oldslapper

I think Jack should be renamed Saint Jack. You've got more patience than I have HJ 😀

Blandford 2012 Having played in a swing quartet for a couple of years, I ditch electric bass gigs as upright has taken over &, at the ripe old age of 51, discover Skiffle. Swing quartet won't move away from standards/western swing, so I decide I've got enough free time to find a gigging Skiffle set up alongside the jazz lot. See a "Bull-fiddle" player wanted for established Skiffle band advert on BandMix. Establish that they mean double bass (crazy Skiffle-rs' me thinks) and pop along to local consevative club skittle alley for audition. Turns out established band was an old fella (OF) & a younger (40's) drummer. I'd practiced the list of songs I'd been sent (not particularly difficult, but I'm looking forward to a fun & energetic set). I set up my bass/amp/music stand (forgive me, it was a rehearsal situation) and tall stool which I often use in a rehearsal. We start with obligatory "freight train", which "established" guitarist/ singer has difficulty singing & playing the guitar to, is slowing down & speeding up. However, the drummer is excellent & we quickly establish a nice groove...exchanging nods & smiles. However at the end of the song, OF decides I am at fault for not "keeping up" & starts to comment on the strings on my bass being "wrong kind" for this genre (I clearly hadn't researched)....I ignore, smile politely & we move onto next simple enough song. Same thing happens again, OF can't remember how songs go, but establishes with no lack of confidence that I am at fault. Anyway an hour into the "audition" OF decides it's time for a break. I decide it's time to pack up & go. Whilst he's gone to the loo I speak to the drummer, & ask how long he has been playing with OF, to which he replies "play with him in a band? sod that for a game of soldiers, I'd have killed him by now if I was in a band with him. I only came along as a favour as he knows my family" and laughs. I leave before OF returns, to save myself from life imprisonment. Week later, undeterred, I put an advert on same website as double bass available for Skiffle band. Only to be contacted by OF (using my same email address as before) stating that he thought " they" had found a "bull fiddle" player, but the guy was not up to it as he sat down whilst playing & had the wrong strings on his bass. Would I be interested in coming along for a try out, as there were gig's waiting..... Oh dear.

My first gig was Kiss at Hammersmith Odeon 1976, great show. Simmons was particularly good at being centre of attention. I remember thinking throughout the show "how can he move in those boots?" & "those shoulder pads look very uncomfortable" I know.......all the important stuff.

Blimey! There's quite a bit of "ambitious" pricing going on there.

Oh dear. Rest of the bass looks tidy enough, but why would you do that.

Geoff sold me an amp & dispatched the day I paid, arrived next day. Great comms. Thanks Geoff.

Haha. Loved that.

Not far from me.

Shame. A pot, set up & new strings would make it very good VFM.

Not seen one in white before. GVFM.

I'm often referred to as "that anchor", so might suit. Pardon?

Yes, but that would mean becoming a keyboard player. .... ...No, can't think of a witty insult ref keyboardists..darn

I read the OP as a humerous comment on the width of the instruments neck, not as a personal attack on the person playing it. The gentleman himself wasn't mentioned. But I guess we can see what we want in any given situation. Personally I'd prefer a Chapman Stick for ERB but each to his own.