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Gareth Hughes

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Everything posted by Gareth Hughes

  1. Gareth Hughes
    For bass guitar it's a plain old office chair. For the upright it's this: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/km_14052_stehhilfe.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/km_14052_stehhilfe.htm[/url]
  2. Gareth Hughes
    These are wonderfully loud. And just plain wonderful. Drives my Epifani UL310 cab with ease. Good price for great gear.
  3. Gareth Hughes
    [quote name='woodster' post='1128828' date='Feb 15 2011, 08:09 PM']My post was not intended to be negative, I love my job. I was just trying to illustrate that it's not ALWAYS fun.[/quote] Apologies for singling your post out to respond to - nothing personal. And I completely agree with you - it isn't always fun. But what is? Expecting music to be fun all the time is completely unrealistic. The two hours onstage are fun - the rest varies. My concern is that I don't like thinking of that as a factor for not doing it. It's a very personal decision to pursue anything in life. For me it boils down to 'what works for me might not work for you and that's cool'. I consider myself equally blessed and cursed that I have the temperament and disposition that makes the life of a gigging musician something that is very attractive to me. For me, I just know I don't have it in me to do anything else. Here's how I summed it up with my dad when I was 17 and he was constantly asking 'what do you want to do with your life?', seemingly ignoring the million times I told him I wanted to play music. I said 'Ok dad, I'll go to university, get a degree and work towards getting a good secure job'. Slight pause while he breathed in a sigh of relief. Then 'And then you'll die and I'll be stuck doing something I hate. Sound good to you?' We never argued about what I'd do again. My point is that if you want to do this, and feel it's the only thing you can do that makes you happy, then there's a lot of ways that it can be done.
  4. Gareth Hughes
    [quote name='dave_bass5' post='1128770' date='Feb 15 2011, 07:27 PM']Raising or fathering?[/quote] Raising.
  5. Gareth Hughes
    Few things I'd like to respond to - mainly because I'm reading a lot of negative comments here. [quote name='thumperbob 2002' post='1128283' date='Feb 15 2011, 01:10 PM']What you may love now will turn into something you will hate- the gigs are ok- its everything else. Definitely a young single mans game.[/quote] With respect - I disagree, and I'm glad I can. You're right - what you may love now might become something you hate. Is that a reason to not do it? I had a lot of great relationships that eventually ending up sucking. I still loves the women. And it's most definitely not a young single mans game. A guy I've had the pleasure of working with just retired from the road, after raising [b]NINE[/b] kids solely on a musicians wage, and has toured the world many times with many huge acts - chances are you've seen him play but you'd never know his name. And he's just turned 65. It's like anything - be good at what you do and you'll keep doing it. [quote name='woodster' post='1128384' date='Feb 15 2011, 02:29 PM']From my own experience, [b]You CAN earn enough to pay the bills[/b] - but be prepared to put the hours in, including travelling, homework or lesson prep if you teach. [b]I spend many hours alone in my car[/b] - driving to sessions or gigs which may be miles away can be a lonely business. [b]Your family DO suffer[/b] - I've had to cancel many family events over the years. NOT 'coz i just HAD to do the gig/session but 'coz the money was too good, or too needed, to turn down. Also the early morning school run is not ideal if you only got home at 4am after a gig. [b]Money is ALWAYS an issue[/b] - unlike 9-5'ers, you can never be sure where the next paycheck is coming from.[/quote] All of the above quotes can be said of ANY job. The first three apply to my mum alone - and she works for the education board!!!! As for money - sure it can be an issue, and I worry about money a lot. BUT I keep telling myself - you've been worrying about this for 13 years now, so stop bloody worrying because the bills have ALWAYS been paid. My dad used to worry about what I do in the early days. He was a teacher all his working life. That's fine - in his day (early 70's) if you got a teaching job that was a job for life. Today's teachers? I'll bet a panto run lasts longer than some teaching jobs. This had been the most enlightening perspective here yet: [quote name='purpleblob' post='1128235' date='Feb 15 2011, 12:33 PM']...might I just make an obvious point (if it's not been made already) that playing music for a living is not much different to becoming a self-employed plumber, software dev, cleaner or whatever.[/quote] It is a job - and that is something that seems to deter folks, or make them think they'll lose their love for it, or the magic will disappear,etc. I totally respect that. Maybe that will happen to me someday, but it hasn't so far, and lordy knows there's been enough opportunities for that to happen.
  6. Gareth Hughes
    [quote name='Marvin' post='1128474' date='Feb 15 2011, 03:46 PM']Well said. It's all very unbasschat like as well. Pull yourself together Nigel. [/quote] Yeah, they really are crap, lets be honest In truth they've converted me from an all passive guy for - well, forever since I've been playing bass (bar an unsatisfactory dalliance with Audere pre's). I have an ACG EQ02, designed and made by John, in a Fender Am Std Jazz 5 and I love the thing to bits - it really has given me the tone I've heard in my head for years, and the flexibility to make one bass far more usable than it already was. Because it's not a standard boost/cut pre, I think of it more in terms of changing the basis of your passive sound. Amazingly flexible pre's, IMO. Excuse the slight derail - just wanted to share my joy of John East, via ACG, with you all. Ohhhhh, group hug anyone?
