mcnach

Certainly tempting. That's a lot of combo for £350... I'd bite your hand if I needed amplification, but my needs are covered for now. Thanks, 'though!

In my two originals bands we're constantly suggesting to others what they could play. Sometimes it sounds good, sometimes it doesn't, and while the player has the most important input, anybody can chime in if they have an idea. Why not?

Not in a long time but... yeah, I've got stories. It goes with the territory, unfortunately. Some people really make an effort at talking the talk... you'd think that they know one day you'll find out they were not exactly realistic, but that doesn't stop them.

Banshee Labyrinth. It's not a place I've been in much, so I have no idea whether that's their usual bass amp. Very good, 'though. It seems it costs around £500 new, and weighs 16.5 Kg... Very attractive.

Do you want a handbag match? OP asked Precision and Stingray positions. It was answered on the next one very well, so I didn't get my ruler out. Some people don't realise the MM on J/MM and P/MM basses is *not* at the Stingray position. That's my input. Now go do one.

Just a quick note. On FRiday night I played at a local venue where they provided a Fender Rumble 500 combo for me, on top of a box, so its speaker was at belly level for me. I loved that thing. Ended up with the controls set flat, using my Stingray. Very powerful sound, great definition... If I were looking for a nice combo that would not cost the earth... I'd be getting one of these, no question.

But the MM pickup is not at the Stingray position (not sure about the P)

DR strings (black beauties and the like) definitely suffered from wear more quickly than I'd have liked, both at frets (leaving marks underneath, which become very visible if you ever remove and reinstall the strings) and where you pick. I also had Elites nylon coated guitar strings and they also pealed quickly, but at least I was replacing guitar strings regularly so it wasn't bothersome. The damage was only cosmetic, 'though... they still sounded good. If you don't need to keep the strings on for more than 6 months then you'll probably be ok. Nylon tapewounds seemed to not really be affected.

I guess you don't like blues or rock either?

Audience probably loved it 'though And isn't that what it is about?

Drunk audiences can tolerate almost anything, it's true. But I don't agree about the "covers should be different". They CAN be different, and that's great when done well. However most people I hear saying "the cover should be different" or "we play our own version" really what they're doing is saying those words to justify their being lazy. I'm not saying that's what your attitude is, since I don't know you just stating my experiences

+1 sometimes I've wondered what's wrong with people's ears. Sure, use a tab to help you get the bits faster... but if what you play does not sound right, throw it away and make it sound right. I've met people who just stick to the wrong chords just because that's the first version they downloaded a tab for... then when they play say a major chord (wrong) and you're going along in minor... they look confused. One thing I like about originals... learning covers was a pain with some bands...

I can see both sides. On the one hand, if I'm asked to learn song X, I learn it, and find that they play some other version or a rehash... I'd be like "why didn't you give me your version to start with?". At the same time... I'm the guy who might be joining whatever it is they're doing, so my place is to make my bassline fit in. If I'm playing a cover and my note perfect line does not fit what they play, then it's for me to change it to something that does. Anything else is being a little precious, IMO. In general, 'though, I have to like the music, the people, and what they want to do with the music. If one fails, then I would not be interested.

Me too, and I don't mind simple repetitive basslines. But I find blues lethargic rather than hypnotic.

That's what I recall too. I had to double check, and indeed he's credited as writer on that one. I don't know. edit: ha! it looks like the horns section had been playing strings for a bit (trombonist in question playing cello!) and this period was right before their departure from the band... so maybe he didn't even play in the recording? It sounds like it was a band with far too much drama.

Join a ska band! Only half joking... Back in late 2009 I don't think I had ever paid any attention to any in the ska universe, but a drummer friend of mine invited me to join this new project. Monday evenings at 8pm. I was tired, I was hungry (straight from work). It was cold, miserable weather. I was going through a bad period personally as well. I'd drag myself to the rehearsal... I didn't drive then, it was a bad bus ride... Every Monday I'd tell myself "what am I doing? I'll come along but I have to tell them I can't continue". However, I arrived... sax is practicing some harmonies with the trombone... and my bass amp was in front of them, one on each side... so I got the full brasstereo effect... and 10 minutes later I was all smiles, happy, and revitalised. Of course, everybody is different but if you're here chances are you probably enjoy music more than the average person. For me, music is the drug that always helps me. No, it doesn't fix anything and doesn't cure me... but makes things more bearable and at times it's entirely changed my outlook. Still does. And that band? lasted a month... drummer had issues, and we disbanded. Months later they reformed with another bass player and no trombone. But the ska bug had bitten. Our paths crossed again and I've been their bass player for two and a half years now

Two 5-string Stingray basses, with two humbuckers. One fretted and one fretless. That's for maximum versatility. Do I need maximum versatility, 'though? Nah. I just need something that sounds good in many situations. A Precision and a single humbucker Stingray for me, both fretted, then I'll sneak in a fretless Precision when you're not looking.

Yeah, there must be... but I'm not going to check

Indeed. I tend to read, sleep, and spend too much time loitering in venues/bars drinking with bandmates watching the clock go really slow. Sometimes I wish I had put a bicycle in the minibus, at least I could escape and explore... not that we ever go to places worth exploring much. Coventry? Nah... Years ago I had a DVD of a concert of a metal band... I can't remember who they were, I think Firewind, but not sure. Among the extras, there was a little documentary about what the band does while on tour. It was very interesting as it was so not 'rockandroll'... One of the guitarists had a stack of movies burnt on DVD and he'd spend time by himself watching movies and on skype with his wife and young child... The singer would go into town to walk around and explore and if possible find a cinema to watch whatever (there was an anecdote where he forgot the time difference compared to the previous night and he was happily in the cinema, mobile phone off, while the band was getting ready to go on... and they actually started playing without him after a long delay, a long instrumental intro before the singer finally arrived in a hurry)... Booooring. The things we do for those 2h onstage, eh? The first 'rock star' that I ever met properly was the guitarist in Ten, during the UK leg of a European tour. I was in a group with a few others who knew him, and after the concert at a venue in Glasgow he joined us and had a few beers together. I loved all the stories, and it all sounded like such an exciting life... Until at one point he mentions that no, they are not even staying in a hotel... "did you see that bus? That's my room for the next couple of weeks". He could have rented a car and drive home in 3 and a half hours to spend the night with his family and it sounded very tempting... Touring... how boring. I'd still do it though. But, my mini-tours of 3-4 days have always felt exhausting.

One of the co-writers of "Come on Eileen" plays trombone with one of my bands... Nobody ever reaIises that, but I used to be a bit nervous someone would notice and ask for that song (I'm not a fan ) Is there even trombone on that song? I'm not going to play it now to find out 😛

With an originals ska band, we have been asked quite insistently for Wonderwall by a bunch of drunks. Eventually the singer would announce each song as Wonderwall. It took three songs before they let it rest

(not sure why anything needs to get heated... ) It was just a joke, about the Fodera 'copies' found on AliExpress, like the one shown in the previously posted video. The guy is great to watch, so I'll post it again:

The bassline on The Cardigans song... I kind of like it. Very simple, but it works. Although I can't stand the song. As for the Nugent one... what's the point of that aimless soloing? Someone called it probably the best solo of all time... Guitar onanism more like. In that respect, I applaud the bassplayer for doing all he can to send the audience to sleep, hoping that way they would not realise just how terrible the song is.

Well, there's this chap in AliExpress who...

That would be, according to the guy I mentioned earlier, as bad a review as they could give! edit: It could also be that Fodera does not advertise in the magazine quite as much as Fender... so they can afford to be more honest?