Dr.Dave

[quote name='Musky' post='395951' date='Jan 31 2009, 08:56 AM'] I posted about this guy in the overpriced listings thread, but it seems that his first attempt has been cancelled. I might just list a screw from my '74 P bass at a bit below his asking price, just to wind him up. [/quote] Brilliant idea and very tempting , but I think we'd be better off just ignoring this kind of thing. Here in the real world we can come on these forums and talk about playing and gear and crack nob gags. Guys like this belong in another world that has little to do with any of that.

Where is it written that a particular type of music has to have a particular type of bass sound requiring a particular instrument. This is 2009. Music develops as time goes by , so do instruments and sounds. If you play the instrument you like you've more chance of creating good music. Besides - don't most modern basses have tone controls??

I'd happily hawk round for a used squier Jazz with a comfy feeling neck , bung some wizards in it and go do the gig. With the first gig's money I'd get myself a badass for it and never look back. I don't find a Jazz body that comfy but for the purposes of this thread I should think anyone could do any gig they were asked to with a bass like that.

[quote name='Hector' post='394618' date='Jan 29 2009, 02:51 PM']I'd like to think of myself as a musician first and bass player second.[/quote] You'll do for me - my thoughts exactly.

Practise scales and technique regularly Don't compete with the guitar player Never , ever show off ................ are three things totally alien to me!!!!!! I just go for it , Al. Where there's a hole - I'll fill it. The basics can be very easy and I stick to those til we've done a new tune 2 or 3 times then I just let it develop. If I cock something I do it in the next verse too and everybody thinks it was deliberate. Eventually Martin and I click with the drum bass fills and the song works. If it doesn't sound like anyone expected we care not a jot. Do not be afraid to roll your own , it's very easy for the bass player in a blues band to be the forgotten man at the back. That doesn't suit me and from what I know of your guitar playing history and entertainment/enjoyment factor it won't suit you either. I think this could put a smile back on your face which will put smiles on your audiences faces too. That's the job. That's how you do it in the venues you'll likely be playing. I'm not making a gag of this and in no way trashing the sensible comments of others - I just think you could really shine at this if you don't play it too safe and treat your mistakes as a learning process with a wry smile at yourself.

Surely everybody's who's interested has already had a dibble on my Shuker so I reckoned those of you bringing sunglasses would prefer the shame of a possible pic of yourself playing my Blue Flower Fender !!! Might bring the Shukerised Status too as I'm desperate to have it pointed out to me that the pots feel a bit dodgy when you twiddle them. Unless anyone would rather I substitute one of those for the 73P so you can all see how to devalue 2 grands worth of bass by simply upgrading the crap bits!!

I've no beef with short scale instruments or their players but I'm less convinced that a 'travel' bass in a shorter than 34" scale would be of much help to 'regular' scale players. I should think most would take a bass on hol. or similar for practise purposes and where's the point in practising on a bass that's so different to your usual one?? Something along the lines of a Hohner B2 is cheap to find used and is 34" scale - that would be more use to me. If scale length is to be sacrificed by players who normally play 34" for the sake of portability - why not go the whole hog and get an Ashbory?? Just my opinion - I'll be just as interested to see what Prosebass comes up with but I'd be thinking of it as a full time , portable instrument rather than a part time 'travel' one.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='392264' date='Jan 26 2009, 11:12 PM']Well said, that man! To take the cliche several stages further, I'd say they're not just the dog's danglies, but in fact the whole dog, his mother, father & entire genetic lineage as well![/quote] Mine's non-canine metaphoric but is the chocolate starfish of a feline domestic quadroped. (NOTE - in the world of Status classification - other animals ,and their rude parts, are available)

[quote name='Adrenochrome' post='389649' date='Jan 23 2009, 03:11 PM']STICKER Can I have JON (maybe in brackets) as well - I never really use my Avatar name and I'll forget who I'm supposed to be![/quote] I see you're playing at the Crimea tonight - in which case you won't need a name sticker as we'll all recognise you from the full body cast and wheelchair !!!!! However - 2 of us that have survived the Crimea - allbeit as bitter, broken men will be along to the bash and will both need a STICKER (Dr) Dave and (Funkmaster) Dave

[quote name='Kev' post='384498' date='Jan 18 2009, 11:10 PM']iv seen them before, but they look really, really bright. Anyone used them before to comment? id love to have blue side led's fitted to my status neck[/quote] Thinking much the same I emailed Sims and asked. If I sent them the neck off mine (graphite bolt-on) they'd install side LED's and send it back leaving me to make 2 simple solder connections and route a battery wire (supplied) into the control cavity - can't remember if a switch was included but the batery clip was. £180 they said.

