Wooten's new toy

[fivestringgecko]

It takes some courage to spin an $8000 Fodera around your neck and arms like that. . .

No doubt! (see next reply)

I agree. I also think it's about time he learned to do the swing around the neck properly if he's going to keep performing it so much. Or better yet retire it

Won't argue this either... (see next reply)

i cant watch the video on the computer at my work but if its the bass im thinking of its old. i saw him with it a couple years back

It HAS been around a while. I've seen him a couple times in Boulder... he did the same spinning thing with BOTH basses, but when I saw him, he was spinning the black bass around by the cable! (it was anchored to the headstock somehow). He was spinning a Fodera around in the air, on the floor, like a top............ lol

I also know this might insite a riot, but he also did some of the same solo stuff BOTH years I saw him. Like others have said on here, I am a BIG Wooten fan - listening to him is what got me started playing bass - but his live stuff is all starting to kinda sound the same. I actually skipped the show the last time he came to Boulder. *gasp!*

I'm not going to give away the trade secret as to how the LED's were installed but I will say that no drilling was done to the neck.

Aww, c'mon Jauqo, that's just mean! lol

I am NOT saying I'm right (or even sure), but I think for a "standard" install, the fretboard is removed and they wire the LEDs in from the back using the fretboard inlays that are already there.

The site is here (but I couldn't really find an explanation of HOW they do it): http://www.simscustom.com/html/simsleds.htm

Anyone else notice that the LEDs funtion in VU response?

uh yeah so about those leds... how did he get them to do that with his playing?\

Check the "SensiLight" system in the lower right corner of the Sims site above.

I kinda want it (in green) for my blue/green burst quilt maple Modulus 5!

5sg

P.S. Sorry for the HUGE post...

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Aww, c'mon Jauqo, that's just mean! lol

I am NOT saying I'm right (or even sure), but I think for a "standard" install, the fretboard is removed and they wire the LEDs in from the back using the fretboard inlays that are already there.

I'm not telling but that is not how it's done and that's not how it was installed in Vics bass. Martin Sim did not install the LED's in Vics bass they where installed by Jesse Blu O'Neil(ergoinstruments.com) when he was lisenced to install the Sims LED system.

 

[fivestringgecko]

they where installed by Jesse Blu O'Neil(ergoinstruments.com) when he was lisenced to install the Sims LED system.

Sweet!

I checked out the site, but no address is listed... is Jesse in the States? The price at simscustoms.com translates to about $659 USD currently (*ouch!*)... Jesse might not be less expensive, but at least then I wouldn't have to ship my neck to the UK! lol

(and just for the record, you're still mean... now I REALLY want to know how it's done. lol)

5sg

 

[boonerstreet]

It takes some courage to spin an $8000 Fodera around your neck and arms like that. . . Tense, brother, tense.

People never seem to understand that Victor is an entertainer. It is FUN to see him play, and he never takes himself too seriously. Approach his music and performances with the same perspective, and you'll get it.

..."too sloppy. . . " LOL.

I don't mean to offend anyone. But I've heard that same statement used to criticize a bassist. Take a look at that Pete Wentz thread and people will say he sucks because he concentrates more on entertaining than playing his bass. Now I'm not praising Fall Out Boy in any way, nor am I criticizing Victor. But I think people are going to have biased views about any bassist no matter who he/she is. Just my 2 cents.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Sweet!

I checked out the site, but no address is listed... is Jesse in the States? The price at simscustoms.com translates to about $659 USD currently (*ouch!*)... Jesse might not be less expensive, but at least then I wouldn't have to ship my neck to the UK! lol

(and just for the record, you're still mean... now I REALLY want to know how it's done. lol)

5sg

Jesse lives in Chattanooga TN and if you have any questions feel free to contact him at
[email protected]

 

[Mystic Michael]

This clip reminds me of the first time I saw Vic play in person. It was at a Bass Day conference in NYC a few years ago. He and Michael Manring were the two standouts among a whole group of elite pro bassists that day, IMHO. I couldn't help thinking of Wooten as Mr. Right Hand, and Manring as Mr. Left Hand...

