Staggering on

Our seven piece swing band played inside a store as part of the city's downtown Christmas walk last night. It's a small shop but we had hundreds of people coming in for the three hours we played and got lots of good feedback as we worked our way through a mix of swing charts and some Christmas songs arranged for a band like ours. We played well and were done at 9 and got paid too . I used my Yamaha SLB 200 instead of my DB due to limited space. A shot from inside and one through the window from the street. 👍🎅

2 hours ago, ossyrocks said:

My GAS might be terminal. There was a chap there last night with a double bass and we had a chat about it. He said I should basically just buy one. Who am I to argue? 

Do it. After more than 40 years of playing and gigging on guitar, banjo and EB I went over to the dark side of upright bass in 2015 with a Stagg EUB and now I play upright most of the time and I'm having the best time of my life. DB presents a whole different world of bass playing and I have learned a lot about bass lines and music in general since I went upright and I just started serious lessons a couple of months ago and that is opening up a new challenge using the bow. I love my DB but I also have a Yamaha SLB200 EUB to use at rehearsals and some gigs where space is limited.

I have to add that attending the BassChat double bass bash in 2018 added to my GAS and I came home and bought a DB to use instead of the EUB  and I haven't looked back, that was great day and I met some fine people and played some nice basses.😊

10 hours ago, msb said:

I’m probably not going to bother , there’s nothing I need. However … I watch kijiji , like a hawk , and have found some great deals there over the years.
 

Sometime I can’t resist.

Kijiji has been important to me. It was the source of my first EUB(Stagg), then a Yamaha SLB 200 and then my first DB, the luthier that I found to work on it and eventually the last bass I will buy (Shen SB100) and an Acoustic Image amp. I got unbelievable deals on all of them, especially the SLB 200 and Shen, and would not have bought them new so Kijiji really has changed my life, I would probably still be playing EB without Kijiji. It is very rare to find deep discounts on new DB in normal retail shops or online, used is the only way to go for many of us.

It was also where I found my sailboat and a number of vehicles over the years, I check it every day even though I'm not actually in the market for anything at this point in my life. Small stuff like tuners and strings I will buy at shops or online.😊🇨🇦

Minor derail from the OP but I plan to use my Yamaha SLB 200 at a gig on Friday instead of using my DB. The gig is part of a downtown Christmas walk in a nearby city on Friday evening and the street will be closed and various events will be going on culminating with turning on the lights on the downtown Christmas tree.

My seven piece swing band will be playing inside a store that is quite small and we will be jammed in a corner and it just makes sense to use the EUB, not just for playing but also getting it in and out of a small crowded space where our audience will be wandering by and only staying for a few minutes. The DB looks better for a this kind of music but the EUB is a better choice for this gig and out front the sound will be just fine.

Just confirmed a booking to play inside a store in downtown North Bay on November 25 as part of the "downtown Christmas walk". I've played there before in a quartet but fitting a seven piece band with keys and drums it that space will be interesting. I think I'll use my Yamaha SLB200 instead of my DB, saves a lot of room and I'll use a small amp instead of our full on Bose PA. Should be easy and relaxed and we are getting paid.👍

Nothing in the book for 2023 yet.

Still a pretty dead scene in my area and no gigs booked yet for 2023 for the seven piece jazz "little big band" which of course has a limited market.

As mentioned above many venues are booking singles and duos instead of bands which saves them a lot of money and they can still offer live entertainment but makes it tough for bigger groups regardless of their genre.  

Seven piece swing/Dixie "little big band" last night with a good crowd, not quite a full room but about 50 fans who were very appreciative. As usual two swing sets and then I switch to tenor banjo and a sax player takes over the bass parts on Bari and we do a set of trad/Dixieland. I had a few lapses of concentration but overall the band was really cooking and the crowd loved it, we have a loyal following and even had some new folks there as well. We must have done something right because someone in the audience left a $200 tip for the band, first time that has happened. Good playing, good crowd and extra money= good gig.😄

Photo was during set up, as usual I used the Boss WL-20 wireless for my bass and went straight into our Bose PA, easy to set up, no amp to lug and excellent sound and the Bose acts as monitor for the whole band.👍

4 minutes ago, Gwilym said:

He's also playing in London next month...

https://cadoganhall.com/whats-on/ljf2022-ron-carter-quartet-85th-birthday/

 

A bit too far away for me, I hope some BC members can get to see him.😊

Last night just by chance I noticed that a new documentary about Ron Carter was going to premiere on PBS and of course I had to check it out. Part of it was shot in 2017 and some from 2022 and it gives a very good picture of this amazing musician who has played on over 2200 recording sessions and at 85 is still touring and composing, he won his third Grammy this year.

