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Maybe it's a Drongo? Swap in Warman pickups?

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons in Phil's hometown of Pontypridd on Friday. Gigging on Saturday. Simply Red in Cardiff on Sunday.

We've all got mates who's bands are, by our standards, f***ing awful, and no doubt many of us are in bands who by other people's standards, are f***ing awful. Some of the most unmusical and unprofessional gigs I've attended have involved world class players or bands (just check out some of Jaco's off nights.....). My answer to the OP's question tends to be "Well done mate, I'm glad I came, fancy a pint?"

You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet a handsome price. Or even an ugly one. The only answer is perseverance.

I absolute don't agree with all the polically correct proposals... Funnily we went to see my best mate (on guitar) band yesterday evening at a private party and it was simply awful. I also very well know the other guitarist, the bassist and the drummer, the singer less. First of all, I saw them for their release party something like 7 months ago and they were really ace as they are all experienced players with a good rock background and the singer is teaching ... singing. What happened yesterday is easy to explain as they simply decided to deafen every people in that small place by turning their useless P.A. to the max which meant a 110 to 120 dB (yes, at some point I measured it) permanent noise! 🤦🏻😳 And there was no one at any desk, which is a rookie mistake. When I saw them the first time, there was a real sound engineer at the desk and the output power was not over the legal 90 dB in a similar size venue, the result was an excellent gig. Yesterday gig was so loud that people were leaving and it was a total mess sound wise with some timing mistakes due to not hearing themselves as the IEM were cutting, like the bassist told me when the host of the party came on stage for a few tunes on bass and guitar with the band, which was a bit if a release as they played way softer... I was waiting for Cortez the Killer has I loved their cover the first time: An incredible mess yesterday, so we left before Kashmir, which certainly was a mess too. The main problem is the drummer who is hitting the drums like a mad man and was ... amplified with tons of bass and low mids in the overall mix. The bass player was simply impossible to hear as was the rest of band, because of that ego. So I'm going to tell them it was really shīt, without managing anyone as they deserve it. That also decided me that it was my last ever amateur rock gig.

Last night I played a whole gig with my Fender Performer for the first time in three decades. It's 40 about now (actual dates are difficult but somewhere 85-86) do I say it's vintage. I've had it about 35 years, and the tonal range I could get, combined with the ease of playing (Roto 66 40-95 and whisper-thin 24 fret neck) made its an utter joy to play. I'm not sure what my point is, except having a long personal history with it adds to the pleasure, but it's rooted in the reality of the instrument's capabilities.

This. The response "that’s cool, but we need this sorted and out in the open before I go away, because this isn’t going to hang over my holiday" doesn't exactly come over as understanding or supportive.

Saying nothing in response to his question is an answer in itself. If he insists on a more fulsome reply, I'd look for something positive to start with. It could be that he has doubts himself and is looking for an outside perspective if the band was as bad as you say. You said he can sing really well, so I'd go with something along the lines of "You're not getting the support/back-up from the band that your abilities merit". Then you can go into detail if he asks for it.

Chris said it better than I can.

Yes, i guess they're a weekend pub band. If they're enjoying themselves and get booked all is well. It's got to be fun for the band. I know I'll never be a great bass player, i turn up rehearsed and on time but i really do it cos i like having a laugh with my band mates. If your friend gets that much from his band he's doing ok. If the band recognise they're not so good so much the better, they'll work on it. If they don't recognise they're not so good there's no point in telling them.

I've owned one 50's Precision, five from the 60's, and probably more than 10 from the 70's. I now have none of them. To my mind vintage basses are antiques and are largely bought and sold in the same way as antique furniture, cars, art, and fashion. I really can't see the logic in any argument re tone etc as there is simply too much variability. Re playability, yes, there is that sublime played-in feel, especially IME with 60's Fenders, that it's hard to beat. Unless you know how to use sandpaper and Danish Oil

As an early 60s bass is beyond my means, I have Flea signature jazz and an AVII 1960 precision. The latter, in particular, is supposedly Fender's closest approach to replicating those early basses. Certainly the pickups are very close to the originals in materials, construction and sound. Some may disagree, but I think that, aside from the lovely played-in feel of a vintage instrument, the main appeal of vintage is the joy of owning something with a history to it.

When this sort of thing has happened in bands I've been in it's been my first reaction to have to know what's going on, it's the biggest thing on my mind. But in hind sight people have come and gone bands have come and gone, but I'm still playing and life has carried on. Occasionally that magic combination of people has disappeared, which is a shame but usually things turn out ok. I hope they do for you. All the best

I have an Android phone. The Do Not Disturb feature is very powerful with very in depth features. I don't know how the Apple version works but it's worth exploring. I went away for a week and checked messages and emails every evening for preview of message and subject line of email. No messages or emails were opened. No facebook, TikTok, BassChat... The stress completely evaporated. And to be honest I learned that all messages and emails can wait until you reply, you don't have to reply when other people expect you to reply (immediately). Regards your singer. If it was that important that he tell you immediately, he would have made the time already. He hasn't, so my gut feeling is he's prepping you for something he thinks someone else will tell you, and he wants to get his side across first. Honestly? It's not your job to manage other people in your life and get involved in their problems unless they specifically come to you, or you think they are in real danger. That way leads to madness. I have little time for people who surround themselves with drama where they are the lead actor.

I don't think so. I.T. generally has made it difficult to relax after work. You might have work related SMS items to deal with on your own time. You might have bosses who don't sleep and can't understand that normal people NEED sleep. Similarly, on holiday, it is hard to get away from it all now that comms providers have made roaming charges more attractive to their customers. The way I look at it; The internet and all of the devices connected to it are dependant on electricity. The makers have left out one important thing - the OFF switch. Standby is seen to be the same thing except it isn't. When I go out of a room, I switch the light OFF. I do the same with mobile comms and data. I have no need to carry it with me. Go and enjoy your holiday. When you come back I am sure the melodrama will have developed sufficiently for you to deal with then.

Bingo. Keep out of it and say nothing bad. They're big enough and ugly enough to sort out their own problems