As impressed as I was with the demonstration of VW's amazing rhythmic chops and his flawless time, I gotta tell ya Michael Manring was the one who really stole the show. For me, MM's smooth, sophisticated, lyrical command of melody and harmony is what virtuoso bass playing is all about - not all that clickety-clack, popity-pop stuff...

MM

 

[capnsandwich]

i guess what it comes down to is that you have 2 different people watching him play. you have fans and you have musicians. fans are the ones that get into all the extras and swinging basses around and playing behind you rhead and whatever else. musicians tend to watch stuff like technique, the way notes played, clarity of tone, you know, stuff like that. when i'm playing on stage, i can tell the difference between the 2. the fans are clapping and dancing and having fun and the musicians stare and talk to each other while pointing at something on stage. i'm guilty of it too when i'm in the crowd.

see, victor's playing for the fans. i mean, they are the majority at shows and the majority when it comes to buying cd's. yes, i do agree that vic probably didn't have his A game on that night. i mean as a professional musician or even an amature, you're gonna have that. it's part of showbiz.

 

[DWBass]

Make that 3 groups! Musicians who are also fans! To all the haters, what's wrong with a bit of showmanship?? He's done the art thing. What else does he have left to prove? Also, he makes music and plays the music he does for himself as do most artists. Some will enjoy it and other won't and will critique! He's not going to tailor his 'art' to satisfy you! Give it a rest already!

 

[MikeBass]

I've seen Wooten live three times.
Thats all I need to see anymore really, because it's the same stuff.
Well, actually more than three because IMO, he's WAY better when it's not "His" gig - ala' Bela Fleck & the Flecktones.

I feel the same about Marcus Miller to a point. Like him more backing someone up as opposed to being the front man.

Sure Vic has some amazing chops that very few, if any will EVER posess, but after hearing the same thing each time, you need like some others posted, a break. I take Victor in doses now.

As for the 1000 notes a second stuff. I guess, yeah, it sound just like that mostly. But the difference is, he could play that same stuff, at say 50 bpm and slowly ramp it up to 1000 notes a second.

Bill Dickens mostly to me sounds like someone bashing away at a typewriter when he does his fast slapping stuff. But I've seen him break it down slowly and show it to guys.
But at high speed........typewriter gone mad and I'm bored.

Vic has really pushed the electric bass technique to the forefront and made us aware of that portion of what we do, but he IMO (and man am I'm gonna get flamed to death for this) hasn't written "that" tune yet.
Musically, and who the heck am I, what has he done beside apply that great technique to great tunes- "Amazing Grace" anyone? But it's no "Portrait of Tracy".
"Overjoyed", great tune. Two hand tapped. Again applaction of great technique to a great tune.

Is he a Jazz player that has written a Jazz tune that stops everyone for a second and makes you go "Whoa! Deep!".

Or is he a Funk player that shakes asses with one tune in every dance hall and it's a "in rotation" staple.

I guess time will tell........

For the record, I like Victor Wooten.

 

[Jordan]

Vic follows his own path.. he is good at what he does, and he has successfully bridged the gap between musician and regular people. That shows that his skills penetrate beyond his bass playing. Case in point: I remember seeing O'teil play before where there was only a handful (literally) of people in the audience, all of which looked to be musicians -- bass players. But when I go to a Vic show I see musicians dorking out, and I see hot chicks shaking their booties.

While no one person can please everyone, Vic seems to please more people than the average solo bassist. Fortunately, we don't need him to please everyone, because there are many many more great bass players of different styles; enough variety to please everyone.

Jordan

Captain Obvious awaaaaaaay!

 

[Mark Wilson]

Jauqo, how do you know everything about everything? Amazing. Really.

Also, I saw Vic in concert with these guys.
Sure, Vic is flashy and a showman, but you won't find a deeper pocket on the road today.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Jauqo, how do you know everything about everything? Amazing. Really.

