mrtcat

They're hard to find because they're so important that you simply can't compromise. IME they either have groove or they don't and all the chops in the world won't make them right for a band. If you get a good one you take a big first step towards making a success of the function outfit.

I have left a band before because a guitarist would refuse to play a guitar that was detuned by a semitone (he claimed that only wimpy guitards tuned down as it made it easier to play). Ultimately I'll play any song in any key as long as it's the key that is best for the singist. I take two basses to gigs if the band requires something like Sweet Child in Db. I just use an A/B pedal so changing bass takes approx 4 seconds. In my main band a semitone on sweet child / forget you / higher and higher etc makes a big difference for our singer in terms of comfort and reducing the strain on his voice. So much so that we can do two gigs in one day if we drop tunings on just a couple of songs. Our guitard uses a digitech "the drop" pedal and it makes it easy.

Every Yamaha bass I've ever picked up has been pretty much perfect. I really need to visit this place.

Our setlist is slowly changing to be more like my playlist as the band evolves naturally. We started as a pub rock band six yrs ago (easy way to get gigs) but we have grown and various members have left to be replaced with better players so our collective chops have improved. We no longer play pubs or much rock as we now do loads of Motown, pop and disco at weddings, parties and corporate gigs.

Sounds awesome. It's great to hear of kids being encouraged to play proper instruments. Hoping and praying my littl'un gets into music and enjoys it as much as I have done / will continue to do

Lucky enough to have bought a house with a massive shed / workshop two years ago. Have converted half the shed into a 5m x 4m rehearsal space with sofa fridge, electric kit and a bunch of small amps. Built a room within a room so although not 100% soundproof it is pretty close. Awesome to have a free space that we don't have to book and we can over run whenever we like.

Played a 21st bday gig last Fri. There was also a DJ who was a friend of the bday girl's dad. He came up to us before we started and gave us a lecture about not swearing as there were kids present. Towards end of our set we played Happy Birthday with the audience singing. By this point DJ was well oiled and grabbed our singers mic and shouted at the crowd "for f***s sake you miserable bunch of c***s f***ing well sing you b***ards". Made us all chuckle.

I find a heavier gauge B string on a 5er makes an enormous difference. Anything but rotosound will be considered but I'm enjoying D'addarios at the mo.

If it were me, which it isn't, I'd be thinking that a rock/ metal band could do with a little more than 125w per side. Sadly that means changing mixer and then beyond that budget / transport / storage etc are all going to be factors.

I have a stash of super cheap basses in the workshop cupboard. Every time I want something nice I make a big show of selling a cheapo one before buying something sw***y. I just neglect to mention the price difference and instead harp on about how "I'll never understand why people pay so much for the roadworn look" if she questions how I swapped a dog eared old bass without a case for a pristine one in a posh custom fit case.

I went to one a few years back at a pub in Kingswood (A41 between Bicester and Aylesbury). There were some great players there and it had a really nice welcoming vibe and the resident bass player (pretty sure he runs a music shop in Hemel Hempstead or something) was very complimentary and more than happy to let others play.

The RS cabs are worth the extra money for the looks alone. Seems they used the wood from the ugly tree to make the new cabs.

I have a tired but still perfectly useable Yamaha bbn5 that id sell for £80 plus shipping. I have three of them as I think they're brilliant for budget 5 stringers. I'll put an ad in classifieds this eve with pics or pm me if interested. Should add I have already paid annual fee for classified ads so this is not an attempt to duck the fees.

Really wish they were doing one with fanned frets in the same spec / price range as the sr1205 with the graphite neck rods and nordy singles.

Very nice indeed. The chap who gives me lessons uses a really nice Ibanez fretless and it sounds great and looks cool.

Pretty sure that was part of the problem notable9, the drummer in my main band is so good it highlights just how bad this chap was.

Chrismanbass I was referring to a post from MoonBass Alpha about The Cellar in Oxford. For some reason I can't get the quote function to work.

Thanks Mark, yeah it feels like a weight has been lifted too.

Quote MoonBassAlpha That's Oxford for you. The most disappointingly clique'y and dull music scene for a city with plenty of arts culture. Lived there most my life and hardly ever gig there. Surrounding towns like Abingdon, Wantage, Bicester, Didcot, Witney, Banbury and beyond all have far better venues and crowds.

Wow thanks for all the sound advice and for sharing thoughts on the subject. I have today quit the band with the poor drummer. I tried as diplomatically as possible to encourage improvement but he simply wouldn't accept that he had any timing issues. We played a pub last night and it was embarrassing at times. At one point he was only required to keep a steady hi-hat going whilst the guitarist strummed an intro. He was all over the place and I could see the guitarist, singer and punters all exchanging looks. They'll never get rid of him as he's their mate so in that instant I knew it was time to walk. I've offered to honour every existing booking but as soon as a replacement is found I'm off. Anyone in the North Oxon / South Northants area looking for a band to join with a slightly iffy drummer? Such a shame as guitarist and singer are both really really good and all three are smashing people.