Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[ric426]

How many of you play a five string and find it a valuable addition to your collection? Here's the bass:

View attachment 3334040

I've got an Ibanez SRSC805 that is one of my all time favorite 5 strings. I find that I really prefer thin necked 5 and the choices for those are limited. The only one's I've been comfortable playing have been Zon, Pedulla and Ibanez. Ibanez is the only one of those that I can afford anymore.
Here's mine:

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I've got an Ibanez SRSC805 that is one of my all time favorite 5 strings. I find that I really prefer thin necked 5 and the choices for those are limited. The only one's I've been comfortable playing have been Zon, Pedulla and Ibanez. Ibanez is the only one of those that I can afford anymore.
Here's mine:
View attachment 3334244

Sadly Ibanez makes very few quality lefty basses. The SR505 is even only $599 probably free shipping. On my bucket list is to own one very high quality bass and that would probably have been like you said-- the Pedulla. I played on in a GC in Seattle one time and it was heavenly sounding, and lightweight, with a fast narrow neck. It was stunning to look at. Unfortunately, my preference would cost about $4500 and at this stage of my life I can't justify that. Still, it's fun to dream....

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Clubman... you can put a bunch in it.

View attachment 3332730

I used to get a surprising amount of gear into my Nissan Versa hatchback. Leg and headroom were pretty good too (I’m 6’3”)...

In the aftermath of my battle with sciatica, I decided to trade up to a larger hatchback:

The handling isn’t as nimble, I miss my sunroof, and the fuel economy isn’t up to my normal standards.

Still, there are a lot of perks that come with a higher-spec interior, some extra mass, and a 3.6L V-6. Particularly in our northern winter, there’s a lot to be said for front and rear heat that warms up in half the time, heated seats and steering wheel, power doors, etc.

It is also turning out to be a great band vehicle, and I already have plans for a mini camper conversion in the summer...

 

[Thumpr]

Sadly Ibanez makes very few quality lefty basses. The SR505 is even only $599 probably free shipping. On my bucket list is to own one very high quality bass and that would probably have been like you said-- the Pedulla. I played on in a GC in Seattle one time and it was heavenly sounding, and lightweight, with a fast narrow neck. It was stunning to look at. Unfortunately, my preference would cost about $4500 and at this stage of my life I can't justify that. Still, it's fun to dream....

Since I started listening to Doug Johns I’ve been really appreciating Pedulla again. They fell off my radar for a while. Man can play.

 

[Al Kraft]

I used to get a surprising amount of gear into my Nissan Versa hatchback. Leg and headroom were pretty good too (I’m 6’3”)...

In the aftermath of my battle with sciatica, I decided to trade up to a larger hatchback:

View attachment 3334261

The handling isn’t as nimble, I miss my sunroof, and the fuel economy isn’t up to my normal standards.

Still, there are a lot of perks that come with a higher-spec interior, some extra mass, and a 3.6L V-6. Particularly in our northern winter, there’s a lot to be said for front and rear heat that warms up in half the time, heated seats and steering wheel, power doors, etc.

It is also turning out to be a great band vehicle, and I already have plans for a mini camper conversion in the summer...

That Pentastar V-6 is a pretty sweet little engine.

 

[GonePlaid]

Don't say you returned the SR1200EL because you felt guilty due to it being priced too low.

You'll get used to the B string; if you've never played a 5 string bass, it does take some time to get used to it without hitting the wrong strings while playing (always a treat on the gig!) , not that I've ever done such. If nothing else, for now look at the B string as a very long finger rest.

That's pretty much how I used my LPB2/5 when I first got it. I wind up only using Eb and D when I play it-which isn't often. I should play it more but when I'm playing written music, it rarely calls for anything below E. Oh. LPB2/5:

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Don't say you returned the SR1200EL because you felt guilty due to it being priced too low.

You'll get used to the B string; if you've never played a 5 string bass, it does take some time to get used to it without hitting the wrong strings while playing (always a treat on the gig!) , not that I've ever done such. If nothing else, for now look at the B string as a very long finger rest.

