Clarky

Its really not false modesty to say that I am competent on bass but no more. Thus I tend to watch other bass players with a mix of envy at their greater facility (except for some of the really cr@p punk bassists I have seen!) but also a vague feeling of brotherhood. I am also a gear stalker so will always check out their bass and rig!

Lovely lovely lovely!

2010 has been a tough year for many people (including a number of those on BC) so here is hoping the festive cheer lights up everyone's lives for the next week or two and 2011 turns out to be a year of renewed hope and joy

[quote name='poptart' post='1066658' date='Dec 22 2010, 12:18 PM']Dan The scheme is being changed - as of April/May 2011 the scheme will only be available for 16 - 26 year olds. So you old gits need to get a shake on if you want to use it! Mark[/quote] I'm 47 so perhaps you will give me a 50% discount on the fretless Wal instead?

I can't resist seafoam green and wanted a good Jazz so I recently bought Chris Kelly's 1990s Bacchus 62 Jazz (which actually started life as sonic blue but has faded over the years). This was previously owned by BCer Artisan (who said it was the best Jazz he had ever played) and I can't believe how good it is. Definitely a cut above the Fender MIA Jazzes I have owned and on a par with the much pricier Custom Shop 64 Jazz I briefly owned. These are Chris' photos when it used to be wearing Rotosound Trubass strings (I think) - its now wearing DR Sunbeams and is a dream to play. [attachment=66917:IMG_0016.JPG][attachment=66918:IMG_0018.JPG]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1066200' date='Dec 21 2010, 09:59 PM']And why is the guy in the middle wearing a romper suit?[/quote] So I'm carrying a few extra pounds? Hey its Christmas! Nice beard, Jack

Here's Happy Jack, Warwickhunt and I jamming at a recent BassBash [attachment=66901:Screen_s..._350x263.png]

I predict a sudden upsurge in sales of double gig bags

I had a lovely black Alembic Spoiler (a la Cliff Burton) but had to sell it recently because it weighed 11 pounds. I have a rotator cuff problem in my left shoulder and had a slipped disc around 10 years ago, so its very easy for my back to go into spasm. About 9.5 pounds is as far as I want to go these days and if its less than 9 (like my old 72P and my Pino) all the better. How on earth people manage with some of the 12-13 pound Alembic Series basses I just do not know, unless they bench press!

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1065989' date='Dec 21 2010, 06:20 PM']I think it's a classic side effect of GAS. We want things because we can't afford them. Once you have the cash often you realise that you don't need that extra bass. I don't want for any basses right now but suddenly this week I've been GASing for a huge Orange Rig that I don't need or can't justify. A little bit like indigestion, I hope it'll pass.[/quote] +1 This week I have been gassing for a fretless Wal, lord knows why - maybe its my hero worship of Bilbo Actually its because I have been listening to Percy Jones and because the neck on my fretless Jazz is a little too narrow for my hands. Next week there will be something else (my recurring GAS is for a Tony Franklin fretless in 3TS)!

Love my Fender Pino to bits but I wish I didn't have to take the neck off every time I need to tweak the truss rod (I know it comes with the territory with old Fenders and their replicas but what a design flaw!)

There's always wateroftyne's Caps Locks key. I can't believe thats still here

Just did an amp trade with Lozz (his Terror Bass for my TC Classic 450). Thoroughly friendly guy and even braved the dreadful weather to drive 25 miles from his neck of the woods to my house in London to do the swap. Like the guys above say, highly recommended and trustworthy. Cheers Lozz!

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1064690' date='Dec 20 2010, 02:55 PM']Erm ... I did. Just ignore me. See if I care.[/quote] Did someone say something? [attachment=66838:14tumbleweed.jpg]

El bassissimo, if you please (I'm bored too)

OK, Norwegian jazz time! "Topplue Votter and Skjerf" by Terje Rypdal, Miroslav Vitous and Jack deJohnette is a truly beautiful, haunting track (which makes me think of fjords and misty mornings, but thats just me!). But what really makes it is the double bass playing by Miroslav Vitous, which I think has to be my favourite ever piece of DB playing. Here is a link to a free (slightly lower quality than MP3) version. Just click on "Prelisten Track" [url="http://ligamusic.com/Lyrics/2943917/Terje_...f/download-mp3/"]http://ligamusic.com/Lyrics/2943917/Terje_...f/download-mp3/[/url]

^^^ This until recently, except I was very impressed with 51m0n's demo at the BassBash of how to beef up a bass sound in a noisy band context with a compressor. So I have acquired a Demeter compressor and look forward to giving that a try out when my punk band finally finds a replacement drummer.

'Yesterday is here' by Tom Waits (my band Rattlin Bone does a cover of this live). Beautiful