bassace

I used to find it a bit of a let down doing the first gig on home turf after the fun and excitement of a foreign gig/tour. Anyone else?

OneTen then.

Early days, but let's start a list. 1. Bassace. Bryant Solo DB, Felix preamp, Puma 500 amp, Crazy 8 or OneTen cab.

And I'm one along from Gt Rollright at Swerford - as Mike (Pestie) knows.

Yes, it's the Risley Park and it's booked. It'll be £10 per person and that'll include tea, coffee and a buffet lunch.

One of the very best. He makes some of our own 'pin ups' sound quite ordinary in comparison.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1460816254' post='3029046'] I might even come out of hiding for another double bass bash! :-D [/quote] Would be great to see you, Pete.

Is there any interest in a double bass bash this year. We had a good one three years ago at the Risley Park Hotel, Derby, not far from M1 Junction 25. I appreciate that this may not suit everyone but it is as central as there is, except if you live in Scotland perhaps. All welcome, including those new to DB and those considering taking the instrument up for the first time. At the moment the first three Sundays in October are free, 2nd, 9th and 16th. What do we think?

The size you need is a 3/4 which is the usual size used in jazz, rockabilly etc. 3/4 is not a true proportion of a full size bass, a 4/4, any more than is a 1/2 size. They are simply just a bit smaller than each other. Hope I haven't made this too complicated.

I have jazz blisters. They're similar to Rockabilly Slap blasters but they have more semitones.

Doesn't look high to me. I'd be interested in the outcome because in the past I've had basses with dead spots, or at least lack of sustain, up the fingerboard on the A and D.. I've never figured whether this is down to the string or the bass itself. Perhaps an experienced luthier would have an opinion.

A Dutch bassist recently bought a double bass for one million Euros.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1458586193' post='3008887'] I loved this band when I was a teenager but, frankly, they haven't travelled well!! [/quote] Cheer up, Bilbo!

Yes, let's not get too derailed and be too sniffy about Paul Bryant, especially from those who have never played one of his basses. When you consider that a top English bass will set you back anything between 12k to 15k you can get a Bryant new for 6k. Or at least you could when Paul was still making them. But that difference in price is in no way a true reflection of the relative quality. Paul has roughly 100 basses out there mainly used in orchestras where they are very highly rated. I loved mine from the get go but just felt there was something extra in it that needed bringing out. As I mentioned in my previous post, I reckoned that Laurence had a lot of experience in what a great many jazz musicians needed to nail that certain tone. There are other bass makers who are capable of making beautiful basses but if their customers are in the main orchestral their basses may not be optimised for jazz without a set up by a luthier who has experience in that field.

There's some good stuff here. My Bryant is a sweet little bass - why is it 'always' Bryants? - just the right size for playing and getting around to gigs. But I had a problem with the sound. It was good in quiet situations but when I turned up there was too much thump and not enough note, if you get my drift. There was also a clack on the E. I reckoned Laurence Dixon would be the man; apprenticed to Roger Dawson and being a London luthier he would have a lot of experience of 'working' basses and the needs of their owners. So he put the bass on his bench and gave me a masterclass in what needed to be done and how the sound/playability could be improved, plus some local seam regluing. Two weeks later the bass is just a revelation. It's got a nice bright easy sound, even across the strings and is very nice to play. The fingerboard was reprofiled, action slightly lowered and I noticed from a previous mark that the sound post was moved all of 22 mm. But the biggest difference was to the bridge. This was replaced by a larger pattern as the previous feet were such that the E side didn't get onto the bass bar. And the top was profiled to match the strings coming off the end of the fingerboard to such an extent that it is very markedly asymmetric. All for £400 and I am very happy. Hope this helps.

I was in a band once and the leader would say I'd like to introduce the band'. And we'd all shake hands with each other with a 'hi'.

But have any bass players of either gender shaped modern music, after Jamerson and Pastorius that is. I suppose it's natural that a bass forum would want to talk up the instrument. But while the bass's importance in jazz and rock is undisputed, is it really a shaper?

I've just pulled off a prestigious gig for one of the bands I'm involved with to play at a country fair in the summer. I won't say where but it's all a bit top drawer. So this morning I told the Mrs that I've got a meeting with the two young events organisers next Tuesday. Her reaction was 'and what will they think when some beat up old geezer turns up?' Got me thinking.

As Sarah says, the Goldsby book is the one to have. It's inspirational and 'broad'. I have a RR book, if anyone would like it pl PM me and I'll send it FOC. BTW I hate practicing, don't do it much at all. When I arrive at a gig there's no set list and I haven't a clue what tunes will be called. I rate my iRealPro very highly, it's a lifesaver. BTW children, don't take what I do as a good example. Keep practicing.

Thanks for that, Rob. Yes, I'm 75 too and don't have trouble getting jazz gigs. It probably helps to look after yourself, stay tidy and (reasonably) well presented. There are some bands filled by young thrusters who wouldn't use me but I can live with that. One thing, I'm sure that playing and the reading that I do a lot of the time keeps the brain well lubricated so the dreaded dementia is kept at bay. Who did you say you were?

Sshh..............

Stanley Clark. DB and BG

Thank you for your valuable advice.

A few years ago I bought a Phil Jones cab from them which turned out to be many pounds heavier than given on their website. When I brought this up there was not a great deal of concern and no offer of redress. I sold it on soon after with a significant loss. Most of the time deals go through ok, but that's business. Would they let me have a £5k bass to gig on appro? Probably not, but the that's service.

Fallen Angel - Rogue