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[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1373529' date='Sep 14 2011, 06:41 PM']Thanks for that, mate. Note to self...don't post when you've got a bad back.[/quote] That's me out for ever then (thank God say some... ).....

Ahh, Simone....

[quote name='mrtcat' post='1371944' date='Sep 13 2011, 03:12 PM']Hi all, After some advice rom other band players. We have a decent drummer in our band. Playing wise he's great, really solid and puts a lot of energy into our sound. The problem is that when we're not playing he's a total headache. Firstly he's got an obsession with money. We are a pub rock band playing classic rock covers. We always get our £250 asking price and I believe that's more than many of our rival bands get. Drummer however is now insisting we charge £300 - £400 a night. If we play O'Neills we can get that much but most of our gigs are regular pubs. I don't think we'll get that much and end up pricing ourselves out of gigs. Next issue is that he goes on to our online calendar and blanks off masses of dates well in advance. This means we already only have a maximum of 30 gigs a year for 2012. We will fill them but he's blanking off dates that he has no plans for just to control how much we play. He has just announced his wife is pregnant and due in march and has said as a result he'll be unavailable in march April and may. Finally he complains about where we play. He only wants to practice one a week tops but can't see why we're not playing the O2 every week. What would you do? He's a bloody good drummer and there's a shortage of them round here.[/quote] Sounds like virtually all the drummers I've ever known.....

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1372268' date='Sep 13 2011, 06:31 PM']Quotes like this really piss me off. "£27 to watch Marcus Miller going slap slap slap slap slap ? No ta.......... " What do these people base their opinions on? A couple of YouTube vids? Something they heard in the pub?[/quote] Its a flippant comment, but with a degree of truth. Marcus does far slap more than your average bloke; it is something he's known for. He often thumbs lines that others might play fingerstyle. But regardless, slapping or no, I think you've got to understand that some people (me included) simply are not fans. I might love Matt Garrison, Chris Squire, Stanley Clarke, Lemmy or Leigh Gorman but I certainly understand that they won't float everyone's boat. FWIW after buying a live Marcus dvd that I really didn't like at all (I expected to be blown away, so I certainly wasn't anti from the start) I spent some time listening to stuff he was on to see if that was it. His playing/sound still doesn't excite me in any way, shape or form (his music generally even less), and yes I've tried, but if I were you I wouldn't lose sleep over it. I doubt you're a big Joey DeMaio fan either. Take a deep breath and some painkillers and count to ten...

[quote name='skychaserhigh' post='1372299' date='Sep 13 2011, 06:49 PM']I'm well aware of what Marcus Miller does and it's just not my thing so to me £27 isn't a bargain at all.[/quote] Yup, this goes for me too. Still, I won't be going anyway so no problem here!

[quote name='silddx' post='1371681' date='Sep 13 2011, 12:47 PM']People appear to talk about shoes a LOT more than they do about walking. So what?[/quote] Game, set and match methinks....

I often wonder about what the internal selection process is for the music you relate to. I grew up in the 60s/70s. In my childhood the only music we had in the house was jazz (I remember winning an Elton John single at school and my dad wouldn't let me play it when I got it home). So, anything that wasn't jazz I was only exposed to on the radio (infrequently). The only things that really stuck with me - we're talking late 60s here - were essentially harmony-vocal artists; Simon & Garfunkel, Mammas & the Pappas, the Beatles (obviously) etc, with a little bit of the Doors thrown in, although I doubt I knew who they were at the time. That continued on through ABBA and still informs much of what I like and write. Despite this being a popular time for Motown, I just don't remember being exposed to it, or when I was in didn't stick with me at all. I feel the same about it now. I recognise its impact and influence, but I must admit it still doesn't really touch me in any way; neither does much of the music derived from it. EDIT: With the exception of Reach Out I'll Be There.....

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1371379' date='Sep 13 2011, 07:40 AM']Yes, aboyna burl. Very nice! I like the flamed sycamore back too. The wood choices are great. Every bit of the bass feels magnificent. When I order my next ACG I plan to drive to Moffat to select the woods with the help of Alan.[/quote] Alan's a great bloke so you you should have fun; just ask my mates Stu and Dave! I was hoping to get one at some stage but a new house purchase has put paid to that for the forseeable....

