Just when I had convinced myself that I shouldn't buy an acoustic bass...
So I'm headed to Oshkosh this weekend for a gig. There's a guy in Appleton selling a Breedlove ABJ250 SM4 bass for $400. It is a nice instrument. Discontinued. We'll call it an intermediate level instrument, that gets good reviews for volume (not as good as say a Thunderchief, but better than the Dean EAB). They sell for between $400 and $800. Elderly instruments (a totally respectable dealer...they don't carry crap) sells them when they find them...for about $525.
It is probably the best acoustic bass at the best price that I will be able to find. It is also totally unneccessary as a purchase. I have no idea what is going to happen on Saturday.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Fundamentals Week 8
This week is 12/8 (and other compound time signatures) and flams. The assignment is shorter than in recent weeks and more improvisational, though the etude is a little tricky. This week shouldn't be quite as stressful as other recent weeks.
Only four weeks left after this week.
Week 9, Afro-Cuban 6/8: Afro Blue
Week 10, Jazz Shuffle: Things Ain’t What they used to be
Week 11, Swinging: April in Paris
Week 12, Cha Cha: Naima
None of these are styles that I am familiar with and I suspect I will be frustrated from here on out.
I was thinking this weekend that it may not be in the cards for me to be a certain kind of drummer...and that maybe I ought to focus on improving what I CAN do and what I could potentially be good at. Something I think that might be a really good idea is just nailing down my sense of time. I've realized that I used to think that I keep good time...but I don't. I don't have a strong internal pulse. Working with a metronome more would probably be a really good thing...in particular...starting an exercise or song by playing with the click...then turning the click off maybe with a foot...and trying to keep the pulse...then turn the click back on and see if I stayed with it. It's such a simple thing...but really a great skill to have.
I've also been playing along with some Pixies tunes and would like to nail down being able to play those songs. They aren't hard but there are challenging things in them that I'd like to master. Trompe le Monde is a song that really challenges me and I think truly learning to play it would be an attainable and useful exercise.
Anyway...I'd just like to get back to enjoying playing rather than having it make me feel bad. After this class is over I was to think about where to go next and maybe trying to get back to playing for fun and just getting better at what I already can do. It would be nice, for instance, to gain confidence playing The Drain songs.
Only four weeks left after this week.
Week 9, Afro-Cuban 6/8: Afro Blue
Week 10, Jazz Shuffle: Things Ain’t What they used to be
Week 11, Swinging: April in Paris
Week 12, Cha Cha: Naima
None of these are styles that I am familiar with and I suspect I will be frustrated from here on out.
I was thinking this weekend that it may not be in the cards for me to be a certain kind of drummer...and that maybe I ought to focus on improving what I CAN do and what I could potentially be good at. Something I think that might be a really good idea is just nailing down my sense of time. I've realized that I used to think that I keep good time...but I don't. I don't have a strong internal pulse. Working with a metronome more would probably be a really good thing...in particular...starting an exercise or song by playing with the click...then turning the click off maybe with a foot...and trying to keep the pulse...then turn the click back on and see if I stayed with it. It's such a simple thing...but really a great skill to have.
I've also been playing along with some Pixies tunes and would like to nail down being able to play those songs. They aren't hard but there are challenging things in them that I'd like to master. Trompe le Monde is a song that really challenges me and I think truly learning to play it would be an attainable and useful exercise.
Anyway...I'd just like to get back to enjoying playing rather than having it make me feel bad. After this class is over I was to think about where to go next and maybe trying to get back to playing for fun and just getting better at what I already can do. It would be nice, for instance, to gain confidence playing The Drain songs.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Uke Bass
Now available in Madison...going to check it out!
It's REALLY quiet though.
UPDATE:
Went and tried this out. It sucks. At least unplugged. Really weird. I think that they probably sound good plugged in...but cost over $400...and what is the point really if you have to haul along an amp anyway.
It's REALLY quiet though.
UPDATE:
Went and tried this out. It sucks. At least unplugged. Really weird. I think that they probably sound good plugged in...but cost over $400...and what is the point really if you have to haul along an amp anyway.
Resonator Basses and other research
So here's an idea...a resonator bass. A dobro. Great video
There seems to be two main brands...Gold Tone Paul Beard Bass and Regal Dobro Bass. The Regal is cheaper (around $500 to the PBB's $700 or so)
These things are made to cut through in bluegrass jams...so seems like they could handle two acoustic guitar players.
I also spent some time today looking into the feasibility of tuning my cello like a bass...but sounds like a pain. Also...not sure the volume would be that great there either if played pizzacato.
There's a Breedlove acoustic bass ABJ250/SM4 for sale on Craig's list in Appleton for $400. I was leaning towards getting it...but now I think this Dobro idea might be a better one.
