jojobass Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 A while ago I received this (totally unsolicited) email from a guy calling himself Fergie Fulton, which caused a certain amount of sheer disbelief and hilarity... I did wonder whether to reply but then thought life's too short- so instead I am naming and shaming him here- and wonder if anyone else has come across this be-mulleted bass sage? Oh and by the way, you really should check out his myspace page- www.myspace.com/vintageprecisionbass - this guru of all things bass related (the self-confessed "best blues bass guitarist in the world") obviously has a lot to offer all of us. Anyway, this is the email he sent me: "hi Jo caught the show last night at the high barn, great night had by one and all i saw the potential of what your trying to achieve. I don't like to criticize unless i feel it will be positive to a player so please don't take offence as it is the last thing i want to do. I believe you play upright bass, as your right hand fingering is very lazy and leads to a lack of definition in your playing. Spoons is a very powerful drummer and you need definition and power in your playing to stay with him which you lack. I feel if you address these issues you will have a better understanding of your playing in a trio, which is completely different to playing in any other formation as you will be left lacking when the guitar leaves the groove to solo. The fact you are female has nothing to do with our ability, to me you are a bass player, end of story. Please feel free to reply in case i don't have the full picture, like i said i don't want to offend, just point you in the right direction......fergie" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Sheesh. What a knob. It's not the fact that he's male, just the fact that he's a knob. It's funny how he criticises your right hand technique, saying that as it must be derived from upright bass your playing is not well suited to a trio. Has he never heard of Jack Bruce and Cream then? To call your technique lazy is just plain rude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceguyhomer Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 What a git - take no notice Jo. Shall I send the boys 'round? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 MB1. I also do not wish to offend, so dont get me wrong!...WHAT A SELF OPINIONATED TOSSER!...... No Offence Meant of Course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Hmmmm... Well, if Jo here plays upright, she should have the very best left hand techniques. I always laugh when guitarists say things to me like, "You barely move around and yet you play sooo many notes!" Erm, yes... It's all about economy of movement and technique as opposed to flashiness! He sounds no only like a total Noob, but also like the kind of dimwit that still thinks a bass is a guitar! Homer, send the girls round - [i]Much[/i] more dangerous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mewsie Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 goodness! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mewsie Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='214383' date='Jun 7 2008, 02:28 PM']Homer, send the girls round - [i]Much[/i] more dangerous![/quote] bring it on! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceguyhomer Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='214383' date='Jun 7 2008, 01:28 PM']Homer, send the girls round - [i]Much[/i] more dangerous![/quote] My two'd rip his arms off and hit him with the soggy end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegallery Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 I saw the guys myspace page.. according to himself.. he is the best blues bassist in the UK... so come on guys he must know what he is talking about.. so why oh why does the word twat keep springing to mind? Go get em Jo... al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojobass Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share Posted June 7, 2008 Thanks for the support boys You know, I think what upsets me even more is his lousy spelling.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oscar South Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 He does have a lot of gigs and seems to have plenty of evidence of his playing up (though none of it will load for me), so I can't imagine him being too shoddy, his 'best in the world' thing just looks like a play on the Carlsberg beer ads. Maybe he was just trying to help, albeit not very tactfully, some people don't come across well on the net through no fault of their own. If it was some kid with no gigs and no evidence of his ability up then It'd be a different matter, his email does seem a bit dumb and pointless though, it just seems like a vague claim masked as advise that you could fabricate equally convincingly about almost any player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 That's just a bit weird..isn't it?? I wouldn't reply...it could get stranger....just walk away...quickly. BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 I'd reply with something I couldn't repeat on here . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 what a knob! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='Oscar South' post='214415' date='Jun 7 2008, 03:26 PM']He does have a lot of gigs and seems to have plenty of evidence of his playing up (though none of it will load for me), so I can't imagine him being too shoddy, his 'best in the world' thing just looks like a play on the Carlsberg beer ads. Maybe he was just trying to help, albeit not very tactfully, some people don't come across well on the net through no fault of their own. If it was some kid with no gigs and no evidence of his ability up then It'd be a different matter, his email does seem a bit dumb and pointless though, it just seems like a vague claim masked as advise that you could fabricate equally convincingly about almost any player.[/quote] Just checked out his myspace page. He's got good tone. Don't think that much of his band - especially the vocals. All his gigs are with the one band. I don't see how the fact that he's not a beginner is relevant. He's rude. He's trying to be helpful, sure, I can see that. He's not trying to be malicious, I can see that too. But he's being so patronising. Check out his blog for some advice on technique: it seems to be that he's been playing a long time and thinks it's his duty to pass on everything he knows. There's a right way and a wrong way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnt Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='jojobass' post='214396' date='Jun 7 2008, 02:54 PM']You know, I think what upsets me even more is his lousy spelling.... [/quote] For someone who blows his own trumpet in that way, you would think he would be a little more careful with such details. Even if he is as good as he claims to be on the bass, what's the point if he's rubbish at more basic skills, such as English? What a plonker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Go to one of his gigs and give him a live review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Or.....those of us with a myspace page, get added and rip into his limited blues approach (there's much better blues players out there) ...ask him why he has four strings on his 57 when all he needs is one or two....OR....we could just invite him here, cos he's so full of bass knowledge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJA Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='Jase' post='214471' date='Jun 7 2008, 04:51 PM']OR....we could just invite him here, cos he's so full of bass knowledge [/quote] sounds like the best option, he seems eager to offer advice, wouldn't mind hearing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oscar South Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='The Funk' post='214447' date='Jun 7 2008, 04:21 PM']Just checked out his myspace page. He's got good tone. Don't think that much of his band - especially the vocals. All his gigs are with the one band. I don't see how the fact that he's not a beginner is relevant. He's rude. He's trying to be helpful, sure, I can see that. He's not trying to be malicious, I can see that too. But he's being so patronising. Check out his blog for some advice on technique: it seems to be that he's been playing a long time and thinks it's his duty to pass on everything he knows. There's a right way and a wrong way.[/quote] Just playing Devils Advocate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJA Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 I read his blog- i don't get what he means about "wide frets supporting the neck better" and early Fenders being flawed because of thin frets. also "beech fretboards"- is maple a variety of beech (or vice versa)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='SJA' post='214492' date='Jun 7 2008, 05:14 PM']sounds like the best option, he seems eager to offer advice, wouldn't mind hearing it.[/quote] Sorry, I just got excited earlier , you're probably right there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bassman Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Is that not a Squire 57? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 (edited) *thinking* Edited June 7, 2008 by clauster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='clauster' post='214540' date='Jun 7 2008, 06:42 PM']Jojo - just point out you had a gig that night and he didn't - 'nuff said![/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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