Barking Spiders

This, from praps my fave country in the world

Other than bass guitar and any other commonplace instruments you might play are there any more unusual ones any BCers would like to take up or regret not having learnt or given up. I'm a big Grecophile and want to learn the bouzouki. Just love the sound and am a tad partial to Greek folk music. Other than that there's the hammered dulcimer but they're pretty expensive and hard to play quietly. Ditto the uillean pipes plus they're hard to play so 'praps I should've started donkeys ears ago.

Nifty piece of programming there but when I pressed pause it didn't stop on an image it just came up with ads or summat. As I stopped listening to music radio years ago I didn't recognise many of the names from the noughties and even if I'd vaguely heard of them I wouldn't know a single tune of theirs. I've heard of Taylor Swift but can't name a single hit by her. I'm not gonna bother Googling either.

with respect to the OPer, praps this is the best dance tune

Which school of bass playing do you subscribe to? There are those who think the bass should neither be seen nor heard, just felt I guess. Then there are those like me who think it should be a bit flash and in-yer-face and an equal of the guitar. My fave players tend to be the/a main figure in their bands and /or whose lines listeners tend to notice and remember.

I'm looking to buy a 5 string very soon, for around £500, and in my research was surprised to find quite a few budget models - e.g. under the Sire, Yamaha and Ibanez brands - have mahogany for the body and / or rosewood fretboards. I've a feeling there was a thread on sustainable woods a while back but I cant find it. Anyway I'm ruling out any model not made from sustainable woods . Some instrument makers are more concerned about using sustainable materials than others. Isn't it about time those still using endangered woods were called out? Some will say 'but the amount of wood used by guitar manufacturers is relatively small' but that's like a defendant on a burglary charge claiming in their defence they only robbed one house and not a whole street's worth.

Yep, exactly. I've always assumed everything said here is subjective and would be treated as such. It's a bit tiresome having to insert 'IMO's after every comment.

I'm looking for a 5-stringer. Never had one before but this looks a peach, and for the princely sum of £315. Have to wait a few weeks till it's in stock though. Anyone here got one?

Yep it was only ever intended as a bit of lighthearted goofing around. I can easily dissociate the bits I like from songs I generally don't like. E.g. I don't like Rush's and Led Zep's music but there are some great basslines in there. Ramble On has a great bassline though I'd happily tune out the rest

Yep certainly do. That whole Hi NRG thing was a tad camp but good fun Here's another cracker from the early 90s

As dance music is my bag I've got loads. Insomnia is right up there but here are a couple of big faves her's one by the Black Box peeps under another name

I've been gigging on and off for over 30 years, the most recent off spell being nearly 3 years. This is because of a change in music taste, inability to find players who want to play the same kind of stuff plus a dislike of pub culture. If I could find others who'd want to play 70s - 80s funk & disco covers plus 90s dance stuff at small festivals then I'd be up for it like a shot. I keep hoping.

I've had a lot of guitars, basses and assorted drums and percussion I've had to sell. In most cases there's no regrets, no tears goodbye 😀. After having to sell my white American Tele on EBay I had pangs but when I reminded myself it made me a very tidy profit I got over it quickly. So much depends on who the maker is and how much you'd get for it? If you don't connect with it that's a deal breaker.

Always been well into Herbie Hancock's funky stuff. If this doesn't get your foot a 'tappin' well...

One of my bass faves is Bill Dickens who plays his 7 string Conklin a lot. I don't wanna upset a lot of BCers here so i won't include a clip of him speed slapping the funk out of it 😏. He does use the full range of possibilities on it though.

Never heard of these peeps before. Top playing all round and tighter than a gnat's chuff though actually I enjoyed the keys the most 😲.

Good to see the Rhythm Makers going down well. You can find it on this cracker And this gem too

There are many fine funk bands from the 70s-80s which have generally been overlooked; The Rhythm Makers, Sound Experience, The KayGees, Black Heat, Graham Central Station, Mandrill, Slave, Chocolate Milk... This a fave track of mine by The Rhythm Makers to get you funking

Nope, to be considered one of the greats you'd probably need to meet all 5 requirements. And yes, time probably is the big test. How long? well certainly a good few years after a writer has passed on or retired.

Kinda. To my mind to be considered a great songwriter you'd ... a. have to be quite prolific - let's face it anyone can write a handful of good songs in a lifetime but to be pretty consistent over hundreds? b. write songs that aren't here today gone tomorrow, don't really date and which are timeless . Let's face it the vast majority of songs we're subjected to go in one ear and out the other or they quickly outstay their welcome after a few listens c. have melodies that are memorable and which anyone can whistle or sing along to. d. have written a good number of classic songs performed or covered by many other respected artists e. penned several songs that have become standards So, that would whittle that list right down

According to the RS readership, Taylor Swift, Bjork, R Kelly, Morrissey & Marr, Kanye West and Notorious BIG are greater songsmiths than Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Cole Porter. Well, we live and learn eh?

£1.57bn is peanuts. Too little, too late for many small arts businesses. I know several self-employed people who've made their livings in the arts sector. Not only have their revenues completely dried up, they got zilch from the government, no furlough money, no universal credit. A lot of them are only getting buy through the kindness of family and friends.

Of course it would have to be the US-centric, waste of paper / atoms in cyberspace that is Rolling Stone but their list of 100 greatest songwriters has Abba's Benny and Bjorn at 100, below many of whom are unfit to kiss their stacked shoes. Bacharach & David are at a lowly #32 when anyone knows they should be a shoo-in for top 5. And putting Lennon & MacCartney - as separate writers - below Dylan at #1! What?!! Here's the link .. https://www.rollingstone.com/interactive/lists-100-greatest-songwriters/

I guess his wacky vids have an appeal and with his wagers /challenges he's found a shtick that works. Same with Steve Terreberry. Not my bag but clearly they've succeeded building up fanbases and winning over advertisers.

So a lot of us are in agreement viz that there's a lot of quality gear under £500, which begs the question. Why bother shelling out over that amount? Someone said about superior looks of pricier instruments though IMO there are quite a lot of fugly ones over £1,000 and many nice - albeit many copies of Ps, Js etc - under £500.