Staggering on

Not exactly on topic but close,a long journey to a song. I was Living in Toronto Canada while at university in the '60's and playing folk guitar.A radio jazz show that I listened to each week had a great theme song but it was never identified by the host.One night at a club I recognized the host at a table near me me and nervously approached the great man and asked for the name of his theme song.He looked a bit annoyed and said "Sister Sadie,Woody Herman,very hard to find".That meant it was a rare recording and probably unobtainable for me in those days.The title stuck in my head and about 25 years after that encounter and many changes of residence and jobs I found a cassette of the GRP Big Band in a bargain bin in a small town store.I was ecstatic when I saw it had "Sister Sadie" on it and practically wore out the tape listening to it.The unison riff in the song is usually played by horns or keyboard alone but in this case the incredible John Patitucci played along with them at breakneck speed.I was in heaven and suitably impressed.Of course I figured I could never play that line,way too tricky. I play EUB and BG in a jazz/standards/swing /blues quartet and about a year ago we came across the music for "Sister Sadie" and of course we added it to our set lists.My big challenge was to be able to nail the unison riff on both BG and EUB in an awkward key-A flat.I can't play like John P but most of the time I get it right even on the EUB(Yamaha SLB 200).We take the song at a blistering tempo and it is a lot of fun.You can check out various versions on the tube,but the GRP Big Band is a great one.You will find very few versions where the bass plays the riff.The fact that I can do it says a lot about how much time you want to spend figuring out the best fingering for it and then practicing-I am not a very good player but I am stubborn enough to learn that song and very glad I did. So around 50 years(I can't believe it!) after I first heard that song and fell in love with it I'm in a band that plays it.On top of that I get to play that great riff on my bass,how cool is that. Bob in Canada

Done.

I use the Planet Waves clip on with my Yamaha SLB 200 EUB(it mounts on the tailpiece and has never fallen off and is easy to see)and I have another one on the headstock of my Yamaha RBX750A.A nice feature is the button that inverts the image so it can be mounted below the headstock or above.The unit also swivels.I have one on my "67 Gibson J50 acoustic guitar too.Works for me. There are at least a couple of generations of these tuners and the latest one is better than the older ones,at least for me.

Very nice.I hope you let them know how you feel,a little positive feedback is always good.

I agree with Japhet,tell the owner what happened so he can change things(maybe).It might be a bad store or just a bad day or bad timing.You will feel better than if you just vent to BC and you might get a break at the store or at least an explanation.The owners of businesses want to know what happens in their stores-good and bad.

The well known Vancouver Canada swing big band leader Dal Richards died shortly before midnight on Dec.31 2015,a few days short of his 98th birthday.He became ill in November 2015 and decided to cancel his NYE gig since he felt it would not be up to his standard.If he had played that gig it would have been his 80th CONSECUTIVE NYE gig!I heard him interviewed in 2012 after a record release and he was still playing sax and singing with his band on about 150 gigs a year.At that time he said he wasn't going to retire until something happened to make him quit,the music was what kept him going.Moral of the story-hang in there.

Thanks for the info,I didn't know about the surveys-guess I should have checked before I posted.Interesting stuff,kind of confirms my thoughts. How many actually replied to the survey compared to the number of users on the site?Maybe certain age groups have more time to spend on stuff like this-that includes me by the way.

I joined Basschat a year ago and have learned a lot and have got loads of help from you folks.That said,I have noticed an increase in posts that deal with- -vanishing from Basschat -gigging less and playing only where and when you want,getting a bit picky sometimes -queries and comments about lighter basses,smaller lighter rigs,short scale basses,less lighting to set up -not playing in places with stairs that you have to deal with,only playing close to home -why gig,when you can sit and diddle at home and you don't have to deal with audiences -venues are closing -nobody wants to pay what we're worth With topics like this I wonder who is posting this stuff.I'll be 70 in May and practice daily(well almost) and my band rehearses weekly.We play jazz standards and get 15 to 20 gigs a year,mostly paying gigs.I am still working and obviously we don't make a living from playing.I drive an hour to rehearse and at least that for gigs(this is Canada remember)so it basically costs me money to play in this band.I intend to play as long as I can,I love it,especially gigging.I did my first paying gig when I was about 16 and have been going since then,although I always had a "real" job to pay the bills.I will have a hard time when I can't play anymore-aha,another topic seen recently.Thankfully I'm still in good shape,but of course that can change very quickly. So how old are the people on this site?Sometimes it seems like a lot of stuff is posted by old geezers like me who want to whine about something or dream about the "good old days".There is another group who are trying to figure out how to keep playing(good for them!).There is also a younger bunch too,let's hear from you.I love the variety of topics in this forum and the EUB and DB forum. I am not being critical here,just curious. So can we get a little poll going and see just who we are? Bob....not quite 70.......yet.....

