Bilbo

I have to say that, in my 44 years of playing, I have always found that, whatever instrument I play, I unfortunately end up sounding remarkably like me.

I got a Cort Rithmic a couple of months ago and loved it. It plays well and sounds great and I particularly love the passive electronics. On the weekend, I was browsing online and randomly came across a half price Rithmic V, it cost less than the four string which I also got for a good price. I couldn't resist. Here is the new bass alone and with the 4-string and my Harley Benton 7-string.

Won't open on my phone... Oops, it just did. Sounds lovely. Is it yours?

Or get a five string.... You can just detune the E to Eb (or D) only and remember the other notes on the E string are now different (classical guitarists do this a lot) or you can detune to Eb Ab Db Gb and just play like everything is in E.

Years ago I was out to get a jazz guitar and looked at the Epiphone Joe Pass. It was nice. Then I tried a Gibson ES175. You just know. I have a 7 string Harley Benton that cost about £300. It's not a Fodera Anthony Jackson Presentation 6 (£35000) but is the Fodera 100 x better? Of course not. It's a question of relativity. I think most £1500 basses are significantly better than most £500 basses but it is a case of trying before you buy.

This whole album has been remixed and sounds great. https://open.spotify.com/track/7CKpVrjrmHdBxRdoRaIPpq?si=SB6Ab_3xSfGlhj0G6lQCqA&context=spotify%3Atrack%3A7CKpVrjrmHdBxRdoRaIPpq

I have a stick you can have if anyone has a moon they are happy to let go. I don't want cash for it; a donation to Children In Need would be nice.

That is pure genius.

Will look them up. Starcastle I have heard of but never heard. The others are new to me.

I hadn't listened to it for decades myself, Dave, but, some days, it's just a question of what to try next. Stuff like this then comes out of left field for no reason whatsoever and off I go. I am now minded to finish the whole album which would mean there are four full Rush albums on the website.

You knew it was coming didn't you.... https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-necromancer-rush/

I have a lot of time on my hands at the moment, itu. The gigs have dried up and my efforts to re-build my profile as a player locally are not proving to be that successful. I suspect I will struggle to sustain this level of output for long. In the meantime, as a form of self-harm, I have transcribed the complete Geddy Lee bass part for the tune(s) 'The Fountain Of Lamneth' from the 1975 Rush album, 'Caress Of Steel'. All 11 pages of it. What was I thinking. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/the-fountain-of-lamneth-rush/

Another complete Geddy Lee bass part, this is the bass performance of 'Bastille Day' from the 1975 'flop' 'Caress Of Steel'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/bastille-day-rush/

Paul Del Harwood's bass part for the tune 'Dragonfly' from the 1978 'Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush Live' album. I didn't put every fill and gliss in this time. There is enough here to play the song. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/dragonfly-frank-marino-and-mahogany-rush/

Another delightful Anthony Jackson part, this time it is the tune 'La Comparsa' from the 2002 Michel Camilo album, 'Triangulo'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/la-comparsa-michel-camilo-trio/

I just ran up a transcription of the Prelude to Cello Suite No. VI by J.S. Bach. Just a reading exercise for extended range bases (I think you could do it on a 5, 6 or 7 string but a 4 would need you to move things around in a couple of places). Just something to chew on if you are looking for a challenge (everyone knows the Prelude to Suite No. 1 so I though something different would be worth considering). https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/cello-suite-no-vi-in-d-major-bach/

A simple part but beautiful to play. The simply beautiful 'Oblivion' by Astor Piazolla. If I wrote something like this, I would die a happy man. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/oblivion-astor-piazolla/

Just did a jazz gig in Norwich on 16th, Pete, but have put the word out that I am looking for work. I can't do double bass gigs at the moment as my bass is broken (bridge, tailpiece, no strings etc) so a lot of Jazz players won't be using me but I am up for electric gigs.

I just wanted to say I have been working on reading guitar parts recently and am making progress. I bought five books of reading studies in January and read through all of them in about three weeks (600+ pages inc. Sor, Guiliani, the Leavitt Advanced Reading book etc). The skill of reading is a massive enhancement to your capacity to learn. It's not about reading gigs, it's about opening doors.

It's an interesting song. Great writing. I hadn't heard Gov't Mule before these two songs but I like what they do.

There you go, Pete. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/beautifully-broken-stefan-lessard/

Another Andy West part, 'Leprechaun Promenade' from the 1979 Dixie Dregs album, 'Night Of The Living Dregs'. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/leprechaun-promenade-dixie-dregs/

I worked with the guy who wrote Walk Like An Egyptian. He was tall.

Will have a look, Pete.

You are welcome. It's helpful for me to be prompted to try stuff I wouldn't have come across otherwise. Stops it getting too stale.