bassace

Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers.

Not so much what it looks like, more what it sounds like. There are a lot of basses sloshing around these days. Where are they coming from? And there’s a Martin Penning on Musical Chairs at the mo for £12k. Doesn’t he charge 15? And what about that lovely Bryant on the TB for sales? Basses are hard to sell these days. If you’ve got a nice bass that you’re happy with hang on to it. That’s the best value. Pardon the unfocused post but the DB situation is sad these days.

I’d go for a mag. If the pianist is loud the subtleties of your bass will be lost anyway. In my experience mags give quite a faithful sound but can lose the dynamics a bit. Krivo is very good but Schaller is OK too.

They say if you’re the strongest in the band it’s time to look for another one.

From Purple to Boy George. Says it all ☹️

It was good to be alive in ‘66 with a Fender Jazz, belting out the Tops’ Reach Out I’ll be There.

Doobies were great. Also Paul Simon in Central Park a few weeks ago on Sky Arts. I’m not usually into World music but what a band of musicians he had assembled alongside him.

Any musician, classical, jazz, whatever, who hasn’t played Shaking All Over has missed out on one of life’s great pleasures.

Thanks gjones.

And I’ve just included shipping cost in UK. But that’s as low as I go before I take it off the market.

Get a sensible stand, Jack!

HJ, the Kolstein will rattle if the Schaller mag pickup is left unplugged. Other than that I don’t remember any other rattles.

For double bass. Surprised nobody’s mentioned the EA Wizzy 110. For a ten inch there’s very few lighter cabs and it’s got some very useful mid range that can be eq’d back if necessary. I never liked the BF One 10 for DB as it was too dark for my Lifeline pickup. And I never got on with the small PJB cabs; not enough elasticity if you get my drift. But the Wizzy which I’ve had for at least 15 years is a keeper.

I’ve just sold a preamp to Mark. Haven’t sent it off until tomorrow but the money’s already in my PayPal. Just the right guy to deal with.

Yes, it was like that for the MJQ at the Royal Festival Hall. Large venues for small groups without massive sound reinforcement are a big mistake. Now, the Count Basie Orchestra at the (then) Hammersmith Odeon; that was something altogether different. And I have been to concerts recently too,honest.

Isn’t that the good bit about being a bass player? You don’t have to be precise and repeatable each time. ‘Specially if you’re playing jazz ha ha.

Most session musicians are very good at what they do. They can read flyshot off the page and, er, that’s it.

I’ve got one like HJ’s folding trolley. Came from Maplin back in the day. Takes up very little room in the motor and, with a bungee, can work as a double bass trolley. ’Course, the best solution is to have lightweight gear.

Yes, that’s the stuff.

Is it a serious dent? If not too bad you could simply match the colour with a furniture repair stick - a waxy crayony thing. That would reduce the obvious ding. You’ll be bound to find a few knocks here and there in a bass’s life.

Ah!

You’ve probably had enough of how old I am. But just to say I hope I’ve got one or two more gigs left in me. I’ve got two in the diary and our weekly residency will resume again soon. And I can do a two hour gig no trouble at all. But the trouble is that, even looking back ten years ago, I look so bloody old. It’s embarrassing to me and it must be embarrassing to the band. So I’ve got most of my kit up for sale, I’ll just keep a bass and an amp- in case. And I’m taking BA55 ACE off the car. It’s irrelevant Sob