uk_lefty

Didn't see it but will search iPlayer this evening! Recently read the autobiography, a real eye opener and notable for the fact it's a who's-who of jazz with Miles claiming he had to teach each of these great musicians how to play in the way he wanted with one notable exception: Marcus Miller. He speaks really warmly on Marcus which in the context of this book is unique!

The year was 2006. Or 2007. I was young IT worker sent to Leicester to work for a no longer in existence bank. One of our colleagues organised a night out to a luxurious nightspot. So luxurious the clientele were treated to questioning by the Police on the way in and then a queue to go through airport style security before a semi strip search, to which they looked at a young terrified bunch of professionals and scoffed "don't bother" to save us having to remove our coats to be searched for knives and guns. Needless to say once inside this club on a midweek night we stuck out like sore thumbs, and not just because we were the only people not wearing clothing emblazoned with G-STAR RAW. The only other white faces in there were the very people Ali G had been mocking for years earlier, obviously not up to speed on the joke, or girls grinding themselves into the wannabe, or very real, gangsters swarming the place. Then they took to the stage. N-Dubz. If I hadn't been in fear for my life with all the security procedures on the way in and the looks and shoves I had received all night so far I'd have whizzed myself laughing. I thought it was a joke. A year or so later and they're releasing singles, "dappy" makes TV appearances and "Tulisa" becomes an X Factor judge and Internet sex tape star. Yes. I was there.

Can you describe the tone differences please?

"I'm a really good singer looking to start a band and I néed top quality players" I ask what bands she's been in before... "none, but my boyfriend says I'm good" I politely decline on the grounds of perusing my sporting career, trying to get U21 international status for the country of my grandparents birth. This bit is true... I tried at that and failed. But I tried. "WHAT??! You'd rather do that than be in a band with ME!? PFFFfffffft" slams down phone. The end.

Just don't let the battery go flat! Get a stock of them from the pound shop, change in a new one before each gig, keep some spares in your gig bag.

At double it would still be a good deal IMHO

Here it is. https://m.thomann.de/gb/thomann_e_bass_gigbag_premium.htm I've had it nearly two years. It takes a weird headstock well and the pockets are huge. I transport my basses in it for rehearsal and such like when I want to carry as few bags as possible and as little weight as possible, can't be bothered with a hard case, pedal case, then another bag for cables and stuff. They're good value in my opinion, they are heavy though as a gig bag.

My Sire 5 string Jazz used to travel in the Thomann deluxe leather style padded gig bag thing without a fuss. Not an expensive bag either for the pocket size and the padding.

I did immediately say when the gig was postponed we should have got a deposit, but I also think that may be a bit unfair. They're going to move the date, not cancel, and it's not like it's just a localised problem and we could have been gigging elsewhere if the country goes in to semi-lock down...

My gig for the 21st has been cancelled... Not directly due to virus fears but I think that played a part. Lack of ticket sales for a rugby club centenary, could have been down to people expecting mandatory isolation by then or waiting to see what happens. It was a good paying function gig too, hoping it can be rearranged to a time we can do and the virus has gone. Wondering how this is affecting those of you who make your living, or a substantial part of it, from gigs and whether you're keeping deposits or just having to take it on the chin?

That is a good looking bass. Ignoring the headstock. It's a good looking bass up to the top of the neck 😊😊

I'm on 4 now... USA Stingray, Fender MIJ P, Kramer 5 string Fretless, Aria Pro II SB Elite-I. The Aria is a restoration project that may end up as a Fretless. Depending how that goes it could stay or be sold. I'm toying with selling the P too as I am missing having a jazz bass around and I can't see the P getting much action at all if I had a stingray, a jazz and a Fretless. The Kramer can never leave me, partly cos it's worth bog all but also because it was my 18th birthday present. When I read about other people's collections I don't feel the slightest bit of envy. In fact, it kinda gives me a weird kick to just sort my collection out to have just enough to cover every realistic scenario I find myself it: the Stingray plus the 1% of gigs that don't need a Stingray.

