Len_derby

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1327182362' post='1507666'] Easy for you to say! [/quote] Only with my dentures in.

Welcome Greaser. I like your photo. I've got a Squier VM Jazz that looks just the same. I love it.

We have similar problems. The economic situation means all charities are pushing harder for more in a situation where there's less to go around. A lot of the bigger charities now have hard-headed fund raising staff whose paid job it is to squeeze as much revenue as they can. I think that as a consequence all charities have had to raise their game and push harder. Trying to make people feel guility is in the armoury. I think you'll just have to equally 'professional' and politely decline saying you can only do so much and you're already commited to your bands'quota'. What about referring them to other bands you know, maybe less experienced ones who would welcome the exposure. It sounds like you do a lot already. Don't beat yourself up about it.

Wow, Bells catalogues. I spent literally hours reading those as a teenager. I bought a couple of guitars from them. I don't think I've ever seen one since 1976 (when I left home).

It sounds to me like you've been more than reasonable. Walking away with 'diggity is probably best. I can understand it's going to cause a bit of a problem regarding your wife's involvement. I've come across similar (but not as bad) with church bands I've been involved with. They seem to attract meglomaniac n**heads. Are there any other instrumentalists in the outfit? Do they get the same treatment?

[quote name='janmaat' timestamp='1327152970' post='1507057'] Bass banjo, anyone? [b]Dying to build one[/b]. [/quote] Do it, do it! We need a Bass Banjo Build Bulletin!

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1327138580' post='1506775'] French lady turned up with a Hurdy Gurdy. First time I've ever had the opportunity to play along with one. Fantastic bit of kit but fairly limited key-wise. She said she'd paid €1,400 for it as it's "only" an intermediate model!!! [/quote] Yes, amazing things. I played on a multi-act charity do a year back where a chap did a few numbers on one. Supposedly 17th century French folk tunes. The novelty soon wore off.....the bar takings went up though!

My tip would be to start playing with other people. It doesn't really matter what level you are, or think you are. With a bit of effort, and maybe a false start or two you'll find like-minded people at the right level. Set yourself a target of a live 'gig'. It could be a local open mic or even just a friend's or family party. That'll give you a target and a spur. IMHO, particularly as a bass player, it's only when you play as part of an ensemble that the whole thing takes off. Playing music with other people is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1327068936' post='1506003'] [b] there are so many great resources on the interweb for theory and stuff [/b]that i can't imagine why you would need to be taught theory by a person at least to an intermediate level. [/quote] True, but people learn different ways. It's the old 'learning styles' theory. Some people just don't learn by reading. It's nothing to do with intelligence. I think there'll always be a place for personal one-on-one teaching and learning. Even for the very basic stuff.

I've just shown my drumming daughter this vid. She was seriously impressed with that gizmo and the way it was played.

I love Nathan East's playing. If you listen to his stuff with Clapton he's a master of restraint and perfect note-choice. A great example of 'less is more'.

Welcome David, hope you enjoy Basschat. +1 for Jack Bruce. A top musician who always 'goes for it' whatever he's doing. Have you read the book? 'Composing himself'?

Welcome Leon, I'm old enough to understand the KillKraft reference. Mmmmm smell that dope (the kind in bottles, of course) Enjoy the forum!

[quote name='thack' timestamp='1327000176' post='1505078'] Gotta Countryman 5 string to noodle on a few months back to go with my rocking chair. Need a piece of straw, if anyone has got one spare. Also struggling to find a new bridge for it in this backwards hick town of Cardiff. [/quote] Try the website [url="http://www.andybanjo.com/index.html"][color="#0f72da"]http://www.andybanjo.com/index.html[/color][/url]

Agree with the previous posters. Pre-owned is the way to go. I won't say second-hand, because there are some instruments that seem to have been going from Basschater to Basschater for years! Similar to EmmettC, I've only ever bought 2 basses from new, and I'm now well into two-digits for the number I've had. As long as you're sensible you can buy from the vast majority of Basschaters with confidence. But whichever way you go - BUY ONE!

