Happy Jack

For someone like me, the best time to start studying music properly and learning to play bass properly is roughly 50 years ago. I'm well aware that the next line is supposed to go: and the next best time is now. But actually I'm not convinced. With any luck, I'll have another 15 years of active playing ahead of me. I really don't fancy devoting maybe the first (and best) five of those to playing scales and arpeggios, and studying modes. That would almost certainly improve my playing (I'm setting the bar low here) by making it possible for me to do all sorts of things which I cannot now do and ... erm ... can't honestly say that I miss much. Techniques like slapping, tapping and sweeping are of less than zero interest to me. Playing bass solos strikes me as one of the least attractive aspects of rock music. Pinch harmonics? In 1970s pop music? I don't think so. How many great rock songs are in the Phrygian mode? Somebody start a list would you. I'm not sneering at musical knowledge or study. I'm simply pointing out that there are far too many people out there - and here on Basschat - who declaim as a matter of proven fact that it is always better to study music. Bollocks. Horses for courses, and moderation in all things.

I quite often watch the TV while playing, especially when the footy is on. The rest of the band don't like it much, mind.

Of course it doesn't matter ... it really is all about the music you make. The technique is irrelevant. If I rebuild a multi-cylinder motorcycle engine so that it works better than when I started, does anyone really care how I used the socket set? Or what make of socket set I used?

I'm now trying to visualise what he must have done to the Rick to justify modifying the pickguard like that. I'm not much enjoying it ...

The best line in that review is "add $10,000 for the speaker cables ..."

The BVs in that song are consistently off the beat, making it a right bugger to sing while playing.

OK, I'll play too.

I don't play guitar either, but I suspect that I'm just weird anyway.

It still goes on. Take a look at these, on eBay for another 55 minutes as I type this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shure-SM57-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Instrument-Microphone/183175482964?hash=item2aa61c0e54:g:C7wAAOSw-vda0DHZ https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shure-SM57-LC-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone-01/183175483485?hash=item2aa61c105d:g:k~AAAOSwZ3Ja0DIU https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shure-SM57-Cardioid-Dynamic-Instrument-Microphone-02/183175484125?hash=item2aa61c12dd:g:dawAAOSwx3Va0DJT So that's a new eBay seller with 0 Feedback score selling three brand-new SM57s at the same time, with the same photo for each, all at knock-down prices. What could possibly go wrong?

+1 to the first sentence. Maybe not so much to the second.

That was one of the nicest days I can remember - really lovely bunch of people, played some excellent (and thought-provoking) kit, met some old friends, made some new ones. Basschat at its finest.

£9500? Not sure I can count that high to Bassie.

They don't make 'em like they used to. I don't mean that as a compliment.

I particularly liked the BUY with CONFIDENCE line.

Now you can play The Funky Chibbon.

Roger Warner / A. Watt? Odd name for a band ...

So a pick is the cure for tinnitus - who knew?

Silvie & me.

The preamp on the SWB Pro is a thing of beauty. I'll be very surprised if you're disappointed.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tannoy-15-inch-Bi-Amp-Dual-Concentric-Monitors-Speakers-Teak-Wood-Cabinets-Puma/282884426863?_trkparms=aid%3D777001%26algo%3DDISCO.FEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D50981%26meid%3D1f677775ee3f4fed854a584a65569313%26pid%3D100651%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D282884426863&_trksid=p2481888.c100651.m4497&_trkparms=pageci%3Adbccdff3-3dd7-11e8-894d-74dbd180b4c4|parentrq%3Ab6d4625a1620aa144835915ffff81540|iid%3A3

Did the Government destroy the UK cheese industry? Well? Did it?

That photo needs a good kick in the bucolics.

So it's £15k for the bass plus £8k for the case then?

Any Crap Reggae Or Numetal You Meet ...