bassist_lewis

So I've had an electric upright bass for about a year, for the first few months i played quite a bit, I've done a few gigs with double bass (both this one and borrowed) but I haven't touched it since november and before that I hadn't serisouly played it since august so I'm wondering if there's any point keeping it as I don't feel much enthusiasm for the instrument (as a player at least) should electric bassists be required to also play double bass? it would seem only fair as guitarists, double bassists, drummers and keys players all seem quite happy picking up the bass guitar and nabbing our gigs . point is, is it better to focus on one instrument and know it inside out or double up? any thoughts?

So I've had an electric upright bass for about a year, for the first few months i played quite a bit, I've done a few gigs with double bass (both this one and borrowed) but I haven't touched it since november and before that I hadn't serisouly played it since august so I'm wondering if there's any point keeping it as I don't feel much enthusiasm for the instrument (as a player at least) should electric bassists be required to also play double bass? it would seem only fair as guitarists, double bassists, drummers and keys players all seem quite happy picking up the bass guitar and nabbing our gigs . point is, is it better to focus on one instrument and know it inside out or double up? any thoughts? edit: moved to general bass discussion as this is nothing to do with th guitar itself

all the stuff is taken, will PM if anything becomes available again

I have 5 guitar stands (4 of the usual and one of the mini hercules ones for acoustic guitars, also works for mandolin) I'm needing rid of. I'm happy for them to go for free, providing buys covers postage (but if you would like to make a donation that would acceptable ) I also have a madarozzo gig bag, its seen a fair bit of use but still does what it should. as I got it with a new bass I'll give it away, buyer covers postage who doesn't like free stuff????

How does the Low B play on the shorter scale? some recordings would go down a treat very pretty bass btw

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1327479547' post='1511789'] I don't think many people are getting rich building high-end instruments. My brother is a luthier, building classical guitars at 3k to 3.5k a time. The business is ticking over nicely, but he doesn't have a particularly lavish lifestyle and probably works longer and takes home less than your average skilled worker. While there are fewer man-hours in most electric basses, I suspect the smaller bass outfits operate in a similar way. I think we're just not used to paying developed-country wages for manufactured goods any more. [/quote] I read an article recently about Pete Skjold, and he said that he does what he does for the love of building, not because he makes lots of money, and said that the profit margin isn't as high as most people think. You might have a point with Fodera though, their price list is more likely that of a car showroom than a luthier.

Fodera Anthony Jackson Signature. Done!

To answer your questions: Its however you wnat it to be, if you want it to be 4 years of free money (at the time anyway), getting pissed and watching Jeremy Kyle then thats what you'll get. If you want to learn then you'll learn and be given the time to do it with tutors who can help. How many? depends on the course, colleges take on more people (creative degrees are a good source of income for institutes, search how many there are in UK), my university had 50 in my year but only 25ish in the subsequent years. they're were never many bass players, perhaps 5 at the most but this gives you lots of experience playing with people (if you want it). You get taught music! this can include theory and technique, however my tutor said to me soon after I left "you learn all the important stuff after you leave!" Production, recording and computer music, music business (its very dull but it IS important), straight business (I had to do a business plan, pain in the a**e), i did a course on acoustics, teaching method, community music, world music, history of music. BUT the one thing thats gotten me more work than any of this is the people I met, as a professional musician your most important asset is contacts. The band I'm in met at uni, and we've just started workign with an agent because our guitarists tutor at uni works with him as well. On the whole, for me it was a great experience, both personally and musically. Find the right course and you can't go wrong! Maybe try college for a year or 2 to see if its a hobby or if you genuinely want to pursue it as a career. Hope thats of some help!

the jazz bar in Edinburgh has great live music most nights of the week, though Wednesday's have the Mike Kearney Ka-tet who, I've heard, are mind-blowing. Mondays are also good, you'll get to see Aki tearing it up on the bass, which is annoying as he's mainly a guitar player! If you want something poppy then go to Finnegan's Wake (playing there in March, maybe catch you there ), Malone's, Dropkick Murphy's or Biddy Mulligan's, all near the Grassmarket (gotta love the Irish!) the Tron is still there and still dirt cheap , I think that chippy is still there but also try Pizza Paradise on south bridge, next to another famous music venue, Whistle Binkies, its free every night and you get what you pay for, sometimes its angsty teenagers on their first ever gig, sometimes its seasoned pros.

[quote name='mcgraham' timestamp='1327172866' post='1507477'] He informs me he refuses to schedule a gig until he thinks the band is ready. [/quote] I got this crap from the guy who ran th Jamiroquai band I was in, he decided we weren't tight enough as a band (search Jamirrorquai in Ireland and you'll see that that was NOT the case) and wanted to rehearse weekly for months without any prospect of gigs (this was at all our expense I might add). IME if someone thinks that rehearsing is more important than gigging then they know nothing about music.

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1179394784' post='248'] [attachment=15:DSC00214.JPG] [/quote] WO... MAN...

I'll be sure to post in the gear porn section when I get it. I'm hoping this bass will plug my GAS-hole long enough for me to start spending money on learning to drive!

Flea - first bass lines I ever learnt Stuart Zender - I'm still finding new things to be amazed by in his playing Damian Erskine - deepest pocket I ever heard and a great sound, plus his advice is down to earth and easy to follow (No Treble) James Jamerson - you play bass, you're influenced by him Jaco Pastorius - ditto Edit: Janek Gwizdala just missed out on the top 5 Edit: so did Anthony Jackson Edit: and Matt Garrison Edit: Pino Palladino and Lee Sklar are pretty good too Edit: and I've got Victor Wooten's book, so I guess that'd be an influence as well...

[quote name='simwells' timestamp='1325780420' post='1487580'] No as it's in within the EU, they probably won't price match though. [/quote] There's nothing on gutarguitar's website about price matching, unlike DV247 and RedDog, so I guess they're not obligated to. My concern was having to wait in for it but if I save £100+ then I'd be happy to just collect from the depot. cheers guys!!

I've found a bass in guitarguitar that is also stocked by Thomann for over £100 less, and thought I'd try to get a price match. But would I have to pay any tax if I bought from Thomann? (in case the cashier gives it as a reason why they can't lower the price) L

I emailed Mr D. Erskine about location and how it impacts on your career, just wandered what you guys thought, seeing as you're all sacttered to the four corners In Edinburgh there are quite a few venues hosting live bands but it does seem to be a lot of the same bands playing the same venues (they are the minority though), is this different in bigger cities? or is the ratio of gigs to musos the same everywhere? http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/12/28/location-location-location-does-it-matter-for-a-pro-musician/

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1325280631' post='1481815'] Murder is probably extreme, just a good kicking to front man will do. Failing that, play for less than the rest......... just be aware they may give out the beatings if they find out All tongue in cheek - just keep trying and once one accepts you, the others will fall in line! [/quote] just to clarify, I was joking about the murder thing, forgot to chuck in a . though Jonathan Creek is giving me some ideas... cheers tho

I've just started researching pubs in edinburgh for gigs, and it looks like a lot of the same bands do the venues. How do you break in? money? murder?