The Combo Club

[GwenOnBass]

From my privileged, but not entitled, vantage point in my volunteer role as a Music Theory for the Bass Player coach, what I see is

the videos we record — to be viewed by other bass players! — accord mutual respect. It is clear we are all bass players.

 

[Michael Favata]

No smackeroons for them?!

 

[GwenOnBass]

Everyone got a door prize of a compiled video of our "best" moments. I had no more idea what was in it than anyone else and felt pretty to see my own contribution from a jazz exercise. Actually, feel very honoured to be in the company of everyone and to be seen as a bass player too. We've all watched each other since January!

All my practice is in front of a camera now.

 

[swink]

Look I don’t know if I fit here but I feel like I can say I’m a bass player now.
Here’s who I am:

I’ve been doing this music stuff for 48 years now. Had my first six string guitar and took my first guitar lesson in 1973. Bought my 1st bass in 1976. Someone gave me a set of drums around the same time. My older brother was a drummer so I used to sneak in to his room at risk of death when he wasn’t home, before I got the free drums, and play along with his Chicago albums! (The absolutely powerful, socially conscious, rocking, Terry Kath version of Chicago)

My best friend was a drummer (he gave me his old drums) so I bought a guitar to jam with him. Just the bass and me and him didn’t work. So I started playing guitar. Then he got a gig with a real band. I became their sound man/roadie fill in drummer/guitarist/singer/bass player when someone didn’t make it.

Then 1980 came along there were no jobs in Buffalo so me and a friend traveled out west I packed my drums in the back seat of a 68’ Olds convertible. Stayed in Denver a while. (Ate nothing but 5lb bags of potatoes!) No jobs there so We figured we would try Vegas. I got tired of sleeping with my drums in the car so we pulled over on the side of the road on RT 15 and I set them up in the dessert and we drove away lol. We were on the road for about a year and put about 10k on that car.

When we got back to Buffalo my mother had hung on to the bass for me. Still no work in Buffalo so off to Virginia where a friend of mine had moved when I was on the road (he was the bass player in my best friends band) I took that bass with me to Virginia and lived there a couple of years and played just that for a couple of years.

Came back to Buffalo. Got married. Settled down. Had some money. I started building home studios. Playing all the instruments and recording original stuff. That was mid 80s. In 1990 we bought a house and I started a few bands and we did several gigs. I was playing drums in those bands but had my home studio and played all the instruments and would have friends sit in with me and lay down tracks for me recording original stuff while playing covers in bars.

Skip ahead to today. I’ve done the band thing/studio thing for the last 30 years in various combinations with various people.

About 3 years ago I got hurt. Hanging from a gutter I ruptured my right distal bicep tore up my shoulder and my wrist. I was no longer able to play the drums. My right arm is shot. I had played guitars and basses all my life so it was time to switch gears. I decided to throw myself in to bass. Been doing that non-stop for 3 years now. A couple of hours just about every day for over a thousand days now. I consider myself a bassist now. Yes I was a drummer for many years in bands. I purchased 60 guitars and basses in my life and untold boards and lights and PAs and drums and guitar amps and bass amps and recording consoles and mics and on and on and on.

I’m kicking myself because I should have just thrown myself in to the bass from the beginning. I know that now with the wisdom of age. It’s where I belonged my whole life. But I can tell you that finding a drummer that can keep good time like I can is not easy. So I had value there. And I can sing while playing drums and that has real value. (And I owned the PA and had the rehearsal studio and that used to have real value lol)

What I’ve learned through the years is that bass players are the hardest to find and a good bass player is REALLY hard to find. And if your a lead singer/bass player forget it your are the messiah! Bass players are like gold. We are gold.

So I dunno. Do I belong here? Yes I can play guitar and drums and I won’t apologize for that. But I feel like a bass player now and it’s how I will finish out the rest of my life. I will die a bass player. A proud bass player. I feel like my whole life’s musical experience has led me to where I should have been all along.

I’ve learned many songs on bass in the pst 3 years but I currently am on a quest to learn 125 Beatles tunes and remember them all. 90 down 35 to go. I found a community here. People I like who play bass. I’m learning from you folks. No matter how old you get you still have stuff to learn. I believe that. Some here even play guitars. I especially enjoy the the Rumble Club run by the venerable @G-Dog and this combo club run by our fearless leader @iagtrplyr . I like you people. But if I don’t qualify as a “bass player” and the occasional discussion of our guitars (I have not been talking about guitars but I think it’s ok btw) is not allowed I can go elsewhere.
It’s all good.

As if they never talk about chickens in the pigeon club?
What brings us together are our Combos, what we talk about is the theme the day brings.
For me, any topic is worth discussing, within the limit imposed by the MODs.
And if that is not accepted, I'm just as happy to wave goodbye.

