hiram.k.hackenbacker

13 hours ago, Supernaut said:

One. I've never broken a bass string in 20 years of playing. 

Well, I wish you the best of luck continuing your record, but for those of us that have had something go wrong (and it's not just strings), I can assure you that once it does, you'd be a fool not to rethink the back-up plan.

Of course, the degree of foolhardiness is dependant on the level of gig. I'd look pretty f***ing stupid as the bass player at an 80's theatre gig (as I often am) where there is no support (therefore no other bass players/equipment) and my bass went down for some reason. The only option, without a back-up, would be to stop the show and attempt to rectify it. If I can't, the show is over.

A yardstick is, would @cetera turn up to a Leather & Lace show without a back-up. No, I don't think he would.

If you're happy attending the occasional jam night or some other gig where there are several other basses, yes, you can mitigate against that risk, but it's not really in the spirit of the bassist role IMHO.

3 hours ago, Linus27 said:

1978 to 1989

 

Start with The Police releasing Outlandos d'Amour in 1978 and then moving through into the 80's with early U2, Simple Minds, Madonna, Tears For Fears, New Order, Duran Duran, Talk Talk and finishing with New Order Technique.

 

Highlights being,

1978 - The Police Outlandos d'Amour

1979 - The Police Reggatta de Blanc, Supertramp Breakfast in America, The Clash London Calling, Joy Division Unknown Pleasures

1980 - U2 Boy, The Police Zenyatta Mondatta, 

1981 - Duran Duran Duran Duran, The Police Ghost In The Machine, U2 October, OMD Architecture & Morality

1982 - Simple Minds New Gold Dream, Duran Duran Rio, Michael Jackson Thriller, Prince 1999 and

1983 - Madonna Madonna, Tears For Fears The Hurting, The Police Synchronicity, U2 War, Heaven 17 The Luxury Gap

1984 - Simple Minds Sparkle in the Rain, Sade Diamond Life, U2 Unforgettable Fire, Madonna Like a Virgin, Thompson Twins Into the Gap, Howard Jones Human's Lib, INXS The Swing, Bryan Adams Reckless, Talking Heads Stop Making Sense, Prince Purple Rain, Frankie Goes To Hollywood Welcome To The Pleasure Dome.

1985 - Inxs Listen Like Thieves, Simple Minds Once Upon A Time, Talking Heads Little Creatures, Sade Promise, Sting Dream of the Blue Turtles, Aha Hunting High and Low, Tears For Fears Songs From The Big Chair, Dire Straits Brothers in Arms

1986 - Talk Talk The Colour of Spring, Peter Gabriel So, Queen Its a Kind Of Magic, Janet Jackson Control, Paul Simon Graceland, New Order Brotherhood, Pet Shop Boys Please, Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet, The The Infected

1987 - U2 Joshua Tree, GmR Appetite For Destruction, Pet Shop Boys Actually, John Mellencamp The Lonesome Jubilee, The Smiths Strangeways Here We Come, The Cult Electric, Inxs Kick, Marillion Clutching At Straws

1988 - The Sugarcubes Life's Too Good, U2 Rattle and Hum, Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman, Talk Talk Spirit of Eden

1989 - New Order Technique, 

Erm. That’s 12 full years of music.

13 hours ago, How1 said:

If you had to pick one, what would it be? Not necessarily 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s specifically - just a 10 year period that you’d pick for really good music. 

 

I’d say mine was 75 to 85. You’ve got punk/post, the birth of rap, new wave, some really good 70s rock, stuff like The Blockheads, electro, roots reggae…the list goes on. Pretty interesting times.

I’ve had the same conversation with Mrs.H recently and ’’75 to ‘85 was almost exactly what I chose (although you’ve nabbed an extra year there rather than a decade 😎). I went ‘75 to ‘84 and it captures some great artists for me, from the end of Gabriel’s tenure with Genesis to Frankie’s ‘Welcome to The Pleasuredome’. Then there’s punk, a good chunk of disco, the birth of electronica and some absolute classic rock. Also covers my first ever gigs, the classic Motorhead line-up (although I also love Phil & Mikkey), the heyday of Rush, Zappa in his prime….I could go on.

