Author Topic: Jimmy J in Bass Player (Read 974 times)

molan · « **on:** August 22, 2009, 03:25:27 AM »

Nice article about Jimmy in Bass Player this month

Good to see you getting the recognition Jimmy!

(Message edited by molan on August 22, 2009)

molan · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2009, 03:37:25 AM »

Previous post edited so I could get a better scan

sonicus · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2009, 03:47:14 AM »

Nice article

terryc · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2009, 06:26:17 AM »

I wish I was 0.001% as good as jimmyj!

georgie_boy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2009, 08:57:28 AM »

Man.......we all wish we were 0.001% as good as Jimmy J!!

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2009, 11:45:49 AM »

Great shot of the bass!!!

lidon2001 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2009, 12:13:11 PM »

Recently posted on the Alembic myspace.com page:

JimmyJ · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2009, 01:59:25 PM »

Thanks my kind pals,

I haven't read the article so I can't say how accurate it all is, but Stevie is a nice chap. Feels a bit odd to see a new story about something played 13 years ago but it's always good to get some Alembic press, right? Maybe good to turn some people on to Holdsworth too.

Interesting shot of my road bass that Tom posted. I don't know where that was taken but I have to giggle at the art directed knob settings. Cue boost at max? I don't think so! Ha!

Jimmy J

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2009, 03:14:21 PM »

Jimmy; I'm guessing Mica took that shot at Alembic, as the background looks like the same background she uses for the pics she takes of all the instruments, an example being the latest Featured Custom.

And while we have that picture in front of us, I see that pointer for the master volume that you mentioned in a recent post. Also noteworthy (being a bit of a highlight on a wonderful bass) is the really cool tailpiece.

terryc · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2009, 04:39:02 PM »

That is a lovely example of THE classic Alembic bass layout.
It is pornography for bassist's
I must try and get a copy in the UK and try the transcription(ha ha!)
Think I will go to youtube now and listen to it.
It is Saturday night/Sunday mornindg and I am a bit drunk as I have been with a few bass playing mates and had a great time talking about bass stuff...they are intrigued that I am on internet terms with Jimmy Johnson..John who is a James Taylor fan doesn;t believe me so I am going to have to get to my house and show him the Alembic club!!

molan · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:19:16 AM »

I can scan the whole article if anyone wants it?

I'm on the mailing list (in the UK) and seem to get my copies pretty early, this one arrived on Friday.

Bass Player is much more available over here these days than it used to me. WH Smith in my provincial little town even stocks it so Jimmy's name is being seen in print all around the world now

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2009, 07:58:07 AM »

It is dificult to pick a Holdsworth's best band since this guy played with some of the best cats around, but this is the formation that turned me on his work (while blewing my mind) and stills on top into my heart. Love this full melodic rhythm section with Jimmy Johnson and Chad Wakerman.

Hear MR JJ Tone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro26GZlg52A

If not by his impressive playing skills, it was tremendously pleasant to see how kind Jimmy J can be. You're the cat, man! Remeber: The best things stays for ever (and you've made a lot to be hailed).

molan · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2009, 03:43:19 PM »

Whole article & transcription now scanned in reasonable quality - file size about 3MB zipped.

Zap me a message if you'd like a copy.

Mario - thanks for that link, really enjoyed it

bsee · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2009, 05:16:26 PM »

What great tone on that track, Mario! Man, I want to dupe Jimmy's strings and settings now. I was reading the article thinking about how great and tasteful Jimmy's playing always is, but never really thinking the tone was all *that* special. It always fits into the tune, but it sure seems special today.

-bob

JimmyJ · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2009, 10:58:31 PM »

OK, you guys are all being super nice but I'm starting to blush so take it easy...

As I mentioned in another thread, sometimes the chords you get to play over really make it happen. Since Allan has a harmonizer playing parallel 5ths (or 4ths?), this particular set of changes is more open than some and just makes you want to play melodies. And although the solo on that clip doesn't quite get there for me (wish I had another take) it was a joy just to TRY to blow over that harmonic bed coming from the other side of the stage. You know what I mean?

Spot the bad edit at !:04 - the video editor seems to have misplaced a couple bars...

As for the tone, again this was an unusual graphite necked fretted Series I which has since been converted to a fretless. It may have been recorded in stereo, slightly panned pickups, AND I was running a chorus on the bridge pickup for the solo and a couple other sections of the tune. Anyway, glad you like it, I'm not sure I sound like that anymore. Maybe I need to revive my old Yamaha E1010 analog delay?

Dave, must have been a pic from Mica when the bass was up there for some work, that sounds right. You've spotted my normal output level mark on the master volume for those occasions where they are not expecting a line level from my DI box, and also my quick-change tailpiece. I'll try to post a closer shot of that, really handy for changing strings.

cheers to all,
Jimmy J