Happy Jack

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1412292662' post='2567676'] And is that Dave Marks on bass? [/quote] I think you'll find it's actually Peregrine Took. Or possibly Meriadoc Brandybuck. [quote name='visog' timestamp='1412319497' post='2567721'] Yngwie clone playing classical-prog cross-over. Destined for a life of trade fairs... Watch him blossom into a endorsement virtuoso... [/quote] Sad to relate, the fact that this was some years ago means that we can see exactly what happened next. He's (basically) a guitar teacher in Italy, and yes, he does endorsement slots at trade shows. Undeniably an astonishing player, but that's no guarantee of rockstar success.

The 'guest vocalist' and her equally-inebriated boyfriend had been sat in front of us for nearly two hours at this point, singing along and doing big hand-claps over her head. Towards the end of the second set she suddenly launched a one-person stage invasion when we played [i][b]Long Train Running[/b][/i] and provided BVs on "[color=#800000][i][b]without lo-o-o-o-o-ve[/b][/i][/color]" using my mic. In all fairness, she was on-key and on-time. You can't really ask for more from the BVs.

So you're saying it's all for cherry, D?

[quote name='Adrenochrome' timestamp='1412237371' post='2566935'] I can't think of many active bass players that have only 1. [/quote] Yes, but passive bass players have fewer ...

I'm glad you didn't ask how many I've sold ...

It has four expensive new stings ...

I know an expensive sting when I see one ... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CIMAR-VINTAGE-BASS-60s-70s-GREAT-COND-PLAYS-GREAT-EXPENSIVE-STINGS-FITTED-/201161016647?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2ed6218547

[quote name='Kevin Dean' timestamp='1412076329' post='2565335'] ... bashed me in the shines ... [/quote] Is that a euphemism?

My first DB was a Stentor Student, my second (and still current) is an Andreas Zeller. Obviously individual basses vary hugely, as do the set-ups and strings and (where used) the pickup arrangements, and there are always better and worse examples out there, but in my own particular experience the two basses are chalk & cheese ... the Zeller cost me three times as much as the Stentor and is easily worth every extra penny. Ultimately though, there is simply no substitute for playing them both and deciding which you prefer.

In NY earlier this year, went into Sam Ash to buy a pedal. The shop assistant was a bit past his sell-by, but then so am I, and he seemed like a knowledgable dude. 10 minutes in to chatting with him, someone else comes over and says "Hi Larry" and the penny dropped. I've never bought Hartke, but there's loads of stuff I've never bought. I was genuinely impressed with his obvious desire to stay in touch with real-world bass players though. Nice guy, too.

At a loose end last night I flicked through the BBC iPlayer and stumbled across http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00shyg4/young-guns-go-for-it-series-1-2-the-human-league#group=p0276q4x made in 1999. Hugely enjoyable and very entertaining. I was particularly taken with the idea of recruiting a new member for a band with the immortal line: "[i]We hear you have a slide collection[/i]." Well worth 30 minutes of anyone's time.

I've started looking out for the "other" definition of upside down, where you put the bridge on the headstock and the tuners by the control knobs ...

I can't help but feel that I should have a presence on this thread. You'll never prevent me from being Happy.

Hmmmm ... don't think so. Yes, I can see something floating about but it looks like more than one string. Besides, I'm pretty sure that bass has four strings. I'm even more sure that a player of his calibre wouldn't simply stop playing because one string was gone. Hell, I wouldn't!

Very hard to make out what happens there. There's a sound like a gunshot and then ... no bass. Did his bridge collapse?

Big fan of Joyce ...

What's the German for "It's a feature, sir"?

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' timestamp='1411651646' post='2561563'] Has anyone else noticed rusty nuts ... [/quote] I'm sure that Discreet will be along shortly.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1411648389' post='2561512'] I think that's what's known as a 'Dutch auction'. [/quote] And I'll bet the Dutch call it an 'English auction' ...

I always hoped that Happy Junior would take up bass, but he turned out to be dyscolexic.

One with frets perhaps?

Rendered damned-near unlistenable by that appalling drum sound ...

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1411398123' post='2559110'] As for knowing when to throw in your cliched rip-off parts.. [/quote] Bwahahahahahaha!!! I am SO going to have to come along to one of your gigs. Anyone who writes with such sublime Liam Gallagher-like arrogance and contempt must surely be a living GOD amongst bass players. You know, I'm looking forward to this already. Please could you post a list of your up-coming gigs so that some of us can come and worship at your altar?

The biggest debt I owe to Victor Wooten ... "you're never more than one fret away from a 'right note'".