Clarky

In my case its because I can't keep a beat

I am down to two basses from - at one stage - about six or seven. If my Jazz sells, I will be down to one. I agree, the more distractions from actually playing and practicing the less likely you are to progress

I would love to have one of these to noodle on - an Alembic Brown Bass which are $7k+ new and so out of sensible reach [attachment=146652:14143_45viewL.jpg]

Hmmm, Laurence is very talented (he did some great work for me on the neck of a bass) but he is a one-man outfit and at least when I visited he seemed to have quite a lot on. Also his workshop is tucked away in a corner of Clapham which is would be pretty hard to get to without a car (and very pricey with a taxi from central London). Aren't the much more convenient bigger outfit the Martins a better option in your circumstances?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1382361216' post='2251133'] That's where you went wrong, Clarky. Packages with 'Fragile' stickers on them get singled out for 'special treatment'. [/quote] If you read Lord of the Rings, you would know "Fragile - musical instrument" translates in Orc-ish to "Kick sh*it out of this, by order of Mordor"

Last month I sent an EUB to BC'er Beedster (London to Wales) via ParcelForce (the only company that offers a 'large box' service). I put very prominent stickers on both sides of the box saying "Fragile - musical instrument". So Mrs Beedster comes home and finds a shredded box in her garden, with a big hole in one side, packing material blowing everywhere, and sat in the pouring rain. A covered porch was 10 feet away. Furthermore they forged Beedster's signature to pretend he had accepted delivery. Utter disgrace. Fortunately the bass was so heavily packed and solid it was unharmed. Otherwise this would really have kicked off

This thread needs Bilbo

Scott LaFaro's reconstructed bass (as Danny Thompson won't be selling 'Victoria' any time soon!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fqQ9dCk9oU http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I5-PgCFlx1k#t=10

I've just signed up for the double bass course and wondered if any other BassChat DBer is attending? http://www.sorefingers.co.uk/

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1382295351' post='2250319'] I will start by saying that I have no issue with people liking or playing jazz. But I hate it. It grates.It's just wrong.Each to their own, but it's not for me. [/quote] There are a zillion types of music that fall under the grouping'Jazz'. Wes Montgomery playing guitar, Ornette Colman playing free jazz, Bill Evans' piano trios, big band jazz like Duke Ellington, bebop like Charlie Parker, the 60s experimentation of Miles Davis and so on. I am non-plussed by some of it, love some of it (eg Bill Evans), hate lots of it (free jazz etc) but its a hell of a broad grouping. Do you really hate all of it?

To be serious, I think its just because it doesn't follow simple verse, chorus, verse, chorus etc and therefore becomes somehow mysterious, intellectual and 'pseud-y' to many. Probably the same would apply if you played some of the prog rock excesses (eg, 'Tales of Topographic Oceans') to many people. The fact it routinely has the p*ss taken out of it in populat culture ("Nice ...") probably doesn't help either.

Its just to wind up Bilbo

I've not had the work done myself but I'm pretty certain - judging by the patchwork on my 1880s flatback - that my bass has been through similar misfortune and has come out fighting. What about DB luthiers Thomas Martin, aren't they in your neck of the woods?

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1382262363' post='2249727'] Oh come on guys, have you never seen a Stanley Clarke Daisy Rock before? [/quote] Is that Lahn-daan rhyming slang, Jack?

Really sorry Lozz, would love to see the Tuesday Club live but have longstanding posh dinner booked at other end of town. Hope it's a good un, I really like the venue

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/guitare-basse-lutherie-stanley-clarke-signature-short-scale-30-/251361093846?pt=FR_YO_InstrumentsMusique_Guitares&hash=item3a8649e8d6

I would normally tend to support this programme, despite the detractors, as I have discovered a number of acts I would never have heard of (eg Urban Species) but the one tonight was poor. Passenger (whingey solo artist, we play with loads of people like this unfortunately), John Newman (Antony & The Johnsons' vocals only less interesting), Lloyd Cole (bitter and a bit sad) etc etc. Really pretty disappointing

Sorry I can't make it John. Mrs C "has plans" and I am her gimp