[quote name='jacko' post='1370009' date='Sep 11 2011, 11:49 PM']If it's moved to november 6th then I'm out. Had the october weekend booked and a car load of bassists happy to travel. Nov 6th I have a gig. Shame to move it just to get marcus. He's good..... but not that good :-)[/quote] 6th November? I should be going to see KT Tunstall that night, so I'm out if that's the case. Not that I'm bothered about Marcus anyway (I'd far, far, far sooner see KT), I just hope they don't get Matt Garrison, who I [i]would[/i] be very bothered about......

[quote name='icastle' post='1370791' date='Sep 12 2011, 05:30 PM']I guess it kinda depends which angle you come at it from. From a 'performer' point of view it seems totally odd to me, but from a 'non performer' point of view it probably doesn't seem too bad. [/quote] I kind of look at it in the same vein as making models or painting. You might not care whether anyone sees the results (in fact in some cases you might prefer it if they didn't, for whatever reason) but that's no reason not to put everything into it. But then as you've probably guessed I'm rather fond of antisocial hobbies.

[quote name='Mykesbass' post='1370757' date='Sep 12 2011, 05:04 PM']And fair play to you for being that way. I'm personally probably not of an artistic enough bent to appreciate that aspect of it - I'm more of a bit of an old tart of a performer (think Bruce Forsythe rather than Van Gogh)! Both as valid in my book and far more important than the gear etc.[/quote] Well TBH before I got into music (playing & writing) I spent most of my time painting, drawing and making models (yep, nerd alert); even studied fine art at college (Tracey Emin was at our place...). Music to me was just another form of self-expression. Half the time it drives me mad, but I can no more stop writing/playing than I can stop going to the toilet. In both cases, it's just something that comes out of me. That's not to say that I can't perform (although I'm sure it would say otherwise in the News of the Screws) or that I can't enjoy performing, just that it's got very little to do with why I play. Its simply a by-product. Although I don't enjoy it very much nowadays if I'm really honest.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1370826' date='Sep 12 2011, 06:01 PM']Once again it all comes down to personal taste what you are interested in. For me the main value of this site is to find out about gear and look at pretty pictures of shiny basses.[/quote] Yup, me too.

[quote name='paul h' post='1370640' date='Sep 12 2011, 04:13 PM']It's all in the stubs.[/quote]

[quote name='paul h' post='1370629' date='Sep 12 2011, 04:03 PM']Where were you the multiple times I have been completely hounded on here for saying the same thing? I once had the cheek to say that my set up was sounding a bit too rock and hence I found myself playing too "rock" in response. All I got was page after page of "it's all in the fingers." And every single person who said it had gear worth many thousands of earth pounds! [/quote] Funny how that happens isn't it? Personally I think anyone who insists on using that eternally hideous quote (IMO) should have said digits removed...with pliers.

[quote name='icastle' post='1370546' date='Sep 12 2011, 03:22 PM']I think the oddest thing I've seen on here are a few bedroom players who insist on dismantling everything in sight to perform upgrades that are either impractical, doomed to failure or pointless at this point in their life as a player because, at least for now, nobody ever hears what they actually do.[/quote] Ah, but I don't think that actually matters. If it interests them to do so I understand it completely. As I stated above, although it's nice for people to hear my songs I write & record them to satisfy something in myself, not to entertain others.

[quote name='Paul S' post='1370531' date='Sep 12 2011, 03:10 PM']I find all the subtle variations in the instruments interesting. So I guess all the ancillary stuff has gained a life of it's own - possibly beyond even the life of my playing, I don't know.[/quote] Oh, so true....

[quote name='Mykesbass' post='1370612' date='Sep 12 2011, 03:55 PM']Wholeheartedly agree - all the gear, practice and technique and even musical style to a certain extent means very little to me if you can't get out there and make some people happy.[/quote] Except in my case it's about making [i]me[/i] happy as I write, record and play for myself first and foremost ...

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1370473' date='Sep 12 2011, 02:26 PM']IMO the actual music you play to other people (whether recorded or live) is the most important thing. Practising and gear are simply means to that end.[/quote] Big +1.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1369790' date='Sep 11 2011, 08:13 PM']Wow, was it wafer thin? Glad you enjoyed the Sei. That said, I wouldn't make the ACG lighter if I had the choice. It feels wonderfully substantial without being heavy. It's just right! [/quote] The body was mainly light alder and the neck was Ibanez SR-thin. Martin's very careful about body thickness so doubtless that was also a factor. Always loved the top wood (amboina IIRC) on your bass.

