knirirr

I’m reminded of a time that a rock guitarist joined me for a session in a jazz group. Seeing a few bars of Dm7 on the chart he asked what he might be expected to play over that. I suggested D dorian/C major to keep it simple. “What? Don’t know it!” “What scales do you know, then?” ”The blues scale, and the other one.”

A lot of the stuff I listen to is ripped from CD or vinyl. Some has been purchased as digital downloads (e.g. from Bandcamp). I have no use whatsoever for the usual streaming services but all my music is on a Plex server at home so it is accessible from any of my devices wherever I have a network collection. Apple music, when I tried that, was horribly buggy and for some reason wouldn't sync to all my devices. Their usual troubleshooting steps (reboot, reboot everything else, wipe data and restore, wipe and don't restore) were of no use.

Even though I suspect I wouldn't like it I've often fancied a go on a Rickenbacker, 4001 or 4003. I noticed that some people in this thread mentioned that a double bass would be on their list. Do any of you own Rickenbackers and live in/near Oxfordshire? Perhaps we could come to some arrangement...

Last night's gig was in a tiny venue - the Three Horseshoes in Charlbury. The scroll of my bass was a couple of inches under the ceiling and it had to stay in place, held upright, during the interval as there was nowhere to put it down. The rooms were very cramped as well. Good gig, though - the audience appeared very pleased with the music. I was also incredibly lucky and found a large parking space right outside the front door of the pub. Though the band advertises as jazz the BL wants material that is easier on the general public's ear and so it tends to involve quite a few long grooves with obvious blues or reggae influence.

I've always assumed that James Brown's lyrics don't actually mean much and are essentially a form of scat. Approx. 40 seconds into this one is a favourite example: https://youtu.be/asJpYyVROqg?t=39 It may well be that I'm simply too square to get it, though.

Still unavailable and jealously guarded!

This is no longer available.

Indeed! Though relatively trivial, I recall lending my instrument to someone who within seconds of starting to play it struck the wall beside him rather firmly with the headstock. Presumably he saw my look of dismay, for he immediately informed me that there was no need for concern for "they're made for getting a bit beaten up, aren't they?" Though not bass related, I can't resist mentioning that I have a fencing text from 1707 which gives instruction on who must pay for a broken foil (answer; whoever is holding the handle at the moment it breaks). Perhaps jam sessions ought to operate a similar rule.

Recently, I noticed that PMT have started selling a house brand, "Antiquity". Here are some examples: https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/products/bass/bassguitars/electricbassguitar?manufacturer=10814 I can't find much online about them, though I saw a mention that they are made in the Harley Benton factory. Has anyone tried anything from the range, and, if so, do you have any comments on the quality (or the width) etc. ?

Sorry about that. A shame; it would be good if someone could make use of this.

For the "not many different notes" interpretation, I offer this. Very relaxing after a jazz woodbine, I'm told.

In need of some repair but still works, i.e. one may sit on it safely and it is comfortable. Will require collection in Chipping Norton, but it may be possible for me to drop it off in Oxford, depending on time and exact location.

It was quite an effective method, apparently. I think I was even in tune the first time I gigged that bass (choice of notes is another matter).

From time to time I regret selling my first bass. But, I fear that I wouldn't get much use out of it if I still had it, as is proven by the "for sale" section here...

"Carter takes a train" usually does the trick for me.

Although I realise that rounds are very popular, I've never understood why as I don't find the either the tone or the feel appealing, plus there is the finger noise to deal with. My first bass was an unlined fretless, a long time ago. Eventually I sold it as I didn't like the tone, but it had rounds on and at the time I had no idea that flats existed and would have fixed that issue. I've never got on with frets, it's almost always been unlined fretless, EUB or DB since.

Quite right - I'd forgotten the mirror until you mentioned it just now. Didn't it say something about watching the drummer not necessarily being a good idea, depending on the drummer?

This reminds me that at some point in the 90s there was an "April fool" article in a bass magazine about an electric tea chest bass supposedly about to be released. This was a Trace Elliot BLX combo with a carbon fibre broom handle on the top (complete with LED position markers IIRC) and a kevlar string. If anyone ever comes across a copy that would be amusing to see again.

This always sounds like "Stop in the neighbourhood" to my ears.

Does this count? Even if not, it's an awesome album. https://www.discogs.com/release/2001440-Monk-Montgomery-Bass-Odyssey

A Triumph (1990s Trident) did that to me, but chose a the side of the road halfway between home and work as the ideal spot. I have never tried a Rickenbacker, or even encountered one. They look interesting, but as there doesn't appear to be a fretless option with a blank fingerboard I'd be unlikely to buy one.

When it comes to space the Triumph is rather small when packed up, not much bigger than a bass guitar. Here it is propped in a corner, assembled and ready for use. A 3/4 DB usually sits in this corner and fits well enough. I was surprised when I got the acoustic that it was less of a nuisance to move about the house than expected.

Sorry, I didn't notice this thread earlier. I've got a Warwick Triumph and so could comment on it. As it happens I bought it to learn double bass technique and it is close enough to a DB (though a little more awkward to hold) such that what I learned transferred directly. It's an Eb neck which it turns out I like, but many DBs are D necks. There were two problems I had with it. The first was that the tuners are rather like bass guitar ones and couldn't handle proper DB strings, which I wanted to use, so I got them changed by a local luthier who also adjusted the bridge and fingerboard, declaring the instrument "not quite so alien as it first appeared" after they had worked on it. The second problem is that I am 6'3" and the end pin appears to be built for someone a foot shorter. This was solved by getting a length of copper pipe from a plumber, adding a walking stick rubber ferrule on the end and slipping it over the end pin. The tone is not bad, particularly after I had these strings put on. It sounds more-or-less like an amplified double bass.