Gust0o

I've enjoyed most Gibson basses I've had the pleasure of playing. They have some unique characteristics, in almost all cases - some would call them flaws; some would call them features. In any case, they have certainly attempted to do things with their instruments that Fender, the masters of copy and paste, have not considered at any great length. Doesn't always mean they've worked, mind My main complaint at the minute is the (seemingly) extortionate prices on the new models. You can pick up a vintage RD Artist for cheaper than the new Novoselic model, and I don't think you need me to suggest which might be the more attractive purchase.

Instead of deciding by name alone, do we know of what kinds of lives they all lived? I'm assuming you'd want to capture something of the man in the work, so that be perhaps the best place to start - and I imagine stories of drugs, wild parties, and rock and roll (substitute for knitwear, jazz festivals and elbow patches in this instance) would make a more interesting [i]write[/i] as well as a a read, no?

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1330605632' post='1560149'] I have found true love in my chrome Warwick Streamer. I adore it so much that I sold all my other basses. It is the ONE. [/quote] What will I feel when I get there? I mean, do I already own 'the one' and am just too ignorant to know it? Or will it leap out at me, and be heads and shoulders above anything else? I feel a bit of failure for not having worked this out.

Is that yours Bilbo? I don't know you as Dan, but if you've written one on him already, superb.

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1330602930' post='1560060'] Percy Heath is an infamous location for dogging and such, isn't it? getting coat and legal brief. [/quote] I voted on this basis, for reference. One man and his dog: dogging. We've closed the Jazz loop here, people. We must have product on Percy Heath.

"One man and his dog: the trials and tribulations of a jazz bassist". I can see it now. I've voted, but didn't see Ron Carter on the list. Has he been done?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1330597599' post='1559889'] No shame in that. A lot of people on here are the bass-playing equivalent of chronic masturbators! [/quote]

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1330590143' post='1559719'] all insurance is a legalised scam i had kitty insurance - it was costing me 25 per month - thats £300 per year - you either cant claim for small things or its not worth the hassle if you can - my avergae annual vets bills for kitty were about 200 ish - is better off using the 300 you would have sepnt on insurance to give kitty a healthy diet which leads to less trips to the vet and save a wee bit for any vet emergencies [/quote] That sounds like you bought a product which didn't suit your apparent needs, rather than insurance being a legalised scam. Many people do self-insure, in term of putting aside what they would pay in premiums as a fund should the risk the insurance would have covered be realised.

If we're reverting to 14 year-old virgins, can someone give me some advance warning - I need a quick work with my younger self.

So, retiring to bed at a reasonable hour for a change, I picked up my now tattered copy of Guy Pratt's "My bass and other animals". It's a good read for tucking down the side of the bed, light-hearted and entertaining. You're unlikely to drift off and dream of hoodoo after flicking through a few pages; though if you want something to cut through insomnia, James Joyce would be a better bet. However, I thumbed it open on the pages where he discovers his love for what is now his stacked-knob jazz, Betsy - from discovering it in someone elses hands, to finding it on his doorstep post-wedding. It's quite nice, that idea that people find "the one" - and, when you start to think about it, there are plenty of other examples. Sure, a lot of players have played all kinds of things, but so many of them go back to that special one. A bit like romance. You'll flirt with some; make a fool of yourself with others; but you know true love. Or do you? I'll admit, I don't. Avoiding the gaze of my fellow commuters this morning, I felt a failure. I don't have one. I'm the bass-playing equivalent of shagging around - a little bit here, a little bit there. It's like being a teenager again. Can you find bass-playing love? Or are you doomed to wandering-eyes and loose hands, doomed to brief dalliances and fits of ecstasy... before chucking it into For Sale?

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1330592930' post='1559768'] BUT.... BUT.... You're not happy with the bridge pickup though. That needs fixing you know! What about when you really NEED that awesome bridge pickup sound eh? Nah, you'll be back [/quote] +1. There is no such thing as an "end to GAS" - it's a fallacy invented in the depths of euphoria, and often after a new purchase when you're justifying it to your wife/creditors/inner monologue. We look forward to see you again

Well, that's ok - I totally disagree with it, but it's good to know the official line and I can respect it I guess it goes back to the individual to moderate their own business.

[quote name='Earbrass' timestamp='1330535288' post='1559053'] Try asking [url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7371959.stm"]this[/url] chap? [/quote] FFS, I wanted this joke

Plenty of insurance policies pay out... a quick look at the annual results from our GI colleagues confirms that. However, unlike some of the more common markets, insurance for musical instruments appears to be a law unto itself. These are often high-value, easy to steal/damage items. And, let's face it, some of our muso colleagues are not the most distinguished of citizens. I can only imagine that the underwriting is swingeing and caveated to hell and back.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1330509824' post='1558420'] I have to go with the fawning/stalker thing here. If someone posts and you relate to it, then great, if you don't then that is just another poster. Relate to the person not the circus or all the rest. [/quote] I've been fawning over JT for a week now, and I am in total agreement If this were Talkbass we could start a Star struck club. With me as #1, obviously, it's my club. That kind o' ting seems important on TB, which is also a chest condition.

No moderator comment?

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1330457376' post='1557884'] In any event, simple courtesy demands we should treat him with the respect we'd show any new member and interact as we would with anyone else here. [/quote] Absolutely. And for everyone else, what kind of frigging stalking do you call this? f***ing amateur hour.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1330448022' post='1557671'] You must know guys who play and who are out there gigging. Tap them up and see if they want to do another band. No one needs to stick with one band and most good players have more than that on the go. If you see someone whose playing you like..and you think your playing would fit in..talk to them at their gig and go from there. [/quote] Bingo. You could just go and have a jam and take it from there...

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1330447298' post='1557645'] Sometimes living in a small/rural town can restrict your opportunities. [/quote] Examples include: finding a wife outside of the family; avoiding certain genetic characteristics; etc You have come, as you say, to a 'somewhat drastic decision' - I don't think you mean it, but just need a gee up. I don't think there's any miracle source for finding new opportunities - you try the band forums, the music forums; etc, and eventually something will come along and catch your eye.

Oh, I should have asked this earlier - we had a situation where three of our four band members were wearing glasses. We were in danger of starting to look like Weezer, so we used to draw lots as to who could keep his glasses on the night. I astigmatic and have trouble working out distances without the gogs, so invariably got to keep mine - nothing like your giant bass player losing depth perception on stage, as a precursor to disaster!