Dom in Dorset

I was recently sent this slightly dodgy clip of my band Back Before Breakfast, three songwriters, acoustic, folk influences. we formed to do a one of gig a few years back and kept going, we've had a few line up changes since then , it's settled down to a group of friends who enjoy what we do. Three of us take lead vocals in turn. For some reason the guy playing acoustic guitar decided to dress up as Stevie Wonder's demented half brother (it was Glastonbury) We recently recorded a demo and I'll post a link to myspace once the new songs are on there. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umdKtSG3YlU&feature=youtu.be[/media]

Slightly OT but: I was working in a Wiltshire music shop when a car pulled up outside, in walked a familly from Wales who were on their way to Longleat for the day. They spotted the shop and thought they'd call in for a quick nose around before going on to the safari park. Before they left I'd sold them a grand paino.

I wasn'y buying strings but..... I hadn't done any serious bass playing for about five years,I'd been concentrating on folky stuff on bagpipes. I took my electric bass into a shop that's run by a friend of mine to see he'd sell it on my behalf. While I was waiting to see him I spotted an acoustic bass, picked it up , played it, kept playing until the man apeared , swapped my electric for the acoustic, left the shop. A month later I was thoroughly hooked on bass playing and had bought another electric, then I made a fretless , then....etc etc.

Is the whole string guide your work or just the nail? I once made a string guide using a trumpet valve cap, it's still in use.

Putting amplification asside... Jazz basses have a lot of variables to try before you find the sound that's right for you. I bought a Fender Jazz last August and only found my tone in December! You have to experiment with control settings (I usually use the settings given in my last post) , exactly how and where you pluck , strings (I put a set of D'addario nickel wound strings on and that was the biggest factor in unlocking the tone that I wanted)

It can be difficult to really get an idea of bass tone from youtube vids (IMO), the other thing I've noticed is that the pics I can find show a P/J configuration which can give a ritcher warmer sound. You could also try putting the neck pick up on full and the bridge half way, tone half way. Amplification?

Nothing by me as yet (lack of ability , practice and confidence) , this was recorded by a customer from Luxembourg http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/Audio/07-06/CoolinMarchClaudineD.mp3 There are a few others out there, by other players, I recently added some flute to a demo by my band, coming soon...

Irish in that they are the type used for Irish music. They are sometimes called "simple system", this style of flute fell out of favour with classical players around the turn of the century but survived as a folk instrument in Ireland (and other places). Mine are English (made in England) "Irish" flutes : (commercial content follows, mods feel free to remove) http://djallan.co.uk/page3.htm

Hi Gary Lee! For some reason I thought that you were Jake Johnson, never mind good to see you here. Dom

Here's mine, 2006 US Standard, it (sorry "She") originally had a white scratchplate. It's not unusual for me come come home from a gig or rehearsal and sit on the sofa playing unplugged.

Shakuhachi? ,I take my hat off to you, I play wooden western flutes myself but could even get a note out of one of those.

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1326498650' post='1498247'] i wonder what they do with the scratchplates... [/quote] Novelty frisbees?

I like it but It dosn't look like a Fender. I'm trying to work out how the knobs work, the spec says :[list] [*]Master Volume [*]Pan Pot [*]3-Band Active EQ with- [*][b]Treble Boost/Cut[/b]: +/- 10 db @ 8kHz, a shift in the cut frequency, and about a 2dB slope per octave. [*][b]Mid Boost/Cut[/b]: +10dB, -15dB @ 500Hz, and a wide band slope. [*][b]Bass Boost/Cut[/b]: +/- 12 db @ 40 Hz, with a 4dB slope per octave. [/list] So that's five knobs? I only see four.

Are there any left?

Thank you! A snip at £1796, I'll take two.

Third one down. What is that?

They are called Border Pipes (in England) or Lowland Pipes (in Scotland) the things you see at the Edinburgh tattoo played by men in skirts are Great Highland Bagpipes. The original border pipes were higher pitched (A of Bb) these are a modern version in D , it makes them better for playing with other instruments. Historically there was a similar bagpipe , popular during the 18th century called a Pastoral pipe that is believed to be the ancestor of the Uilleann pipes. The bellows fill the bag in the same way as your mouth would on other types of bagpipe, the advantage is that the bag and reeds are kept dry and are more stable and reliable. Every country in Europe has or had some form of bagpipe, similar pipes can be found today in France and Belgium.

You asked for it! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYT4Ksg-7N4[/media]

If Bass Doc can't help try here :http://www.guitarselectric.co.uk/USAMex_JAZZ_BASS_SCRATCH_PLATE_in_4_Colours/p207303_3419136.aspx They'll send you a paper template to try before you buy.

I built the twin to get around the problems of switching basses mid gig, about a year later I got the Jazz . I feel guilty if I don't regularly use the Jazz, I'll often play it at a gig , come home then play it unplugged for a while , I'm that smitten. I suspect that my studio set up might slim down over time ,I only used the active 5 fretless because I haven't had it long and wanted to give it an outing.

We were tidying up recording for my band's demo last night and it occurred to me that I used three basses on four tracks. Fretless (active 5 string), fretted Jazz and the fretted side of my twin neck (it has my preferred slap tone, I only play anything resembling slap on one number) These days I tend to just take the Jazz out to gigs unless we have a good long unhurried set with a good sound man. Is this unusual?

A friend of mine was asked by a co-worker (university librarian) why he couldn't repair his bag (his bagpipe bag) with an Elastoplst, it was "made from a sheep's stomach, is it not?"

While they may have spent time with different basses James Jamerson and Carol Kaye are both most associated with Precision basses. You may find a particular string type (ie flatwound) will give a more retro sound. I most associate Macca with the Hofner violin bass , couldn't really advise on how to get that sound. The main issue for me is the scale length, I don't like short scale basses, I'd guess that I'm in the majority, that's not to say that it isn't for you. My gut instinct is that the Precision is the more versatile bass, shop around , there are many variations, you may find a lightweigh precision.... or try an SG and fall in love ... or ....