The thing is, having watched the gig, what was going on in the crowd and the weird reaction of Kerr didn't quite marry up. There were pockets of crowd that seemed properly into it at times, just not necessarily all of the crowd all of the time. That's what you get on a multi-band, you're never going to please all of the crowd as they're there for different reasons. In fairness to them, Thatcher did seem to want to make the effort with the crowd, although I can't condone his apparent alcohol abuse in front of a family type audience. I think they'll look back at the Dundee gig one day and realise they could have handled it far better.

1 hour ago, Rayman said:

Some years ago I saw Andrew Levy with Brand New Heavies. He was using some kind of active jazz type of bass for a few songs, but it just wasn't holding up the low end. A few songs in, out came the Precision and boom, there you go, instantly better. Just got me wondering, if something that sounded great in a small room might not always work in the sheds?

Sounds like he forgot to change the amp from passive to active.

I keep coming back to look at this. I don’t NEED it, but it sure is purdy!

I wouldn’t say I dislike any of their material, it’s just I find they are a bit of a one trick pony. The fact that Mike Kerr is essentially doing everything apart from the drums doesn’t allow for much variation from what he’s playing. Quite limiting IMHO.

I’ve not seen them myself, but they came on with a bit of an attitude IMHO….

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ed8wxj/play/p0fctznf

34 minutes ago, borntohang said:

In mitigation, RB are about to start a headline arena tour this week. Having been in the same position where you're about to do your biggest ever shows and then bomb in front of somebody else's midday festival crowd I can at least sympathise with them being tempted to throw a small paddy. I got on with it though because I'm a professional (and also was getting paid my session fee either way). 😜

I have no sympathy with them whatsoever. You get on stage and perform to the best of your ability and be thankful for it every time.

5 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Another reason to be a songwriter and not just a musician.

You OK up there? The air must be quite thin I would imagine 🙄

14 hours ago, Bassybert said:

Slightly off topic but definitely related. I like quite a lot of royal blood’s stuff and thought they might be a good option to take my daughter for her first proper gig. 
 

Went online and looked at the tickets in a couple of venues close to us and with booking fees they were pretty much £95 each 😵‍💫

I realise the band doesn’t have total sway over ticket pricing but I just laughed at how a ‘moderately’ successful two piece could be charging almost a hundred notes for a gig. 

and I say that as a fan. Obviously we didn’t go which was a shame I thought it would have been a great ‘remember your first gig’ moment. 

Just received an e-mail flyer for Royal Blood tickets at the London Eventim Apollo (or the Hammersmith Odeon as I prefer to call it).

Ticket prices are E50 each. Not sure why they were double that where you are.

1 hour ago, Waddo Soqable said:

Never been keen on the poke a pick down the scratchplate business, often leaves a wonky scratchplate after a while. 

Not done any nudist gigs so I've always got a pocket somewhere 😁

No, I don’t like doing that either. I did do it when I had my Deacon Limelight for the Queen tribute as JD usually had two blue picks under the top edge of his pickguard. Since I  replaced it with the Shuker JJ, I feel less inclined to repeat the process as I don’t want to damage it. I’ve taken to using a tiny dob of blu-tack and sticking it to the bridge when I’m not using it.

3 hours ago, Paul S said:

That is simple.  Loosen the screws a weeny bit on the pickguard of your Fender bass and slip it underneath  

I think I know what the response is going to be to that. Won’t be pretty 🤣

I’m not sure there are songs that I find easier with a pick, but I definitely swap between pick and finger style depending on how much attack I require.

