petebassist

I'd argue that we live in a liberal and open minded country, and we just keep becoming more liberal and open minded. Comparatively of course. I also think it's more to do with culture than age, and some cultures are more traditional than others regardless of age. Oh and it's not that new is it? In 1977 when I was a would-be young punk, transgender Wayne Country and the Electric chairs had their famous single out called 'F#ck Off'.

Agree. If I stopped playing bass, would I be able to pay my bills? Yes, so that rules out any professional category at the moment, but you've gotta be in it to win it... So I keep on truckin, and who knows where it's gonna lead.

Nowt wrong with that, looks neat. These a great little pick-ups, I used one for six years and it never let me down. I used to keep mine secure with just a couple of bits of masking tape, just in case the amp lead was accidentally yanked and pulled it out of place.

The genius that was Roy Budd. Some great movies on this thread.

<number larger than 4> string bass.

I don't know how much these are new with a proper setup (2000 + setup ?), but I do rate Stentors and if I was looking for a new bass and the repair was solid and sound good etc etc I might offer around 1000 to 1200 if it's a 3/4 size. Don't know whether that's any help to you?

If I remember correctly this photo is from the Kings Pub in old Nice, which a few years ago had great local rock bands playing on weekends, and me & my mate used to go there. Can't remember when 'Slash' turned up ;-)

Sounds like you've got a great front person there, hang on to her!!

Growly & bright just about sums up the Spiros. I have the weichs/lights and they're friggin awesome, definitely worth considering if you can try some.

Of course if the crowd's getting a little bored you can always set fire to your instrument.

As long as you have the front-person performing appropriately, I don't think you don't need every band member hamming it up, as long they look professional. Luckily, in my current band (swing jazz n blues) it's not expected. I have to hold my hand up and admit to being of the Bill Wyman school of stage presence (AKA Everybody's Favourite Undertaker). If I try to smile too much at the crowd, people look like they're about to call security or the door man I'm afraid. As to theatrical chops. I occasionally lift my right hand an extra couple of inches if I play a long growly note.

I've looked into this myself and two instruments that stand out are the Eminence (which is strictly not an EUB, it's a small bodied acoustic instrument with a pickup that amplifies the acoustic sound), and the Yamaha SLB, which has electronics to mimic the sound of an amplified acoustic upright. They ain't cheap though but hold their value better ;-) The cheaper instruments seem to either require a lot of mods to make them usable or have quality issues, but they're cheap as chips and easy to buy.

Love the tone you're getting on that SC clip. What strings have you got? Any tone-shaping or is it clean into the recorder?

I was even wearin me Geordie jeans !

Maybe I look a bit dodgy too - remember Harry Enfield's Bugger All Money ;-)

Better than 0 gigs mate. Keep playing and enjoying the music.

How about, could you ask your colleague to come over? I need some professional advice. Music shop staff are a mixed bunch, but I think it goes with the territory. When I go to my local big music store in the South West, I always look for same guy, who has great customer service skills, and treats me nicely & professionally. I have in the past dealt with other staff there who were/are drongos, one frustrated musician type who apparently just wanted to show off knowledge and personal musicianship, and a younger untrained person who locked onto me like a hawk and wouldn't let me out of his sight while I tried some high-end guitars (I assumed he hadn't met or spoken to someone from the North East before ;-).

Maybe you could pick up what you want to know from the internet, or books, instructional CDs etc - that's all I ever use as I'm tutor-averse and have always taught myself stuff. And TBH there's so much out there why pay £40 an hour for the privilege? I learnt my basic upright bass technique from Ed Friedland, not Ed in person, but his DVD lessons. Good luck with it.

Ronnie Lane can hold his own too, had to nick this one from the Faces Live 1972 post. https://youtu.be/SLhoLkTyNkM

And the amazing Kenny Jones on drums, this must qualify as a super-group. Stupendous !!!

Of course mate, especially in the jazz venues ;-)

Not many around, and I didn't know that Bill Wyman could sing too back in his hey-day - came across this picture disk album in London at the weekend. Interesting track list too ;-). I'm not a huge fan of his singing but my all time favourite rock bass line is Bill's tour-de-force on Miss You, and it's gotta be the extended version.