spongebob

+1, very well put!

Saw The Stranglers last night in Brighton. Playing alongside in support, Wilko Johnson and Norman Watt-Roy! What a player....couldn't believe what he was doing with 12-bar material. I think he must have at least 15 fingers. JJ was equally superb - his tone was totally to die for - everything I wanted and more. Great night - and really puts your own playing in perspective - if I practice about 18 hours a day and gig for the next 30 years, I too could be like Norman!

I read on RR that there won't be any more colours of the year until they complete their never-ending backlog. On the experience of the Rickenbackers I've owned (still got one), they should up their QC before attempting anymore colour schemes! I recently a Jan '10 bass - problems with the bridge saddles, etc. There was a recent discussion over at RR about this - a common problem. Slightly OT - sorry - but they've been making the same design for how many years? The Jan '09's in lighter colours had issues when the felt in the cases was making some finishes turn green, and before that it was the blue 'bleeding' into the white surrounds on the Midnight Blues. If you must get one, get a Jetglow!!!!

My '09 4003. I've had Rics before, and one since, and this is the one I'm keeping. Others have all gone. Been a bundle of trouble - 2 pickup re-wires, bad QC, etc, but it's got the feel and the true Ric sound which, as I've found in my travels, they sadly don't all have!!

Great artist. Check out her first album, 'Come To My Garden'. Excellent upright work on there. Actually, all her albums are great.....compilation called 'Les Fleurs' gives a good overview to any new fans.

Well, seeing as I'm a '74 - It's got to be a Ricky 4001 in Geddy Glow!

I've had my own Myspace page for about 3 years, but like so many others, have given up on it totally. I can't even get to my page page in the normal way now, let alone add to or change it! Thing is, it was a handy ad when applying to bands or putting myself out there, via the songs and pictures, etc. The songs were a mix of covers and a few originals. Question is, is there an alternative place or set-up where I can do the same again, just put some sounds and pictures, and like MS use it for anybody to check me out? I never want to even see MS3 again!

Only band I was sacked from was when I was still drumming alongside bass. Band was no-hoper blues-rock covers, but stuck with it for about 6 months. Only gigged for about 6 weeks, prior to that all rehearsals. Did a gig and the other 2 didn't really say a word. Got an e-mail a couple of days later sacking me, saying that my drumming was 'too jazzy'. True, I did/do have an interest in said genre, but I had been drumming for years, and ploughing through their choice of material was far from taxing. Within a week they had taken on the drummer from the singers other (rapidly disbanded) other band....also the singer's mate. It's never nice getting the push, but one thing I did learn is that with bands, it's normally politics above anything else. Just don't let it dent your confidence - keep playing, that's the revenge! Don't let them win.

+1 on all of the above. I've just left my band because of a number of issues, something I've done before and probably will do 1000 times again. I think it was Mark E. Smith who once said that he hates musicians. From most of the bands I've dealt with, he wasn't far wrong! It's always easy when you leave/get sacked to think that you're in the wrong....'why are they still together'? But it's you who's had the lucky escape. You're better off on your own playing along to a CD on a desert island than with that bunch by the sound of things. Like so many of us on here at the moment.......gotta get back on that horse!!

Thanks for the kind words. My dog was 13 years and 7 months, a border collie - had him since he was rescued at just over 4. He had a great life, and that's what I take comfort from. He was probably more pampered than royalty! Saying goodbye was just the worst thing in the world....just the look you exchange. He wasn't in pain, but he would have been if he hadn't been 'assisted'. He had a cancerous tumor which had exploded (we think overnight) - during the last day you tell he wasn't really 'there' - it was obvious his time was near. I think it helped prompt my band decision, as it just makes you think, why put up with it? We're all against the clock, so why waste time doing something you don't enjoy? Saying that, I go to work everyday....and I don't particularly enjoy that either!

I've normally quit for something. First time I've just jacked it in too.

