Dad3353

Cheers..! I realised that some of the panning was a bit squiffy, so I've uploaded a corrected file since. Nowt too radical; it's still good..!

Here is my contribution to the March 2020 Basschat Composition Challenge, inspired by a picture chosen by the previous winner: SH73..! I can't claim composition of the piece, of course ('The Swan', Saint-Saens, from Le Carnaval Des Animaux...); this is more an exercise in arranging (or rather, how not to..!). All too often, I'm as guilty as the next in thinking 'What if I added such'n'such..? All too often, there's an inrush of dopamine, and so on to the next one, rinse and repeat. The end result turns out to be a total mess (in my case, pretty much every time, although there are some folks that get away with it...). Just like the 'Peter Principle', however, I don't go back, I 'promote' the sludge up to the next level, and add a bit of t***-polishing 'mastering', to roll it in glitter. This, then, is a warning against over-production. Less is More. A fine Kontakt Viola, joined by equally fine Kontakt Emotional Pianos become progressively overwhelmed by successive 'doubling' from Kontakt Strawberry, then LPC, guitars, themselves 'augmented' with XXL helpings of Amplitude FX. A completely redundant Superior 2 drum track accentuates the farce; the whole has been concocted with Reaper, of course. Apologies to sensitive souls; thanks for listening, if you already have; if you're about to, enjoy.

That's jazz, man. ...

Here ... Basschat Composition Challenge, March 2020 ...

No, no; it's nothing, really..! Just a slip of the keyboard; apologies for the disturbance. No, really, the next month's subject wil... No, I think I've done enough damage already. Forget it; forget this post. Stand down; at ease. Nothing to see here; move along, please.

S'been done; Skol's on it, big time (I hope and trust...). Watch this space. (Say nowt to Lenny, though, he's going to slam us all with what SH has proposed ... )

And the winner is... SH73 ..! Here, then, is your Winner's Certificate (download and save as pdf file, then proudly print and frame...) ... BC_Chal_Cert_2020_02.pdf ... which looks like this (but bigger, of course..!)...

Have a look here ... Amazon.co.uk : Electronics for musicians ... Start off with some simple stuff, soldering components to 'breadboards', maybe 3D-printing cases and knobs..? Have a look at Raspberry Pi and Arduino for more complex circuits..? Don't try valve stuff until you're up to speed on working with higher voltages and big capacitors (so safety precautions to dig deep into...). Have a lot of fun; make a lot of noise, become popular with your musician buddies and unpopular with your neighbours. Hope this helps...

When I moved to France, way 'back then', I gave up my IT job in the UK, and was immediately snapped up by a touring band as a drummer. I did this, full time, for a couple of years, then continued with a tech job in a music shop, before marrying and buying a house.I moved back into IT, but continued depping, or functions etc. most week-ends. It was never the music that really paid the bills; just a bit of 'beurre dans les épinards' as they say. In total, I'd say that I've probably maybe broken even between what I've paid, over the decades, in instruments, amps, PA's, hefty transport an' all, and my income from playing. Not good enough to hit 'the big time', and certainly lacking in naked greed and opportunism. No regrets; it's been a Good Life.

Basses are not particularly sensitive to hot/cold/hot/cold, so hanging 'em on a wall is pretty safe for 'em (no, you fool; not an outside wall..! A living room wall, dolt..!). My Verithin has been hanging on the wall behind my head for over a decade, with no ill effects, and our cottage is certainly not air con 18°..! The wall hanger is bolted to the wall, though, with the penny washer and nut on the other side, which would make a decent hat peg, such is the bolt length, if only I had a hat.

He strums one chord for two hours, wearing a beanie hat..?

Second Warning : DON'T GET ME STARTED ON 'FUNK' OR 'DISCO'..! Schubert, on the other hand...

... and don't get me started on 'funk', or 'disco'. Grateful Dead, on the other hand...

Without implying any judgement in this case, as a general rule, the expression 'caveat emptor' covers the situation on buying and selling, not just in this Marketplace, but on any on-line deal. It's more than likely that any instrument acquired will benefit from a set-up to one's personal taste, and if it can't be done by the buyer, a visit to a qualified luthier would be quite normal. Any dysfunctions should be indicated by the seller, but there are cases when either they are voluntarily withheld, or maybe even unknown to the seller. It's the buyer that takes that risk in agreeing a deal without having personally inspected the instrument, and is part of the way on-line sales work. With on-line shops, one has the protection of the law, but this does not apply to private sales. Most sellers are honest and of good faith, as are most buyers, but there's not much that can be done if one or other party don't 'play ball'. Hoping this particular case can be amicably resolved, of course, but in general : Caveat Emptor.

Pun, eh..? Can't be having any of that, I'm afraid. Not puns. No, no puns here. Sorry. Jokes, maybe, but not puns. For instance, believe this, if you're really gullible... I was on a beach once, roasting a seagull over a small fire when I heard footsteps on the shingle, and looked up to see a Police Officer approaching. "Hey there, lad, what are you cooking there..?" I turned the bird slowly on its stick, then looked at the pile of feathers. "Western Gull, I think." The officer widened his eyes. "Oh, you can't be eating those; seagulls are protected, you know..!" I frowned. "Come on..! There are so many; why would they be protected..?" "Yes, well, that's the law. I'll let you off this time because you didn't know, but don't be doing it again, okay..?" I pinched off a crispy piece of the carcass, and popped it in my mouth. "It won't happen again." He gave me a friendly but stern nod, and started walking away. After a few steps he stopped, and turned halfway. "By the way, just out of curiosity... How does it taste..?" I rolled the meat around in my mouth and thought for a moment. "A bit like Peregrine Falcon." (I can't tell a lie; I found this joke on Googull ...)

Fairport Convention Jefferson Airplane Grateful Dead (Although there are far more than just these three, of course...)

Ah, but it was mic'ed up into the PA, it would appear..! That helps a little, sometimes. ...

Three that may be recognised (rather than dozens not many will have heard of...) ... Desolation Row, Bob Dylan Turn, Turn, Turn, The Byrds Like A Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan

Keep well, stay safe.

Done.

I'd have ticked the box 'All of the above', if there had been one. It depends entirely on the song, so, for different songs, I (in the case of the drum part...) or the bass player (Our Youngest son...) will do any, and have done all, of the choices shown. When I was playing bass, I'd do the same. 'Nail it' if I'm able to, 'Close enough' if I'm not, 'Embellish' if it works better that way, 'Dumb it down' for the same reason, and adapt to the group's style when there's an obvious mis-match. Nice try, though.