leftybassman392

Just watched the final, and I have to say first of all that the right three got through. They were all brilliant, but I think the right person won as well. He was one of my two favourites from the whole series (actually the jazz player was the other, but in the event I thought he was a tad anonymous onstage - much as it bugs me to have to agree with Huey Morgan!) Overall it came out o.k. I was genuinely nervous to hear who had won, so they must have done something right!

If you're serious with the question, you need to be looking for indicators. There's one or two posts in here that have the status of popular mythology, and a whole bunch more that I would classify as anecdotal. Not much by way of actual evidence. I worked as a guitar (and bass) tutor for many years until around 5 years ago, and for most of that time I had all the students I wanted. Although there were a sprinkling of older students, the vast majority of them were kids (which is surely where the next generation of musicians - if there is to be one - will come from). It's true that they did drop off a little bit towards the end, but I rather suspect that it was more a case of not wanting to be taught by some doddery old fart than anything else. If you want to know how the future of guitar-based music looks, ask the people who teach it. I don't know the answer by the way, just offering a suggestion as to where we might start looking for it. For what it may be worth, and from my personal perspective, it still seemed to be in pretty good shape a few years ago. I wouldn't write it off just yet... There's a thread running elsewhere about a series called 'Guitar Star' on Sky Arts, and if the number of applications they received is anything to go by then there's still plenty of guitarists out there. One of the four semi-finalists is 13 (not a great guitar player as it happens but all the same...), and a second is 15 (a classical player as it happens, but all the same...). Music evolves; it doesn't go away. Popular music has been with us in one form or another for thousands of years; predicting it's decline and downfall within a single generation strikes me as a bit presumptuous. The details will change but I don't think it'll be going anywhere any time soon. As to whether it'll still be played on guitars, well that's a slightly different question. As I said, ask the people who teach it. Here endeth the lecture.

[quote name='cytania' timestamp='1437904779' post='2829804'] Must put a word in for Alfie Glass, the 13 year old rock prodigy. Watching the rest of the rock guitarists was like seeing a bunsen burner flame gently raised up and down. For all his erratic false starts Alfie romped and stomped like a flame-thrower. It was like Kiss or Slade vs Snowy White clones. [/quote] Well yes he certainly had the exuberance of youth (and no doubt a rock star in the making), but that wasn't the brief as set out for the series (and as can be viewed on the Arts Channel website). It's effectively saying 'We have these rules in place for everybody else, but we'll waive them for this kid because he's kind of cute and looks the part'. In a series that bigs up the level of skill the guitarist can bring to the instrument, he is by far the weakest of the semi-finalists - he wasn't even the best of the rock players, and the fact that he came through that stage had me scratching my head a bit. If he gets in above any of the other three then we'll all know what's really going on here, and I'll be off never to return.

[quote name='CHW' timestamp='1437742018' post='2828709'] Got through a few rounds but I think he was probably too much of a 1 trick pony in the end. [/quote] I'd quite like to see an 'other styles' category. The Travis picker was indeed pretty slick, but where would you put him in the current setup? I didn't see any Blues players this time around, but where would you put those? (No, it's not the same as Rock.) I'm sure folks can think of other styles that wouldn't fit easily into any of the groups they currently have.

[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1437572374' post='2827166'] I watched the first episode and maybe part of the second. My prediction is that someone who does that percussive acoustic guitar thing is going to win. I hate that style of playing but norms seem to be impressed by it. [/quote] I dunno about that - the jazz player sounded pretty damn good to me. To be fair though, the percussive player was [i]very[/i] slick and would be worth it if he did win. The classical kid was good as well (but I can't see him winning it given the competition). It would (and should) have been nice to be able to say the same about the rock player...

Anybody else notice that they didn't give the result of that semi at the end of the show?

I've been watching it from the start as well. Overall it's pretty good (with some very talented players on show), but I think a few details will need tweaking a bit for future series'. On the subject of the 13-year-old; there's definitely something about him in terms of stage presence (and it was quite amusing to see him giving the rhythm section some hints & tips about how to play his song in the studio ), but I agree that he shouldn't have got past the previous round. I want to believe that there isn't a stitch-up going on here, but if he gets past the semi-final over any one of the other three then that'll pretty much be the end of it for me. A star for the future no doubt, but surely the whole point of being a guitar star is that you're good at playing the instrument; and to be brutal, he isn't - at least not compared to the other three. Neither is it o.k. to say 'well he's only 13...what are you expecting?' I've taught any number of kids that were every bit as good as he is - and in some cases a lot better - at a very similar age. And let's not forget that the classical player is himself only 15! Edit to add: Direct quotes from the show's own website: 1. "[i][b]... we're looking for a world-class guitarist.[/b][/i]" 2. "[b][i]...[/i][/b][b][i]competing guitarists are tested on their ability to play in a style of their choice and demonstrate outstanding skill and ability...[/i][/b]" I can't speak for anybody else, but I'll be judging the show against these claims. Anybody know who the session bassist is by the way?

Back in the day we had the use of a brilliant cartoon artist to do all our posters & artwork - did it all for free too. It was awesome! We may or may not have been the best band in the area (Northants), but we were sure as hell the best advertised. To respond directly to the OP - don't worry about it.

