ambient

[quote name='Lightlyseared' timestamp='1476224286' post='3152552'] I'll give these a go if I can find some. [/quote] Bass direct stock them.

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1476212752' post='3152426'] I didn't say that Moondance isn't a great song, [/quote] But it isn't, it's awful. 😊

Would you glue a rock to the front of your bass ? He calls it a 'modification', I'd call it vandalism. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Modulus-6-String-Bolt-On-Neck-Bass-Guitar-/262668330814?hash=item3d2840a73e:g:H7oAAOSw8w1X-~n5"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Modulus-6-String-Bolt-On-Neck-Bass-Guitar-/262668330814?hash=item3d2840a73e:g:H7oAAOSw8w1X-~n5[/url]

My current solo bass set up is quite simple. I used to have a whole pedalboard of delays, reverbs etc. Now I'm just using my fretless 6 string Roscoe bass, into an Apogee One interface, into a MacBook pro. The treated signal then goes back out via the Apogee into my Markbass combo. I want to be able to also route my bass straight to the combo. The signal from the MacBook will still need to be able to get through though, playing soundscapes that I've created using the bass. It needs to be as simple as possible. Any suggestions please ?

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1476182526' post='3151981'] There's a difference between not liking, being indifferent and being too picky and choosy. I've come across musicians who just won't play certain tunes for no other reason than they don't like the artist. Put 4 people like that in the room and you start to severely limit the music you're going to play. Playing in a band is all about compromise, if the members of the band aren't going to compromise on anything then you won't get anywhere. [/quote] Exactly. Almost every band I play for does at least one tune that I hate, you just have to play it. There's usually something you can get from playing a song you hate, maybe the guitarist or sax will play a nice solo or something. I'm lucky that I have a creative outlet in my own solo bass stuff.

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1476173904' post='3151885'] Really interesting thread that puts a lot into perspective. I've been feeling a bit concerned recently that I think I may have the start of arthritis in my hands but to hear what some of you guys deal with and still keep going.... My band just had it's 21st anniversary of our first gig this summer. Stopped counting at 1000 gigs about 5 years ago although that number is increasing at a slower rate these days with family commitments so down to around 20-30 gigs a year these days with 153 being our busiest year about 15 years ago. Right now we've got a few weeks off. Our last gig was 10th September and our next is 22nd October and it's driving me absolutely freaking nuts. I honestly found quitting smoking easier than this! [/quote] Have you seen your doctor about your hands ? I remember seeing a tv show years ago about Les Paul. He gave up playing at one point, and started to develop arthritis. He went to his doctor who advised him to start playing again.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1476143019' post='3151792'] I think I'm with you on this one... I keep getting flashbacks to Saturday's gig... I'm so happy he was a lefty, as otherwise I'd have tried that bass, and I might now be out there selling my body to get the funds [/quote] I've never actually played one. The guy who owned my Roscoe had a 6 string version that looked immensely beautiful.

I think the posting of Wal based threads should be banned .

Everyone learns in different ways, and wants and only really needs to learn what they need given their circumstances. As long as you yourself is happy, that's all that matters. Like on the have you ever gigged thread. Why should you gig if you're quite happy not doing so.

[quote name='ians' timestamp='1475751628' post='3148420'] Ok lets say you decide to have a go at bass and you learn to play simple two time from say C to G country style which simple as it is one would more than likely 'understand'....is that not playing an instrument irrespective of how you went about learning the piece. [/quote] I remember one of my teachers saying to me once, he could play Frere Jacques on pretty much any instrument, but that could only actually play piano. I guess what he was alluding to, was just because you can play a tune on an instrument, that doesn't necessarily make you a player of that instrument.

Are Tanglewood actually made in the UK ? I can see a time where it will end up being more expensive making items abroad and importing them into the UK. I think that's already the case with some items.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1476103592' post='3151263'] BTW how do you tell whether they key is the major or the minor one that uses the same notes? [/quote] You can generally tell by the chords.

[quote name='naxos10' timestamp='1476081748' post='3150975'] Unfortunately I think a lot of people forgot that for Brexit to work we have to buy more British goods. The good thing is that for bass guitars we have some first class manufacturers/luthiers in this country, just think of the ones on this site. [/quote] Do we have a large scale producer in the U.K. ? The ones I know of are small scale and expensive. The parts that they use, pickups and preamps for example tend to be made in the USA, bartolini etc. Then there are the woods. I think that we'll see already expensive instruments getting more expensive.

