bassace

Thanks for the shout, dodge_bass and co. As a bass player I’m usually at the back so this moment with the light on me was a rare pleasure. In truth the clip was from my parts bin and the postage was less than the cost of a pint. And who wouldn’t treat a fellow Basschatter to a drink. Here’s to the end of the lockdown when we can get out, go to some bass bashes and all meet up again soon.

Here we go again. Is anyone bothered?

Oh yes, good man to deal with. I sent him a small item and the deal was smooth as silk.

A bit churlish to criticise in view of the charitable intent, I suppose. But it was a bit average wasn’t it. Those chanteurses who insisted on playing piano shouldn’t have, particularly Gaga who was playing some weird chords. Bubble had a great player behind him. Elton’s a treasure isn’t he.

Great read, thanks Michael. A bit hard on Hank but it’s true, echo units were more ubiquitous than ubiquitous in those days. The first time I heard the Beatles live on radio - and they were quite ubiquitous there in those days - I couldn’t believe it. They weren’t using echo!

It was good to see a doc going back to the fifties/sixties, including a bit of Trad, which kicked it all off. A lot of the young pundits of today think Pop started in the eighties.

I’ve never cooked a meal in my life so I don’t really know what anyone’s talking about here. But I’m very good at washing up.

The website doesn’t seem to list any accessories these days, Jack, although they clearly do all sorts of stuff. Probably worth a call if interested. I’ve got two of their covers, although bought a few years ago.

If you want to spend a shed load the good luck to you. I go to T&G Martin and get theirs for about a ton. A bit more for the thicker padded version. But if you transport your bass in the back of your car you don’t need anything fancy, zips that work, handles in the right places and corner protection for the bass. Save your money and put it towards a decent instrument.Thats where your income/satisfaction comes from, not by having some poncy cover.

Back in the day things were a lot more simple. The first day I joined my new school there was this double bass on its side at the back of the stage. I’d never seen anything quite so majestic before and that was all I ever wanted. So after all these years that’s what I play. A fellow schoolmate was Les Hurdle - Womble Tomsk. I wonder whether he was similarly inspired. I never asked him.

Based on these two extracts it must be a great read. Thanks for posting, Mickey, fair cheered me up.

And as a gigging musician I’d agree 100% 👍

Just don’t go past your mum’s house.

Our last gig is tomorrow. Just slipping in under the radar I think.

Mrs B is convinced it’s the Russians. Really.

Well, how many times have you heard the word ‘soul’ by all and sundry? Cool might be outdated but, believe me, it was the only show in town in the sixties.

Did anyone see the documentary on BBC Two last night. 2 hours of pure gold - at least up to the Quintet. Amazing quantity of good archive film and a great story of his life and loves. And the music was excellent, the double bass sound, particularly Paul Chambers, superb. Get it on catchup; you won’t be disappointed.

The band I play in has played one day a week continuously for the past fifty years. Must be quite a record. Last Tuesday our gate was 21, due very much to virus fears. So next Tue will be our last for the foreseeable, or until the virus goes away. Very sad but sensible.

Is that where the dog licks his balls? I get that sort of reaction when I play a solo.

Do you know, in sixty years of gigs- in the thousands - I can’t remember any fibs, carve ups, rollovers, whatever. Sure, there was one gig in the early days when our skiffle group didn’t get the £2.10 (pre dec) fee but that was because I didn’t have the balls to ask for it. I’ve waited months to be paid by a well known Berkshire worthy and there’s the relatively insignificant hall acoustics thing. But I have always been treated fairly and honourably by clients and fellow musicians alike. Is it because they’re jazzers, I wonder

‘You’ll like the acoustics in this hall’

My GAS has come to an end. I’ve tried a lot and sold a lot. I now go everywhere with a Puma 500 and I have another one for spare which lives under the passenger seat.