steve-soar

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1374179577' post='2146251'] Well , the thing is that Jaco and the other artists you mention were radical departures within their given discipline , and changed their medium forever . It is possible for all kinds of fancy Dan bass players to come along with amazing chops and technique , but so far most have struggled to make the impact that Jaco did . I wouldn't put Jaco in the same bracket as Mozart or Shakespear for various reasons ( I could explain why , if you like ) , but in his own modest way he was a genius of sorts , but not because of his technique . His gift was that he thought about and interpreted music differently to other people , and happened to do so via the medium of the bass guitar . Like just about every genius you can think of , Jaco was unconventional , a radical , and unlike anything that had come before him on the bass guitar . He wasn't alone in that by any means - there were other fantastically gifted players of that era - but at his best he was brilliant in his own right . He was versatile too , despite having such a distinctive signature style . He was a World- class jazz bassist and accomplished soloist , but his work as an accompanist in various genres is equally accomplished and shows great maturity and sensitivity to the overall musical picture rather than just his own role in it . Regardless of your own personal taste ( which you are fully entitled to , I hasten to add) Jaco was the real deal , the complete package . I am not one of Jaco's slavish followers by any means , and I couldn't even say he was the player I myself have enjoyed or or directly tried to emulate the most , but his stature on the instrument is undeniable . [/quote] Brilliant post.

Not a very P.C. description.

Really enjoyed this, seemed like such a great man.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1373797998' post='2141622'] Digital callipers here. Cost about £8-10 and work very well. I bought them precisely for that reason: what gauge strings do i have here? They do the job very well. I may get sometimes slightly off readings (104 rather than 105 etc), but I think this is mostly due to angling the calliper etc. You must be perpendicular to the string. [/quote] I remember doing my Engineering O Level, back in 1982, and our teacher came in one day with a digital micrometre from Rolls Royce. He told us that to buy one like this would cost over £200!!!

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1373902227' post='2142892'] Here we go again, in a barn this time, guitarist pinched my Midget so I was with the Compact. Having played the Midget so much it was a bit of a change in sound, the Compact missing the treble and aggression - don't need that much of it but for 'Someone Else's Guy' it was treble up on everything to get some zing. [url="http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/2013-07-13203631_zps6da37206.jpg.html"][/url] And here's a (rather blurred) image during the sound check of the Midget in emergency guitar use with the little Crate that kicks around for these occasions. Guitarist (who is excellent, btw) loves it! [url="http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/4Strings1/media/2013-07-13190436_zps1c6b06c6.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Wow! Tiny little rig, bet it sounded great!

[quote name='TraceAmp' timestamp='1373521202' post='2138486'] [/quote] I can imagine how that sounds, and I'm liking it.

Spud McCain?

You have some very tasteful gear.

I'd be a rock lobster.

Just watched some vids....w***ers.

Gobsh*tes. Chicks can copy stuff too.

Lefty 60's Ric, Jazz, Precision, Thunderbird, (I know they didn't build them lefty but I played a righty upside down), that'll do.

Great looking basses. My #1 is my 1980 sunburst Stingray. Great basses.

Nige, is this one your old bass? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LIMITED-RELEASE-WARWICK-CHROME-CT-BASS-/200941042684?pt=Guitar&hash=item2ec904fbfc

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1372982624' post='2132574'] Well I just watched the whole set on YouTube having never heard any of their material before and I can't decide if I've just been blown away or not. At times The XX sound majestic and glorious and the vocals and the melody join together beautifully. Other times just a big bag of "huh?". I didn't like how they seemed to skip past all the parts that could've sounded great. A lot of the times there's loads of tension developing in the song and then there's no pay off; no release. Infuriating! I really liked the way that they share the vocals and I particularly like the sections where there seems to be some kind of dialogue between the pair of them. As if they're having a conversation with each other or telling the listener a story together. it's fascinating to watch and I think that it has to be one of the main attractions of the band. I enjoyed watching the show definitely. The lighting and the 'look' striking and certainly unusual for Glasto. Monochromatic, stripped back, dramatic, industrial. Quite meloncholic I thought. Anyway, I dont know. The XX certainly challenge many of the rules that exist in popular music these days and it's uncomfortable to listen to. But strip back the effects and the production and the songs are there. Truckstop [/quote] Beautifully put. You have the essence of them, right there.

