This is a god-awful-bundled-with-beginner-bass practice amp.
But I will be getting a decent amp before the summer is out.

On a related note: what would you guys recommend me practicing for my first few days?
Currently I'm working on major scales and some easy songs.

EDIT: it was pretty cheap (around $800 CAD shipped from North Carolina to Alberta)

Yeah, major scale is the best starting point for theory.

Play along to some easy stuff.

Make sure you pay attention to clean technique, make sure you practise things that will work all of your fretting hand fingers.

Are you going to be looking for a teacher?

exactly what you are.

are you a beginner?

I've played a bit of guitar, but I would definitely consider myself a beginner.
I've been playing drums for 4 years, so I have a pretty good handle on rhythm and keeping time, but my fingers aren't exactly the most coordinated.

EDIT: as for a teacher, I'm getting a few pointers from a couple friends, but I haven't found a proper teacher yet.

Oh good, I find when I'm teaching beginners the main hurdle at first is time keeping and developing a strong internalised sense of rhythm.

Sounds like the main areas to address for you would be technique and theory. Work on developing a strong technique with your index and middle fingers on your playing hand and then all your fingers on the fretting hand. Running your scales is a great way to do it and it will build your theory knowledge if you think about it at the same time.

haha awesome man, i've played bass probably for about 8 years now, i love playing drums though.

The best advice i can give you is to practice things that really challenge you. back in the day when this forum was helpful as far as bass guitar goes, it was really the driving force behind what i decided to learn and who's styles i chose to emulate.

its really up to you, with what style of music you want to play and perfect, but learn and listen to some of everything, really focus on listening to what the bassist is doing in your favorite music. the rest is practice and time :)

for me it was
1. Les Claypool
2. John Paul Jones
3. Eric Wilson

I remember being pointed towards a really sweet flash theory site a while back, does anyone know which one I'm talking about or have any other good sites to recommend for teaching theory?


Unrelated: favorite bassists include Marcus Miller, Tom Jenkinson aka Squarepusher, and lets say Justin Chancellor

sickness, do you have any drum recordings?

Not from the last two years, and as you can imagine I've progressed a fair bit since then.
I would have more but drums are ****ing awful to record, which is one of many reasons I'm picking up bass.

ahh. My band's drummer has only been playing for about a year, its cool to watch him get better as time goes on. We went from my forcing him into learning and paying him in alcohol, getting plastered for 4 months straight while he learned, to jamming with a full band, and we just starting to play shows now. its pretty tight.

Nice.
One of the main reasons I'm picking up bass is because its usually just me and a guitarist friend writing songs and I'm sick of not having the ability to properly voice my song ideas.

It's funny how that works hey.

I started on bass but ended up having to teach myself guitar because the guitarist in my first band didn't believe he could write parts. Now I really enjoy playing guitar and probably do so more around the house than I play my bass though bass is what I teach and play in any projects/gigs I get involved with.

:lol: this is great i find myself more expressive on the drums then any instrument

I find drums a lot of fun.

I especially like hopping on my mates Roland V Drums, they're freaking sick but I'll never have my own set because they cost about $11,000 around here.

[quote=Jaded;17333132]why is that awesome[/quote]

Because it's a very full, beefy sound and it's an uncommon technique to see, especially in metal. I approve of the uncommon.


[quote=Crapdragoon;17333722]wtf is that :lol:[/quote]

It's my horrid attempt at creatively writing my band's name/logo. :upset:

[quote=Electric Requiem;17333750]I remember being pointed towards a really sweet flash theory site a while back, does anyone know which one I'm talking about or have any other good sites to recommend for teaching theory?


Unrelated: favorite bassists include Marcus Miller, Tom Jenkinson aka Squarepusher, and lets say Justin Chancellor[/quote]

Try cyberfretbass.com, check out the lessons on MXtabs.net, and I believe activebass.com is still up. Each of those are surprisingly helpful in terms of theory (I even posted some stuff on there!).

Welcome to the bassing community, good sir. :thumb:

[quote=Sablate McNuff;17332834]Sorry nobody is buying your bass, Chris.

If it had a more aggressive sound, I would likely pick it up.[/quote]

I know :( I've dropped the price once or twice on the other place I have it listed too :/ There's not enough money around at the moment.

Make sure any scales you learn are practised properly (using them against different chord sounds, over chord progressions, etc). Learning them as static patterns is nothing more than a finger work-out.

[quote=fatbandit;17334086]I know :( I've dropped the price once or twice on the other place I have it listed too :/ There's not enough money around at the moment.[/quote]

Might as well keep it, upgrade the pups/pre, and rock it on stage.

Oh, and learn the scales with the correct fingerings! I spent ages correcting the way I played them so I was using all my fingers. The number of bass players/guitarists I see who never use their little finger to fret is scary.