For a bit of variety and fun I bought myself a banjo. I got it from a fella called Andy Perkins who has a really informative website [url="http://www.andybanjo.com/index.html"]http://www.andybanjo.com/index.html[/url] I opted for a four string, set up for 'Chicago' tuning, which is DGBE, same as the top four strings of a guitar. That way, I didn't have to learn a new lot of fingering and could get going straight away. It's only had one public outing so far. A Tom Waits influenced version of 'All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth' at a Christmas party. Any other Banjoids on here?

[quote name='BRANCINI' timestamp='1326792786' post='1501884'] [sub]Used to sell [s]second hand [/s]pre owned furniture & TVs. Heres a tip.[/sub] [sub]Get a spray bottle, sort of thing you buy at the garden centre for 30p. pour in half a cup of [size=5][b]cloudy amonia[/b][/size], add a teaspoon of fairy liquid. top it up with tap water.[/sub] [sub]Spray it on liberally, watch the brown gunge that you didnt realise was there run off for a bit, then wipe it clean and dry. [/sub] [sub]Nothing, but nothing on the market thats anywhere near as good. Some of the syuff we got in was truly disgusting, but always looked and smelled clean afterwards.[/sub] [/quote] Isn't that what most pubs smell of now?

I used to play regularly at a place in Matlock Bath during a time period either side of the smoking ban. About a year before, and then about a year afterwards. Within a month of the ban the function room at the pub changed from the good old ciggy smell to a vile mixture of urine, sweat and mouldy curtains and carpets. An egg-head doctor friend of mine told me that cigarette smoke actually has an antiseptic effect and that the mould spores (now rampant) might be more harmful than the smoke! We packed the gig in soon after (not because of the smell!) so I can't confirm that. We've all got to die of something, so I reckon we just have to make our own informed choices.

Another fan of Japanese Fenders here. I've got a CIJ Precision and Jazz. I have tried all three (MIA, MIM and CIJ) and as far as I'm concerned the Japanese have the most consistency in QC. Also, regarding the Squier VM Jazz. I've got one of those. A great bass for the money.

Welcome Miki. Do you have problems getting to sleep? (3.23am)

A very sad story. It reminds me of what Levon Helm recounts in '[size=4]This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band'.[/size] [size=4]Robbie Robertson managed to get sole writing credits on practically all of the Band's songs, much to the anger and bitterness of the others. It comes across as a very shady and shabby business, but to be fair, I've not seen Roberston's version of the events.[/size] [size=4]I can recommend the above book. A very good musical autobiography.[/size]

It doesn't sound like you were stupid at all. If all you had was a 'random' chord sheet then going in cold and sticking on root notes was probably the safest option. Were they happy with waht you did? If you had no idea of the arrangement of the songs, what the other instruments were going to do etc. I think maybe you did the right thing.

[quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1326228246' post='1494203'] I do think that it helps to stick to one and not keep changing. I really value the consistency on a gig as I find new gear distracting. [/quote] Agreed. I find it really hard for fingering to become automatic/unconcious if I change from one t'other. I think you're setting yourself a real challenge to swop 4 to 5 mid-set. I can't recall ever recall seeing someone do that. But, whoever watches the bass-player anyway?

I've been very pleased with my Squier Vintage Modified (VM) Jazz. There are quite a few fans for this model amongst Basschaters. I picked mine up for under £200 second-hand off this forum. There were a couple around on the For Sale page recently.

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1325784427' post='1487682'] Actually, that is where the word 'gig' originally comes from - it was originally slang for a paying job rather than specifically a concert / performance [/quote] Thanks for that Pete. It's really interesting how the use of words change, and how they come in and out of fashion. I remember seeing in a poem by Rudyard Kipling a reference to soliders 'going large in Aldershot'. Basically, out on the p*ss. That was written about a hundred years ago I think.