OldGit

Two dep gigs with the acoustic Ceilidh band this week. It's the band that was on Gavin and Stacy so that's always good for a laff Tuesday was a conference dinner for TEFL teachers on the upright ... And Thursday was a conference dinner for 120 animal behaviorists, about 100 of whom seemed to be attractive young women aged about 22 .. TSS* to the fore chaps ... Fab enthusiastic dancing though .. I played the Valenti P bass rather than the upright for this one as my hands were still knackered from the upright gig on Tuesday .. An odd coincidence. As I was parking near the gig the guy in front unloaded a bass case and Ashdown combo from his car. Turned out to be my first bass teacher in Cardiff who I thought was on perpetual world tour - he was playing pop covers downstairs in the same place. I think my gig was more fun * Totty Sensitive Sunglasses - go totally dark when there are things you shouldn't stare at in the audience ...

Excellent! A donation from me is whingeing it whiny way to you too for the biggest relieved moment I've had for a while (half way through the thread that was)

Here's what I suggested on the other thread: They have had readers letters but the editing was terrible - actually it seemed to be missing entirely with rambling emails prented verbatim... even mine... I'd like to see a few things revisited - a valve amp head review that says something about how the things sound . The last one just listed the features and valves - well derrr we can all read the websites. What are the real differences between these things? - How about European players? There's loads of great players in our very own EU that seems to get no space whilst the US ones come around on a fairly regular basis. - The UK luthier scene. It's like the UK motor industry is actually in the hands of successful small manufacturers and the F1, etc racing construction scene. In the UK you can get a brilliant hand made bass for the same price as a production line Musicman .. One luthier per issue and you'd have enough for at least year.. Why review another Fender (Ford) when you can review a GB (Koenigsegg) and get an insight into the mind and incredible skills of the guy that built it. Leave the Fenders to the guitar mags and their little bits of "bass for guitarists ..." - "bass notes" style last page where real players have a soapbox. - The history of individual basses owned by celeb bass players... - performance questions - band relationship stuff - marketing questions - how about getting a music psychologist from thr orchestral side of things in to talk about team work? - What about features on preventing back ache (a recent discussion topic on here), RSI, bleeding wrists, finger failure and Alexander Technique for bass players? Ear plugs come up fairly regularly but there's a lot more that a Young/beginner bassist can do to ensure their playing life is not cut short by induced premature physical decay. How about "what can I get for £300 to get me going. What do I need and how do I get it from eBay?

Ha ha Yeah I was there. Strapped on my Jap Crap not-quite-a-Precision copy for my first gig in 1969. 40 years of gigging, non-stop more or less .... Pre-loved Baker 30 head and a 15 inch speaker in a cabinet filled with the itchiest fibreglass roof insulation you can imagine. Getting to gigs in the guitarist's dad's Bedford Dormable, with him driving, with no floor, no heater and sometimes no lights. Trundling around sat on the gear in the back 'cos there weren't enough seats. Working Men's Clubs ..... hummm

[quote name='Captain Bassman' post='452239' date='Apr 2 2009, 11:04 AM']That's the ultimate goal of AT - how far you get towards it is up to you. Hope I don't get too good at it - might start p***ing in my pants again and eating messily!! [/quote] I plan to do that when I'm a little older

I'm just putting a band together and I'm making it very obvious where the decisions are being made right from the start. It's my and the drummer's band. We came up with the idea, we're financing it, we're getting the gigs. We ultimately decide on the genre, set and gigging pattern and objectives. We are making it very clear that this is the situation and if it fails it's our responsibility. We've already had one guy decide he didn't want to play with us because we insist on using email for communications. "Oh I spend all day on email I don't want to do it at home as well. Can't you ring me up?" Nope, sorry. There's 8 people, loads of info to convey and midi files to send round for goodness sake. I'm not prepare dto read the emails to you. Get a grip. We plan to share responsibility for coming up with tunes with everyone but we still retain quality control and if the proposed tunes don't achieve a certain effect (ecstatically happy punters and bookers) then they won't be in the set. We even have a dress code sorted out and everyone in the band has to dance ... So if people want to join they have to like that way of working. I'm not surprised to say that several people have responded to our advert with a "thank god, a band that has its act together at last" 'cos they are fed up with playing in bands that are teetring on the edge of chaos all the time ...