[quote name='chriswareham' timestamp='1436287047' post='2816768'] If you want a hardware unit, then the Alesis SR-16 is an excellent bet. It was in production for an astonishing 13 years, and is readily available second hand. Cheaper still is the little Boss DR-550, which is slightly less featured than the Alesis but even simpler to program (I personally prefer the sounds on the Boss as well). [/quote] +1 more for these units - had both at one time or another. The Boss had better sound samples IMHO but the SR16 was a great bit of kit and a doddle to use.

To answer the OP's question: Think of it this way; if they did then it'd be an awful lot quieter around here...

Something of a side-issue, but on the subject of ICE, my old iPhone (which I have set up in the car as an iPod - phone deregistered, sim removed)) sometimes sulks and refuses to talk to my system, especially when I have the new iPhone connected via Bluetooth. I assume it's something in the OS - both devices have the latest update but it still happens from time to time.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1435859209' post='2813161'] 12 basses (guitars and uprights) so far, 2 of them second hand, the others new from the shop. All of them are going to stay. I'm not in a band nor am I planning to join one. All that is absolutely normal. Er... next question? [/quote] Next question it is then... You want a couple more? I have two very nice ones up at The Gallery ATM. Your neck of the woods I believe, so why not pop along and try 'em out? You never know...

Speaking of onstage tuning... [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB8UTheTR7s"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB8UTheTR7s[/url] I think the banjo player is 11.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1435092675' post='2805465'] Played a newish Gibson Hummingbird a few weeks ago & it was a piece of sh*t. Even the guy that owned it said so & had gone back to using a Takemine that cost a quarter of the price. [/quote] Not wanting to hijack the thread so I'll be brief, but Takamine have always made excellent guitars; when I bought my EN10L back in around '97 I chose it over a much more expensive Fylde available at the same time. Not flashy, but a great working tool that just gets the job done every time. Lent it to a well-known Blues-playing friend once or twice, and he reckoned it was one of the nicest guitars he'd ever played (as compared to his normal Martins and Gibsons). I still have it and have no plans to get rid.

The only reason I would change guitars onstage is for the sound. Tunings and costumes are both valid reasons, but good guitars have a characteristic and distinctive sound - even with lots of FX on them. In some bands I think the guitarists change just because they can (as in 'any nuances to the sound of one Les Paul as compared to another will be completely lost once they've gone through the wringer that is the player's stage rig'), but if the detail of your guitar sound is important to you and is noticeable to a discerning listener then it is what it is. Used to be pretty common in half-decent covers bands, where the material would often demand it.

For someone who does (or at least used to do) music for a living (either my own or somebody else's), I've always valued periods of silence whenever I get the chance (although birdsong is a very pleasant second best). It's actually very hard to find a properly quiet environment these days, but where we currently live is pretty good (a secluded little cul-de-sac on the edge of town with open countryside a couple of minutes' walk away and the nearest main road heavily screened by trees). I do understand the mindset that has to be immersed in musical activity all the time, but I've always found it best to get right away from it occasionally. I also used to take a few days off from my instruments once in a while (and encouraged my students to do likewise). You lose a little edge off your playing (easy enough to get back), but you come back to it with a fresh approach and a clearer mind. Not for everybody, but it suited me.

It's a tricky subject to be sure. I did a gig once where somebody came up and commented on the sound ('great gig guys; perhaps a touch more on your guitar...'). On that occasion it was appreciated for reasons that I won't bore folks with, but normally I wouldn't welcome it as I used to consider myself pretty good at this kind of thing (not least because I ran a PA hire facility as part of my business for some years). In the function band we took our own sound tech with us - a professional musician himself with a good ear. Not a trained engineer but a lot better than nothing at all and well worth what we paid him. The only time I would even consider approaching the band would be when: 1. Their sound is truly abominable; and 2. They've finished their set (tinkering mid-set can make matters even worse IME). Sort of a 'something to consider when you get a minute guys...' If I got a negative reaction, I'd walk away and leave them to it.

It's a whole bunch of stuff! The point's been made about confusing tone with style; but in respect of the actual sound you are making then pretty much everything in the chain that you can think of (plus one or two things you might not have thought of - string age and cleanliness for example; or room characteristics; or how about wall proximity behind your rig...) has an effect on the sound you make at any given point. So yes, how, where and with what you attack the strings is a factor, but only one of many. Some would even include your mains cable (though I'm not one of them I hasten to add!).

I'll come and watch you as long as you have a lead guitarist called Emily...

Now gone.

[quote name='HundredYearOldDan' timestamp='1433436731' post='2791101'] Hello people of Basschat, I'm new. [/quote] I'm old. Nice to meet you new.

Stuff is mostly personal choice - seems to be pretty well covered above (although the range and quantity of cosmetics is definitely not something I'd thought of... ). +1 on something to pass the time (of which you will will have lots - lots and lots and lots). Make sure you get proper sleep too - adrenaline and coffee will only go so far. Finding some time to walk out into the real world occasionally wouldn't hurt either. Is it just recording by the way or are you going to come out of the session with a finished product?