leschirons

Cheers all for the "keep on rockin" encouragement. I know I'll enjoy it, just worried that I have enough stamina and brain cells.

[quote name='Delberthot' post='454566' date='Apr 5 2009, 10:22 AM']we used to do that version of Word Up years ago - fantastic. We also currently do a few of the others. Part of the reason that I have been investing in lightweight gear and easier ways to transport it is so that I'm not completely broken by the time I reach my 50s so i can still keep on playing. Isn't it every rockers wish right at the end to die on stage in front of hundreds of screaming fans and go down in a blaze of glory as a legend?[/quote] You got it right there, a blaze of electrocuted or heart failure glory, on stage. Sad thing is, I played a rock gig a few years back and the vocalist said (over the P.A.) "This will definately be the last song as our bassplayer has a Bowls match in the morning" And he wasn't lying.

Smooth jazz sextet finally fell to bits on the starting line last week. What with keyboard players who are too busy (he writes jingles and stuff for radio and TV) and a pro sax player that won't get out of bed for less than €300, I suppose it was doomed. Shame as it was really good doing a bit of Sade', Larry Carlton and Richard Elliot stuff. Anyway, the point of this is, being a tad down, I decided I needed something to do so, with three others (2 Brits and a French mate) we decided to play some rock. One rehearsal and we have the first set nailed. It's funny that after having heard all these songs over the years, how easy it is to actually play them. Familiarity with the song I suppose. Highway to Hell You shook me all night long Smoke on the water Don't believe a word Word up (Gunn version) Pretty vacant Hush Nothing else matters Enter Sandman Rosalie Whiskey in the jar You really got me (VH version) It's my life Dead or alive Bugger me if we didn't get a gig for June so should be plenty of time to get another hour up and running. It could be fun but I can't help wondering if I'm too old for all this. Forgot Paradise City, see what I mean? too old.

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='453277' date='Apr 3 2009, 11:43 AM']I've just had a look at the value of my car and its about the same as the price as the Celinder Update J I sold recently (depreciation on the car of about 50% over the 3 years I've owned it). When I compare the two in terms of mechanical sophistication, technology and sheer amenity, there's no comparison. The car should be worth way more. I know its to do with market forces and all that but still nevertheless, the idea of trading my car (with its ABS, airbags, electric windows, cd player/radio, precision engineering etc.) for a couple of bits of wood bolted together with some hardware, magnets and basic wiring doesn't seem quite right. Any one else feel the same way?[/quote] Not meaning to sound condescending but I can see straight away where you've gone wrong with your car investment. Yours has "Precision engineering" that's your problem, you should have bought one with "Jazz" engineering. It would have kept it's value better.

[quote name='bumnote' post='454375' date='Apr 4 2009, 08:55 PM'] This is the earliest picture I can find from about 1967 I am playing a danelectro belzouki 12 string [for the birds so you want to be a rock and roll star and eight miles high probably] through a marshall 100 watt stack. I also had a jaguar or a tele Note the home made trousers from curtain material and shoes which were hand painted. I was a crap lead guitar but a good rythm player.[/quote] Great pic and cool strides, vocalist looks like he's going to be asking "Do you want fries with that?" someday. Some gear investment there too, did you have wealthy parents? Pretty ground breaking covers for the time what with 8 miles high and R & R star. You must've been pretty good. Nice one.

Make sure you've got few crowd pleasers in the sets for the old gits like me. For pubs and clubs, a good starting P.A (economy wise) would be a studiomaster Vision 708. 700 watts powered mixer, built in effects, really robust and cheap on ebay. A pair of 400 - 500 watt passive cabs are next to nothing secondhand. Biggest problem you're going to have is not finding the band members, but finding reliable ones and keeping them once they know you want to rehearse probably once a week. They'll all say "yes, count me" in until the committment starts. Other than that, it'll be great fun (and lucrative if you're sh*t hot) Good luck mate, go for it.

[quote name='YouMa' post='453795' date='Apr 4 2009, 01:03 AM']Would love to have a beer sometime and hear some stuff,my dad saw earth in carlisle,im off to bed now,it wasnt that long ago when you think about it,time does fly doesnt it,bit of a bugger really.[/quote] Jeez, I'm talking to a guy who's dad was probably at the same gigs as me. I'll get me Phylosan.

Seriously cool

[quote name='YouMa' post='453715' date='Apr 3 2009, 10:18 PM']Im just turned 34 mate but i have a lot of time for you guys,what a fantastic explosive time,my last bird nearly dumped me because i spent so much time with her mother talking about 60s london,what a time,you lucky man. Cmon over and ill get the stash out.[/quote] Lucky? Certainly. Because I happened to be growing up at the right time and in the right place. You couldn't buy that now. Was fortunate enough to see Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher, John Mayall, Jethro Tull, The Birds (as in Ronnie Wood) Free, Peter Green, early Genesis, Spencer Davis, Peace (Paul Rodgers, after Free and before Bad Company) Black Sabbath when they were called Earth, Black Widow, Spookey Tooth, First Supertramp gig (sorry) Mott the Hoople, East of Eden, Argent etc. They were great days but I did start young. I was at the Marquee every week since the age of 15. Also saw some great bands at the Cooks Ferry inn at Edmonton. Great that you're into such a great period of music. Next time I'm over, I'll bring Harpic and my old copy of Fill your head with Rock.

