ossyrocks

I admire the guy, he’s made a success of what he’s done. I have a good mate who tried a similar thing and it worked out pretty badly for him, so I sort of know how hard it is. Like others here maybe, I’m never comfortable criticising people via the internet. I do subscribe to his channel, but I’ve managed to mute or unsubscribe from the marketing stuff, so now I just look at what interests me. I have found lots of his stuff useful and informative. The future of SBL, wrong answers only - perhaps he will run for political office on the basis that we would all be happier with more groove in our lives. Rob

I had a very enjoyable evening at the monthly Jazz Jam in Lancaster last night. Got up and played on five tunes, which was rather good. Anyway, got chatting with two guys who run a monthly funk jam, who on occasion are short of a house bass player, and they asked if I would like do it when required. Absolutely I said. Now, with Jazz Jam, there’s a pad of tunes provided, 95% of it from the Real Books. Is there a funk equivalent? I’d like to get some funky grooves really nailed on, stuff people can recognise and relate to, and most of all jam to. I don’t want to learn exact bass lines from exact songs as such, but just provide a comfy platform upon which people can express themselves. Failing that, I’ll just be riffing the odd tune I know, or improvising on the spot, and emphasising the one. Rob

Andy Baxter has a ‘68 P bass, under 9 lbs, B width neck and nice condition. Given the prices I’ve seen recently, it doesn’t seem expensive in comparison. https://www.andybaxterbass.com/collections/fender-basses/products/1968-fender-precision-bass-sunburst-1 Rob

You’re never too old! I picked up a bass for the very first time in Nov/Dec 2021 at the age of 56. Practiced at home every day, got bad GAS, bought amps and basses, then thought I should venture out. My first outing was to a local monthly jam in October 2022, and I didn’t take a bass, too scared, I lurked in the background and sussed it out. It’s a jam where there’s a setlist/book on a table to choose tunes from, and copies on stage for everyone to look at. There’s a lot of tunes in it. I took a pic of the front page list and vowed to return the following month with at least three I could play. The next time I went, I took my bass and did play on two tunes with the other musicians. Over the next few months, and keeping attending the jam, I found myself in a band with the house drummer and some other musicians from the jam, and we play gigs every month or so, sometimes two gigs, for actual money! We get along very well, and I would now call them friends. This all gave me loads of confidence, and allowed me to stretch out musically and become a better player. A few months ago I answered an ad on JMB for a bass player for a nine piece band with horn section. I auditioned and landed the job. That band is the most challenging musical experience I have ever had, really complicated stuff, but I would say that I’m swimming not drowning. A journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step. Rob

I've never measured mine before. I tend to tweak until I'm happy. Like Tony, I play with flats and a light touch with fingers. I set the relief to be as close to flat as I can get without heading for a back bow. Sometimes this is absolutely flat and sometimes it's the tiniest bit of relief which I then can't be bothered to take the neck off (again) to tweak out. Then I take the action down in increments across all strings in turn, re-tuning each time until I get a buzz, and then come back up until it's gone. Measuring the two I have out on stands this morning, which are a 1987 MIJ PB-62 and a '78 P bass, both are around the 1.5mm at the 12th fret mark, perhaps up to 1.7mm depending on the viewing angle. They feel nice and low, which is how I like them. Rob

My friends band Bare Wires are up in Penrith. Down here in Morecambe and Lancaster there’s more bands than you can shake a stick at! Blues, funk, soul, rock, I think I could see a band every night of the week within a fifteen minute radius of my house. My next outing will be Jazz Jam in Lancaster on Friday night, top larks! Rob

You’ve moved to a very nice part of the country, congrats. I have a couple of friends up there, one of whom is currently visiting Morecambe so we went out for a beer on Sunday. He runs a blues band up there called Bare Wires, you should look out for them.

