oldslapper

Thank you to all who contacted me with offers of DBs, what a wonderful community this is. I’m taking up young @BreadBin offer. Me and Brendon have a long history of handing each other instruments 😂 Cheers all! John

Cheers Brendan 🙏🥳

Thanks @uk_lefty and @TimAl So glad I found this, as a result I’ve just placed an order for replacement pickguard for a TLevin OLP 5 string.

It’s in Wolverhampton. But that did cross my mind.

We have a very small house and double basses take up room that we really don’t have. Anyhoo, I gave my acoustic upright to a school so my mates grandson could have lessons/join orchestra/play and the EUB I also had I sold to pay for studio time for my new band. No sweat as I stopped gigging Upright a while back. However, I’d forgotten about a gig I’d committed to ages ago for the end of February, and the artist was expecting the visual of double bass and it does suit the Tom Waits style. So before I tell him it’s my fretless precision or nothing, I thought I’d see if there’s anyone who’d be willing to lend me a DB or EUB for the evening. Gig is in Yeovil, I’m in Bath. Happy to pay you. A beater that is playable is fine, preferably with a pickup. I’ve lent DBs to fellow BC’ers here, hoping someone can return the favour 🙏 Thanks if anyone is able to help out. Cheers Slappy.

Yamaha are smart. They know that the B string is just a thumb rest and the G string isn't really a “bass” string, with frequencies only audible by dogs and small mammals like lead guitarists.

That tuning configuration….genius. A simple solution to a complex problem that’s plagued luthiers worldwide for centuries.

Indeed. I’m more influenced by songwriters or bands that have songwriters I like in them. I don’t find musicians talking about gear, technique and scales particularly interesting. I’m interested in what influences people though, how they’ve arrived at their current state of playing. As I said, it was more of an observation than any kind of value judgement.

I was asking our guitarist who their favourite slide player was, who influenced them, etc. I gave some examples of my favourites and is was a perfectly reasonable, informative and pleasant exchange. It struck me though how many times I’ve had similar conversations with other band members over the years. But for the life of me, I can’t remember any non bassists asking me who my bass influences are or favourite bassists are, other than if I instigate that topic. That usually evokes non bassists waxing lyrical about Mark King……(or Jaco at a stretch). Just found it odd. Maybe it’s just my experience, but seriously! 50 years of playing in bands and not one guitarist, singer, keys or drummer have mentioned Kenny Passeralli & Pierre Brock’s contributions? Do they think Mark King is the only bassist worthy of mention? 🤣 (I’m not being overly serious peeps) just a personal observation)

This. Hope it goes well and they’re a nice bunch of people too.

I’ve just ditched one band where the leaders wife is a bv but is a deluded control freak with little musical talent and he sheepishly goes along with her nonesense. My other band has 2 couples in it, but they seem to be able to maintain professional boundaries and all 4 people are not mad. I’d be interested in knowing your keyboard players intentions before I’d decide anything. Is she deluded, curious, a keener, or just inspired by your playing. Has she made her request to the whole band?

It wouldn’t worry me particularly. If she’s terrible or at least not great, but still insists on pursuing this dream, and no one says anything and they go along with it, I’d high tail out of there asap. I don’t hang around in bands with the deluded in control. If she turns out to be good, and is supported by the rest to pursue her dream, then you have a choice to share bass duties or leave. You could of course refuse that she plays bass all together. I don’t know what your relationship is like with her husband, but I would imagine that their relationship would probably win if he supports her.

Ringo Starr & Greg Davies love child.

Wasn’t it last Christmas?