I don’t worry about tone or volume though. I’ll usually dial in a bit more treble if I’m using a pick, because most of the songs that require it have that gnarly pick sound that is more present in the mix anyway. 
I use Tortex Standard 1.0mm - the blue ones that John Deacon preferred. I don’t really like anything heavier than that.

3/6 in Sudbury then @WonkyOne. I wonder what the punters would think if they knew what they were paying for 🤔.

12 hours ago, WonkyOne said:

So myself and my crew are visiting their next show, next weekend and wont be leaving until fully paid along with the late payment charges!!

12 hours ago, WonkyOne said:

No need for police, we WILL get our money next weekend 

This is why you have to be careful what you post on a public forum. These comments could be interpreted a number of ways. Given that we don't know what will transpire when you visit the 'next show', if things escalate and the Police are called, you've already played your hand here. To be clear, I'm not defending MM. If half of what I've read is remotely accurate, then he deserves to be held to account for his alleged misdeeds.

You'd also be a fool to think he is not monitoring this thread.

12 hours ago, ped said:

Make sure you report it to the police too, so they can sit on their derrières and do absolutely nothing about it 

Report it to the Police as what? A civil debt?

Never been off my board since I bought. Also had to wait a very long time to get mine. I'm surprised this hasn't gone already.

Until recently, I’ve been predominantly a finger player. I’m now in a covers band that leans towards songs that need a bit of attack, so I started using a pick for all their stuff. I have no explanation as to why, but my brain just wants to start on an upstroke. Unless the riff dictates that it’s more difficult to do so (crossing strings/octaves etc), it’s usually an upstroke I’ll start on.

12 minutes ago, mcnach said:

I just see somebody struggling... 😞

Me too. The person videoing it seems to be revelling in the players frustrations.

One of those things that shouldn’t have made it to the internet. Bit sad really.

I also hate seeing instruments destroyed for no reason.

15 minutes ago, Rich said:

This could well be one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard.

 

 

Quality that. The main theme was one of John Barry's favourites and mine too. 

3 hours ago, Cliff Edge said:

Saw him Tuesday evening in Bexhill on Sea. I agree he can certainly play a guitar, but honestly after the fifth or sixth number it’s all a bit repetitive. And extremely loud. Bass player was excellent with a fine sound from the Ampeg stack behind him.  The sound and lighting guys were perfectly synced with the music and the films projected behind him were very amusing. 
Sorry to say we left at the interval, along with a good few others. I’m pleased I saw him, we’ve had the tickets 3 years and we’re beginning to wonder if we’d ever see him. But I wouldn’t bother again. Sorry. 

No apology necessary.

The overall sound level where we were sitting (Grand Circle) was fine, but JS was too loud in the mix. It was tamed slightly for the second half, but could have still come down a bit.

Quite a few people didn't come back for the second half at ours either.

My main gripe is that doesn't seem to know how to finish a tune. He just goes on and on, far beyond what was recorded with endless dives.

Enjoyed it overall, but I wouldn't go again.

Will be seeing Beller again soon with The Aristocrats. Looking forward to seeing them again.

There must be a fair degree of communication for you guys to have got where you're at?

Transparency is a different beast. I can smell a fish from a mile off, so I have a fairly good nose for BS.

Fortunately, all of the people I play alongside are also my friends, so I don't suffer from a lack of that. I can see how that would be an issue though, where there are differing agendas which aren't shared.

I think you need to clear the air if it's troubling you.

Just arrived home from Joe Satriani at The London Palladium. Wowser, he certainly can play.

Bryan Beller on bass too who is one of my faves. First time I’ve seen him play a fretless.

I asked Mrs.H what she thought was the best and she came straight back with the original Dr.No theme.

Absolutely no doubt in her mind that any of the others were better; I should have said 'So Nobody Does It Better than John Barry then?', but that only just occurred to me 🤔.

I've listened to them all again and there's a lot of good ones. 

It's slightly disconcerting that Moonraker has no votes. Granted, it's Bassey's weakest of her three, but even Madonna has one vote and that is just horrible.