That’s four of us! @rwillett’s suggestion of Clapham is a good one. It’s doable for most of Lancashire, North Yorkshire and Cumbria, maybe also the North East for the intrepid. Plus it’s a lovely part of the country. Rob

Having gone wireless for the first time this year after 40 years of being in bands playing small venues and pub gigs, the argument for me is startling. I've never felt this much freedom to move around, or from clutter under my feet, it's a revelation, so much so that I actually get greater enjoyment out of playing than if I was on a lead. Us weekend warriors feel the benefit too you know.

+1

I’d go to that. Rob

We’ve just had the opposite experience, much to my surprise. Advertised on local Facebook groups and JMB for a female lead to join our male lead. She would get half the lead and half the backing. We shortlisted four, and all of them were excellent at auditions in the last two weeks. It was a tough job choosing. We asked them to learn three specific tunes, and pick another one or two from the set if they wanted to do more, but it was not obligatory. In the end we went with the girl who was most relaxed, and who sang effortless harmonies behind the male lead on songs we hadn’t even asked her to learn. Two of the others asked for feedback in order to understand why they hadn’t got the job and address any issues. Our feedback was all positive and encouraging, any of them could have done the job. Maybe there’s just a lot of talent up here, auditions were in Blackpool. Rob Edit. We did ask for video/audio of them singing prior to shortlisting. I actually didn’t get to hear any of the ones we didn’t shortlist, so maybe there were some shockers, but I don’t know.

Hmm, my ‘78 P bass is lightweight, under 9 lbs, has good fit and finish, and plays really well, and very well balanced on a strap. It has slightly lower output than my ‘73, but in a way I like that, it’s a bit more of a clean machine. Agreed that there are some really heavy ones from this period, but if you find a light one, and a good one, they are all that you’d hoped they’d be. Rob

I’ve been following them for a while. They’re doing a free gig on a Sunday afternoon at the end of the month about 30 minutes from me. It’s in my calendar. Rob

Whilst no one ever uses these anymore, I imagine it’s probably a good solution for a bass that has a lightweight body and a tendency to neck dive.

I have two 70’s sunburst/rosewood Fender P basses. The later one has a black guard though, so not entirely identical. They actually do sound quite different! rob

I believe so. And not close to currently occupied frequencies. The manual does say to do this, once everyone else is up and running.

Belt and braces. I always re-pair mine AFTER everyone else has set up. It takes 10 seconds. No issues so far. Rob

I've been looking for a vintage Jazz neck for a while. They crop up on ebay occasionally, and here too, but for one reason or another, price or condition, or both, I haven't bought one yet. This one is on ebay, and I quote - "1974 Fender Jazz Bass Neck in perfect condition." It clearly has multiple screw holes in the heel, some of which have been plugged badly, and it's £1.6k !! Rant over, move on. Rob https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374777786244?hash=item57427f2f84%3Ag%3AaE0AAOSwhgNkmevz&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4LH1nFvzL4G1Pjd88WG6odFRy9rodx3gIrvw717uj14sUb9xxNlBwycDbSx9qdYDhPF0p61L8qDL78ymvTX9GPPQm2Uiuah6Olo0G6mZwxC9HOKXqN59%2Bx6%2Bnevhf6Hr0aBdepPzJLgp%2FD9NIvEtprNX6Oq3DfIkjBAq%2Fr5QkT3Vw%2FKUr6Cq6PA6D0c%2FFuDTVVgkPQgKwlQh5RlClxiZp2BScqEJj%2F5tPTEwz%2FoQYc5LtAoJMdoYqjyug2UHOCfwbFD7EUwp2e2OtNazawLPQEAc7SLvQlkIFacdl7d3Mbhz|tkp%3ABk9SR6jvo9ihYg&LH_ItemCondition=4

Elf and BF cabs here too. I have a choice of One10 and Two10s depending on the situation. Great with my Precisions. I’m curious about your EQ on the Elf, what do you run them at? I’m tending to run everything at noon except Mid which is at 1 o’clock. Rob