The Lord of the Bass - Updated with a BRAZILIAN SAMBA

[Nestor]

Hi Guys

After a few weeks of playing and getting to know better my new bass, this is my first recording called "The Lord of the Bass", which I am glad to dedicate entirely to Astroman, Wayne and Gary for their friendly words and support while I was in the search for a new guitar instrument. This is for you, beautiful souls, enjoy!

There is a main melody, then some hot improvisation in between covering almost the whole range of the bass, and finally an epic end.

You will be able to hear the whole range of Resurrection tones. It sounds absolutely amazing! There is nothing else, except the masterization process of the track itself, so nothing modifies the natural tone of the bass, this is the sound of the bass as is.

You may think I could get in love with any new bass I could get, actually, no..., you're wrong! This bass sounds as I want a bass to sound, that is the reason I am delighted!

Link of the song: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25529735/The%20 ... 20Bass.mp3

Two more Funky like bass songs:

I had to let you hear how it sounds in slap mode! Of course!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25529735/Groove%20Assbass.mp3

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25529735/Groove ... %20Boy.mp3

This is the Samba:

A little update again with my last song, which is a Brazilian Samba, so to study the character and tone of this wonderful instrument. This is my last one by the way, for this purpose.

This song is entirely made out of basses, I mean, 4 basses in all:

1- A deep one for the rithmic foundation

2- One only for chords

3- Melody

4- Solo

Then there is some drum and percussion

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25529735/Sweet%20and%20Sour.mp3

Enjoy

Cheers

[garyb]

good for you!

nice piece too...

[dawman]

Melodic style is great. Nice to see with all of those strings more than one note can actually be played..........

[wayne]

He's back!

[Nestor]

He's back!

Even if it is not with a Fender...

Cheers

[astroman]

never mind...
you seem to have a lot of fun - that's what counts after all
good stuff

cheers, Tom

[Nestor]

never mind...
you seem to have a lot of fun - that's what counts after all
good stuff

cheers, Tom

Hello Tom

Indeed, I truly have a lot of fun lately with this baby, even if I have little time left as I am working in a HUGE audio project right now.

But what do you think about the tone of this bass? Nobody talks about the tone... Common, you know a lot about it, and so I'm curious about your descriptions and likings, tell me something Astro...

[dawman]

Impressive indeed...

[astroman]

sorry Nestor, I was so unsurpised that I forgot to mention...
it's exactly the tone I expected, good strings for that articulation btw
Some references to Marcus, some Jazz lines, good mixture and really well played.
Unlike me you CAN make such a bass sound great, a good 'lead' attitude so to say.
But your fun is really shining through those lines, it's not just played because you can handle such stuff, you live it.

cheers, Tom

[Nestor]

Thank you guys , yes, I do like and vibrate with this instrument, true to the bone!

The tone and character of the bass is exactly as you expected, that surprises me, how could you know that? Because these SR basses sound all quite the same you mean? Now, does it means that you like or dislike this kind of tone, color or timbre? I find that in certain ways, it sounds close to a Fender P sometimes, particularly in slap mode and using the neck P'u to its full.

I will soon build a new song with a brazilian kind of background as a test, because it will give me the oportunity to show you how many different EQ positions can this bass have, totally different in chacarter. What I like most from its electronic it is in fact the 3band EQ, becuase it is not like just an EQ, but a tone modeler, sort of a virtual-amp if you like. I have tried many basses and they tend to overpower EQ bands, so you cannot really distinwish by the end, what you are playing, it is more lika a drive or subtle distortion than an EQ, of course, I don't like it. But this particular EQ cancels frequencies arround, as you move the knobs, and I find it great, because the sound you get is quite pure. The only noise you can hear comes from the screens facing the instrument, but the bass itself is pretty noiseless.

[astroman]

... The tone and character of the bass is exactly as you expected, that surprises me, how could you know that? Because these SR basses sound all quite the same you mean? Now, does it means that you like or dislike this kind of tone, color or timbre? I find that in certain ways, it sounds close to a Fender P sometimes, particularly in slap mode and using the neck P'u to its full...

well, these basses are very precisely manufactured, they have a powerfull PU system and active electronics, a bridge for lots of sustain and a tilted neck plate that smoothes out the decay phase.
There isn't much variation in tone except the material of the strings and ... your playing style.
(your own skills are very important in this case)
It's a sophisticated instrument from the technical viewpoint - and it's no surprise that you sometimes hit Miller's tone quite well.
Yet your bass has more 'round' bottom, in particular when you switch to finger style, and less decay than Miller's JB, even if Miller is a bit on the high tech side of Fender.

But a P-Bass is a completely different beast.
It growls... can be played smooth, yet never purrs - it can't deny it's roughness underneath.
Not even if tamed by the tone control...
Here's a nice record live from Crossroads, B.B. King's Thrill is Gone... notice - it's 4 guitars and 1 Precision
There's a certain kind of punch and decay that makes it very dynamic, but the bass sound fits nicely with the rest of the band.
It never drowns, but doesn't dominate the scenery either. Still it's authoritive - a funny instrument.
Wayne recently posted a nice example of an Aussie Jazzbass player, which was very similiar, just more on the rock side.

The Precision doesn't offer it's tone voluntarily - it puts up resistance while you pull the strings.
Even be a bit violent or hurting sometimes. You can only love or hate it...