[quote name='Linus27' post='453206' date='Apr 3 2009, 11:06 AM']Tomorrow afternoon I have my first ever audition. In the 20 years of playing I have never had one before. Always been in bands with friends. So as you can imagine, I am a little nervous especially as for the last year I have been learning to play with fingers and I really want to play with fingers in this audition. 20 years of pick player is a hard habit to change. All the songs are original and I feel fairly comfortable with what I have learnt so far despite some of the bass being hard to hear in the mix. Can anyone offer me some pointers, tips or advice for my audition. Thanks. [/quote] 20 years of playing? you only look about 22 in your pic. You must be the "Peter Pan" of bass players. Hope it went well for you and you got the gig.

[quote name='YouMa' post='452964' date='Apr 3 2009, 08:01 AM']You look a bit like the early pink fairies,cool photos.[/quote] Whoa YouMa, you're either my age or a rock historian. The Pink Faries. What a band. Twink was one of my heroes. I never saw them with the first drummer (Russell someone) I think Martin Stone joined then later on from possibly, Savoy Brown Blues band? Don't quote me on that, I partook of far too many dubious substances in those days. Never tried Harpic though!

I used to buy Bassist mag. It then stopped being produced with the assurance that Guitarist would now be "Guitarist, incorporating Bassist magazine. Now, if you buy Guitarist mag, you get a £80 pactice combo and a £199 bass reviewed and nothing about any players.

[quote name='YouMa' post='452851' date='Apr 2 2009, 11:29 PM']Awesome more please lads,anyone support barrett era floyd,or anything like that. Peter greens something to be very proud of though,better than clapton in my opinion.[/quote] You'll be sorry you asked. Here's a few. Surrounded by Marshalls at a dingy club in Brighton. Seem to remember our PA was Fender. Bassisit then had really nice early Gibson (big Jack Bruce fan) Also, one of us three trying to look cool. Me on the left trying to look like Mitch Mitchell. Bro in the middle was a big Luther Grosvenor fan. (Spooky Tooth) One of me after buying the secondhand marching drum to add to the kit, and the invoice for my bro's first fuzz box. Club pic depicts us in full throw doing our version of Sky Pilot (Animals I think) in which we used to stick a chunk of Rhapsody in Blue in the middle. We thought we were going to change the world by inventing prog rock. Bro's guitar was a chopped Strat as he is lefthanded so the horns came off.

I'm intrigued now. Is it possible to read really old threads? How d'ya do that?

[quote name='Stingray5' post='452080' date='Apr 1 2009, 10:47 PM']My ironing board rarely sees the light of day, basically 'cos I'm crap at ironing! I think it will at least get that bit more use now - especially when it comes to the ol' 'steam' bass...!! [/quote] Your the first person I've come across that's got a Tune 6 string. I had been looking for one up until 6 months ago. Fabulous bit of kit. Nice one.

First gig 1968 but on drums (sorry) Had a John Grey kit. Brother (guitarist had a Gibson Melodymaker and our bassplayer had a sunburst Fender jazz (bought new from Freedmans in Leytonstone High road) He later bought the first ever 200 watt Marshall bass stack I'd ever seen with 2 4x12s. I heard Ginger Baker for the first time and bought a secondhand, second bass drum. Moved on to Premier drums and ended up in the 70's supporting East of Eden, Mighty Baby, Genesis and other proggy rockers. Saw the light 20 years ago and took up bass. Had a Ford Thames van and being the youngest, had to sit on the engine cover in the middle and get my arse burnt after 5 minutes of driving. Good times. We all thought we were going to be Gods.

Do you get the backache when playing at home? Could be lugging the rig into gigs before you play making you think it's the bass.

I'll tell the wife. Cheers.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='449745' date='Mar 30 2009, 06:26 PM']I don't doubt they're great instruments, but I'm not sure they've been"fashionable" for many, many years! Mark King is hardly the epitome of cool![/quote] Maybe he isn't the epitome of "cool" but was probably responsible for 20% of the Brit bass playing population being in existence.

When I bought my first 5, I tended to just use the low B as a thumb anchor but then really got into it. There's something about that low D when no-one's expecting it. Now, I do tend to play my E's on the fifth fret. It certainly opens up more opportunities. Biggest killer for 4 string players is vocalists deciding they want to do stuff in Eb

As the funk has stated. The Rocco vids are a great help. He puts a lot of emphasis on 16th note practice so I suppose getting that nice and smooth and dropping in your accents is a good way to start.

Bugger, When I read "Jeff" I assumed it would be the other one, that can play. Lost interest now,

You could buy a set of 5 strings and use the lower 4 but you'd have to file out the nut so maybe a cheapy fiver would be the answer. Must be loads on here for sale, or ebay.

Used to use Hi-beams but they are a bit restrictive due to price. They last and stay pretty bright but it's still all down to cleaning right after playing and not leaving your bass out of the case at home or in the studio. You can kill a set of strings by leaving the bass out for a month even if you don't play it. I now use Elites on the 4 (good value for money IMO) and exposed core F bass on the 5.