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1476100783' post='3151218'] Well, most UK bass builders are, AFAIA, towards the top end of the market, in which case I imaging the cost of the parts is a relatively small part of the cost (labour being the largest part). So price rises for the whole instrument should be considerably less than the change in the exchange rate, unless people cry 'Brexit' and put their total price up by the exchange rate change! Also the exchange rate changes will make British manufactured parts cheaper to source so,,[i] in the longer term,[/i] once things adjust, you might find bass parts being manufactured here in the UK, and even exporting abroad. I work in machine tools and we can already see increased interest in our products from abroad. Don't want to get into the politics of Brexit here, just saying that a low currency value can work both ways. Also, some Chinese stuff is sh*te, but a lot of it isn't. [/quote] As long as the materials that the parts are made from aren't imported.

If anyone is planning on buying something made in the US, then they maybe better do it soon. According to what I was reading a couple of days ago, the pound is expected to continue falling, they're even saying it could reach parity with the dollar. It'll certainly be parity with the euro sooner or later.

Three of the jazz bands that I gig with, comprise of guys well into their 70s. The guitarist in the one band is 86, though he doesn't gig nowadays, but he still teaches, and loves to play still. Playing music is my life, it's about all that I'm any good at. I fully intend to play until a time when I can't hold an instrument. I'm vegan, I don't smoke, and have never drunk alcohol. I try and practice yoga every day, and meditate. When I had my blood pressure tested back in March it was that of a fit and healthy 17 year old. I know that none of this really means anything, and that illness can strike anyone, I fully intend to stay as fit and healthy as is possible.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1476049538' post='3150895'] For those that don't know, I'm 63 and plan on staying in the game for another 10 years. What else would I do? Blue [/quote] Only another 10 years ? I bet, (hope) you're still doing in another 20 years.

[quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1476049101' post='3150888'] I guess it's because Bass is typically an accompanists instrument - ie it exists to back up another musician/s. Of course there are honorable exceptions, but for most of us who gig, we're there to make the Guitarist look good... [/quote] You should have been at my gig last night. A bass duo sounding nothing like a bass duo, and 2 solo bassists. I know what you're saying though.

Nobody has to do anything. A couple of the guys that I teach will never gig, they just love playing,it's their hobby. If you can afford to buy nice instruments, then why not ?

Richard Barbieri in Birmingham next month.

Where are you applying to ? When I auditioned I had to play something of my choosing, and everything else was their choice, with them supplying the backing track. I guess this was so everyone was on a level playing field. We were given the chart and had ten minutes to prepare it, then had the audition. There were sections of sight-reading and sections with just chords for me to play my own lines.

[quote name='zbd1960' timestamp='1475958138' post='3150139'] I also play cello and tenor sax. The music world isn't very large and I've had a few calls over the last couple of years to dep in various concerts for several orchestras (I should be doing one tonight in Kidderminster, but I decided I needed a rest). Now, I don't want to imply I'm a genius, I'm not - I'm around grade 6 or 7 on cello, but my sight-reading is pretty good (because I'm an experienced choral singer and used to reading lots of stuff). I've done a lot of theory (because I like doing it). The end result is I can go to one of these gigs and do a decent job - I'm not being held back by my reading and the theory means I'm not thrown by weird things happening (e.g. odd time signatures or performance direction e.g. bowing spiccato or col legno as happened with a piece of Piazolla recently ([url="https://youtu.be/dMXoyJ8P1oE"]Tangazo[/url])). But, that's me. [/quote] Exactly, it all opens doors for you. I came to bass playing via playing violin at school, then classical guitar. I had weekly lessons for both instruments, learning to read etc. When it came to playing bass, I expected to be given charts to read from, it never occurred to me that you could play any other way.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1475955852' post='3150117'] That's great, and I'm sure no one begrudges you that. All that the theorists are saying is that for those of us who are [i]not[/i] content to rest on our laurels, learning theory is the way to progress. Personally, while I enjoy playing and gigging, I always want to be just that little better than I presently am. I'd hate to be so happy with it, that I had no goals to strive for. I'd be bored out of my tree in no time. YMMV. [/quote] That's pretty much something that I said in another thread the other day. This was the reply: [i][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Yea, its the new obsession . You have to be better,bigger, stronger, faster, fitter, blah. blah.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]No you dont. You only have to be happy and healthy. If you are happy with how and who you are, no matter how average, then you have cracked the meaning of life.. If you are not happy cos you are constantly striving to be perceived as "better" at something, so much so you cant accept or enjoy what you already have, then I am truly sorry for you.[/font][/color][/i]

Spirit of eden is one of my very favourite albums.