leftybassman392

It sounds as if you've acquired some of the basics so it's mostly a matter of getting used to the differences. Although the string/fret system works the same way there are some important differences you need to get clear about - treating either simply as a bigger/smaller version of the other will make progress more difficult. Age is no barrier; my oldest student was in his 60s when he started, and numerous others were in their 40s or 50s. There's lots of online stuff out there that you can use for training; not sure I'd recommend grade work such as Rockschool at this stage though. To some degree it depends what you want from it: being clear about that will help you decide how to go about it. Above all, be patient and allow time for your skills to develop - and don't underestimate the amount of work involved (IME students coming to it with a '[i]how hard can it be?[/i]' attitude are invariably the same ones who drop it in frustration). Another option might be to get a tutor (weekly sessions if funds allow or on an occasional basis just so you can monitor progress from time to time). If you go this route though, make sure you go with a properly accredited tutor - being a good guitarist is no guarantee that somebody is going to be any good as a teacher. As for instruments, £150 will get you a perfectly decent starter guitar - new is possible but you'll get more for your money going pre-owned. Plenty of choice out there from the likes of Yamaha, Ibanez, Washburn and others. Up to you really.

I can see the OP's point, but as others have said there's some lack of clarity here. Lots of folks are being quick to judge the landlord harshly, but (again as has already been said) if this is what he feels he needs to do in order to provide a venue for bands then so be it. Yes it's a bit a bit off ethically (although calling it illegal is a bit strong IMHO - in the UK the CPS would most likely not even entertain it), but the band got paid, the punters appear to have been happy and the landlord has offset some of the band's fee. If said OP has decided to make it a point of principle then that's fine too. His choice and his prerogative. To be brutally honest about it (and with no offence intended to anybody), the whole affair generates images of teacups and weather fronts in my head.

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Pachelbel's canon yet. Probably the most copied bass line in the history of music. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOA-2hl1Vbc"][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOA-2hl1Vbc[/media][/url]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1460449832' post='3025720'] How many bands have ripped off LZ since? And many of the artists LZ nicked ideas from, nicked from their peers and predecessors in the first place. And so it goes. [/quote] Yes, it does have a familiar ring to it doesn't it?

Well you can't accuse him of being spineless.

I haven't played in anger for nearly 6 years, but I'm buggered if I'm parting with my gear while I have the choice (although to be fair I'm down to 2 basses, 5 - or is it 6 - guitars and one amp for each). I mean, you never know what might be around the corner...

Meh! I played a huge range of guitars & basses on stage, studio and pit for well over 20 years. I honestly can't remember one of them ever coming loose (and I do recall - albeit somewhat dimly - being quite active on stage, especially as a guitarist). Each to their own I guess...

I have an '84 Wal Mk1 for sale at the mo. It's a Lefty so usual caveats apply, but it's now been on sale for around 15 months. 2 Price drops from a value that I already thought was fairly reasonable (as did The Bass Gallery), and I recently rejected an offer from an American buyer that was around 15% below my current asking price. To be fair it has a few signs of wear (which, apparently, is a bit more of an issue than it would be with a P bass), but even so... So in answer to the OP, yes, my experience is that prices are dropping.

At the risk of sounding a bit too much like an old 'in-my-day' fart, the original SRM450's were astoundingly good units - the more so when combined with active subs (SWA1501 or SWA1801). The newer ones are not as good, but still ok. The reason for mentioning the RCF units is that the original SRM450's had RCF drivers in them, whereas the more recent units have Chinese-made drivers which are just not quite as good IMHO.

They'll be very good. Not as good as the older Mackies with the RCF drivers, but still good. And loud. You might also want to look at something from the RCF 'Art 7' range.

Yes - a very skillful all-round musician and a much better guitarist than people gave him credit for: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bhuxkzjuQc"][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bhuxkzjuQc[/media][/url] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8AKbrEjUmQ"][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8AKbrEjUmQ[/media][/url]

Didn't somebody play tenor guitar on some of their stuff? Just a vague recollection... Edit to add: not Tenor guitar - it's a baritone guitar I'm thinking of. Sorry. My bad... Anyway; same question but with 'Baritone' instead of 'Tenor'

[quote name='jonannlou' timestamp='1458675757' post='3009786'] If it falls through let me know, I'm a car tinkler! [/quote] Will do, but it looks fairly solid ATM.

Mrs LBM now works for a children's bookseller that deals mostly with library authorities. The budgets for some of the bigger ones continue to be huge (although interestingly Birmingham isn't one of them owing to the council pursuing the equal pay issue - which they lost owing millions - a couple of years ago). Some of her accounts are hundreds of thousands of pounds for children's provision alone (per year) - and that's just for books. The future is indeed uncertain, but we're not quite there yet. Edit to add: Slightly off-topic, but I've just discovered that the bill for the Birmingham equal pay issue now stands at over a billion pounds: [url="http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/birmingham-councils-equal-pay-bill-6302914"]http://www.birmingha...ay-bill-6302914[/url]

Look on the bright side; you've uncovered a great guitar you never knew you had!

Age doesn't need to be a big factor - I played in a function band a few years ago and was the oldest by 11 years IIRC. Are there not opportunities on Basschat?

Mrs LBM will be very gratified to hear this. She was a public librarian for over 30 years and got used to being under-appreciated. As it happens she's not impressed with Birmingham library for reasons much too dull to elucidate here, but it's good that somebody is.

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1458390148' post='3007169'] At the end of the day we are entertainers being paid to entertain. I cant stand many of the songs we do but dont keep moaning about them. When I see the crowd all bopping about and singing along, I know we are doing a good job. [/quote] This. Most working musicians have to play music they wouldn't naturally choose at one time or another. There was at least one (and usually more) in every set in every band I ever played in. If you're getting paid actual money to do it and the people paying the money are happy with it then bite your lip and deal with it or find a different pastime. Seriously.

[quote name='DaveFry' timestamp='1458038869' post='3004042'] It was all qoutes from Ian Dury And The Blockheads - Reasons To Be Cheerful ( Part Three ) [/quote] That's as maybe, but... [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g"]https://www.youtube....h?v=eFTLKWw542g[/url] Eh? Eh?

[quote name='DaveFry' timestamp='1457995778' post='3003855'] Buddy Holly, Miss Molly, The Bolshoi Ballet, Nanny Goats ? Dominica camels, All other mammals ? Elvis and Scotty ? Wee Willie Harris ? Bantu Steven Biko , Harpo, Groucho , Chico ? Woody Allen , Dali , Domitri and Pascale , Adie Celentano , Bueno Colino ? [/quote] Didn't Billy Joel do that one already?

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1457259536' post='2996715'] Could be G/E (G with an open e) which is an inversion of G6. [/quote] ...and functionally equivalent to an Em7.

+1 on the Pyracanthus. We had one in our garden for years, but I had to cut it down before we put the house out to rent. Quite possibly the nastiest and most dangerous thing I've ever had to do in a garden.

[quote name='adledman' timestamp='1457222032' post='2996570'] happy to pay postage if you are ok with that? should only be £8-9 max for up to 20kg. cheers.ad [/quote] Fair enough. Can't do much until after the weekend. Hope that's ok... PM me with the delivery address and I'll get it organised.