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The Old Inn in Littlethorpe is tiny. We're used to squeezing in there so have learnt to travel as light as possible. The Stingish bass was back out. I think I prefer the simplicity of a 2-band EQ. As you can see it was a bit cramped. The night started a little bit quiet but soon got much busier. In this place we nearly always have people encroaching or knocking the mic stands as they pass by. However I can heartily recommend the fluorescent pink duck tape! It kept everyone at bay. I don't think most people consciously noticed it but it was quite amusing to see the effect.

I had a bass collected by Lenspeed when I sold it on here. The purchaser arranged it, and everything went to plan. The chap that collected was really nice and explained they do a lot of moving of expensive guitars for an auction house. If you go on their website I believe it explains prices for fully insured shipping. Probably the only company I would consider for £800 +++ instruments. Single Guitar Delivery from just £55 - Lenspeed Logistics https://share.google/qkd6eyxpC2fGs5uhX

Nah, as you will see in the whisky thread, I've been lagging behind with that. But yes, I was rather inebriated on Friday night.

As a drummer, the notion of Rhythm is fundamental; melody and chords are there, but it's not the principal role of the percussion section, usually. Simple notions, such as changing to half-time, or the opposite, doubling the beat, can be very effective, or exchanging snare and bass drum, the 'one' on the snare, bass drum on the back-beat. Much more influence on style can be had by using 'claves' (rhythms...) from other idioms than pop rock. 'White Rabbit', for instance, starts off with a 'tango' feel, Police borrowed extensively from reggae and ska sources. Old-school jive beats are good for getting folk up and dancing, as are alternative rhythms such as 6/8 or 2/4. In fact, a great deal of music aimed at Dance has brought about a very wide range, from afro-beats to calypso, samba to polka, jazzy waltz to bossa nova and so many more. This makes it, for me, all the more sad when I come across straight disco beat lead-foot bass drum EDM. There are exceptions, but there is so much more than that. Cross-culture is a boon, so taking elements from elsewhere and adapting them to the occasion brings oodles of interest to an alert rhythm section (including, naturally, the bass...), and can bring a sparkle to an evening and a spring to the dancers' steps. Well worth exploring, I say. Just my tuppence-worth.

Nothing to do with bingeing the advent calendar? 😁

Last night (just), played with Nine Lives at the Pittendrum Bar in Sandhaven - a wee villiage near Fraserburgh. Unfortunately, it wasn't very busy, maybe 15 folk in at the peak. The apologetic barmaid told us later on that since they had booked us, a bunch of stuff got organised in the "big smoke" of Fraserburgh which may have contributed to the lack of bodies. It was probably for the best, because I was far from my best. Having had only 4 hours sleep and basically waking up to go to the gig (work's Christmas do the night before - don't ask), I was so tired that as well as making a few pretty horrible flubs, I forgot to hook up my extension cab - did the whole gig with just the 250W combo and single speaker. Didn't even notice until packing up time when I couldn't figure out where my speakon>speakon cable had gone. Bloody hell. This dopey so-and-so played the Neep One followed by the DeArmond Jetstar (the wonky boi) into a single Markbass CMD combo sitting on top of a completely ornamental New York 121 cab. FFS.

Not always. I'm thinking of Lemmy-era Hawkwind where he often carried the melody.

The Sex Pistils* *botanically correct band.

My Ding-a-ling — Dave Bartholomew

We have gone with 42mm for the SR5 necks by popular request

I have been thinking about the difference between baroque and modern rhythm music. I think (this may be a very narrow viewpoint) that the old music was more about melodic patterns, whereas we should aim to the rhythmic content and decorate it with suitable notes and sounds (I find the latter also of importance). This does not exclude melody, but still the main point is to carry the base with the drs/perc and leave the melody to the solo instruments like brass and keys. Therefore simplifying the melody may drive the song better than very ornamental playing. Overplaying, who? Me? But where are the places where I should do like in the old proverb: when in doubt, leave it out? What's the note that is not important for rhythm or melody? How to simplify my line of eights? Should I listen to the singer, or other players, or all of them? Help!

Hell's Bells - Bruford

Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be - AC⚡DC

Blue Pile Sadness Supercramp Bream Theatre Moody Glues

I've got one of these, and yes they are amazingly good for £400. I wish there were basses as good as these for the equivalent money when I was starting out. They really do sound like a vintage Stingray. Mine weighs 9 pounds three ounces, which would be pretty light for a vintage Stingray. If you want to shave some weight off there are some lightweight tuners (Gotoh?) that are a direct retrofit. I thought about getting some myself but can't really be arsed. For £400 I'm not too fussy.

I picked one up this week and pleasantly surprised! Firstly, the finish! WOW! The sparkle is gorgeous! No idea why other manufacturers don't offer that many sparkle finishes? (Cost?) The sound? Fabulous. Not quite as good as my sterling 34 but pretty close. The price is phenomenal based on the build quality alone! Only draw back is the weight. Surprisingly heavy! Anyway, What's your thoughts?

I get that it’s modelled on his original P bass before modifications. But surely if it’s meant to be his signature bass, then it’s exactly those modifications which make it different from a bog standard P bass? Seems a bit “couldn’t be arsed” on Fender’s behalf. At least the Dave Murray black Strat reflects his World Slavery Tour-era HSH modded Strat.

All The Good Girls Go To Hell - Billie Eilish

I picked one up this week and pleasantly surprised! Firstly, the finish! WOW! The sparkle is gorgeous! No idea why other manufacturers don't offer that many sparkle finishes? (Cost?) The sound? Fabulous. Not quite as good as my sterling 34 but pretty close. The price is phenomenal based on the build quality alone! Only draw back is the weight. Surprisingly heavy! Anyway, What's your thoughts?

Moving the bridge will alter the tone. Fitting a new nut will change the scale which will also play havoc with intonation surely? Learning to swap around is really the best way. The note you get when your thumb hits the neck heel is a good cross check but electric bassists manage without it; good intonation depends on accurate position changes which is something well worth practising (over and over!). I borrowed a 3/4 D(ISH) neck bass while my 4/4 Eb (ISH) neck bass was being mended. It was no Biggie. But I realised that using the neck heel as a reference was a bit of a crutch.

Yip...it was a mixed crowd but he was playing mainly for the younger ones.....that said he played some stuff from TTF which was out in 1993!! But folk started leaving when he went on after us. There was still enough to finish the night with although we had to drop a few songs to take it up to finishing time at the pub!