Clarky

I think the sound is down to gut strings (Golden Spirals) and a very low action. I like it, especially in the slower passages on Village Vanguard when the lower register notes ring out but its a very different sound to steels.

The two Bill Evans trio albums that LaFaro recorded a few days before his untimely death are incredible - Waltz for Debby and Live at the Village Vanguard. Search on YouTube and you can hear them for free. Try Gloria's Step, the title track of Waltz, Milestones or My Romance. Fabulous stuff

You are in luck then as the guy has transcribed all of Scott LaFaro's solos from the Village Vanguard sessions and the book is available on import from the US Me, I'll stick to root- 5th - root - 5th thank you

Rock on! This is a great forum with a multitude of really well-meaning/helpful/empathic people. Love it. Good on ya Gareth and thanks for sharing kennyrodg (PS, terribly sad to hear of your loss)

Scott LaFaro is my all-time fave DB player and the Village Vanguard albums would be on my Desert Island discs. Here is a guy who is playing exactly along to the solo on Gloria's Step, and using the rebuilt Prescott bass played by LaFaro (it was badly damaged in the crash that took his life at just 25 and rebuilt by Kolstein in NYC). Wow! What amazing facility, given that the solo would have been almost entirely improvised by LaFaro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYY0o4qZ0o8

Paging Ricks Fine 52!

[font=inherit][size=4] We have an all-acoustic gig coming up a week Friday in Dalston, London. Its part of a fashion and art evening. If you want filthy rock 'n roll I highly recommend you go see Big Red X's fabulous [i]Dick Venom & The Terrortones[/i] that same night .... but if you want harmonised vocals by two lovely ladies, backed by a melodic mandolin/guitar/upright bass and percussion ensemble and a load of arty, erm, other stuff, come see us![/size][/font] [font=inherit][size=4] Blurb:[/size][/font] [font=inherit][size=4] "[i]Loulou Reloulou is a London based fashion designer who makes clothes for people to share. Her intention being to test social boundaries by forcing intimiate moments between strangers. She will be showcasing her purpose made pieces at Betty's first fashion show and will be inviting others to experience dancing, socialising and partying in her unique way.[/i][/size][/font] [font=inherit][size=4] [font=inherit][size=4] [i]Shaun Lynch is a talented young illustrator who has created several pieces to reflect the concept of this event. This mini exhibition will be launched tonight, and the pieces will remain in Betty's for the following four weeks.[/i][/size][/font] [font=inherit][size=4] [i]Rae Goddard, a regular art contributor to Betty's, will be joining Shaun in one of Loulou's binding outfits, and together they will aim tocapture the essence of the evening with a live art illustration.[/i][/size][/font] [font=inherit][size=4] [i]Music for the night will be provided by All The Queens Ravens. An enigmatic six piece from London fronted by two ladies with a devilish vocal chemistry, creating a flamboyant bi-lingual mix of nu folk and country that elludes to blues gospel and sultry flamenco."[/i][/size][/font] [font=inherit][size=4] http://tweakmusic.co.uk/387/[/size][/font][/size][/font]

Hey Keith, Alan used to do London gigs from time to time with my old DB teacher in the 1990s, Phil Bates. Phil was a right character who sadly died a few years ago but used to play alongside Tubby Hayes and - later - Stefan Grapelli. I saw the Alan and Phil play on a couple of occasions. Hope its a great evening

Kay (as I understand it) were the most popular US ply double basses in the 50s onwards, beloved of rockabilly and C&W/bluegrass bands. Being ply they tend to amplify pretty well (there's less complex stuff going on sound-wise than with a carved bass). Good gigging DB I believe, other than for orchestral players obviously who need more tonal superiority. DB luthiers aren't necessarily expensive (I got my sound post re-set by Malcolm Healey for just a tenner) but it depends on the work needed. Also good DB luthiers are not that easy to find. There's a guy in Clapham (Laurence Dixon), a guy in Maidenhead (Peter Tyler), I think there's also someone Greenwich way, Malcolm Healey is now south of the M25 etc, but really not that many around.

My band's acoustic guitarist is selling his Fishman acoustic preamp pedal but it doesn't have a DI so may not be what you are after. FWIW its here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/184947-guitar-pedals-fs-fishman-acoustic-imaging-dreadnought-boss-digital-delay/page__p__1820711__hl__fishman__fromsearch__1#entry1820711"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/184947-guitar-pedals-fs-fishman-acoustic-imaging-dreadnought-boss-digital-delay/page__p__1820711__hl__fishman__fromsearch__1#entry1820711[/url]

[sup]Sorry can't make it BRX/Mike, we are gigging that night - a rather more sedate affair - all-acoustic gig at Betty's Coffee house in Dalston to accompany a fashion show and art exhibition. Just up Dick Venom's street, or perhaps not[/sup]

My '63 Precision (year of birth). It is quite the nicest playing Precision I've ever had (think its the worn in neck, nearest I got before was a Pino Precision) and the sound is superb (recording engineers seem to like it a lot). This will not leave me. I have two other lovely electric basses - a Jaco fretless and a CIJ Jazz - which I like a lot but neither inspires me like my '63P.

Fab! I still remember my first DB gig, only a couple of years ago. The sense of achievement afterwards was immense. Here's to your expanded musical horizons

Finally our country hoedown number, Eden Project .... unfortunately truncated one minute before the end due to battery failure!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o03aQrzQCok&feature=channel&list=UL

John bought a(nother!) bass from me, this time a rather rare sky blue coloured US Precision. All went well. John is a top bloke

And another, New York Red http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMdfFgY8Aig&feature=channel&list=UL

Here we are playing Ship of Fools at the Half Moon last week. Yes I know I need to work on my technique!!!! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW8W_NPAtdQ&feature=youtu.be[/media] Thanks to Bluejay (Silvia) for the vid

I caught about one-and-a-half sets at the George IV before I had to head back to take over child minding duties. Very tight band and Paul (PTB) is an excellent blues/swing double bass player - some useful pointers to me too on technique as my right hand technique is still too electric bass-y on the upright. Will get practising this weekend!!! Best of luck with rest of gigathon Paul

Good reminder Russ. Been a while for me so I've lobbed some moolah into the kitty

True but they are all slapping against the background of loud guitars and drums. Seems like overkill for a jazz/fusion guy!