Jamolah

Hey BC folks, So, a gentleman in the Czech Republic is interested in buying my Warwick on eBay. He's gotten in touch with me to ask if I'm willing to arrange shipping overseas, and as far as I'm concerned if he's happy to stump up the extra groats then I'm happy to sort it for him. Having said, I've never had any experience of sending overseas, and so I invite advice, horror stories and general grumblings from you, the BC population. I figure it's probably gonna be best to use a courier like UPS, but am still unsure about the mechanics, so any help would be appreciated. Many tanks, JP

Anybody have any comments regarding the difference in feel between maple/RW? I've only ever had dark wood boards on my basses and am curious about the difference (if any) a maple neck might make.

Some very thoughtful (and amusing) opinions put forward here over a thorny issue. For what it's worth I enjoy slap playing and can happily listen to it. I only use it in a song if the bandleader asks me to, however, and would rather impress people with my groove than my flash thumb-licks. But like Out to Play said, it's about taste. I find it strange, for example, that Victor Wooten gets maligned as a bad-taste slapper. Those who apply this label to Vic seem to ignore all the gorgeous melodic and grooving work he does with Bela Fleck or any number of other collaborators. Sure he busts out the flash for his solo shows, (but those shows are all about musical circus play and his audience probably would be happy to listen to it all night) but when he's on a sideman gig, forget it. You're getting tasty groove and playing that's appropriate for the music, and if he does slap it seems totally seamless. Thats the mark of a great musician, IMO. I think the thing that REALLY winds most slap nay-sayers up is the perceived 'Hark at me!' attitude of the bass players who employ it to draw attention to themselves. Most musicians who haven't gotten round to learning about taste do this because they see good players that they admire chuck this stuff in at will (not just on bass, of course; guitarists and drummers do it too and it's equally painful). It would be equally distressing to watch a mediocre bass player do any of the following, in attempt to make themselves appear centre stage; 1) Slap needlessly, 2) Use grinding distortion that drowns out the band during the chorus, 3) Change hat for every song of the set and bounce around, gurning, 4) Attempt a Cliff Burton, 5) Attempt a Cliff Richard. Of course, it goes without saying that bass players who slap have massive testicles. Giant. JP

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='339438' date='Nov 28 2008, 11:37 AM']Welcome aboard! I've never heard of the S&S Cinema... I've just looked it up and it looks pretty funky! Have a good night...[/quote] Cheers sir. I like gigs at the S&S, it's a kooky place, and the cinema shows some interesting left field stuff. Check it out. Cheers, JP

This is shaping up to be a busy weekend. Gigs tonight and tomorrow with a long sunday rehearsal to cap it all off. Tonight's gig is the fantastic acoustic salsa/klezmer/jazz/??? band Acoustic Mass at the Star and Shadow cinema in Newcastle, on the town side on the Byker bridge. Any Newcastle-based 'Chatters who fancy it are more than welcome to come critique my upright playing. I'm still pretty new to the forum and it would be sweet to say hello to some of you. Cheers, JP

[quote name='jakesbass' post='337863' date='Nov 26 2008, 11:12 PM']But I soon realised that regular income from a mindless activity was utterly without joy. I think the most important thing that you miss is that I am a very happy musician. If I wasn't I would do something else. I will also reiterate that I know literally hundreds of musicians who survive and are happy some of them having earned more from one job than many would in a years work.[/quote] Very big +1 for this. I spent a few years working a grueling shop job and hating it. Now I make (admittedly not much) money from playing, and I wouldn't trade all the late nights and frustration and ringing ears and utter bloody joyful music making for any 9-5 you care to offer. I also quit my pub band, waving goodbye to the only regular paying gig I had. There just had to be something out there more fulfilling than banging out 'Alright Now' and 'She Sells Sanctuary' every saturday night. Sacrificing financial comfort for our love of music and our artistic drive is just par for the course, if that's your bag. True I don't 'just' play, but everything I do that makes money is based around music, as a player, teacher and workshop facilitator. I couldn't do it without the support of my partner and our families, and sometimes I feel like a sponge, which sucks. But I endeavor to live within my means and contribute, and if she/they can accept that, then I can live with being close to broke for the love of making music. That's reward enough, for the time being. I'd point to a guy like Steve Lawson as an example that those willing to work hard and approach full time playing from a business-savy-but-artistic angle can make a living out of their own music. Lots of Jazz and creative musicians play and workshop more or less full time, mostly without big label success or any promotion but their own. I think that's encouraging enough to justify giving it a go. Just my 2 cents. JP

Are you synchronizing your watches?

[quote name='TheDarkReaver' post='288561' date='Sep 21 2008, 02:45 PM']Me in the background a bit: And a dark close-up: All at Thursdays Vlad in Tears gig. I nearly went deaf in my left ear because of being right next to the cymbals.[/quote] What d'ya know, the Chillingham! Stage looks different when you can (more or less) actually fit on it!

A few shots by way of newbie ingratiation. My career highlights, I suppose... Here I am on-stage with the short-lived but over-rehearsed prog rock giant that was Jack the Stabber. [attachment=16430:n6039334...275_2660.jpg] We were OK, but imploded after the guitarist suddenly decided we weren't a "proper" band. God knows what he meant, but that was that. Here I am at my semi-regular haunt, the Wednesday jam session at The Chillingham in Heaton. [attachment=16434:john_pope.jpg] ..and finally, a shot of my high-school band circa 2002. Another over-rehearsed band, but we were pretty bloody good for a high-school outfit, and bypassed the Foo Fighters and Greenday in favour of more challenging material like 'Sweet Child O Mine' or 'Since You Been Gone'. That Aria was my first real bass, but I was already a Fez veteran... [attachment=16435:n2842044...889_2065.jpg]

Just a quick post to say hello to all the bass chat folks. Looking forward to becoming a part of the community. Cheers, Jamolah