DorsetBlue

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1364603287' post='2028869'] or engineers Try playing in a blues band with engineers , they know where the notes are , they know what order to play them in , but somehow , something is missing , maybe the soul/feel/life of the piece is in there somewhere but it hasn't been specified correctly [/quote] Careful, some of us Engineers make WMDs.

Welcome. Your title reminds me of when we first moved to Melton Mowbray when I was a kid (moved back a few years later) and someone addressed my dad like that and nearly got thumped.

[quote name='borisbrain' timestamp='1364418216' post='2026325'] I'm dominantly right-handed, but play bass lefty. This makes sense to me, since my most dexterous hand - the right - is doing all the hard work on the fretboard. I guess the same applies to some natural lefties who play guitar as right-handers. BB [/quote] Same here. I really did try learning the guitar right handed when I was a teenager and just could not do it.

[quote name='lou24d53' timestamp='1364379020' post='2025542'] Haven't heard any of the British Lion stuff, I'm assuming it's very Maiden-esque sounding? [/quote] I hate to say it being an Irons fan....but I didn't like the album. I think it is the vocalist and not because it wasn't Bruce. It isn't particularly Maiden like - hasn't got the mass guitar harmonies etc but that is fine (Bruce's Tyranny album is epic and sounds nothing like Maiden). I can only suggest you try it (there was somewhere you could preview the album, might be on the actual BL site). You might well like it.

It's that perennial leftie problem - does anyone know of any shops in a reasonable distance from Dorset that actually have any left handed Fenders (or indeed anything else) to try. When I started, I bought the VMJ blind online (not that I regret that decision for a second, it is nice bass and is a keeper) but I do now wonder how a P-bass would feel and whether the larger neck might be better for me (or indeed not). I have some potential 'treat myself' money coming and yes, I am getting that itch (the Cort B4 is also looking quite nice). I should add, second hand is also an option...if I could find any to try.

[quote name='hollywoodrox' timestamp='1364217118' post='2023252'] 2nd this , if you havent got guitar pro you can also download Tux for mac linux or windows which is a great alternative to gp too. [/quote] +1 Although the application you mean is called TuxGuitar (Tux is the Linux penguin mascot).

Nothing else to add, other than to say it was great to see him with Madness on BBC4 on Friday night. Cancer sucks.

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1363794792' post='2017785'] But wasn't Mozart churning them out to order to get paid by the Emporer bloke who was in Beetlejuice? [/quote] ...and when they weren't, they were producing truly awful 'Modernism' etc music that they didn't even want the man on the street to enjoy. I think most composers get pretty loose direction on what to write for films and TV, Christopher Franke certainly seemed to for Babylon 5 and I expect Mr Williams and Elfman do too.

Was playing Outshined last night on Rocksmith, great fun to play.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1363791886' post='2017704'] Orchestras keep great classical music alive, not much new orchestral music though. [/quote] As Howard Goodall said in his recent Music History programme, there is a considerable amount of new Classical/Orchestral music being written.....a lot of it is being written for films.

[quote name='TommyK' timestamp='1363272686' post='2010814'] Cancelled. Thanks for all the advice people. Landlord not happy but also not telling me the whole truth when I spoke to him with my concerns/issues so nevermind... we move on. Plenty of other places to play. [/quote] Being local, I am intrigued by which pub this is - feel free to use PM if you want to keep it non-public.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1363110221' post='2008700'] I always say this but Westone Thunder basses make a good start for modding and can be bought reasonably priced as they are unfashionable. They have great necks, made of decent woods and are easy to work on. I have a Westone Thunder Jet with SPB-3 pup, high mass bridge and a P-retro on board and it is a monster. [/quote] Will keep an eye out but I haven't seen one that is a leftie yet.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1363105979' post='2008600'] Some of them have very good parts! I had one with an excellent neck. In fact, the only modding it "needed" was a pickup upgrade, some new pots and a bit of a tweak to the wiring. Total cost of modding around £50 and the bass cost £65 used. I ended up with a very playable, good sounding P bass for the cost of three sets of DR strings! [/quote] Alas, they do not come leftie anyway. They are an option for my Strat modding project though.

