4000

Am I correct in assuming you can’t adjust the string spacing on these? 
 

Extremely sad news. ☹️

On 11/03/2022 at 10:39, Dan Dare said:

 

In view of your subsequent post (see below), I rather think I'm not "running away with it". You say that many of your issues appeared to be related to something more profound or serious. That was exactly the point I was making. It's of little use to try to put a sticking plaster on the outward manifestation of some deeper malaise.

 

 

Yes, they do. But the sticking plaster analogy is weak. I’ve already pointed out that, speaking personally, I’ve been trying to address the deeper issues with professional help for many years now, and as they mostly relate to a life-threatening event from when I was a very small child (with another as an adult), I will possibly be dealing with them in some way or other for the rest of my life. In the meantime, like many people, in order to get through the day I try to focus on the things I love and care deeply about, which, as I said, help to make things more bearable. They don’t fix them altogether, obviously. But they help to just about tip the balance towards staying alive rather than taking that final step and calling it a day, which is a line I’ve walked for several years now. If you’re in constant pain, you take painkillers. They may not take the pain away entirely, but they generally help a bit. Or don’t you understand that? That seems like a pretty simple concept.
 

From your comments, you seem to think music isn’t that important in the scheme of things. Well if it isn’t to you, that’s fine, that’s your opinion, your choice, your life. But while there may be many, many people who probably agree with you, there are many, many people who would disagree. Maybe you should think about the fact that you don’t speak for everybody. Speaking personally, music (and art and literature) give me a reason to be alive. Without them, so far as I’m concerned, there probably isn’t much of one. I’m not saying you should feel the same. Your life isn’t mine, just as mine isn’t yours. 
 

I have to say, you come across as having a very poor grasp of what people suffering from mental illness actually go through on a day to day basis (and I’m certainly not just speaking for myself here), given your supposed ‘knowledge’ .I find that rather worrying. And to be honest (and apologies for those who hate people being offended by “stuff”) I’m deeply offended by your earlier casual “take a chill pill” advice/attitude, like everyone in the world is able to do that. Try telling that to my friend’s son. I’m also somewhat irritated by your “I just write stuff, forget about it and move on” comment (and yes, I’m aware of your Alzheimer’s comment and I’m very sorry to hear about that - I worked in a hospital with 2 ESMI wards for a few years and 3 people close to me have parents suffering with Alzheimer’s) - because some of us can’t. In fact, given I’ve just yesterday come out of hospital after having an op, I’m not even sure why I’m wasting my time responding anymore. I already tried to get you to simply agree to disagree on the basis that we obviously don’t see eye to eye and probably never will, but you seem to be pretty happy to keep prodding. However I’m no longer happy to keep responding. Please talk to someone else. 

And all this because I said that I was hard on myself……🙄
 

1 minute ago, ambient said:

 

Your physical symptoms were very similar to mine. I would take to the stage, along with a random assembly of other students to perform the part I'd learned, and literally shake, or freeze. My hands wouldn't work properly, my mind would go blank. I twas a group performance, all individually being marked and critiqued by different lecturers. My poor performance generally effected that of the other students.

 

My GP prescribed Propranolol which helped enormously with the physical symptoms, it counteracted the effects of too much adrenalin.

 

For the psychological effects I used a mix of cognitive behavioural therapy, yoga and meditation/relaxation. I tried hypnotherapy too, that didn't work for me. 

 

The Alexander technique is also apparently useful.

 

Barry Green's book leads you through the steps of cognitive behavioural therapy. He describes there being two 'selfs'. Self 1 is the individual, self 2 is the negative chatter taking place in the brain. The nagging voice telling you that you're no good, you're going to f**k up, you shouldn't really be there, etc.

 

A friend used to have terrible performance anxiety that he cured by taking up improvised drama.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the post.
 

FWIW I’ve had several courses of CBT and it has never worked for me, in much the same way as meditation sadly hasn’t. It was during my last course of CBT that they identified that many of my issues appeared to be more related to my PTSD and thus sent me for EMDR therapy. As people who have suffered with PTSD may be aware, the ridiculous adrenal response in that is one of the many challenging aspects. 
 

How often do you take the Propranolol? 

3 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

 

 

If we are looking to music (or anything else) to be "one of the few things that makes everything else bearable", we are asking too much of it. It will never make up for what is wrong in our lives. Nothing can.

Again, you’re running away with it. The clue is in the word “bearable”. 😉

1 minute ago, Sweeneythebass said:

Think we’ve been slightly derailed!

You can say that again!😂

Although what any of that has to do with performance anxiety, I really have no idea……🙄

1 hour ago, Dan Dare said:

 

I don't recall speaking/exchanging views with you previously, but that could be due to my Alzheimer's. I do tend to type what I think, forget it and move on to the next exciting episode of my life - not taking it too heavy and all that.

