ian61

I'm from the isle of Wight with a big holiday season, pubs, bars, beach side cafes etc, so we had a couple nice shops. Tom Taylors in Sandown. Remember an Orange 120 bass bin rig in the window, crazy and so 70's. In Ryde there was 'Guitar Centre' which was actually the converted lower half of a two up two down house, but full of stuff. Saturday afternoons were always fun as the local heroes would drift in.... And Teagues the sprawling classical instrument store which had a tentative go at the 'pop' stuff. Saw my very first bass amp ever in there, an HH 15" combo... I was only 13 and totally hooked.

Ive just finished doing up a Squire VM P/J bass which suffered some damage. Have to say its probably the best bass Ive owned and in 3 decades Ive had them all. SD PU, light and resonant with a very good neck. Had a couple of vintage P basses which were dogs in comparison.

Firstly, forget about tone that comes with experience. Agree with everyone else really, purchase the bass that feels right and comfortable and easy to play and not by what it says on the headstock.

Cant think of a festival in recent years which was any different. This boom and bust mixing thing is the pits. Times I've sidled over to the desk, pint in hand but then thought better of it. But yes totally agree the vast majority of "sound guys" haven't a clue.

If it's actually a serious unresolvable team problem the only solution is a Jazz or PJ and go Jaco honk thru the bridge PU only and crank the mids and vol ....That'll get everyones attention asap.

The other solution is buy him a vintage Fender Rhodes and for him to learn to play it right. Pretty much one funky 70's tone and little pure bass. Best band I ever played in was with keys playing one of those.....Light tones that worked everywhere.

Or super glue his left hand to the floor. Its an age old battle which only the most mature, musically knowledgeable keyboard players will let you win. Good luck.

Well I had custom moulded ones and they would gradually by the end of the first set work their way out which was pretty worrying being hit by a wall of noise. Went over to a pair of el cheapo soft black three cups for pennies and no more probs and ears feel fresh and relaxed after a three hr set.

"Clearer" does not necessarily mean better either, but too loud for the room was and is always bad.

ISTBC. Yes its actually 'Disturbing the Peace'... but I think you knew what I meant.

A breach of the peace is just that and it doesn't take into account who had first dibbs so to speak, which is galling when a venue has been in place for years and then the new build next door has the power to shut it down....AFAIC the law needs changing.

Yes it takes a bit of practise. Start simple and build upwards. One trick when singing is to simplify the line your playing, kinda fudge it a bit. To think I once sang lead vocal on 'Forget Me Knots' in a three piece? Can barely even play the bass line anymore...The exuberance of youth can achieve pretty much anything.

Well, the PG looks period correct, smooth headed tuners too, pretty difficult to fake, other than that and what with the decal the whole ensemble could be anything. If it plays well and feels good for the right price its probably great....For the wrong price its going to be a mill stone..

Totally agree with you, IWYB is a stellar piece of bass writing and playing. I think the problem is he didnt really play on that much that is known, as saxophone was his primary instrument which he played on the Steve McQueen film, Bullit among others.

Songbird. Christines genius wrote it and Eva made it popular. Both versions are just amazing, and Johnny Cashes Hurt is just sublime..off the scale.

I understand where your coming from tho I beg to differ... cite "Darling Dear" and a whole tone of additional Motown lines as one collective example. Simple can actually get in the way of the musicality of the piece. The best line will support the melodic shape of the tune and can be either busy or simple.

He's also proof positive that you dont need a million squid 10 banger to play Jazz. He plays that ole P bass on everything and sounds very good. Top reader too.

Thanks for this. Yes Patrice is a mean Jazz pianist too.... very talented.

Just clicked on a few vids today, I hadn't been that interested tbh and then watching them it dawned on me. I was 12 yr when Paranoid was released and I suddenly remembered how shocking it was, kinda scary. Death, Grunge, and all the rest owe them large ... Anyway the old eyes welled up today, who'da guessed. Cheers Ozzy.

Haha .. How many times have I heard that from the punters. On the other hand I did a festival years back and you could have sworn I was playing an Alembic with fresh rounds. I was actually playing an old P bass with very dead Chromes. FOH will do with us as they see fit.,

God knows what I heard then cause the clip defo sounded like a live band on a big stage singing the GG tune and it sounded nothing like Hello. More radio trickery it seems.

The radio this morning seemed to suggest they opened with Gary Glitters brilliant 'Good To Be Back'? Odd, seeing how opinionated they are.

Had some finger joint problems a few years back and found a simple change of technique helped a lot.