But as there are different players, there must be different basses.
As mentioned my Hohner and Esh feature quite a 'modern' tone - but I get bored quickly. I lack the spohisticated licks to make them sound properly...
You play a kind of music that fits your bass, that's the most important aspect.
As a blues or country sideman you'd simply have the wrong instrument - those basses frequently show up in that context.
But I can't remember one single convincing example.
The notes push too long (by good sustain) for that kind of rhythm and the tone often sticks out of the mix.

cheers, Tom

[Nestor]

Wow Astro! Since we started to talk about basses in this new way through PM, your passion shows high and really covers my intellect with pleasure! I love your descriptions of guitars and your almos scientific approach and acute views of them. If you were to write bass reviews, I would not miss any of them!

In the Thrill is Gone song you pointed here, the bass tone and dynamics, I must agree, are prefect for this kind of music. Now, for me it sounds boring if I think that I have to play with this instrument every day. I would be glad to have a Fender P and or JB to cover other kind of musics, but I'm sure I will use them very sparingly.

It is curious, but if I were to have a second instrument, it would be something like this or exactly this one:

http://www.status-graphite.com/status/f ... _home.html

Now, in this context and kind of music, I will answer you with this one, a way to use the Fender P that I really like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Eb_UXDx ... re=related

Cheers

[Nestor]

Wow Astro! Since we started to talk about basses in this new way through PM, your passion shows high and really covers my intellect with pleasure! I love your descriptions of guitars and your almos scientific approach and acute views of them. If you were to write bass reviews, I would not miss any of them!

In the Thrill is Gone song you pointed here, the bass tone and dynamics, I must agree, are prefect for this kind of music. Now, for me it sounds boring if I think that I have to play with this instrument every day. I would be glad to have a Fender P and or JB to cover other kind of musics, but I'm sure I will use them very sparingly.

It is curious, but if I were to have a second instrument, it would be something like this or exactly this one:



Or even a more daring one which I'm sure it would blow my mind:



Now, in this context and kind of music, I will answer you with this one, a way to use the Fender P that I really like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Eb_UXDx ... re=related

Cheers

[astroman]

...Now, in this context and kind of music, I will answer you with this one, a way to use the Fender P that I really like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Eb_UXDx ... re=related ...

yeah, great group of musos. Recently bought some of Derek's stuff on iTunes. Must be cool to perform on stage with your (most) loved one... he's married to the blond chick.
They make good bass recordings at Crossroads, spotted the Avalon U5 DI/Preamp immediately (at 2.12)

but actually it's not that much of science with me - I only tried to figure out what makes up these tones that they are so burned in my head. Mind you... I didn't even like Soul or Funk music in my youth, but there was always this bass sound... of which I later learned it's (usually) a Fender P-Bass.
My bass heroes those days were Roger Glover from Deep Purple (lol) and Chris Squire from Yes, both playing Ricks with plectrum.

Fortunately there's a lot of different ways to play the instrument. As far as I'm concerned I'm not even remotely in complete command of the bass - I just enjoy the sound it makes and try my best, but it's fun.
You're quite a 'melodic' guy who seems to flip well between the lead and rhythm role, and your new bass matches perfectly.
Fusion is way more 'open' in this context. It doesn't depend so much on the pumping (sometimes punchy, roaring) sound that completes a blues or soul session - or the bouncy parts in country music.

cheers, Tom

[Nestor]

I forgot to tell you that I have used the old good Moonizer for the melody and solo of the Samba. Cheers.

[kensuguro]

wow, very nice lines. Where d'you get the percussion? Glad you're killin' it with the new bass!

[Nestor]

wow, very nice lines. Where d'you get the percussion? Glad you're killin' it with the new bass!

Hi Ken!
If you refer to the samples, I have been using EZDrummer for a few years already. If you refer to the loops, I had to build them myself as there aren’t any Brazilian samba rhythms available among their loops, except the bongo one.
Cheers

[ChrisWerner]

A hidden conversation between a musici and his instrument :

"Do you love me ?", she asked.
"Yes for sure, to the last day of our world" he answered.

"Show me your love !" she dictated.

"but I do already, or?"

"our love is fresh" she said " please bring me to sing, I really want you to"

" give me space in a track, why I should fight against all other instruments, I am your queen, your voice in music, give me my maximum authority !"

" I don't know what you mean, sorry."

"When it is dark and you are comfortable, grab me and stroke one of my strings, let it sustain out, just follow my language, follow my vibes and hopefully you will understand that I am a good partner for your life"

It's time to let her sing Nestor, Don't force her into a samba blabla where all instruments stands in the same row. She is yours, be hers !

[astroman]

Chris... he bought a bass, not a guitar

... If you refer to the loops, I had to build them myself as there aren’t any Brazilian samba rhythms available among their loops, except the bongo one.

as you mention it... I bought Beat Vibe just yesterday for a few bucks.
Been completely blown away by it.
Great samples of percussion, you can export in counts of repetitions or minutes, but the best thing is you can drag your hits in subdivision while the thing is looping to make it fit a perfect groove. Quick and effortless.
Lot's of latin stuff on board, trad Flamenco I never found covered anywhere else.

cheers, Tom
ps: the Samba is cool, I didn't notice it's the same instrument, but thinking what a friggin guitar is this... but then it ended as bass...
and one part I found really ugly... 'must be the sour from the title...'

[Nestor]

Yes everything is the same bass Astro... that's why I did this song, to try out extreme EQ settings, the ugly part it is the last one for you I guess...