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1370074' date='Sep 12 2011, 07:48 AM']I`ve a permanently bad shoulder, so you could say every gig I`ve done since 2001 has been with a bad back. Stretching exercises can really help, as does having a hot shower, then finishing with cold water. Brisk, but helps. Down-sizing gear also helps greatly, I`ve now gone Barefaced, after having Ampegs & Marshalls, and my back is so much the better for it. Another thing that I`ve found is adjust your strap length to how it suits your back, not your playing. I have my bass slung low, and though it looks cool, it`s harder to play like that, but it benefits my back, so it stays like that.[/quote] Strangely showers & baths seem to make me worse. I also have to wear my bass lower than I'd like. If I wear it at my proper height I find my arms don't seem to function properly anymore. Played a gig like that a couple of years back; that was fun. Couldn't execute anything with any accuracy whatsoever.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1369767' date='Sep 11 2011, 07:56 PM']I pulled my back yesterday while loading gear in. Three hours plus in a cramped minibus. Two hour set set with an 11-pound bass to support. Over three hours back home and unload gear. Agony today. Anyone done a gig with back pain?[/quote] Been playing with chronic back & neck pain since 1996. I have it every single day, most of every day. It affects every single thing I do, sitting, standing, playing, cooking, washing up, sleeping, walking, etc etc etc. People who have had a back twinge now & again have no concept of what it's like for some of us (and there are people on here far worse than I am).

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1369597' date='Sep 11 2011, 05:19 PM']If you look at the bass Peter posted above (which I now own), thats a great example of how good a singlecut can be. It's not heavy. My Zoot bass is heavier, when on paper it shouldn't be, as they both have mahogany bodies but the Zoot has a carbon fibre neck! Often it's not so much an issue of weight as it is balance, and this ACG here balances perfectly. The body appears slightly elongated when you look at it when it isn't strapped on. In practice, this results in the bass sitting in a very ergonomically friendly position. Out of my three current basses it is the most comfortable to play for long periods. As for the neck access issue, it's not a problem. You soon adapt to having your thumb in the correct place even if you've hung your thumb over the neck for years. Does it make a difference to the tone? I'm not sure as this is the only ACG bass I've really played. Surely it must do though. It looks great, sounds great, plays great and thus I'm sold on singlecuts!* *In truth though, I've always had a soft spot for them.[/quote] FWIW, whilst Peter's old bass (which I've spent some time with) was certainly not particularly heavy, my Sei Melt singelcut was waaaay lighter. As Peter says, it's dependent on what woods it's made of, body thickness etc, same as any other bass. I picked up a Mayones in the Gallery recently expecting it to be light and it was far heavier than my old Sei was. My Sei was possibly the most comfortable bass I've ever played, and I've played a [i]lot[/i] of basses! The rear cutaway was fantastic too. I have a problem that some don't in that when using "proper" thumb position, as I have "Jaco" thumbs I need a little more space, and I found that to be the best s/cut cutaway I've played.

[quote name='neepheid' post='1359582' date='Sep 2 2011, 10:28 AM']The notion that an instrument is somehow automatically better than another because of where it's made is nonsense in my opinion. There are only two types of bass - good basses and bad basses. Good basses can be made anywhere, as can bad basses.[/quote] Absolutely.

[quote name='bigjohn' post='1365558' date='Sep 7 2011, 06:36 PM']I go into music shops irregularly. I expect to try all sorts of stuff I've no intention of buying. I sometimes buy stuff I had no intention of buying. I'm very respectful to the stuff, but not necessarily to the price tag.[/quote] This, except I [i]usually[/i] have an intention of buying if I like it sufficiently. I treat most trips to music shops (although bass-wise I tend to shop in the Gallery; vintage Ric stuff is usually online) as fact-finding missions unless I'm after something specific, which is seldom. I live in hope of being pleasantly surprised by some piece of kit. My very first trip to the Gallery prompted me to order a 6 string Sei shortly after so although I often spend quite a bit of time browsing and trying stuff I do definitely buy if I really like.

Apples and oranges, to be honest....