NAS

Many thanks to all who came and made the day such an enjoyable, if exclusive one. Many thanks Steve for doing all the admin and to Steve and Paul for taking and posting the photos. Pups were a bit of an "off topic" distraction, but even they seemed to have enjoyed the company. Sorry to hear of your woes Steve - such behaviour just makes my ears steam - bring back the birch I say! Not nearly as impacting, but I've just discovered that the mice have eaten one inch holes in the entire lower section of the dishwasher drainage hose and the water has been draining into the cellar for the last week. It was only the damp smell that alerted me! Such is life! Hope we can do it again sometime with a slightly bigger attendance - anybody up for June 2010? Best wishes to all. Nick S

DIRECTION DETAILS Shakenhurst Hall Cleobury Mortimer Kidderminster Worcestershire DY14 9AR Tel: 01299 832 763 Estate drive starts in the village of BAYTON at the same junction as the turn off to the church. Continue straight to end of drive. Parking available in the park. If requiring to deliver gear come to front of house to drop it off then return to park to leave vehicle. BAYTON is accessed from the B4202 either via CLOWS TOP on the A456, or FAR FOREST (Mawley Oak Garage) on the A4117.

Yes, a fond farewell to Hugh. I still have my copy of "The Rock Bass Manual". Somewhat typically there are pictures of Sting, Roger Waters, John Entwistle, Jaco Pastorius, Paul McCartney and Bruce Thomas inside and only a small author thumbnail of Hugh on the back. Having spent my teens in Canterbury the first bass (a sky blue precision if my memory serves me) I ever laid my hands on was Richard Sinclairs' at a local party. I did get to see Soft Machine at their "Soft Machine at the Proms" concert in 1970. I was interviewed after by Richard Baker doing his "so what do the youth think about pop music in a classical festival" thing for BBC Television. The sound at the Albert Hall was pretty bathroomy (no flying mushrooms in those days!), but the bass sound was unmistakeably round and smooth. So many musicians of this calibre go unsung and unlistened to. Very pleased to see The Guardian made him their lead obituary today - well deserved.

God, this is a long thread - needs to be divided into chapters - months? Friday night, P.A. and sound gig with Tom The Frop at Holt Fleet. Nice room - full width stage and some decent power supplies. Sit down dinner Christmas party so not on until 21:30. Sarnies and chips plus "a couple of drinks" to fill the rider. They'd even set out a table for the mixer without me asking. Sub woofer really came in handy for the "in between" CDs and the bass drum. Bass player has an Ashdown 4x10 which usually does the business really well without going through the P.A. Usual two acts of TTF madness, lots of Beatles, lots of hats and wigs. Guitar sound really good tonight - even when all three going (two double up on keys). Vocals clear although Sennheiser mics much clearer than Shure for some reason. Citronix radio mics worked fine (jump down and sing with the girls in the "mosh pit") - no battery failures. Got paid at end of gig too which is always welcome. Finish at midnight, small run of disco numbers as we pack up, back home at 01:30. Saturday night. Pub gig with Crambazzled at The Queens Head Wolverley, so doing sound and playing bass. Lovely village, lovely pub, but we're playing in an alcove 10x10 feet including bench seats. One speaker has to sit by the bar at head height (beams). The sub sits by guitar one. Drummer uses Yamaha electronic set which is great for space but never gives that instant wallop I really need to stay in touch. Mic up both guitars through the P.A. and use the sub to give the drums a bit of oomph. This actually works well as we have a really quiet local crowd who want to sit and chat - but they do pay attention and applaud every number. So with total volume control through the desk I can set the overall level quite low while getting a well balanced mix. Guitar two still plays solos that sound like a weasel being strangled, and the drummer takes some scenic route breaks away from the metronome, especially during Message In A Bottle. Use the '75 reissue Fender Jazz (love the neck on this bass), the Boss ME-50B, SWR SM900, and Epifani 2x10 and 1x15. The cabs sit on the bench seat side by side, 15" pointing at the drummer, 2x10 pointing front. Turn down the bridge pickup and tone on the bass, flat on the ME-50B (gets used for small amount of "natural" compression, sub octave, reverb and distortion on a few numbers), drop treble and upper mid on the SWR. Takes away the sizzle and fret clank, but suitable for this gig. Upper register stuff in "Alright Now", "I Predict a Riot", and "Sex On Fire" actually sounds better. Two 55 minute sets, two encores, then pack up and drive home (back at 01:30 again - early night!).

The first bass I ever got my hands on (late '60s) was a Fender Precision (belonged to Pink Fairies bassist). The first bass I ever recorded with (early '70s) was a Fender precision (borrowed from the studio - I owned an Epiphone Rivoli at the time). The first bass I really liked the sound of (mid '70s) was a hybrid Fender precision (Fender neck and hardware, copy body). The first "proper" Fender I owned (mid '70s) was a white Fender Mustang Bass - later passed on by my brother to I know not where. It's taken until this year (40 years after the first occasion) for me to get a "proper" Fender Bass - one of the outgoing Fender Precision S1s. A real sound monster. I've also acquired one of the '75 reissue Jazz basses as well. Both basses under £650, both sound good. I can't be separated from the Jazz. I've owned lots of basses, some really boutique ones, some actually made for me, but good 'ol Leo was a genius for designing instruments that could be made cheaply and sounded great. As pointed out earlier in this thread, Squiers are not to be sniffed at either - it's the same design principle. You're doing the right thing, reading, researching, trying out, discussing - all good. There are a lot of good bargains on the web at the moment - lots of businesses cutting their prices. Second hand prices low too - so haggle! My entirely biased view of what you would get on with at the moment - basic good quality build, bolt-on, passive, probably 4 string, nothing too comlex, save enough for a decent quality combo/stack - again lots going cheap both new and second hand. Keep an eye out on pawnbrokers and trade-in shops too. A second hand Fender Jazz (not old enough to be "vintage") with a second hand 300W combo (relatively uncoloured) would be a very good start. Best of luck with your quest! Nick S

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='289355' date='Sep 22 2008, 05:52 PM']Why not make it a fund raiser for a charity of your choice Nick, in your wifes name? Is it possible to get a few basschat bands there perhaps?[/quote] CK, sounds like a good idea. Cancer Research UK is current favourite with Amnesty International close behind. I've long had a fantasy of setting up a stage in a natural amphitheatre in the park - depends a bit on weather though! Flat bed truck (stage), generator, and loos would be the main requirements, unless the audience got big in which case a proper beefy P.A. would be required. Not sure how much effort or funds (all Mandy's stuff is in probate at the moment and will be for some time) I will be able to give to this, but venue I can offer. Anyone willing to get involved in organizing a not too large event (the drive is single lane with passing places) would be welcome. Nick S

Thank you Steve for posting this so sympathetically. What a lovely group of guys you are - thank you so much for your kind wishes. Here's Mandy from better days with Mr Grumpy: and here she is on New Year's Eve this year in an 18th century wedding dress that has been in the house since it was first used: a real joy as a partner and best friend. Yes please - do give some thought as to whether you'd like to have some kind of bass centred event up here in the wilds of Worcestershire (the estate forms the north-east corner of the county) some time in the spring maybe. I have a P.A. here, so if anyone wants to bring some other musicians we can even have some countryside jamming! Best wishes to all, Nick S