 

If everyone else is happy and only you think something is "a shambles", perhaps they have a point and you're blowing things out of proportion. Nothing wrong with trying to make something better, but acting as if something is an unmitigated disaster when it isn't is just being dramatic. As for "If that’s the case, how does the band get better?", the answer is that everyone else has pride in what they do and will work to make it so. It is arrogant to presume that only you can see what is wrong with something or what needs to be improved.

 

If this isn't the first time I've suggested you appear arrogant, maybe have a think about it? Often, those who know and like us won't say what they feel for fear of causing upset/spoiling a friendship or working relationship. A stranger's perspective can be valuable. 

 

I frequently - in fact almost always - drive home from a job or rehearsal thinking, "Not bad - x wasn't quite right, y needs improvement, I need to work on z. However, overall, it was a positive and enjoyable experience. Mustn't grumble. Onwards and upwards". 

 

You never know when it's going to be your last. I'm 70 next year and a number of people I've known are no longer around. I'm going to damned well enjoy however much I have left. If you're determined not to, you're only cheating yourself.

So we’re not going to leave it then? Oh well. I tried.🙄

Who said everyone else was happy? You’re projecting again. And not everyone, in any sphere, takes pride in what they’re doing, I don’t know where you’ve got that from. I’ve seen all sorts of people in all sorts of jobs and roles who take no pride in their work whatsoever; in fact I deal with it on a daily basis. It even used to be my full-time job, analysing and fixing the mistakes of others. Regardless, I like to encourage people to aim high, as I try to myself, within whatever limitations we all have. You may not get there, but if you get half way there that’s something. You’re doing exactly what you seem to be trying to imply I’m doing, which is measuring everyone with your yardstick. In the band, two of us write the songs. I’m one of those people, so I do think my opinion matters, particularly when performing my material. But I let stuff go all the time. However you seem to be advocating a lowest common denominator approach, which I’m afraid I simply don’t believe in. 
 

With regards to the arrogance thing, you’re judging me by how you perceive stuff that I write on an Internet forum, where nuance is often lost. Maybe I don’t always get my point across with the nuance that I intend. Again, I try but I likely often fail. But maybe you should also have a think and see if you’re reading between the lines a bit. FWIW I have loads of people around me who will quite happily tell me if I’m being a knob. You don’t live where I live and get away with that without being told and I also happily encourage people to do so.

Im 58, and as I’ve already stated, suffer with chronic and crippling anxiety, depression and PTSD. I would love nothing more than to “not take it so heavy”, as I’m sure would many other people in similar positions, including some of my friends who were in the Forces (I wasn’t, just to be clear) and are now struggling with severe PTSD. Unfortunately that isn’t an option for them or for me, although it’s something I’m trying to work towards. If I truly was arrogant, surely I wouldn’t have admitted I needed help in the first place, or come on here saying how terrified I often am when performing live. My friend’s son committed suicide aged 21, two years ago. I’m sure he would have liked to “not take it so heavy” too, as would all the many others like him. It’s an ideal obviously, but for some it’s simply not that easy. 

You mentioned earlier about how insignificant making music is compared to all the other stuff going on in the world. But for me, and others like me, it’s the coping mechanism that enables us to deal with all that stuff. Which is why it matters so much to me, because without it I am truly lost. That’s why I care about it so much; that’s why to me it is so important. Because it’s one of the few things that makes everything else bearable. 
 

Also, when it comes down to it, and as you touched on earlier, I take pride in what I do and how well I at least try to do it. If you take pride then there’s a level below which you don’t want things to drop. Of course that’s going to vary from person to person. I completely understand - and frequently do - compromise. But to go beyond compromise to where you’re actively unhappy with something? Why should you drop your standards below a level that is acceptable to you simply because someone else has a lower standard? In the case of my band they’re playing my music, after all. They’re close friends who have known me for decades and are perfectly free to opt out if they’re not happy with how I see things. If they wish to, that’s not a problem. 
 

And ultimately I have to agree with Alan Garner and his grandad, who once said, “Always take as long as the job tells you! It will be there when you’re not and you don’t want people saying: What fool made that?”😉

27 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

 

You couldn't afford me 😉.

 

I did not imply that you may be unpleasant. If you took it that way, that's on you.

 

Look, I get it. We care about what we do, but nobody has the right to demand/expect perfection (to quote you, "If it’s not perfect, it’s not good enough"). Dress it up any way you like and that's still arrogant. We are all flawed and working on it. It's the journey that counts, not the destination. 

