Bilbo

Tragically (or not), I was a MAHOOSIVE Berlin fan in the 1980s and spent hours with the Bruford lps, Berlin's own albums, the Players stuff and Road Games. Couldn't get enough of it. At some point, however, his obsession with choral playing changed his sound and, for me, it got thinner and thinner to the point where I actually hate it and can no longer listen to him. I think it all started going wrong for me when he ditched his Fender Jazz hybrid. My advice is to find your own sound. A decent professional quality bass and amp set up and a few decades of experimentation and you should be fine. By all means listen to and learn from JB but find your own voice.

Bless you, Pete.

Makes sense. I have a cardio rehab assessment next week so will start to work with the information I get there. I got away with angioplasty so minimal fallout in terms of physical invasive procedures but not sure how much damage was done. The physical thing about the bass is linked to how I feel at the end of a gig. On electric, I can play for hours without a problem but, on double bass, I struggle by the end of two sets. Recent adjustments to the bass have helped but gaps between gigs are impeding the development of gig ready stamina. Reverting to electric is certainly an option. PS cardiologists don't play bass.

I got that particular kick in the nadjers on 13th December and have not played the double bass since. I have always found the instrument a physical challenge so am wary of the fact that I have gigs in about three weeks that I need to consider depping out or not. In short, has anyone been in this position and returned to the double bass successfully and without aggravating their general health? I would welcome your thoughts.

Lots of people who know me know that I used to be in a band called No Quarter, named after the Led Zeppelin track. I just realised that I have never heard the albums Led Zeppelin 1, Led Zeppelin 3, In Through the Out Door, Presence or Physical Graffiti. I have never heard a Rolling Stones album, a Bob Dylan album or a David Bowie album. I have missed most of Pink Floyd's back catalogue, everything by Neil Young, Kiss, Aerosmith... The list is endless. What so called classics completely passed you by?

Wouldn't music be interesting if that were the case.

That would defeat the object.

Reading guitar dots.

I also think that Rutherford's role in the multi-12 string guitar thing that Genesis made their own was a massive factor in their freshness and originality.

Just to show willing....

I have something coming today. Bear with.

I think Rutherford is underrated as a bass player because his parts are generally so musical and never in your face. Catch some of his playing on this from 1984.

I had one of these suckers bought for me for Christmas. Sounds great acoustically but I haven't gigged it yet. Harley Benton. Always great for exploring options.

Another great not mentioned on here is six string bass pioneer Anthony Jackson. Try Michel Camilo's live 'Caribe' CD or the MC Trio CD 'Suntan' . You could also find a Steve Kahn live CD called 'The Suitcase'. There is also the legend that is Steve Swallow. Try John Scofield 'En Route' or Swallow's own 'Damaged In Transit'.

The real difficulty with finding your own sound on any instrument is in realising that you already have it.

The bass parts were all recorded in my home studio (shed), Bag End. Features drummer Brendan O'Neil (Rory Gallagher). It isn't Jazz

Thomann or Gedo basses will get you going. Agonising over the minutea will get you nowhere. Go for it.

I have less gigs now than in any time since I was 17 (am 55). I love the gigs I do but would like some more please!!

Perfectly happy with the annual cover idea but the idea is to do the thing in the month of the challenge. Otherwise, it's just a case of playing each other things we have written before and could have spent months working on. There is no challenge to it.

This transcription predates a Basschat upgrade where the attachments didn't make the cutover. PM me an email address and I will send you a PDF copy.