Old Man Riva

I’d encourage anyone who wanted to learn a bit about funky bass playing to listen to The Meters.

The bass player, George Porter Jr, lays down some terrifically funky lines. Generally not too taxing to play, (and brilliant to play along to) George’s feel for the bass, and his brilliant use of space (i.e. every note counts, and there’s often tons of space between them), for me, make them essential listening.

I wish someone had steered me towards them earlier in my bass playing years!

1 minute ago, Nail Soup said:

I kept hearing 6Music DJs back-announcing John Cooper Clarke in the last week or two, and thinking that I didn't remember hearing a JCC record. I worked it out eventually!

Good song though!

Same here!

I thought he’d left the music behind with The Invisible Girls... turns out he had!

An ode to JCC...

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

Yep, comments regarding the value of individual components mean little when those components have been so poorly put together. The whole in this case is less than the sum of the parts, although at used prices they were already stretching it. Seems someone’s trying to get a good return on a decent neck by bolting it to a few other bits and proclaiming it a US instrument. I find Bass Direct are generally OK on these things, this one must have slipped through I guess 

At a guess (and it is a guess as I have no knowledge of the bass other than from Bubinga’s post) I reckon Mark will be aware of how it’s listed rather than it slipping through the net.

I’m a fan of Mark and Bass Direct but I’m surprised it’s listed the way it is - I personally think they’d have been wiser listing it as a parts bass, with specific reference to the vintage neck and then other quality component parts. 

But, hey-ho, it’s not my business and I’m sure they can see the logic in what they’re doing!

2 hours ago, TheGreek said:

That would be my thinking too. 

These get a good write up, seems a decent price too...

https://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-dept/bass-guitars/modern-bass-guitars/sire-version-2-marcus-miller-p7-alder-4-string-black

To add a bit of context... whilst I’m not saying that I think the neck is worth it, if you were to look to buy an early 1970s Jazz neck then it’d probably cost around £1000 on the conservative side - as I say, I’m not defending the cost, just giving some context on one of the component parts.

Add the cost of the body, finish, Aguilar p/ups and other hardware and it would probably cost what it’s listed for to put together - and yes, I’m aware that it’s entirely possible to put together a bass of similar/superior quality for less money!!

Also bear in mind that, given the type of bass it is, then it’s also entirely possible that it’s a commission sale where Bass Direct will be taking circa 20%. If it came up for sale on this excellent site for circa £1000-£1250 it wouldn’t be a great surprise (to me, anyroad!) if it were to sell.

As I say, I’m not trying to justify the price (as it’s worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it!) just trying to add some context regarding how much it would cost to put together the same bass, esp. with the cost of a vintage neck included.

And personally, if it were my choice, I wouldn’t be listing it as a Fender either... 

1 hour ago, Maude said:

 

14:25 to Bair-ming-gham?

It just hasn't got the same ring. 

... well there is that to it!

Where are Half Man Half Biscuit when you need them?

On 11/01/2021 at 19:48, Nail Soup said:

Cool.... that's 3 songs I sing in my covers band. Not recently of course......... good to be reminded of them!

That, my friend, sounds like the makings of a terrific set. What else do you do?

I’ve tied myself up in knots with the Roadrunner track. I’ve convinced myself that we used to listen to a single version where, once you’d got to the end of the A-side,  you’d flip it over and the B-side would be a continuation of the track. I can’t find any confirmation of this anywhere, so can only imagine that I’m, erm, imagining it... 

Edit: Ignore that, I’ve just looked at Wikipedia... 

I’m putting it solely down to cheaper or cut price tickets, but the midnight train seems to have had its fair share of passengers over the years...

Sometimes it can be fairly definitive in its destination, and sometimes not!

21 minutes ago, Barking Spiders said:

Due to having towear specs for reading now, for a moment I thought this was a tune by someone called Nigel Hitler

Whilst not as bad, due to me being not ‘up’ on the popular beat combos of our time, I thought the band was Nigel Hitter and the track was called Shame!

But, yeah, your misunderstanding is worse!! 

I like this a lot...

18 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Back when I was 17, I already knew about apartheid from hearing a white South African* make some awful boasts about his youth in the country. I found this song remarkably empowering as it led me to learn more about Black South Africa and the idea that raising awareness could help lead to change**.

 

*My Dad was pleased to inform me that the guy in question met his karma as he had to be surgically castrated following a seaside accident involving slippery rocks.

**I ought to add that since those days and contrary to another song of the era, I have met nice (white, black and brown) South Africans.

I was 17 when I first heard it. A mate bought the album and knew a bit about the situation in South Africa and told me more about it. As with you it was this song that led me to learn more about Apartheid (I became a member of Amnesty International as a result - actually physically writing letters in the pre-online/internet/email era!).

