Burns-bass

Then you get into the intellectual appreciation of music being somehow more valid that an emotional connection to it. I understand how jazz and funk work and neither of them is hugely exciting to me anymore, in the main because I understand it. Once you’ve cracked the code (so to speak) a lot of what’s done isn’t as impressive as it once seemed.

I love the 16 year gap and I completely agree with your analysis. Stuff like Vulfpeck typifies this. It’s as bland and derivative as can be.

This is where I’ll be at 10am tomorrow morning.

Just popped you through a message.

This is great. I was inspired by my kids who enter ever new situation enthusiastically and with no negative feelings or preconceptions. That's how I'm trying to be with this and it was a lot of fun. I volunteer with a charity and some of the evidence they produced is that you should always be open to learning new things and challenging your body and brain – just like you are, and hopefully I am, too. Be great to hear more of your experiences as I hopefully progress.

I'm being a little dramatic. The teacher was really positive and friendly and didn't tell me I was doing things wrong, just that there were improvements we could make.

Lot to take in over an hour. Apparently I’m doing everything wrong but we can now make it all right. I’ve started 2025 in the mood for some self improvement and this is a good start.

I will buy the book Chris. It’s £25. I remember when I used to pay someone to service my bikes and motorbikes. Pointless.

I’m not sure where you live but I’d look for a local firm that works with and fabricates fibreglass. Small engineering firms can do incredible work. As a case in point, I needed a spike made for a Burns EUB. I spoke with music shops who told me it was impossible and quoted me hundreds for a replacement. A local engineering firm measured the thread and constructed one for £20 all within a few hours. While it’s unlikely they’d build bespoke they may be able to adapt an existing design. It’s not as if David Gage is building these things himself…

It was in my studio while we were decorating. Think it may be done for but I’ll do my best!

Part of the reason for sale was that it’s a big thing and it gets in the way. But I’ve managed to hide it so we’ll you’d barely spot it.

I think this is the correct advice for me. I really like the bass and it sounds ace and is super sturdy, which matters when you play the kind of places I do. I don’t have the time, patience or temperament to do it myself and I don’t mind paying someone - especially if they are local and a great person as I know from my own bitter experience that money is tight. Appreciate the feedback and advice.

I don’t know if such things exist, but is there a Cello forum you could go on and ask for any used items? Or maybe a local music shop you could ask? This stiff (used bridges and tailpieces) would end up in the bin. It might save you a few quid if they could send them to you. The instrument doesn’t look like it’s in great shape so I’d spend the least amount of money possible.

I always wanted to be a professional musician but once I realised 95% of it was playing Oliver, Grease or backing up middling pop singers at holiday camps I sort of realised it wasn’t for me. It sounds disparaging and I don’t mean it to be, but I’m not sure the life of a pro is easy in 2025.

I’ve known several musicians to work with “heritage” acts and they can often be a nightmare to work with. Sorry that’s the case here as the tour looks like it would have been a lot of fun.

Hello! I’ve got a conundrum. I have a 2002 all-ply Musima double bass. It’s in good physical condition, but it needs some work including a new bridge, nut, and swapping out the endpin and tailpiece (I have replacements). So the bass is in good condition but this work isn’t going to be cheap. I reckon about £400 all in. I could sell the bass as it is cheaply (£400-£500-ish) and let someone do the work or have it done myself and keep it as a spare for outdoor gigs or even lend it to someone. Head says to get rid of it, heart says get the work done. Wife and kids say “why have you got two double basses?”

My friend who is a coder in financial services has said you can spot the examples of code completed by AI. It lacks the sophistication and care of a professional. I have no knowledge to support the statement, but the principle is the same for writing (which I do know about).

The use of AI is becoming endemic. We called out one of our freelance writers for using it recently (a Cambridge educated PhD) as it was so obvious and egregious. I can understand why someone running a website that’s created to sell advertising space may take a shortcut like using AI but I was upset and a little offended that someone being paid a huge amount of money for creating 100% original content would try and pass something off to us like this. What was even more amazing was that they assumed we wouldn’t notice or even check for AI involvement. World has gone mad.

I’m going to disembark the buying and selling train. It’s not made me play better or sound better and I start the year still playing the same stuff by and large.

And respect someone’s choice if they choose to check out for a bit.

Alas, the bar we were going to play at is closing tomorrow due to staff sickness. That’s a big payday gone, but hope the staff are OK.

Looks stunning. Happy new year indeed.