I'm sick of this kind of thing too, sadly when you're selling something niche like a left handed bass it's often the best market place for reaching buyers. I think if people haven't met you in person or you don't know where they live they expect they can get away with any kind of unreasonable behaviours. I had a guy claim he'd taken a bass to a shop and they said it needed a load of work doing (the bass wasn't perfect and the description and photos were clear on that). I replied "great I used to live down the road from that shop and know all the guys in there, I'll give them a call and if we all agree what's wrong I'll see about settling reasonable costs!". Well I did live near that shop but I never bothered making that phone call because I knew the guy was trying to play a game. Same bass appeared on ebay months later with the frets badly removed and the description" this has been my main gigging bass for years... "

One I know all too well myself!

If it's the one I was tracking on ebay he's done me a favour... Was doing the sums mentally on what I could sell to fund it!

Hertfordshire, near St Albans

I've never come across one that can actually play their instrument or that I would allow near sharp objects... However I'm going to try and find a keyboardist for a new project. I want to start an 80's cover band. I love my band and my band mates but musically it's going further away from what I want to play. Dakota was suggested today/ ordered by the singer and to be fair to him he makes very few demands so he gets what he wants, plus he's an incredible singer. So that's making me get my finger out and set up my side project. So, tips on finding a keyboardist, please? I'm thinking I should be asking for YouTube and sound cloud clips of them playing live with a band, not in their bedroom, as a minimum. I then need to find a drummist too. Which sites to advertise for muso's have the least fantasist weirdos? I've never had much joy with Bandmix or Joinmyband but don't know of any others these days... Thanking you!

My Aria SB I just acquired is the same sort of nicotine yellow when it was originally Pearl white. I really can't be bothered refinishing it, as you say it does nothing for the quality of the bass and will cost stupid money. Glad you've got the bass of your dreams, I think it looks stunning and should sound the nuts.

Ah a skillset that takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master! I remember coming back to my desk two hrs after leaving for a "quick lunch" stinking of bitter and smoke and with a tesco meal deal in a carrier bag... Then trying not to fall asleep at my desk. Should have topped off those four pints with a double vodka red bull, as a seasoned Pro would have to power through the afternoon. Other vital skills such as staring out the window with a pen in your mouth (looks deep in thought, not trying to remember the words to ABC album tracks), and getting the photocopier to punt out blank sheets of warm paper, when someone comes and sees they're blank you have to comment "f#cking IT, eh?" so you can both maintain the pretence.

That one keeps coming up I think. Personally, because Yamahas aren't really on the major retailers for lefties, I have no idea if this is a good deal or not. I don't know the model numbers, what they sell for new, etc. So it could be 40% of the original price or 10% over, I just wouldn't know. And though I know it will be excellent build quality there is nothing about it that makes me want it. Still, could be a bargain and the right instrument for someone.

Love it!!! Not my usual sort of music but excellent bass sound and love the simplicity of it only being a few instruments and vocals, Nobody over playing, just a really well crafted song! Very enjoyable, well done!

I had the Hohner B2A with 2 band active EMGs. Sounded great in passive mode and I used Pyramid strings I think from Thomann which really helped get a great tone from it. Loved the look and feel of it though you do think you're two frets away from where you really are! I just couldn't get on with the string spacing sadly. Still, it had a few good outings!

Serious question. Is a Chesney Hawkes tribute band able to sing "I am the one and only" or would that cause the universe to implode?

Saw Nikki Sixx doing this on the last Sixx AM tour. The big draw was that he wraps a unique pattern of tape around each bass... Nonsense. Then again, at his age he must be just trying to fill the bank account as much as possible before the career ends. While I do think its tacky and I wouldn't do it, even if right handed and with enough cash to spare and a want for a bass used by a high profile player, someone obviously does buy this stuff. I think Dave Ellefson does it too. If nobody ever bought this stuff it wouldn't be offered for sale! It's not the same as a charity auction for a high profile player's much loved instrument used over a period of years on famous albums and tours. That is where I can really see the cash being stumped up and everyone feeling differently about it. But a bass you can buy for a few hundred quid used on just one song in an end of career cash-in tour? Not the same thing.

I play a stingray through Ashdown, love the sound. Not an older line 6 amp fan myself but as others have said you're getting a lot for your money with it.