  7. Gareth Hughes
    I haven't read through all of this so forgive me if I repeat some things already mentioned. In offer of support for you to do this - it can be done. It's all I've ever done, through good and bad times, and whilst one (not necessarily me) could make a lot more money doing something else, I've made enough over the years to buy a nice house, run a car, not fall behind on bills, get a lot of gear that I'm happy with - and I'm married and have a little kid. Whilst the touring aspect of playing took me on tour for a month when my kid was four weeks old, I'll wager that I get to see him a lot more than if I had a day job. I certainly see him a lot more than my wife does - something she is more than jealous of. It's all possible - you just have to work damn hard at it. That doesn't mean you have to be the next Victor Wooten, just competent in doing the job that is required. Maybe trying to make one cover band work is a putting all your eggs in one basket. Sure it's good to have a regular band but it's more useful, IMO, to be able to play with a lot of different folks. Most of my work this year so far is with a guy I only started playing with on January 2nd. I think there's a misconception that you have to be perfect BEFORE you go out trying to make a living playing music. I disagree - in my experience it's been mostly learning on the job. Which is why a dentist can sub for me but I'll never sub for them If playing freelance sounds appealing do this - go see the the bands you'd like to be playing with, record their set or at least write down the songs the play, go home and learn them (Not necessarily note for note unless it's a tribute band) then go back to their bass player when you know you could cover for him/her. Introduce yourself, explain you're a bass player looking work and that you know their set pretty well and if they ever need a dep you'd love to do it. Sure you might not hear back from 9 out of 10 of them - that's ok, it's a job application in that sense, you won't get everything you apply for. I know this is easier said than done. I was bricking it the first time I called up a very reputable bass player here that I had heard was looking a dep for a show he was doing. In my head, no matter how polite/sincere I spoke, all I could imagine he was hearing was 'I WANT YOUR GIG!!! GIVE ME YOUR GIG!!!! Well, 12 years later he still gives me work, and vice versa when I can. I know that when I need a dep for something I want a list as long as my arm of competent and willing players. Sorry if this was a slight derail. Best of luck with whatever you decide.
  8. Gareth Hughes
    That's a trick question, right? Seriously - I'd flip that around and say there's plenty of bad songs I play, but I like all the bass lines. Chances are I'm not playing the original bassline tho - and that's how I stop myself from disliking them. 'The Gambler' by Kenny Rogers? I like that a heck of a lot by the time I'm finished with it.
  9. Gareth Hughes
    Great to hear that - about the amp working out, not the journey there of course. I love my 3.0 combo a lot - especially when I prop it up on a stool. The detail coming out of it is....satisfying. That's the best word for it.
  10. Gareth Hughes
    Oh yes indeed - tho I'll always pine for one when I've been playing the other too much. It's easy to fall for the upright - standing there with your arms wrapped around it all day. There's a whole lotta lovin there.
  11. Gareth Hughes
    A ha - see, I'm a high-school drop-out, I knew I missed something. Thanks for that. Any idea about how these strings bow?
  12. Gareth Hughes
    Try Crehans in Glasnevin, Dublin. Not a supplier as such, but a great shop and I'm be surprised if they couldn't sort you out. Or try Tom Barrett in Galway too. [quote name='fatback' post='1126009' date='Feb 13 2011, 02:54 PM']Does anybody know a supplier of rosin in or to Ireland that charges less than €15 for postage (Thomann )? I'm just trying to avoid that ripped off feeling.[/quote]
  13. Gareth Hughes
    Then maybe ditch the Sadowsky and the Catalinbread? If the Sadowsky is always on, rather than a kick on effect, then how about possibly duplicating the EQ changes on your amp head? That would leave just using the Multi-Comp for a signal boost. Given all the filters you're running, I'd keep the compressor to protect against spikes. Also, maybe ditch all but one of your synth making devices and work at replicating all three sounds with various settings on the one pedal? Ideally it would be great to hold onto everything rather than make changes during the gig - that's my personal preference - but alas your board dictates otherwise. You could always just get a bigger board - and then get MORE PEDALS!!!!!!
  14. Gareth Hughes
    Sounds like the Catalinbread could in favour of using either the Sadowsky or the EBS Multi-Comp as a volume boost (assuming that's what you're using the Serrano Picosso for). Maybe also figure out settings that you could adjust to quickly so that you could ditch the MXR in favour of the OO Funk and Brown Dog for all your synth sounds. Oh, my advice fee is one of your discarded pedals
  15. Gareth Hughes
    Is it just me or are all the links (except the contact and Youtube ones) not working on the Cordes-Lambert site? And +1 for 'how do these bow?'
