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Old grumpy guy answer is that a Precision bass is made by Fender or Squier, says "Precision Bass" on the headstock (NOT delux/lite/whatever) has ONE split coil pickup (P/J is a P/J). Anything else is something else, at least to a bass player. Non-bassist probably think everything is just a guitar, so they do not count.....at all. Seriously, we need to be as careful as any professional about our terms. "Hand me that P bass" does not mean "hand me that 4/5/6/7 stringed instrument with 4 pickups, active electronics, and a Hello Kitty sticker". A G&L is not a P Bass. Fancy Euro copy...still not a P Bass. P basses are like Ford Model T's..unique, old fashioned, revered. I do wish I still had one because there is nothing quite like it for what it does. Hmmm....maybe I should sell everything off and find a nice old sunburst, rosewood example????

Hey, That song has an interesting journey through numerous famous and almost-famous sidemen...including the Classics IV

I'd love to do "Champagne Jam" and "Spooky" with the group I am currently in, but I don't think they would buy it. Funny how my stateside experiences are different....I suggested some Seger, and was asked who that was......

Yup....Eagles, Poco, Jackson Browne, Paul Simon, Neil Young, etc...what a bunch of losers, right......?....

I did not think ARS was that popular on this side of the pond....saw them live once in the Midwestern US. Paul Goddard was the real deal...played a Rick, I think....

Ronstadt’s band was the Stone Poneys. She had a lot to do with the formation of the Eagles, and toured with them and Pure Prairie League in the 70’s…I saw them in Denver…great concert! IMO, one of the most noteworthy musicians of that era and pretty much responsible for and entire genre of country/folk rock. Her documentary is well worth watching.

It is a strange business. I personally don't care that much about how a bass looks. It can, however, amaze me with how it plays or sounds. I don't know about anyone else, but I really don't notice how my bass looks when I am playing it. If I think it is pretty, more the better, but it is the sound that impresses me most.

Okay....send it on over...:)

My Pedulla MPV-5. Neck to die for, sustain for days, consistent tone and feel across all 5 strings. The best thing, however is how it responds to different playing techniques. I find that I don’t need to tweak controls to get the sound I want. I tried some other 5’s lately, I including some pretty expensive ones, and they don’t even come close.

Reminds me of this….used to have one…nice bass!

Great 2nd gig with the new band. The Rose and Crown in Elmsett….good crowd, played well, free drinks!

A nice stained or clear finish over a beautiful slab of maple, preferably flamed or bird’s eye.

Okay..thanks! I love using my fretless in a jazz setting. Am currently playing in an old guy rock band, but really want to use it there as well.....looking for an excuse, I guess

Just curious...what style of music do you most frequently play?

I've always used the same bass for practicing and gigging. Now that I have both a fretted and fretless bass, I will play on both, but almost always use the fretted one on rock gigs. If I ever get a chance to use the fretless though, I will, cause I love the feel and the sound of it!

1. Drunks (in or out of the band) 2. People who show up for rehearsal unprepared (like, at all) 3. Folks taking themselves too seriously 4. Playing the bass part on the keyboard (maybe this is #2) 5. Out of tune guitar 6. Ridiculous written bass parts That is a good start...I am sure there are more...

For me, Stanley C. School Days

I was in Germany with a group of students from my school and another for an Honor Jazz Festival. I was tasked with coaching the rhythm section in the big band and also playing both fretted and fretless bass for the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. We worked with a clinician from New York, who assigned me a couple of challenging parts. It was a great week with some really talented teenagers and a super final concert. I hope to post some sound files soon.

I think there often a double standard. I just finished a jazz real book session ( not my favorite thing to do) and felt real pressure to nail every chord change and keep it stylistically accurate, and follow Byzantine explanations all while keeping great time. Soloist, however, have tons of freedom to play anything that pops into their heads. Just a expectation we live with.

First gig in a long time and with the new band in Fordham. Small venue, but good crowd and a perfect place for a first gig. Things went well with a few expected lapses of memory. Really happy to be part of this group…great guys and good musicians.

I guess that is wise....I've just never had a problem. I have had more issues with vehicle failures/power failures (at the venue), bad leads, drunken guitarists I'm guess that, if I had to, I could probably change a string in about 3 minutes. The only thing I don't trust is the 9v in my main bass, and the 9v in my backup.....hmmm, maybe I need 3????

Sorry…must be an Americanism. When studying music at uni, you were either a jazz player or a legit (classical) player

And how many times has a bass failed during a gig? I just don’t see it as mandatory.

I think it all depends on the type of gig, amount of time you have spent with the group, and what resources are available. I have recently joined a covers band. We have a rehearsal tonight, and a gig on Saturday. My goal is to 1. get the chord progressions and style right..then 2. do the appropriate riffs in the right places...then 3. start to incorporate unique things the band does with certain songs, and also to be able to anticipate and react to mood changes in each song. I think this is a process, and takes a while to really get comfortable with in a new group. For jazz or legit music, I can sightread and always have a lead sheet or the printed part in front of me. If it is really difficult, or just written weird (a lot of contemporary big band stuff), then I learn that in chunks so I am not really reading every note, just the phrases. FWIW, I really don't like improv jam sessions with Real books...I find them boring and just full of ego and fluff. Just not my bag..I do it to be polite.