tedmanzie

i never even thought it might be a guitar! even if he's fishing for a private sale, which is fine, i think a picture might catch a few more punters. and i did email him politely asking for pictures, which he ignored. i can't work out sellers sometimes....

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231049946949?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2661"]http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1423.l2661[/url] I emailed to ask if he was going to put pics up - no reply. The 10 day auction ended with no bids. Now he's relisted it, again without pics. No serial, no description. What's the matter with some sellers?? Don't they want to sell it?!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1378582160' post='2202185'] In the long term , it will be quite difficult to keep any young person that enthusiastic about playing the recorder . As an instrument , it has been on the wane in popular music for about the last 500 years , and I expect you will find it increasingly hard to keep your daughter committed to learning an instrument with such limited teen-appeal . That's not such a bad thing , though ; if you think about it , seeing as teenagers who are into playing the recorder are probably destined to end up in adult life like the kind of moth-eaten wrecks that present Time Team , lacking in social skills and lecturing at a former polytechnic . That said , I can see how a bit of recorder would work well in a Depeche Mode song , or a Dexy's Mdinight Runners number , during one of your family jam sessions . [/quote] Ha! Yes I have a deeply held loathing of the thing due to my own school experiences with it! I pretty much hated all musical instruments and all music in general until I was 16 (now I only hate 99% of all music). Recorder finger positions are similar/translatable to other wind instruments apparently, but its just a way to get into music really, I don't see a long term future! (I hope).

I'd be very interested in 60s/70s jazz, soul, funk - if you have any please PM me!

They both think Bill Evans, Michael Garrick and Bud Powell are sh*t (see rule 101)

Good replies. With respect I think it's possibly an over simplification to say if they're interested they'll do it, if they won't they won't. While that is obviously true in many respects I think its really about [i]engaging[/i] the kids interest. I am not advocating forcing kids to learn something, that is never going to work, but enthusing them and growing their interest I certainly think is possible and is what a good or great teacher would do (in any subject). If they've had genuine fun for a decent period of time and still don't want to do it then fair enough. Taking the advice of [i]chris_b[/i] above (thanks!), I moved the keyboard into the same room as the hifi and we spent a fun hour or two playing along to 'Just Can't Get Enough' (Depeche Mode) and 'Autobahn' (kraftwerk) - which are two of Manzie Jnrs favourite 7"s. Autobahn proved a bit much (for me) but the kids were actually jostling each other to get to play the lead line of 'Can't get enough' (me on bass duties). So in a fun way we did a little bit of ear training, a bit of practice, and ended up with a performance for Ms Manzie in the afternoon! A day well spent. Perhaps we can keep it up

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1378549547' post='2201679'] Good morning, Ted... The expression that comes to mind is... The road to hell is paved with good intentions. You mean well, and I applaud your motives, but it doesn't work that way. Give the kids any and all opportunity, and let them decide (yes, at all ages...) what they're 'going for'. No-one knows what their interests will be at 20, or 40, or 60. Don't deprive them, but offer as much as you can, step back and enjoy. Another of my 'leitmotifs', concerning kids... It's the first 40 years that are the worst, after which things get (slightly...) better. Bon courage, hope this helps. [/quote] This is essentially my approach, but I know from my own experience, and the kiddies' experience, that when things are hard (reading for example) that you have to keep at it, but find ways for them to enjoy it. Encouragement, praise, finding books they enjoy, doing it at the right time, reading [i]to[/i] them etc. I'd like to find a way to make it more fun. [b]chris_b[/b] you are right, they do like playing tunes they know, so maybe i need to talk to the teacher and get some new ideas. or find a new teacher with new ideas.

My kids have both been having music lessons - one has piano and drums (different teachers), the other has piano and recorder (same teacher). One child has been learning about 12 months, younger about 4 (they are both under 9 yrs). The teachers are very nice and fun, and we try to do it as an informal thing rather than a 'forced' thing. So both kids are working their way through the beginners books, learning fun songs, etc. We try to get them to do a few mins practice every day but it doesn't always happen. During the summer its kind of drifted of as we haven't been doing lessons but we are starting up again. Anyway... Neither of them seem to have really developed a desire for learning the instrument. They are doing ok and learning, but they don't want to practice or even want to make up their own stuff or thrash around (which i encourage). Now they are starting the 'I don't want to play piano anymore' moaning... I am not trying to hothouse the kids into the next Mozart, I would basically like them to learn to have [i]fun[/i] on an instrument but also learn how to play it properly and read music fluently. I didn't start playing till i was 20, and never learned theory or how to read music. How do you keep your kids interested?! How do you strike a balance between 'fun' and 'you must sit down and do 20 mins practice every day'?! How do you decide if it's really not for them or they are just being lazy because it's actually quite difficult?! Ted

i find strings rather than necks to be the thing that sets of my tendonitis, have you experimented with lower tension strings? if i use anything other than thomastik flats i get problems. Re. basses - Fender PB70 precision available new from japan has a 40mm nut. I have a 32" scale fender precision with 39mm nut, but they are very difficult to find. My 57ri JV fender squier precision has a 42mm nut but the neck is amazingly slim and nice, so don't know if other 57ri basses are like this?

i've been rubbing small amounts of stuff into the strings every evening and then playing it - moisturising lotion, olive oil, left over bits of chicken grease, buttery fingers etc. then wiping off with some kitchen roll. sounds weird but it works a treat. i reckon they sound about two years old already!

As an experiment I've just replaced my TI Flats with some DR Sunbeams. My initial reaction is that I can't really stand the sound, its like a piano... But I have played and liked the sound of very old roundwounds. Is there any way I can speed the ageing process of these up? They are nickel, roundcore. Ted

good tips... this is exactly what the crowd will look like:

I put the Fender vintage p-bass pickup in my MIJ precision and i'm very happy with it. Costs £56 + post from thomann and you get the brass base plate + cloth covered wiring. Didn't try any others out to compare.

i think the kids have got this, i'll nab it

I've been asked to DJ at a friend's 40th in a couple of weeks, i've got the 'keen when drunk' slot (11pm to 1am). I'm going for the very well trodden angle of 'brilliant records that most people know', eg: [i]Kiss (Prince), Fools Gold (stone roses), Can't you out of my head (kylie), Thinking of you (sister sledge), Tainted Love (soft cell), Once in a lifetime (talking heads), Don't FIght It Feel It (Primal scream), Can U feel it (mr fingers), Losing my edge (lcd soundsystem), Superstition (Stevie W), [/i] you get the idea... Trouble is I don't have anything from the past 10 years! (jazz and old soul has taken over my interests!) What are the 'big dancefloor hitters'? ! I can pick them up from iTunes and pretend I know what I'm doing. Suggestions appreciated Ted

Pick playing is great. I've also been trying out using my first finger like a pick. The advantage being that I rarely drop it...

Very sad news. I recently discovered 'Faces In Reflection' from the early 70s and it was a music changing moment for me. One of those albums so good that I had to buy it twice. Keyboards on it are unbelievable (as is the rest of the musicianship).

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1375266215' post='2158953'] I think there are some fantastic examples of 'lazy' grooves in The Meters, Sissy Strut for one, and I think the drums and bass feel like they are sort of pulling in opposite directions a tad on that one too. Funky as hell though... [/quote] now we're talking

i've got the same model bass as this and its the total dogs b+ll+cks. i think mine is JV 7xxxx serial (i don't have it to hand) and it has original cloth covered wiring, raised A pole pieces and sounds amazing. it has the thinnest P neck i've held - 42mm but thin front to back.

excellent stuff in this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HvPxNW7iyY