peteb

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1441970442' post='2863348'] Yeeuch. I always found Rich's big band a bit thuggish. This is too fast (as a lot of Rich arrangements were) and doesn't groove as a result. Great players badly utilised. I love the '8.30' version toneknob mentions. THAT swings like a mofo. Buddy Rich, for all his chops, thought Jazz was arm-wrestling (to be fair, so did Zawinul after Weather Report) Warrington does not need to worry about barnets nowadays. If you want to look at barnets, look up the youtube version of the tune by Manhattan Transfer (the band features Wayne Johnson on guitar) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxIo6nrgVa4 [/quote] I was mentally prepared to accuse you of some jazz snobbery here, preferring a more obscure version by some bebop outfit, but then I played the clip and you are, of course, quite right! He counts in way too fast, then the band bludgeon the tune half to death...

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1441667142' post='2860805'] I see what you mean and you're right. If the OP had caved in to pressure from certain individuals he wouldn't have been subject to personal abuse ... er ... doesn't sound so good when we put it like that But it still comes down to the fact that some peoples' self esteem is so fragile that they perceive a politely expressed general observation as a specifically personal attack to which they respond with ad-hominem insults. So it all turns nasty and eventually you get muppets turning up to further their pre-existing vendetta. There's another thread running at the moment where exactly the same thing is happening. And where are the mods while this is happening? Are they putting out the fire? No. With a couple of honourable exceptions, they're lobbing brick-ends along with all the other malcontents. All part of the general forum decline. The country's going to the dogs, I tell you. [/quote] Skank, I fear that your sensibilities are a little delicate for the brave new world of the internet. My main concern is that the keyboard warriors chucking their toys around are so badly informed! The other thread to which I assume you refer is merely someone amusing themselves by making a ridiculous statement then accusing anyone who disagrees of doing so through vanity. Just a bit of attention seeking, quite harmless really. As far as this thread goes I can't see why anyone is arguing, yet alone getting upset and throwing insults around. The Beatles have undoubtedly had the biggest impact on popular culture of anyone in the last 70 years! Now I'm not even a fan of the Fab 4, but to deny their influence or importance is just daft...

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1441319987' post='2857994'] I don't understand why you can't understand. [/quote] Neither do I...! Some people are saying that the audience don’t care about whether you use mediocre or high end gear, but they do. They don’t know why one band sounds better than another, but they can tell the difference. A better bass sound is just one small component of that, but it is a factor – just not as important as playing / singing in tune and in time or having decent material, etc. Also, some audience members know a tiny bit about types of instruments and feel reassured that they are watching a superior band if they recognise the brands of the guitars on the bandstand. Also, many band leaders have a certain preconceived idea of what a bass should look and sound like. Never underestimate what the appeal of having ‘Fender made in USA’ written on your headstock can be to some people. I recently watched an interview with a session bassist called Sean Hurley, where he says that for 95% of the time he now just takes Fender Precisions on recording dates as he knows that artists and producers will immediately be comfortable with them (both in terms of sound & pedigree). If you turn up for an audition with a Squier then the band leader may question your choice of instrument. Of course, if you can play like Jaco then he will quickly forget about any reservations that he may have had but if it is between you and a guy of broadly similar abilities with a US Precision and a decent amp then you are likely to lose out. I would advise anyone thinking of spending £500 on a mid-priced bass to save up another couple of hundred quid and buy a secondhand Stingray (or something similar). For that you get a well-made American bass with a recognised pedigree that will play well as well as look and sound the part across a number of genres. It will probably satisfy the gear snob in any potential band leader / audience member and could see you right for your whole musical career! Once you have got a decent bass and a suitable amp I would then advise that you stop searching for ever elusive minor supposed improvements in tone and concentrate of playing the damn thing, which is the important thing after all…

When I started playing my main teachers were John Paul Jones, Andy Fraser and Roger Glover. I also had a book that showed me how to play a 12 bar blues and some basic technique / music theory. Over the past 40 years I have had a handful of lessons (maybe about a dozen in all) but I certainly learnt the most from listening to records and trying to copy great bass players, that basic instruction book and of course, gigging / playing with other musicians…

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1440473911' post='2851057'] [i]"If your standing up playing in a rock band, doesn't matter what genre, you have been influenced by The Beatles at some level whether you know it or not."[/i] IMHO Blue [/quote] Equally you will have been influenced by Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters & Elvis (as indeed the Beatles were)...