[quote name='bobbass4k' timestamp='1372978781' post='2132536'] While I hate to disagree with someone who puts Cardiacs, Swans, Godflesh and Cocteau Twins on any sort of list, the BBC introducing stage has put some great bands on and given them some decent exposure. [/quote]Fair point. My point about the BBC is that they have a monopoly of who is who. My point is do away with all TV coverage and let the punters tell their friends. It's fantasy, go with me.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1372976079' post='2132500'] Headliners: Tom Jones, Elton John, The Who Pyramid Stage - other: Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel, Blink 182, David Bowie, Elbow, The Blues Brothers, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin Small stages: Immortal Technique, Dream Theater, Methany Meldau Quartet, M83, Sigur Ros, Mogwai, Etta James, Dr. Feelgood That'll have to do for now. I could literally come up with like 100 artists I'd like to see at Glasto! Truckstop [/quote]Immortal Technique, oh yes.

[quote name='steantval' timestamp='1372972809' post='2132439'] I was joking. Most people could probably learn to play bass like that guy in one evening. [/quote]I think his bass lines are very interesting.

[quote name='dry_stone' timestamp='1372973722' post='2132455'] ++1 the first day taken up entirely with them playing Dark Star! The Dead played the longest set I have ever seen, over 5 hours at Bickershaw Festival (yep the Dead played Wigan!) during their legendary European tour of 1972. In fact my fantasy Glastonbury would probably be just a re-run of that festival. The Dead Beefheat New Riders of the Purple Sage Cheech and Chong The Kinks Hawkwind Family Donovan Country Joe and the Fish Dr John Wishbone Ash Linda Lewis Flaming Groovies The Incredible String Band etc etc. The festival was actually organised by a guy called Jeremy Beadle - who went on to do lesser things including You've been Framed. Both Joe Strummer and Elvis Costello were somewhere amongst the crowd in those muddy northern fields. [/quote]The Dead, good call.

It's not surprising that Mumford's are so successful. A quick look at Marcus' family and the roots of their business gives one an insight into how influential and powerful they are. Bob Dylan, anyone? Personally praised by Robert Plant?

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1372962827' post='2132250'] What..? Baby grand..? Nah, they're for sissies..! Only full Steinway's for us, each set up for the specific 'temperament' of the opus. 14 40-ton trucks precede us as we tour around Lower Normandy. Traffic flow is our biggest logistics headache, and pulling semis from water-logged fields has led us to limit our 'circus' to the dry season. Baby grand, indeed..! Who do you take us for, eh..? As for the 'expense' aspect of a 'good' electronic set of drums, I would use a similar argument vis-à-vis the Pod. Our bass rig cost a total of 800€. A Pod and the PA and monitors up to the same job would be probably 5 or 10 times more, I should think. It's true we need (and indeed, have...) a PA and monitors adequate for pubs and such, but they are for the voice, not the bass (HK wedges and 2x300w amp...). If we were to abandon the Hiwatt and 'Giggles', we'd need bass bins, with amp, and side-fill or wedges with their amps. Our tour bus would need changing, too, as we're at capacity presently. I think we'll stick with 'Giggles' for now; it's far more simple. As I said, though: to each his own... [/quote] Well said, Mr Dad.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1372962227' post='2132237'] Can I be 21 again and hitch hike down there ? Can I get picked up by some Dutch girls in a Volkwagen camper van ? If so , I'm not so bothered about what bands are on . [/quote] Only as long as I can be with you.

When I invite friends round to the cellar to listen to old punk, dub and general madness, vinyl, tapes and sometimes CD's (Steve's Bunker Nights) I wouldn't give each friend a set of headphones and expect them to enjoy themselves as much as they would when listening to Stiff Little Fingers through a decent, very loud stereo.