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1363101567' post='2008495'] The sound samples sound a bit rubbish even if you only want it to mod. I picked up a L/H one of these recently, [url="http://www.bass-guitar-museum.com/bass-8287-Samick-4-String-Electric-Bass-Guitar-with-Softcase"]http://www.bass-guit...r-with-Softcase[/url] and am seriously impressed. I even used it as my main bass at the last gig. Might be worth looking for a used one. [/quote] Yes, same people as Shine (I have a Shine 5'er) - the importer is local to me i.e. Poole. Unfortunately you can only get the Shine PJ Basses now left handed new and they have Basswood bodies. Not concerned about the 'tonewood' issues, rather more concerned about the stability of the fixing holes (worried it might end up more Swan Vesta than Basswood). I haven't seen a Samick secondhand recently but I do scan the usual sources. I would buy a Vintage but I think the hardware is actually a little bit too good (plus that would be 3 times the cost), which kind of defeats the purpose for me (I am an Electronic Engineer who likes to tinker ). Not convinced by the Squier Affinity (not sure it comes in leftie anyway) and I do not want to tamper with my Squier VM J at the moment - like it as it is).

[quote name='TommyK' timestamp='1363102760' post='2008518'] Hi Ian Welcome along. Good to see another yokel on yer. I'm from Martinstown, just outside of Dorch Vegas. Are you in a band or owt? Tom [/quote] Hi Tom, I am up the hill in Charlton Down. No not quite good enough yet I would think, although progressing nicely (on the bass anyway - still pants on the guitar).

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1363096307' post='2008348'] Yes I thought there might be, but why? and if it's because naturally held it left handed, do you do other stuff left handed [/quote] Only archery so far. My excuse is that I was a brass player when I was a kid and 'fingering' the notes with my right hand is now engrained in my noggin. I have tried rightie when I was a teenager and now with my kid's guitars and I just can't do it.

I have been looking for a cheap p-bass to have a go at modding. I have found this bass at Thomann (their own brand) which seems ideal, the price is pretty good just for the body and neck: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbp120bk_lh.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbp120bk_lh.htm[/url] The Harley Benton re-brands generally seem to have a reasonable reputation and I intending to replace all of the electrics (possibly most of the hardware too) as part of the modding. Does anyone have any experience with this model?

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1363082144' post='2007941'] Wonder if there's any right handed people that play left handed? [/quote] Me lol - see the 'A Lefty Lament...' thread.

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1363032096' post='2007394'] I queried the Editor of Bass Player magazine recently about the lack of models being produced by bass manufacturers for lefties and he said it was a subject worthy of an article in a future issue of the mag. [/quote] Funnily enough, I queried Joel over the recent absence of the 'Lefty Available?' line in some recent reviews.

One thing worth noting with it, at least this is what I have found, the onboard tuner is rubbish. I was getting fails all over the place with Power Chords. Then I tuned my bass with my Zoom B3 because I was having a play with it. Next time I tried the Power Chord challenge, I went from Bronze (just) straight to easy Gold. Will have to try the same thing with my guitar.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1361789200' post='1990699'] I'm left handed but I don't think there's any way I could pick up a left handed instrument now and feel anything but uncomfortable. I like the control I get from having my 'writing hand' as the one doing the busy stuff on the frets. My right hand technique will always be compromised I guess but it's a price I'm willing to pay since I'm mostly playing simple rock based stuff. [/quote] Funnily enough I am the same but the opposite way around. I am Right Handed but I am only comfortable playing Left Handed. Not the best choice for guitar availability maybe but it is the only way that works for me. I tried to learn guitar as a teenager (Right Handed) and just could not get the hang of it. However, the issue 'might' be that I am (well was) a pretty good Brass player (Cornet, Flugal/Tenor Horn), so was used to operating the valves with my right hand. When I tried again a couple of years ago (my girls started to learn Guitar at school, so I thought I would try again so I could practice with them) and I instinctively picked up a left handed guitar in the local music shop. Fretting with my right seems to work in my head like operating the valves with the right. Admittedly my pick skills are still a little wanting but now that I mainly play bass, fingerstyle works pretty well for me. I am not ambidextrous by any stretch (although I seem to be left handed for archery as well ), I cannot play Cricket or Golf left handed. Its a real pain for choice, although as someone has mentioned - it does save you from rash purchases. I am looking at getting a Schecter as my next bass, as they seem to be one of the best manufacturers for left handed guitars.

Hi all, I started playing guitar again (failed as a teenager) about 2 years ago, when my kids started learning at school. About a year ago, I discovered the joy that is the bass guitar and started playing that too. I prefer the bass, it seems to work better for me (I used the play Brass when I was younger, so that 'might' have something to do with it). I think I am a much better Bass player after a year, than I am a Guitar player after two anyway. Anyway, hi. Ian