VLVL(7) Bass notes

[nconaty at juno.com]

Doug is right on re: getting between 0 and 1 with the fretless bass. Like
Tyrone and his harmonica getting between the official notes. I don't see
the correlation with Webern though. Webern (according to Gustav) was into
democratizing the individual notes - making them all of equal stature. No
more tonic with its cronies dominant and subdominant running the show;
Webern gave every note equal weight. Pastorius (bassist with Weather
Report in the 70's - a true genius on the bass and great arranger who
forever changed electric bass playing) ripped the frets out destroying
the boundaries between the notes. He made them all one. Returned them to
the Continuum. ('all notes of the Universe')*

btw there would be no need to draw lines where the frets had been - the
boat epoxy would be enough to mark the lines - if you don't believe me,
find a picture of Jaco holding his bass.

The biggest difference between the Precision and Jazz basses for me is in
the necks. The Precision has a wide fingerboard with the strings spaced
further apart. This is the style adopted by most bass manufacturers. The
Jazz has closely spaced strings on a narrow neck making the transition
from guitar easier. Both are wonderful basses. Van Meter's P-bass is
ancient so one would assume it is Pre-CBS. CBS bought Fender Musical
Instruments (maker of P and J basses - capitalized cuz they're brand
names) in 1965(?); the instruments made before then are exceptionally
high quality.

-Neil

* though Jaco made all vibrations within its range available on the bass,
he stuck with the modal structure we have come to know and love. He
plundered the colonies between the official outposts for color and
shading.










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