Earbrass

Yes, I find simplifying my setup if anything more satisfying than adding to it. Instrument-wise I'm down to: - 1 acoustic guitar - 1 electric guitar - 1 bass guitar - 1 ancient electric piano (+ small slightly less ancient MIDI sound module) - 1 synth - 1 piano accordion - 2 melodeons/diatonic accordions (one 2 row for morris, one 3 row for playing at home) Like Nige I have vastly simplified my recording setup too, which now consists of a laptop, interface, small mixer plus phones / mics and monitors. I have no instrument amps at all.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1369334431' post='2088002'] Hallå harsta'gøtten! Velkomm til BC. Mine Nårsk ær nått så bra såm jur Engelsk, menn jai hoppast du will trivast hær ( ... og nå får vi se åssen disse folka greier seg med gogel trens let. ). [/quote] [i]Howdy harsta'gøtten! Welcome to BC. My Nårsk ary reached the end so good Saam udder English, men jai jump you will thrive army (... and now we'll se how these guys manage with Gogel Trens look.: Lol:).[/i] Not very well apparently. Welcome Magne. I'm off to see your compatriot Mari Boine in London next week. And I've just had a hot dog in Skandi Kitchen. So that's my Scandophile credentials established .

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1369302080' post='2087420'] Getting paid to play bass is a terrible job. 1. You can be a session musician but you might be asked to play with one of those dreadful bands that appear on 'Later'. 2. You can play weddings or cruise ships but you'll have to play things like 'Eye of the Tiger' or something by Coldplay. 3. You can teach but you feel suicidal after the first month. Get a proper job. [/quote] Brilliant.

I remember hearing Ginger Baker appear on a Radio 4 chat show that featured a range of guests from different fields. Having interviewed Baker, the presenter moved on to talk to a distinguished scientist about cosmology. As soon as the big bang was mentioned, Ginger storms in ranting on about how he can't understand how anyone could be so stupid as to believe in such a ridiculous idea as the big bang..."I mean, where was this big bang...". The scientist remained polite and unphased and even attempted the impossible task of trying to explain the big bang to Ginger. I so wished he had instead replied to Baker's outburst with "yes, well that's why I'm a professor of astro-physics and you hit things with sticks for a living".

I like the comment: [i]So a capo is to make a guitar have less notes? Why dont they just make the guitars with shorter necks?[/i]

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1368190071' post='2074272'] I have tried some very expensive basses, and 95% of them I find I prefer my bargain Ibanez! Equally, if I had a bass worth in the thousands, I'd be terrified to take it out of the house and gig with it!! [/quote] This. A few years ago I "upgraded" from a cheapie Peavey Milestone III to a Japanese Fender Aerodyne bass. It was no better an instrument, though cosmetically it looked flasher. Sold it again and stuck with my Peavey.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1367580977' post='2067160'] I go see ballet a fair bit - watching the dancers and the orchestra - and my first thought is often 'Christ - I could never do that'. But that's just not true. If I put the hours in that those folk do in the ways that they do it of course I could. [/quote] Oooooh, I feel a bet coming on... [quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1367580977' post='2067160'] Put them on a stage in a boozer full of scrotes on a Saturday night and get them to do what I can do well and they'd probably crap themselves.[/quote] That's a bit like saying "That Einstein bloke was a bit clever, an all, but could he install a gas cooker? Could he f***."

One of the best bands I've seen live in recent years is Lau. They have great stage presence, and a great rapport with the audience, and have won "best band" several years on the trot in the BBC Folk awards. But, to look at, they're just three blokes dressed in their everyday clothes sat on chairs (admittedly Martin Green rocks around on his like a demented muppet when the mood takes him). It's their musicianship and personality that makes their gigs great events, not theatrics or costumes. On the other hand, without theatrics and costumes, our morris band would be entirely pointless. So it's horses for courses, really. Some genres are all about the music, others are all about the show, and some are a bit of both. Generally, I think, the more substance the music has, the less important the theatrics are.

