What's everyone here in ETTB playing going through the holidays? Gig reports, por favor.. c'est vous plais.
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East Tennessee Talkbass
- Thread starter Michael Vee
- Start date
Once again, I am not playing the Oak Ridge Playhouse holiday show, starting Thanksgiving eve. I haven't gotten that gig in three years now, and miss it, a lot. I hope to return to playing it soon, but it's all about the music directors..
I am playing at Trinity Methodist in Knoxville for their children's and adult holiday programs in December.
I would love to play an NYE show, if anyone needs a sub!
I am playing at Trinity Methodist in Knoxville for their children's and adult holiday programs in December.
I would love to play an NYE show, if anyone needs a sub!
Hey Jeff! Talk about Hillbilly Jedi.. who all is involved with this, music genres, website, social media, please.
Shakers played a Halloween party at the Elks in Motown. While we were breaking down the entertainment director came up and told us we killed it and asked for a NYE quote. We gave him one and I spoke with him yesterday. He said he would have an answer for us in the next couple of days. The Halloween gig was the first one I can remember playing without my P5 since I bought it. Played the Clement and the Stingray 5. Could have sworn I heard the P bass crying when I got home...
Hillbilly Jedi is a five piece that has been around for over 8 years in the Knoxville area. Consists of lead vocals, guitar, keys, bass and drums. Everyone in the band sings, but we are limited to 3 mics on most stages. Pretty much straight ahead rock, motown, a few originals, and a country song or three we can whip out if the crowd wants it. Pretty interactive with the crowd, so the band has enjoyed a bit of noteriety. I've witnessed some cool moments since I've been with them, lot's of fun!
Home page here: Home
FB page here: Hillbilly Jedi
We are closing in on 1,600 likes, whoever is # 1,600 get's a hat or a t-shirt.
Home page here: Home
FB page here: Hillbilly Jedi
We are closing in on 1,600 likes, whoever is # 1,600 get's a hat or a t-shirt.
I remember a very cool large guitar shop in Johnson City in the mid-late 90's.
Happy New Year, ETN gang!
How did your year wrap? Michael, did you ever snag a NYE gig?
We stayed in. I turned 50 a couple of days before the year ended, and had a bunch of musician friends over for a hang and pick. Bluegrass and jazz. Was loose, lightweight, and fun.
Christmas roundup: A friend gave me an old Casio Privia he had in his closet for over a decade; I've been taking a few classes at ETSU just for something to do (sort of) and the piano jazz class I took with Jason Day (Knoxville) blew my mind. So much I never knew that I didn't know. So I've been working on piano, mostly, trying to get my theory and chops to a level where I can play what I can hear/envision. I'll never be Bill Evans, but I've been struggling with *really* understanding jazz on the bass, and this is helping.
No new bass gear to speak of, but I'm pretty content with my current setup. I've almost complete the move to all 32" scale, and have my eyes open for a moderately priced 5-string that will replace my Ibby. But with no serious gigs, I don't have a good justification for that purchase, yet. Plus there's the ever-present question about how a low B can work in a medium scale... doing my research.
Gig roundup: Playing a theater show with Jonesborough Rep end of Jan, beginning of Feb--"Meet Me in St Louis." May have another spring show in the works. Very little bluegrass in the past year, one-offs here and there. The band was sort of forced into hiatus when we lost our guitarist; we were already having trouble finding a fourth on a regular basis, so the banjo player and I started a blues duo (he's an old-school fingerstyle guitar picker, also). That may see some action in 2018, will keep you posted.
I also picked up a couple of local church gigs which have been fun.
What's everyone else up to? Is Paul building amazing things we should hear about? How's the Knoxville/Maryville scene these days, Jeff? I think I saw Barry buying and selling some this year...
Jeff
How did your year wrap? Michael, did you ever snag a NYE gig?
We stayed in. I turned 50 a couple of days before the year ended, and had a bunch of musician friends over for a hang and pick. Bluegrass and jazz. Was loose, lightweight, and fun.
Christmas roundup: A friend gave me an old Casio Privia he had in his closet for over a decade; I've been taking a few classes at ETSU just for something to do (sort of) and the piano jazz class I took with Jason Day (Knoxville) blew my mind. So much I never knew that I didn't know. So I've been working on piano, mostly, trying to get my theory and chops to a level where I can play what I can hear/envision. I'll never be Bill Evans, but I've been struggling with *really* understanding jazz on the bass, and this is helping.
No new bass gear to speak of, but I'm pretty content with my current setup. I've almost complete the move to all 32" scale, and have my eyes open for a moderately priced 5-string that will replace my Ibby. But with no serious gigs, I don't have a good justification for that purchase, yet. Plus there's the ever-present question about how a low B can work in a medium scale... doing my research.
Gig roundup: Playing a theater show with Jonesborough Rep end of Jan, beginning of Feb--"Meet Me in St Louis." May have another spring show in the works. Very little bluegrass in the past year, one-offs here and there. The band was sort of forced into hiatus when we lost our guitarist; we were already having trouble finding a fourth on a regular basis, so the banjo player and I started a blues duo (he's an old-school fingerstyle guitar picker, also). That may see some action in 2018, will keep you posted.
