KevB

A bit of info here too but not that enlightening; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel_%28instrumental%29

That's only because you have old hacks like me to compare them to Ray

The one I have is identical to this though I don't think I paid quite so much and the company name doesn't ring abell but the design is the same. Had it nearly 10 years now, durable despite lightweight design; [url="http://www.sacktrucksdirect.co.uk/bristol-tool-company-folding-aluminium-sack-truck-with-extendable-handle-90kg.html"]http://www.sacktrucksdirect.co.uk/bristol-tool-company-folding-aluminium-sack-truck-with-extendable-handle-90kg.html[/url]

A taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie Suzi Quatro - Can the Can Chris Squier - Hold Ou Your Hand Wings - Band On The Run

Great back saver, been using one for years. Even if I only use it to trundle from car park to playing area it can save on numbers of trips. I don't use bungees, need to be careful when it ocmes to rest upright that the combo on top doesn't topple forward but been OK so far.

Much easier in terms of getting hold of instruments/gear of decent quality at affordable prices now and also much more backup in terms of recorded source material, online tuition and more flesh and blood teachers too. This however has led to a bigger expectation on both bands you might be auditioning for and the audiences you are playing to. You could probably get away with a bit more in the 50's than now (though a bum notes always going to be a bum note) so there may be more pressure on for players now.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1390405865' post='2345062'] Anyone mentioned Stingray5 (Steve)'s prog outfit, Landmarq? We saw them recently at the Peel in Kingston and I'm still in awe of their musicianship. Oh, and the songs aren't bad either! [url="http://landmarq.net/home.htm"]http://landmarq.net/home.htm[/url] [/quote] I never realised that, I've had a copy of Entertaining Angels for a while, very good album and would definitely see the band if they gigged somewhere local to me. Come to think of it I've never seen the Earthband either with or without our own SteveK but I think most of their gigs are in Europe these days. And while we're in prog mode i like some of the stuff that was online by Bassassin's (Jon) band Maya29 but again I think the chances of them playing locally to me is unlikely. There used to be a member called Alan who at the time was in Panic Room which is a good band but he left both the forum and the band to pursue other musical projects.

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1390345688' post='2344467'] Hardly use 'em these days, but when I do it's a Jim Dunlop 1mm nylon. Slightly flexible for more feel & a textured gripping area for sweat resistance. Jon. [/quote] +1 Been using them for years after trying various others that didn't quite feel right to me. I only seem to get them in black though which isn't great being dropped on a dark stage.

I'm not that well versed on him but I'm sure I read somewhere that Karn just picked up the bass with no real previous musical knowledge or experience on other instruments and kind of invented his sound, his way of doing stuff [i]de novo. [/i]One to point out when the usual 'natural aptitude' type thread rears it's head for the umpteenth time.

Agree on the secondhand thing, always recommend that route, can save a lot that way. It also often means you get an instrument that has already been well set up which is often not the case with brand new intruments. I haven't owned that many basses (probabluy no more than a dozen) and only 2 were bought new and neither stayed very long (the Bison mentioned before and a nice but rather insipid sounding Schecter). Fortunately they were in such good nick when sold that I lost remarkably little on the re-sales. Best buy to date was a USA jazz which I still own - less than 2 yrs old when I got it, in perfect nick and with a hard case included for less than £400. Original receipt in bottom of case from somewhere on Denmark street for over £800!

Actually I was going to originally mention a Bison as well but went for the ray story instead as I was really fired up for that. The Bison (one of the modern reissues, not an original 60's one) was just idle curiosity, no huge expectations but couldn't get on with it at all. It holds the record for the shortest time any bass has stayed with me before moving on. Never gigged it but didn't lose much money on it at all in the re-sale so no harm done. Uncomfortable playing position for me (not blessed with orang-utan scale arms) and didn't think much of any of the available tones despite much knob twiddling.

Probably the one that I thought was really going to be the bee's knees was a pre-EB stingray. However when I inspected it in person it needed a lot of work doing and it was all uphill from there. By the time I'd spent in the region of £400 to get it playing and sounding reasonable (and it would still have needed to be stripped and refinished to get it looking decent as well) I'd decided that rays weren't really my bag after all and it would have to go.

