FinnDave

When I (and my now-wife) were attended a private prep school in the 60s, we were completely demotivated by our French teacher, a short, stocky German woman, who made sure we had our text books open at the correct page, and then allowed us to do as we pleased. We didn't learn a whole lot of French! Many years later, when I again met the woman who is now my wife, she filled me in on some of the details of that teacher's 'career'. She (the teacher, not my wife) had later served 25 years at Her Majesty's pleasure after beating a shop assistant to death with a hammer. We obviously benefitted greatly from our parents' devoted scrimping and saving to keep us out of the state education system. Motivation for French language learning - zero. But I did learn a fair amount of Finnish as an adult.

Well, the ill-fated gig I referred to above did take place, once we'd found the venue! Sat nav said I was there as I drove along a main road surrounded by fields, eventually found it by trial and error (rather a nice Oxford pub by the river) and a little later the guitarists (travelling separately) arrived. Surprised to find we were outside, squeezed into a small three-side structure, so I couldn't hear anything except drums and one guitar. Apparently sounded fine to the audience, as a couple of local musos we know were there to hear us. Not the best gig I've played, but not the worst either. At least we were spared a gigless weekend.

Welcome to the Oxford Bass Collective, there's quite a few on here from Oxford and nearby. I'm out near Witney (but playing in Oxford tonight).

Well, it seems the cok ups hadn't finished, we had arranged to go and jam at pub and no, just a couple of hours before I set off, I get a call from the BL to say the first pub's just called to him to confirm we're still playing there! Had to make a few calls, get the troops back and ready to play a full gig. At least we'll be getting paid now! And we have our excellent Australian guitarist with us again. 40mins later...now turns out we haven't got a drummer as he had been stood down last night and has taken something else. Going to be an interesting evening! And now we have tracked down a former drummer (probably hiding down the back of the sofa) so I won't be the only member of tonight's rhythm section! It's all go over here in Oxfordshire!!

Seems it may have been a mistake on the part of the band leader, he called last night to tell me it was his fault. Human error I can understand, this doesn't seem to have been a cynical mis-use of bands after all. We'll get together for a jam somewhere tonight, no pay but at least we get play with our Australian friend again before his brief visit is over.

Both good reads, thank you. I've always been a fan of Can, the music doesn't seem to age at all. Interested to hear that Schmidt met Steve Reich, who also knew Phil Lesh, strange how the music that has meant the most to me over the years seems to have so many connections that I didn't know about.

Well, I didn't have anything booked last night, but I do know how my gig tomorrow is going to be - completely silent, as it has just been cancelled. I was offered another gig for tomorrow earlier in the week and turned it down as I was already booked, but now have no gig and no money. Really need to get the 'promotors' to tighten up on this sort of behaviour, it seems to be happening more and more.

I remember you saying you were from Witney, but haven't heard about the explosion, I've only lived here five years, since I moved back from Finland. I grew up in Oxford, so I'm fairly local.

Yep, just outside Witney (Standlake). Don't drink a lot of Hobgoblin myself, but do have a good selection of their T shirts.

They're b0ll0cks too, or at least they are the closest thing to them.

Well, either Discreet's ghost theory is correct, or I'm going blind, because I couldn't see them there earlier. On balance, I think the ghost theory is complete b0ll0cks, so I'd better get back to the opticians!

Yeah, but their cheques bounced!

Yep, the subs are up to date and another bass I have advertised comes up, but not the fenders. I'll re-post them this evening, got to push on with learning material for next Grateful Dudes gig now before my daughters arrive for lunch!

I can still only find my Precision bass for sale threads (two of them) by searching under my name, they do not come up when searching for 'Precision' in the for sale section, so I don't think many people are seeing them. Can something to be to restore their visibility, or would it be better to have them closed and start afresh?

I think your description is short by a few uglies, 3 is not enough to cover that.

I wouldn't question its uniqueness, just be glad there is only one of them.

Maybe because the cases for these are hard to find, expensive and badly made? My last Casady had a case but one of the catches was unreliable right from the start. The case fits the bass well, but is so flimsy, I felt that I needed a second case to keep the case in!

By car, learned to drive as soon as the law allowed so I could get my music gear around.

The non-Fender is probably quite a playable bass....

My 'favourite' changes from week to week, but (bearing in mind I am trying to learn 60+ Grateful Dead songs at the moment) is their 'Sugaree'. Really good swing to the rhythm and great changes into the chorus, with some lovely bass work up the dusty end.

Just got it, it was the Pownall Arms in Bramhall, every thursday evening back in the second half of the 70s. He'd always make time to talk with us and encourage our musical aspirations. So I understand exactly what you mean, and it's good to know he is still playing and hasn't changed. I'll be playing at the birthday bash for the harp player in one of my bands in a week or two, he'll be 75, and still playing (gigged with him last night).

Great song, I played it with one band last night in Am and another this afternoon in Bm, but both play it quite funky (to be fair, that's probably my fault!). Regards to Victor Brox if you see him, from one of the gang of teenagers who used to hang out with him at his thursday night jazz gig in Bramhall in the 70s. I've forgotten the name of the pub, but if/when it comes back, I'll add it here. Lovely chap.

Just got in from a village pub festival in south Oxfordshire. I wasn't really expecting much from it, but it was exceptionally well organised and run, so was a pleasure to play at. Quite a good weekend, overall, and tomorrow's a second 'Sunday' so should be able to catch up with my mates locally down the pub before the wife goes back to work on Tuesday. Which also happens to be her birthday (one of those that have have a zero in them, too) so I've suggested she doesn't make any plans to cook dinner that night!