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Test … one … two … check … … it’s a miracle! I can post pictures again!

I’ve been having difficulties posting pics , but I’ll try … [url=https://postimages.org/][img]https://i.postimg.cc/CKzG7hcb/IMG-1277.jpg[/img][/url]

I found a kijiji ad that was about six months old , someone in Cape Breton was selling a Dan Armstrong for about $450 Cdn. Messaged the seller , no reply. And made a post on Facebook about the one that got away. An old friend in California told he had a Chinese copy , and it was mine , completely unexpected. And when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised. Put a worn in set of flats on it , slightly tweaked the action , and have used it on gigs. The weight was lighter than expected but it does have some heft. Quite a chunky neck , I’m ok with that , I’m quite accustomed to various neck sizes , and I’ve found a good old school thump with flats and the tone rolled back. I quite enjoy it! 32 inch scale.

I have Instagram and Facebook accounts. As a retired photographer , bass player and amp nerd I put up pics. And the odd garden pic. Spend more time on Facebook than Instagram. The pics , except for the garden shots are just generally done with an IPad. https://www.instagram.com/scotbrownmorrow/ https://www.facebook.com/morrow.scotbrown

Can you bring a stool and sit down ?

In the 70’s everyone was putting DiMarzios , Badass bridges and brass nuts on their Pbasses. Today just about all of those are now back to stock. You never know …

Last year we lost an institution in our local blues scene , Barry Cook. Piano player , had been dealing with various health issues , the doctors had described his heart as a time bomb , and home after a great gig , it gave out. We did a memorial gig for him Friday night in the old blues dive downtown. The core band was mostly bandmates , unfortunately a featured guitar player was unable to attend because of previous commitment , a replacement was quickly secured. There were a good number of people that played with Barry in various projects that were up to play and sing. The night went quickly. Nice appreciative crowd. Great playing. Wonderful to see some great singers and players. Everything unfolded as we had hoped , I hope we’ll do it again next year. Nice to feel the sense of community.

I don’t think that’s Chinese , looks made in Japan.

I like big hollow body basses , and I love the look of that Deusenberg. Nice sheep.

Great little bass !

That was the second image I got.

Those are wonderful. I have an older Ray , big chunky neck , G string is slightly soft , classic 3 band eq and I keep it close to the couch so it’s handy to pick up.

Welcome! Those SGs are great little basses. There’s something in their tone , and they are so fun to play.

Look at Jim Bergantino’s cabs. That Verellen Meatsmoke is quite the rig!

Welcome Summer , let’s hope you find your father’s bass. Sometimes things happen.

There’s joy that an appreciative audience brings to the gig. On a great night you almost feel the entire floor lift. And we’re coming into the season where things get hot and sweaty. There’s nothing quite like playing in a great room to a great crowd.

I’m accustomed to playing rooms where I know many of the regulars by name. And when I do venture beyond the comfort zone downtown usually see people I know at a gig. I enjoy the social part. I’m sometimes referred to as an institution. And at every gig I wind up yacking with people for the first time. It’s all part of the job. It can be enjoyable. If I get cornered by someone I find obnoxious I have the disengage down to an art.

Most of the players that were around when I started are no longer playing, but there are some still at it. One of my mentors is still gigging with grace and dignity , he’s also a deadly bassist , so I still harbour the hope that I have some years left. Many had health issues , arthritic hands , bad hips and knees , playing involved pain , and was in some cases simply impossible. Some developed substance issues. Some just got tired of the late nights and early mornings. Some were disillusioned , and became sour. Some developed mobility issues. Our market is not large , most musicians need a day gig to get by. It can be a juggling act. Some spouses simply said no more. It can be a tough go. Things changed with the COVID shutdowns , some have yet to get back to how things were. Venues were lost. For many today things are tight. As many get older they’re less inclined to go out. We geezers have a unique perspective on the business , but things today are not like they once were. I’m still happy to load up the car and run the gear downtown. No big star , just a blue collar musician playing the local bars. I’m perfectly ok with that.

I’m 73 , I’ve been playing in local bands since the mid 70’s. Mostly blues bands , years ago I decided to stop travelling , and today I mostly stay in town. We were caring for my 99 year old mother-in-law for some years and I did cut back on the gigs I was taking , she has passed , I’m available to do more now but I’m not looking , if things pick up , they pick up. I’m retired , I’m not dependant on the money. If I don’t feel there’s going to be some fun , I decline. Still do a weekly blues jam every Sunday , I’ve been in the house band for around 27 years now in the main blues dive downtown. A good Sunday gig has both extremes , some absolute misery , some absolute joy. I still love that feeling when things are working. I still practice every day. Some days I even think I’m improving. All the reason to keep at it. Never thought I’d be still at it at this point , still capable of feeling absolute joy playing. Still nerdy about gear.

They are a misery to lug around. But often will fit in a fairly small car …

I’ve always been one that’s rarely used a stand on the gig , I usually bring a backup bass. So they lean against my amp , or the wall. Every once in a while one takes a tumble. Never gave that any thought when I was using Fenders or Danos , these days I tend to play Gretsches and Gibsons that can snap with a fall. … so I bought a folding stand that holds three instruments. I might be out. I did hold off until one popped up on kijiji for about half the price of a new one. It’s the folding metal tube style with rubber padding. The seller said it never left his house. Looks new. I do think it was long overdue.

We used to do the odd gig on a harbour tour boat. Lurching around on the boat was always fun , sometimes the power was iffy , and it could be packed. One night after loading out the drummer noticed some movement by the dock and cried out “Hey ! A squirrel!”

It quickly sold. The version I’d like is the two pickup version. Thank you Obrienp. I was watching it , and it quickly sold. It was going for a good asking price. And by good I mean very reasonable. There’s something about the Acinonyx that appeals to me. They’re quirky , and I like them. And many reviews have been very positive. I like that too.