Matthew Canty

Hello Sam, Thanks for your message. Sorry to inform you but Laurence passed away on December 17th, 2023. There is a Guardian obituary and lots of good reads on this thread which has been contributed to gradually over the last few years. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/23/laurence-canty-obituary We did talk about that cabinet, I think it's the same one he might have used at his Albert Hall did with Homer's Odyssey...!? I also have drawings of a speaker cabinet design, which I think were drawn by John Stoddard, did you know of him? I don't suppose you're the same person who might have something to do with his John Birch replica EB0 bass guitar? I believe it was sold to a pupil around the time. Regards Matt

He was. And I just found what appears to be a complete archive down the back of some shelves.

Hello everyone. Sad to be saying that my dad has passed away. He died on Sunday 17th December around 1pm - just in time for a coffee. It's been a really tough few years. I want everyone who said something on this thread to know it's been really important for me to hear these kind words, stories and memories. I had to no doubt he was a kind, inspirational and talented person. Liked by so many. I want you all to know that he was a wonderful dad who taught me so much about the world, life and of course bass guitar. If you're in any doubt as to how you might remember him in any way in light of this news, perhaps you'll find something in his Desert Island Discs, curated by him: I also kept track of any music that was discussed or mentioned during his stay at the care home: And finally, he recorded a gig back in 1991 at the Tower Hotel in London. It was mixed recently and I'm hoping to have it mastered soon and pressed to vinyl. Nothing commercial, just a very special keepsake. The tracks are SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/matthewcanty1988/sets/tower-hotel-1991-vinyl I'm celebrating with music.

Thanks Derek. Here’s some photos you might find of interest… The poster was framed recently by me and hangs above my desk. And I’m guessing that’s you on guitar? I’d be interested in making contact with Friz. You have both been mentioned often over the last 2 years.

Nice one! Whenever I stumble upon the letter you sent I’ll be sure to send this through. I don’t think I’m familiar with DJ Guitars, although I’m currently gig-lagged and not really thinking about much today 😂

Laurence had a band based in Lancaster with long-time musical friend Fred Binley. The band was called Quay Change. There's not a right lot of material out there, but here is a little bit of phone footage I just found from 2016. Must have been during the 2016 Lancaster Music Festival. Jane hopped on the mic for one song that day, however she was also a regular vocalist with the band around 2009-2011. Fred is still a great friend of mine and my dad's. Video Link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kxiNg5BNAvGveuox6 Quay Change 15th October 2016 Wagon & Horses Jane Dodson - Vocals Laurence Canty - Bass Fred Binley - Keys Tim Franks - Drums

I've been away for a month or so. Thanks for the recent messages. Saw him the other day and it's funny how the condition produces illusions of familiarity. Happy to report he thought he'd seen @frannie01 the weekend before! I just smile these days... unless, maybe he did!? Thanks for your detailed and kind message @Wyndham Price. I read it out to him and he commented that it must have been 37 years since seeing you "Wyn", mid-80s. Sound about right? I can't remember who... but he did say one of you wouldn't switch from 3 to 4-finger patterns on the left hand 🤣 Even today, I still feel like I'm being taught.

Hello everyone, Just thought I'd throw a little update out, as it's been nearly a year! Thank you so much for all those who have continued to drop in and say a few things. It really means a lot to me to hear that he impacted so many players in a positive way. He would absolutely love to talk "degrees of separation" with all this. I sometimes like thinking about the "chains of inspiration" which must exist from one player to the next... @Ace Bass, 1976/77, that is early! You must have been a guinea pig for some of his thoughts. I tried to find Neville Wills, are you referring to the guitarist associated with Bowie (https://www.bowiebible.com/features/live-band-personnel-1962-2006/)? Looks like the internet doesn't go back that far 😆. Anyway I'll keep an eye out for something in the house and report back. I have his diaries back to 1972 so I'll surely find something. Dad is in stable condition. I mean dementia only goes one way, but he is comfortable and doesn't know much else. I see him every Friday, and always have a nice chat about music theory or music history. I have many hours of voice recordings on my phone. We also made a start on the Beatles doc. However I only really get an hour of useful time out of him so it could take another year to finish that! Keep playing everyone, and have fun! That is all he ever wanted. Best Matt

@Basses Id Like To Pluck marvellous! Thanks for posting this. I have found drafts of this magazine, but not this one. I’ll get this one printed out for the “This Is Your Life” red binder. incidentally I know this story well, I’ve been told it many times!! Next time I see him I’ll mention it for you. Thanks Matt

Epic! I can probably track down your letter easily if it’s there. I’m moving into his house on the 4th June. Once dust has settled I’ll have a look through. Matt

There was a regular-headed fretless as well. However I have found letters indicating he was particularly happy about it. Don’t think the choice of wood worked out. I think this bass was part of some wild imagination with the left over body. There are 3 basses now and it’s going to take some detective work to piece it all together. Most of the involved people have passed away.