Well, I had the bass for a couple weeks and it had a slight neck dive which wasn't an issue. I found the tone too 'snappy' for lack of a better word, I love the mellow punchy sounds of Bartolini's in Ibanez basses. Second, there was a very large sweat stain right where the arm laid against the upper bout of the body. I'm a bit OCD about that and I was grossed out at the thought of my sweaty arm touching someone else's sweat. To my chagrin, after I returned the bass, @Killed_by_Death told me that a good leather cleaner would have removed the stain! I could have lived with the bass without the stain! Oh well, you win some you lose some. It was literally half price compared to other SR1200L's at the time. That was a couple years ago. Lately, all of GC's used basses are not even competitively priced anymore.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

wax-free, silicone-free furniture cream is what I use

 

[alaskaleftybass]

wax-free, silicone-free furniture cream is what I use

Good to know.

 

[GwenOnBass]

I find that my Chevy SUV has less usable storage space in the back than my previous Impala car. The SUV has height but the sedan had more surface area for lower things like groceries. Granted, the SUV has fold down rear seats but I’ve never used the space that way. The sedan had a trunk that was better for security, the SUV has a lot of windows.

For cabs like the 115 the SUV wins. You don’t have to bend down to place it inside. Bear hug the cab and place it in. Same for heavy amps such as an SVT. Way easier for someone else to load. A Leslie speaker cabinet fits in no problem, couldn’t do that with the car.

The SUV, being big and bulky, is less stable on the road. They even have a pictogram warning on the visor showing that it can tip over. That’s reassuring.

For good old-fashioned sedan-style trunk room it's the Crown Vic. Happily, no Leslies ever presented themselves to me for haulage.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Happy Saturday, GOF's! I've been kicking around the idea of trying out a new lefty ibanez called the SR505. Last year I lucked into buying an SR1200EL with a 5pc Jatoba/Walnut neck and it played like butter. Stupidly, I returned it to Guitar Center, who had mispriced it at a drastically reduced price. Now the SR1200's are really hard to find.

So, I do own the mahogany SR500. I tried a couple five strings but they felt so odd to me-- the neck felt like a baseball bat. And it seems odd to me to have the lowest string a B instead of E. How many of you play a five string and find it a valuable addition to your collection? Here's the bass:

View attachment 3334040

I like the look of those SR instruments.

I never had a need for a low B string for what I play. Low B string notes can be covered with a keyboard. I have used plugins that genrate sub-harmonics to add low end power. This can be very effective. They often use this in films for theater effect with their fancy sound systems, same for danse music.

Someone I know wrote a song using his new five string bass, it walked up four notes on the low B. I thought that it was kind of gratuitous and didn’t add anything to the song.

Not to say that there isn’t a place for a fiver. I just prefer it to be in my pocket.

 

[beans-on-toast]

For good old-fashioned sedan-style trunk room it's the Crown Vic. Happily, no Leslies ever presented themselves to me for haulage.

One summer in the late 60’s, our band had the use of an old convertible Cadillac. Leather seats, power windows, and air conditioning that would freeze you sitting in the back seat with the top down. The trunk was huge.

We used to love just hanging out in that car.

 

[beans-on-toast]

...there was a very large sweat stain right where the arm laid against the upper bout of the body. I'm a bit OCD about that and I was grossed out at the thought of my sweaty arm touching someone else's sweat...

I use Martin guitar polish. For more aggressive cleaning and protecting, Zymol or a car pure carnuba wax. But it depends on the finish. You have to be careful with satin finishes.

 

[SoulReflection]

Happy Soulful Sunday. A great re-do by one of the great blue-eyed soul singers...

 

[GwenOnBass]

Happy Soulful Sunday. A great re-do by one of the great blue-eyed soul singers...

Now that makes my Sunday.

... by memory, wasn't Joe the second track on the first Woodstock LP?

