Happy Jack

I've told him.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1397653065' post='2426068'] I play a R/H bass in a R/H fashion because that's what I was presented with when I first picked up a bass - or, more accurately, when the 12-year-old me picked up a guitar for the first time. [/quote] Actually, I want to re-visit this. I've been thinking about it, and of course it didn't start with the 12-year-old me picking up a guitar, it actually started with the 6-year-old me picking up an air guitar or, as we gigging musicians prefer to describe it, a tennis racquet. So? Well, every six year old knows that a guitarists flaps one hand up and down. A tennis racquet doesn't have a strap, so that means that it must be held in place by the non-flapping hand. So ... that's one flapping hand and one immobile hand. I'm right-handed. So, hold the neck of the tennis racquet with my left hand and flap with my right. I seriously think that's how I (and maybe everyone else) went the R/H route. Incidentally, this has nothing to do with playing the tennis racquet by copying the pop groups on TV. The band I first played the tennis racquet to were The Beatles ([i]She Loves You[/i], 1963), my favourite Beatle was Paul Mccartney, and he was of course one of the incredibly rare performers who actually used a L/H instrument.

Can you tell what it is yet?

And pedals. Lots of pedals. Don't forget the pedals.

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1397642158' post='2425892'] One of them actually believes it makes more sense to be left-handed and play a "right-handed" instrument as the dexterity required for playing the notes on the neck comes from your left hand, exploiting his natural left hand dexterity. [/quote] I am so glad that you posted this ... I didn't want to have to be the one to do it! Although I think you'll find that "left hand dexterity" is an oxymoron. [quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1397644876' post='2425926'] Being absolutely useless at doing most things with my right hand I may not be the best person to comment on this, but it looks like a spurious argument to me. I mean, if it was true, then there would be a lot of demand for lefty instruments by right-handed players who would want to use their more "dextrous" hand on the fingerboard as opposed to using it for plucking. [/quote] I can see where you're coming from, but I don't play a R/H bass in a R/H fashion because I am right-handed (which I am, by the way) and it feels more natural or better that way. I play a R/H bass in a R/H fashion because that's what I was presented with when I first picked up a bass - or, more accurately, when the 12-year-old me picked up a guitar for the first time. If that 1970's guitar had been L/H and I had been shown how to play it L/H it would never have occurred to me that maybe my right hand would be better at plucking, while my left hand would be better at fingering. Even as I write that, I still can't think why being right handed OR left handed should make one hand better at either plucking or fingering. Our primate ancestors by and large did very little of either ...

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1396304276' post='2412208'] Err, isn't this request for a Vegetarian Bass Player going a little Off-Topic? [/quote] No, it went all pear-shaped.

I refuse to answer on the grounds that I might incriminate myself.

[quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1397472352' post='2424143'] Read the description. [/quote] So? We all knew that Yoda played bass, didn't we?

[quote name='simon1964' timestamp='1397486753' post='2424371'] To be perfectly honest, I don't understand how a telephone works, let alone the internet.... [/quote] Excellent! I love it when I find common ground with other BC-ers. Personally, I put plugs into all the empty sockets in my house so as to avoid having the electricity dripping out and ruining the carpets.

I love the fact that The Bass Centre still claims to be in London. This will come as something of a surprise to the good people of Bagshot in Surrey, 10 miles outside the M25.

I think we need a new section ... Lawchat. Like Hiram, I detest JH's bullying tactics and I would LOVE to call his bluff. Last time around, I suggested having a Basschat whipround to raise a fighting fund to pay the lawyers. Like Bassassin, I know a fair bit about RIC and their finances - they're (relatively) tiny, and highly unlikely to be able to cross the Atlantic with a high-powered legal team. Like FlyFisher, I can't understand why people keep asking Ped & Kiwi plus the moderating team to take on such a large, stressful and unpaid extra burden, especially after so much open and transparent discussion with the BC Membership. Like Billy Apple, I can't help but feel that at least some of this scab-picking verges on being sh*t-stirring. Maybe unfair, but I can't help it. Hmmmmm. This thing about seeing both sides of an argument ... doesn't really get you anywhere, does it?

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1397162115' post='2421429'] ... although at 41 I'm beyond caring what others think of how I look. [/quote] Christ on a bike! Where does that leave me?

[URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/NakedGuitars.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/NakedGuitars.jpg[/IMG][/URL] OR [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/KissGoneWrong.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/KissGoneWrong.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Decisions, decisions ...

[URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/FacialHair.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/FacialHair.jpg[/IMG][/URL] OR [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/CountryChurch.gif.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/CountryChurch.gif[/IMG][/URL] ???

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1397081379' post='2420571'] For myself I am thinking about getting a couple of shirts made, plain black but with white buttons and black/white chequered collar and highlights. A bit of a nod to my car/bike racing and the 60's rocker movement. [/quote] A much cheaper option is to get some race-team mechanics' shirts (short-sleeves, breast pockets, loads of sponsors' logos etc.). I routinely wear a 2005 Honda MotoGP shirt (used to belong to Troy Bayliss, but that's another story) or a 2010 Team KTM shirt. Wear 'em over a plain white T & jeans and they look excellent, whilst also being very hard-wearing and practical. Edit: There you go: [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Performance/120210%20George%20IV/TheJunkyardDogstheGeorge10-02-1268.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Performance/120210%20George%20IV/TheJunkyardDogstheGeorge10-02-1268.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

An excellent evening, and some very impressive bass chops on display from Mr. Mooseblaster playing a Gibson Thunderbird (ex-Billy Apple). Very impressive tone & presence to complement the Entwistle-style lead bass. I mentioned the Entwistle style to one of his friends who was sitting next to me. Friend said: "Who?"

Trainerchat?

Will it actually sound any different from a Precision?

[quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1397045215' post='2420019'] Interesting.... strokes chin... [/quote] In all fairness, Jake, I bet that when you bought your Jazz in 1997 you already knew a little bit about basses and about your own preferences.

I was one of the chief culprits for six years, until I found exactly the bass I needed (a lightweight Mike Lull PJ5 Precision with 35" scale and 19mm string spacing at the bridge). When I started buying/selling I had absolutely no idea that was where I would end up, The only reason I know that I have now found my perfect bass is that, since buying it I have lost any urgent need to keep trading. I have NOT lost all interest in trying other basses, and I do occasionally buy/sell, but all that frantic trading was me lurching erratically towards my perfect bass. As for fags, horses and fast women, I'd settle for a woman with a fast neck ...

It probably looks better when worn: [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/11stringironingboard.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Just%20Stuff/Music%20and%20Musicians/11stringironingboard.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Oh alright then, maybe not.

Who's running the sweepstake this time?

[quote name='sirmuppet' timestamp='1396123663' post='2410249'] I've been playing a couple of times at gigs lately. The Bass I was using is a 2007 Ric 4003. I started to get a really horrible bassy vibration, like it was resonating badly. I know there's talk about changing the Pre amp valves on the Orange. [/quote] Others have already covered a lot of ground, so I thought I'd pick up on a few things not mentioned (that I noticed). When you gig, what's your band's line-up? Playing in a 3-piece sounds radically different from playing with two guitars and a keyboard. What settings do you normally have your Ric on? A horrible bassy vibration sounds like a suitable case for an Auralex Grammapad (or similar). If you know someone who has one - they ain't cheap - see if you can borrow it for a trial. Changing the valves on an OTB is all about bringing the gain under control. I can't see it having any real impact on your problem. Good luck

[u][i][b]ANY [/b][/i][/u]Peavey head?