louisthebass

[quote name='alstocko' timestamp='1356024113' post='1905959'] That's what I mean, I don't want to be a tool by stomping my feet because I know at this time of year it is mental [/quote] I can't remember which courier company delivered mine (went to the wife's work address) but all the major courier companies will be up their eyeballs with work going through their network. You should get it within a week. If you are worried, Mark should have a copy of the paperwork with the parcel number on and then it'll just be case of tracking it via whoever the courier companies website is..

Great to see that all the work you've put in over the years has paid dividends when needed most - an important lesson for all of us really.

I've had the Newtown email as well - that ended up in my personal email junk box.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1355840188' post='1903441'] Learning to read. Slowly. Very slowly! [/quote] Me too - currently working on "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green, which is my homework over the Xmas period.

[quote name='WHUFC BASS' timestamp='1355756006' post='1902218'] Fella how drinks in my local was once the bass player for The Boogie Brothers who were in the 1980s one of the first Blues Brothers tribute bands. He was gigging regularly to packed out venues. He left them a good while back now but really enjoyed his time with them. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07NlFovY4GU[/media] [/quote] Was his name John Woods? He was on the same Intermediate course with me at The Bass Institute in Acton when it was being run by Tony Muschamp in the late 1980's. I saw this band (albeit with a different female singer) about that time at a couple of pubs in London, and eventually supported The Blues Brothers Band (with most of the original members of the band from the film - I was at the gig) at the Hammersmith Odeon (as it was then) in about 1988 or '89. They were a good band - always wondered what happened to them...

[quote name='thumperbob 2002' timestamp='1355479128' post='1898823'] Pretty much par for the course for bands- there will always be an element that doesnt pull their weight in any band or business or football team or whatever. I think the problem is not nipping this in the bud at the first opportunity- then you dont have the backbiting etc and everyone knows where they stand. Mind you some people are simply thick and dont understand what they should be doing and have no understanding of what other people do that is above and beyond the call of duty. Been there- done that. [/quote] Agree - good post!

Bruce Foxton, Donald "Duck" Dunn, and Jack Bruce for me. Teacher-wise, my first bass teacher was a guy called Garth Thomas, who worked in Andre's Music Shop in South Croydon - I had a few lessons with him that really opened the doors to really getting my head around the instrument.

Agree that the first two albums were good, although I think it's the quality of the songs that shine through more than the bass playing. I think Guigsy was one of those players that did all that was needed to be done in his time in the band - IMO, a bass player using a more melodic approach wouldn't have fitted in.

No, I pretty much keep it to myself - I work with an ex professional musician who still plays and knows I have lessons, but I keep schtum about when I'm playing.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1354971611' post='1892463'] One of the best on line sites for bass IMO is : [url="http://www.studybass.com"]www.studybass.com[/url] Another is [url="http://scottsbasslessons.com/online-video-bass-lessons"]http://scottsbassles...eo-bass-lessons[/url] Another good book is this : [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hal-Leonard-Bass-Method-by-Ed-Friedland-BOOK-CD-FREE-SHIP-/180885268759"]http://www.ebay.co.u...P-/180885268759[/url] It is possible to get all three volumes in one spiral bound edition at a very reasonable price. Each volume has it's own CD. [/quote] The three volume book is really good - I've been playing for years & I'm still learning from it. Scott Devine's lessons are great too.

[quote name='BassPimp66' timestamp='1354384911' post='1885462'] Best store ever: The Bass Gallery / London Worst store ever : The Bass Centre / London [/quote] I was thinking about the great days of the Bass Centre (mid 1980's to early 1990's) the other day. Great staff, great vibe, and it was always a thrill to go over there and check out all the latest stuff. I also saw Alain Caron do a great clinic over there. Happy days.

I was lucky enough to see Yolanda Charles do a masterclass at the LBGS last year on this - that girl can play and sing . It takes a lot of practice, but it can be done - sometimes you have to simplify your bass part to make it work.

Failed guitarist here - too ham fisted to play the skinny stringed instrument, so a mate of mine who wanted to start a band said "why don't you learn bass - it's only got 4 strings & can't be that difficult?" Have never looked back .

