casapete

When I was a kid learning to play piano, time signatures were always a struggle for me. This has continued on in my later life, and I'm wondering after reading a lot of the posts above if this has determined the sort of music I like to listen to as well as play? Nearly all the music of the last 60+ years that I enjoy is predominantly either 4/4, 3/4, 12/8 or maybe 6/8. Also most of my pro musical gigs have been playing music for people to dance to, again usually in the time signatures I've mentioned. This may also explain why I don't do prog , metal and some jazz!! How boring am I.....

This was listed (again?) on FB Marketplace 22 hours ago for £110. (Not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing just for your reference.) https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/874285936721892/?ref=search&referral_code=undefined

You too Mart. There is a light at the end of the tunnel I think, it's just a matter of keeping strong and patient. All the best.

I’m feeling exactly the same as you Mart. My main band don’t usually gig during December - we play mainly theatres and panto season means most venues are taken up with that. However, December for me usually involves doing various festive gigs with either my acoustic duo or a 4 piece band. These include (amongst others) a great round table annual party, half a dozen gigs at a seaside hotel, and a NYE gig at a local venue. All of these are usually great fun and help make December enjoyable as well as keeping me an income coming in too. After the past 9 months, not doing anything over the festive period has just highlighted for me what a lousy situation we’re in right now. I really hope that next Christmas will be a return to better times for us all.

Well done Blue. This is the first NYE in 40 years for me when I’m not able to gig. The hotel where I’ve done the last half a dozen has now closed down too ( Covid was their final nail in the coffin ) so even without Govt restrictions I may have been struggling to find somewhere else anyway. Hope your gig goes well Blue, take care and stay safe mate.

Absolutely. How he carried on is just amazing after all the trauma in his life. A friend of mine did a support slot playing drums with a band on a UK tour with Roy in the late 70's (I think), when he was doing theatres & clubs etc. After the opening gig the tour bus dropped my mate's band off first at a very dodgy looking B&B. Roy was upset that the accommodation wasn't up to scratch and insisted the band were put up at the same hotel as him and his band, and ensured the rest of the tour was the same too. My mate says he was a really lovely man, very quiet and respectful with everyone he worked with. Legend.

Not sure about TC stuff, but the problems with the Ampeg PF500 were only with the earlier models, and the company sorted it it pretty quickly IIRC so don't let that put you off. Have you seen there is a MB LM3 up for sale in the classifieds? You said above that you'd liked the one you had before. Think it's going for £250.

Absolutely this ^^^^ I’ve used GK stuff for the last 15 years without one problem. There is currently a GK 1001RB (like mine) for sale in the classifieds on here for £380 including a rack tuner and case. These are old school design but still not too heavy (22lbs) and sound great! Loud as you’ll ever need when coupled with a cab that can take it too - 700 watts @4 ohms / 540 @ 8 ohms. I use a GK 410 8 ohm cab and it is loud as anything. Great price too, approx 50% of new price, and they’ve also just been discontinued too so grab it now!! I’ve also got a GKMB800 which is great too, but class D so maybe not what you’re after. Also got a Fender Rumble, again fabulous bit of kit and the 500 would more than do the job for you.

Interesting article, thanks for posting.

The folding thing does give your leg some gyp after a while Silvia, but sitting down certainly makes more sense. 🙂

If you’re currently struggling with the lower frets on your current bass, then I wouldn’t consider a Steinberger style bass to be honest. Usually full 34” scale length, they are notorious for having an awkward design/balance which makes the neck seem further away than more conventional designs. I loved my Hohner version but had to sell it because of this. The only remedy is obtaining a bracket which extends the neck strap button making the body of the bass hang better when standing, but they are hard to source I believe. Also whilst having a compact body they do vary in weight, mine being around 7lbs IIRC - not a boat anchor by any means, but not as light as you may have thought. Certainly try one out (on a strap!) before buying.

Nothing much to add to the previous posts, only that after an accident I was in a similar position to yours for a while. The reduction in weight of the bass coupled with a shorter scale worked for me, and enabled me to carry on working. I have a Dano Longhorn (30.5” scale) which weighs nothing and would be my recommendation. Paul’s Dano 56 mentioned above would also be ideal IMO, pretty much the same instrument with a more conventional look if the Longhorn ain’t your thing. They are a lot of bang for your buck, and in the unlikely event you didn’t like it then you would probably recoup your outlay too. Maybe also worth a look is the Ibanez GSRM20B-WNF. Short 28.5” scale length, and marketed as a ‘first’ bass but from some comments on here I believe they are highly regarded. Not sure of the weight though. Hope you find something suitable.

Heard many people in bands discussing SHA. It’s all going swimmingly well in what seems to be key of D, until the guitar solo comes along and makes it sound more like G. Is there a definitive key for this I wonder?

Are you sure it was for a bass? The Fender solid electric 12 string guitars introduced in the mid 1960s were quite long due to their massive headstock, could it have been for one of those?. Think the shorter scale basses Fender made had smaller length cases IIRC, but could be wrong.

Simultaneous post, my bad - was forgetting Mozart was in fact Austrian in my haste. Consider me on the naughty step. Why?- Annie Lennox

I dread to think what’s going to happen to the few remaining similar venues when the current situation gets sorted. Certainly think we were blessed with having so many events going on in such places when we were younger.

Rock me Amadeus - Falco

I’m in love with a German film star - The Passions

The sun ain’t gonna shine anymore - The Walker Brothers

I think you’re right. I saw them at a venue in Hull called Dingwalls, which was part of the famous London venue’s attempt to open more clubs throughout the UK. Didn’t last long I’m afraid, 6 months max. Was a great venue though, small/medium sized room that had previously been a German style drinking establishment. I saw loads of great gigs there - as well as Paul Young they included Bo Diddley, Aztec Camera, Orange Juice, Eurythmics and John Martin as well as many great local bands.

I saw Paul Young around this time, great band. The backing vocalists were introduced as ‘The Fabulous Wealthy Tarts’. The album ‘No Parlez’ had just been released, first time I’d heard of Pino. Happy days.

Complete control - The Clash

Out of time - Rolling Stones / Chris Farlowe

Quarter to three - Gary US Bonds