[quote name='Rayman' post='389034' date='Jan 22 2009, 09:22 PM']I have [i]got[/i] to see your ZZ top band Doc. Is Dr Blue involved in the Colne festival this year? Why don't you go in a new direction Al? Dub reggae? Metal? You could wear a wig.[/quote] Not sure about Colne. We were at the Limelight Club in Crewe last Sat and will be there again later this year. We're doing the Hark to Towler , Bury way too. When I get dates for those or dates for anything else within a non silly driving distance of Stockport I'll let you know. Come to think of it - anywhere in Stockport good for us to try???

[quote name='Rich' post='384698' date='Jan 19 2009, 09:27 AM']Thread will be locked IMMEDIATELY on the first appearance of a jellied eel or pearly king. :lol:[/quote] Do what? Not many ahncle - here's a fing I fahnd in the lock aaaaaaap [url="http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Diner/2674/chash_b.htm"]http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Diner/2674/chash_b.htm[/url] Showing the Chas Hodges is also a bass player and had an interesting bass playing career with a lot of interesting musicians before deciding that 'this nahmbers for the Queen Mam and the twins dahn the slammer gawd bless 'em'.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='388313' date='Jan 22 2009, 10:54 AM']I'll probably end up in some sad classic rock embarassment[/quote] Works for me

I think it's too much on the fingerboard but I quite like the body inlays. I don't like the bass much , like it's built from spares , but I like the body.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='387915' date='Jan 21 2009, 07:40 PM']Thanks a million Cameron - I've been in touch with them already. I'll keep you posted.[/quote] Tip for ,Alan, you re. the blues band should you go and have a play with them......... It's in 'A' I thought it might come to this - you've sounded very peed off of late re. the band. As you say it's a bloody shame. Hope you get sorted out soon , matey.

Good old Vintage and Rare. I'm sure they , and their like , are responsible for some of the unrealistic telephone numbers we see on 'vintage' basses in our classifieds. One sure fire way to not sell your bass is to use V and R's prices as a guideline to set yours.

[quote name='Eight' post='382564' date='Jan 16 2009, 04:08 PM']Is that you then? [/quote] Ha! Top marks for deduction and cynicism but no - I've nothing for sale nor am I pointing you towards friends of mine or similar. I just think a Fender style bass is a great 'improver' instrument and could easily end up being all you'll ever want. Bare in mind too that resale is easy with a Fender should you wish to trade up later. I'm a great believer in breaking rules - but in order to break a rule it helps to know it first , if you catch my drift. A Fender is the absolute 'reference' instrument in that respect.

Just to act as a bit of a champion for the Fender cause............... Folk have been using Fender Jazz and Precision basses for 50 ish years to make every form of music imaginable. You're perfectly entitled to think every single one of them is wrong but - if I were you - I'd figure that with only a few weeks experience I'm not yet in a position to say that. So - dull looking as you may find them - seriously consider a Fender style instrument as a good 'reference' and workhorse as you begin your journey. Doesn't have to have the magic F on the headstock as there are many quality copies available. Having said that a used Mexican made Fender P or J is certainly within your budget and a look at the classifieds here should soon sort you out. I think you'll find the likely seller here is honest,helpful and knowledgeable.

[quote name='thedonutman' post='380547' date='Jan 14 2009, 06:45 PM']I built this when I was 13/14, with no experience of woodwork or using power tools at all You should see the neck pocket routing.......[/quote] I just about made the Tirpitz out of a plastic kit at that age - don't knock the neck pocket - that's a fantastic achievement.

When 'Funkmaster' Dave and I went to visit Jon we both played 2 artists that were in stock - maybe they were orders , not sure. One had the schertler pup system , the other piezo. We were both impressed with both basses and Dave esp. was knocked out by the tone of the schertler one. He'd just bought a Jack Bruce Warwick fretless or I think he'd have had to be dragged away.

It's def. a Mex - with the upgrades I doubt you'd get what you wanted for it so if the neck's good I'd keep it and love it.