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1354125822' post='1882454'] Bass direct [/quote] +1 to this & can also recommend Bass Gear in Twyford. Best two bass only shops I've had a good shopping experience with in the last two years.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353961112' post='1880335'] hmm.. i've lost quite a bit of weight lately, so it's possible it was slightly lower than before, but i don't like it being too high either. i certainly don't like it being much higher than my belly button. [/quote] You certainly don't have to wear it too high - one thing I noticed about your video is that your wrists are kept fairly straight, which is great because there are no sharp bends stopping the blood flow into the tendons. Wrapping the thumb over the top is a really subjective thing (works for some people, not for others), but if that's where the pain is it might be worth considering readjusting the strap a smidge.

Might be worth you raising the height of your strap so that the body of the bass sits in the area of your stomach - that should help in bring your little finger into contact with the fingerboard? If you want to get used to using the little finger, start doing some major and minor scales across 4 frets from about the 5th fret (use the one finger per fret method) Thought your playing sounded fine .

[quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1353881886' post='1879430'] At the moment, the bass is sat on my knee. I tend to play with my thumb around the back. Having thought about it - I think the problem is that I can't get my pinky onto the fretboard without a lot of strain. I have to really bend my wrist until it hurts to get it to the A string. [/quote] That doesn't sound good - try adjusting your strap until you get to a point where the wrist of your fretting hand is reasonably straight. You should be able to comfortably wear the bass in both sitting and standing positions. Is your thumb resting on the back of the fingerboard, or is it curled over?

[quote name='Acebassmusic' timestamp='1353878924' post='1879377'] It sounds as if its a technique problem. When you're playing normally do you have the bass slung high or low? Do you tend to wrap your thumb over the top of the fret board or position it in the centre of the neck? Having the bass low and thumb over the top may cause you problems. If you post some pics of your bass / hands it may help us offer advice :-) [/quote] Just to add to the above - is there a sharp bend in the wrist on your fretting hand? If that's the case, then as Acebassmusic has said, you may have to adjust your strap height. That should help in getting your wrist straighter as sharp bends in the wrist stop blood from flowing into the tendons. Another thing - is there a lot of tension in your wrist when you play? That may be another factor?

It'll never catch on.....

I've never owned one, but I've played in bands with a couple of guitarists who've had the st**t copies and they've been active.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1350688435' post='1842451'] As per the others, OBBM. Great products, great prices (same as run of the mill leads in music shops) great service. And Dave is a top bloke as well. [/quote] +1 You can't go wrong with OBBM cables .

"Lady Madonna" is a classic McCartney bassline. When I first started playing bass, McCartney wasn't on my radar at all (didn't rate him) until I bought a copy of The Beatles 1967 - 1970 on CD and it changed my mind completely. A guy who doesn't have to play a lot of notes to get his point across (a bit like Mr Sumner & Mr Palladino).

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1351459388' post='1851478'] I'd agree with Jaco in terms of how he pushed boundaries beyond what anyone thought was possible with the instrument. Larry was a good groover and invented one technique but Jaco was so much more innovative. [/quote] Agree - Pastorius was a pioneer when he was the top of his game before drugs & bipolar became an issue. If his overdose hadn't killed him, Hendrix would have been working with the likes of Gil Evans & Miles Davis - probably would have been the first mainstream rock guitarist to cross over into the field of Jazz.

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1350841100' post='1844121'] That's what I was afraid of. If I turned up to the session with an amp I'd be chucked out and never allowed back. [/quote] What about plugging it straight into the PA? I've done this at open mics a few times with my Crafter ABG and it's been accepted by the organisers & the punters. Have to agree with what others have said about an ABG struggling against it's 6 string bretheren otherwise.

Great band - have been a fan for a good while now. Glad I got the chance to see them at Hammersmith a few years ago as they weren't really renowned for touring a lot. Keith Carlock was on fire that night with Ready Freddie Washington on bass. The Royal Scam & Aja my two favourite albums - a great intro for anyone wanting to get into the 'Dan'...