Lots of players use markers,at least when starting out.Gollihur Music sell stick on dots but I use the Liquid Paper Correction Pen and it makes marks that are easily removed and you can make any size or shape mark you want.Other similar products will also work but I find the pen easy to use and simple to control the flow. Bob in Canada

We play jazz standards at about 15-20 gigs a year and I use my Yamaha SLB200 on most of the tunes and my early 90's Yamaha RBX750A with flats on a few.I take both to all gigs so I always have a back up on hand-things do happen.The BG is nice if we do any old rock or blues at the occasional dance gig.I also have a Stagg EDB34 which I don't use now that I have the SLB200,guess I should sell it soon.

I find that if I just keep repeating the song while reading the music and/or lyrics it doesn't stick because I can always "cheat" and look at the music.Instead of trying to remember the bass line(in my case jazz standards from charts) I work on remembering the chords and that makes the bass line stick better.We have well over 150 songs in our gig book and it is a big and interesting challenge to memorize as many as I can. I'll be 70 next May and have been playing bass(BG and EUB) for over 25 years and guitar and banjo for 55 years(I can't believe it!) and have done everything from acoustic single to big band.Our band rehearses almost every week and we play a gig or two per month.I try to practice every day but I am still working as a farrier and am not retired so time can be tight.I started EUB(Yamaha SLB200)just over a year ago and it has been fantastic fun and a big challenge but I now use it for most of our gigs and play BG on only a few songs.The new EUB has revitalized my reading and playing and it is FUN! Play as much as you can NOW.Music can be the best part of your life for a long time.Play whatever and wherever you can and the music and words will start to stick.Last night I was playing guitar at a neighbour's house party and trying to remember old folk,rock and country tunes while playing along with people of all ages and abilities and I had fun!Music is music-play as much variety as you can and you will be surprised how much you learn. Ooops..didn't mean to get into "old geezer giving advice" mode but every once in a while I realize how lucky we are if we have music in our lives.Keep on playing.I was a high school teacher(including music)for many years but I always had some sort of playing gig as well to keep me going-music is life. ...'nuff said... Bob in Canada

Congratulations....but be careful,an upright is seriously addictive...but what a way to go!Have fun and if you work at it all of your bass playing will improve and you will love it.I'm hooked and have become a much better musician because of it.I started upright with a Stagg and have moved on to a Yamaha SLB 200 and who knows what's next-a real DB?It's pretty scary.....

Very impressive sound and nice playing.I also went from EB to a Stagg as my introduction to upright and like Marc found it fun but not the sound I wanted and didn't want to get into the tweaking that some people do to the Stagg . I found a Yamaha SLB 200 and I love it.I plug it straight into my little Laney amp(rare over here in Canada)or directly into the Bose PA we use in our band and use the tone and volume controls on the bass to get the sound I like.I found the treble and bass controls very sensitive and a minor adjustment makes a big difference in the sound.Using the volume control carefully makes a huge difference too.To my ears and to most people who have heard it it sounds pretty much like a DB. Sorry I got a bit sidetracked there but my point is that your lovely bass and mine often don't need a lot of messing with to sound great.I don't have the skills or knowledge to start playing with the signal,I just pretty much plug and play as you did.It makes life a lot easier and sounds good. Thanks for the sound clip,you have a great instrument there. Bob

Our female vocalist(a "real" singer) does most most of the singing in our band while I warble my way through a few songs and sing some harmony and basically act as frontman/MC.After a gig our vocalist was receiving her usual round of compliments when a woman turned to me and said "and you have a lovely speaking voice".Ouch.However,I will continue on...lessons maybe?

OK,I'll be 70(can't believe it)next year and I've been playing acoustic guitar and tenor(!) banjo for most of that time and have gigged in folk,trad/Dixieland,solo,duo and trios and various bands up to eight piece.I started on electric bass about 30 years ago and have played in big swing bands and a variety of jazz standards groups and blues/dance bands using my trusty old Yamaha 750A with flats.I read reasonably well and was more or less competent enough to get by and can play/fake my way well enough to play the gigs but I was losing interest in improving and seemed to have reached a plateau and practicing didn't seem to help but I still loved playing. Then about a year ago I answered an ad and picked up a Stagg EDB34 and the revolution began.For about 4 months I made a point of trying to play the beast using Geoff's lessons and others to try and learn how to play properly, working on it about 2 hours every day(I have a job but I have no life).I finally started using it on gigs for some songs but playing mostly the BG on gigs.Then I came across a used Yamaha SLB 200 at a reasonable price and have been using that for the last few months and I love it!Moving to EUB has opened many doors and has been an incredible challenge and a lot of FUN,I'm even working on the bow.My reading has improved immensely and I find I'm playing much more interesting bass lines than I used to,the upright is a whole new instrument.My bass guitar playing has also improved and I'm doing stuff I never did before and it feels great.I now think of myself as a "bass player" instead of a guitar player who plays a bit of bass and it feels good.I may look for a teacher soon so my progress can go in more directions. As some others have said- get into a new band,play some different music or another instrument,work on your reading skills and play with people who are better than you so you have to stretch a bit.The other members of the band I am in(jazz standards mostly)are amazed at how much my playing has changed and improved in the last few months and I am having a great time and feeling more competent as time goes on.I use the SLB 200 on most songs and only use the BG when I need that sound.More lessons and more listening to great players and lots of rehearsals and a few gigs-that's how I'll be spending my time in the long Canadian winter. All the best and good luck.