I don't know when/if/how it will be available outside North America but it is definitely worth watching, it's called Ron Carter: Finding the right notes and features comments from many of the great musicians he has played with and contemporary interviews with players and the man himself.

15 minutes ago, jrixn1 said:

 

I know what you mean... but the video is correct, as they are sat at pianos and therefore naturally using concert pitch charts.  But the bass is a transposing instrument (sounds an octave below) so like any other (sax, trumpet, ...bagpipes...) the same-sounding line on each chart will be written in a different place.

You're right of course but I was sitting here thinking I should try a few of those lines on my bass and it would be a lot easier (for me) to not have to transpose up an octave, although that would be good thing to practice.😊

Thanks for the link.👍

Lots of good info here but too bad they showed all but the last one ( I think) an octave lower than it should be and out of the range of standard 4 string bass, but I guess that's being picky. If the presenters actually played bass I bet it would be shown correctly.

Rant: Interesting stuff if you can handle the show off name dropping presenters who really know their stuff but are annoying. Typical of so many of these videos where the presenter tries to make it all about himself to make it more "interesting" and some of the good stuff gets lost amidst the keyboard riffs and talking. 🙄

Sorry to sound so negative, it's still early here and I haven't had enough coffee yet but I did like the material.

36 minutes ago, DaveFry said:

 

1 hour ago, Greg Edwards69 said:

That's the second time today I've seen the AI Coda S4 mentioned. The other time was on a talk bass thread - a chap has downsized from bemoth rigs to one with a similar sized extension cab for electric bass. 

 

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/your-feelings-about-rig-size-for-stage.1579120/#post-26845765

 

It's gotten me intrigued, as I reckon it would be a far superior, compact, one box solution to my current Headrush FRFR-112. I note there's a used one for sale in my local music shop, but unfortunately I can't justify the £1,000 asking price.

The Coda has a down firing main speaker mounted on the bottom and another smaller speaker on the front and that spreads the sound around in a way regular combos can't and is good for most DB situations. I don't have  the additional speaker shown in that post (don't need it) but the output increases and fires out to the front so it makes a good combination. 

Yes, they are expensive but I managed to get a very good deal that included the DB, Coda, bass case and both of the (expensive) covers for the Coda, everything was about 10 years old and in new condition, I lucked out on that deal.👍

We use a Bose L1 system with their 8 channel ToneMatch mixer. The EQ in the mixer is very good and very versatile and I can make my DB sound almost exactly how I like it although that may not not be the "my bass only louder" ideal. The Bose also works well with my banjo and a SM58(I think) and with the ToneMatch my natural "acoustic" singing voice can actually sound pretty good. 😊

When I jam with friends I might use the amp with the DB or just do the acoustic thing, it depends on the circumstances.

Thanks for the info. That's pretty cool but I don't think I need it, I will continue to produce the nice dull thud that fits nicely with the band I play in. On my DB I use a Realist Lifeline and go direct to my Acoustic Image Coda S4 or straight into our Bose PA and for my limited home recording I have a decent mic that does the job.

On 26/09/2022 at 11:06, BCH said:

Last Saturday with my acoustic band "Human Too" 

Funny how the term "acoustic" has changed over the years, not better or worse but definitely different.

When I started gigging  in the '60's on an acoustic guitar playing the folk music that was popular at the time an acoustic gig was playing guitars, banjoes and the odd double bass and if we were lucky there might be a microphone or two that we crowded around. That was common in clubs and coffee houses and even in big venues and when a guitar solo came up there was much moving around and raising up the guitar so it was close to the mic, you can see this in a lot of the old folk music videos from the '60's such as Peter, Paul and Mary.

