[dba-Tech] Playing bass - was Re: Why I just destroyed my cell phone

[John Colby]

Yep a Kala U-Bass.  I was in a music store one day and heard someone 
playing bass.  Except there was only one guy, back in the back and it 
was obvious he didn't have a bass. Yep, a U-Bass.  I knew by looking I 
could play it and bought it on the spot.  It helps that they are cheap.

I actually use coconut oil when I start playing, to "oil" the strings 
(and my fingers on both hands) to get rid of the screeching feel / sound 
from sliding on the rubber.

I love mine, though the intonation is just awful.  They are not 
adjustable as a real bass is.

I just bought a 30" short scale (Ibenez Mikro 5 string) to see if I 
could play that.  Actually quite a nice little bass.  Barely playable 
with my wrist / arm, but I am working on it.  The low B takes some 
getting used to (fingering) but I sure like the extra depth.

At my age, it might be the most fun I can have regardless of the state 
of my clothes.  ;)


On 10/29/2016 12:20 AM, Rocky Smolin wrote:
> Playing music - the most fun you can have with your clothes on. :)
>
> Would it work better for you to play left handed?
>
> I played a u-bass a few months ago.  With those thick rubbery strings? The conga player in my Cuban band had one and brought it to a jam for me to try.  Amazing!  It had pretty high quality bass sound when amplified - very impressive. A Kala?
>
> I came late to this bass thing - like you.  But I switched to upright a couple years ago from electric - playing rock and blues.  Much harder than electric.  But right for the genre.
>
> But I play standards - don't play anything I can't whistle or sing in the shower. So no stuff like Coltrane.  Just what they call straight ahead.  It's different but it ain't so difficult.
>
> But I'll play anything (musical whore). Played Dixieland for a few years until we...well...disbanded.
>
> I'm bass in the house band at a local coffee house this Sunday - a Woody Guthrie tribute.
>
> http://www.brick15.com/
>
> https://www.brick15.com/event/woody-guthrie-tribute/
>
>
> I got my start playing out through a Meetup site - met a lot of musicians that way.  Check it out in your area.  Then you can go play with people.
>
> R
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dba-Tech [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of John Colby
> Sent: Friday, October 28, 2016 8:08 PM
> To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues; jwcolby at gmail.com
> Subject: [dba-Tech] Playing bass - was Re: Why I just destroyed my cell phone
>
> Rocky, I too am playing bass.  I have a majorish mangle in my fretting hand / arm from a motorcycle accident back in 1986 (in San Marcos as it happens), and as a result can't get good supination of my left arm / hand.  But... I can play this little thing called a U-Bass.  I am absolutely loving it.
>
> Not playing in public (yet) but I am playing to songs on my phone, streamed via bluetooth to my little bose speaker.  Things like
>
> Exile - Woke Up in Love
>
> Asleep at the wheel - Coast to coast
>
> Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
>
> Eva Cassidy - Wade in the water
>
> Robert Plant - Killing the blues (almost as good as Rolland Salley's
> version)
>
> and many others, mostly of the blues / country genre.
>
> Not really good enough yet to go do the jazz stuff, but workin' on it.
> So much fun.
>
> On 10/26/2016 12:05 PM, Rocky Smolin wrote:
>> I like it!  I'm playing stand-up bass in the house band (just me and the drummer/owner) at a coffee house called Brick 15 in Del Mar on Sunday.  It started by a couple we're friendly with.  He's got a nice roster of talent coming in and people are competing to do Deportee. :)  Should be a hoot!
>>
>> https://www.brick15.com/event/woody-guthrie-tribute/
>>
>>
>> So in addition to Martin I'd like to add Woody Guthrie, if that's OK with you.
>>
>> R
>>

-- 
John W. Colby