leftyhook

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1326749755' post='1501597'] And yes, that is MOST unprofessional! [/quote] remember, I said the drummer and guitarist, not me. I wear a blindfold.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1326749555' post='1501591'] No..! Well... maybe a little... Obviously I'm missing something basic here, but for the life of me I can't work out what FLIM could possibly be... Give us a clue! [/quote] No Clues. straight to the point. It was an ANAGRAM of M.I.L.F............now don't pretend you don't understand the initials!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1326748980' post='1501578'] Farty Lemons In Mattress? [/quote] haha! yr all winding me up, right?

[b][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]quote "Personally I hate the clinical sound of a band who've done the former and are phoning in their performance with plastic smiles and 'off the cuff improvised' moves and jokes (that they do everytime). I wonder how these bands keep getting booked."[/font][/color][/b] My band perform a minimum of 3 shows per week. We are all seasoned musicians who have played with many bands covering many styles. We have played many of the venues many times and are on first name terms with some of the crowds. They know us. They enjoy us. We know when to keep it straight laced, and when to have a 'joke on'. We have had 4 requests already to perform at particular venues on New Years Eve 2012. the working mens club haven't changed in the 30 years I have been playing them. I know how to give them what they want. Si?!

[quote name='ZMech' timestamp='1326744475' post='1501485'] Perhaps come up with alternative games that don't effect the bassline you're playing For instance, my mates were discussing the games they play whilst invigilating the exams at uni. The funniest was that they'd each take it in turns to walk to the student they found most/least attractive, pause, and walk back to the front again. [/quote] er....a bit reluctant to admit this, but the drummer and guitarist in the band like to play "spot the best F.L.I.M" (it is an anagram....I am sure you can work it out!) a lot of on stage nodding and winking (not a spelling error there) but of course this is during the 2nd spot when peole are up dancing.... dug myself into a corner here, haven't I ? Most unprofessional

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1326736902' post='1501318'] Gerry Mcavoy - playing like a bassman should! [/quote] Nice. Saw him with Rory Gallagher back in the mid 70's. Such incredible energy from the trio.

Stinky repulsive smell. I remember opening my case the day after a gig before the smoking ban (every gig, not one occasion) and the strong smell of nicotine hitting my nostrils. ....ugh! Let's not get started on the smoking habit thing!

Well if he wants to come on here and put his own slant on things I will donate £20 to his favourite charity (this forum?) [quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1326734581' post='1501265'] Glad its going to get read after all this time, Its a good read. I found out he lived a few streets from where i live now. He say's he still pops back and loves the Southbank, maybe ill bump in to him one day :-) If he does read this thread i hope he doesnt begrudge me passing the book on ;-) [/quote]

OK, simple: Guy Pratt - GREAT bassist. great choice of notes, great feel and great sound. I consider myself enlightened! I look forward to reading the book. Cheers Dave!

link seems t be broken: [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]"Great player, check this out from about 4:40 onwards cSVbwwsLPqw. GP is also a BCer"[/font][/color]

" She's lying" haha! And I thought it was Nail's old mates from Newcastle that played that! As featured (mimed) on TOTP's. In that case, Guy Pratt more than cuts the mustard for me. Great stuff. Busy watching Pink Floyd 'Delicate sound of thunder" on youtube. Hard work! but Pratt's tone and execution are very impressive. thanks

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1326726523' post='1501060'] Talknig of the book, if anyone wants my copy of it to read and thne maybe pass on get in touch. I know there is already a book or two doing the rounds but i know ill never read my hard copy of it, not now i have the iBooks version. No charge of course. @3rdUncle. Yep, very jealous of what he has done in his life but i would never knock his talent. [/quote] yes please. intrigued! will pm you thanks

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1326723887' post='1500997'] He clearly had a brass neck, and the mercenary instincts when it came to exploiting his contacts and making the right call at the right time. Oddly, he didn't want to join Icehouse, to do a "pub" tour, demonstrating his ignorance of the "pub" venues in Australia, which hold crowds in excess of 1,000. Those "pub" tours saw him playing top billing with band such as Simple Minds, Talking Heads and Psychedelic Furs in support slots, and directly contributed to Icehouse acquiring support slots on European tours with the likes of Simple Minds and David Bowie, and a US tour with Talking Heads. [/quote] As well as some kind of facial similarity to Gordon Ramsay(?!) I am getting the impression that he has similar arrogance traits. But hey, how many famous musicians have been right ***** ( Blackmore for instance) but have produced great music.. Great Guy Pratt recordings anyone?

