Happy Jack

Still a great album.

Post a Wanted ad saying that your band needs to recruit two vocalists, a really tight rhythm guitarist, a keyboard player, a 3-piece brass section and some backing vocalists who like really short skirts. Sorted.

Piper? Seriously? I found that bloody hard to sit through as a teenager, I certainly couldn't/wouldn't bother now! [i]Bike [/i]was fun though. Strange Days is probably my least favourite Doors album (given me Morrison Hotel or LA Woman any day) but I accept that's merely a matter of taste.

Getting serious for a moment, and picking up on a couple of comments about being one age while 'thinking' much younger, something really has changed. I'm 60 (but 17 inside) and I have pretty clear memories of my parents and grandparents back in the 60s and 70s, plus of course people like teachers and neighbours and shop assistants etc. When they hit 40 my parents were definitely "middle aged" with all the accompanying cliches. They were already going out of shape physically at depressing speed, their minds were travelling in some pretty deep grooves (I'm trying not to call them ruts), they dressed and acted like their own parents, they were increasingly concerned about behaving in an appropriate manner. My grandparents were in their 60s by my earliest clear memories of them and they were, inevitably, even more so. In his mid-60s my grandfather (after whom I'm named, and who lived in the flat above us) was, quite simply, old. He dressed and moved like an old man, talked like an old man, and already had - at least metaphorically - one foot in the grave. I was amazed that he made it through to 76. Like I say, something has changed. Maybe it's medicine, or lifestyle, or attitude, or everything, but in every way that matters I have a more youthful outlook at 60 than my Dad had at 40. I'm in better shape physically, more flexible and open-minded in attitude, and I still barely think of myself as being even middle-aged, let alone getting old. My parents were unusual people for their time; they were considered to be forward-thinking and perhaps even a bit risque. If I then think about the people the same age as my parents - teachers, neighbours, shop assistants, etc. - it just gets much worse. At one level I find myself thinking - like so many others - where did it all go. But at another level I more often find myself thinking "Gone? Who says it's gone?".

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1496291379' post='3310217'] That means I was 14 when I purchased it. Blue [/quote] As a 10-year-old I couldn't afford it. Luckily, my Mum bought it for my 13-year-old brother. It's a perfect example of why the Beatles were so great. They were, and remain, completely accessible. My Mum thought they were a great pop group (she was 38 at the time) and loved [i]She's Leaving Home[/i]. My brother and I thought they were a great pop group and we loved the title track and [i]When I'm 64[/i] and [i]Lovely Rita [/i]and [i]Benefit of Mr. Kite[/i]. None of us 'got' [i]Lucy [/i]or [i]Day In The Life[/i]. Years later we realised that they were also a great rock band and that the 'difficult' songs were the best and most challenging ones. The album remains completely listenable today (how many other albums from 1967 would you seriously consider playing when you get home from work tonight?) and more than justifies its reputation as far as I'm concerned. Not my own personal favourite though (Abbey Road). Not even my second favourite (Revolver).

Given they they're all either flakes or fantasists (or both) it's hardly worth the bother of replying. I like to spread the love around, so I routinely gig ... erm, play ... erm, am involved with ... erm, have a vague connection with several bands outside my 'core' stuff. I check the Gumtree ads every day just in case something interesting pops up, and I usually do at least a handful of auditions each year, leading to at least a couple of "please join us" offers. Without exception, all these projects crash and burn. It's actually quite amusing trying to predict what the problem will be each time. FLAKES:[list] [*]Can't be arsed to learn the songs [*]Cancel rehearsals at the last minute [*]Think rehearsals are purely social occasions [*]Own unreliable or completely unsuitable kit [*]Don't have their own transport [*]Constantly borrow 'small stuff' like clip-on tuners and leads [*]Drop out of sight at load-in and/or load-out and then offer to help as you carry the last box [*]Don't know how to coil cables [*]Are easily led by fantasists [/list] FANTASISTS[list] [*]Think there's a market for their self-penned autobiographical dirges [*]Believe that gigs grow on trees and will just happen [*]Claim that being dreadful on several different instruments makes them multi-talented [*]Always reckon that the next band is the one that's going to make it big [*]Believe they will succeed because they "want it so badly" [*]Tend to fill their bands with flakes [/list]

I'm pretty sure that ninety-nine and a half per cent of us got it ...