 

[GonePlaid]

For good old-fashioned sedan-style trunk room it's the Crown Vic. Happily, no Leslies ever presented themselves to me for haulage.

Also great for transporting bodies.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Happy Soulful Sunday. A great re-do by one of the great blue-eyed soul singers...

Wonderful song! This about sums it up.

McCartney looked back fondly on that cover, which Cocker further made his own during his appearance at Woodstock in 1969. "Joe was a lovely northern lad who I loved a lot, and like many people, I loved his singing," he recalled. "I was especially pleased when he decided to cover 'With a Little Help From My Friends.' I remember him and [producer] Denny Cordell coming round to the studio and Saville Row and playing me what they recorded. It was just mind-blowing. He totally turned the song into a soul anthem, and I was forever grateful to him for doing that."

For Cocker, it was all part of a surreal launch from the working class to the world stage. "In two years I’d come from drinking beer in Sheffield to this," he Invalid Link Removed of his Woodstock set. "I think I was the only guy who wasn’t on acid -- the band were out of their minds and didn’t tell me. I got off a helicopter and walked straight on the stage. It was very hard for the first half of the show, it was lunchtime, and there were all these people, and they were doing anything and everything but looking at the stage. Then we did 'Let’s Get Stoned,' the old Ray Charles number. That’s why our clip in the movie stood up, because by the time we did 'With a Little Help from My Friends,' we’d really got ‘em."

The song was featured on Joe Cocker's debut album.

A top lineup of session musicians played on it, including Jimmy Page on that track:

• Joe Cocker – vocals
• David Bennett Cohen – guitar (track 1)
• Tony Visconti – guitar (track 2)
• Invalid Link Removed – guitar (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7 & 9)
• Henry McCullough – guitar (tracks 3, 6, 8 & 10)
• Albert Lee – guitar (track 4)
• Chris Stainton – piano (tracks 2, 3, 4 & 7), organ (tracks 2 & 7), bass guitar (tracks 2-10)
• Tommy Eyre – piano (track 5), organ (tracks 8 & 9)
• Artie Butler – piano (track 1)
• Invalid Link Removed – organ (track 5)
• Steve Winwood – organ (tracks 6 & 10)
• Carol Kaye – bass guitar (track 1)
• Paul Humphrey – drums (track 1)
• Clem Cattini – drums (tracks 2, 4 & 7)
• Invalid Link Removed – drums (tracks 3, 6 & 10)
• B. J. Wilson – drums (tracks 5 & 9)
• Kenny Slade – drums (track 8)
• Laudir de Oliveira – tumba, maracas (track 1)
• Brenda Holloway – backing vocals (track 1)
• Patrice Holloway – backing vocals (track 1)
• Invalid Link Removed – backing vocals (track 1)
• Invalid Link Removed – backing vocals (tracks 2, 6 & 9)
• Rosetta Hightower – backing vocals (tracks 2 & 9)
• Sue Wheetman – backing vocals (tracks 3, 6, 9 & 10)
• Sunny Wheetman – backing vocals (Tracks 3, 6, 9 & 10)

Track listing included some real hits.

Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Feeling Alright" Dave Mason 4:10
2. "Bye Bye Blackbird" Ray Henderson, Mort Dixon 3:27
3. "Change in Louise" Joe Cocker, Chris Stainton 3:22
4. "Marjorine" Cocker, Stainton 2:38
5. "Just Like a Woman" Bob Dylan 5:17

Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Length
6. "Do I Still Figure in Your Life?" Pete Dello 3:59
7. "Sandpaper Cadillac" Cocker, Stainton 3:16
8. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus, Bennie Benjamin 4:41
9. "With a Little Help from My Friends" John Lennon, Paul McCartney 5:11
10. "I Shall Be Released" Dylan 4:35
Total length: 40:27

Outtakes released as B-sides
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "The New Age of Lily" Cocker, Stainton 2:15
2. "Something's Coming On" Cocker, Stainton 2:15

 

[SoulReflection]

Wonderful song! This about sums it up.

