It's The Little Things

So be honest, hands up how many of you have never been to our store? Or for those who have, have you been in recently? We keep changing things up around here so you can never stay away too long ;)

You can take a virtual tour of our shop here, but the best option is always to jump in the car and come down and see for yourself. It's easy to find us - smack bang in between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, close to the Logan Motorway and the Mount Lindsay Highway - and there's plenty of parking too. While you're here, you can also get your car serviced by B Select and grab a coffee and toastee at Zarraffas, while the kids explore Mr Toys Toyworld. Fun for the whole family!

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It's the last week of Bass Month! So is there anything we haven't covered? What are the five most important things that every Bass Player needs to know?

Let's start with 5: Get to know the whole song that you are playing. You need to know the rhythm and harmony and how every instrument interacts together, not just the bass line and leave it at that.
4. Practice, practice practice - but make sure you're practising the right thing. Practice makes permanent, not perfect - and if you're working your butt off doing the wrong thing, you're not going to get anywhere.
3. The most important part of you to ensure a good sound is your ear - music is played to be heard. If it's written one way but sounds better another, trust your ear.
2. Get in the groove - literally. The rhythm is the best friend of the bass player, you should feel it through your whole body, in order to make it shine out of you.
1. Of course - love. Love what you do. You are the bass player because that's the coolest, best position to be in, and you love your bass and your sound and you couldn't live without it. If you're on bass because there were already two guitarists, or you just wanted to be a musician and figured four strings were easier than six, then you don't deserve to be there.

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This week we thought it might be a good idea to have a look at all the little things we carry - all the accessories we stock for every instrument, like strings, straps, stands, parts, cleaning products etc etc.

We don't just do instruments - although we are pretty damn good at those ;) We also stock all the things that those instruments need, like strings, cables, bags & cases, books to teach you how to play, and pretty much everything else. And if you're new to the music game and are not sure what you need, that's where our friendly team come in - we can always point you in the right direction and help you find exactly what you need. Have a browse of our website, have a look through our shop, and hit us up if you need anything!

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And for our Friday Funny, it's the last week of the year we can make fun of Bass Players, so let's go hard:

Just kidding!! We love you all and will see you next week!

A Look Back at the Bottom Line

So you may have noticed that August was Bass Month. Pick up any clues? Well, apart from showing off our wonderful Basses, we thought we'd better show off our wonderful Bass Room.

Actually it's called the Amp Room, and it's a semi-soundproof area for you to come in and try out any of our Guitars and Basses that you choose, on any of our Amplifiers, in an environment where you can let loose without worrying about everyone listening in on your skills. Just come and let the staff know you'd like to have a play, they will hook you up and close that glass door there, and hey presto - you're on the stage rocking out to your screaming fans. You can get a feel for our instruments before you decide which one fits your needs best. That's what we're here for :)

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So let's have a look back at the history of the Bass Guitar. Everyone knows it was Leo Fender in 1951 that changed the world with his Precision Bass, right? Actually, technically, wrong.

The very first electronic guitars and basses were actually created by a man named Paul Tutmarc. Way back in 1933, Paul, a band leader, realised that his Double Bass player always had to travel to gigs alone, as after squishing his massive instrument in his car, there was no room for anyone else. So being that he was handy with creating new instruments, he came up with his first model, about the size and shape of a Cello. He was unsatisfied with this, so after some refining, his first official Electric Bass was 42 inches long.

However, the music business in the 1930s was the same as the music business in 2018 - it's not how good you are, it's how well you market yourself. Paul just couldn't get his inventions off the ground, and twenty years later there was still apparently a gap in this market, into which, with his capital, network and name, Leo Fender stepped.

This is not to take anything away from Fender's accomplishments, as the Precision Bass really was a game-changer, and is still one of the most popular Electric Bass Guitars in use today. There's something to be said for longevity, and the Fender P Bass and J Bass have been making great music for a very long time, and will for a long time to come.

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So let's have a look at the Fender Basses we have in stock today, why not?

Red always stands out, so let's start with this Fender Standard P-Bass in Candy Apple Red. It combines traditional design with contemporary features, giving you a classic Fender experience at a great price. Or what about this Player Jazz Bass, a truly inspiring instrument with a comfortable body and authentic Fender tone. If you're after an easier price point, try this Squier Vintage Modified PJ Bass in Lake Placid Blue, giving your the best of both worlds - the Precision and Jazz bodies in one. Fender has been making Basses from day dot, so there's lots to choose from!

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And the bit you've all been waiting for, our Friday Funny:

More pizza?? These Friday Funnies are not helping my waistline.. See you next week!

Need a Bass?

Do you take the easy way out in life? (Video version)

Do you take the easy way out in life?

Everyone's been bringing in their tax returns, and some pretty huge items have been flying out the door. But don't worry, we have restocked ;)

A new batch of Fender and Ibanez Guitars have arrived, and lots of Yamaha Acoustics. Lots of nice beginner-level drum kits too in case your house is a bit too quiet ;) There's always something new happening at The Music Spot, so it's a good idea to keep coming down and checking us out!

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So you chose Bass because four strings are easier to learn than six? Let's look at a few other crazy misconceptions about Bass Players.

