NickD

I was 14 and I remember it as though it was yesterday... Rest in peace Fella!

Stupid answer, probably not backed up by science... hydration and bananas. I never looked into it, but it did the trick for me. Bananas are supposed to be high in potassium which I was told was good for cramps. Back in the day, doing long tours with a glam tribute we used to finish on Hot Love, and the singer did all the introductions and assorted banter over just the Bass and drums doing the main riff... could go on for ages, and I was often on the edge of cramping. Playing an army Base in Germany, and one of the guys looking after us gave me the above advice. Desperate, I just did it without question and the problem went away. Could totally be a placebo effect, but a couple of bananas a day on tour, and remembering to stay hydrated and I was good for as long as the singer went on.

Balls! Forgot about Joolz. Can you delete my votes so I can redo it when he's on?

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1451418338' post='2940360'] Good on yer Nick! If you need any pointers in getting started then drop us a line in the Rec' forum. Coincidentally I'm planing on switching to floating thumb this year (I currently play with my thumb anchored). Initial practice is already cleaning up my muting technique dramatically... The tricky part is un-learning old habits Practice, practice, practice, etc... [/quote] Thanks a lot! Starting with what I have (laptop, midi keyboard with Pre Sonus artist, instruments and a Zoom B3), no sense spending unless I take to it. If I do find the time and inclination to expand I'll definitely be in there with questions... looks like a supportive bunch! Best of luck with the floating thumb. I only play fivers and find it's made me so much cleaner and quicker. I just started working through songs I could already play, starting with the least demanding. I found it came pretty naturally sitting, then I had a bit more work to do when standing. Not sure how long it took as the change took me by surprise... I just realised that anything new I learned, I automatically used floating thumb... job done.

Last year's big job was to relearn everything with a floating thumb. Took a while but it's second nature now. This year it's a return to playing live which looks on the cards. My proper resolution is to enter the recording challenge at some stage. I've always listened and voted, and I'm just trying to cobble together a tiny kidsafe workspace to have a go myself.

I love mine. I'm more of a home meddler than a hardcore effects guy, but I'm seriously looking at gigging with it. I find it really usable. I've added the optional expression pedal too, and that's really opened it up.

Never thought it could happen. RIP Fella!

Thanks man. Look like I'm going to have to brave the traffuc/parking he'll then. If that's the case I'll probably go for Guitar aid, just because I've had good service previously.

The guy's a bloody wierdo... at the Bass Show he kept winking and gesturing to me during his set! ... then I realised Cass Lewis, was sat right in front of me...

[quote name='bassguitarshow' timestamp='1450785198' post='2935805'] as well as a HUGE one in the new year. [/quote] Famous or fat?

With a return to gigging on the horizon, I've reigned in my GAS (much better spent on basses), and decided for the acousticky type stuff on the cards, my old Trace combo will be just fine. It's been a number of years since I've used it, and between to Gain and Output pots it's crackly and jumpy in terms of volume. I've had the speaker out, and hoovered the cavity, and everything seems fine in there, but the amp section is riveted shut... probably for the best, as I might be tempted to have a mess around in there if not. It's been stored in the house, dry and warm, and I suspect it's mostly just the pots playing up through lack of use, so for peace of mind reckon it's worth someone having a look properly. I've used Guitar Aid before for instruments, as it's not a problem on the tube (I'm in Harrow), but for this weighty little beast I need somewhere I can drive to and park at, so around the north of London would be best. I've had a look around and MPH in Edmonton looks do-able... Has anyone used him, and if so would you recommend him? Thanks in Advance!

As well as those mentioned above, I really get on with the Marlow Dk stuff.

http://www.thebeaverton.com/culture/item/2275-neil-peart-to-retire-in-three-months-after-completion-of-current-drum-solo

Rumour is he studied at Julliard, but left to spearhead the atonal shitfest movement. Could have easily done jazz, Motown or 1960s 3 chord pop if he'd wanted, but he chose to stretch himself!

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1449764204' post='2926640'] I haven't been on the Macca thread yet. I guess I'll give it a miss! [/quote] This thread was influenced by the Macca thread. In fact you could say that every thread since the Macca thread was influenced by it... whether they realise it or not.

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1449692982' post='2926098'] Unfortunately I can't view any imbedded videos on my phone at the moment so I guess I'm probably missing a few jems here... [/quote] Assuming you're Android, it might be worth checking for software updates. I had that issue for about the past 6 weeks, then just this week it's all back to normal. I'm assuming it was an automatic update that sorted it.

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1449692000' post='2926082'] You could have gone for the one I would have - Entwistle, does he overplay or what? [/quote] Next up is 'Anthony Jackson - Is it just me or is he a bit chubby?'... Followed by 'Tal Wilkenfield - My God, a woman... with a bass... what's all that about?'

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1449688994' post='2926031'] Ha. If so, it was one hell of a trick. [/quote] Certainly was! A one finger trick too. Still can't get my head around that bit. I find it hard enough with two.

Not really... I just wanted to see if the forum could bear the holy trinity of untouchable threads at the same time without crashing... Seems it can... as you were!

I love his song based stuff, with Joni particularly. But Donna Lee just sounds like someone driving down a cobbled street with a bass and some congas in the boot. I'm sure it's clever, and better trained ears might get something out of it (or at least pretend to, to look smart), but it's barely musical to me.

It's a broad church, and one I know bugger all about, coming from a rock perspective. Having got really into Snark Puppy (OK, it's probably not proper jazz... but it works for me), someone suggested Mingus's Ah Um, which I got, and I love. Also picked up the Mingus Big Band's Nostalgia on Times Square... the version of Moanin' on it just has me hitting repeat.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1449560930' post='2924562'] Following on from the Jaco thread... Rush are another band I have never heard. Any suggestions? I could do with something to listen to on the way home tonight... [/quote] A 'Best of' might be a decent idea. Spirit of Radio- Greatest Hits is a decent one. I have a few but that's the one I always end up playing. Their good songs are great, but even on those his voice in an aquired taste... or bloody awful as I prefer to call it (though he's not done badly out of it, so what do I know?). On album fillers, of which there are plenty, it's just intolerable.

I remember sitting and picking out the bass to LSD... dead easy, but I'd have never come up with that line in a million years.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1449274131' post='2922247'] It is... almost. [/quote] Hence my inclusion of the word 'almost'.