Dr.Dave

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1367568294' post='2066899'] Maybe, but bear in mind that Jaco is not one of my main musical heroes - I'm just saying that people should recognise what he did and not come out with spurious comparisons to James Jamerson! He was always going to have more of an effect on someone like Bilbo because be likes that kind of music. My point about people getting defensive when they hear brilliant musicians was way more general than just talking about Jaco... [/quote] I'm not comparing JJ to Jaco - I'm comparing what I perceive as their differing approaches to playing music. To be defensive when hearing brilliant musicians... first you would have to accept the musician in question's 'brilliance'. In Jaco's case - I'm not sure I do totally. I also , generally , find that those who stand gaping in awe of another players technical skills are the average , jealous players rather than those who feel competent enough not to (seek to) need to prove themselves to anyone , but would rather put themselves second to the work they're contributing to.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1367412326' post='2065281'] I basically agree with your opinions on Jaco. I recognise his talent, but neither his music nor his playing does anything for me. I was addressing your idea of the "proper" role of the bass in music. Perhaps using the physical side of playing was not the best way to do this, though I'm sure you can see my point here also. Let me try another approach. Before Jamerson came along, the bass generally played a supportive role in music. We knew it was there, but it was as much implied or felt, as heard. Jamerson's style and interpretation of charts, changed all this. While the bass was still supporting the music, it was doing so in a much more dynamic way. This was not what was regarded as the "proper" way to play up to then. To my mind J J was supporting the song. He was never intrusive , never showing off. He listened to the song and backed it in the best way he could. I think musicians in general , not just bass players , should primarily support the song. The song is the whole point. We ca do that in the constructive , melodic , skillfull and artistic way J J did .... or we can put ourselves first and fret w***. I know which I prefer. I am not comparing the two bassists, except to say that they both brought their own unique approach to playing the bass. [/quote] I think that all musicians should primarily support the song - not just bass players. It's the whole point. J J was superb at doing so. He never put himself before it - he used his skills to improve the song - not to over shadow it. He didn't give a monkeys how good people thought he was - he cared only for how much better the song was for his input.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1367355116' post='2064708'] I'll give a good word for Shane Haigh (String Surgeon) in Horbury. He's been doing guitar repairs for over 20 years and taught for a while on the instrument building course at Leeds that people like Jim Fleeting graduated from. [/quote] Shane's done a couple of bits for me and his work is bang on - down side is he can talk for England and you'll be there until you die but if you don't mind that you can get him on 01924 277930

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1367396784' post='2064985'] "Properly" is widely open to interpretation. When the bass guitar first came on the scene, it was fitted with what we call a thumb rest, but was situated below the strings. The idea behind this was that plucking with the thumb was considered the "proper" way to play the bass, and the "thumb rest" was an anchor for the fingers. I am sure that a lot of the techniques we take for granted today, would not have been considered to be "proper" back then. My main point being that the bass guitar is still a comparatively new instrument, and new ways of expressing yourself through it are constantly evolving. [/quote] I didn't mean the way he uses his hands - what I mean is the skill of contributing to the song rather then being the focal point of it. That's what I believe is the essence of good bass playing. I watch Jaco and he's usually fret w***ing - like the Vai's and the Satriani's of this world. I'd rather hear a good song well supported than a solo for the sake of showing how good you are.

Sorry - but much as I can recognise and admire his technical skills and it's great that a guy can bring his instrument up front in a way that's been inspirational to many - his stuff leaves me clap cold and I lose interest in seconds. Fret(less) w***ing , pure and simple. Not for me. It's like Mark King - fair play to these guys but I'm not so dumb that I can't recognise a bass player doing his job properly. I'd rather save my applause for folk who do that.

It's to do with my character. I'm never happy as a ' consumer ' - only as a 'creator'. I don't like to eat out but I like to cook. I don't like to buy anything I can make myself. I don;t like to pay for any service I can manage myself. In the same way - I hardly ever listen to music. I don't enjoy it much. Put me on a stage , however , where I can make it and I'm Mr Happy.

Get down the shops ( hint - not chip shops , that's where druimmers go to buy gear) and try out as many basses as you can to see what feels comfortable in your hands. Try Fender type Precisions and Jazzes as a start point. They're classic designs that are still industry standards. Inexpensive Squiers or Mexican made Fenders are fine. Just get your hands on stuff - then visit the classifieds on here and you'll find all you want.

I think that a gigging bass player should force him or herself to play through the set at home on acoustic guitar while singing. It'll make your bass playing contribution at gigs better for it , not worse. It makes you think of where the meat and veg of the song are - the better to know where to put the herbs and spices in and where best to leave well alone.

Landlords know nothing of music generally. They tend to be a semi criminal sub species of piss head failures only interested in hearing the til ring. Punters want AC/DC in their sorry toilet of a local for free and don't know the difference between a song played well and a goat's bell end - but will insist on judging you and imparting their wisdom liberally. The only way I've found to deal with what experiece has taught me are these absolute facts is to play what the hell you like because it puts a smile on your face. That's the only reason it's worth doing. With a degree of luck that smile will infect the williams in front of you who will fill the till of the monkey running the joint. You asked 'what do they want'. I'm sure you'll hear many well meaning answers to that and you'd be wise to consider them all but I'm a crusty old trooper and I think the question should really be what do YOU want. To try and please everyone else to the detrement of your own satisfaction is the road to hell.

