Happy Jack

Genuinely astonished at the amount of negativity towards leccy drums. A good quality kit is indistinguishable (to the audience) from a live kit, and the pub rock scene continues to move steadily towards bands with a volume knob - especially for the drummer. Paul the Drums in the Junkyard Dogs was slow to warm to them but wouldn't now be without them for small venues. The drummers in two other bands I play with have also abandoned their opposition. Getting back on topic, glad you came through the audition process unscathed, and I hate pointy Ibanez guitars too.

On most Precisions, the first thing to go when you start to roll off the volume is a bit of top end. So yes, you can alter the tone with just the volume knob.

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1422544617' post='2673938'] I never played bass or guitar again until about six years ago, I am now aged 63, and been in some decent bands for the last five years, and I now realize that I can actually play quite well, so I'm now trying to make up for all that lost time! [/quote] That really is a recurrent thread around here, isn't it? Include me in ...

Viewed purely as a retail experience (which is a pretty reasonable point of view) the negative comments about much of Denmark Street don't strike me as particularly unfair. Working a few minutes from there for nearly 20 years means that I've had the opportunity to spend more time there than most Basschatters, and I've seen plenty that's good and plenty that's bad. But the reason for much of the [i]angst [/i]about Denmark Street's imminent demise is that it's NOT just a retail experience. It is genuinely part of Britain's musical history (not just punk, not just the Stones, it goes back much further than that), it is genuinely a tourist attraction, it is genuinely a nexus (sorry about the pretentious word) where different aspects of the current music scene can rub up against each other. Should that stand in the way of progress (assuming that you view this as progress)? Dunno. I really can see both sides of the story here. But I'm glad that the Street's not just disappearing in a foam of complete apathy. At least we'll be able to look back later once it's gone and think that we at least [i][b]considered [/b][/i]trying to keep it. Personally I'd feel happier about it if I knew that "the scene" was going to re-locate elsewhere. In practice, there's a real risk that "the scene" may now become almost completely virtual. Places like Basschat, in fact.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1422550815' post='2674021'] [size=4][color=#333333][font=Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif]'....the Corkscrew Saloon on the Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park...'[/font][/color] [color=#333333][font=Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif]It's a rock 'n roll setting, better than Weatherspoons' in Walsall [/font][/color][/size] [/quote] I had exactly the same thought.

I'm guessing that Detective John Maclaine falls into the category of "other conditions".

The real mystery is why characters played by Bruce Willis (I'm looking at you, Maclaine) can't afford to buy biological detergents.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1422537748' post='2673812'] Aye, just the top of the head is it? [/quote] No, of course not! I also do a nice line in soiled, once-white T-shirts ...

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1422534828' post='2673765'] Also, a well-known US actor was seen in there last week dropping £10k on a vintage P ... [/quote] Nah! That was me, body-doubling for Bruce Willis.

My very first bass was actually the one I bought for my daughter, and absolutely not what I would have chosen. This what I replaced it with: [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Hofner%20vintage%20instruments/Hofner%20500%201%20RI63%202006%20SOLD/2009BassPhotos093.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Hofner%20vintage%20instruments/Hofner%20500%201%20RI63%202006%20SOLD/2009BassPhotos093.jpg[/IMG][/URL] A new 1963 RI from Macari's. It took me a VERY long time to realise that I am fundamentally a Precision guy.

There's a guy in Scotland now making a much cheaper alternative. Not so many 'sounds' IIRC, but the truth is that a lot of the sounds from the Stellartone are of course quite similar. Might be worth a quick Google. Got it: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-position-VARITONE-switch-for-guitar-and-bass-/251778084429?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a9f24ae4d

I'm pretty sure that Philippe Dombreuil will be less than happy to be associated with this POS.

I too have been beating off men with sticks. I call them "drummers". I'm running almost exactly five years ahead of you, Shell. Only there wasn't an ex involved ... it was actually my daughter (then aged 14).

[quote name='Mr Arkadin' timestamp='1422441777' post='2672592'] Well it seems I'm out of touch with modern thinking and all these venues deserve to be knocked down to become garish office blocks, Tesco Metros, Starbucks and flats for Chinese businessmen. I guess we'll get the London we deserve. [/quote] Good grief, man, did you actually know the area before they built the "garish monstrosity" you seem to be obsessed with? I did. I've worked around there for 20 years, and just like Molan my office window directly overlooked the site throughout the demolition and building (I was at the back of Castlewood House, which fronts onto New Oxford Street). The building that the Renzo Piano design replaced was possibly the ugliest 60s office block in the entire West End, a title for which there is a fair amount of competition. Originally the main MI6 building in London (no, really it was) it then stood idle and increasingly derelict after MI6 moved into the ridiculous pile on the South Bank that features in all recent James Bond movies. The demolition of that heap of crap was welcomed by pretty much everyone in the area, the "garish monstrosity" actually livens up the place no end and introduces a small but much-needed public space where there was none before. Exactly what do you feel has been lost through this re-development?

But who knows in what way the wife is deceiving you? [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Sundry/2398340057_2470917cf1_zps57056e16.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Just%20Stuff/Sundry/2398340057_2470917cf1_zps57056e16.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1422441045' post='2672576'] The handles look the same as the ones on the '69er. I can't say I ever noticed the 'upside down handle' issue. Then again, I never felt the need to ask for help when lifting it :-) [/quote] So you could lift that cab standing on your head then ...

I find it easier to buy industry standard in bulk and just slice off a bit when I need it. [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Sundry/IndustryStandard_zps6c42caae.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Just%20Stuff/Sundry/IndustryStandard_zps6c42caae.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I've seen some seriously messed-up tripe through following this topic, but that gets very near to being the worst yet.

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1422309448' post='2671113'] They seem a bit cliquey to me. [/quote] Unfortunately, this is often the case. To a large extent, it goes with the territory. Many of these sessions keep going on the basis of a core group of regulars, who can be relied upon to turn up every week. If you're not part of that core group, and don't show much signs of wanting to be part of it, then inevitably you'll stay on the fringes and have restricted opportunities to play. If the core group is itself large enough, then cliques will tend to form within it. A & B like playing with C but can't stand D. D is prepared to play with E but last time he played with F something bad happened, etc.

Inaugural gig at the Fiddlers Elbow, chiefly to see whether the band has a future. We split vocal duties between the three of us, so here's one that I sang: http://youtu.be/eWvqCD13SMY

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1422286846' post='2670691'] What's the deal with the gaffa on the back of the neck then? [/quote] That marks frets 3,5 & 7 so that he can feel where he is!

And then of course there's the alternative route. If you don't like the jams near you, or there simply aren't any, there's absolutely nothing stopping you from setting up your own and running it as you see fit. All you need is a suitable pub with a slack weekday night that they're looking to juice up, plus a few friends to get you started.

[quote name='KK Jale' timestamp='1422211997' post='2669919'] *phew* that was in a VERY obscure place! Actually it's a Wilkinson. Fits into Precision bass screw holes. The D string tunes at the bridge end, and is clamped up top by a natty dual-purpose replacement string tree. Comes with instructions, screws, a new nut blank, and even a B string… but I wouldn't use that, 'cos this all this stuff is about 20 years old. Brand new and unused, in knackered box [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/transalp1998/media/bridge_zpstzwup8cm.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] So ... 4 tuners on the headstock and 5 strings on the bass. No confused punters there, then.