Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[GonePlaid]

Haha, that makes me the queen of bad technique, then.

I used to marvel at the way the old trumpet players looked; it's clear that playing for hours on end over many years can change your face. It's dedication to play to that level, for sure.

And that's the key word-old. Brass players in general have been taught to use their lip(s), not pressure for prolly 30+ years. Pressing hard is old school.
My "digging in" on bass is due to being totally self 'taught'. I'm aware that it ain't "right", but it's how I've been doing it since I started-with no guidance-53 years ago.

 

[GwenOnBass]

That's not essence of lilac and amethyst what collects inside wind instruments. Our shelves are stocked with clarinet swabs here at Magog Brothers Atlantis Carpet Reclaimers! Our prices are insane!

 

[LBS-bass]

And that's the key word-old. Brass players in general have been taught to use their lip(s), not pressure for prolly 30+ years. Pressing hard is old school.
My "digging in" on bass is due to being totally self 'taught'. I'm aware that it ain't "right", but it's how I've been doing it since I started-with no guidance-53 years ago.

Digging in is just something I do in order to change the tonal qualities of what I'm playing. Nowadays a lot of people rely on pedals and effects for that. I don't see one or the other as being right or wrong.

One of my exes was an extremely accomplished acoustic guitar player. Think accomplished to the Michael Hedges level, in a similar style but borrowing heavily from people like John Fahey and Leo Kottke. This guy used to write articles about technique and people would get absolutely livid when he talked about tone being in the fingers. But he wasn't wrong.

Today we teach people to rely on technology to do what old-school guys did with their own hands. I'm not sure that's teaching the right thing, but it sure sells a lot of pedals, and advertisers are always happy about that.

 

[beans-on-toast]

This is all new to me. I never knew that digging in is considered bad technique. To express myself I play hard, I play light, I play mostly with a pick, I palm mute. I try to make a sound that fits the song. And never want to be predictable.

 

[GonePlaid]

That's not essence of lilac and amethyst what collects inside wind instruments. Our shelves are stocked with clarinet swabs here at Magog Brothers Atlantis Carpet Reclaimers! Our prices are insane!

My father and I both played on the same baritone sax. They have a particularly strong tendency to collect mouth moisture in the bend near the top. In fact the bari and larger(bass, contra-bass, others)are the only saxes with 'spit'-valves[Not really a valve-that's what everyone calls it. Prolly has an actual name. never heard it called anything else]. Whenever I would kiss the H.S. girlfriend after playing the bari sax, she'd say "you've got bari breath." I never noticed it, but she sure did. [Note little lever operated 'drain' at bottom of semi-circular tubing: spit valve] Googled it: apparently the nicer version is "water key". Who knew?

 

[beans-on-toast]

My father and I both played on the same baritone sax. They have a particularly strong tendency to collect mouth moisture in the bend near the top. In fact the bari and larger(bass, contra-bass, others)are the only saxes with 'spit'-valves[Not really a valve-that's what everyone calls it. Prolly has an actual name. never heard it called anything else]. Whenever I would kiss the H.S. girlfriend after playing the bari sax, she'd say "you've got bari breath." I never noticed it, but she sure did. [Note little lever operated 'drain' at bottom of semi-circular tubing: spit valve] Googled it: apparently the nicer version is "water key". Who knew?
View attachment 3745008

A couple of weeks ago I was reading about reeds. Years ago I would see people stick a reed in their mouth to wet it. When they were done, the mouthpiece cover would simply go on. There’s mold, bacteria, and viruses to contend with, tongue cleaning and other oral hygiene is important in addition to cleaning the mouthpiece and instrument. Sometimes hydrogen peroxide or vinegar were used. Today there seems to be more use of special soaking solutions than just spit.

 

[GonePlaid]

A couple of weeks ago I was reading about reeds. Years ago I would see people stick a reed in their mouth to wet it. When they were done, the mouthpiece cover would simply go on. There’s mold, bacteria, and viruses to contend with, tongue cleaning and other oral hygiene is important in addition to cleaning the mouthpiece and instrument. Sometimes hydrogen peroxide or vinegar were used. Today there seems to be more use of special cleaning solutions than just spit.

