petebassist

Have you considered hooking up with someone to do open-mics in the meantime? I found it a good opportunity to meet other musicians and contacts.

Thanks for the heads-up about this, hadn't heard about it. I love DT's collaborations with John Martyn', Glory Box, Solid Air, and David Sylvian's Ink in the Well, amazing tone he gets out of his instrument. As to GBPPH, I'd stick to chord tones if I could follow the arrangement, which is difficult as it seems to ramble on aimlessly.

I always use Vaseline or lip balm, and if it's mislaid I rub my hands through my hair hoping that I haven't washed it recently... nothing worse than trying to play with sticky hands.

After every gig I crowd-surf off the stage over the adoring bass-loving fans, then get cornered for half an hour to sign autographs and do selfies, then I'm invariably dragged off by a bunch of bass-loving groupies for a champagne fueled after show party - what's the problem here!

Good philosophy mate, well done, you'll be looking forward to getting on the road 😎

That bass plays like butter...

I don't know about the J-Tone, but I have used a K&K Bass Max - this worked very well on my Stentor 1950 laminate back with carved top, I never had any issues like you've described. I think I got it from Thomann. You can also fit these into the bridge wing without too much alteration, so maybe you could borrow one to try out?

Even if you don't like his music, (card carrying Led Zep fan here), you've got to admire someone who can entertain a whole stadium of people by himself playing just a travel guitar.

Surely that should be 'Bring It On Home' 😉

If there is an annual industry award for Best Bass Article, I think Ed deserves the golden bass gong just for including "honky tonk for chicken sh!t bingo" in it. Oh and contrary views are most welcome, it's a discussion forum after all.

Thanks for sharing. "my intention became to fill each note with what I call “life force.” " Brilliant. Ed taught me to play upright bass (via one of his excellent DVDs) - always loved his Bass player magazine articles. This one could have been called Zen and the art of playing bass guitar.

I thought someone would have mentioned Harrogate, the third point in the 'golden triangle' - get yourself somewhere in middle of the triangle and you could work all three - you might need to get savvy with the public transport though 😞

This. I couldn't organize anything without a shared band Google calendar. As to responsiveness, I can't be bothered with people I have to chase for commitments. Good luck with finding some like-minded band mates.

Agreed, they must've been a supergroup before the idea of supergroups was formed. Kenny Jones on drums, & the other Ron on guitar, Ian McLagan on keys, and of course Rod, amazing bunch of musicians.

Depends on the size of the room & the acoustics. Though generally, if you were bowing, then yes a double bass will hold its own against a group of guitars, as that's how they were designed to be played primarily and they can shake the walls. Played pizzicato though, it's surprising how quiet they are compared to guitars, at least when I play - some people used to playing acoustically can get more volume using a bigger attack with the plucking hand, but maintaining that for a long session needs stamina.

Hi, I'd definitely give the NS a try first, as they feel different to the Stagg. I did try a 4 string NXT four string at the London Bass show last year, but the action was set way low and with the stock strings, and I couldn't really get an idea of how it would play with a proper pizz technique and double bass strings. If you're used to an acoustic-like action on your Stagg you might need to max out the action to get the feel of the NS. I've never played a five string of any type though. As to models, I believe the WAV is manufactured in the Far East or Mexico and just comes with a strap as standard. With the NXT you get a tripod stand and upgraded components, and with CR they're made in the Czech Republic and higher spec I believe (whatever it is that bumps up the price). They don't seem to hold their value that well, so second hand prices are good. Good luck!

I guess it's like reading a novel written by somebody else. It's a nice change if you're used to writing your own novels. I don't think of it as just copying either, you're playing music that someone else has written, you can still be creative in the way you interpret, if that's what you like doing of course.

Is it important? Not necessarily, but I think it's a great skill to have, and the bass clef is usually much easier to scan than the treble clef where you have chords and more complex note arrangements, providing you're not up the dusty end a lot. I find it strangely relaxing & engrossing to read a walking bass line that someone else has written instead of making one up on the spot myself or playing from memory.

I think that's true everywhere, the same goes for keyboard players I hear. I have a lot of respect for drummers, it's an under-rated profession. With more and more electronic canned beats playing everywhere you go it's so nice to hear a proper acoustic kit.

Falloutboy's bass player at Reading - I guess you've gotta be careful which way you point it, but hey....

Keep as many projects going as you can manage time-wise - let natural selection determine which ones survive and which ones die off. As long as you're open about it I don't see any issue.

Fu%k-em ! Keep on looking until you find some other like-minded musicians, there're plenty out there 😉

To be on the safe side I think I'd put the old D back on or get my credit card out and buy a new D, though maybe someone on here could lend you one.

At the moment I only play pizzicato and I'm guessing Bottesini mainly played arco, but I'll take a look. From the clips I saw though, there was some chord work going on, so maybe the Bottesini and Isbin pieces can be played pizz? Will have to investigate further. As an old acoustic guitar finger picker (John Renbourn, Burt Jancsh et al) I like the idea of these pieces. Thanks.