skankdelvar

I'd say stick with it and learn to laugh at the cock-ups. At this early stage one learns much from one's own mistakes and those of others. A loose and somewhat extemporised approach to covers can hone the improvisatory skills and makes for a merry evening. Ideal for a beginner and entirely character-forming. In truth, this sounds to me pretty much like the sort of band one would have got into back in the day when one was seventeen. A bit 'all over the place' but the opportunity to carve out your own space and learn to work with a live drummer. And don't worry about songs mutating from straight 4/4 thuds to bouncy shuffles. It's an old trick to engage the audience's attention and / or camouflage for a lack of arrangement skills. Done it loads of times.

I have no doubt that Mr BCFGI's labours have brought affordable quality into the hands of vulnerable, hard working little people up and down the country at a time when it was neither profitable nor popular. Will that take some of the heat off, d'ye think?

Ah, but this seems to have been a proper survey, with a whopping 94,000 respondents, proper tests and carefully graded questions; all conducted by respected Goldsmith's College and the BBC. If it is the case that the survey is correct and Redditch [i]is[/i] the least musical town in the UK then let us not be downhearted. Someone had to come last and it may all be different next year. By the same token the survey does not denigrate the local music scene or its component bands but merely notes the comparative lack of musicality among [i]the general population. [/i] Equally, it does not mean that the OP is unmusical; merely that he is relatively much more musical than his neighbours. Cause for celebration; an opportunity, even, to lift local musicality in a target-rich environment. And no one could possibly think the worse of Redditch simply because Ashfield in Nottinghamshire nosed ahead. I'm sure Redditch is good at lots of other things

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1410990800' post='2555488'] He might not have had any rhythm or groove because he was a sh*t bass player before he was a sh*t guitarist. Just because he played for 15 years doesn't automatically mean he was any good at it. [/quote] ^ What he said. * Focus on the audition you had with the other two guys. Some potential there, one assumes. * Keep looking * Don't worry about your blues bass playing; you're probably much better than you think. If nothing else you are at the stage of conscious incompetence, which puts you at least one step ahead of poor old SRV Bob.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1410964101' post='2555114'] It is apparent that I am wrong. [/quote] I don't think you are incorrect. As a career criminal I spend a lot of time lingering by 'open windows' and can report the almost complete absence of strummed tennis rackets, pot and pan drum kits and tea-chest basses. Neither do I ever observe families sitting together around the wireless while Father smokes his pipe and Mother prepares a succulent Sunday lunch. I think it is all down to the atomisation of modern society and the growing trend for the rich to trample upon little people up and down the country. That or climate change. Either way, everything is awful and everybody is ghastly.

I must be very lucky. Advertised 15 or so high and low-ticket items earlier this year, most of which sold at or around the original asking price. Only one guy got into serious (yet friendly) haggling but he made it worth my while by multi-buying three separately advertised items. If gear isn't shifting it's either because (i) there's no current demand for that item or (ii) because potential buyers don't value it as highly as does the seller. Opening above the market average then rapidly following up with a series of price drops just encourages potential buyers to wait - and who can blame them? Better to open with an 'attractive' price then hold one's ground, discounting very slowly. Mind you, this doesn't really work if one's in a hurry.

Might be worth including some of the one-hit wonders and some of the acts who had one foot in glam and one foot in mainstream rock and pop. For example: [i]Cross-over[/i] Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye, Now I'm here Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting Chicory Tip - Son Of My Father Alice Cooper - Elected, School's Out Sparks - This Town Abba - Waterloo The Move - California Man David Essex - Rock On, Hold Me Close 10CC - Rubber Bullets, Wall St Shuffle BeBop Deluxe - Maid In Heaven, Ships In The Night [i]One-hitters: [/i] Kenny - The Bump, Fancy Pants Cozy Powell - Dance With The Devil Ringo Starr - Back Off Boogaloo Pilot - January, Magic Brownsville Station - Smoking in The Boys' Room Chicory Tip - Son Of My Father Sailor - Glass Of Champagne, Girls Girls Girls Hello - New York Groove Barry Blue Racey Links : Compilation: [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dynamite-Best-Glam-Various-Artists/dp/tracks/B00000G6LH/ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1"]Best Glam Rock Album Ever[/url] 100 Singles: [url="http://rateyourmusic.com/list/lefthandluke/top_100_glam_rock_singles_of_all_time/"]http://rateyourmusic...es_of_all_time/[/url] 100 Albums [url="http://rateyourmusic.com/list/lefthandluke/top_100_glam_rock_albums_of_all_time/"]http://rateyourmusic...ms_of_all_time/[/url]

Legend has it that only 200 were ever made. IIRC a guy was trying to unload one of these in white a few years ago on ebayUK. Only time I've ever seen one for sale over here - I [i]think[/i] he wanted £2500 -£3000 for it but the details elude me. Some more about the Bass V [url="http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2144713/For_Sale_Fender_Bass_V"]here[/url]. Myself, I'd love one but finances forbid.