[quote name='vmaxblues' post='452347' date='Apr 2 2009, 12:51 PM']I have done the deal, and am now the owner of a red 79 precision (previously owned by musical youth), in need of a couple of replacement bolts for the machineheads, other than that it is in good shape and very playable. The only other little thing is the white scratchplate has a little bit missing by the input jack. My temptation is to put a new scratchplate on but keep the old one and replace but keep the scratchplate screws which are a little rusty. Any advice gratefully recieved. Cheers Stuart[/quote] Ah yeah I saw that somewhere .. Good looking bass. I'd not change a thing. Just play and enjoy the mojo. Whatever you do, if you do replace bits, keep all the original stuff together .. a genuine scratchplate screw from the right year will probably cost you about £10 if you loose one ...

[quote name='BASSISACE' post='452399' date='Apr 2 2009, 01:27 PM']ME! I got mine about 3 weeks ago after 8-9 months wait. It is a monster, very agressive as you'd expect, what a sound !!!, very wide neck JJ must have banana hands, as per the Shuker speil JJ advised all the things he'd like & doesnt like from his old Precisions. It's lighter (doesnt feel it) and louder with extra wound pick up coils. Love this bass to bits. I have had several 70s JJ type Precisions, this is far superior, you can really feel the difference. Cant wait to gig it, pitty I am between bands at the mo. I'll post pictures on Basschat next week Are you thinking of getting one?[/quote] hey thanks It's on the possibles list in the future. My Shuker P5 is a lot like a JJB as Jon had one there when I was picking characteristics and features ... If you want to to get some gigging exercise I could help out there

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='452123' date='Apr 2 2009, 06:51 AM']Is this what's counts as daftness? This is the stuff that makes this place fun.... He should give Tom Selleck his tache back too.[/quote] Yeah, I like it too but we may have to be careful with the pros if we don't want to alienate them. After all, why should Jeff Berlin bother with a UK forum if he gets abuse about stuff other than his playing? His need to share and have an audience may not be that strong, especially if he's getting hundreds of posts on his TB thread to deal with ...

[quote name='geilerbass' post='452213' date='Apr 2 2009, 10:41 AM']This is something I've been meaning to try out for some time. Based on your positive review, I will seek out an AT teacher without delay. Fingers crossed that it helps out![/quote] As I mentioned in the other thread for us heavy slab operatives, my friend the AT teacher recommends the ITM approach to AT if you can find one near you. List here: [url="http://www.alexandertechnique-itm.org/itm-teachers/teachers/teachers-uk.html"]http://www.alexandertechnique-itm.org/itm-...eachers-uk.html[/url]

[quote name='josh3184' post='452196' date='Apr 2 2009, 10:26 AM']glad it worked out for you, I'm going to need this sort of thing in the future for sure due to the weightiness of all basses I use [/quote] Start now and prevent the problems rather than fix them later?

You are welcome. I'm glad you had such a good result. I think the difference between Alexander Technique and chiropractic is one is a preventive, educational thing and the other is for fixing problems. I am also a fan of chiropractic once things are broken AT helps you stay in shape though. Alexander Technique has been used for performers since its inception in about 1900 so as musicians it's right up our street.

[quote name='vmaxblues' post='452146' date='Apr 2 2009, 09:02 AM']Hi guys, I have recently had a hankering for a vintage P bass, and have been looking at whats around. Anyway, there is a chance I can swap a Warwick Dolphin thruneck 4 string for one, now on the surface of it, the Warwick is worth more, but I am very tempted. Any views on this?[/quote] I think the Dolphins may be a special case but, from a purely financial perspective, all other Warwicks seem to be plummeting in value where as a vintage P (if it is a good one) will always be worth a lot.

