Hi all,
I'm just doing a quick hi, I guess to do an intro and maybe start posting. Been hanging out watching for a while now, and have found lots of answers to questions without having to bother folks.
I've been playing sax for about 35 years. The last many years have been primarily with tenor; started on alto. Still play alto and soprano (and some flute, as most sax players do), but really only bring the tenor to gigs these days. (Oh, yeah, and my wind-synth). I've covered the gamut of bands over the years, from big band to latin ensembles, to rock (yeah, and disco.. I'm that old), to funk & jazz. Now mostly playing in a corporate/wedding variety band. Yes, I have a lucrative day gig- I work at the VA assigning disability evaluations for military vets. So, the time & energy available for music is just a little limited.
On to bass... About 5 years ago I got a wild hair and decided to take up electric bass. I remember way back, when I was making decisions about what instruments attracted me, bass was a choice, but I had played sax in elementary and junior high so I went with that. Did well, had fun (and still do), but now I'm having a great time joining you folks at the low end. Man, what a different landscape! I've been floatin' about up above y'all for so many years, I truly didn't understand/appreciate the power, the role... (head and heart understanding are different, ya know?). Anyway, I'm having the time of my life. I have to admit, when I first started I had the hardest time distinguishing the low frequencies. I mean, playing sax for many years (and, yes, listening more to the piano and guitar than the bass), I just didn't have an idea of what was happening down there. Ah, now I get it... or I'm beginning to. I took lessons for a couple years, and now I'm learning off records and from books. I live in San Diego, and had some great and kind advice from John DiMaggio at Bass Alone- what a kind, honest, and generous guy. (Yeah, I know he sold the shop, but I'm still periodically in touch with him). Also, the bass player in my current band has taken me under his wing and we hang togeter at times and play. When the keyboard player and I do a duo, I switch off between sax and bass, so I'm getting a little playing time. Still staying with the simpler stuff for now; I don't have my walking chops down. I'll get it... it will just take time.
Anyway, that's really enough of an intro. I'm honored to be joining the folks who supply the foundation and groove. And thanks to the folks of Talkbass for providing this opportunity for folks of all bass persuasion to yak and share ideas and ask and answer questions and all that.
I'm off to post a question about an Ashdown amp that a friend has for sale...
John Howard
I'm just doing a quick hi, I guess to do an intro and maybe start posting. Been hanging out watching for a while now, and have found lots of answers to questions without having to bother folks.
I've been playing sax for about 35 years. The last many years have been primarily with tenor; started on alto. Still play alto and soprano (and some flute, as most sax players do), but really only bring the tenor to gigs these days. (Oh, yeah, and my wind-synth). I've covered the gamut of bands over the years, from big band to latin ensembles, to rock (yeah, and disco.. I'm that old), to funk & jazz. Now mostly playing in a corporate/wedding variety band. Yes, I have a lucrative day gig- I work at the VA assigning disability evaluations for military vets. So, the time & energy available for music is just a little limited.
On to bass... About 5 years ago I got a wild hair and decided to take up electric bass. I remember way back, when I was making decisions about what instruments attracted me, bass was a choice, but I had played sax in elementary and junior high so I went with that. Did well, had fun (and still do), but now I'm having a great time joining you folks at the low end. Man, what a different landscape! I've been floatin' about up above y'all for so many years, I truly didn't understand/appreciate the power, the role... (head and heart understanding are different, ya know?). Anyway, I'm having the time of my life. I have to admit, when I first started I had the hardest time distinguishing the low frequencies. I mean, playing sax for many years (and, yes, listening more to the piano and guitar than the bass), I just didn't have an idea of what was happening down there. Ah, now I get it... or I'm beginning to. I took lessons for a couple years, and now I'm learning off records and from books. I live in San Diego, and had some great and kind advice from John DiMaggio at Bass Alone- what a kind, honest, and generous guy. (Yeah, I know he sold the shop, but I'm still periodically in touch with him). Also, the bass player in my current band has taken me under his wing and we hang togeter at times and play. When the keyboard player and I do a duo, I switch off between sax and bass, so I'm getting a little playing time. Still staying with the simpler stuff for now; I don't have my walking chops down. I'll get it... it will just take time.
Anyway, that's really enough of an intro. I'm honored to be joining the folks who supply the foundation and groove. And thanks to the folks of Talkbass for providing this opportunity for folks of all bass persuasion to yak and share ideas and ask and answer questions and all that.
I'm off to post a question about an Ashdown amp that a friend has for sale...
John Howard