I would keep it, but my Shuker is just so much more playable to me that it would be stupid to use it instead of the Shuker. Also, I now have a Shuker endorsement, so I figure if I'm going to have a backup bass, I should sell the Conklin and get another Shuker.

Moreso than learning one correct fingering, learn to play your scales in different patterns starting from different fingers. Try them playing them from the lowest available note in the key up to the highest on your bass rather than root-to-root.

Definitely make sure you work all your fingers. Nothing sadder than a bassist with a weak fretting finger.

Samson SX2400 + Sansamp RBI = My New Rig...

....as soon as I sell some sh*t.

[quote=fatbandit;17334092]I would keep it, but my Shuker is just so much more playable to me that it would be stupid to use it instead of the Shuker. Also, I now have a Shuker endorsement, so I figure if I'm going to have a backup bass, I should sell the Conklin and get another Shuker.[/quote]

Damn. I'd love a Shuker endorsement.

Do you get discounts?

What's the Samson? Haven't heard of those.

Haven't heard of Shuker either, how'd you come by the endorsement?

I bought one of his basses, liked it, asked him.

Its not so much that its beneficial to me in money terms - anyone returning to him for a second bass gets a bit of a discount. Its just kind of cool and helps us both out a bit profile-wise :)

Oh my god. Just **** Michael Jackson! I am so sick of hearing about him. Most overrated "musician" ever... oh wait that's meatloaf, but still...

[quote=fatbandit;17334195]I bought one of his basses, liked it, asked him.

Its not so much that its beneficial to me in money terms - anyone returning to him for a second bass gets a bit of a discount. Its just kind of cool and helps us both out a bit profile-wise :)[/quote]

If you don't mind me asking, what did your Shuker run you? In the event that I decide to get another custom, it's one company I've been considering if the price is right.

I have 1000 point left on my Wii. What should I get?

[quote=gaslight;17334147]What's the Samson? Haven't heard of those.[/quote]

It looks like a relatively new brand on the market, but every review I've read so far seems to praise them pretty highly. For $400, it'll give me the power I need for my stack.

Anyone think that $400 shipped is a reasonable price for a Carvin BX1200? I can't really check used prices on them.

[quote=Mr. Pickle;17334351]I have 1000 point left on my Wii. What should I get?[/quote]

p0rn.

dude I can already look at pron on my Wii, but it's standard definition which looks shitty on a 55" TV. games plz

[quote=Mr. Pickle;17334373]dude I can already look at pron on my Wii, but it's standard definition which looks poopty on a 55" TV. games plz[/quote]

I use my Wii 3 times a week for the Wii Fit and I play Wii Bowling ance a month. Wrong guy to ask about game suggestions. S0rree.

I'm talking about downloading virtual console games, or whatever. Probably from the N64. I've already downloaded Wave Race 64, Pokemon Snap, and Super Mario 64.

I'm thinking Yoshi's Story. I loved it when I had my N64.

Paper Mario is a good choice, too.

Get Mariokart 64 - FOOL!

[quote=FunkMetalBass;17334322]If you don't mind me asking, what did your Shuker run you? In the event that I decide to get another custom, it's one company I've been considering if the price is right.[/quote]

Jon lives in the same city as me - it was as much a geographical choice to support local builders as it was a quality choice. There are so many good luthiers around, and I would say it might make more sense for you to buy from America for something like that.

That said, Jon is outstanding as a luthier and is a great guy to deal with. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him and his work. There is a rough price list on his website at www.shukerbass.co.uk for each model he makes, but he will do just about anything really within reason :)

[quote=BenJammin;17334476]Paper Mario is a good choice, too.[/quote]

I ended up getting Yoshi's Story, but I'll get that next.

[quote=karmapavementplan;17334539]Get Mariokart 64 - FOOL![/quote]

I have the Wii one, and will probably get Double Dash again, at some point. The only thing I really liked about the N64 one, when I had it, that can't be found in the two I (will) have is the original Rainbow Road.

the wii mariokart sucked dick

Yeah, it's not that great.

You can tell the had the wheel in mind when they made most of those maps (basically big wide turns and lots of boring), and I hate the wheel. It's so sloppy.

$728.99 later, I've ordered a Sansamp RBI and the SX2800 (a little more powerful to match my cabs' handling, and it's a B-stock so it's $50 less than the SX2400 I wanted originally).

Now I just need the crossover and I'll be set.

I currently have 5 of 6 spaces being utilized in my rack...should I upgrade to an 8-space for the sake of air flow around the amp?

[QUOTE=FunkMetalBass;17335636]

I currently have 5 of 6 spaces being utilized in my rack...should I upgrade to an 8-space for the sake of air flow around the amp?[/QUOTE]

yes