IMG_9946.MOV Here is that infamous bass at the studio on Friday. He’d had it fretted a while ago but I restored it. (I should know better about my LH thumb position! I play a lot of guitar these days…) It needs some finesse, longer strings should have been used and the action is a bit challenging. 😂

Hello Joe! I’ll have to admit not remembering that occasion in the bar but there was a lot to occupy the mind on that job. Maybe there is a figment of a memory… Trains yes and coffee yes. We built a train set together when I was a child. I was also brought up on a diet of “mini-caps” which I think are commonly known as “baby-cinos” today. Prefer our name!

Disclosure, I worked with @toneknob 😄 Thanks again! I remember it happening very quickly. Hope I'll one day see and play that bass...

Woah! That's quite a stint. I'm glad for you as well, what a great opportunity.

It will be published under his name so I suspect you are probably right. I’m looking forward to finding them now. I found an interview on cassette with Colin Greenwood last night, which he claims became a Making Music article.

Yep I know Gary well. I bought one of my first JV Precisions from him over 15 years ago. Lots of dealing been done in Promenade. Been a few years since he tutored in Lancaster. I think it’d have been good if The Music Spot had established a little earlier.

Honestly I had so many lesson back as a teenager from him. It felt like we did the rhythm exercises for ETERNITY. I’ll admit the tuning fork is probably no longer essential! However I do use it to keep his basses in tune. They have so much information nowadays and it must be wonderful to have video reference. I do plan on revisiting some of the book’s main features in video form. Idea still forming and would not be any sort of total republication. YouTube is saturated.

It's nice to hear someone else who has picked up the Bach! I've spent many years playing them. He was known for playing one of them as his "sound check" of the bass at every gig he played - only the first chord. I am currently studying one which I never got round to learning. I play through the other three regularly though and have recently found new appreciation for playing them with the help of Kenny Werner's Effortless Mastery.

Thanks for sharing this. Over the next few months/years as I dig through everything I will make sure to keep a hold of Making Music pieces. I'll publish them again online, hopefully no one will mind all these years on! He actually has an even new version of the book, but I am working on how that should progress.

Give me a shout next time your playing. I live in London at the moment but relocating later this year. Making Music (previous commenter) is written on the spine of What Bass, didn’t realise there was a connection there. I be passing on regards when I see him later.

Yes, I’ve found some bits and pieces about that, mainly letters. I’m sure that I’ll eventually find copies of the magazine somewhere too.

Edit: 25/09/2024 For anyone visiting this thread now, I just want to inform you that Laurence passed away on 17th December 2023. I made a post on this thread at that time which can be found here: End Edit Hello everyone, My name is Matt and my dad is Laurence Canty. I have so many beautiful memories from the little pubs of Lancaster (UK) where he played with the local trad' jazz bands. Eventually he started his own band here in Lancaster called Quay Change. They peddled "modern?" jazz to the local area - weddings, university balls, and such like etc. He is perhaps best-known for his book Electric Bass Guitar, The Complete Guide which has had various titles and versions since it's inception around 1974. There was also a significant stint as lecturer(?) of bass guitar at Goldsmiths. He took over this post from Mo Foster! He taught me how to play bass guitar from about 12 years old. I remember long lessons spent on the correct pressure to apply to the strings. Unfortunately, he has mid-to-late Dementia. He still remembers significant amounts of his life however he suffers delusions and logic completely escapes him. He is in an a sad situation but the fact he can remember his life makes it all the more important that I gather stories sooner rather than later. I am looking for anyone who may know anything about him. You may have been his private pupil. You may have found his book and found it to be advantageous? You may have played gigs with him in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s or 10s and have something you remember about him? I am ultimately looking for the bass communities' experience of my dad. I'd love to see stories, photographs, videos or simply a memory of the way he was way back when. I'll be seeing him tomorrow. We'll probably talk about coffee and music, as we always do.

[quote name='AnalogBomb' timestamp='1358861012' post='1946127'] I've just emailed a centre in Sheffield that deals with their UK based repairs and the TC Support team. I'm pretty mad about this, why can't stuff just work the first time..... [/quote] I've also just emailed Sheffield.