Noticed the post today include the 'should I quit the band' question. Last week, I did quit my band. Don't regret it in the slightest, should have done it months ago. Classic situation - I joined band after they were around for a year or so, and wanted to replace their bassist. I found out they were being underhand to him (although we've never met), and declined to have anything to do with them until they resolved things with him fairly. TBH, I did my research on them, and they didn't sound any good....but they had a full diary - so after a period in a zero-paying originals band, I thought I'd take the dirty money! Things were great for the first 6 months - all got on, it was fun. However, rehearsals dried up - the attitude was learn the song at home and wing it at the gig. Nice idea, but it always sounded crap - and some never did bother to learn it at all. The singer always found this funny, and it became a real exercise in watching the clock and taking the money. The lead guitarist and drummer formed a side-project. Fine, until they got the odd gig, and booked them on the same day as ours. We had to cancel - once again, it was all 'don't worry about it' - I did! Cut a saga short, the guitarist left, then the drummer was sacked, and singer resigned. Myself and the remaining guitarist decided to continue - essentially, I found the replacements whilst she complained about everything! I just wanted to fulfill the gigs. The issue was that the original bass player was very well connected, and had filled the diary for the year and a bit after he was sacked. We were living off his original bookings. This was the big issue - people not booking. Only person to book anything new was me. We used an online google calender - people can access and mark when they can't make a date. Works well, but the new members developed a habit of me booking gigs, and them then saying that they can't make it. Gig cancelled, left feeling an idiot. The re-bookings never happened. I kept offering to call, but the guitarist insisted she would....and kept saying it. Eventually, she starts going mad because there aren't any gigs. She lost her job months back, and doesn't get up until about 3pm. Then complains that by that time you can't get hold of anyone to book!! The direction we were taking - more pop - was great, but TBH, besides the singer, the rest weren't cutting it. I was losing interest, fast. Then we start rehearsing and people don't turn up. Lame excuses again. Final straw was last week, when the singer cancelled late on the day of rehearsal. My dog was put to sleep a few days before, and I had just had enough of not being happy. I was discussing by text with the guitarist the future...and I quit. Didn't hear anything from anyone for about 4 days at all. Eventually get a text - quite insincere, but wanting the passwords for the website I created. I ignored the text and deleted the webpage....petty, moi? Forward fast to today. Just taking it easy, got a couple of things in the pipeline, and a new offer today. My advice is what I should have done months ago - the minute it becomes a chore, jump ship. I'd rather be on a desert island playing along to a CD than be in a million miles of a group I don't care for. I just guess you live and learn! Sorry for the lengthy rant, but I hope it helps.

I'm also now going as I've booked my tickets for the Brighton Dome (see other 'off topic' post). I've never seen them live, so I'm really looking forward to catching JJ, one of my top 3 bassists, and a real inspiration. I read something recently with them saying that with Jet about 70 or something, they may slow things down in the near future....so I really want to see them whilst I can. I bought the last album after it was praised on here as a return to form, and I really like it. See you down the front!

I got my CV Jazz from Thomann's a few weeks back before the prices went up. Ordered Tuesday, arrived Friday. Delivery was free as over £199. Packaging was totally superb! I used to order drum stuff from them a few years back, and that was always good. This was my first guitar, and the whole transaction was easier and quicker than some UK places! Incidentally, I asked Soundslive to match the price (about £280) as they advertise such a service. They said they could do it for £300 from £319. Quite surprised as their price had only gone up a few days before!

Thanks everybody. I must say I am pretty intimidated by the idea......but I'll obviously do my best and see how we go. It started as as a 'yeah, or course...' and has ended up in 'oh ****'!!!

I've always been a good instinctive player....I've played a little jazz in the past....tend to just gain the basic note structure and kind of fill in the gaps....!

I've been making some inroads with a singer who currently performs swing sets (Darin/Sinatra/Monroe) etc. with backing tracks. He wants to do it with a small set-up pretty soon - bass, piano, maybe guitar. I've gone headlong into this - love a challenge and a chance to widen my repertoire - but I don't know the stuff to well. Any advice on playing in this style? I don't read music and never use tab....I always play by ear. However, some of the changes are quite hard to make out - does anyone know of any sites with easy transcriptions of some tracks? Just the key parts and I can fill the rest in myself! I may be mad, but at least it'll keep me busy as my 'main' band fell apart today!

I think you've got to pretty much give the people what they want. However, I reckon that some songs/artists are untouchable. Stuff that is so individual from the off, that any attempt to cover will end in disaster! I love The Fall and Beefheart.....two cases in point. If I saw any band trying either I salute their bravery! I used to own a Fall covers album purchased through the old (now gone) fanzine, The Biggest Library Yet. 2 sides of bands trying every aspect of Fall-dom. Pity was, it was all terrible. Don't know how MES knocks his bands into shape, but he does it amazingly well. Incidentally, the current Fall line-up is superb, for me their best since Steve Hanley left. Saw them in November, and MES still has it in spades.

I did a post on The Stranglers recently, about their newer stuff which I've not heard (a bit scared of after their 80's output after La Folie). Picked up Suite XVI, their last studio album. It's actually pretty good, far better than I expected. There's some great JJ vocals, and a great bass tone throughout. Let's also not forget that the band are also responsible for the best ever cover version, 'Walk On By'. You can also now get their '77 Peel Sessions and some live stuff from the early years on download from Amazon/Play etc. Super Stuff! I love their album tracks - Genetix, Ain't Nothin' To It, Sweden....so much to choose from. And has anyone ever looked cooler playing a P? Hell, his tone has even made me play one!

Still looking.........! Even on the local sites at the mo it's very quiet. Bad time of year!

First Bass - Sunn Mustang Precision 'Go To' Bass - Rickenbacker 4003 'Your' Bass - Rickenbacker 4003

"Marco, Merrick, Terry Lee....Gary Tibbs & Yours Truly" The genius of Ant Rrap.......!!

My first ever bass was a Sunn Mustang P-bass copy. Looked bad, played even worse, and was the weight of a small horse. Being my first, I didn't know how bad it was until I bought another bass.....I thought it was normal! I remember a friend having it passed to him at the time - he was sitting on a bed - I passed it over - the weight caught him umprepared and it sent him (and the bass) flying backwards!

I love the Roxy stuff up to their break in '75, not so keen on the 3 later records...but there were some good tracks - like SOS. Just don't get me started on Ferry and that son of his.......