martin8708

Our current drummer , ( Graham , you are a Godsend ) plays keyboards and sings as well. He is a bloody good drummer who really lifts the band , he also listens to the bass and the guitar and will frequently make suggestions for us to try different timings or arrangements . ( can you imagine that , a drummer telling a guitarist how to play ? ) but he really knows his stuff. Fully agree that cr@p drummer = cr@p band .

1982 was the first year of the Vintage Re issues that Bill Schultz and Dan Smith introduced at Fender to try and get the factory back on track , and repairing all the damage the CBS management had done . Its a 30 year old bass with a nitro finish , so the woods have had time to breath . I have a black 57 Re issue from the early 80's and its the best Precision I own . I would not sell mine for £1500 , I would much rather keep it .

I know of at least 2 guitarists who now just do solo pub / eateries venues and I am starting to see the logic behind this move . They don't have the hassle of getting everybody together for rehearsal / gigs and they play the music they enjoy and get to keep all the gig money . I don't know if I getting old and sentimental , but there seemed to be more band loyalty in my earlier years of playing .

Played both guitar and bass equally for nearly 30 years , they defiantly complement each other with regards to fretboard knowledge and timing / rhythm . Playing guitar allows you to work out songs easier and allows you to read what the guitarist in the band is doing ,should he go into unfamiliar songs / jams . Being able to play more than one instrument makes you a much more rounded musician , go for it.

Brits are pretty poor at haggling , we get offended if the offer is too low , and many feel too embarrassed to make lower offers for goods, but in other countries it is almost expected . By offering an item for sale , you are opening yourself up to deal with the public , some will pay full price and some will try and get a better deal , some will take a bigger risk and throw in a " lowball " offer , if its too low you can always say no . Most of us probably know the realistic price of guitars and amps , so if the price is good , I tend to go for it , or make a close offer in an attempt to shave a few quid off the price , Their is absolutely no point in getting arsey about an offer, good manners don't cost a penny.

I gig a 212MNT cab, had it for about a year , powered by a Markbass Tube 800 . Cuts right through two greedy guitarists like a butchers knife . I can actually run the cab at lower volumes because I can hear what the bass is doing despite the guitarist best efforts to hog the whole sonic spectrum. Not as deep ( subby ) as my old Markbass Cabs , but not as muddy either. Thinking about a single 12 for practice /rehearsal . ( apologies for lack of techno - guff , if it sounds good , I like it )

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353830824' post='1878730'] flakiness is not committing to the band, when that is what everyone else does and expects from you too. [/quote] There are many levels of commitment to a band . I learn the songs ,turn up for rehearsals and gigs , help with bookings and promotion of the band . However , I also have a day job, a mortgage , bills to pay and I even have other interests outside of music . My livelihood comes before the band , being a bass player in a pub band won't put a roof over your head .

Sorry you quit the band . Would have been a great excuse to buy that Orange 8x10 that's for sale here on basschat.

Everybody in a band has different hopes / expectations / aspirations /level of commitment because we are all different . Do we perceive flakeyness as some one that just exhibits different behaviour to ourselves ? I always try to think of myself as the " normal " one in the band , but I'm sure some people think I am the outsider or the person who muddies the water of the band puddle . As they say , communication is paramount , but mind-reading is preferable .

A bit down and a bit left for me .

Hi Molan , I am have to agree that the Custom Shop seems to be pulling out the stops on their newer models . I have bought ,and subsequently sold a few CS Strats in the past , but I recently bought a 56 Heavy Relic Sunburst Strat in lightweight ash , and its absolutely spot on the most comfortable , playable , resonant lightweight guitar I own . My CS bass of choice would be a 59 or 62 Precision in Heavey Relic Sunburst , Torty pick guard , chocolate brown Brazillian Board with clay dots . The Custom Shop instruments are definitely a few notches up from the Standard American instruments . They are incredibly well set up , stay in tune forever , and just 100% playable straight out the box ( not allowing for individual preferences in set ups )

The X factor is first and foremost a TV show , just like Blind Date , Jeremy Kyle and Top Gear . If you don't like what's on the telly , use the remote and watch something else . I don't really think Simon Cowell is wholly responsible for all the poor quality / bland music that is out there at the moment . Like wise , there are some great new musicians that make the big time purely on their talent and hard work .They will probably have a far greater longevity than any of the Cowell artists . I still think that Susan Boyles first audition is one of TV's great moments , where she shoves everybody's preconceptions right up their backsides and make the judges eat humble pie . Pure TV gold. Sorry I'm not technical enough the post the YouTube link.

Bought a Project turntable and a TLC Fatman valve amp about a year ago and having a great time rediscovering the magic of Vinyl . I'm no sound engineer , but there is something a bit more magical when Pink Floyds " The Wall " or my mums old Dave Brubeck albums are cranked up on the turntable . I enjoy the nostalgia , the physical involvement of playing albums , even the hiss and clicks give the music a rawness and edge . Then again , I still use film when I take photographs . A small bonus to having a turntable is that lots of people will happily donate their vinyl collection for free just to get rid of there albums .

