SteveK

What is it with that Godawful scratchplate on the SR 4, did Musicman suddenly run out of imagination? Really like my SR 5 though, which just about gets away with it... just a shame it's got one too many strings on it

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1364985472' post='2033589'] But what if you are employed by someone to be their backing band? If the front man wants all the attention then it is your job to stay out of the way and generally keep a low profile isn't it? [/quote] Depends on the artist. But yes, generally speaking, a backing band would keep a lower profile.

Perhaps, the ultimate in faking it... [html]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0trEfvLpXU[/html]

There is a misconception here that 'Stage presence' means having to jump around on stage. IMO 'Stage presence' can come from being totally relaxed and confident on stage, not being timid, making eye contact, making the occasional excursion to the front of the stage, make as if you'd like to scoop up and embrace every punter - all at the same time as being totally focused on what you're playing. Before going on stage it can help if you get in to the mind set that the audience are about to expeience something truly extraordinary, an almost religious experience. Of course all that's not going to work if you have no confidence in yourself or your band.

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1364763316' post='2030690'] Going rather off the original subject here, but as I mentioned Jaco earlier, if you're doubling up with the likes of Joe Zawinal and Wayne Shorter you do not have any space for mistakes. These guys absolutely know their stuff and there are no short cuts to being able to play like this. You'll notice how the bass and keys are doubling with what may to some sound like random notes. [media]http://youtu.be/I63bOi477cA[/media] I've played with a couple of jazz players, did this morning with this chap: [url="http://www.andrewnoble.org/default.html"]http://www.andrewnob...rg/default.html[/url] He's a phenomenal musician and there's absolutely nothing that goes unintentionally. I certainly can't keep with him. [/quote] Bloomin' marvellous

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1364820695' post='2031222'] Ah sorry I also misunderstood, thought you were referring to the U.K. [/quote] Yeah, I'm not sure what is being discussed. Title of thread: [b]UK music scene[/b] Content of initial post: [b]Danish music scene[/b]

[quote name='chasblaisdell' timestamp='1364810082' post='2031022'] just stating the case [b]and wondering if things are as dead in the UK [/b]. There were no questions asked as in how to manage , we all have our crosses to bear . Just curious , not looking for advice whatsoever , maybe possibly putting out a little useful info to prospectives looking at Denmark . [/quote] No they are not! You've gone from a country that has the third largest population, and a history of great music/musicians... to a country (Denmark) with less than 6,000,000 inhabitants, that's famous for...er... Lego and, er...Hans Christian Andersen... oh, and bacon, but certainly [b]not for its vibrant music scene[/b]! The UK on the other hand, has a music scene that certainly equals that of the States. And pub gigs are to be found everywhere, with bands doing ZZ Top and Stones covers. Blues is certainly well represented.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1363362114' post='2011858'] I just googled rockinbetter, there are[b] loads of businesses selling them,[/b] and yet he goes after private sellers? No wonder people get pissed off! [/quote]Hmmm, I Googled and found that a suspiciously large number of retailers had 'Out of stock', 'Sold' or 'Call for availability', so actually purchasing one may not be so easy.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1363275913' post='2010891'] In what way is it not relevant? I fail to see any ethical difference between buying a cheap bottle of Cola that says "Tesco" on the label and tastes a lot like Coca Cola and buying a cheap bass that says "Rockinbetter" on the headstock and looks a lot like a Rickenbacker. [/quote] Tesco Cola is easily distinguishable from Coca Cola. The identity of the product (ie the can/bottle) is what people recognise. If I were in the soft drinks business and put out a cola drink in a red can with 'Steve's Cola' in a swirly silver (or is it white?) font (Coca Cola stylee), then I would fully expect a missive from Coca Cola's legal dept.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1363269664' post='2010743'] I hope neither of you have ever bought own brand Cola, Cereals, generic aspirin, etc etc etc? [/quote] That's the problem with threads such as this, examples are brought in to the discussion that bear no similarity to what is being discussed. [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1363271154' post='2010778'] Odd isn't it? [b]Nobody bats an eyelid about pianos, trumpets, violins, acoustic guitars etc all looking the same[/b]... but the second you slap some paint on your instrument and put some primative electronics in it, the world is up in arms... It's almost as ridiculous as claiming the 3+1 machinehead headstock design... [/quote] But a Rickenbacker [b]doesn't[/b] look the same as any other bass, that's one of the beauties of most electric instruments, the manufacturer can use their imagination to create something different. [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1363259982' post='2010530'] So why did this product never come to market? [/quote] I've never owned a Rick nor even played one so can't vouch for their quality, or lack of.

Gonna go against the flow here. I can't really see what the problem is with Rickenbacker's stance on this. They see instruments such as those in the op's photo as being counterfeit and take the appropriate measures. I'm sure Rickenbacker have, in the past, spent a lot of time, money, blood, sweat and tears designing and manufacturing a quality product. Doesn't seem quite right to me that someone can come along and say, " Ooooh, what a fantastic looking bass, I can make one that looks identical and sell it for a fraction of the price"... As I say, doesn't seem right to me. If you want something that looks like a Rickenbacker - buy a Rickenbacker!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1362511846' post='2000588'] Ahh that's good. Because when I were a nipper, Blinded by the Light and Davy's on the Road Again blew my little mind [/quote] [quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1362512923' post='2000635'] [size=3][size=4]Earthband cover was ace though. Beat the bollocks off The Boss. [/size][/size] [color=#FFFFFF][size=3][size=4].[/size][/size][/color][/quote] Cheers guys, I should say that those records were before my time with the EB which started in '85. [quote name='peteb' timestamp='1362513557' post='2000652'] For a moment I thought that you meant that Robert Hart had just died! [/quote] Yeah, I had to read that twice.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1362508576' post='2000476'] . So it's just your integrity that's stopping you from delving into the multi million pound hit song writing club then ? [/quote] May I refer your good self to the post 2 above yours (#26) it explains why I have no choice but to reluctantly, keep my songwriting hands tied. Message to self: I really must work on my cyber-humour