Other research today...looked up "loudest acoustic basses." Came back with
Guild B2
Tacoma Thunderchief
Earthwood (used in Violent Femmes)
and some Taylor and Martin varieties.
All of these are expensive (like much more than $1,000) and all are rare. No can do.
Also suggested was guitarron...which is used in mariachi music. But they are six strings and tuned ADGCEA. Also run $450 on cheapest end. It would be like learning a new instrument and they seem to be quite hard to play (high action, no frets).
The Dobro bass option is in a reasonable cost range at around $500 and seems to be designed especially for being heard in group playing situations. So I'm gonna keep an eye out. Also kind of rare...but you can get them.
There seems to be two main brands...Gold Tone Paul Beard Bass and Regal Dobro Bass. The Regal is cheaper (around $500 to the PBB's $700 or so)
These things are made to cut through in bluegrass jams...so seems like they could handle two acoustic guitar players.
I also spent some time today looking into the feasibility of tuning my cello like a bass...but sounds like a pain. Also...not sure the volume would be that great there either if played pizzacato.
There's a Breedlove acoustic bass ABJ250/SM4 for sale on Craig's list in Appleton for $400. I was leaning towards getting it...but now I think this Dobro idea might be a better one.
Other research today...looked up "loudest acoustic basses." Came back with
Guild B2
Tacoma Thunderchief
Earthwood (used in Violent Femmes)
and some Taylor and Martin varieties.
All of these are expensive (like much more than $1,000) and all are rare. No can do.
Also suggested was guitarron...which is used in mariachi music. But they are six strings and tuned ADGCEA. Also run $450 on cheapest end. It would be like learning a new instrument and they seem to be quite hard to play (high action, no frets).
The Dobro bass option is in a reasonable cost range at around $500 and seems to be designed especially for being heard in group playing situations. So I'm gonna keep an eye out. Also kind of rare...but you can get them.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Fundamentals Week 7
We're on the home stretch now. This week is half time shuffle (and also paradiddles) and the assignment is Rosanna by Toto:
I can play the song. I can't play the song AS WRITTEN...but if you asked me to play it on stage at High Noon ten minutes from now I could do it kinda. I'm having a little trouble both with playing the hi hat as fast as I'm supposed to, keeping it up for 9+ pages, and getting it along with the bass drum. Bass drum + snare I can play pretty much correctly.
There's an etude which I'm totally going to not play right and I kind of don't care.
For sure my attitude has shifted on the course...probably for the worse in terms of playing well...but probably for the better in mental health terms. I'm still doing the work...but trying not to take it so hard that I'm not at a certain level. I'm where I am...and that's the only place I can be.
I can play the song. I can't play the song AS WRITTEN...but if you asked me to play it on stage at High Noon ten minutes from now I could do it kinda. I'm having a little trouble both with playing the hi hat as fast as I'm supposed to, keeping it up for 9+ pages, and getting it along with the bass drum. Bass drum + snare I can play pretty much correctly.
There's an etude which I'm totally going to not play right and I kind of don't care.
For sure my attitude has shifted on the course...probably for the worse in terms of playing well...but probably for the better in mental health terms. I'm still doing the work...but trying not to take it so hard that I'm not at a certain level. I'm where I am...and that's the only place I can be.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Acoustic Drums
SSW tried playing acoustic last night for the first time. It went surprisingly well. No vocal mics...the only amplification was a very quiet bass amp uses with a fretless bass for KS.
I stripped my kit down to snare, hi hat, splash, and bass drum. Added chimes, tamborine, cowbell (didn't use it), baby bongos, egg shaker, and maracas. The maracas didn't work so well so I'll probably ditch them and the cowbell may be unneccessary. I tried playing with brushes, hot rods, and 7A sticks. In general it seemed best to cross stick as much as possible...or play on the edges of the snare to get that hi quiet Carribean sound. The splash was really jarring...so I think it needs to be used less often than I normally crash. I really had to pull back on the sticks and it threw my balance off...which made my bass drum unsteady. I was planned to play a 16" bass at the show...but I think I'll use the 22". It helps keep things grounded and isn't overwhelmingly loud (though more prominent than usual). The boys made out like using brushes was no big deal and the way to go. But this really isn't brush music and I don't really know how to use brushes. They worked really well on one song only...Too Drunk to Fuck...which I converted to a train shuffle with brushes. I think I'll go with hot rods mostly used quietly and cross sticked as much as I can get away with. I might buy a thinner pair to get even quieter too. Note to self...egg shaker worked great on Stooges medley.
Overall...play less and more simply. Drop the complicated bass patterns. Drop most crash/splashes. Simple.
