bass :mad:). With Eddie overplaying on every song, MA was needed to keep some stability in the songs, but I still would not consider him a great bassist, IMHO.

FWIW, I am a fan of Sammy Hagar and is/was not a fan of Eddie Van Halen....


I liked Eddie's playing(mostly)and his ex(totally!).
 
OK. If the song was recorded originally with droning roots, then that's gonna sound 'right' 'cos that's the way we first hear it. Still bores me to tears.
Take the bass line to the Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself(Sugarpie Honeybunch)". That's an interesting bass part. And again, I'm not saying I'm right*, but I am saying how it hits me.

*actually, I am;)
- Pulling out my riding glove -

Well sir, then I challenge you to record a better bass line for a Van Halen song of your choice and share with the class.

Not that I don't trust that you can do it, I just want to hear what you find interesting. You can select one of the painfully obvious ones like Runnin With the Devil, or something like Drop Dead Legs or And the Cradle Will Rock.
:smug:
 
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Just found this one under special features in the owners manual of one of the thingies that are heading my direction soon:

"THE TOP
Almost every musician we talked to told us that at some time or another they were going to end up sitting
on the amp. With this in mind, we would like you to know that we spent a great deal of time and
effort to remove all mounting screws, vents and other obstacles from the top of the combo and covered
it with carpet just to make these times more comfortable for you. Enjoy."

:laugh:

Well, if they were that concerned with comfort, why didn't they include a pillow?
 
- Pulling out my riding glove -

Well sir, then I challenge you to record a better bass line for a Van Halen song of your choice and share with the class.

Not that I don't trust that you can do it, I just want to hear what you find interesting. You can select one of the painfully obvious ones like Runnin With the Devil, or something like Drop Dead Legs or And the Cradle Will Rock.
:smug:
Hmm. That would force me to (A) listen closely to some VH, and (2) buy recording gear. Neither of which is likely to happen, esp. the recording gear. At least not 'til I finish paying a lot for a mouthful of new-to me-teeth.
IDK if I could come up with something anyone would consider to be "better" since folks are used to the lines that sold millions of records.
 
Hmm. That would force me to (A) listen closely to some VH, and (2) buy recording gear. Neither of which is likely to happen, esp. the recording gear. At least not 'til I finish paying a lot for a mouthful of new-to me-teeth.
IDK if I could come up with something anyone would consider to be "better" since folks are used to the lines that sold millions of records.
I can't prevent you from needing to become familiar with the music to come up with a bassline for it, but you could just get someone else to record you! So that should not be so hard.

I am interested in what you think is better. We of course know that "better" is subjective, and that is the sort of thing that makes the world go around.
:D
 
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Hmm. That would force me to (A) listen closely to some VH, and (2) buy recording gear. Neither of which is likely to happen, esp. the recording gear. At least not 'til I finish paying a lot for a mouthful of new-to me-teeth.
IDK if I could come up with something anyone would consider to be "better" since folks are used to the lines that sold millions of records.
It's obviously been commercially effective for a helluva long time and fits a large %age of the time. I just find it boring.
 
Hmm. That would force me to (A) listen closely to some VH, and (2) buy recording gear. Neither of which is likely to happen, esp. the recording gear. At least not 'til I finish paying a lot for a mouthful of new-to me-teeth.
IDK if I could come up with something anyone would consider to be "better" since folks are used to the lines that sold millions of records.
You don't have to record it. You may write it down in notes and scrolls on parchment, if that is more comfortable for you.:smug:
 
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