Again, like your good self (and in line with the other song of the era you’re referring to), since those days I too have also met nice South Africans! 

The Biko track is an amazing piece of music, IMVHO... 

Hearing this for the first time (and since)...

This was released around the time I really started to learn the bass. Along with tracks like Roadrunner by The Modern Lovers and Spanish Stroll by Mink DeVille, the Wreckless Eric track was great to try and play along to. As I fumbled through it was the first song where I was aware of hearing/properly noticing a high bass noodle! - it blew my mind! (edited to say, I think Derek Forbes played a similar noodle on the intro to Simple Minds’ debut single Chelsea Girl - and what’s good enough for Mr Forbes..!)

Hearing this on the radio was a breath of fresh air...

I love this. Didn’t realise for many years that it was actually a cover!

Another song I loved as a kid. This had a real other-worldliness about it. Something different going on.

I think Errol Brown was a really underrated songwriter. Can’t think of many songwriters who have a breadth of work, in terms of Top 10 singles, that can be unashamedly ‘pop’ one minute and then cover subject matter such as suicide and interracial relationships the next.

A talented guy... 

On 31/12/2020 at 12:56, Old Man Riva said:

My courier status shows the location as Stanford Le Hope. However, in a more detailed view, it doesn’t show that the item has arrived at the facility - in a similar way that it showed it had ‘arrived’ at Herne Boernig in Germany on 23rd Dec and ‘departed’ Herne Boernig on 24th.

It’s a mystery of Scooby Doo proportions! 

Bass arrived from Germany today via UPS. All good.

Hope deliveries arrived safely for others on the thread... 

1 minute ago, ambient said:

Apologies, I was already typing my response before I read your reply.

Apologies here also... 

57 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Amen to that!

And that is perhaps exactly why the article is "uncomfortable" reading - it comes from the economics editor of a news source that was typically leaning the other way. Highly recommended reading.

Just to add a bit of context, the “news source” may have supported remaining in the EU but the journalist in question has advocated us leaving the EU for decades. So whilst the source may be a surprise the views of the journalist aren’t.

(that’s my one political post of the year out the way early!)

41 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Liking this already!  

Excellent! If you like that then definitely give their 2019 album, A Song For Paul, a listen... 

Ghost Funk Orchestra - An Ode to Escapism 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6AX1AtiHx6eDnD9srRxEIR?si=jwicOAiuSxOhunMsC8XVqQ

2 hours ago, Reggaebass said:

Thanks  Old man Riva, 👍 that’s really good to hear, as I’m finding out , the vintage market is quite a minefield 

It certainly can be, which is why it’s good to check around in the way you’re doing. I’ve had a couple of near-misses when buying in the past, but I genuinely feel that it was more down to people’s lack of knowledge and them not doing proper checks than any deliberate attempt to rip me off - that’s how I choose to view it, any road!

Have you got your eye on anything in particular?! 

11 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Cheers, I’ve already emailed him 👍

I bought a ‘65 Jazz from them about six/seven years ago. Gary was brilliant to deal with, he brought the bass over beforehand for me to try. He also spent loads of time before I purchased the bass giving me a lesson on what to look out for when buying vintage instruments!

I’d phoned around a few vintage dealers before buying the bass and when doing so asked who else they’d recommend (not an unfair question!) and Gary’s name came up a number of times as someone to buy from... 

47 minutes ago, stewblack said:

I've been hovering at the door for the last couple of years, but today I finally joined the jazz party. This is absolutely extraordinary. The interaction between the drummer and bass player, the two soloists and indeed the whole gang at times is a joy to behold. Looking like extras playing civil servants in a carry On Movie these guys are beyond cool. I love it.

 

Paul Desmond is one of my favourite players. On any instrument. His tone is beautiful.

If you’re diggin’ that then the recordings he did with Gerry Mulligan are well worth a listen. 

Before lockdown I was due to see Darius Brubeck (Dave’s son) at the local (Loughton) Methodist Hall. Ah well...

5 minutes ago, FDC484950 said:

Stanford le Hope in Essex is their last depot for trucks going to and coming from Eurotunnel. If it has a scan into this warehouse for a delivery from Germany then thank your lucky stars it made it over the border before 1st Jan. I had a return to Thomann which has fortunately made it to Germany. They resumed std services that were already in transit on 30/12 (ignore what their website says). Getting a bass through customs from the US at Christmas is proving to be an even harder challenge (held up in customs - asking me to prove which rosewood variety the fingerboard is made from FFS!!)

My courier status shows the location as Stanford Le Hope. However, in a more detailed view, it doesn’t show that the item has arrived at the facility - in a similar way that it showed it had ‘arrived’ at Herne Boernig in Germany on 23rd Dec and ‘departed’ Herne Boernig on 24th.

It’s a mystery of Scooby Doo proportions!