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1440531433' post='2851693'] Just the one. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-P-C-Chambers-Popular-History/dp/1845536363 [/quote] Talk about getting an extreme reaction from your readers - only two Amazon reviews, one 5 star & the other a 1 star...! :-) Well played Sir...

I recently played quite a big festival where the house bass rig was a Demeter preamp, a Crown power amp and two Purple Chilli cabs (a 4x10 & 2x10). I thought that it looked rather tasty - different from the Ampeg rigs you often get at these type of gigs and certainly a cut above the Ashdowns you sometimes have to use. Unfortunately it was awful. I couldn’t get a half decent sound out of it in the minute or so I had before we had to do a very quick soundcheck – the eq was very unintuitive, it sounded very dry and to cap it all, one of the speakers appeared to be on its way out. It wasn’t just me either, a mate of mine (who is a serious player) had to use it the following night and he hated it as well…

Very cool...! I've been listening to Eric Martin since his early solo albums - one of the best singers I've ever seen / heard! Must have been great to share a stage with him...

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1439378666' post='2842255'] One of the attractions of Prog for me was what I call the virtuosity element. [/quote] I think that there is a degree of truth in that, but probably the biggest selling and most enduring prog band from that period is Pink Floyd - a line-up that includes a couple of nice players but not exactly dripping in virtuosity! I think that the key element is (as ever) the strength of the material...

I don't think that anyone has mentioned The Yes Album yet? My favourite, probably because it isn't 'too proggy'! Close To The Edge is immense as well. Funny how of all the prog stuff I listened to in my youth, Yes are the only band that left a lasting impression...

I would just jump in and get a USA Stingray. They’re going pretty cheap right now and great value – if you set yourself a budget of £700 to £750 and are prepared to wait for the right one, you will get a decent Ray off ebay soon enough. The one bass I regret selling was a 3EQ Stingray a few years back…

Thanks for posting that - very interesting...

I regularly use an iGig double bag. However it always goes in a car or the van. It's a great bag but it is rather weighty with two basses - the one time I had to carry it fully loaded on my back was rather heavy going and I wouldn't attempt to use public transport with it to be honest...

Just watched this BBC Scotland documentary on Jack Bruce (whilst he was still alive) with lots of commentary from his wife, Clapton, Baker and Pete Brown. Baker pretty much comes across as a bit of a buffoon in his sections and is constantly contradicted by Bruce and, more tellingly, by Clapton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3KBEq95N5U Interestingly, Bruce claims that Baker sacked him from the Graham Bond Organisation “at the wrong end of a knife”…

Just bought a powered mixer off Dave – no problems at all and a very affable guy on the phone I didn’t actually meet him as he was on a gig when I went to pick it up so he arranged for his Dad to demonstrate how to use the mixer etc, who was very helpful as well…

This is not something that I have ever had a problem with – I get what a sound that I’m happy with that seems to work well both on stage and out front. However I usually play in what are essentially three pieces, so there are generally pretty sparse arrangements with big guitar sounds. Does this give me more leeway as far as choosing a bass sound / how I EQ the amp than if I was playing in a bigger ensemble?? It’s hard for me to say because but I would imagine that if I was playing (for example) in a 7 piece band with brass or whatever then I may have to use a flatter less aggressive bass sound? I am interested to find out if people here think that is correct?

[quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1435745296' post='2811972'] Sorry if you feel my post was "demeaning" and "patronising" - certainly not intended. Maybe I should have added IMO, I figured that was a given. [/quote] I didn't think that you were being demeaning or patronising, just expressing an opinion based on experience of having played in other parts of the world

[quote name='paul j h' timestamp='1435649314' post='2810875'] I think Nick Beggs would be perfect for this gig and might inject some vitality back into the band. Just my opinion though. [/quote] And a pretty good one! I think that Bilbo was right when he said that the various members may still want to play and continue to make a living. Going out as Yes means a guaranteed crowd and makes it a lot easier. To me it wouldn't be Yes without Chris Squire and/or Anderson and I very much doubt that I would buy a big price ticket, but I can't blame the remaining members for wanting to go out and play...

