Len_derby

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1150174' date='Mar 5 2011, 12:49 AM']Ok was setting off for a rehearsal tonight... in a major rush to get to Bristol..Heard a grinding noise as we pulled off ( i wasnt driving) so stopped to see what it was... t was my Aguilar head being pushed up the drive under the car..!! ARGH!!.. It was in its head bag...i think the bag took the brunt of the very rough tarmac.. as its been ripped apart.. there is a little scuffing on the amp itself, but nothing major and it still works...????? i sh*t you not i nearly fainted when i realised... how could i have been so stupid!!! This amp is built like a tank though...im amazed it still works... and the bag did its job in a big way..[/quote] Check the car. It's probably a write-off.

I've been reading this thread with lots of interest. Anyone else read 'Electric Eden' by Rob Young? It came out last year, subtitled 'Unearthing Britain's visionary music' it's a big fat attempt to survey and explain 'folk' music in Britain. Lots of stuff about Fairport as you would expect, but it really is a good read all round. Highly recommended and not just for 'folk' fans. The author does a great job of illustrating how all music of all genres links and inter-weaves. Personally I like the Fairport with Sandy Denny on vocals and Ashley Hutchings on bass best. But we ain't going to see that band live again!

Any body else remember Humble Pie? That, for me, was Frampton's finest hour. Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton sharing lead guitar and lead vocals. Although to be fair Marriott was the stand-out vocalist and Frampton the stand-out guitarist. The rhythm section of Greg Ridley on bass and Jerry Shirley on drums were no slouches, they couldn't afford to be behind those two. Driving, early seventies rock with a great dollop of bluesy soul. They seem to have faded from collective memory now - we need a BBC4 special! Check out the live double 'Performance - Rockin' the Filllmore'. I remember that when 'Frampton comes alive' came out it sounded very MOR and wimpy in comparison (to my teenage ears). I learned to love it since though.

Hi Steve, You like a challenge then? A great idea, did you come up with it? I'm very much Derbyshire-based (we're not able to get out of the sheep-pens very often), but it's only just down the road from you and I'd like to help if I can. Currently my band (Daz Kelly Band) has only got an August gig booked and that's for the 11th. Too late for your current plans, but if you did need to change or extend your timeframe we could at the very least accommodate you as a 'guest' player/singer. Here's a Facebook page I find useful for the Derby scene [url="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Derby-Unsigned-Gig-Guide/109630035724544"]http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Derby...109630035724544[/url] Several small to medium venues and various open-mic nights. I'll put the feelers out. Len PS I'm the father of twins too. Although they are now 17 and blessed with good health they were pretty sickly as premature babies so I maybe have a little understanding of what's motivating you.

Hiya, Just a couple of personal opinions, based on my own (old git) experience. Life's far too short to spend time doing things you don't enjoy. It's always worth trying to put things right before moving away from something that doesn't appear to work. If you have the time, try a side-project. I was once disgruntled with a band I was in. I deputised in another outfit for relief and discovered my main band wasn't too bad after all. The grass usually looks greener on the other side! It's up to you if you tell the others about a side-project, but I can recommend it to give a sense of perspective. Finally, something that happened to me. I was in a thrash-metal/punk band, and the singer was a 24 carat git. One night I'd had enough of the stage invasions he encouraged so during the next melee I took the opportunity to clock him across the jaw without him knowing it was me what dun'it. I couldn't possibly suggest you do that, but by God it felt good. Good luck, keep the passion.

Interesting stuff. I reckon that just about everybody who's on Basschat would agree that playing music with other people is probably the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I also think that in an ideal financial situation a lot of us would actually pay to play, not just do it for free! I remember the first time I got paid for a gig I gave the money to charity. In my youthful foolishness I felt guilty about being paid for doing something I loved. But now I've got two big hungry teenage daughters both learning to drive it's a different story!

A tough call, but sounds like you did the right thing. Good on 'yer. One day, all being well, she'll be auditioning a greenhorn youngster and lets hope she remembers how well she was treated at your audition.

I've had my Roland Bass Cube 100 for 5 years now. During that time it's been used at least once a week, and it's never let me down. For most practises and small to medium sized gigs I'm convinced that it's the best there for its price range. As mentioned above, the portability is excellent. I have a Roqsolid cover for it, but the big 'wrap-around' plastic corners protect it well. The range of effects are fun, but to be honest apart from a touch of Reverb I rarely use them. When using the DLX lineout straight to a PA the internal speaker stays on. This is not the case for all combos. It means that when DI-ing the unit can be used as an on-stage monitor. At a recent gig I let the (pick-uped) double bass player of another band use it. He was very impressed. If my Cube was nicked or fell in the river I'd buy another one without hestitation. Len

Sold a Hartke 1x15 cab to Kim today. He bought me a coffee and even offered me some petrol money. He's a really sound guy, even though he comes from the mysterious Lincolnshire coast No fuss, no hassle, a pleasure to do business with him.

Bought Hodge's Barefaced BigOne cab and Markbass little mark III amp off him this last weekend. A brilliant rig, as expected and a neat Gigskinz bag for the amp included. All necessary leads as well. Hodge drove an hour and half each way to meet me at Newark and we spent a pleasant half-hour talking 'low end'. Top kit, top guy. Pleasure to do business with him. Neil Fox

Bought a Warwick de-luxe acoustic bass gig bag off Phil. Lovely piece of kit, excellent condition. Fair price, well packed and all top-hole. A man to do business with.

Just bought a Sqiuer VM Jazz off Gareth. Nice guy, the bass was exactly as he said. Good do to business with him.