I haven't played the horns in a few years. When I was playing my tenor(on a stand), I was in a piano, drums, bass group, in which the piano player had a second, electronic keyboard on top of the piano. I would take a chorus on sax-or flute-and he'd play the bass part. A regular, bamboo reed would dry out, so I used plastic 'reeds' on the saxes. Quick lick, ready to go.

 

[GwenOnBass]

"Water key" actually sounds scarier than "spit valve" to me. There are lots of places I don't want to go with "water key".

Probably ordinary denture powder is all that's needed for bacteria on a mouthpiece. Are tins of denture powder still sold?

 

[GonePlaid]

"Water key" actually sounds scarier than "spit valve" to me. There are lots of places I don't want to go with "water key".

Probably ordinary denture powder is all that's needed for bacteria on a mouthpiece. Are tins of denture powder still sold?

Hmm. Good question. I used "Soft Scrub" on the metal mouthpiece, old toothbrush and "Dawn" on the plastics.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I sometimes use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean electronics. Jewellery is cleaned this way as well.
https://youtu.be/VzypigoGA_c

 

[GonePlaid]

I sometimes use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean electronics. Jewellery is cleaned this way as well.

Great for brass instruments; total disassembly for saxes, including all the pads. Prolly cost as much-if not more-as an overhaul($1100 up + materials)

 

[GwenOnBass]

Basses and bass players are typically low-maintenance and earn above average marks from our editors at Musicians' Consumer Reports.

 

[mikeoso]

My "digging in" on bass is due to being totally self 'taught'. I'm aware that it ain't "right", but it's how I've been doing it since I started-with no guidance-53 years ago.

I dig in because that's how you get power out of an unamped bass guitar. A light touch means nobody hears you.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I dig in because that's how you get power out of an unamped bass guitar. A light touch means nobody hears you.

Mr. @mikeoso depends on the gear and music. I play light but have a GK MB500 and two Eden EX110's and have no problem being heard. I bought a GK MB108 combo and it's surprisingly powerful for its small size.

Not being disagreeable. I see your point. I tried acoustic bass and liked it but couldn't find a band that needed an acoustic bass player. I too had to dig in BTW.

On a different note, here in little isolated Sitka, Alaska, our grocery stores get freight out of Seattle twice a week. The next three over the next three weeks all have product waiting for transport. We have everything we need except hand sanitizer, and that's supposed to be on the next barge in on Tuesday. Sometimes there are benefits living on an isolated island.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I dig in because that's how you get power out of an unamped bass guitar. A light touch means nobody hears you.

I know what you mean. Maybe I’m a purist but I prefer high end Martins without pickups. I use a LR Baggs sound hole pickup in my HD28 when I want to electrify. Having said that, I once used a Godin acoustic bass with built in EQ that I totally loved the feel and tone of. They really sold me on that instrument.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Godin makes beautiful hollow body and solid body basses. Sadly no lefty's.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Easy to see how what we're going through here now went down in history as The Great Toilet Paper Scare. Time to help ourselves to a chilly slobberknocker or two.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Godin makes beautiful hollow body and solid body basses. Sadly no lefty's.

Shame on them. They make lefty guitars.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Easy to see how what we're going through here now went down in history as The Great Toilet Paper Scare. Time to help ourselves to a chilly slobberknocker or two.

Saturday was scary. Everything was depleted like I’ve never seen. One big store had a limit of 2 of the same items. No TP, no sanitizers, no alcohol in the pharmacies. Sunday there was TP at least but still a lot of empty shelves. I spent most of the day hunting from store to store. What makes it worse in my area is a lot of people eat out all the time. So couple the hoarders with a lot of people buying groceries that normally never do, it put a strain on the stores.

One concern is stock from Italy. Cans of stewed tomatoes and paste, pizza sauce, and pasta are in short supply. Who knows when it will be available again.

 

[12BitSlab]

On the topic of digging in, I was referring to players who dig in to the extreme. I’ve seen bass players who break strings or have strings pop out of the nut or off the saddles.

Also, my comment was focused solely on electric bass.

My style of playing has a very light touch and I let the amp do the heavy lifting. When I need to play louder, I play harder without playing super hard.

I am self taught and when I was younger, younger than today, I found that technique worked for me. I also played a very wide range of genres so, unlike hard rock, being able to play with a light touch was important.

Hope I didn’t offend anyone by not explaining my thoughts clearly. Mea culpa.