[quote name='eude' post='443658' date='Mar 24 2009, 01:30 PM']Not entirely sure if either of mine have a serial number, where is yours?...[/quote] Nah Mine don't have serial numbers .. er that is my one doesn't - the other has gone off to live elsewhere .. Bassisace, Could you pop over to[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=45513&view=findpost&p=451698"] this thread [/url] and tell us about your JJB? Thanks OG

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='451828' date='Apr 1 2009, 06:24 PM']It's fast turning into a nanny state!![/quote] Shame for sure but I'd rather see it moderated and be helful and long lasting than unmoderated and decend into some of the daftness we've seen...

I think the only safe way to maintain anything like Jeff's TB string would be to moderate it.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='451767' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:40 PM']You can but ask.[/quote] Indeed and have done so .. Actually as he has the only rosewood one that's probably a good idea ..

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='451721' date='Apr 1 2009, 05:09 PM']JJ Burnell[/quote] Oh yeah. Well he's pretty local.. I wonder if he'd let me have a go ?

What it says .. Anyone got one? Thanks OG

Have a good time Dave ...

[quote name='dood' post='451516' date='Apr 1 2009, 01:19 PM']I am a definte convertee to the world of headless! *thinks for a moment* hmmm.. headless 7 string??? NO DAN! ha ha ha[/quote] You'll be looking to offload that tatty old headed thing then? Swap for a Hohner mate?

[quote name='ARGH' post='450891' date='Mar 31 2009, 08:38 PM']I have on good authority that inside the BBC TG office,there's a sticky wall,that has car company logo's and its divided into "WHO LIKES US,WHO DOES NOT LIKE US" I just find it fun that the guy that owns/is Bristol cars has publicly banned James May from the forecourt because he knows Clarkson.[/quote] These comparisons with Top Gear and its amusing style and unfettered approach to criticism is missing a few serious points. They don't depend on advertisers and they have huge viewing figures .... Combine those two things and you get a different kind of "publication" They have had readers letters but the editing was terrible - actually it seems to be missing entirely. So, as they are listening. I'd like to see a few things revisited - a valve amp head review that says something about how the things sound . The last one just listed the features and valves - well derrr we can all read the websites. What are the real differences between these things? - How about European players? There's loads of great players in our very own EU that seems to get no space whilst the US ones come around on a fairly regular basis. - +1 on the UK luthier scene. It's like the UK motor industry is actually in the hands of successful small manufacturers and the F1, etc racing construction scene. In the UK you can get a brilliant hand made bass for the same price as a production line Musicman .. One luthier per issue and you'd have enough for at least year.. Why review another Fender (Ford) when you can review a GB (Koenigsegg) and get an insight into the mind and incredible skills of the guy that built it. Leave the Fenders to the guitar mags and their little bits of "bass for guitarists ..." - +1 on the "bass notes" style last page where real players have a soapbox. - +1 on the history of individual basses owned by celeb bass players... - in the left field department, there are lots of other topics that come up regularly on here - performance questions, band relationship stuff, marketing questions - how about getting a music psychologist from teh orchestral side of things in to talk about team work? What about features on preventing back ache (a recent discussion topic on here), RSI, bleeding wrists, finger failure and Alexander Technique for bass players? Ear plugs come up fairly regularly but there's a lot more that a Young/beginner bassist can do to ensure their playing life is not cut short by induced premature physical decay. I'd find all of those interesting, especially if surrounded by pictures of nice basses to look at and tuition, lessons and transcriptions (I wondered why "the Real Me" didn't look right .. )

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='451452' date='Apr 1 2009, 12:22 PM']Half of 2p?[/quote] Oh I thought it was LP rather than 1P I guess he want's us to half listen to his 2p worth?