 

Remember, unpleasant does not necessarily mean nasty. Suppose your band plays a gig. It goes well. Not perfect, but well. The band is happy and then you appear with a long face because it wasn't "perfect" and spoil everyone's mood. You may not have a go at anyone, but do you consider that "pleasant"? It doesn't matter whether you're "utterly down" or having a go. The effect on others is pretty much the same. Put yourself in their shoes. They do their best and old misery guts just pulls a face because it wasn't "good enough" for him.

 

A lovely old Jewish guy I worked with many years ago once told me, "Don't take it so heavy". He meant life itself and he was right. 

I say to myself, “if it’s not perfect, it’s not good enough”, not to anyone else. Of course I never achieve it, but that is the issue I was pointing out as an issue that I have to deal with. How is that arrogant? It’s not something I’m happy with, it’s my own little cross to bear.

Turning your argument on its head, what happens if a gig - or rehearsal or recording - is a shambles and someone else in the band is perfectly happy and I’m not? Should I just suck that up? If that’s the case, how does the band get better? One of the guys in the band credits my positive criticism with upping his game. I would hope that there’s a balance to be met. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still going to be hard on myself. 
 

I get the impression from some of your posts that you seem to have issues with me for some reason - it’s not the first time you’ve said I come across as arrogant, which anyone who knows me well would be pretty quick to disagree with - and if the case then that’s fair enough. And maybe you don’t feel that way and I’m wrong. But just like I don’t know you, you don’t know me, so let’s just leave it at that yes? 🙄

10 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

 

Your "soul" is more robust (or should be) than to be destroyed by making a few mistakes in a performance. It's pop music, it's ephemeral and it doesn't matter. A glance at what's happening in the world at the moment should make anyone aware of that.

 

People who are "incredibly hard" on themselves are usually the same towards others. I wish I had a pound for every time I've heard people say "I'm hard on others, but I'm harder on myself" as if it was some sort of justification for being unpleasant to and making excessive demands of their fellows. It isn't.

 

None of us has the right to demand perfection when we fall short in so many ways ourselves. "Perfection" is something we strive for and, if we're fortunate and work at it, we may get close to it very occasionally. By it's nature, nobody EVER achieves it. Rather than throw a strop when it doesn't happen, we should be grateful for and celebrate those rare occasions when we get close. Count your blessings and all that.

 

Perhaps a change of therapy/therapist might be in order if it's not changed in years. 🙂

Well I’m certainly not going to use you! 😂

You appear the have missed the emojis, and implying that I may be unpleasant to people because I’m hard on myself is greatly appreciated, as is throwing a strop when things don’t measure up (when I’m actually more likely to be utterly down). I’m actually quite capable of measuring people by their standards and not mine. 
 

Thanks anyway. 🙄

2 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

 

 

It's music. It ain't brain surgery and nobody will die if you get it wrong.

Except your soul.😂

2 factors with me. Half the set (and in previous bands often all of it) is music I’ve written so I’m invested in that. Secondly, and more importantly, I’m incredibly hard on myself with pretty much everything. Always have been. If it’s not perfect, it’s not good enough. Yes, I realise that’s an issue, and it’s part of why I’ve been in therapy for years. 😂

17 hours ago, ambient said:

I was wondering how many of us suffer with it, and to what extent?

 

I’m currently doing a research project in the subject as part of my PGCE course, which is specifically designed for teaching in FE and HE rather than in schools.

 

It is - at least from what I’m reading - a problem that’s quite prevalent in instrumental and vocal performance, though for a variety of reasons it’s not really spoken about.

 

It is also, sadly, one of the main reasons that musicians misuse alcohol or drugs. They adopt such maladaptive practices as a way to cope with their problem. Though there are a wide range of other far safer methods of combatting the issue.

 

My personal problems started as an undergraduate student. Despite previously enjoying a career as a professional musician, I had never suffered with any significant issues. The weekly performance workshops, and performance related classes were an absolute nightmare for me.

 

I finally sought help from my GP, he referred me to a specialist therapist who was brilliant. We tried various things, including hypnotherapy - which sadly didn’t work. 

 

I’ve performed hundreds of times since then, including doing a lot of solo and solo bass gigs, and never had another problem. 

For me, as with many other music students it was evaluative performance - being marked - that was causing the problem.

 

One of the problematic areas of MPA, is that it’s not related to your preparation, you can, as I - contrary to what my one tutor believed - spend dozens of hours practicing with your instrument, and still have a problem. The main issue is managing the heightened level of stress of the problem situation.
 

I suspect there are a lot of people out there, who would love to be performing outside of their house, but don’t feel able to.

I’ve always suffered dreadfully with performance anxiety/stage fright. I’m glad you’ve pointed out that it’s nothing to do with preparation, because I’ve continually read people saying that if you’re prepared you’ll be fine, and speaking personally it has absolutely nothing to do with it. There have been many instances where I could play everything I need to in my sleep, back to front and inside out, and yet soon as I get on stage I’m a complete nervous wreck and everything goes out of the window. It is absolutely about managing the heightened stress, which for people like me can be off the chart, completely out of proportion to what is actually happening.  I’ll add that I suffer with chronic anxiety and PTSD anyway. 
 