The next step was more mics with dedicated mics for each instrument and maybe even one for each singer and the sound was actually the real acoustic sound of the vocals and instruments.

Then came the first pickups and now the sound of "acoustic" instruments through the amps and PA is a long way from the actual sound of the instrument and often a variety of effects and EQ are used to change the signal even more and of course it is LOUD. These days it seems even most buskers use some sort of amplification although a few play old school acoustic.

A few years ago various rock bands and singles (Clapton comes to mind) decided to do "acoustic" or "unplugged" shows and albums but of course they were definitely plugged in and that added to the image of a modern "acoustic" gig, a few acoustic instruments but probably an EB and maybe an electronic keyboard and of course pickups on anything acoustic. Some bluegrass, folk and country bands are probably the last truly acoustic bands around now.

Let's face it, using mics for instruments in almost any live situation is very tricky but if things work out a guitar sounds like a "real" guitar not a pimped up hot rodded guitar that sort of looks like an acoustic instrument with a wire coming out of it and sometimes controls mounted on it too. 

I have played with mics and pickups on guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo and double bass and I have to admit the good pickups we can get now are easy to work with can sound quite good but it doesn't sound like an acoustic instrument but that's the way it is now, many people have never heard a real acoustic guitar or bass without an elaborate sound system.

The worst part from my point of view is that when you see a great player the excellent guitar he is playing often sounds pretty much like any other guitar once it has a pickup and some electronic tweaking.

Not a rant, just an observation, and as I said above, I use pickups and love them but it's not really an "acoustic" show and calling it that just doesn't seem right. Of course I am part of this problem when I tell people I play acoustic double bass...with a pickup.🙄

Conjecture? Contracture? Looks like auto correct strikes again...at least that's my conjecture.😊

That aside, I have some issues with with a couple of fingers in each hand and one of my thumbs and I am learning a lot from the posts in this topic. Thanks all.👍

25 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

The left thumb was the first one...I had no idea what the problem was at the time; the joint just below the thumbnail was locked 90° and would loosen up or become unlocked if I pulled it straight.  Pailthorpe had a feel of the joint at the base of the thumb and said something on the lines of it being a beauty and the biggest pulley issue he'd felt on a thumb.  I think he was probably chomping at the bit to cut it open.  (The photo up the thread was after that surgery; he literally cut about an inch in the wrinkle line around the base of the thumb to free it up.)

 

I'm not familiar with the banjo-term!  If it helps, I've not suffered any long term issues after each procedure. 

 

The Nordic thing is (apparently) something to do with Dupuytren Conjecture, which is more about the fingers becoming bent due to the hardening of tissue in the fingers.  It was allegedly genetically common in Vikings (or if you like Swedish/Norweigan/Danish seafarers) - I have no idea how they know this - and supposedly as they pillaged and inter-bred with other non-Viking indigenous northern Europeans the condition spread and still exists 1,000 to 1,200 years later.

I posted this photo in How Was Your Gig Last Night but I'll put it here too.

On Tuesday the seven piece band I'm in had a gig and as usual we played two sets of swing and then a set of Dixieland and I switch from my Shen SB100 to my Baldwin Ode tenor banjo and a sax player takes over the bass part on bari sax. Luckily I practice at home a lot on both instruments so at a gig it doesn't feel too crazy going from a monster neck and thick strings to the skinny little banjo neck and playing with a pick but it takes a few minutes to get comfortable.

This was our first gig since Covid restrictions started but we have been rehearsing and according to several musicians and others in the audience it was the best we have played and all of us in the band felt the same way. Next gig is in November but we are hoping for more work before that. Since Covid hit it is a very slow live music scene here, especially in the area where I live which is quite rural with few cities. 

Our seven piece swing/Dixie band finally played our first gig since the start of Covid and it was touch and go until the last minute due to the drummer's wife being very sick with Covid, luckily he tested OK in the afternoon so we could play. Not a big audience but the consensus was that the band was "on" and I think it was our best gig so far, everyone was ready to play and the sound was great. I used my Shen SB100 with a Boss wireless and a Schatten Design preamp(volume control only) straight into our Bose PA and I play the tenor banjo for the Dixie set.

