Len_derby

I agree with Cocco. I'm a big fan of Yamaha basses (and guitars) and I've got a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz that, at £180 second-hand, is seriously good. If you're ever down Derby way drop in and have a try.

A drummer friend of mine also met his wife on a cruise whilst he was in the band. So beware! There are several members of this forum who have relevant experience, so hopefully they'll be along soon. Me, I get seasick far too easily to ever think of it.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1355934815' post='1904725'] As a writer myself (oooer! did I say that out loud?), I can sympathise with the difficulties that journalists face in trying to tell the same stories again and again (try writing 440 pages on one musician without repeating yourself......(you can't )). Learned bass off my dad/brother/sister/friend.... First bass was .... Main influences are .... Favourite bass/amp/pedal.... Latest recording is... what it is like playing for *insert name of megastar in here.... ...where else can anyone go? I stopped buying music magazines a long time ago and gave my old back issues away to someone on here (I think he was called Jake?). I found that I was just reading the same things over and over and over again. Maybe everyone just uses them at a certain point in their development and then moves on. [/quote] I'm a subscriber and, for now, will continue to be so. But, maybe there just isn't enough material to publish a quality bass magazine of that kind each month. Personally I enjoyed BGM more when it was out every two months.

'I wish' by Stevie Wonder.

I've bought two Yamaha electro-acoustic guitars from the CPX range. They're both excellent value for money.

Congratulations on the all-clear. I've always thought that cymbals are the worst culprit. It's that ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz aftermath. You do wear ear protectors don't you?

Colin Hodgkinson for me too. I first saw him with Back Door around the time of their first album. In a sweaty club in Derby called Cleopatra's. I've still got a bootleg on cassette of a subsequent gig they did at the same place.

I've got this book about his bass playing. It's pretty good. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paul-McCartney-Bassmaster-%2522Beatles%2522-Basslines/dp/0879308842/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354974915&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paul-McCartney-Bassmaster-%2522Beatles%2522-Basslines/dp/0879308842/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354974915&sr=1-1[/url] 'Might not be too late to get it on your letter to Santa.

The Keith Richards autobiography is very good. I mostly enjoyed the Bill Bruford autobiography. It made me laugh, although I'm not sure that was Mr. Bruford's intention. Of recent books, Neil Young's sutobiography looks interesting. There's also a very new biography of Springsteen out which seems very well regarded. An old favourite is 'Deep Blues' by Robert Palmer. A well written and concise histoy of the birth of the genre. Finally I recommend 'How Music Works' by John Powell. A brilliant small paperback that explains music from the perspective of physics. Very readable (I've only got 'o' level science) and gave me several 'light-bulb' moments.

I use a LM III sitting atop a Barefaced Big One (with the vintage fabric front). It doesn't look 'traditional', but I'm not generally looking in that direction.

More than I used to. I'm making a concerted effort to increase the amount of singing I do, including doing lead vocals on a couple of numbers. The effort of trying to sing and play has led to more 'misfingerings'. It's annoying, but hopefully worth it in the long run.

Hello Gordon. I've used String Express several times over the last 5 years. Never had any problems.

Greetings Kyboo, Congratulations on choosing such a noble instrument. Firstly, it is possible to dip a toe into playing with other people without having to buy amplification. Open mic and jam nights tend to provide everything but instruments. Aslo, most rehearsal rooms have amps that can be hired. They do around here anyway. If you decide to buy your own two big things need to be considered; storage and transport. For example, if you live in a small flat up a flight of steps and you don't have a car things can get a bit tedious. If you go for it there are plenty of smallish combos and amp head/speaker cabinet combinations that will be suitable. There are some fantastic bargains to be had from the 'for sale' sections on this forum. Do have a go at playing with other people. It'll bring you on quicker than anything else. Plus, it's great fun and will open up a whole new world of possibilities.

Greetings from a fellow Derberian.

[quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1353788989' post='1878544'] Such a cliche analogy! I have a better one. Rock guitarists are like owners of "supercars". All that power and performance that they can never use legally. Driving around in a 200mph rocket ship (in a country with a 70mph speed limit) that has only two seats and doesn't have the space to carry a set of golf clubs! As a 4x4 owner I hear all the rhetoric, but In another few weeks I'll be towing blokes like you out of ditches! [/quote] I'll be very happy to take the tow! I did say [i]urban[/i] roads on purpose. Anyway, what good is a cliche without a regular airing?

Electric guitars in music seem to be like 4WD vehicles on urban roads. Perfectly valid things in their own right, but seem to attract infantile owners. Anyway, there's a fantastic world of music without screaming b'Jesus guitars in it. I love playing with the ceilidh band and a I'm currently rehearsing with a piano trio for some Christmas shows. Heaven, with no ear-plugs.

[quote name='bob_pickard' timestamp='1353746443' post='1877970'] +1 for the Yamaha - nice bit of kit.[b] Have a look at some of the behringer all in one box models[/b] as well, cheaper than the Yamaha, not as good but they'd probably do the job for you. [/quote] I've got a Behringer PMX2000 10-channel mixer/amp that I got for a ridiculously low price second-hand. It does vocals perfectly well for smaller venues. Over the years I've found that Behringer stuff, providing it makes it out of the factory properly QC'd, does a good job for the money. A bit like the British car industry was last century. Having said that, I've never bought a Yahama product I've been disappointed with.

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!