Let's start with that one though: that the bass is the easiest instrument to learn. I mean, you only need to hit one note at a time right? Not like guitarists that have to learn the whole chord. But a good bass player is the glue that holds the whole band together, the bridge between the guitar and drums, so one that doesn't have the skills to hold up this bridge can bring down the whole band. If you think the bassist doesn't need to be skilled, check out some isolated bass tracks on YouTube, like John Entwistle for example.

Here's another one: the bassist is not cool, he's just the guys that sits up the back, no one ever pays any attention to him. Heard that one before? I'm sure the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Flea, Geddy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Gene Simmons and the aforementioned John Entwistle might have something to say about that. I bet some of you have heard of them without even knowing which band they were from. Next?

How about Bass Guitars are so hard to find, shops only ever carry Guitars, there's no range to choose from? Well - have you checked out our range? We deal with all the best brands and if we don't have it in stock, there's a good chance we can order it for you. And the same goes for amps, strings, picks, print music, and everything else a bass player could ever need.

Convinced yet?

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Let's have a look at some of our favourite Basses: Yamaha.

The one that stands out above is the Raspberry Red beauty, the BB234. It's a great affordable price for a solid Alder body, Maple neck model. Another classic beauty is the BB234 in Vintage White, with a ceramic magnet pickup for a clean, well defined sound. If you're after something from the popular TRBX range but don't want to break the bank, check out the 174 Exotic Wood in Translucent Black - looks as good as it sounds, at a price point that anyone can get in on.

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And our Famous Friday Funny:

And now if I can find the door, I'll show myself out.. See you next week!

How do you slap?

Bass Brain and other stories

What's on this week? Why EKKA of course!

We are all super excited to be heading in on Monday, as that's Logan's official Ekka Day, so we won't be in the shop. Go have some fun, eat too much fairy floss and go on too many rides, and we will catch up with you on Tuesday!

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Ever heard of Bass Brain? It's a terrible, terrible condition that happens to Bass Players after a time.. just kidding! But there is a phenomenon that actually physically changes your brain, and it's called, simply, playing music.

Studies from the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California show that learning an instrument for as little as two years can physically alter the structure of our brains. It improves our ability to process information and make decisions, as well as focus our attention. The study has been going on since 2012 and has found some fascinating results. Check it out here - after you've finished today's music practise, of course!

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So one of our favourite brands of Bass Guitar is Ibanez, and they make some sweet models.

Take the TMB600 Talman Bass for example. Classic lines and feel, powerful versatility. Or if you want a more adventurous style, try the SRH500F Bass, with it's semi-hollow body, spruce top and mahogany back. Brilliant design for comfort and playability and amazing tone. If standing out for style isn't your thing, slink back into the shadows with this sleek SR320 Bass in glossy black. Perfect price for a bass that really will do anything. Ibanez even has your travelling needs covered, and we have an awesome acoustic bass for when you want to have a jam without the amp: the PCBE12MH. Great tone and a great price, play it anywhere!

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Don't worry, we haven't forgotten our Friday Funny:

Mmmm pizza.. I ah, gotta go. See you next week!

Wanna Play Bass?

Unboxing Tama Kit

All About That Bass

It's a new month - again! Does anyone else feel like this year is just whizzing by, or is that just me? We are all getting older at what feels like an exponential rate. Time to seize the day, as they say! If there's something you've ever wanted to do, now is the time to go for it. Because one minute you're a baby in a Big Dumper, and the next you're working at a Music shop and married with children of your own ;)

If you can guess which staff member is celebrating his birthday TODAY, then you've won the right to come in and poke fun at him for this adorable picture, which he hasn't actually seen until he opens his emails this morning 

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One good way to keep the years away from us is to keep fit. And there's no better way to do that than to play a musical instrument. I mean, just look at these fit specimens:

Apart from all the running around and stage antics, the actual act of being a musician, whether you're at gigging stage or sitting in your bedroom picking out notes, has been shown to be better for your health and fitness. No matter which instrument you choose, there is always some level of physical dexterity involved. Take that Bass player above, first of all he needs to pick up that heavy instrument every day, and then use all manner of finger, hand and arm muscles to do his daily practice. And then of course as he gets better at it and local bands start knocking down his door to get him to join, the weekly jam sessions, followed of course by the gigs and crazy stage antics, will have him in tip top shape in no time. That's why the Bass player is always the sexiest member of the band ;)

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So August is Bass Month! And we are ALL about that Bass here. We have all the great brands (Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha etc) - but did you know we also cater to specific ends of the market as well? Take these two beauties, who serve very different demographics.

Cort make amazing Basses, we all know that. This A4 Artisan Bass is a beautiful instrument, with a thru-neck construction and open-pore natural finish. The MK1 pickups and EQ deliver an organic piano-type tone, making this Bass sound as professional and high quality as it looks.

But we know that there are curious beginners out there as well, and they don't want to lash out and spend so much on an instrument that they might not stick with. So don't worry, we have your needs covered as well - try this Essex VEP34B beginner Bass. It's a 3/4 size so it's easier for younger / smaller players, and delivers a pleasing tone without breaking the bank. It comes with a gig bag, and looks great in black but also comes in Fiesta Red. Or if you're a beginner looking for the complete package, this Ashton SPA4 Starter Pack also comes with an amp and cable, so you can literally open the box and start playing.

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And of course our Friday Funny:

Nothing lost in translation here! See you next week!

Why Play Bass?