Brook_fan

I have a custom made acoustic bass, based on a Gibson J 200 body shape, so I guess very similar to a Guild. It puts out plenty of volume for acoustic sessions. I could comfortably hear it playing with a group of 3 or 4 mandolins for instance. I think it is important to get an instrument with a big body, and then get the strings right. Mine currently has la bella gold tape wounds- nice fundamental and midrange. Phosphour bronze are sometimes the main issue with acoustic basses I have found- too many other harmonics and overtones that swamp out the fundamental. Too much scraping noise as well. PB strings are also fairly useless playing with other acoustic instruments, again due to the overtones, noise, and a tonality that is too similar to instruments such as acoustic guitars and mandolins. There is a reason why most acoustic groups such as folk bands make use of a double bass- you get a good solid fundamental and very little else! I like playing acoustic bass because it suits the sort of music I play and compose. I also like the physicality of it, the fact that I have to wrap myself around it. When I want to record it I just put a microphone in front of it. But I would agree that for playing live you really need to put it through an amp. However, there is nothing negative about that, and those that say you might as well use an electric, well, electrics don't have the tonality that I am after for acoustic based music. The sound jumps out at you because it is obviously electric. Robbie

It's a little sticker on the leg beginning A00

Just an update from me- I did what was suggested at the start of this post and emailed the two given addresses. A chap responded, asked for photos and serial number and within a week I have had a brand new stand! It has just literally arrived (and with a much better mechanism than the sticky one). Result!

Oh wow, I too have the sticky handle problem on my stand- I thought it was the heat when I stored it in a conservatory one summer, but sounds like it is a manufacturing fault. Will contact them.

Steve Reich “Music for 18 Musicians”. My partner and I sat down to watch a piece of contemporary dance called “Rain” the other night which used this piece. After the 55 minute minimalist masterpiece had finished she declared that if she ever heard another note of Steve Reich it would be too soon!!

I recorded two versions of this new piece, the first 4 minutes or so is the version with bass. Different approach this time- usually I carefully compose bass lines in Sibelius before recording them, but this time I improvised them once I had laid down the acoustic guitar part. Hope you enjoy it

I absolutely adore Swedish music- the Swedish traditional band Vasen for instance are one of my favourite bands. Love the use of synth bass together with the nickelharpa. Robbie

And here it is turned into a video. The images come from places in the New Forest that I have been able to walk the dog over the last week or two.

This is my instrumental take on Sound of Silence, with me playing acoustic guitar in CGCGCD, and my Brook acoustic bass. All recorded and mixed in Logic Pro X

Bass isn't exactly very traditional in Irish music, but here is my arrangement of this classic tune for acoustic (in CGCGCD) and acoustic bass

This is a tune by a Breton guitarist called Soig Siberil. Just testing out a new microphone I have bought, an AKG Lyra. Still judging how well it performs, but anyway, this is a project I have been wanting to get off the ground for ages, an arrangement of mine for acoustic guitar and acoustic bass. You can see hopefully why I have always loved this acoustic bass that I have just got back (even if temporarily)- I don't think an electric would give me the same tone that blends with the acoustic, and that growl it has...!

Sounds like a great idea, not much bass on my channel though (Celtic fingerstyle guitar) https://www.youtube.com/user/ukRobbieJ1 😊

Just taken advantage of Mel bay’s 35% off, especially given that I have more time on my hands now. I was particularly interested in the Gilbert Isbin pieces, and I was not disappointed. These pieces are terrific, and to my mind echo the great studies by Leo Brouwer for classical guitar. Like Brouwer’s works, I feel that far from living their lives as just studies many of these pieces will be very welcome in concert halls and recitals. The harmonies are delicious- I sure wish I could compose pieces this wonderful! Thank you Rob, they have helped me reignite my love for my bass 😊 Robbie

Oh bugger. I have recently payed £14 to sell two items (neither of which have sold) and need to put one other thing up for sale, but if I spend another £7 doing so I would have actually spent more than an annual subscription. Oh well. Will have to rely on evil Reverb.com 😢

Thanks. I’ve done numerous searches though and can’t find the thread.

Last week there was an offer to reduce the annual subscription to £6. Is this offer still running? I’ve got some stuff to sell but have been unable to afford the selling fee until I’ve sold some album downloads, and I now fear it might be too late. I cannot find the thread now. Robbie

Just listened to the Bach prelude from cello suite 1. Just feel it could have had a bit more expression- it was very metronomic, and zero changes in dynamics. Just my opinion of course, but sometimes you have to question why you are performing such a towering masterwork if the instrument you are playing it on cannot express what the composer was saying.

I’m a secondary school teacher, teaching both maths and music. Since a marriage breakup about 6 year ago I’ve been on fixed term contracts- for most of my career I have taught just music, but a lot of schools have been clawing back time from “Cinderella” art subjects in order to devote more time to the incredibly more content heavy maths and science syllabi, and so my work has dried up. Luckily though I have secured fixed term maths contract for after Easter. And although the headlines say schools are shut, they most certainly aren’t. It would actually be easier to say who isn’t a key worker at the moment, and so schools will probably be just as busy. The depressed faces of my year 11s yesterday when it turned out to be their last day and no exams to continue to work for was a sorry sight and thoroughly heartbreaking. Robbie

Probably noone’s cup of tea on here, but if anyone likes solo Celtic acoustic guitar here is mine: https://robbiej1.bandcamp.com/album/the-road-to-easterbrook-and-other-journeys Cheers 😊 Edit: I have especially arranged this piece and ready to download tomorrow, played on my acoustic bass, and will be the last thing I ever record on it: https://robbiej1.bandcamp.com/track/wild-mountain-thyme-banks-of-the-bann-bass-and-guitar

When he played that B string with the lump construction I thought it sounded horrible and atonal, but then I was listening on my iPad.

Believe it or not this stunningly beautiful tune, called "Sleeping Tune" was written by Scottish bagpiper Gordon Duncan (he unfortunately died about 12 years ago). I use my Brook acoustic bass for the bass line. Hope you like it: