BetaFunk

I'd be interested to know if there are any less kids playing instruments today than say 50 years ago. When i was at school in the 60s we didn't have a musical department in either junior or secondary school i went to and i only had one friend who played and practiced regularly (his Dad was a semi-pro musician). All of my friends who learned to play did it in when they were in their teens and could afford an instrument through either a paper round or later full time work.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1410793082' post='2553187'] [/quote] Just look at those barnets. Priceless.

Oh yes and did i tell you the time i played a 1960s Fender V? ...........

I'm sure most bass players of a certain age are well aware that both Chas and Dave are excellent bass players but if further evidence is needed......... Dave..... [media]http://youtu.be/xKISdd2mKzU[/media] Chas..... http://youtu.be/1aIft448lBA

[quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1410630039' post='2551474'] (Who knew Chas from Cash and Dave used to play with Ritchie Blackmore??) [/quote] Me along with thousands of others i would have thought. http://youtu.be/Rhn_2bQeUCg

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1410685563' post='2551838'] I think the biggest Brit Funk band and most famous Brit Funk bass player has been missed out here - Level 42 was on that circuit and Mark King is just an awesome bass player Another Brit Funk band from this era was Freeez. [/quote] I didn't include Level 42 because although they were loved by many Brit Funk fans they never really fitted into any musical style and not in the general Brit Funk movement.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1410685888' post='2551845'] Definitely not Brit Funk (the genre started in about 1980/81) but perhaps blue eyed soul (as groups like AWB were termed). [/quote] Correct. Great as they were no one called either AWB, Gonzalez or Kokomo 'Brit Funk' when they were playing the London pub circuit in the 70s. The term Brit Funk only became widely used from around 1980 onwards.

Yes i've played one. The one i played was i understand once owned by Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins.

Like most threads on here it has drifted way off course from the op.

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1410513108' post='2550162'] I just imported a bass from the US cost me £325 shipping £70 - duty and VAT £53 I'm ok with that. [/quote] I brought back a bass from the U.S. with me once. Shipping cost? Zero.

[quote name='Nodd' timestamp='1410177529' post='2546768'] +50%? really? [/quote] Not sure about 50% but you could add approximately 25% for import charges plus shipping and insurance on top of that depending on what courier the seller uses. I've imported a few basses from the U.S. and they all look like bargains before you start adding on the shipping, insurance and customs charges.

Looks like an essential buy for Suzi Quatro fans. http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4867

[quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1410262875' post='2547560'] I emailed them to ask what shops stocked that bass and they just gave me a list of shops to ring myself. After which it transpired noone was stocking them. [/quote] I'm not sure how any distributor would know which of their items a dealer would have in stock at any time so i'm not surprised they only gave you a list of dealers.

To me Brit Funk bands were more like Light Of The World, Beggar & Co, Freez, Icognito, Atmosfear, Central Line, Imagination, Junior Giscombe, Shakatak etc. Some BF fans drifted towards Spandau Ballet, Haircut 100, ABC etc while others went the more jazz route of Paz, Morrissey-Mullen etc. Kokomo and Gonzalez were a bit before most of the above BF bands and appealed to the more of a pub-rock audience and not Brit Funkers. Paz seemed to have a following of all types young and old and many of the younger ones would beat a trail to the Belvedere in Richmond on Sundays where Gilles Peterson was often on turntable duty. Oh and to most people in their 20s in the late 70s / early 80s 'Jazz' was Herbie Hancock, David Sanborn, Ralph McDonald, Bob James and lots of Fender Rhodes!

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1410193223' post='2546990'] Delisle Harper back in the 70's was a great player. [/quote] Yes, one of the best and really active on the London scene back then. Early 70s Gonzalez (before they went 'disco') where a great live band which i was fortunate to see many times.

Cymande were a few before that but they were great. Steve Scipio was the bass player and one of the founder members. http://youtu.be/tZP2Uk9vlxY

[quote name='Nodd' timestamp='1409603416' post='2541487'] Wow! did you see the price it went for! fab price, fab bass. [/quote] Yes, great if you're located in the U.S. If you're in the UK add shipping + insurance + import duty and you're looking at a lot more than the price it went for. I doubt if you'd get much change out of £700.

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1409990217' post='2545155'] It's all down to taste, innit? [/quote] It's also down to choice. 60 years ago there was really only one bass guitar and a couple of string (flatwounds only of course) manufacturers for the electric bass to choose from. Nowadays just like the basses they are put on the choice of strings is endless as players search for 'that sound'. It was all a lot less complicated back in the 50s.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1409852088' post='2543998'] I know - takes one to do the other [/quote]

If anyone is not sure about flatwounds then just listen to the bass on anything recorded before the mid 1960s as there's a good possibility that's what you're listening to.

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1409764446' post='2543107'] I've seen they are low tension and I'm quite comfortable playing with a lower tension, the D'Addario rounds I use are low tension too [/quote] I found them much more low tension than ANY rounds i've ever played. When they say low they mean L-O-W.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1409766934' post='2543144'] There's no "versus" about it. Two entirely different strings that sound and feel different. [/quote] +1