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1326722594' post='1500963'] Damn, you're right, hadn't noticed that.I'll email them straight away! On a more serious note, I got this email a few minutes ago: --- hi there, Thank you for the email and the photos. Please return the faulty unit back to us for replacement. Please send the unit in its original condition with all the accessories in the original box with the labels which you will receive within few hours in a separate e-mail. You can print the label, stick it firmly on the parcel and take the parcel to nearest post office to be sent. Pack the unit as good as possible so that the possibility of a further transport damage would be at its minimum and in case of one, we could get the courier responsible for it. Please include a message with your contact details, reason for return (written fault description) and your wishes for the procedures made with this specific return. Within 30 days from purchase, we can exchange the item under the following conditions: -The unit needs to be in mint condition. -No dog ears on manuals. -Original packaging and accessories needs to be returned as well. If these terms are not met or the 30 days is clearly over, we will instead repair the unit for you. Please observe! Normal repair time is 3-4 weeks from the time we receive the returned item until we can send it back to you. Unfortunately we cannot lend you a product during this time. Repair info only: In case where the technician states that the fault was accidentaly caused by you, we can not cover any of the shipping costs nor repair the unit under warranty. I don't think that is the case but I am obliged to let you know this before hand. --- My reply: Thank you, but surely this is no way to make amends - four weeks!! I do not accept your offer of a replacement as stated. If you send a new, good bass in the next couple of days, AND NO LATER, and collect the other one at the same time as you deliver it to me, I can accept that. That would be the ONLY way I could accept an exchange. Asking me to wait longer is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE under any point of view. As a less preferable alternative, I request from you a partial refund on the price of the bass, so that I can pay a luthier to repair the bass here in London. Please reply without delay. Best regards, Silvia ------------- I think their suggestion is an insult, TBH. [/quote]Way to go! You pay without delay, in full. They should respect that and treat you with respect. But this type of processing (ugh, horrible word but that is how it feels) goes for a lot of companies.

Can someone please point me to a couple of track that show Guy Pratt at his best? I have seen his youtube videos like 'best disco lines etc. I mean recorded songs. thanks!

Sticking my neck out here, but Guy Pratt, is probably no more talented than a lot of musicians on this forum. That goes for his musicianship, and his 'comedy exploits'. The difference is, probably, a massive amount of confidence (arrogance some may say) self-belief and getting himself out there where and when it mattered. This is a rather ambiguous thought as I have not read his book and is not an attack on GP, but it a theory we can put to many of the famous bassists, except for the likes of Jaco. There are many many musicians sat in their home replicating some mind-boggling bass lines created by bassists in the limelight, but those who have made it just got out there and did it.Probably had many knock and rejections on the way , but they got there. BTW nor is it an attack on bedroom bassists! if they are happy doing that then that is fine.

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1326713185' post='1500747'] Anyone thought that instead of making it technically more interesting for themselves, they could use the time to make the act more visually appealing to the audience?? It is a show after all. [/quote] Ha! of course. I have done it all, from dressing up like a clown, to robotics back in the 80's, leaping about like a nutter etc. there are still visual elements in my performance. Never been a shoe gazer. I often get comments from people who don't notice the playing comment on my subtle comedy visuals. I used to do character comedy, you see. I was just looking at things from the note playing point of view here. I've been playing live for 30 years and the cover band scene has been a true training ground for every aspect of live performance for me. There aren't many musicians in the crowd in the clubs, so I stick to what they expect musically and try to give them something visual to stop them wondering about whether they will win the bingo!

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1326682504' post='1500488'] i agree, and i think it shows a good musician that wants to be creative...i applaud you for it.... ive played bass lines that i know and inverted the bass line within the chord and all sorts, double stops, a little slap.. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt.. this is always within the comfort of a studio/music room... then if you and your band think it works, let it go live... i cant stand the thought of music being a regime , ive spent 15 years learning how to play with no help, so i want to make sure i enjoy it..its my passion..... music is suppose to be fun, and what ever music your playing should be approached in that way... imo [/quote] Well said. However as I play in a.function band,where there are certain expectations from fellow musicians (" the bass drops out for 1 bar on the original recording"..blah blah) so variations have to be subtle. So my Firework 'personal exercise/challenge is playing the 'expected' notes, but how I choose to play them. Oh, and there is always the odd musician or two who notices your fingers doing crazy things

Brilliant. Thanks for such an in-depth explanation. I can see how they work visually from a players point of view, just didn't get the variation in fret positions etc. First saw one in the hands of Leland Skla and thought it was a stunt of sorts! Would love one. Thanks again

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1326679100' post='1500482'] Yum! Thanks It's satin black, which means very dark brown in fact, and the grain of the wood underneath the finish is still visible. I chose it in preference to the normal jet black - which was available too - like that of my upright and my Crafter (my very first never-touched-a-bass-before student instrument). [/quote] I thought I was the only one who was a post-gig insomniac! Let us know how it sounds too?

There I was on stage tonight, third show in a row this weekend, playing "Firework" By Katey Perry. I know what you are thinking. z-z-z-z-z for the bass player.No bass for most of the verses, then root notes and one noodly run into the middle section. It could be so easy to just go through the motions and think about what I am having for supper, but I try to set myself a bit of a challenge with such songs, or at least make it more interesting. So Firework for instance, instead of just the single root 8 to the bar notes(all notes until chorus are palm muted, just my way of simulating the synth feel), I play double notes (octaves) using my thumb and fingers, alternating my first and second finger in various patterns. Thumb playing the 8th rhythm on the low with the octave higher played with first finger for 4 notes then second finger 4 notes. Next time around I may do first finger 1 notes then second finger 3 notes etc. If a song isn't exciting you, maybe try changing the position on the fingerboard each time you play a riff? Well, it keeps my Lady Ga-Ga, Amy Winehouse lines more interesting for me I am sure some of you have similar ideas about making it worthwhile playing songs that don't make you tick otherwise.?

here here.

How the heck does that fanned fret thing work then? looks cool, but......am I just being thick?

nice pix. Liquid Liquorice! ( Winding down from a gig..it's just what came to mind when I saw your shiny black bass)