I stripped my kit down to snare, hi hat, splash, and bass drum. Added chimes, tamborine, cowbell (didn't use it), baby bongos, egg shaker, and maracas. The maracas didn't work so well so I'll probably ditch them and the cowbell may be unneccessary. I tried playing with brushes, hot rods, and 7A sticks. In general it seemed best to cross stick as much as possible...or play on the edges of the snare to get that hi quiet Carribean sound. The splash was really jarring...so I think it needs to be used less often than I normally crash. I really had to pull back on the sticks and it threw my balance off...which made my bass drum unsteady. I was planned to play a 16" bass at the show...but I think I'll use the 22". It helps keep things grounded and isn't overwhelmingly loud (though more prominent than usual). The boys made out like using brushes was no big deal and the way to go. But this really isn't brush music and I don't really know how to use brushes. They worked really well on one song only...Too Drunk to Fuck...which I converted to a train shuffle with brushes. I think I'll go with hot rods mostly used quietly and cross sticked as much as I can get away with. I might buy a thinner pair to get even quieter too. Note to self...egg shaker worked great on Stooges medley.
Overall...play less and more simply. Drop the complicated bass patterns. Drop most crash/splashes. Simple.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
More on Acoustic Basses
Since I was in the neighborhood and had 10 minutes, I stopped at Guitar Center yesterday to see what they had in acoustic basses. I was surprised that they had several.
Ibanez AEB5 cutaway ($199)
Dean EAB cutaway ($199)
Dean Exotica ($499)
Washburn AB 4 string (slots rather than a proper sound hole). Don't remember the cost...but it was probably $499 as I don't remember any priced higher than that. The Guitar Center website doesn't list the bass that I saw. Maybe an old model.
I feel like there was one more too but I can't think of what...perhaps it was a second Ibanez AEB10 cutaway at about $349-$499. Don't remember.
I was ill prepared and in a rush, so the testing was minimal. Played riff of I Bleed, Here Comes Your Man, and Is She Weird on each one. Forgot a pick and didn't have time to ask to borrow one. For sure these instruments require playing with a pick to get any serious volume(which means practicing with a pick too). I didn't try plugging any of them in.
My impression is that none of them were great projection wise. The cheap Dean has the biggest body of all of them (which would seem a plus) but this didn't seem to help the volume. I want to test a non-cutaway and see if that extra body space helps.
The Washburn was terrible...no volume at all. And I thought it was ugly.
The Ibanez's didn't blow me away and I didn't hate them.
The Dean Exotica is a really nice looking instrument. Unique and different than the standard black acoustic bass. I don't think the sound was $300 better than the basic Dean though. And the fingerboard was different...and I'm not sure in a good way.
The scales felt a little different between instruments and I should check that.
I also get the feeling that the kind and age of strings could make a significant contribution. I prefer a dull deep tone...but a bright tone will be louder and cut through better...so new strings (perhaps a certain kind or gauge made for brightness) may be in order.
In general they were all set up well...playable without much if any buzz. A good setup will be key too and maybe a reason to buy at a bricks and mortor store (I'm sure Guitar Center could order me any thing the company carries even if they don't normally have it in stock).
I'd like to go somewhere and play a nicer instrument and see if it makes any difference at all. I should call Spruce Tree and see if they have any.
Ibanez AEB5 cutaway ($199)
Dean EAB cutaway ($199)
Dean Exotica ($499)
Washburn AB 4 string (slots rather than a proper sound hole). Don't remember the cost...but it was probably $499 as I don't remember any priced higher than that. The Guitar Center website doesn't list the bass that I saw. Maybe an old model.
I feel like there was one more too but I can't think of what...perhaps it was a second Ibanez AEB10 cutaway at about $349-$499. Don't remember.
I was ill prepared and in a rush, so the testing was minimal. Played riff of I Bleed, Here Comes Your Man, and Is She Weird on each one. Forgot a pick and didn't have time to ask to borrow one. For sure these instruments require playing with a pick to get any serious volume(which means practicing with a pick too). I didn't try plugging any of them in.
My impression is that none of them were great projection wise. The cheap Dean has the biggest body of all of them (which would seem a plus) but this didn't seem to help the volume. I want to test a non-cutaway and see if that extra body space helps.
The Washburn was terrible...no volume at all. And I thought it was ugly.
The Ibanez's didn't blow me away and I didn't hate them.
The Dean Exotica is a really nice looking instrument. Unique and different than the standard black acoustic bass. I don't think the sound was $300 better than the basic Dean though. And the fingerboard was different...and I'm not sure in a good way.
The scales felt a little different between instruments and I should check that.
I also get the feeling that the kind and age of strings could make a significant contribution. I prefer a dull deep tone...but a bright tone will be louder and cut through better...so new strings (perhaps a certain kind or gauge made for brightness) may be in order.
In general they were all set up well...playable without much if any buzz. A good setup will be key too and maybe a reason to buy at a bricks and mortor store (I'm sure Guitar Center could order me any thing the company carries even if they don't normally have it in stock).
I'd like to go somewhere and play a nicer instrument and see if it makes any difference at all. I should call Spruce Tree and see if they have any.
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