bassace

I still can’t get my head round some z list singing person credited with ten-fifteen top ten hits. Who are these people? What are these songs? It’s all a cynical racket.

That’s quite correct, although Wiki erroneously has him with a tea chest. He had Chris Barber, followed by Micky Ashman. We decided to graduate from a tea chest and went up to Chas Footes in Denman Street where they had a cellar with lots of DBs at all sorts of prices. We chose the cheapest at £35 and got into conversation with a nice tall guy about the strength, or otherwise, of the E string. It was only after he had left the shop that the assistant said ‘that was Ray Brown’. Happy days, 1954 as I remember.

I suppose in one sense skiffle started it off for us. The most expensive item was the guitar and after Rock Island Line cheap guitars were coming in consignments of 200. Tea chest bass and washboard and, hey presto, you had a skiffle group. You didn’t worry about PA, if there was one at the hall, then great but otherwise........ This was the first time young people had heard a live band playing with any greater energy that your average turgid dance quartet. Your friend, Bassace, started his public performances on washboard while learning to play the trombone. Then when we had a front line together we strapped the skiffle group on the back and we found we had a band. And this just happened without any clear intentions. Chris Barbers jazz band has only recently come to a close with the ill health of the leader himself. The Lonnie Donnegan Skiffle Group came from within the band with Chris himself playing double bass. Only last Tuesday I played with Chas McDevitt, now 84 and one of the original Skiffle players whose early career took him to an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. He’s written a very good book on the subject which I think is still available.

Nice to revisit this topic and to look back at the ‘journey’ from 2012. The landscape has changed somewhat; Peter Tyler and Paul Bryant have both retired. Ben Packham has emerged on the scene and has some very nice budget basses as well as higher end stuff. My journey has ended and I’ve thinned my collection down, after all you can play only one bass at a time. My treasured instrument is a Bryant, it goes out with me at least once a week. Two gigs next week. BTW I know of a very nice Martin Concert belonging to a player who is giving up due to ill health. Nice price and in the Middx area.

Is there a skip outside?

That’s how I’ve always understood it.

Back when it first came out - ‘64? - we did a cover of the Tops’ Reach Out I’ll Be There. Enjoyed playing the bass part massively and it would still feature as a fantasy bass line. Haven’t played it for 55 years. Blimey.

Yes, thump or thud. Exactly the noise made by Mr Holland’s bass player. I wish he wouldn’t do it. Sorry if I’ve upset some fans but to me it sounds awful.

Is that a Lifeline pickup I see?

Does it matter?

I have frequent dreams of being at a gig and misplacing some piece of gear, an amp or a lead, just before we’re due to start. Or I just can’t get to the gig. Insecurity I suppose.

Subs in pubs?

Very nice!

Yes, watching it now. Hmm.

In practice, I have the mic closer to the table - about 10mm. This picks up a stronger signal with less susceptibility to feedback.

I’ve used a few in the past including two DPAs at various times but would agree with Bilbo re ATM 350. It’s not too expensive and performs well. Here’s an old pic of my home-built mounting.

Strings, all leads duplicated and Tecamp Puma under the passenger seat. And torch.

I play in west Reading every Tuesday but agree re town centre. Upcoming appointment at the hospital, practically in the middle of town. Not looking forward, especially as I don’t get paid:-)

A hard case takes up a lot of space in the car, and it adds to the overall carry weight. Good for flying and the band van but that’s all.

So did I!

A great day, thanks Nick, Colin and Sarah. Pete’s talk was pure gold, a lot of sense there!

None, the keyboardist does it with his left hand.