Try the Kate Davis cover of "All About The Bass"-good energy and sense of fun and loads of talent.

I have had a Yamaha SLB 200 for about six months and find that my fingers (especially left hand) get sticky after I play for a while...steady,no jokes.Even though they may be sweaty they don't move on the strings and fingerboard well.I also play guitar,banjo,mandolin and BG and have never encountered this before.I know some players who use hand creams or use string lube on banjo and guitar but I don't know what to try in this case. Anybody have any ideas?Anyone use hand lotions? It's worse now that we Canadians have finally got summer weather!

The case is 57"x12"x7" and is easy to fit in vehicles and small houses like mine.I've had my SLB200 for about 6 weeks and will play it on our next gig.Great sound after some adjustments to the bridge and with the right use of the controls on the instrument and amp it can sound a lot like an amplified DB.Expensive but excellent instrument.I use it for jazz standards in a quartet and the band loves the sound-a lot better than the Stagg EDB34 and Yamaha bass guitar I have been using.Both of those are good instruments and have their place but the SLB200 works best for our music.Go for it! Bob in Canada

Thanks for the suggestions re Kolstein Heritage.I have checked around online and they seem to be a good choice-good sound and lower tension.I am still tweaking things and if I can't get the action and sound I want I will look into getting a set.Is that what you have on your SLB 100?Any effects between the bass and amp or PA? Bob

Thanks for the reply from North Yorkshire.I was there a couple of years ago for a visit but I live in Canada-a bit too far to bring it in for set up,but I appreciate your interest in my problem.I have figured out that it has D'Addario Pizzicato strings that are apparently the normal strings it is sold with.Since I play jazz(no arco yet) are they a good choice?They seem to be high tension but that could be the set up. Bob

Thanks,I did read the manual and set up the bridge as it said.There is no mention of the nut in it or suggested string heights. Bob

I have a Stagg but I'm trying out an SLB200 and wonder if the strings are set up correctly.It is used but in perfect condition but I have no idea of who owned it or what it was used for.I have lowered the bridge almost as far as it can go but the strings still seem very high,especially at the nut.It doesn't look like any work has been done on the nut,neck or bridge and the neck looks OK.It is hard to get good sound and is hard to play compared to the Stagg.I'm trying to use proper technique but I'm a bit frustrated.The woody sound could be great but it is hard to judge when I have to work so hard at it-yeah,I know it's supposed to tough.I've played it for several hours now and all my adjustments haven't made much of an improvement. Any suggestions would be appreciated,especially related to string height at the nut.I have played another SLB 200 and it wasn't like this one. Maybe it's the strings!Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.

Nicely done.It looks good and it does the job-a clever piece of work.

Today I tried playing my Stagg on the stand and it is possible by moving the neck support down so it holds the body.By lowering the bracket that holds the end pin it gets to a reasonable playing height.I don't plan to use it this way but it could work well if you modified the neck support bracket or replaced it with something to attach the body directly to the stand.Seems simpler than trying to modify something else since most of the bits are already in place.I like to move when I play so it's not for me.

Checking around various dealers the shipping weight of the Stagg EDB34 is usually about 21-22 pounds as opposed to the NXT4 which is under 13 pounds.That may explain why the Stagg stand is so large.I have a Stagg stand and use it to hold the unwieldy beast at home and between sets at gigs but I don't use it when I'm playing it although apparently some people do.I find it easy to use when I am switching from the Stagg to my EB at gigs and the size and weight of the stand makes it safe and secure.I would rather have the weight properly supported and avoid disasters. I like to use the end pin because it makes me feel like I'm playing a "real" bass and I can move around while playing.Guess I'm a wannabe DB player. Good luck with your project. Bob in Canada Another thought-some welding and fabrication shops have very creative people who might be able to make exactly what you need and you have input in the design.