He became the blueprint for the likes of Kiss turning it into a merchandising exercise as much as a musical one. As Bassassin pointed out the original band was interesting and musically very savvy. Becoming essentially a solo artist with a backing band has its plus and negative aspects. I suspect he runs a pretty tight ship on tour and comes across in general interviews as a pretty shrewd customer. I'm pretty mixed as far as the music is concerned, some stuff is worth a listen and some is quite avoidable, he's a prime target for knocking your own 'favourite tracks playlist' together for rather than whole albums. It's all about live shows these days so he's always been a bit ahead of the game, seen him a couple of times live and it's always a bit of an experience though some sections get heavily recycled. There were sections of the gig that was on TV recently which I saw in on completely different tour a good few years later. Some of those props don't come cheap, gotta keep recycling them Good to see him still rocking out at 65...

Being the keyboard player didn't seem to be too detrimental to the likes of Wakeman, Emerson et al in their heyday Seeing the state of some of the women that lurch up to our singer to drunkenly bellow in his ear some request or other whilst he's trying to sing makes me more and more happy not to be a front man these days.

What turned out to be my last house band appearance at the jam session yesterday. Haven't been sacked as such, landlord told by his boss that they couldn't afford to keep paying the house band. Shame, it was still popular. The previous landlord and landlady never seemed to have any problems but then the pub was busier then anyway. I think it's more of a reflection of how poorly it's being managed generally these days but that's not the house band's fault. Some of the regulars are talking about trying to keep it going by just turning up with their own gear and having a go. I've seen other jam nights done like this but they seldome last very long. I'll call in from time to time but I'm beginning to think it may be the beginning of the end for the pub which would be a real shame, it's the main music venue in the immediate area.

Depends how often they rehearse and where. If they insist on rehearsing every week and it is local to them (ie an hour and a half drive) then even if the gigs them selves are more local to the OP it may not be feasible.

Spot on Earbrass

Thin Lizzy's Renegade album lined up on the ipod to listen to cycling home after work today. A rather overlooked album in their history I feel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvIcpPhVpNM

It would be miraculous if he was... There was a good article about Mountain, Leslie West, Nantucket Sleighride, Felix and his (sounds like a nightmare) wife a few issues back in Classic Rock magazine.

I have to hold my hand up and say I often put the odd fill in on Dakota that was never there on the original recording. But it's filling in a bit of space where there should be another guitar part that is missing so it actually helps. If it was making the song worse I wouldn't do it nor would i if I was in a bona fide Stereophocis trib as in the OP's ad. Part of the freedom of being in a general covers as opposed to trib act for me. The audience don't seem to mind a jot and sing away at the tops of their lungs so can't be all that bad. If there was one song I'd drop from the list at the moment it would be that, played it with at least 3 of my last 4 or 5 bands now.

I think if I put up any gear for sale through ebay these days I'd do cash on collection only or find another route. They charge enough just to act as a hosting site for your ad/auction without taking a cut of the money changing hands as well. I specifically made my last bass sale on eBay a pickup only / cash deal in the ad (having had too much tyre kicking going on trying to sell it here) and it went no problem so it can be done.

Though I've never really longed to be a pro there's always the misty-eyed youth in you that wants to live the dream. Then you talk to people and the reality hits you like a rock. Had an interersting conversation a few years back with a guy i was playing with on and off, we are about the same age. He's 10 times the musician I'll ever be, always been in regular paying gigging bands since long before i ever picked up an instrument and done some reasonably high profile slots too. When not gigging he's giving music lessons having completed a part time teaching degree. Basically working all the time and with some of the teaching out of normal office hours. I'd moved house recently to a particular area. He got all nostalgic as he'd grown up in the area so I asked why he didn't just move back? No way could he afford it and I honestly don't have a particularly well paid job and it isn't a particularly special area that I live in.

If the thread is going down an 'overlooked female singer songwriter' route then can I chip in a couple more? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMUz2TNMvL0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lK1rAc2QpM

Fairlight vs III was about as sophisticated as they got. In the mid '80's they would set you back FIFTY GRAND Just think think what you could buy for that money back then or even now! No wonder it was mainly the top studios who had them or big established names. Engineers probably had nightmares about a cup of coffee going over one...

So should an artist get a cut of the entrance money from everyone who comes to see an exhibition of their work at a gallery?