I bought the solo LP way back because I played bass and I thought I ought to check it out. I didn't really like it, but back then LPs were expensive, and having bought one you tended to persevere with it a bit. I never really got into it though. I quite like some of Jaco's stuff, and there's a couple of tracks that still set my foot tapping (can't remember any names), but most of that American jazz/funk stuff just bores me. It doesn't matter how good a player is if the material they play isn't your cup of tea. I really don't care how good/innovative Jamerson was, because I have no interest in the kind of production-line pop he played on. If that's your thing, then I suppose you'll appreciate him more. [quote name='EMG456' timestamp='1367367167' post='2064874'] One of a kind and my greatest bass hero. [/quote] I used to have musical heroes. But then I grew up.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1367333936' post='2064354'] I admit I could spend a whole day fly-fishing, but I certainly couldn't spend [u]every[/u] day fly-fishing. [/quote] Reminds me of a story I heard years ago (possibly by PG Wodehouse???) Apologies if I get some of the fishing terminology wrong. Country squire arrives at the Pearly Gates and is welcomed by St Peter. "I won't be much trouble", he says, "if you could just find me a nice stretch of river with a few trout in, that'd do me nicely. Fishing's the only the thing I've ever really cared about, don't y'know". "Ah", says St.Peter, "come with me, I think we have the very thing for you", and he leads him through the gates and at length they arrive at an idyllic river scene, with soft grassy banks, beautiful trees for shade, set in glorious rolling countryside. "This is perfect!" exclaims the squire. "Glad you like it", says St Peter, and hands him the most exquisite rod he's ever seen. The squire handles it admiringly, feels the free-running reel, the perfect balance of weight and elasticity, and prepares to cast. The moment his line hits the water, a magnificent specimen of trout takes the bait, and after a few minutes of playing him, the squire reels him in to his landing net. "Fabulous!", he thinks, and prepares to cast again. Once again, no sooner has he cast his line than another huge trout is caught on the hook. Again, he carefully reels in his catch. "Well I never!", he says to himself, "I've never had a day like this in all my life!". His third cast and fourth cast are met with further instantaneous successes, and when his fifth cast has the same result he feels just a trace of annoyance. After a dozen catches, he is starting to get a bit fed up. He turns to St Peter and says, "look, old chap, if it's all the same to you, I think I'll try a bit further along, and see what it's like there". "I'm sorry", replies St Peter, "I'm afraid you have to stay here until you've caught them all". "Oh hell" says the squire. "That's right" says St Peter.

[quote name='Lee Carter' timestamp='1367337115' post='2064407'] A Morris band!! Don't you have to re-tune every time you hit your guitars together? [/quote] Re-tune? That would imply we've tuned in the first place. [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1367337604' post='2064413'] Might join a morris side, what's the dough like? [/quote] We get the occasional free beer. Actually, we do get some paid gigs, but the dosh goes into general side funds and pays for stuff like rehearsal space, publicity materials and the squire's yacht.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1367330024' post='2064272'] I have a wish list of a bunch of guys, probably enough for 2 and a half bands, all knowing the same set, and claiming to be the same band (mostly deppy types) who can throw a line-up together on short notice, not have to turn up if they don't fancy it and still keep a full schedule without upsetting anyone. Preferably all multi-instrumentalists, so that switching is easy, and all able to sing well enough to cover pubby things. That way commitment isn't an issue, and the whole thing is relaxed and nice. It will never happen though. [/quote] Except for the bit about singing, and the fact that it's guys [b]and[/b] girls, that's pretty much the way our morris band works.

I don't think there's a simple answer for me. Different musical activities fulfill different needs. I think there's something special about making music with other people - when it comes together well and you have the sense of the sum being greater than the parts, that can be quite magical. There's also the social aspect to that - sharing an activity with others, all pursuing a common goal, can foster a sense of companionship - I imagine that's similar to the buzz some people get from playing team sports. I'm not so bothered about the performing per se, but it does provide a focus for our efforts, and we do have a lot of fun when we're out and about. Then there's the satisfaction to be derived from learning to play an instrument, even if you only ever play it at home to yourself - the same satisfaction that can come from learning to do almost anything well, seeing yourself improve, mastering things that once seemed difficult or impossible. When it comes to my recording / composing /arranging projects, it's more about hearing something in my head and wanting to get it out into the world and make it a reality. I don't always enjoy the process of making it a reality - recording can be a very frustrating experience on occasion. Success here is measured for me by the extent to which what I finally produce embodies my initial vision. Whether anyone else likes it, or even listens to it, is far less important.