The late 70's colour palette was fairly restricted. I can't be sure as to whether the [i]all [/i]of the following were available through 1977-1978 but it's the best that memory can do: Black White Blond (?) Natural 3-tone Sunburst Walnut (official name for 'Mocha' - discontinued in '78) Wine (like Dakota Red only darker) Antigua There may be others and I've probably forgotten them.

A sudden flurry of late night interest! Thanks for the heads-up, Douglas. Sleep tight, my prince... Skank out.

Yes, indeed I do and it's still available.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1410387232' post='2549022'] I've been struggling to figure out where the treasury spends its money for years, I certainly don't seem to be getting much value out of taxation. I'm quite content to fund others' medical treatments and education though, and I'd be happy to see - for example - Trident ditched and that money spent on giving school pupils something more useful to do with their time. [/quote] Quite so and entirely laudable. For myself, I'd like to see the NPME's £196m budget be given to the poorest 100,000 families in the UK. They could do a lot with a couple of grand in the bin each. Or we can just give every newborn child a ukulele and pat ourselves on the back for 'giving them hope'.

The 'aim' of the National Plan For Musical Education is - in fact - an ill-defined, underfunded 'pledge' of the type so frequently hawked by incompetent, publicity-obsessed politicians. Consider the petition's bland affirmation which restates the NPME's anodyne ambition: 'Every child should have the opportunity to play a musical instrument'. Do we ever stop to consider what this might entail and whether the cost is supportable? We do not because we do not really care. Hostage to mawkish notions of 'creativity' and bereft of rational thought we lend unthinking support to such endeavours for such things 'must be done' because they are 'the right thing to do'. It is easy - particularly on a politically left-of-centre musicians' forum - to cry 'hope' and 'life-changing'. In truth the benefits of learning a musical instrument as they are stated by proponents of the NPME are entirely collateral and can be achieved through the existing curriculum. If a child wishes to learn a musical instrument, let their parents make the arrangements. This time-honoured approach has much to recommend it. As ever, a politically inspired and poorly conceived government programme is falling by the wayside. I imagine most of those who wish to reinvigorate the initiative either have a sectional interest as a musician (as does the petition-starter) or simply wish for reasons of personal politics to perpetuate the socialistic fallacy that state centralism is the answer to everything. Frankly, this was a limp ploy by Tory wets to ingratiate themselves with liberal pinkos. Tragic waste of time and money.

To paraphrase Tom Wheeler's seminal work 'American Guitars: An Illustrated History', the original Firebird is to its successor as Errol Flynn is to Elmer Fudd.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Unfinished-Double-Body-Neck-Electric-Guitar-and-Bass-Kit-Project-DIY-NEW-/310647344190?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4854064c3e"]6/4 doubleneck DIY kit[/url] from Ireland for £167 delivered. Paddle headstocks need routing, woodwork needs a finish (oil?), then screw it together.

Depends. If we're just about to play a new original and the writer politely asks me to - say - play quarter notes under the verse and eighths under the chorus, dead-stop after the bridge, keep it simple - then I'll happily comply. It's his song and I'm there to support it. If someone tells me to 'make it more punchy' then I'll ask them to be more specific. That usually foxes them. I haven't had to deck anyone yet because no one has annoyed me enough in this respect. Well, not where 'how to play the song' is concerned, anyway.

As mentioned earlier: Curious as to the average publican's views about bands I wandered off to find some pub landlord forums. Well, there seem to be damn few of them - perhaps pub guvnors don't have time to go online. The sense I get from those sites I visited is that live music occupies a pretty small space in the landlord's mind, being merely one of a number of traffic-driving initiatives alongside TV football, curry nights, background music and guest beers, etc. The issue of live music may perhaps occupy 10% of his consciousness on the night and 0.01% the rest of the time. My explorations threw up three other interesting facts: * The MU is soon to launch a campaign against Pay-To-Play (PDF download [url="http://livemusicexchange.org/wp-content/uploads/Fair-Play-Guide.pdf"]here[/url]) * PRS published some research a couple of years ago which showed that live music lifted an average pub's nightly take by £126 (Sun-Thurs) and £485 (Fri-Sat). Though the PRS reckons this is quite marvellous it sounds pretty discouraging to me given our collective aspirations. * A handy hint from a website marketing 'advice services' to landlords: [quote]Got a problem with drug users? Then spray all flat surfaces in the toilets with WD40 – the coke dissolves in the oil – don’t worry they won't complain to you.[/quote] [color=#ffffff].[/color]

