The ShadowMusic Web Community

I have always enjoyed this site but only as an observer and have never commented myself. I would never profess to be anything special as a bass player, but with the Frank White Band in Sheffield I enjoyed sharing the stage with Dave Berry and Joe Cocker. I have also been privileged enough to share the stage with Brian Bennett and Mark Griffiths as part of Warren Bennett and Friends and also many others of differing abilities. I am grateful to be privileged enough to be still playing with some talented people.
I enjoy this site but I just wish everyone could be nicer to each other, stop snide sarcastic comments and stop insulting each other. Just stop to think, how it would look to budding young players to look on this site? After reading comments on this site they could go away disillusioned thinking that they may as well pack up if they can’t afford a specific strat, meazzi echo or J200 acoustic etc. etc.
We must appreciate that there are dedicated fans, players and enthusiasts of differing abilities, some that can’t afford the best of equipment, so should we give them the impression that they shouldn’t bother?
There are also people in all walks of life that may have differing opinions to our own, but is that any reason to insult or ridicule them? I think we should respect others opinions even if we do not agree with them.
Personally, I think that old guitars amps echoes etc. are great for nostalgia but are not a patch on what is available with today’s technology and superior manufacturing techniques. As a comparison my next door neighbour restores extremely valuable vintage cars. They really are something special and when he’s finished them they are like brand new. However, aside from the love of nostalgia he wouldn’t dream of running around in a vintage car day to day and much prefers his Honda CRV even though he can afford any car he wants. That’s his choice and I respect that. My first car was a Ford Prefect, it was crap but I wish I had it now for nostalgia.
The old Sun Recording Studios created legends from talented people and those recordings are great to listen to now with all the talent and raw energy, but surely we must appreciate that all those old legends moved on and took advantage of any improvements in techniques, equipment and technology that became available.
Just as a matter of interest, what echoes and equipment does Hank use now because he’s the yardstick people use and he can have anything he wants.
Please be nice to everyone gents, life’s too short.
Any way my first ever posting will probably get me a slating if past performance has anything to go by. Please be gentle I’m only a bass player lol.
Best wishes to all, Derek Brown

Amen to all that, Derek.
cheers
ian

I think there will aways be differences of opinion on a site like this.

There are many variations in peoples' playing ability and experience, and their personal financial situations and ability to afford gear, which affect their outlook and opinions.

There is the view that it's all about the player rather than the gear used or the price or provenance of that gear- and the opposite view that the gear matters as much as who plays it.

Then there are those who will always want to hear the true fidelity sound and arrangement etc exactly as it was on an original recording, while others prefer the live performance interpretation, which can vary every night ...

What unites us all on sites like these is a love of guitar instrumental music, and true love can be very passionate and single minded, so there are bound to be a few tears before bedtime and tantrums as a consequence when people's opinions differ!

Well said Derek!

There are many threads I would like to comment on but wuss out for fear of being shot down in flames by the petty point scorers on here. Differences of opinion are healthy, but only when expressed with respect, same with pointing out a poster's mistakes.

I have often wondered how many potential posters just lurk in the wings being put off by a handful of know it all big heads who should try to make it past their front door once in a while.

I sincerely hope you don't get a slating Derek, you certainly don't deserve one, and I hope you post more often.

Jayne

Totally agree Derek and Jayne. This is my first post too [but I've been lurking since 2010]. I hav'nt posted before because I have had nothing either helpful or constructive to contribute. I have however learned a great deal from the very knowledgeable members on this forum. I'm just a guy who enjoys playing and listening to guitar instrumental music. I play it my way, using what equipment I have, to produce something that I am happy with. Its done purely for my own pleasure. I know that even if I owned every piece of equipment that Hank Marvin has used over the years, I would never sound like him, and to be honest it does'nt bother me in the slightest, he's Hank, I'm me. I would love to be as good a player as he is, who would'nt, but I'm happy just doing my own thing. For those who strive to emulate every little nuance of every Shads number, from whatever period, great, they are doing what they enjoy. At the end of the day, is'nt that what its all about-enjoyment!

The bottom line is, for most of us, this is a hobby and this forum is a great resource for guitarists young and old of whatever playing ability. Please do'nt spoil it with petty bickering and uncalled for critisism. If you really must have a go, keep it to PM's so that the rest of us don't have to read it.

Neil

I wholly concur with the sentiment offered by Derek, and yes you are a good bass player, I have heard you an many an ocassion.
I have been a member of this site old and new for a number of years and the discussions on the newer version of ShadowMusic are mild by comparison to what went on in the old version, and for that I am eternally grateful. There was so much nonsense written, it often required the administators to step in and sometimes shut a thread down.
They say the cream always rises to the top, unfortunately it is not always the case. There does seem to be a creeping disease called point scoring which I have noticed in recent times, and I have to say "who cares". Your opinion is your opinion and should not be forced on anyone nomatter who they are.
Each and everyone of us has the right and the freedom to express our thoughts/opinions etc and it should be without the fear that you are going to be slated/chastised or put down by so called "experts".
Perhaps our moderators should keep a closer eye on what is said and start punishing those who transgress the rules, and yes there are rules which we all have to adhere to.
Derek Misselbrook - advising people to go to an alternative site does not resolve the issues on this site, and I thought we had stopped breaking away and were all under the one umbrella Shadows site.
As Derek said be nice, or at least try.

I very much agree with what Derek (Brown) and Ron have said.

Thank you for writing that, Derek, all.

Best from from Manila,

Andy

A good point well made Derek...

This is a happy place, generally speaking, but over the years there have been occasional outbursts of vitriol. On balance, ShadowMusic has continued to attract members whereas sites opened by disaffected members have tended to wither...

It belongs to you all, and its survival - taking this music to the next generation - depends on you all...

So yes, well said Derek. Let's play nicely as my mum used to say...

...and, if I may speak as a new moderator, it is just something I fit in along with other voluntary activities. I am not a policeman. However, there have been occasions where I have intervened, often thanks to gentle tip-offs from site members. The idea is to act quietly behind the scenes when there is a risk of offence or defamation, in the hope that you will usually not know that anything has happened. If there's something on the site you're not happy about, a PM to a moderator will be much appreciated and will be kept confidential.

Best wishes - Iain