McCartney looked back fondly on that cover, which Cocker further made his own during his appearance at Woodstock in 1969. "Joe was a lovely northern lad who I loved a lot, and like many people, I loved his singing," he recalled. "I was especially pleased when he decided to cover 'With a Little Help From My Friends.' I remember him and [producer] Denny Cordell coming round to the studio and Saville Row and playing me what they recorded. It was just mind-blowing. He totally turned the song into a soul anthem, and I was forever grateful to him for doing that."

For Cocker, it was all part of a surreal launch from the working class to the world stage. "In two years I’d come from drinking beer in Sheffield to this," he Invalid Link Removed of his Woodstock set. "I think I was the only guy who wasn’t on acid -- the band were out of their minds and didn’t tell me. I got off a helicopter and walked straight on the stage. It was very hard for the first half of the show, it was lunchtime, and there were all these people, and they were doing anything and everything but looking at the stage. Then we did 'Let’s Get Stoned,' the old Ray Charles number. That’s why our clip in the movie stood up, because by the time we did 'With a Little Help from My Friends,' we’d really got ‘em."

The song was featured on Joe Cocker's debut album.

A top lineup of session musicians played on it, including Jimmy Page on that track:

• Joe Cocker – vocals
• David Bennett Cohen – guitar (track 1)
• Tony Visconti – guitar (track 2)
• Invalid Link Removed – guitar (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7 & 9)
• Henry McCullough – guitar (tracks 3, 6, 8 & 10)
• Albert Lee – guitar (track 4)
• Chris Stainton – piano (tracks 2, 3, 4 & 7), organ (tracks 2 & 7), bass guitar (tracks 2-10)
• Tommy Eyre – piano (track 5), organ (tracks 8 & 9)
• Artie Butler – piano (track 1)
• Invalid Link Removed – organ (track 5)
• Steve Winwood – organ (tracks 6 & 10)
• Carol Kaye – bass guitar (track 1)
• Paul Humphrey – drums (track 1)
• Clem Cattini – drums (tracks 2, 4 & 7)
• Invalid Link Removed – drums (tracks 3, 6 & 10)
• B. J. Wilson – drums (tracks 5 & 9)
• Kenny Slade – drums (track 8)
• Laudir de Oliveira – tumba, maracas (track 1)
• Brenda Holloway – backing vocals (track 1)
• Patrice Holloway – backing vocals (track 1)
• Invalid Link Removed – backing vocals (track 1)
• Invalid Link Removed – backing vocals (tracks 2, 6 & 9)
• Rosetta Hightower – backing vocals (tracks 2 & 9)
• Sue Wheetman – backing vocals (tracks 3, 6, 9 & 10)
• Sunny Wheetman – backing vocals (Tracks 3, 6, 9 & 10)

Track listing included some real hits.

Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Feeling Alright" Dave Mason 4:10
2. "Bye Bye Blackbird" Ray Henderson, Mort Dixon 3:27
3. "Change in Louise" Joe Cocker, Chris Stainton 3:22
4. "Marjorine" Cocker, Stainton 2:38
5. "Just Like a Woman" Bob Dylan 5:17

Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Length
6. "Do I Still Figure in Your Life?" Pete Dello 3:59
7. "Sandpaper Cadillac" Cocker, Stainton 3:16
8. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus, Bennie Benjamin 4:41
9. "With a Little Help from My Friends" John Lennon, Paul McCartney 5:11
10. "I Shall Be Released" Dylan 4:35
Total length: 40:27

Outtakes released as B-sides
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "The New Age of Lily" Cocker, Stainton 2:15
2. "Something's Coming On" Cocker, Stainton 2:15

Many thanks for the backstory @beans-on-toast!

 

[beans-on-toast]

Many thanks for the backstory @beans-on-toast!

For songs that you know how they go, it's always interesting to see how they come.

 

[GonePlaid]

Happy Soulful Sunday. A great re-do by one of the great blue-eyed soul singers...

Ya did it again, SR.