As usual we did two swing sets and then I switch to banjo and a sax player covers the bass parts on Bari sax and we play a Dixieland/trad set that always goes over well, lots of fun with various mutes, trombone glisses, drum solos and screaming clarinet parts...love it!

Almost two months to the next gig but it's great to be back.😊

4 hours ago, msb said:

I think I’m pretty much gas free , I really have everything I need , and yet I still scour kijiji , which is an online local buy and sell. And sometimes a really good deal will get the best of me. I’ve been known to message friends when I see something they’re after.

Most recent finds were a SWR Headlite amp , and. Gretsch baritone. Already have a Bass VI so the baritone was just going a little further down that rabbit hole. I’ve been tuning it AtoA. 

Ah yes, Kijiji, a blessing and a curse and the reason I have two double basses and two amps but only need one of each.🙄🇨🇦

Edit: ...and I still look through the listings every day.🙂

5 minutes ago, Marky L said:

Yeah. Look like you're in a band and play like you're having fun. Punters do notice.

Absolutely! I play DB and can't stand still when I play, I also smile at the good parts and look at the soloist if possible (I play in small jazz bands) and get many comments saying "it looks like you're having fun". In the days when I played guitar or banjo it was the same, I just can't play without "getting into it" but I don't overdo it.  

There are several members of my bands who never acknowledge the audience or even look at them and it drives me crazy. Many people have said that people hear with their ears AND their eyes and what you do while you play makes a difference and in the jazz context that includes when other members are soloing or at the end of a song.

I like to put some life in live music.😊

After 11 years our jazz standards quartet played our final gig (number 150) last night at a brewery where we have played many times. Not a full house but very appreciative and we played well but we were all very aware of the end of our little band. As usual our Bose PA worked perfectly, I go directly into it and we don't need monitors.

The singer/keyboard player is moving to another city and since we have developed a band image and personality over the years we won't try to replace her and carry on, we will have to start from zero and maybe take another direction. The three of us are in a seven piece jazz band and that will be our main musical outlet while we decide what to do, I may look around for another band that needs a DB player maybe jazz or folk or bluegrass or ???.

It's been a good run and we are all still friends, quite an accomplishment after 11 years.

At 76 with about 60 years of gigging I'm hoping something comes along soon, the clock is ticking but I'm hoping to carry on for as long as possible.😊

1 hour ago, Downunderwonder said:

Boomer is short for ''50's baby boom born person''. Many due to check out in coming years.

Close, but in general use it refers to post WW Two babies and the usual time span is from 1946 to 1964 which makes me one, I'm from '46 and I am trying to ignore your reference to "checking out" soon, although of course I know you are right. How did I ever get to be 76? 🙄 

Edit: In keeping with the topic of the thread I must tell you I still have and still play the Gibson J 50 Adj that I bought new in 1967 and it still sounds great and is worth a lot more than I paid for it, not that that was a factor way back then, I just wanted a good guitar.😊

Another plug for Gollihur, I have ordered a lot of things from them and have always had excellent service and they ship world wide.

The bridge they offer is the Eminence one but it comes rough shaped as most DB bridges do, you or a luthier will have to do the final shaping but they supply instructions and if you run into problems they are available for help by phone and email and can give you advice. I have used email and phone to ask questions about products I have bought from them and they are very helpful and really know about the products they sell and basses in general and are willing to help their customers.

Good luck.

BTW, as of April 2022 Gollihur owns Eminence.

4 hours ago, PaulThePlug said:

Wonder if there is a similar post on BanjoChat... I only have the 10 normal fingers... recommend me a Banjo...

Steady now, there are some banjo artists on here and we are a sensitive bunch.😊

Second to last gig with the jazz standards quartet last night, finally got to play after a Covid case in the band. Good crowd but a bit thinner than normal, mostly people of a certain age who are nervous about Covid which has had a surge in this area recently.

All in all it went well but BL (sax and clarinet) was very tense and didn't play as well as he usually does but no disasters, it was a weird vibe knowing that after 11 years we are just about done. One more gig on the 20th before the singer/keyboard moves out of the area, it has been a good run.