These days we try not to play bad gigs, but if you have a run of a few shows away from home you don’t want a dead night and any gig that's going (even if it’s one that you wouldn’t normally play) might pay for your hotel / diesel and be the difference between making a few quid or losing money. If it is obviously not going to be a great night you just try and make the best of it and have a laugh with (or occasionally at) the audience. I remember playing a grim little pub in Burnley (god knows how we got booked there) and at the beginning of the second set the guitar player announced that he would like to buy everyone in the audience a drink – he still had change from a tenner…! And as for playing dives and the rougher establishments – I find that years later when people are sitting round talking about old gigs and places, they are the ones that you tend to remember and have the best stories attached…

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1434996601' post='2804563'] Yes, I understand the conundrum, but it's not really a question of 'attitude'. My drums are, to me, as your bass is to you. If the house bass was a Hofner 500/1, would you be happy doing the gig playing that (no disrespect to 500/1 owners, of course...)..? If you were handed a 'lefty', how would the gig go..? I've got used to the feel of my hi-hat pedal over the decades, my cymbals are placed exactly where I know they'll be. There's not much time to 'think' where the splash is, mid-song. It's either in it's place or it's not. I'm not saying that I could do nothing with a house kit, but I could certainly not do our set as it stands, correctly, so wouldn't want to perform at all. Retired, now, and playing out rarely just for fun with my band of buddies; we all have the same outlook; if it's going to be any kind of hassle, we'll play at home and enjoy it more. I recognise the problem, and, as stated, commiserate, but yes, we'd much rather lose the gig than not be in the condition we're happy with. Luxury, I'll admit, that others may not have. [/quote] I’m really not having a go at you for wanting to use your optimum set up at gigs where you have that level of control, but others may have to consider that if they want to play the bigger gigs available then they may have to compromise. It is one thing to insist on your own gear at your own shows in pubs, clubs, etc or even on small scale multi band gigs in clubs; but when you are playing halfway down the bill on many of the bigger festivals around (that are otherwise great to play) you don’t always have that luxury. Generally you will get a half decent amp and probably a 4x10 (with a DI before the amp), which to be fair is usually ok. The drummer will use a house kit and bring his own snare, cymbals, pedals and drum stool, etc. As ever, the guitarist will usually be given the option to use their own amp! Of course, the headliners get the choice to use their own gear but funnily enough they often opt to use the house kit / bass rig, especially if they are not on tour and don’t have to bring their full backline when they have had to travel across the country for just one big gig…

IME playing down the bill on main stages at blues festivals - you don't get a choice, you are obliged to use the house bass rig and drum kit! Hopefully (usually) the rig provided will be half decent and you can always have a preamp of some sort on your board (I used to have one but don't bother anymore) but I'm afraid that compromise is the name of the game. I would prefer to use my rig if possible but you often don't get the option. Unfortunately if you pull the attitude the Dad has above you will lose the gig! Simple as...

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1434584182' post='2801033'] It's a well known and debated controversy, which is a strange juxtaposition with the popularity of the song, which is undeniably a classic and catchy piece of music. The extract from an article below gives a flavour of the controversy:- 'Music historians point out that the choice of Birmingham in connection with the governor (rather than the capital Montgomery) is significant for the controversy as "In 1963, the city was the site of massive civil rights activism, as thousands of demonstrators led by Martin Luther King, Jr. sought to desegregate downtown businesses...[and] was the scene of some of the most violent moments of the Civil Rights Movement. Segregationist police chief Bull Connor unleashed attack dogs and high-pressure water cannons against peaceful marchers, including women and children; just weeks later, Ku Klux Klansmen bombed a black church, killing four little girls."[4]' Sorry to OP re thread drift - this is about Sweet Home Alabama. Brown Sugar's a great song to play but I don't totally buy an argument that it's anything but about sex (which the Stones, like any other young guys, seemed to be obsessed with). [/quote] I seem to remember an interview with Ronnie Van Zant where he said that the point of the song was to defend Alabama and say that you could not blame all southerners for the Guvenor of Birmingham any more than you could blame Yankees for Nixon!

Yep, I used to live just down around the corner 30 years ago and that is exactly how I remember it! I have been told that the area has since been gentrified quite a bit...

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1433509815' post='2791704'] Jazz bass without Jaco wouldn't look much different whilst pop without Jamerson would be unrecognisable. [/quote] I suppose that goes back to a previous thread and who decides what constitutes jazz (or any other genre) and does it encompass fusion or not, etc. It is undeniable (although somebody will be along in a minute to do just that) that electric bass playing would be completely different without Jaco...

I think that it is perfectly legitimate to reinterpret classics as you see fit, so if you hear a middle 8 in there you should try it out and see if the new arrangement works!