I always thought he should have been Dr Who but they obviously wanted to reboot the franchise using a much younger actor to appeal to a new generation of kids. Noddy on Strictly.... my life would be complete !

The sound engineers job is to reproduce the sound I choose to make. Team work is essential and I have the greatest respect for those I employ but they are lower down the food chain than me - so it's post for me. Just about every problem I've ever had when using hired-in P A has occured when I've allowed myself to be dicated to.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1365341491' post='2038204'] I'd say that was pretty rock 'n' roll if there was no river or canal nearby. [/quote] Arse........ THAT's why it took so long !!

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1365322504' post='2037900'] There's the ever so common "Bass is easier because it only has 4 strings, guitar has 6". [/quote] I think bass is easier , certainly when starting out. I think it's much easier to be able to knock out a bass part than a guitar part in those first few awkward fumblings ( or was that girls....maybe!) and that encourages the fledgling muso to carry on. Beyond that , learning any instrument can be as easy or challenging as you care to take it. I think drummers probably take up drums because they think they 'won't have to learn music' or something. ( I introduce our drummer by saying 'he's a drummer - how hard can it be - if he misses the drum he hits some f***ing thing' !!!) I suppose guitarists want to be Slash and singers ....... well , are just a crowd of tossers who should stick to karaoke so I wont bother talking about them. Most of us spend a while as a green wannabe - it's a requirement - so we do things for the wrong reasons. The arrogance of the beginner etc. What counts is learning to be better and better at whatever you choose to do and that will include understanding why some of your initial ideas were wrong.

F F's are like arseholes - everybody's got one ( including us) so the market is flooded with used ones. I suppose when Mr or Ms Bass Player comes looking for a vehicle of that general gendre because it fits his bass playing gear transportation requirements there are more Foci on offer than other makes. Having said that - I did turn up at a gig ( with supplied generic bass rig) on my Piaggio scooter , bass strapped to my back and gig bag in the top box. And I've arrived at several in my Narrowboat - how rock and roll is that ? !!

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1365276539' post='2037635'] People assume that if you play bass then you are a failed guitarist. [/quote] Not quite true in my case. I began playing guitar a year or two after my mates so I figured playing bass would give me a niche rather than trying to catch them up. It's correct that the 'failed guitarist' assumption shouldn't be made - but I do think it's true of many bass players. It wouldn't bother me if I was. Roy Keane was a failed boxer but he did OK at football.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1365272198' post='2037551'] Strap on? [/quote] Like you did last time ?

[quote name='Leen2112' timestamp='1365271986' post='2037545'] Don't know who they are but I see they don't have a bass player..........[attachment=131953:Girl band.jpg] [/quote] They do - it's just that she's here in bed with me.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1365271750' post='2037537'] [/quote] Good news - he booked you for the upcoming tour of Russia...................... ........ hang on a minute....

I can think of worse places to be than next to Mick Fleetwood . Stevie singing - Mr Buckingham proving yet again he's the most underated guitar hero ever.......... They wouldn't have me though - I'd want to be up front. I expect if Noddy Holder said to Dave and Don 'Alright lads , we'll get back together but only if the gobshote from Wakey plays bass ' I might be persuaded to help him out ! Trouble is I'd have to fight Big Stu for it and I don't care for the 'Big' bit.

Harsh ? Moi ??? I like to cook - and I particularly like to cook asian food which fills my hovel with spicy aroma. Some cheeky bastard on my doorstep once asked ' Hmmm...is your wife foreign?' !!!!!!!!!!! It was several years ago - He should be using the toilet on his own again by now !

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1365257659' post='2037307'] I'm fed up of people coming to the house (delivery men, boiler engineers etc), seeing the basses and asking "Does your husband play the bass" no he bleeding well doesn't.... I'm the bassist and damn proud of it! [/quote] I'd say 'No.... Does yours, sweety ? '

Your cash , mate. So try as many as you can and buy what you want. I too would expect to find a greater than average chance of a late 70s one being a dog but not all by any means. For me - I have a 73. I love it to bits and I'd never part with it because I've had it since 78 - but if it were nicked or my house burned down I'd buy a used japanese Precision for 400 spots or so and two round the world flight tickets with the change fom the insurance money. I bought a vintage bass only once - because it gave me the opp. of a fast buck - but I'm not into the vintage price structure at all from a playing point of view. As an investment - maybe.

I doubt anyone's ever forgotten seeing me on stage - that's by design and I'm still getting better at it. Stage 'presence'.... I really do feel at home on stage , I'm totally comfortable there and look forward to being there. I don't belong in a crowd - I don't know how to do that. I just feel weird and unsettled and want to get on the stage to safety. I suppose with feelings like that I must have a degree of presence either naturally (unlikely imho) or learned.

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1364562249' post='2028186'] He's a lesbian?? [/quote] Chortle etc I did set fire to a pub in Baildon by knocking one of our par cans on to the carpet. I'd have thought there should be fire regs about flammable carpets in a public place. It was a shithole anyway and nobody actually died..... well , not until the following morning. Serves them right , going out in a shell suit for christs sake.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1364552349' post='2027998'] The star gets the carpet and the bass player usually gets floor boards. [/quote] Didn't Greg Lake tread on persians ?......... or am I thinking of Sadam Hussain