oldslapper

Great stuff! Get over the bridge and get some lessons with Jake now! Enjoy. John

Yes, I agree now, probably wouldn't 6 months ago. I'll enjoy the function band for loads of reasons anyway (the money is v. useful for one) and the band are a great "family" who know how to have a good time on stage. I'm just so amazed that I never appreciated these classic songs before. I guess playing them with muscians who are wrapped around the genre helps, but it hit me when I had the charts in front of me, it was an "OMG" moment, "this is beautiful". Great when music does that isn't it? Could be playing a new bass, or hearing a new amp, or learning a new tune in any genre really.....'nt music brilliant.

Thanks guys, knowing me I'll be looking over my shoulder waiting for the bass police to come in and arrest me !! Very grateful for this chance and intend learning as much as I can from these guys (all 10+ years older than me). I'll try and get some pics/vids so you can tell me what you think. By the way does anyone else think that the quality of song writing of most "jazz standards" is infinately better than todays chart stuff? As I read the charts, it dawned on me how beautifully crafted they were. It's happening isn't it??......I'm becoming a snob......oh no...how will I play "Hysteria" in the function band without comparing it to Autumn Leaves..

First off, just to let you know that even at 48, I'm probably the least confident peron I know when it comes to my playing ability, always comparing myself to others, including their gear, videos, blah blah. I even gave up playing for 15 years as I thought I would never measure up (still don't know to what). But I've just got the biggest confidence boost ever, having been asked to play in a jazz quartet featuring Richard Madelin on guitar. I've been playing upright or about 18 months and loved it from the moment I got that fat neck under my fingers. But apart from playing in a few gigs for a local songwriter (not demanding) and a couple of noobie trio's, I'd never thought I'd play any jazz with experienced people who new what they were doing....coz I certainly didn't. Still wallowing in self pity (yes another thread for that here), the missus pointed out an add in our local rag. I didn't call of course for a week, then plucked up the courage. Had 2 auditions and have my first gig saturday week, they were really happy with my playing. I kept it simple 2 to the bar, root and five and let the II, V, I do it's thing, walking only on occasion. It's mostly standards, with a lean towards gyspsy/manouche/Django feel. Richard is a well known in this part of the world as a guitarist and he was really encouraging. I feel like a little kid, and it's probably a bit sad really, as looking at this site there are so many great DB players who do this stuff standing on their head (oh look comparing myself again..) ...but I had to tell someone. Thanks for looking, I'm off to practice Night and Day (what a tune)... A very happy oldslapper

Depends on what you want to do with it. If it's a first step into upright playing then £200-250 might be an ok investment as you might be able to sell it on for about that, or trade for an upgrade. Is it all laminate?, as that will affect the sound/tone/projection. A pickup will not improve the sound quality of a bass, it will just amplify the existing tone, so £100 for a pickup is ok depending on the pickup make and the build quality of the bass. My first DB (18 months ago) was a chinese all laminate, which was fine in my house whilst I got my "chops" together and found out if it was for me or not, but when I started gigging with it is was a pain to get a decent sound through any PA. Tried mics/pickups. Bought a EUB and am very happy and get work on the back of it. Next step will be a decent acoustic DB. Having said that I would recommend anyone to have a go at an upright as they are great fun, and in my experence, I've found my electric playing has improved as a result........(not that that was difficult!!) As last post pointed out, chinese doesn't always mean rubbish. Have you played it, do you like the sound?

Steve they're great guitars...don't think that just coz it's not a graphite neck it's not a damn fine instrument. It's made in england by the same people. Enjoy! My Groove bass has got one of the best neck profiles for me, and that's considered a "budget" bass. I've had a Status graphite neck on a custom jazz, didn't get on with it at all, it went out the door as quickly as it came in. I just prefer the wood. But anyway, expensive stuff is wasted on me anyway!

If it's the black status shark 5 string fretless I saw ending recently, it's still a great buy for £330 even with a "wood" neck (2 reinforced graphite rods I believe?).

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='694230' date='Dec 27 2009, 12:56 PM']They were the poor man's Status and Steinberger but sold incredibly well. Bloody good basses![/quote] That's me!!

Thanks, I've just found the hohner web site and emailed them. I'm guessing Korea too, although I think they're pretty well made. Gigged one for yonks in the late 80's never went out of tune, great bridge pup funky honk...???. Don't know why I'm remotely interested really, must be bored......oh well another turkey curry it is then....

Hope this is the right thread. Does anyone know where the Hohner Jack basses were manufactured? I have a 4 and 5 string identical natural finish, single coil, active eq jobbies. But can't find the country of origin anywhere. Just wanted to know really. Thanks

I play in a band on occasion that has a blind guitarist, who has perfect pitch, in that you can play any note/chord and he'll identify it. He tunes pianos to supplement his income and as a sound engineer (don't ask how, but he's brilliant at it). However, he has "dep'd" for me on bass in the past and the problem is that he tends to be lazy when it comes to practising parts as he uses the "i've got perfect pitch" as an excuse for turning up and blagging hi way through a set. Which is ok if the gig is full of standards. But with very specific parts he gets found out. Not the fault of having perfect pitch, he's just lazy. You can train your ear to identify "intervals", or "relative pitch" quite easily, and it's useful to have if you are thrown in to a new situation and have to learn new parts quickly without the score.

[quote name='wombatboter' post='691361' date='Dec 22 2009, 11:19 AM']If there's one thing which is clear to me is that you love instruments and take your job very seriously...I have faith in your skills and I think you are an honest person who tries to make musicians happy and get the best out of their instruments. The fact that you get so emotional about this just is more proof that you seem to be the right man for this job. Nice to know that there are still people like you around...[/quote] +1 I am a lazy so and so who has lived with bad necks/set ups because I've been too embarrased or ignorant of what needs to be done to sort them out and have experienced being "palmed off" by shops. A good tech is worth the money and time. I recently bought a Spector bass from a BC'er here and it was the best set up bass I have ever owned in 30 years of playing. He knows what he is looking for though, and has his set-ups done by a guy in his home town. In the "service industry" you will always get a numpty who doesn't appreciate good service, and as someone has already said, he's probably embarrased about buying a bad guitar and you are taking the heat, unfortunately. Keep going dude, and think of all the guitars out there you've set up that are being played by grateful guitarists. On a similar point...Perhaps a seperate thread already exists about what to look for when buying a guitar for people like moi?

Thanks for doing this. Jimmy H is one of my heroes!