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1352741280' post='1866858'] Aw, dont give MrF a hard time guys. Its a bit bewildering being in a band for the first time, as I am finding out!! I just wish our guitarist could tell me what key he is playing in at all :-) But I am finding that having to work it out for myself is really improving my 'ear' which can't be bad:-) [/quote] +1 to this . Everybody was a novice at some stage in their musical journey .

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1352670910' post='1866008'] Only met the guys once and they seem ok and the good thing is that they are willing to give a newbie a chance... Unless they're desperate :-). Yep, had some experience tonight of working out how to change the notes so all is good so far :-) I'm sure I'll learn a lot ..it will all be experience, good and bad [/quote] It sounds as if they are quite decent chaps , and I'm sure they will take the fact that you are a newbie into account . As a fairly average bass player myself , showing willing to learn and fit in with other band members is vital . Just by doing your homework ( learning the songs ) ,be punctual and reliable for rehearsals will count for a lot . Don't be ashamed to ask for help , if the guitarist is as good as he thinks , he will probably know the bass lines to some of the songs . Just enjoy the pleasure of playing with other musicians , It is in their interest to get you up to gigging standard , so learn all you can from these guys . All the very best . Martin.

If you can show him that you can play his set list in his chosen key , you will be the better musician / person for it . Singers will quite frequently change the key of a song to fit their vocal range , so it is no bad thing to be able to shift a song up or down the fretboard . More importantly , do you get on with the other muso's , it sounds like you don't really like this chap which may be more of an issue than the key changes in the songs . Good chemistry in a band counts for a lot in my book . All the best . Martin

Perhaps it is just a case of " empty pub syndrome " , if there are no punters or audience then some people are more inclined to take the p1ss and just lark around and not put any thought or effort into playing . This does not do you any favours as the landlord / bar staff will label you as a crap band and will not be asked back . It is still worth being 100% professional , we have played to empty pubs as well , but the landlord really enjoyed the gig and gave us further bookings on busier nights. On the other hand , maybe the guitarist / drummer were trying to sabotage the gig , just to try and bring any unresolved issues to a head and encourage a reaction from you , ie , resign from the band . Maybe you just have immature band mates . Being in the middle of a Volume War is not much fun , I fully sympathise .

I tried the Boss RC2 single pedal looper and really struggled to master all the numerous functions crammed into the small pedal . Pretty much gave up on it and sold it on . I recently splashed out on the RC30 twin pedal looper which I find much easier and far more intuitive to use , looping far easier and massive memory to boot . I probably only use 5 % of its capabilities with basic drum / bass / guitar loops as I am trying to brush up on my guitar solo ing . I will hopefully learn more of its potential the more I use it. I'm probably a bit thick as other people use the single pedal to great affect , but I really glad I paid out the extra money for the twin pedal.

A listing with no photos of the actual item will set the alarm bells ringing . Just supplying a stock photo from the manufactures website makes the bells ring louder . There have been a few fake listings in eBay and Gumtree ( a 58 Precision is a recent one ) where the seller has used some one else's photos to try and sell non existant goods . I would however buy from Clarky ( and HappyJack , Legion , Squib and Bouvier ) sight unseen .

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1352139852' post='1859274'] Went to a few open mics recently, that wasn't very productive, like I've said, lots of singer songwriters who want to stay doing solo stuff. [/quote] The reason they don't want to get involved with other muso's is so they don't get all the hassle and band politics that comes along with other musicians . They get to play the type of music they enjoy playing . They get to keep all the gig money . They never get let down by unreliable drummers / bassists . If my singing was better , I would consider going down that route myself. When I was living in North Devon ( Barnstaple ) about 15 years ago , I never struggled to get into a band , back then it was considered the Seattle of England and their were loads of Grunge bands around . The surfy places of Croyde and Woolies also meant a few great reggae bands were knocking around , there was a very diverse music scene when I lived there.

We have the singer , the drummer , and are doing our utmost to find a guitarist . I agree that it is very difficult to put something new together , finding some one with a good level of skill that fits into what every one else can do is important , but I also think getting on at a personal level is equally important . I like to think of my fellow band mates as friends as well , good chemistry in a band is just as important as technical skill. Back to the original post , it does seem more difficult to put something together , a lot of guitarist's I know are now doing the solo musician thing in small pubs / eateries as band gigs seem to be drying up .

Poss suggestions , 1). Kala U Bass 2) Aria Sinsonido bass 3) Yamaha BEX 4 The Aria did a pretty good DB sound to my ears .

Try and do something musical most nights , guitar or bass or some percussive type instrument . Now rehearsals are starting in earnest , bass seems to be the dominant choice of practice instrument .

Sod it , the recession is over , so get the flexible friend out and let's kickstart the economy !!