bassace

Good explanation. As a jazzer I’d certainly like to get down to Eb, not too bothered about the lower notes. I wonder whether those extensions are more prone to damage with regular gigs. One further thought: my perception is that extensions are favoured in UK orchestras while in Europe (whoops) five stringers are the norm. I could be wrong.

Having played bass for more than 55 years I’d be too embarrassed to say which tune. Probably something very low on the coolometer, like a skiffle tune.

Is this topic still coming up? I think I’ll start a new one - I’ve got a bass with a pointy thing on the end of a wire. Which hole do I stick it in?

Ah, that’ll be the MK2 version. It is a tad inconvenient but as this stand stays at home it’s not too much of a problem. If it was that important I would jack it up by putting legs on it. But respect to those stands that have preceded mine on this topic. Some stylish stuff here.

I made this a few years ago and it’s still doing the job.

Surely it’s all down to your principal/sole source of income. I’ve been playing bass for 55 years and not once in that time have I called myself a musician - although I’ve done and still do a heap of gigs. I’ve called myself a civil engineer or a builder and now I say I’m retired. But never a musician. Conversely there are plenty around who probably don’t come up to a very high musical standard but because music is where they make their living can justifiably call themselves a musician.

So, Sting Bummer No! My surname’s Sumner Oh, Bummer Sumner then etc, ad nauseam.

Very decent price. Did you not consider castors with plates and four screw holes for fixing to the underside of the cab? Possibly a bit less intrusive than having to drill through and get a nut onto the threaded pillar from inside. Or have I misinterpreted the fixing method?

I should have sent mine to USA.

Well, let me say here and now that I sent an AI Clarus back to Carlisle. I got it back, nicely fixed, but was told in no uncertain terms that because I wasn’t the original purchaser I wasn’t really entitled to any warranty work. I can’t find a record of this conversation because it was three/four years ago but believe me, I’m not making it up. Put me off a bit. I use Genzler these days.

Grandmother?

That’s a great resource, lowdown. Looked up Moonlighting, Al Jareau, and found Nile Rodgers on synth bass. Hours of fun, no doubt.

Angel Eyes, written in 1946 and recorded by Frank Sinatra and fifty others. Nothing new under the sun.

Or Tuba Smarties, by Mr Flowers if I’m not mistaken.

We’ve been asked to turn down the tempo.

Fretless?

I don’t make a big thing of it, the music, I’m not a boaster. But occasionally I come up against the Pringle pullover brigade and can’t resist telling them I’ve played at Wentworth. When they all look suitably impressed I have to let it down and explain that it was with the band. They lose interest then.

Occasionally I get asked if I play the double bass properly. I assume they mean with a bow. But not long ago I was in the dentist’s chair. He knew I did gigs and said ‘do you get your bass out and just start playing?’ I asked ‘do you get your drill out and just start drilling?’

I’ll answer my own question. It’s great for double bass: I use it mainly flat but when I’m playing on a carpet a bit of the dirt channel gives it just the edge I need. With the 10-2 cab, unbeatable.

6 ohm?

Always be very nice to the caterers/waitresses and it’ll pay dividends in the form of good food. Best buffet? We played at a Christmas party put on by a mega hotelier. He had top waiters from most of his hotels just serving the buffet. We went up and the guitarist exclaimed ‘have you seen the raffle, guys?’ Fool, that was the buffet. Going home, I slid the car off the road. It was that good.