I’d be interested to know what worked for you because I haven’t found anything yet - other than the aforementioned alcohol, which I try to avoid as much as possible - that helps. Breathing exercises, actual pre-gig exercise, meditation; none of them work for me.
 

A couple of years ago we did a local gig as a support for something that was being filmed by the BBC. We weren’t shown in the end, but I was utterly terrified. I was frozen. I could barely move my fingers and the experience was hideous. How I got through it I don’t know. I’ll add here that I hate anything to do with adrenalin, which makes me feel physically ill. The buzz that most people get playing live is not what I experience at all, it’s more like being in a car crash.  

58 minutes ago, chris_b said:

I was going to watch, to see if anyone I know is playing, but decided I see enough old fogies when I'm gigging.

I only have to look in the mirror! 😂

1 hour ago, ambient said:

I did say I might be wrong, as I was talking about my experience as a player.

 

There is obviously playing something, and then there’s playing something. To me my reggae playing sucks, to someone else it might be perfectly acceptable.

One of my friends/band members is massively into reggae; I’m sure he’d pull me up about it if I wasn’t doing it right. After all, I do the same to him with other stuff. 😂
 

I don’t get the age issue either. Most of the jazz crowd that my dad knew and/or played with - who I grew up knowing and listening to - were playing until they dropped, and still playing very well at that, for the most part. My dad had to eventually give up because his lip went (he played trumpet and flugelhorn) but he was into his ‘80s by that point.

1 hour ago, ambient said:

I might be wrong, but I don’t think reggae is something that you can just play. It’s a feel thing, you have to feel it, to do that I think you need to have immersed yourself in it. I struggle to play it, but I’ve never really listened to it. It was featured in the ‘world music’ module at university, I admit to having been hopeless at it.
 

Listen to Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare working together, they are/were fabulous.

I’m not sure that’s true. I’ve never immersed myself in reggae - the nearest I really got was The Police - but I can play it fine. Obviously not Family Man level fine, but still. To me, playing any style is about having decent ears and an open mind as much as anything. 

22 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

Awesome!
 

Like CV said above, I too had a period of adjustment re the looks but soon decided that they look great. And that is THE best colour. Sadly I don’t find them comfortable - my usual right arm issue - otherwise I’d have had one myself long ago. 

37 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Speaking personally, because I don't like to or want to, nor is it applicable to what I am playing or what I would want to play. Principally because I don't like how basses sound the higher they go.

 

Everyone else is, of course, free to play their basses in whichever way they choose. 

The reason I’ve always gravitated towards Rics is because I love how they sound the higher up they go. Most other basses, not so much. 
 

But still, I just find that baffling, although obviously it’s your choice. 

3 hours ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

Why is there an assumption that anybody playing up the dusty end is widdling? Notes is notes, doesn't matter where you play them. 

Unsurprisingly, I was just about to post exactly the same thing! 
 

Most of my favourite players, in most of my favourite bands, use the entire fretboard. Why wouldn’t you? 

On 26/01/2022 at 18:01, Skybone said:

Indeed, you can pick up a genuine Gibson Thunderbird for around £1000 second hand, rather than £1500-2000 for a second hand 4003.

 

Though to be fair, there would appear to be a lot fewer Gibson basses kicking about than Fender or Rickenbacker.

 

Would still love to get my hands on a Victory though.

I played some Victory’s back in the day. Didn’t like them at all. 

8 hours ago, Dan Dare said:

 

What on earth are you doing up around the 15th fret? Madness.

I spend more time up there than in the first five! 

I had one of these for a while. It was a very nice bass. Not quite as nice as my Westone Quantum, but better than some far, far more expensive basses I’ve owned. In fact I once (late ‘80s?) tried every bass in A1 Music in Manchester, which at the time had a lot of gear, and a Hohner Jack came out tops. 

26 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

Lana Del Ray. Really like some of her songs, but no idea why anyone would go and see her live, as she lacks any presence. Although to be fair, there is no real movement you could do to any of her songs so maybe that is the idea.

 

 

I was due to see her year before last, IIRC. I was gutted it was cancelled as I spent ages trying to get a ticket. 

The Walking Bass? 😉

1 hour ago, SteveXFR said:

 

And you are entitled to have that opinion even though you're wrong 😎

I thought the Clash utterly sucked, and I never rated Simonon at all. 

14 hours ago, SteveXFR said:

 

Yes he is. 

I'd say he was the best punk bassist of the time. 

I wouldn’t. 😂