I also picked up a couple of local church gigs which have been fun.
What's everyone else up to? Is Paul building amazing things we should hear about? How's the Knoxville/Maryville scene these days, Jeff? I think I saw Barry buying and selling some this year...
Jeff
We currently have Cates Music (mostly pianos and concert band instruments, but a small selection of guitars and basses) and Campbell's Morrell Music, which is the main guitar shop in town (though I wouldn't call them big, really; more drum stuff than anything else, though they cover everything from Ukes to Fiddles to Amps to Pro Audio). I get treated well at both, and occasionally pick up strings and accessories at Morrell. There are others in Gray and Kingsport and Bristol, but no bigger or better.
Still doing the circuit with Hillbilly Jedi. Not many dates on the calendar this year, we're practicing every week and learning 5 or 6 songs each week, just to build on an already formidable set list. Working up original stuff as well, if we continue to be happy with the direction of these, then we will be booking studio time in the future.
Played a NYE show with my good friend Clint Keeton. Very gifted young man, he and all the other guys in the group are young enough to be my kids, so that's always a fun gig and a chance to play some current stuff.
Only new (to me) gear is a 1975 Fender Super Twin head that was removed from a guitar combo and installed in a prefab case. I had heard for years these were lousy guitar amps at 180 watts, but fantastic bass heads, and I agree. I pair it with a Bergantino NV412 and I'm able to get all the old school rock and motown tones that compliment the Hillbilly Jedi catalog well.
Played a NYE show with my good friend Clint Keeton. Very gifted young man, he and all the other guys in the group are young enough to be my kids, so that's always a fun gig and a chance to play some current stuff.
Only new (to me) gear is a 1975 Fender Super Twin head that was removed from a guitar combo and installed in a prefab case. I had heard for years these were lousy guitar amps at 180 watts, but fantastic bass heads, and I agree. I pair it with a Bergantino NV412 and I'm able to get all the old school rock and motown tones that compliment the Hillbilly Jedi catalog well.
Well, hey strangers!
Everything is pretty much the same in my neck of the woods. Still at PCC doing the G.O.D. thing. Randy from Jet Black Audio joined us to share bass duties. Awesome guy !
We recorded a live album for the church. In post production now. Should be done first week of February. It was a lot of fun and the best time I’ve had recording with anyone. Such a talented group of people!
Gear wise, my main is still the Ding SJ5. Replaced the P Select with the purple Sparkle Clayton P. The neck is to die for! Disco Disco for Jesus! HahahahA
I’m in in-ears all the time but still drive everything through an Original Genz and the BNA Audio 1822 Prototype.
And yes, I still have the pants-flapping rig of doom for outdoor events or if there isn’t going to be any FoH.
Just loving what I’m doing and still in love with all things bass.
For 2018 I think I’ll bust out the Gretch and play a little gee-tar to keep things fresh.
I hope all of you are doing well.
If you’re not having fun playing bass, then you’re doing it wrong!
Peace and love!
Everything is pretty much the same in my neck of the woods. Still at PCC doing the G.O.D. thing. Randy from Jet Black Audio joined us to share bass duties. Awesome guy !
We recorded a live album for the church. In post production now. Should be done first week of February. It was a lot of fun and the best time I’ve had recording with anyone. Such a talented group of people!
Gear wise, my main is still the Ding SJ5. Replaced the P Select with the purple Sparkle Clayton P. The neck is to die for! Disco Disco for Jesus! HahahahA
I’m in in-ears all the time but still drive everything through an Original Genz and the BNA Audio 1822 Prototype.
And yes, I still have the pants-flapping rig of doom for outdoor events or if there isn’t going to be any FoH.
Just loving what I’m doing and still in love with all things bass.
For 2018 I think I’ll bust out the Gretch and play a little gee-tar to keep things fresh.
I hope all of you are doing well.
If you’re not having fun playing bass, then you’re doing it wrong!
Peace and love!
I added a USA made Peavey Fury from the '90s this year (two actually) and those seem to be getting the most play.
Getting the itch for a hollow body in the coming year.
Is anyone else getting the desire to re-buy basses like you used to have? My first bass was a green/black burst Univox violin bass and I find myself wanting another one. I also used to have a Hofner Club bass and those are starting to call to me again.
Getting the itch for a hollow body in the coming year.
Is anyone else getting the desire to re-buy basses like you used to have? My first bass was a green/black burst Univox violin bass and I find myself wanting another one. I also used to have a Hofner Club bass and those are starting to call to me again.
I went through this a couple of times! Searched for most of a year for a Cort Model X, which was my second bass, and my primary player for years when I was coming up... finally found and purchased one. Totally regretted it.
It wasn't anything like I remembered, and bore no relationship (scale, radius, and tone) to anything I was playing, then. I sold a Matsumoto P (Alembic clone) in 2010, and regretted that for years--even offered to buy it back from the kid that I sold it to. Bought another similar one, but ended up selling it, too. I finally accepted that I had grown away from those models, and it was just nostalgia.
