thepurpleblob

Soundslive? [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Fender-American-Deluxe-Jazz-Bass-(Upgrade)-MN~ID~6363.asp"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~F...-MN~ID~6363.asp[/url] I've bought a few things over the years on the occasions that Interest Free Credit was available but I don't think I would pay the extortionate standard rates. If I was in a corner I'd shove it on the credit card and then work by posterior off for the next few weeks to raise the dough.

I know the feeling. I seem to make more mistakes on the night than I do in rehearsals. Maybe I just feel it more. I wouldn't give yourself too hard a time. The fact that you obviously care enough to feel the way you do puts you a step above a lot of people.

Small point... people have been talking about the "rules" for sales etc. I'm not completely stupid and I couldn't find them. Which probably means they are too hard to find because I was actually looking and most people won't bother.

I can't understand why you wouldn't put your location. It's the single most annoying piece of information that's missing from loads of ads. A bass isn't the easiest thing to stick in the post and being within reasonable striking distance (or not) can make all the difference. I don't get this thing about security - even the county would do the trick and it's only reducing your personal security if you're on the run from the law or the bailiffs. I think if you are outside the UK you should *definitely* be required to say where you are because this does make a big difference to the complexity of the potential transaction. While we're at it can we ban "no offers" too That just tempts me to PM them with a 50% offer, just to be a twat!!

I've been playing for 10 years and my ear is still crap. But... the good news is that it's better than it was. I'm not sure that I have a coherent theory here but I have a couple of bits of advice.... * Some things are just hard to hear. There's lots of reasons; the bass is low in the mix, the band is out of tune, he's confusing you with technique (lots of notes, bends, slides etc etc), it's a fretless (!). Slowing down software can help but some bits you just have to guess and that's not a bad thing. * Keep trying. Keep learning songs by ear and you *will* improve. It might be slow progress but that's life. Keep at it. * Learn theory, scales, arpeggios etc etc. Knowing what to expect and to be able to try the things they *might* have played is a huge help. Example, if you know the chord is (e.g.) a Cm, what would *you* play over a Cm that fits. Try it... quite often it turns out to be what the guy on the record played. * Getting the chords for the song from a reliable source can be a huge help, especially if you are in a hurry.

I was slightly put off by the recent burst of homo-erotica but, undeterred, here's me and our singer Emily. She's the younger, slimmer, better looking one in case you were wondering.... [attachment=43646:photo.jpeg]

Yeh - I'm completely obsessed by that track too. I vowed to learn it a while back but didn't get that far

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='754802' date='Feb 23 2010, 10:58 AM']Another thing to remember is that specifications change over the years. Yes, it's still called a Fender Jazz Bass, but if you pulled together Jazzes from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s and now the 10s they'll all be noticeably different. For example, from a quick noodle, I know that WoT's 70s Fenders have colossal necks compared to the modern equivalent. Then there's the 70s Jazz bridge pup placement, the early 90s "Boner" Jazz, the reinvention of Fender's basses in the 80s, the latest batch (08/09 onwards) of great necks... all that stuff. If the particular physical characteristics of a "vintage" bass coincide with your personal requirements, and you're interested in the cachet or "cool" or "vibe" or whatever that comes with said bass, then go for it.[/quote] What you say is perfectly true but, on average, surely manufacturers are aiming to make their products better not worse over the years? I guess it's entirely possible that they have fired their R&D department and kept the "cost reduction" department

I'm currently running about 50/50 Interparcel and Parcelfarce. No problems whatever with either. I take the view that if any company looses a 1K bass guitar that was in their care then they're facing a small claims court action, insurance or no

[quote name='silddx' post='753834' date='Feb 22 2010, 02:08 PM']I failed to see any irony too! Cheers.[/quote] Ok, that's it, outside........ (you do know I meant the Antiques Road Show, yeh? Bastion of people desperate to find that their old junk is worth thousands... just checking!)

[quote name='silddx' post='753824' date='Feb 22 2010, 02:01 PM'] [/quote] I was trying for irony.... and obviously failing miserably

[quote name='OldGit' post='753818' date='Feb 22 2010, 01:57 PM']I thought we were talking functions not pubs. Totally different markets / fee structure / expectations[/quote] I don't know that the OP said that explicitly. There are some pubs out there that pay well enough to tempt the "higher-end" functions bands.

Have you watched the Antiques Greed Show on a Sunday night? During the bits were you're not trying to work out if Fiona Bruce is fit or not there's all these bits of old pot that turn out to be work 25 Grand. Twenty-Five-Grand to who? It's still and old plate with chipped edges. I'd rather have a new one out of Ikea for a quid - it does the same job and it doesn't matter if I drop it. Same thing with Basses.... vintage isn't any better 'really' but *anyone* can go and buy a 2010 Jazz Deluxe (or whatever) but if you have a 1962 in some obscure colour it's probably unique. Some people just like that and will pay whatever it takes.

I think some of these replies miss the vital "where in the country are you, factor". There are some smaller pubs up here in Scotland were you would be lucky to get two-hundred quid. For larger pubs two-fifty to three-fifty is probably nearer the range (more down the lower end though). To get into the four, five hundred bracket we'd be looking at busy clubs (miner's welfares and the like). However, these require a substantial PA, lighting and a comprehensive set-list to get any kind of chance. They often are only booked by agents, so there goes another 15%. Obviously weddings, and other "it really matters" style gigs, are a law unto themselves.

This is tempting fate... I'm now waiting for the first.... "I'd been playing for twenty minutes and I could play Portrait of Tracey" (or any other nightmare part you care to mention)