Burns-bass

I was once in a band where the singer and drummer were in a relationship. Drummer decided to dump the singer before a gig. As we approached the last song (and therefore the denouement of their relationship) she turned to him in tears and threw her guitar on the floor. I picked it up and played the last song.

Not sure I’d put Davie and Charles at that level of creativity and virtuosity but the principle is the same, I agree. I think we sort of agree. I love showing off. I regularly go to classical recitals where it’s 2 hours of virtuosity. I play jazz and that’s basically continual showing off. I’ve played so long the whole point now is showing off because the basic stuff is dull. But because nobody actually comes to my gigs, im not monetising it! I actually saw the pillar that holds Chopin’s heart. Apparently he was afraid of being buried alive so when he died he had it take out and sent back to Poland.

Wasn’t it you that was comparing some kid playing slap bass at 200bpm to Lizst? The context here is YouTube not music in general. And I stand by the fact that what they’re doing is technical feats with little to no musical value. It’s what lift music is to real jazz. What Andre Rieu is to classical music etc etc.

That's because we're in Bristol which is objectively the best place in the UK.

My point was that these are technical achievements not musical statements. Chopin created some of the most complex and beautiful piano music possible. It flowed through him. Of course, you could probably find some kid that could play it at twice the speed, but why? The majority of popular YouTubers create content that sucks you in. (Fastest bass line ever, most complex bass line ever, can I play this violin solo on bass, etc.) They’re all technical accomplishments but is it musical? In my opinion, it’s not. But that’s my view. You may love to see Bach cello suite played on a fretted bass at 200bpm. And if you do, that’s the magic of the world. I’m off to get measured for some clogs.

As facile replies go, this is up there.

Musical tastes can differ and that’s what makes the world wonderful. My dad recently went to watch Appalachian clog dancing.

Precisley the point I made above. I live in Bristol and regularly get to see some incredible young musicians who play wonderfully. Sadly, there are few opportunities for them in the traditional sense, and I agree that YouTube provides a revenue stream. I guess so does making videos of model railways. I'm not interested in that either. Reflecting on it, the point I'm making is that they're playing music but so much of it isn't musical at all. It's showing off. I mean, in what circumstances would anyone *really* want to hear double tapping or an extended solo on the bass?

But they’re not doing it for their own personal pleasure, they’re broadcasting it. I don’t watch YouTube, don’t follow streamers or any of that sort of stuff because in most cases what I see is just not musical. It’s vain virtuosity in the pursuit of clicks (and therefore cash). I play classical music on my own in my bedroom but I wouldn’t play in an orchestra. In the end, none of it matters really.

I think they’re just sharing the view that sometimes the public view of a person isn’t the same as their private behaviour. The internet isn’t like a car park. There’s enough digital space here for everyone.

Sometimes it’s worth stepping away from the internet, isn’t it.

Agreed. Anger is a weird emotion. I like Charles Berthoud as well. He seems the kid of guy who would be just as happy smashing the root note for half an hour than playing the most complex lines you've ever heard. But, could he do it down the Three Tuns on a wet Tuesday evening? Probably. What's interesting is the nature of musical fame and what constitutes a musical career is changing. People like Charles and the other YouTubers now present a realistic career path for other content creators. It's weird, yes, but it's no less valid than playing in a cover band or whatever else you can do with four strings and a whole lot of heart. The avenues for playing live are becoming fewer and fewer and this is how these people now live and make money. Good luck to them I say.

This is Danny's job. The outrage, the shares, the links and the likes are all generating cash for him and others. (The paradox of pointing out the fakery here is that it'll generate more clicks for the faker, generating them cash too.) It's a job as pointless as most of them (thanks David Graeber), but it's his job. Well paid? Who knows. Emotionally fulfilling? Probably not. What's weird about theYouTube thing is that, from what I can see, it's people performing incredible things on their own in a room. It's the antithesis of what music making is, which is playing with people for people. Basically, social media sucks, people are stupid and bass players should stop double tapping, slapping and showing off, and play the root note.

He (and the rest) are exaggerated personalities because that's what works online. (If you're being pedantic, you'd also suggest he changes his website because he claims to be "European Bass Player of the Year 2020" – when in fact he only won an online competition.)

Keep your cash in a high interest account and wait for the right one. We’re already seeing prices for some vintage gear stabilising and falling. The strength of the US economy (and the UK to be fair) is based on debt and at some point that’s going to come crashing down. If you’re in Europe I’d look to the States. The exchange rate is strengthening and you’ll get a better deal than buying from the UK.

100% this. Faux outrage does my head in. It’s pretty obvious she’s not playing in any of the videos.

Man, who cares?

People will talk of me with hushed reverence. (Probably better than shouting and sweating at me as most people do!)

Mine have been aged naturally and were probably worked on by Leo himself. All joking aside if anyone wants one, let me know and I’ll chuck it in the post.

Yes when I had it checked and worked on by my Martin Penning he reckoned it was nearer 7/8. It would fit into a 3/4 case (albeit snugly) which confused the issue slightly. I miss that old bass.

These do look good. All joking aside I’ve got a 3 week tour potentially on the offing next year and I’d love to hear your reviews of this if you go this route.

It’s a hard one. I normally buy expensive and buy once, but £875 for a gigbag is insane. For that you could get 10 Hidersine ones. I reckon you need to start treating my old bass better or I’ll have to start proceedings to get it back.