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1367318091' post='2064027'] Sounds like you are wanting employees rather than band mates. [/quote] [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1367319232' post='2064052'] I have to say - does not sound fun to me. And if it's not fun, then the pay needs to be good. [/quote] This. An ego-free zone in which everyone else has to conform to your precise requirements?....hmmm can't see a problem there

[quote name='iconic' timestamp='1367302421' post='2063795'] Ohh bugger now im flapping.... No one mentioned i had to be a real musician when i agreed to to this....now i'm getting worried.....i thought the concencus was i had to spontaneously combust before anyone would notice the bass player! Many thanks for the advice gentlemen, much apphreciated ......no mention of hats? [/quote] Relax...if you can't do a Bilbo, a good hat [b]will[/b] get you through.

One (busy) band and a solo(-ish) recording project is about all I can comfortably combine with a full-time job.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1367230002' post='2062724'] ...nailed the details by a mixture of musicality, vague/subconcious familiarity with songs we knew of, hard-listening, reading signals, bluffing and our innate familiarity with idiomatic cliches. Mostly, familiarity with the role of your instrument and knowing the damn thing inside out. [/quote] ...otherwise known as being a "real" musician. A state we should all aspire to, but not all of us manage to reach, or reach consistently. [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1367230002' post='2062724'] In short, you just gotta be ready to play. 'Knowing' the tunes is great (although, in my experience, no two musicians 'know' something the same way ) but, without that, you just need to be match fit and ready to blow. Some of the best music I have ever played has been under these circumstances; it can bring out the best in you. [/quote] Truer than a true thing on national truth day.

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1367221932' post='2062605'] Referring to a post above, what does 'rawk' stand for? Am I going to kick myself? :-) [/quote] Rawk = Rock + silly accent. HTH.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1366662293' post='2055756'] I have to say, I never got what was so great about Prince...... ..... he sure knows how to sell it. [/quote] I think you may have answered your own question.

Thought I was immune to bass gas these days, but I've recently started a new job dangerously close to the West End music shops, and found myself looking at semi-acoustics the other week (I think this was partly the result of spending some time with my 6 string 335 copy and loving it, as much for its looks as for the feel and sound). My golden rule is never buy at once - wait a few weeks and see if the urge is still there. Spending some time with my trusty but unglamorous old bass reminded me of how much I like it, and how "at home" I feel with, and this has dissipated any remaining gas...for now at least.

An impossible choice for me. Piano is the instrument I have most skills on, and is also the most versatile of the instruments I play. On the other hand, I've had more fun, played more gigs and made more friends playing the melodeon than all my other instruments put together, though it's the one I've been playing the least time and is the least versatile (it doesn't even have all the notes on!). Bass and guitar come somewhere in the middle. So I really couldn't choose - but then again perhaps it's indecisiveness that makes us multi-instrumentalists in the first place!

If you have a pair, they can double as book-ends when not in use.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1365419477' post='2039161'] Everything you say is true, and I really like your attitude to this. [/quote] +1

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1363944951' post='2019803'] Things may well change in the future. As technology becomes cheaper and with traditional pub venues closing all over the place could we see a time where bands play from a room which has cameras installed and the sound is streamed live to pay per view type audiences sat at home watching it on their computers? Without that audience interraction it wouldn't be the sort of gig I'd find much fun to play personally but it would change the whole dynamic of bands going 'out there' to play live. Bedroom players forming bedroom bands and playing bedroom gigs to millions of bedroom fans. All a bit weird but it could happen one day. [/quote] I've already done this. In my last band, the guitarist was well into Second Life (virtual reality open-ended role-playing net world type thingie if you've not heard of it). He set us up with few gigs "in" Second Life. The sound was streamed live from the singer's lounge, where we all were, so it was rather like playing a gig on the radio. People in Second Life could "go to" the virtual venue and listen to the music while watching our avatars perform some unrealistic jerky movements more or less in time with the music. We got feedback in the form of online messages. All a bit odd, really.

Sounds about right. I'm no lawyer, but even if you did have a legal right to stop them using your image (and to be honest I think that's unlikely, unless you all signed legally binding contracts to that effect before the pictures were taken), it would cost you a small fortune in legal fees to enforce, and, if they refused to roll over, by the time the case came to court the band would have folded anyway. Just forget it and move on. In my experience, when ordinary people (no offence - I mean as opposed to big business etc) turn to the law to get these kinds of disputes settled, the only winners are the lawyers.