Len_derby

I met Martyn yesterday at Sheffield station and bought his Fender 5 string jazz. Sheffield was half-way for both of us and I introduced Martyn to the pleasures of the Station Tap bar. We had a very convivial hour or so over a couple of pints of beer. A very good transaction all-round and Martyn is a fine man to do business with.

The passing of an era.

Another great Midlands Bass Bash, seeing friends old and new. Thanks a million for organising it guys. I've now got major GAS for a Warwick 5 stringer. 😆

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1430644049' post='2763225'] Always seems like a genuinely lovely man. [/quote] Indeed. I've just read one of the many biographies of Jimi Hendrix (the one by Sharon Lawrence). The book states that at the time the majority of black blues guitarists cold-shouldered Hendrix and some were openly hostile. However, BB went out of his way to encourage Hendrix and actually gave him one of his guitars. So it says in the book.

Loved it and the performance programme that followed it. Rick W was a good choice of anchorman in the first and I bored my wife my indentifying pretty much every act before the captions came up. What was very noticeable was the skinniness of Just about everyone on the old films, including the road crews.

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1427309588' post='2728745'] There are probably loads more i don`t know about. [/quote] To me, the term blues is a bit like classical music. A broad umbrella term that covers a lot of variations. In the last few decades the style most popular has been electrified Blues/Rock but there are many different styles. It just takes a bit more digging to find them. As for Skank's accurate observation that a middle-aged white bloke in a waistcoat singing about the chain gang can be ludicrous; well, doesn't the singing of a song usually involve a degree of make believe? Some acting is convincing, some less so.

Most of these seem to be 'not mentioned' rather than under-rated. Anyway, my vote would be for Rick Danko of The Band. He complemented Levon Helm's drumming wonderfully. Boy, could he sing too.

Just had one of my traditional motorway service station meet ups - today with Chris to buy a pair of PA speakers. Great communications throughout and everything nice and smooth. A lovely chap and good to do business with.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1425814449' post='2710896'] The Beatles were a freakish perfect storm. [/quote] Great comment. I've always thought of Macca as a brilliant musician who just happened to play bass, rather than a brilliant bass player. A subtle difference, in my addled brain anyway. Similar to Jack Bruce. A master musician who is most well known for playing bass.

In its way it's a good filter. If you don't get the intended 'humour' or don't like the ambiguity it's probably not the project for you. Me, I have one skinny leg and one baggy leg. Flexibility is the key.

Last night was the first outing of the year for the cielidh band, playing a private party at a church hall 10 minutes drive away. About 70 people all up and dancing from the off. We were working with a new caller who looks like he might be a real gem. I took my Yamaha Bex and Roland cube 100, which was plenty sufficient for the venue and volumes we play at. A good payer and free bar and food. 😜

Sorry if this sounds negative, but we have exactly the same problem in my church band and we've never found a solution apart from switching off the hearing loop during songs. The induction loop system does look like it's pretty old, so it is possible newer equipment may be more tolerant.

Had a very pleasant meeting with Graham and his wife at Woodhall Services on the M1. We put the world to rights over a coffee and I bought his stunning acoustic bass. The bass got some admiring comments from a member of staff, so it's all looking good so far! A lovely Basschatter and a pleasure to do business with.

[quote name='spinynorman' timestamp='1422725499' post='2676147'] I wasn't wild about the standard strings on my Kala Ubass, so I tried a set of Silver Rumblers. They seemed very sticky and if anything I liked them less. Now I've seen Strings Direct are selling [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/search/bass-ukulele#page1:infscr8867"]Pyramid Black Tape Nylon[/url] strings for Ubass. Has anyone tried these? They're expensive, but I wonder if they would feel more like "normal" strings. [/quote] Thanks for the heads-up on this. I've been trying a set of white Aquila thunderguts but they feel like cold spaghetti.

Bought a nice Mono strap off Iain. Super-fast efficient service. A man to deal with.

Sold my Squier Vintage Modern Jazz bass to Martin. All excellent. A pain-free transaction with a genuine guy. Good communications and a pleasure to do business with. Deal with in confidence.

Some very wise words here, and I agree with pretty much all of it. My experience is that if any member of the band when offered a gig habitually says along the lines of ' I need to check with the wife/girlfriend/work to see if I can do it' things are going to get strained very quickly.

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1422826559' post='2677308'] I do get asked out at more gigs than I don't, for some unknown reason as I'm hardly a hottie! It would seem that men find a female bassist quite an alluring concept. I always reply that I am flattered but happily married. [/quote] I was going to make a crude joke about the allure of women with bassplayer's hand strength, but maybe not... Anyway one of the most memorable for me was when a youngish chap came up and said 'my dad would really love your music'. I know he meant well, but it was a bit deflating!

[quote name='darren' timestamp='1422826961' post='2677315'] Great gig on Friday night. Coincided with my 40th birthday. Genuinely wasn't expecting a cake -a very nice surprise. The venue was full and everybody, strangers an all, sang happy birthday to me. Brilliant! [/quote] Brilliant Darren, and a belated happy birthday. Nice to see my old P Bass in joyous action! Careful of those flames though!

1. Si600 - GK MB500 Fusion, GK MB212 (house rig), Fender P V. 2: Roland Rock - Avalon U5, Crown power amp, BF STwin. W&T Ergon and 78P if I get the refin done in time. Some pedals. 3. tauzero - perm a few from Sei Original, Status Series 1, Antoniotsai, Dean 10-string, Warwick Thumb, Mrs Zero. 4. Dread Bass - Lefties - ACG 6 and 7 string Recurve S Types, ACG Krell Fretless If Ready, Alembic Epic, Warwick Fortress, Letts 6. Aguilar rig if needed. 5. seashell - MIM Fender P 6. Prime_BASS - whatever bass is the flavour at the time, ACG 33" graft J type. 7. Len Derby - Yamaha Bex semi acoustic, Roland micocube battery powered practise/busking combo 8. Bottle - Modded Ibanez GSR-180, some pedals, Line-6 Combo and the 1x12 + Amp rack 9. Marillionred - Warwick Streamer $$5, Warwick Dolphin SN5, Letts fretless 5, Michael Kelly Acoustic 5, Warwick LWA1000, Barefaced Big Baby 2 - and some headphones. 10. Jabba_the_gut - some of the stuff below....if it's finished in time.. Updated to add the stuff I'll bring. Sorry the photo thumbnail has gone Jabba.

A great day last year. 1. Si600 - GK MB500 Fusion, GK MB212 (house rig), Fender P V. 2: Roland Rock - Avalon U5, Crown power amp, BF STwin. W&T Ergon and 78P if I get the refin done in time. Some pedals. 3. tauzero - perm a few from Sei Original, Status Series 1, Antoniotsai, Dean 10-string, Warwick Thumb, Mrs Zero. 4. Dread Bass - Lefties - ACG 6 and 7 string Recurve S Types, ACG Krell Fretless If Ready, Alembic Epic, Warwick Fortress, Letts 6. Aguilar rig if needed. 5. seashell - MIM Fender P 6. Prime_BASS - whatever bass is the flavour at the time, ACG 33" graft J type. 7. Len Derby