Rich

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1438854854' post='2837976'] if anyone genuinely loves music, the only defensible position is 'I like good solos and don't like bad ones but it is entirely down to me to decide which is which'. [/quote] I don't think it's the only defensible position -- to my mind, another one is 'I don't particularly like solos of any sort, but hey, each to his own'. Other than that, brilliant post. As ever, the trouble begins when opinion starts to be presented as fact...

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1438799012' post='2837510'] NO! I loathe bass solos with a passion and hate having to do them at the drop of a hat when the singer suddenly decides it's a good idea. [b]Bass is not and never should be a solo instrument.[/b] [/quote] Ahem. [quote name='Rich' timestamp='1438780544' post='2837206'] It is obvious to me that there will [u]never[/u] be any sort of agreement in the "basses are not suitable instruments for solos / yes they are / no they aren't / yes they are / etc" argument, so can we steer clear of the whole suitability chestnut? Otherwise I can see it getting personal and/or ending in tears. I think there's plenty of room for debate on this subject without that specific facet. [/quote]

Warning: fusion content. Those with an allergy to such things may like to look away now. If I could solo like this (1:40 to 3:00), I'd be the happiest bunny in all of toyland. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cFrYRBYmNw[/media]

It is obvious to me that there will [u]never[/u] be any sort of agreement in the "basses are not suitable instruments for solos / yes they are / no they aren't / yes they are / etc" argument, so can we steer clear of the whole suitability chestnut? Otherwise I can see it getting personal and/or ending in tears. I think there's plenty of room for debate on this subject without that specific facet.

The only vintage instrument i'm really keen on getting is a good '65 Jazz. This is because a} I like Jazzes, b} it'd be my YOB bass, and c} it'd be a good investment. I doubt very much that it'd get many, if any, gigs.

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1438778019' post='2837138'] I want to hear good music. If a bass solo sounds good then by all means! I don't care at all what instruments are used to make nice sounds. I care about the nice sounds. [/quote]

I used [url="http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrical-Power/12-25W-Mini-Desktop-SMPSU-9V-DC-1-5A-85-3941"]something like this[/url] when I was using stomps. 1.33A at 9v is enough to drive 170 Tubescreamers.

I like to hear [i]melodic[/i] solos. Playing a blur of notes is one thing, but actually playing something tuneful is a whole different ballgame. Gary Willis and Alain Caron spring to mind as two masters of this. I saw Caron in Mike Stern's band at the Jazz Café a few years ago, and some of his solos were almost songs in their own right -- one of them so much so that the melody got stuck in my head for days. How often does a live solo do that?

FWIW I couldn't stand her voice either, and hated her TV shows. She gave a lot of people pleasure though, so I suppose she must have been doing something right. That notwithstanding, she was still a person with friends and loved ones who will be feeling pain at her loss. It's as sad a time for them as it is for any bereaved people, and it's them I feel sorry for. From what I understand she wasn't in terribly good health these days, and had more than once expressed a desire to 'be with' her husband -- I've read in more than one place that losing him knocked a lot of the life out of her too. Finally -- there's a time and a place for crap/crass jokes, and I would suggest that this thread is neither. Please desist.

Whoops

Have we defined "'real' musicians"..?

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1438201862' post='2832551'] You don't speak for all good or great Musicians. [/quote] In the same way that [i]you[/i] don't speak for all 'real' Musicians.

I understand the phrase "too many". And obviously I understand the word "basses". But when you put them together -- "too many basses" -- eh? Sorry, it's completely meaningless. Gibberish.

[quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1438183852' post='2832364'] And here is another extreme double necked alembic [url="http://www.alembic.com/info/doubleneck.html"]http://www.alembic.c...doubleneck.html[/url] [/quote] I have no doubt that it is exquisitely constructed and sounds great. But my GOD that is one ugly munterfunster.

Have you asked them for one? Judging by what they said, it doesn't appear that English is their first language. Where are they based?

Point of order Mr Delvar, I believe you will find that the actual song's appearance in the film was during the courtship of Mr Bond and his future albeit not-for-long wife. EDIT: In 2005, a BBC survey showed it is the third-most-popular love song played at weddings. Possibly a bit of a cliche then

If by 'admire his chutzpah' you mean 'think he is a complete and utter knob', then yes you're absolutely right.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1437596451' post='2827506'] More than happy with it, my evening has been playing it and getting aquatinted with the neck profile. [/quote] You're obviously not that happy with it, cos it hasn't even made its way into your signature yet... Very nice piece of clobber, enjoy.

I quite liked Gun's version of 'Word Up'.

[b]OK. That was the final off-topic word on this thread. Anything else that does not pertain to the subject in hand, i.e. sets & set lists and keeping crowds entertained etc, will be deleted without notice. Feel free to carry on any such discussions via PM.[/b] [b]Note that this comment is addressed to everyone, not to any particular individuals.[/b]

[quote name='pjb13.bass' timestamp='1437735910' post='2828600'] One point on this topic which I never put across because of all the distractions is that I play music for a living. I have no other source of income. Gigs pay my rent and feed my kids etc I do not therefore have the luxury of [i][b]educating[/b][/i] people. I need to play things that attract people to the venue, keep them there and keep them dancing and keep them buying drinks so that the venue makes money and keep asking me back. I'd love to play my own personal favourites which would be an eclectic mix of pop/rock/funk/soul/reggae/country/folk and ...whisper it softly...jazz standards, but it simply wouldn't pay the bills. [/quote] It's a difficult balancing act between 'giving the people what they want' (and so many of them seem to love M*st*ng S*lly, bless 'em) and playing what really floats one's boat. The latter is probably easier to achieve if one is for example a jazz musician playing jazz to a jazz audience. Or indeed in a metal band playing metal to an exclusively metal loving crowd. But for a breadwinning pub/club muso, there will always be the spectre of "play something we know"...