Ernie O'Ball??

[LarryNJ]

Hello EB/MM bass fanatics:

just got back from a 9-day visit to Ireland; if you get the chance, GO! Beautiful country. awesome people, and there is some roots music played there that is in-the pocket!!! I even have a gig waiting in a pub in Connemara! Anyway:

While the wife shopped for crystal and china in Killarney, I wondered across the street to a small record shop that had some guitars, and lo and behold, a COPY of
a black Stingray fretted 4 for 215 euros (about 300 bucks I think). Not an OLP.
forgot what the headstock said. It actually sounded very good played through a small combo amp (channels for both bass and guitar!). Mind you, not a real 'Ray thru a high-end set up but nonetheless... Pretty nice axe!

The best things were getting to SLAP a bass (not on the tour itinerary) and playing for lovely 19 year old Siobhan, the store clerk, who had never heard anyone play the instrument in the shop before. She was fascinated....ummm, anyway....
There's a hand-held drum called the bodhrain ...Next trip I would love to jam out with one of those.....

 

[dlloyd]

lo and behold, a COPY of a black Stingray fretted 4 for 215 euros (about 300 bucks I think). Not an OLP. forgot what the headstock said.

"Vintage"?

http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html

 

[LarryNJ]

Hey, Cool!
Could not say for sure, but it looks like it may well have been that 96B...

The bass was set up real well, the gauge of strings felt good to me, and the axe had a tight feel to it.
Not quite like my old Sterling (few basses are) but for the price, it would be a pretty nice piece.

I didn't have the opportunity to check out a bunch of music stores.There was one in Dublin, near Temple Bar, that looked like they carried pro gear (Ampeg sticker on door) but they were closed.
Other than the "Irish 'Ray", I saw a few BC-Rich Warlock type heavy metal basses, and a duo in a pub doing Irish folk music had a bassist/singer who was using a light blue Fender Jazz.

I had a chance to talk music with both young and old; about both traditional and modern Irish music. Some very cool new bands (Corrs, Cranberries) and Bono owns a real high end hotel in the city I understand.
Standards:
When they get the real "craic" (good spirits) going on in the pubs musically, its a thing of beauty. Jammin'!!
The warmth, spirit , and beauty of the Irish amazed me. I can't wait to go back.

 

[Fuzzy Dustmite]

I always thought that the 3+1 MM headstock was some kind of trademark, and that other companies couldn't make basses like that. Guess I was wrong.

 

[jongitarz]

No..you are right...I have seen our lawyers go after copycat guitars in the past

 

[Mobay45]

playing for lovely 19 year old Siobhan, the store clerk, who had never heard anyone play the instrument in the shop before. She was fascinated....ummm, anyway....
There's a hand-held drum called the bodhrain ...Next trip I would love to jam out with one of those.....

I was in Ireland a couple of years ago. The girls there are quite gorgeous, aren't they. And all that red hair too!

LarryTX

 

[LarryNJ]

Only saw a couple red-haired ladies, but YEAH MAN, the Irish girls were awesome!!
(and its a good thing my lady doesn't read this forum!)

Not just the look; Lord knows LA.CA has some Honies, but....
Something about their bearing and the way they carried themselves...
Ranged from a BOLD beauty from some of the girls working at the pubs to the sweet innocence of young Siobhan from the countryside.....

"Sigh" Ahhh ,Ireland!!!!!

BTW, didn't want to start an international incident about the "Irish 'Ray"...
It did have the 3 + 1 headstock, and it did sound pretty good....
But believe me-
It was no Ernie Ball!!

 

[LeftyLB]

I was in Ireland a couple of years ago. The girls there are quite gorgeous, aren't they. And all that red hair too!

LarryTX

Oh Gentlemen,

It is exactly 12 0'Clock and I have just staggered back from my younger bro's house a couple of streets away. I was invited around for dinner as my wife and girls flew back to Ireland on Wednesday for five weeks.

We had a Chineese takeaway then his wife retired to bed and the Neil got out his acoustic and we drank some British Real Ales (well quite a lot actually and I am in the mood for writing as a result) and then we sang some songs for Ireland - I would point out at this stage so as not to offend anyone in the UK, that these were not political songs or that kind of ilk.

I am 2nd generation Irish and carry an Irish passport but was born and educated here in the UK and honour both countries equally.

However, in response to Larry, yes you are right - they are quite gorgeous and I am married to one of them - not a redhead though.

Anyway with regards to going to Ireland and discovering its musical heritage. The Corrs and the Cranberries have now been around a considerable length of time and have been quite big in the UK for some years. They are talented but not overtly traditional and you need to venture down some dark alleys in Dublin to find the "Dirty Ol' Town" and dig out the dingy pubs that house the traditional players that play Irish music. Then head west to Counties Clare, Galway and Mayo to the festivals as well as Killarney and Cork City - You won't be disappointed if you have any love of music.

You could do no worse than search the internet and look for a band called Planxty, a band from the late 60's and 70's which spawned Christie Moore, Donal Luney and Paul Brady.

If you think Slap bass can sound awesome, then you should hear a Bodhran, acostic guitar and a set of pipes flying - truely awesome!

Go to Ireland - You won't regret it.

It's now 12:20! - how did I spend 22 minutes writing this?

Time to sleep off the ale!

Night, Night!

 

[Mobay45]

I guess I'm just naturally drawn to redheads. I've been married to one for almost 25 years and I just tend to notice when I see red tresses. Redheads certainly weren't the only beauties I had the pleasure to observe in Ireland though. The women were just such natural beauties. Not like the ones I usually see here in the DFW area. After all, DFW is probably only second to LA in the number of plastic surgeons.

BTW, I'm fortunate that my wife doesn't read this forum either. She wouldn't care about the talk about the women, but she would kick my a$$ if she knew all about the basses and equipment I have accumulated.

 

[TheAntMan]

Right on with the red heads!

My wife (we've been together for 12 years) is also a red head of Irish blood. Red heads just have a special look about them. There is a book with nothing but pics of red heads that I found at Barnes & Noble. Very nice

 

[LarryNJ]

The Ladies:
I actually only saw (1) redhead; a tour guide at Clonalis House; real sweetheart.
Siohban in Killarney was young, innocent, beautiful, sweet and a player of traditional Irish music on the fiddle- hearing the "Fender Bass" slapped was astounding to her...she dug it. When we saw her later having a pint at the local with her girl mates, she blushed when I said " Hey, Shiv, wassup??"

The Irish women in general blew me away, from the older lady, Phylis, who ran the B&B in Waterford (what a house and what a cook!) to the STUNNING girls who worked in the pubs and coffee shops from Dublin to Kilkenny. The woman have a presence and a bearing that I could feel. I love my own little lady, but here's to those lucky enough to capture the heart of an Irish girl!!

...and the Music:

I did have a chance to see the real deal twice, in Connemara, and Killarney.
As I said before, they put it away and in the pocket and take it DOWNTOWN!
Every musician should check out many forms of Irish music, from the real traditional with pipes and bohdran, to the pub tunes and "jams" to the present day Rock n' Roll.
There is so much in common with the roots- rhythms and pulse of American blues, R&B,jazz, etc..... As my host in Ballyshannon graciously pointed out; to paraphrase: "We (USA) got it from them!!"
There is a Celtic Arts Center in my city and I'm going to one of their sessions and am going to bring my bass.... You don't traditionally see either the Double bass or the Bass guitar in Irish music.....but it'll work!

It's a big world with many great places to see, but Ireland is truly special.