Thunderthumbs

I'm one of those that spent an awful lot of my youngers years being influenced by Mark King. True to form, I'm not as good, or likely ever to be as good as the guys I listen(ed) to. When I listen back to some of the stuff I used to do back then, it was horrendous. I used to slap pretty much everything. I still do a bit of slap now and again. But these days, I try do it where I feel it might be appropriate, so it's less and less. I try with less percussion, and more groove. I also try and play it in such a way that it sits totally with what the drummer is playing, and maybe to give a cover a slightly different approach to the original. So I don't think wholely that slapping is a bad idea, but done badly and too often it is.

I play in a functions band and wouldn't consider getting out of bed to do a gig for £50 per person. If he can get a 6 piece band for £150 then they must be sreiously s**te or completely stupid. And if he can get a 6 piece for that money, and you're aggrieved at it, the simple answer is don't play there. You're as good as can prove you are. If you're much better than that, seek out the venues that'll pay you what you're worth. I'm on OldGit's side of the fence (although we do still do the odd club and pub, but under our terms moneywise). Oh, and yes, we pay tax too.

[quote name='wulf' post='237283' date='Jul 11 2008, 01:18 PM']I'm also not sure quite how green it is when it requires you have a computer on all the time you are using it.[/quote] Yes, that's exactly what I thought.

Would love to own one, but would be scared to death of gigging with it. So a pointless purchase in a way.

[quote name='el-gnomo' post='230861' date='Jul 1 2008, 08:22 PM']Haven't got the JK album, but the other 3 get a +1 from me ! Also "My radio sure sounds good to me" by Larry Graham and Graham Central Station, starts with a track called POW, and it hits you right between the eyes with monster slap !!![/quote] I'd recommend the "J.K. Special" CD. I bought it on the strength of hearing one track on the radio many years ago. I'd never heard of them before, but I loved it. Still a great CD.

Some damned good "Infectious Grooves" stuff too.

Greg, Great to hear of a newbie who loves the bass so much. If I think back to when I starting playing when I was about 13/14, I was heavily into The Jam and bands like that, so that's what I learnt mostly. It's far more use to you when starting out to play stuff you enjoy. So many kids are put off instruments by dictatorial tutors who believe "it's my way or the highway". I then started listening to anything and everything, and artists that inspired the people I listened to, so through Paul Weller, I started listening to the likes of The Kinks, Small Faces and The Who. I always tell kids to just be open to every style of music. We all have something to learn from every style, regardless of how it's perceived by other more narrow minded people. I was brought up by parents who loved country & western, a sister who loved glam rock along with 70s boy bands such as The Osmonds and the Bay City Rollers, and I knocked about with mates who, like me, went through punk and new wave in the late 70s and early 80s. I then teamed up with the guys in my first band who were into stuff like Genesis, Rush, Led Zep, etc. and then that followed on through many other musicians I met to an appreciation of Jazz, Funk, etc. etc. So I have a very varied taste in music. Just give it all a go. And keep enjoying it.

I'll steer clear of the obvious Level 42 stuff as mentioned above. I might as well say my entire Level 42 collection. But a few albums I like, as the slapping is a little different in each case: "J K Special" featuring Jorg (J.K.) Kleutgens on bass and Dave Weckl on drums "On The Corner" by John Patitucci "The Sun Don't Lie" by Marcus Miller "Le Band" by Alain Caron

Doesn't Maplin do a USA to UK converter?

Found it........oooh

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='229570' date='Jun 30 2008, 11:29 AM']When it comes to stains, it's got to be tiger eye on a nice piece of quilt... [/quote] Yeah, there's a Jazz body on Warmoth with the same finish as that. Something I might be interested in when I've got cash to splash. Lovely looking.