Len_derby

I never really considered them until I bought a '57 RI precision with both front and back ashtrays. To me, it looks so lovely I don't want to take them off. Unless I'm playing fretless I tend to avoid playing open strings so any damping I do can be via the fretboard hand.

I've just bought a book off Jamie which arrived with a promptness that defies the laws of physics. Great transaction and top bloke all round.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1352749946' post='1867023'] Pitch it roughly in my direction , it won't need to be perfect. [/quote] No! This way! Throw it this way!

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1352674392' post='1866070'] Definitely. [/quote] Yep. There's a massive amount of cultural baggage attached to the banjo. Not all of it good. I've found that a neutral reaction to a banjo is rare. People tend to go either or . I try to use mine in a blues/gospel way. Inspired by the playing of Otis Taylor. A 2008 cd of his 'Recapturing the Banjo' was a great inspiration. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Recapturing-The-Banjo-Otis-Taylor/dp/B0010VD7FS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1352674797&sr=8-3"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Recapturing-The-Banjo-Otis-Taylor/dp/B0010VD7FS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1352674797&sr=8-3[/url]

I started a thread on the 'Other Instruments' bit. It's called Dirty Banjo Habit. Come and join in! Anyway, I recommend this website [url="http://www.andybanjo.com/index.html"]http://www.andybanjo.com/index.html[/url] Not only does he sell a good selection of instruments (I got mine from there), but there's a very good section on background info. Choosing the appropriate type of banjo for your musical interests and ambtions is critical IMO. Banjo - great instrument.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1352641336' post='1865430'] IME most of the cheaper design and construction techniques that lead to an acceptable 4-string bass, simply don't produce a 5-string bass with a useable low B string. [/quote] This is a gut-feeling I had. It's interesting to hear it from an experienced 5 string player.

My perception is that you have to pay more to get a decent 5 string bass compared to a 4 string. For example, I might expect to pay £x for a good 4 string but more for a 5 string of equivalent quality. Am I right? If so, why is that? Is it because fewer 5 strings are in the market place or is there some inherent weaknesses or problems associated with 5 strings? Particularly at the cheaper end. I would expect prices to be higher for a 5 string because of the extra materials involved but I think the price difference is higher than that.

Ouch. That sounds awful, but I think most of us have been in a similar situation to some degree. The question I always come back to in a band is 'am I enjoying doing this?' Because, if the answer is 'no' something has to change. Assuming we play live to spread happiness/good feelings, if we as the musicians aren't feeling good how on earth can we expect an audience (however small) to feel good? There's plenty of good suggestions about the way forward been made already. Good luck!

Some good advice here. In my experience aches and pains are significantly reduced (or disappear) if you can lose excess weight. From your body that is, not just your gear!

Welcome Nico. Enjoy the forum! Len

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1352064327' post='1858401'] That's really cool to know, I've been looking at their twin bass gig bags online... [/quote] Don't rule out the Ritter one. I've been very pleased with mine. if you're ever Derby way pop in and have a look.

You did the right thing by being loyal to your old band and trying to get it on the right lines. Whatever you do now you can do with a clear conscience and your integrity intact. Good luck.

Judging by some of the self-regarding posts on this thread 'full of s**t' might be a good description.

You bet! A bass-players' bass-player. I know exactly what you mean about the dry sound but hadn't seen it described that way before. Of his more recent work I like 'Piety Street' by Jon Schofield. An album that's also got Jon Cleary playing piano on it. A New Orleans funk double whammy!

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1351780441' post='1855294'] Agree with all of the above but it appears to be only me then that gets to play with guitarists who capo at the 2nd fret, play a G major shape and still tell you that "it's in G" [/quote] No, it's not only you.

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1351777504' post='1855231'] I am feeling very lucky as I have never stored my gear anywhere other than garages or outside (speaker cabs in flight cases) and never had any issue with anything at all - that's in 35+ years. Not to say there's no chance of any problem but it simply hasn't been my experience. [/quote] My experience is similar. But I've always covered things, even if it's only been an old dust sheet and make sure things aren't standing directly on the floor.

Guilty as charged M'lud. But unless you're a tribute band, surely evolving 'your' version is better? I recall that in Guy Pratt's autobiography he talks about meeting Jimmy Page and how Jimmy put him right over Led Zepp stuff Guy had been playing wrong for years.

In my main band we do a mixture of originals and covers. We change the proportion of one to the other depending on the venue and the job we've been hired to do. As far as I can recall, we've never done a set that's totally originals or total covers.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1350210821' post='1835745'] The biggest hassle is load out through people who don't want to go home [/quote] True, but at one of the places we play at the locals know that the landlord will keep serving until we've cleared up and gone!

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1350177806' post='1835562'] 5 hours? Luxury! I know this is a long time ago, but many times I've been picked up by the van at 9 am to drive to some wet, cold and very distant place up north. Do the gig and drive home just in time to get into the next mornings rush hour traffic on the M1 coming into London. If you were dropped off before 10 am you'd be one of the lucky ones! Hey Len, did you ever play Clouds in Derby? [/quote] Clouds! Yes, what a place that was. I know 5 hours isn't a big deal, but the pub we played at was 4 miles out of the town we all live in!

Ha ha! I had this very same conversation at the end of a gig last night. Five hours elapsed time from going out to getting home for one hour of playing. I suspect that it's always been the case for musicians. The time spent playing is the tip of the iceberg in respect of the time spent setting up and taking down. At least we have the opportunity to use cars. Once upon a time we would have been vagabond minstrels walking from town to town.

Although I've got some nice basses they're all mass-produced instruments. So I'd like to buy something by a specialist low-volume luthier just to see how it would compare. The Fodera Imperial 5 Elite Spalted Maple on sale from LouLou might be a nice start.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1349974546' post='1833017'] Just trying to see what sort of people these 'play for free type musicians' are. [/quote] Judging from quite a few replies and from my own perspective, it's the same people who also play for money. In some circumstances I play for free. In others, I want payment. It all depends. Personally, I've never nicked anyone's gig by undercutting. Or had it done to me. To be honest, I've not come across it. But maybe I live a sheltered life in a relative backwater. My take on it all is that if any band I'm in can't command the money we think we deserve, then it's our fault, no one elses.

I love it when I get to play for a singer who really knows how to work a song. Recently I played in a trio (Bass, Cajon and acoustic guitar) backing a female singer who did, amongst other things, three Bill Withers' songs back-to-back. Lovely Day, Grandma's Hands and Ain't No Sunshine. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stick up (and they're not many).

I can't see me being able to afford a genuine birth year bass anytime soon. So I've had to be content with a re-issue. As they go, a CIJ re-issue of a'57 Precision ain't too bad.