 

[SoulReflection]

As if they never talk about chickens in the pigeon club?
What brings us together are our Combos, what we talk about is the theme the day brings.
For me, any topic is worth discussing, within the limit imposed by the MODs.
And if that is not accepted, I'm just as happy to wave goodbye.

You tell 'em, @swink ! Chickens, pigeons and books are our best friends...

 

[G-Dog]

... ... I’m a Beatles freak too! ... ...

Then you really need to participate in this thread ...

All Things Must Beat. Share Anything Beatles!!​

And browse it's Wiki page. ...

All Things Must Beat. Share Anything Beatles!! | TalkBass.com​

..

... ... I currently am on a quest to learn 125 Beatles tunes and remember them all. 90 down 35 to go. ... ...
It’s all good.

We're still looking for your Beatles insights and comments there, Michael.
.​

 

[Michael Favata]

We're still looking for your Beatles insights and comments there, Michael.
.​

I really do have to get over there thanks for the reminder @G-Dog !
Beatles talk on 60 minutes tonight!
Just got my Disney + streaming subscription in preparation for the new “Let It Be Movie” release/event! Can’t wait!

 

[G-Dog]

I really do have to get over there thanks for the reminder @G-Dog !
Beatles talk on 60 minutes tonight!
Just got my Disney + streaming subscription in preparation for the new “Let It Be Movie” release/event! Can’t wait!

OooOoo! Thanks for the heads up, Michael. I've set the DVR to record that.

Point of order: "Let It Be" is the old (downer) movie released "all those years ago". The new (happier) movie, made from the same films shot way back then, is "Get Back". Just FYI.



PS: someone you know, at least virtually, just scored the new "Get Back" companion book to the new movie, the special Target Edition even, for a Christmas present. I hope I'm surprised when I open it!
.

 

[Michael Favata]

OooOoo! Thanks for the heads up, Michael. I've set the DVR to record that.

Point of order: "Let It Be" is the old (downer) movie released "all those years ago". The new (happier) movie, made from the same films shot way back then, is "Get Back". Just FYI.



PS: someone you know, at least virtually, just scored the new "Get Back" companion book to the new movie, the special Target Edition even, for a Christmas present. I hope I'm surprised when I open it!
.

I stand corrected G-Dog!
Awesome score!
I think you will thrilled with that gift!
I want McCartney’s new lyrics book too!

 

[68Tele-Bass]

Love this pic, wraub. I’d be a traditionalist and be partial to what looks like a 50s/60s Strat on the right, but I just admit I’m intrigued by the one in the far left. Looks like it’d been owned by Eddie Van Halen or something!

If this guitar-thing takes hold a Strat would be next on the list. Have always had one in the stable.

One thing though. Why are yours all backwards?

I will grab that seafoam green/gold pickguard one. WRHB in bridge and a single knob??? What could Possibly go Wrong!!! Love it!!

Thanks @SoulReflection ! You guys who have been handing out clams since the 60s are awesome to me!
I was referring to a few recent post here that seem to not want the occasional discussion/share on guitars to be allowed and seem annoyed by that. Again it wasn’t me discussing guitars but I think the occasional mention is fine if others want to do that. Actually come to think of it I did mention that I am reacquiring an acoustic I sold some years ago. Thanks for the welcome @SoulReflection its meaningful to me. Respect to you “old guys”

I’m guilty of guitar posts as charged! But I STAND by my telecaster combo post. FL was mentioning a recent CV 50s. I’m interested for his journey, as I’m a card carrying member of the Telecaster Discussion Reissue Page. TDPRI Home

Kinda goes with the 68Tele bass etc etc. hang mostly in the Bass Place and Squier Tele forum. Oh, and check out the Bad Dog…

No smackeroons for them?!

I only deal in M’Lady’s Spacebucks. Tom Corbitt…

Are those Soviets on the wing of that X-354!!??

Everyone got a door prize of a compiled video of our "best" moments…. Actually, feel very honoured…
All my practice is in front of a camera now.

AAAAARRRRGH!!!….I’d ,ummm. Call on my inner Neil Innes from the Bonzos

 

[68Tele-Bass]

Hey! @iagtrplyr ! Still leaning to the Katana?? Don’t think you would need more than the 50W, but if you can use the headroom..!!

I am leaning hard into that Glenn Hughes Orange 50W bass combo. I was grousing about no XLR/or line out. But…..

It HAS something my Rumble 40 does not…an effects loop.

Problem not only solved elegantly, but in a way that just stokes the GAS. - just run your DI box of choice through the FX loop, run the XLR out and. Glenn’s your Uncle. Your Orange uncle. In Deep Purple.