But--I absolutely think that nostalgia is a fine reason to own an instrument! Good luck with your decision and search, whichever way it goes.
Good to hear from everyone. The ETTB gang are not daily posters, we don't have that much going on, but these times of year when we all get back together here are always good!
I did not play NYE anywhere. I'm glad that Jeff and others got to. I hope to do that eventually, it just has never happened for me.
I will be playing a production of Beauty and the Beast at Grace Christian Academy next month. Details coming up.
Like all of you who've been playing a while, I have had several basses that got away. My first bass ever was a 1973 National viola bass. I tried to buy that back years ago from the hometown friend I sold it to, but that didn't fly. It was his first bass and he had his own good memories with it!
I now have the Douglas viola basses, and I find I'm very attached to them. Better quality than the National, and pretty close to the same price my parents paid for the National for my Christmas present that year! I played the blonde fretted one for the Encore show, Bridges of Madison County, last March, and it was wonderful. Played it yesterday through the Quilter/Acme stack, just too much fun.
Okay, I'm 'fessing up. I'm editing the post to add a couple more of the basses that shouldn't have gotten away.
My first serious bass was a 1973 sunburst Fender Jazz I bought early on in college in 1976. Wonderful bass, but suffered from I understood was a fairly common neck twist. Not severe, but it required some bridge saddle compensation.
After that, in 1980 I bought a BC Rich Eagle. Wow. Neck-through, a lovely flame maple body, the two split pickups and the huge control set.
The Fender and the BC Rich were stupidly sold in 1982, to buy, of all things, handguns. I got the itch to target shoot. Stupid, stupid, regrettable. I would absolutely love to have the Fender and the Eagle in 2017. I ended up selling the guns (and they were nice ones too) to get into higher-end audio equipment.
I did not play NYE anywhere. I'm glad that Jeff and others got to. I hope to do that eventually, it just has never happened for me.
I will be playing a production of Beauty and the Beast at Grace Christian Academy next month. Details coming up.
Like all of you who've been playing a while, I have had several basses that got away. My first bass ever was a 1973 National viola bass. I tried to buy that back years ago from the hometown friend I sold it to, but that didn't fly. It was his first bass and he had his own good memories with it!
I now have the Douglas viola basses, and I find I'm very attached to them. Better quality than the National, and pretty close to the same price my parents paid for the National for my Christmas present that year! I played the blonde fretted one for the Encore show, Bridges of Madison County, last March, and it was wonderful. Played it yesterday through the Quilter/Acme stack, just too much fun.
Okay, I'm 'fessing up. I'm editing the post to add a couple more of the basses that shouldn't have gotten away.
My first serious bass was a 1973 sunburst Fender Jazz I bought early on in college in 1976. Wonderful bass, but suffered from I understood was a fairly common neck twist. Not severe, but it required some bridge saddle compensation.
After that, in 1980 I bought a BC Rich Eagle. Wow. Neck-through, a lovely flame maple body, the two split pickups and the huge control set.
The Fender and the BC Rich were stupidly sold in 1982, to buy, of all things, handguns. I got the itch to target shoot. Stupid, stupid, regrettable. I would absolutely love to have the Fender and the Eagle in 2017. I ended up selling the guns (and they were nice ones too) to get into higher-end audio equipment.
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Jeff- I played Meet Me in St. Louis in 2004 for Oak Ridge Playhouse. Loved the music! I wish you the best with your production, feel free to contact me about the music and so forth. I'm so glad to be in touch with you as a fellow music theatre professional. I love playing MT shows!
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Veering wildly off topic, I was in the jewelry business many moons ago, and I used to be an avid collector of Bulova Accutrons, specifically 214 movement with the handle setting on the rear.
I'm getting the "bug" again, I had one sitting around serviced by a local guy I just met. The folks who can actually work on these things are dying off, this is the first local Accutron repairman I've met in 20 years.
Our own favorite ET luthier fascillitated the last acquisition for me by meeting up with the seller in Jonesborough for me. If any of you guys spot one for sale, I'm on the lookout!
I'm getting the "bug" again, I had one sitting around serviced by a local guy I just met. The folks who can actually work on these things are dying off, this is the first local Accutron repairman I've met in 20 years.
Our own favorite ET luthier fascillitated the last acquisition for me by meeting up with the seller in Jonesborough for me. If any of you guys spot one for sale, I'm on the lookout!
Jeff, my sister’s sister-in-law’s husband (did you get that?) is hardcore in to working on watches and movements. He just bought a ton of watches to rebuild....rework....whatever the term is. I’ll check with him to see what he’s in to and if he’s letting anything go.
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Awesome! Yeah, Accutrons, specifically 214 movement but I'll look at anything Accutron related he has, including metal bracelets. Oh goodness, now I have watch gas......
Try not to pee your pants.
I’ll PM you when I have more info.
2 pics and then back to basses! HahahahA
