bootleg

Anyone with experience/thoughts/opinions on the Road Worn P bass versus the AV58RI model? I own an AV58, and have tried a RW, briefly. The RW had such an impact I am tempted to seek one out.

Some years ago, a PS2 magazine had a competitions to win a date with a "page 3 stunner". You had to send in the reason why you should go and a picture. That was it. Some years later the magazine was having a retrospective and said no one won the prize because no one entered the competition. Politically correct PS2 dudes or just too plain ugly, take your pick.

More great responses. I gave it another shot this evening. I'm at least hearing it as I play it if that makes sense. The unison section eludes me. I'll try and approximate. I think my walking away has other factors outside the band, to do with limited bandwidth. I play to de-stress, have fun, and this is the opposite. Rehearsal tomorrow. I am not ducking out this time.

Thanks all. Very useful responses. Learning to read has been a long term, unrealised aspiration. We don't have a keyboard player which could be part of why it sounds so pants. I haven't actually listened to it all the way through as the song is getting associated with me hitting a talent ceiling. I'm going to push to bin it.

I'm the least talented player in our band, and the hardest working as a result. I've learned hundreds of songs some of which, like Sir Duke, took me weeks if not months to master, and that has been its own reward. I can't read so that slows it down, but I'm good following charts and can play most songs from scratch in this way. We are usually picking up new songs all the time (jazz mostly). Anyways, drummer has brought in What About Me? by Snarky Puppy, all parts written up. So I'm struggling for some reason. Not particularly in love with the song, but I just struggle to break it down as I usually do. It's having an effect on my practise schedule (I am not doing much cause of that bloody song hanging over me) and on rehearsals as my confidence is taking a shot, to the extent I skipped last weeks rehearsal cause I didn't fancy it. Now I'm thinking perhaps they should get another bass player. It's that song or me! It feels a bit like constructive dismissal; despite making clear my thought on the matter they want to crack on with it. I've been very motivated over last few months, putting in lots of hours practise, always enthusiastic at rehearsals, but this has knocked me back. Perhaps it's time for a break. Thanks for listening. Has been very helpful.

Got tickets for Bristol at The Fleece. Thanks for the heads up.

What a great show. Intense sweaty performance. Absorbing and more accessible than I expected. Pretty amazing playing straight after travelling from LA. He came 7000 miles, so I only had to walk 1.

I suppose I should have said not everyone's cup of coffee.

Wondering if anyone will going along to this solo gig in Bristol, Monday 19th June, at Leftbank, Stokes Croft? Not everyone's cup of tea I realize, but I thought I'd post this for information. https://www.bristolticketshop.co.uk/eventdetails.aspx?e=15644

Nearly did the same, trying one in Mickleboroughs in Bristol. So easy to play. Impressed I was able to walk away.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1492249682' post='3278939'] Loved Whistle Test. A great show, although sometimes it wasn't to my taste. However, the presenters didn't feel the need to play along with the artists or for there to be a pseudo party vibe. [/quote] Exactly. Later... started with little or no audience, and that worked for me. Like the OGWT, it created an immediacy and intimacy with the viewer. Hardly ever watch it now, unless there's a plug here.

Bought Flashback X4 from Ben. Really easy transaction, fast delivery, pleasure doing business. Geoff

Damn you all...pedal GAS. The HOG2 looks amazing https://youtu.be/VpDVLC882po

[quote name='Jazzjames' timestamp='1489935949' post='3260917'] **The time is everyone's responsibility.** Listen to some albums that don't have drums to get your ears used to the space. My examples would be Angel Song by Kenny Wheeler (Dave Holland on bass) Beyond the Missouri Sky by Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden. [/quote] Thanks - I'll give them a listen.

[quote name='scalpy' timestamp='1489856319' post='3260393'] Being able to have a band groove without a drummer/ percussionist is a mark of class, particularly for us bassists. [/quote] Exactly. And after 11 years playing with these tunes and mostly same band, why I'm thinking I should get my coat.

[quote name='JoeEvans' timestamp='1489826942' post='3260097'] How about having the odd 'rhythm section' rehearsal with just you and the guitarist? Ask him if he wants to get together to really lock down the grooves of the Latin tunes. If the two of you work out some really solid interlocking parts that you can fall back on, both of you can improvise around them as and when you see fit, but if you ever feel like things are going a bit flat, you'll have something pre-arranged to fall back on. I would also work on the micro-detail of each of your own basslines, getting the feel exactly right and adding in some little ghost-note / passing note details, so that they stand up on their own when the rest of the band goes a bit quiet. [/quote] That's sounds a good approach. I think we both tend to wing it on the Latin tunes. I'm comfortable with my walking lines on swing tunes, and tend to play with a similar feel each time, but with Latin I don't often have a part nailed down, so that could also be part of it. Looking into some clave variants has also been interesting. A bit of serious Latin immersion is on the cards.

[quote name='Mickeyboro' timestamp='1489571686' post='3257959'] I hated playing without a drummer in the bluegrass quintet I was briefly with. Unless someone else is a rhythm player you're swimming against the tide. [/quote] There's the guitarist, but he's comping and such like, doesn't feel like support. I'd describe it like treading water, there is no flow to go against or with. That sounds like my fault,

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1489565984' post='3257894'] Just focus on the pulse and make sure you understand the relationship between what you are playing and where it sits in the overall performance. I love playing without drums as it allows for more finesse in my own phrasing. [/quote] I'm getting more comfortable with keeping the pulse, it's keeping things interesting as I've said else-thread.

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1489554223' post='3257840'] you ARE the timekeeper! you always were but didn't realise it It is hard to come up with original basslines when there isn't a drummer to bounce off, but you already know your basslines so u just need a little help. Give the horn players one of those tambourines that strap to their ankle so they can tap a beat [/quote] You're right of course. And I realise that, just I end up so concentrated I find my basslines lack variation in dynamics or interest, as you say, no drummer to bounce off. And it sounds dull, especially Latin songs with long stretches of the same chord. Swing and harmonically interesting songs work better for me.

[quote name='grandad' timestamp='1489532758' post='3257783'] I play in a jazz quartet with no drummer, just sax, trumpet, rhythm guitar and bass guitar. When the drummer left about 6 mths ago I was apprehensive as to whether I would be able to manage to keep good time and also whether the whole sound of the band would be too thin. There is no where to hide with so few instruments and my concentration has improved and I think my timing. The overall sound is different now, lighter and cleaner. Some tunes wouldn't work without drums but most we seem to adapt. We've played about 1/2 a dozen times in public to favourable response. Think easy-listening/chill-out/background rather than a show. At my age I do enjoy being seated behind my music stand to rest my bones and aid my memory. Stick with it and enjoy something a bit different, good luck. [/quote] There is more clarity without the drummer, and I see it as an opportunity to improve, but there is certainly nowhere to hide, just the relentlessness of being the sole time keeper. I have been working on my time, and tbh the drummer often challenges the timekeeping, so that's once less cat to herd. I feel stronger with straight swing, it's the Latin tunes I struggle with, especially those with little harmonic movement. Should I be working on rhythmic ghost notes? How do I drive rhythmic and dynamic variations without the drummer? Should I play more simply or embellish my playing to make it more interesting?

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1489530155' post='3257754'] Can't you get them to chip in with some shaker, Guiro or cleave action? [/quote] I will try suggesting this again! Ironically, the trumpet player is an accomplished drummer, yet resists any suggestions to play percussion.