No young one,that would take a life time to accomplish

 

[Mark Wilson]

No young one,that would take a life time to accomplish

Your words are wise, oh Keeper of the Lowend.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

 

[EduardoK]

I know I am a bit out of topic here, but just curious:
What are those two 4x10 cabs?....

 

[JimmyM]

Ampeg BXT 410-HL and Ampeg BXT 115-HL.

And Jauqo knows everything about everything because he's what they call "cutting edge," and to be cutting edge, you have to source out people who will do things for your equipment that other people won't or can't. Hell, just getting the proper strings for some of his basses must have been a nightmare.

 

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Bill Dickens mostly to me sounds like someone bashing away at a typewriter when he does his fast slapping stuff. But I've seen him break it down slowly and show it to guys.
But at high speed........typewriter gone mad and I'm bored.

Vic has really pushed the electric bass technique to the forefront and made us aware of that portion of what we do, but he IMO (and man am I'm gonna get flamed to death for this) hasn't written "that" tune yet.
Musically, and who the heck am I, what has he done beside apply that great technique to great tunes- "Amazing Grace" anyone? But it's no "Portrait of Tracy".
"Overjoyed", great tune. Two hand tapped. Again applaction of great technique to a great tune.

+1 on that typewriter stuff. Something that Flea always wished but can never and will never be able to do.
I think the main difference between Dickens' fast playing and Wooten's fast playing is that you can actually hear what Wooten plays and what he plays actually "makes sense."
Victor has pushed the limit on the electric bass, even though he wasn't the first one to invent all the cool stuff. But who cares, as long as he can make music.
Portrait of Tracy is a good song when played correctly, but most of the time Jaco doesn't even play it the way it was recorded. Just watch the Youtube videos of him playing it live. It's all quarter notes and the harmonics are all half notes; and that is what makes the song less appreciatable.

 

[Baryonyx]

As impressed as I was with the demonstration of VW's amazing rhythmic chops and his flawless time, I gotta tell ya Michael Manring was the one who really stole the show. For me, MM's smooth, sophisticated, lyrical command of melody and harmony is what virtuoso bass playing is all about - not all that clickety-clack, popity-pop stuff...

I love them both, so I guess I'm lucky!

 

[Marcus]

+1 on that typewriter stuff. Something that Flea always wished but can never and will never be able to do.
I think the main difference between Dickens' fast playing and Wooten's fast playing is that you can actually hear what Wooten plays and what he plays actually "makes sense."
Victor has pushed the limit on the electric bass, even though he wasn't the first one to invent all the cool stuff. But who cares, as long as he can make music.
Portrait of Tracy is a good song when played correctly, but most of the time Jaco doesn't even play it the way it was recorded. Just watch the Youtube videos of him playing it live. It's all quarter notes and the harmonics are all half notes; and that is what makes the song less appreciatable.

What is your obsession with talking ---- about Flea, and praising Victor? Thats cool that he inspired you and all, but get over it! I dig the guy's playing and all too, but I don't go around cutting down other (incredibly) successful bassists. Heck, I don't even like RHCP but I can appreciate their music and Flea's contributions to the band.

..and then you bag on Bill... oh jeez...

 

[bassistloaded21]

Ha, what it boils down to is that Vic is doing HIS show. Its his own thing, hes built up his reputation, gets tons of people out, and their theyre to see him do exactly what he does, put on a show. Its not selling out, its not him losing it, its him putting on a good show, and thats what its about. If u wanna hear him be super technical, go and listen to the CD not the live concert. The live concert is supposed to be fun, a good time, and thats exactly what it is. Vic does not have an ego problem, i dont know how anyone could say that. Hes one of the most chill, down to earth people ive ever met. Ive been able to hang out with him multiple times, and he has to be one of the most humble people ive ever met, and thats saying alot for a basssist. What other bassist do you know that will hang out with the crowd after the show, and let little kids and everyone handle his basses. The Ego comment, whoever said it i dont remember, was totally off the wall. He plays all the notes because he can, thats what people come to see, thats what happens when you practice. Whoever said theyd rather him play at half speed so people can see what he was doing, PRACTICE!