Heathy

Agreed. I bought two american standard jazz basses in 2004, one 3tsb one black. The black one has done two gigs.

I'm going to be controversial. You have enough gear. Put the money towards the wedding. And who gives a monkeys about how much the shoes cost. As long as she feels like $1m on the day. Doesn't sound like that car will last for ever, either...

I'm in the mood for ska - Lord Tanamo

[quote name='tauzero' post='940960' date='Aug 31 2010, 01:59 PM']You have 18 fingers? Were you born in Norfolk?[/quote] Good question. But on this occasion the audience were invited to pick a number between 1 and 50 prior to the start of the song. If I did have 18 fingers I would probably still play like a Tw@t. Essex and proud by the way.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='940942' date='Aug 31 2010, 01:43 PM']One Chuck Berry-esque band I was in, we ended virtually [i]every [/i]song with: [b]Dee[/b]-dee-dee-dee-[b]Dee[/b]-dee-dee-dee-[b]Dee[/b]-dah-duh-[b]Domp[/b]_____________________(Drop a whole tone) Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah__ Tick-Tick__Bap. It got a little wearing after a while.[/quote] After the Bap did the drummer sometimes go Diddledum? That would really p**s me off.

Sounds like he's a bit of a drama queen. Are you sure that he's not our singer in disguise?

+ 1 for stingrays. Love the sound but they just feel really uncomfortable.

I tend to go for big endings, and normally hold up a random number of fingers to indicate the number of thuds to do at the end (18 is the highest so far). Admittedly there's only so many times you can do this in a night, and it is totally ridiculous - but that's pubrock for you! Also, I find that a lot of pubrock audiences tend not to like 'surprise' endings.

I have had them on all my basses (except for the Kubicki). Wouldn't feel right without one now. Thought I was getting a bargain ordering one from the USA once, until customs slapped another £25 on top!

For me MA's playing is spot on. Also, his backing vocals are second to none in that genre. Apparently VH was once looking to sack MA and replace him with Billy Sheehan. I expect that the nearest we will know to what that would have been like is 'Eat em and Smile'. The best VH album they never made IMO.

I have recently rediscovered Maiden after a 20 year break. Good to see that they are getting a lot of love at the moment. Steve Harris was my inspiration for picking up a bass, but strangely I don't know any Maiden basslines either. This video will change all of that. Thanks for posting.

Club tropicana and wake me up before you go go by Wham have good bass lines. Also, for me you can't beat the bass sound on Superman by Black Lace. I'll get me coat - again!

I have committed numerous sins, but one that springs to mind is that years ago I was taught 'All my Lovin' by the band's guitarist in F. I only learned the pattern, not the changes. After several months of playing it this way, the guitarist decided to revert to the correct key of E without telling me. We started the song in different keys. I didn't have the nouse to transpose it and he didn't have the humility to change back up. We carried on like that until the end of the first chorus (!) and then collapsed in hysterics. We were almost sacked by the venue. Later that year a dep bass player fell into (and destroyed) that same venue's Christmas tree. There was no going back after that.

I was really looking forward to the Chickenfoot album, but was quite disappointed (apart from soap on a rope). However, I became totally addicted to the Them Crooked Vultures album and could listen to little else for about four months. They were amazing live too - particularly Dave Grohl. I really hope they do a follow up - soon.

I would suggest picking out tracks rather than going for a whole album, based on what you think she will relate to the most. Would it be humour, musicianship, a nice tune etc? The first Zappa track I heard was 'The Dangerous Kitchen', and then various tracks on YCDTOSA Vol 3. I was totally blown away by Thunes. This was in 1989 - the year after the last tour - BAH!

Got my tickets for the 6th - Can't wait!

I see that Scott Thunes is involved with the Zappa 70th Birthday thing at the Roundhouse. Does anyone know whether he's in ZPZ now? I hope so. Also, didn't know there was a dvd of the '88 tour. What is it called?

Haven't read all 9 pages, but I'll mention Peter Hook in case no-one else has.

Kim Wilde? That's nothing. Russ Abbot once nearly ran me over.

I have always considered myself to be a pretend pop star.

After reading some of the other posts here I have been inspired (after 25 years of playing) to betray my pub rock roots and learn some theory. I am becoming increasing frustrated with my limitations, and although I don't aspire to be a soloing monster, I would like to be able to play my bass as a musical instrument in its own right, rather than solely in a supporting role. Where do you think is the best place to start? I am also interested in taking some graded exams. Is it always best to start at grade 1? And which route would you recommend, RGT or Rock school? Cheers

I always practice unplugged. I think that it has made me more aware of fret noise, and has probably made my plucking harder than it otherwise would be. I wouldn't recommend it for tapping techniques though.

If this bass could only talk! No prizes for guessing where you rest your thumb. Nice stair carpet too. Thanks for sharing.

"Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this forum with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us."

I have got bits and pieces stashed away, but I wished I had kept a diary - so many stories. The most bizarre thing is that every once in a while I bump into people who will remind me of something from way back - sometimes complete strangers!