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1362504363' post='2000354'] Are you being serious? I can't tell [/quote] I've edited my post. FWIW I think to get on in anything in life, you have to have an awareness of your strengths and your weaknesses. Unfortunately, I am more than aware that writing hugely successful, international, Grammy award winning pop songs is not one of my strengths. Sadly, my first foray into the world of songwriting (mid '80s) came to a sudden end. The chap recording my song, who was a well known singer and actor, a couple of weeks after recording the little ditty, promptly... died! I have considered it my duty, since that day, to never to let any of my 'masterpieces' escape the confines of my 'studio'... my 'Pandora's Box' if you will

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1362500067' post='2000247'] Realistically, do you think you could? [/quote] Easy peasy! It's the easiest thing in the world. I mean, the inane lyrics the predictable choruses. I could write half a dozen tonight in my sleep... I just choose not to... I'm really not prepared to compromise my integrity.

Listen to how Frank Sinatra sings well known songs, and how they differ from the original... that's 'phrasing', that is.

[quote name='thumbo' timestamp='1362342074' post='1998712'] How many hours practice per day do you think is 'serious'? [/quote] How long is a piece of string?... problem is, if a chap never picks up said piece of string, how is a chap able to measure it? To be serious though, I think what struck me most about the 'Practice' thread was the lack of commitment, devotion, single-mindedness, call it what-you-will from the contributors. When I was a kid my friends and I were obsessed with learning to play guitars... we wanted to be pop stars, and the only way was to be f***in' good at your chosen instrument, which meant putting the hours in, probably 3 hours on a school day and more at weekends. No music techs or colleges for the likes of us [quote name='Musky' timestamp='1362344674' post='1998768'] I think something to bear in mind is that most of the people on this site are in their 40s/50s, [/quote] That's a fair point, and probably correct. I kind of assume that when I come here that I'm mixing with young whipper-snappers... actually, now that I think about it, most of you are comparative whipper-snappers BTW I totally believe the story of one of The Beatles taking a bus journey in search of the lost (B7) chord. Even when I was starting (a few years later, I hasten to add) it was quite normal to hook up with other aspiring [s]pop stars[/s] musicians to share tips and tricks.

This thread was prompted by the 'Practice' thread which made for surprising reading; How many BCers hope to make a career in music? Looking at the aforementioned thread it would appear that no one is playing their instrument in anything approaching a serious way - not even picking up their basses between rehearsals. When I was in my teens (and before) I almost had to be physically prised from my instrument (guitar in those days). It was the same for my friends/band mates - we would practice at every opportunity - even being late for school for trying to learn the latest lick. I can understand that older members have long ago chosen a different career path, and for some, families take priority, but how about you younger members with no commitments? Is nobody working [i]seriously [/i]towards a career in music?

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1362209460' post='1997114'] Your rig will sound as bad as your weakest link. [/quote] Sadly, it is often the player themselves that is the 'weakest link' Of course, the gear that you use is important - but only to a point. No player in the world can make a £400 amp and bass sound like a £4,000 amp and bass. But line up several different £4000 rigs and get a half decent player to work his way along the rigs, the best part of his 'tone' will move right along with him. There comes a point when mostly what you are paying big bucks for is[b] power[/b]!

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1361910789' post='1993023'] I could explain, but sadly we're not allowed until 40 years have gone by. Just remind me next year. dutchbest, dutchbert [/quote]

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1361901479' post='1992794'] So you're saying it wasn't really worth posting [/quote] Nothing wrong with the question, and the thread was going swimmingly... until post #47 [quote]I am finding some of the responses quite troubling. Some are like music is only for people who 'appreciate' music for its etc etc[/quote] It put me in mind of a chap that I once met in Holland in 1974... " Draw a simple tree," he said to me and my fellow struggling, tired and hungry musicians. "How simple?" we ask; "The simpler the better," he replies. We set about scribbling. In a couple of seconds we have finished our 'simple' trees. Dutch chap (I think he called himself a 'tour manager') continues drawing... eventually, he finishes. We all show and compare our trees which mostly look like clouds on sticks - he shows his tree which looked like something Constable would have been proud of. He looked at us as if, somehow, a point had been made.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1361881628' post='1992299'] You'd have known had I intended it to be a light-hearted thread [b]It's a serious question[/b] [/quote] I just didn't realise [b]how[/b] serious As you were...

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1361876477' post='1992163'] Absolutely. [b]I am finding some of the responses quite troubling.[/b] Some are like music is only for people who 'appreciate' music for its intrinsic melodic, harmonic and rhythmic values in isolation, rather than as a reflection of the people creating it, a reflection of context. [/quote] Good grief Nigel, get a grip! I, and I guess many other posters, assumed that your question was posted as just a light-hearted bit of fun and replied accordingly. If we thought that you would find [i]'some of the responses quite troubling'[/i] then, I'm sure, that we would have taken a little more time to consider the question, and posted more than the 1 or 2 lines that I, and most others have contributed... or not have posted at all.

Being an old geezer set in my ways, It wouldn't matter a great deal to me. I haven't really heard anything new since...??? But for the those just starting out in music, I imagine it would matter a great deal... and so it should. I believe it's against ones human rights to be made to listen to music that your parents were into.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1361625844' post='1988435'] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvMGMqa1Igw[/media] [/quote] Good find...maybe I didn't dream it after all. Don't remember Toyah though