msb

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.

Acinonyx quickly sold. It was a good price. I was seriously tempted , it wasn’t me. Now with that out of the road there’s nothing I really need.

My first rig was some kind of huge reflex cab and a Marshall hundred watt head. The cab sucked , today I wish I had kept that old head. I auditioned for a touring band , and as I was the only one at the audition I got the spot. Traded a Nikon camera for a Pbass. And I was off. Touring was just the local circuit , around and around , lousy food , cheap hotels , it eventually became a misery and I left. But I continued playing bass.

That XC looks delicious.

Spotted an Acinonyx in Toronto for a good price. They’re discontinued , any future runs will be built in the USA so the price will go up steeply. I’ve been looking at them since they came out. Strongly tempted , but holding off.

I’ve been looking at an Acinonyx that’s sitting in Toronto for a good price. Tempted , but I’m holding off. Nordstrand will not be doing any more Korean runs , so if they make any in the future they will be built in the US and 3-4 times the price. I’ve heard great things about them. Nice lightweight short scale. And the closest thing to an FSO I’d have an interest in.

I’m happy to see them finding mention today. At the time I had no idea they existed.

Still looking at kijiji and some classifieds , when I see a bargain I post it on a local jam page , or PM immediately friends. I haven’t had the urge to buy anything although I would have snagged that Dan Armstrong that was listed for a song. It’s almost income tax return season , so I may sell some extra amps , maybe a bass or two.

Congratulations , from the sounds of things you just might have stumbled upon a keeper. I’ve always been curious about Eich , but they are rare over here.

I just have one tiny little cab with 2 5’s , it sounds great if you sit right in front of it , but it doesn’t fill a room. Also have a little Barefaced One 10 that isn’t that much larger. That One 10 defies physics.

I found the Rumble 15 terrible.

The original Bergantino Forte that had the variable compressor rather than the drive , simple clean hifi power. With some serious slam.

I used a ported Yamaha 15 for years , it was a great sounding cab. But it got heavy , and I moved to more modern cabs. I think 12’s are the new 15’s.

She’s got an ego , but heck , she’s Carol Kaye.

The Chinese Plexi DanArmstrong gift arrived first thing this morning. I’ve got to say it’s not as heavy as I thought it might be , I think it feels around ten pounds , perhaps a shade under. I put on some old flats that had been resting on another bass , oiled the fingerboard and pickguard and spent much of the day turning knobs and playing around with it. I like it , [img]https://i.postimg.cc/rprSbhRB/IMG-1277.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://postimages.org/][img]https://i.postimg.cc/rprSbhRB/IMG-1277.jpg[/img][/url]

That looks like it will move some serious air.