[quote name='wahit' timestamp='1409245799' post='2537952'] Since I can't try an American Precision, how un-wise would it be to just order one online? [/quote] Not unwise if you buy it from Thomann - if you don't like the item [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/faq_question_how_does_the_money_back_guarantee_work.html"]they'll take it back[/url] and refund your money less shipping. Check the Portuguese version of their site for full details and any local conditions which may apply

Apologies for any duplications: Albert King: Born Under a Bad Sign, The Hunter Jimmy Reed: Bright Lights, Big City - Baby What You Want Me to Do - Honest I Do Elmore James: Dust My Broom, Talk To Me Baby, Shake Your Moneymaker Various artists inc Clapton, Buddy Guy: Five Long Years Bobby Bland: Further On Up the Road Bo Diddley: Who Do You Love John Lee Hooker: Serve You Right To Suffer, Boogie Chillen

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1409073446' post='2536064'] So fast changeovers can be done and is not really a good excuse for sharing loads of gear. [/quote] Yes, they can be done. Mind you, there's a difference between Mr Neville Staples' road-honed combo and four bands comprising a total of four drummers (each of whom takes an hour to set up his kit) and 12 other numpties all getting in the way and yelling 'Oh, get a move on Bob, FFS!'

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1409057926' post='2535868'] There's quite a range of meanings, very varied. Not sure if that applies to the OP, though..! [/quote] Indeed. I have therefore submitted a more apposite definition to The Urban Dictionary. If accepted it will retrospectively cover the OP's communicational intent: [quote] [b]Ched[/b]: An electric bass guitarist who arrives at a gig without means of amplification and uses another player's equipment often without soliciting the owner's permission. [b]Example[/b]: [i]'So the other band is playing and I look up like and this ched is slamming away through my amp. It's clipping like a mother so I get up there and turn it down and the Ched's like what are you doing, man, then I wait till afterwards and I blow his sh*t the f*ck up, right there in front of his 14 year-old friends'[/i][/quote]

It's pretty straightforward, really. If there's no money in playing a particular venue it's a simple choice whether to accept that condition or go somewhere else. Fin. The continuing problem is that - at a certain level of the market - occasional promoters expect hobby bands to 'bring a following' while hobby bands expect the venue to provide the audience. We know in our hearts this is seldom going to happen yet we persist in the delusion. The expectation that a venue will magically fill itself is a triumph of cognitive dissonance. Anyway, there must be a LandlordChat somewhere on the web. As might a Victorian explorer I shall set forth to scout the issue from the other perspective; if I return I shall present a report.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1408886227' post='2534304'] ( ... [i]Throbbing sound increases rapidly, blue flashing lights reflect from the walls through the un-curtained windows. A Tannoy voice bellows from above [/i]....) [/quote] Did anyone else here that or was it just me? Anyway, the Missus just asked what I was reading on BC. "Thread about people using other peoples' basses without asking...' I replied. 'Ha! They're always talking about that, aren't they? They get [i]so[/i] angry. Mind you,' she added, her brow darkening 'If someone just walked up and started using my sewing machine I'd lure them to a derelict factory and shoot them in the face.'

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1408686971' post='2532463'] I got by reasonably well [...] by just keeping it sparse, a few well chosen roots and runs and plenty of space. [/quote] Indeed. I once jammed with a guy who'd been rhythm guitar in an incarnation of Toots and The Maytals. After about a minute he stopped me and said: 'Look, just play about 10 per cent of what you're playing now. It'll be fine.' He was right and it was. Good luck with the audition.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1408819010' post='2533842'] In the 2 years that I have been going to open mics and jams, I have really enjoyed meeting some of the younger musicians. They seem so full of enthusiasm and energy. They get up there and bound about like Tigger, even if they are playing to one man and his dog. [/quote] The young have a monopoly neither on graceless bass-swiping nor on energetic enthusiasm. On stage I am Tigger personified, creaking knees notwithstanding. By contrast, on BassChat I am Eeyore to my fingertips and feel every one of my 56 years. It's a matter of environment, I suppose.