Oh- and it’s a 12” ported speaker…that fills a niche- Rumble is 10” Rocket is 15…

Im preordering CME. They let me chip away at the Squier VI (Hey! Back Off!!! It’s a Bass!!) on PayPal…

Next- Sell some gear to make room, and plan for that Höfner Club Bass in green burst. I need a short-scale ..!

 

[Luftkopf]

Hey guys. I’m a newly minted bass rookie. I got into guitar 10 years ago, purchased a Tanglewood, and got juuust good enough to play at church, then moved states whereupon I mostly looked at my guitar. My friend recently convinced me to give bass a shot, so I got myself a Squier Affinity PJ, and and Orange Crush Bass 25, and have realised I should have started with the bass in the first place!

I’m not nearly good enough to play in public yet, but I intend to play at church when I do.

My 25w Orange is perfect for home, and when I’m good enough to play at church I should probably just use their Line 6 combo, but the bigger Orange combos look so cool!

Anyway, is there any room in the club for a total rookie?

 

[68Tele-Bass]

Hey guys. I’m a newly minted bass rookie. I got into guitar 10 years ago, purchased a Tanglewood, and got juuust good enough to play at church, then moved states whereupon I mostly looked at my guitar. My friend recently convinced me to give bass a shot, so I got myself a Squier Affinity PJ, and and Orange Crush Bass 25, and have realised I should have started with the bass in the first place!

I’m not nearly good enough to play in public yet, but I intend to play at church when I do.

My 25w Orange is perfect for home, and when I’m good enough to play at church I should probably just use their Line 6 combo, but the bigger Orange combos look so cool!

Anyway, is there any room in the club for a total rookie?

Umm…Yeah!!!!! Of course. You can even get a number if you would like- you have already posted a pic.

Nice!!!! That bass looks great with that Orange combo! As you see from my recent post, I’m looking at grabbing the Orange 50W combo.
Welcome aboard!

OBTW- you need a tort scratch plate (“pickguard” here in the USA) to go with the Orange.
The Order of the Tort

 

[Luftkopf]

I would love a number!

I wasn't quite prepared for how much stuff I would suddenly want to buy when I started playing. I've already got an Orange Kongpressor, and a Darkglass Alpha Omicron on my wishlist, and have realised I'll need to buy a car, because while I can, and have, carried my Orange Crush on my motorbike, I'm not sure I'd want to carry my bass on it as well...

I think I have a bit of hunting to do before I can join The Order of the Tort.

 

[68Tele-Bass]

I would love a number!

I wasn't quite prepared for how much stuff I would suddenly want to buy when I started playing. I've already got an Orange Kongpressor, and a Darkglass Alpha Omicron on my wishlist, and have realised I'll need to buy a car, because while I can, and have, carried my Orange Crush on my motorbike, I'm not sure I'd want to carry my bass on it as well...

I think I have a bit of hunting to do before I can join The Order of the Tort.

A good Gator gig bag with shoulder straps gets on the bike!

Order of the Tort? 12 US Spacebucks on Amazon. It will fit.

 

[Luftkopf]

A good Gator gig bag with shoulder straps gets on the bike!

Order of the Tort? 12 US Spacebucks on Amazon. It will fit.

Those Gator gig bags look pretty nice!

Those 12 US Spacebucks wind up being 20 in Australian. Yay for living in the arse-end of the world. Still. It's only $20. Let's see if the posties still remember how to get here.

 

[68Tele-Bass]

I thought as much- but it’s still relative to what a $40 Fender one being $60 Down Under. Get the red tort….doooo it.

Did you relocate from Tassie? I’d love to go there…

Those Gator gig bags look pretty nice!

Those 12 US Spacebucks wind up being 20 in Australian. Yay for living in the arse-end of the world. Still. It's only $20. Let's see if the posties still remember how to get here.

 

[Luftkopf]

I thought as much- but it’s still relative to what a $40 Fender one being $60 Down Under. Get the red tort….doooo it.


Did you relocate from Tassie? I’d love to go there…

The red tort would go with my red strap...

I'm an hour south of Adelaide, but the postal service doesn't make it here. Have to pick up our post at the nearest general store/petrol station/post office.

Man, I'd love to move to Tassie. I did a 7 day pack hike up in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park up in the middle of the island in late autumn, I think, about 10 years ago. I loved it to bits, though thought I was going to die that last night, I'd never experienced cold like that! I'm from Adelaide, I'd only read about snow!

 

[SoulReflection]

A good Gator gig bag with shoulder straps gets on the bike!

Order of the Tort? 12 US Spacebucks on Amazon. It will fit.

View attachment 4473015

Yah, go for TORT!

 

[swink]

Yah, go for TORT!

Sid Visious didn't have Tort on his white P-bass. We all know how that story ended.....