bassace

Always dangerous to have a ‘favourite’ anything because there is a danger that you shut out all sorts of nice things. But Marvin’s Grapevine takes a hell of a lot of beating.

The drums make you tap your feet. But the bass makes you swing your hips.

I got a couple of clip on tuners from Amazon this morning. Go back to 1960 and it would have been WTF’s a tuner? In fact almost anything was hard to come by/afford. We played at an RAF base and coveted a length of black mains cable coiled up back stage. When we got back to the flat and unloaded all the gear one of the guys who was looking unnaturally plump asked us to ‘unwind me’. Yup, it was the cable all coiled round his torso. A great prize indeed. My dad liberated a whole stack of ‘music while you work’ 4”x9” elliptical speakers from the biscuit factory that my brother and I built into PA columns. Reslo mics going into a 50watt hifi amp. When his band played support to the Stones at Reading Town Hall, they were so impressed with the PA that they used it. Probably sound like crap today.

Just to chuck another PU into the mix, I have recently fitted a Kremona KNA pickup. It’s cheap as chips - £56 when I bought mine - and very slim. I doubt whether any wing slot enlargement would be needed. I still prefer my Lifeline to give the old school mellow sound that I like but last week I was playing on a thick carpet that completely killed my amplified sound. So I plugged in the KNA and it saved the day with a clear sound. So I keep it in the E slot, just in case.

Haven’t a clue what you’re all talking about. This is headed EUB and Double Basses.

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1508607589' post='3393323'] A Jewish pal of mine tells me that the word gig is Yiddish and basically means 'a job' or a 'piece of work'. Not sure if that helps this discussion, but if true, the word has a wider meaning than just music. [/quote] My understanding is that on receiving payment the Jewish musician would silently intone ‘ God is good’, spelling gig. And although it’s mainly used for musical work the term applies to a freelancer in any field.

Spiro Mitts?

Is it played landscape or portrait?

Vettel

Keep going, guys. Soon you’ll have every guitarist listed.

[quote name='Brother Malvis' timestamp='1507115504' post='3383378'] Regarding the brewing and the banqueting, there's no kitchen in the barn, but there's a bar (on the left in the 3rd photo). I can get the loan of an urn and sort out stuff for making teas and coffees, and get some beer in too. There's a kitchen in my friend David's house across the way from the barn, where food could be heated up. I'm more than happy to make a chilli or a stew, and bake a load of spuds, or make sandwiches. Whatever is preferred... [/quote] Let’s not get too ambitious. The main event is the meeting of double bass players and discussions/examinations/considerations of instruments and gear. The availability of tea and coffee would add value to the occasion and sarnies could be brought in by those that want them. Anything else is probably superfluous, or am I just being grumpy?

The K10 is well proven. If anyone has used a K8 it would be good to know whether that model would do the business. Anyone?

Does it have a kitchen where we can brew?

I had a mic through a Headway into a QSC K10 on a pole at one time. I used it for a couple of gigs and got a superior sound. But I found the cab was a tad on the heavy side, a few more wires to consider and I reverted to a simpler plug and play. But if you want, Rabbie, it's worth a go, only I hear the K8 works quite well and it's lighter.

Why not?

You can take it from me that I'll be coming but everything else is a bit sketchy right now. I have a severe lung infection, my right lung is full of green gunge and breathing isn't easy. I'm glad I made it to the bass Bash last Sat but I'm a bit useless right now. I now realise who Bro Malvis is; I lent him my bass at a gig last year. He is a great guy, full of enthusiasm so do what you can to get behind him.

Good suggestion, Bro. We had one last year so perhaps a spring 2018 DB Bash would chime with the every-two-years fixture. The trick is to find a suitable venue that caters for a good number of attendees. We've had it twice at Derby which suits quite a few but it does tend to exclude North/Scotland and the South. Perhaps somewhere near Bicester or a bit more south might give the southerners a crack. So something to think about. The other thing, I'm not in the best of health right now, since June actually, so my horizons are a bit narrow as is the amount I can help with. Owen was my very capable and enthusiastic co-conspirator last year and it would be great if he could continue with his involvement. It would be nice to stay in the loop a bit; I could always consider a small contribution.

I didn't go last year so it was great to resume this year and catch up with the Basschat community. I lost count of offers to help carry my gear in, just showing what a nice crowd you all are. Thanks to all those who organised and ran this great event.

And let the drummer set up first, don't get in his way while he's doing it. Otherwise they can get very irritable.

Ha! It's only an estimate, and I was out for ten years when I was doing other things, but I've been busy during the past 25 years so I reckon the figure is not far off. The last twenty years are on spreadsheets so I could extrapolate, I suppose. But boasting isn't an attractive characteristic, is it? Just to carry on a bit, I've got a gig tonight with a skiffle revival group. Not quite my thing but it puts me in mind back to 1957 when I was still at school and we did our first skiffle gig. I was on washboard. Happy days.

Your first gig with 30 numbers could be a bit daunting. Is it your first gig only, or the rest of the band as well. If the others have experience you should be able to cruise along on them. Do you know all the keys, if in any doubt a crib sheet on the floor will give you added confidence. But enjoy the gig and those that will inevitably follow. There's something a bit special about playing live. In over fifty years my gig count must be in the low thousands but I still get a great buzz out of the anticipation of a new gig, like tomorrow. Good luck

Little Mix?

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1505546385' post='3372672'] Thanks for putting me right. 'Til now, I had been pronouncing your screen name like I do when I say "Liberace". Heeheehee. [/quote] Versace

If my car reg hadn't said so, I'd never have claimed to be ace. Although I do play bass. Quite often.

Thanks guys. I'd like to keep the tuning standard but just on certain numbers detune to D or Eb. I suppose I could just do down a tone on the winder for the particular tune, taking care to remember where I am.