Discolexia is a terrible thing, but it's not your job to try to cure it. If your singer can't hack singalongarock then he'll be a waste of space in your band. Painful as it may be, you'd be better off cancelling that gig, sacking the singer, and finding someone new. Can anyone else in the band sing?

[quote name='girya32' timestamp='1496000568' post='3308064'] Aha a new word in my vocabulary- Fauxdera [url="https://m.dhgate.com/product/fodera-yin-yang-tai-chi-standard-design-four/388471493.html#s1-3-1;srp%7C1694976405"]https://m.dhgate.com...rp%7C1694976405[/url] [/quote]

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1496081043' post='3308645'] LOL , seller says it may be an 'Alan Entwistle' due to that being the only writing on the Bass..on the pickups! [/quote] http://www.entwistlepickups.com/

For this, I'd make an exception. https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-classes/bass-guitar-lessons-with-high-profile-bass-player/1242848303

[quote name='mart3442' timestamp='1495796131' post='3306663'] You'd be pushed to find a seperates setup thats more portable than my Gallien Krueger MB combo....... [/quote] Assuming you mean the MB112 or similar (http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/products/gallien_krueger_mb_112.asp?gclid=CjwKEAjwpJ_JBRC3tYai4Ky09zQSJAC5r7ruKyf48kVHahW83IyrM5BNI6U3jBB_DmZIFDlacMpXzxoC7yXw_wcB) then that weighs 30lbs. Not backbreaking, but as heavy as the suitcase that most of us would take for a fortnight's holiday. Most typically for a DB gig I'll have an Aguilar TH350 and a Barefaced OneTen. The TH350 weighs three (count them, three) pounds. The OneTen weighs 15lbs. I didn't have to push too hard to find a more portable rig, frankly.

[quote name='howdenspur' timestamp='1495801836' post='3306725'] Got to give the public what they want [/quote] Always leave them wanting less.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1495794271' post='3306630'] Like Duke Ellington said; “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” [/quote] Didn't he go on to say: "... or go down like a lead balloon"?

[quote name='SICbass' timestamp='1495793386' post='3306611'] The lady doth protest too much methinks. [/quote] Oooooh! You bitch!

Love the description. [font="Comic Sans MS"][size="4"][color=#000000]For Auction a unique hand made guitar, made out of a variety of pieces of wood.[/color][/size][/font] [color=#000000] [font="Comic Sans MS"][size="4"]The guitar was built by a gentleman called W Hunt in 2003 and is numbered 38. He made a number of guitars each of which is completely different and a one off. I believe he passed away a few years ago.[/size][/font] [font="Comic Sans MS"][size="4"]The guitar can be played, although it is probably better as a piece of wall ornamentation/sculpture.[/size][/font][/color]

Just for the record, it wasn't me, OK?

In just seven days, she can make you a man ...

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1495708696' post='3305996'] Now I'm looking forward to hearing about your favourite bass line ever on the General Discussion thread...I'm guessing it won't be the same as mine [/quote] Bwahahahah!!! Slow down mate, first we have to have a debate about which strings to use ...

Hmmmmm. I begin to wonder about your bass ... You mention that it is "a lovely violin bass copy" in your OP. Who is it actually by? There are some very well-made, high-class Hofner clones out there. Sad to relate, there's also some complete dogs.

[quote name='Al Krow' timestamp='1495707683' post='3305987'] Cab specifically matched to head. Leads set up and ready to go. Ease of use and portability. Smart / neat appearance on stage. Sometimes a lot better value than separates (I picked up a Mesa M6 combo new for less than the cost of the head by itself). I think that covers it? [/quote] In reply, I mix and match heads and cabs in a thoroughly casual fashion, never had a problem yet and it means I can be very flexible. Leads? You mean the speaker cable? So that's a single lead to be plugged in. A separate head and cab are far more portable than a combo. Appearance on stage? Who's looking? Value ... ah now, that's getting a bit subjective.

[quote name='markdavid' timestamp='1495702665' post='3305926'] ... we played a tune that featured a lot of the low G which is one of the more problematic notes. [/quote] ??? I've had any number of old shortscale Hofners (actually ... ahem ... over 25 of them) and I've never experienced intonation issues down by the nut! Normally the problems get progressively worse as you move up the neck. Is the G issue in any way worse or more noticeable than the F# or G#?

Never really understood this obsession with combos. I always use separates.