  16. Gareth Hughes
    Bumpage
  17. Gareth Hughes
    Hey Mendozza - Thanks for this - looks like a lot of great recordings to check out. And welcome to the site!!
  18. Gareth Hughes
    Well folks - now that we have our own for sale section, I thought I'd let you know that I have something up there for sale. Blatant marketing? Yes it is Here's the link: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=122706"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=122706[/url] Cheers, gareth
  19. Gareth Hughes
    Hey Folks - Up for sale is my K&K Double Bass Max pickup and Dual Channel Pro St Preamp, plus a few associated goodies. The Double Bass Max is not to be confused with the Double Big Twin by K&K. This Double Bass Max pickup is a custom order from K&K with each pickup able to run independently from each other, or together without any phasing problems. Here's some info from Bob Gollihur's website: [i]The Bass Max is my most popular pickup, and rightfully so. It sounds great, with a full range response and is especially good for situations where you'd need to temporarily mount or switch the pickup between basses (a 30 second job). 
Compared to the Double Big Twin, the Bass Max is very clean, with the string sounds not quite as "defined" -- and that's not a bad thing, but a different one -- it is still crystal clear, just not as 'stringy.' This pickup also has the same warmth, and that is generally unusual for piezos. It also has a smoother arco response than the DBT -- more bridge than string sound, since there is more wood between it and where the strings meet the bridge. Electric bassists could draw the comparison of a bridge pickup as opposed one placed at a midpoint (not the neck position). However, unlike some other pickups, it is not muddy or dark, and produces plenty of highs -- you can get some hand, string, and slapping sounds, too, unless you eq them out.[/i] And here's some info about the preamp: [i]Dual Channel Pro features the same specs as the Dual Channel PRO Preamp, but features a stereo input and specialized dual outputs. As with the standard Dual Channel PRO preamp, you can use the input for two piezo pickups, mics, or magnetic pickups; however, it has a single, stereo (TRS) ¼" input jack. Like the other, it features external volume controls for each channel, along with individual internal treble, midrange, bass, and gain trim controls for each channel for fine-tuning. Another difference is in the unique output jack options: the main output alone delivers the blended signal - but if you also plug into the second ¼" output, it automatically re-routes each input individually to those two individual outputs, so you can send each pickup to separate amps (or board channels).Extremely compact, approx. 4 3/8 x 3 3/8 x 1.5 inches. 

K&K Sound preamps are full-range, and suitable for use with any pickup. Due to their 1 megohm input impedance, they are ideal for piezo-based and magnetic pickups. Yup, I've been known to use my Pure Preamp with my old '71 Fender Precision fretless bass, for that "active" sound without making nasty new holes in that sweet old bass.[/i] Also included in the sale is a power supply made specifically for the preamp. More info: [i]We've had many requests for AC adaptors for the 9 volt battery K&K preamps, and are very happy to announce that K&K Sound has begun producing one. Using an off-the-shelf AC adaptor can be problematic as few have sufficient noise filtering, so you can end up introducing 60hz hum and other noises into the signal.

This new unit delivers 10.5-12 volts, which can enhance the headroom, clarity, and noise levels according to K&K Sound Systems. [/i] And finally -CABLES!! Included is a 15ft TRS cable, a Planet Waves splitter cable (if you wanted to send each pickup to two different sources) and a combiner cable so that you can send two different instruments into the preamp. To buy new cost $393 including shipping plus import duty (the adapater cables are freebies). Converted to Sterling that's £245 plus import duty, bringing it to nearly £300. BUT - I'm selling the lot for £150 plus £10 posted within the UK. Here's the new costs: Pickup $180 Preamp $124 Power Supply $32 TRS Cable $22 (The red tape around the pickup is only there to identify which side of the pickup is which) [attachment=71900:Pickup_3.jpg] [attachment=71901:Preamp.jpg] [attachment=71902:TRS_Cable.jpg] [attachment=71903:Adapter_Cables.jpg]
  20. Gareth Hughes
    Bump
  21. Gareth Hughes
    Bump for a great amp. The Markbass heads are deceptively loud. I moved from an Epifani UL902C - 900W into 4ohms, to a Markbass LMK and was skeptical that it's 500W into 4ohms would work for me. Bizarrely I'm running the Markbass at far lower volume settings than I did the Epifani. For volume comparisons - one band I play with is a seven piece wedding band, with two LOUD horns blasting - and the Markbass NEVER fails to keep up, and that with a long way to go before full, or even half, volume.
  22. Gareth Hughes
    +1 for getting a teacher. I'm taking lessons after playing upright for about 12 years and I'm wishing I had taken them 12 years ago. Bad habits can be un-learned tho, so there is hope The powerballs are a mini gyroscope - there is a smaller weighted ball inside the ball you are holding which moves in the opposite direction from the way you move the ball. Ever see those giant contraptions that astronauts use for training, where they spin them around inside a huge circular frame? With the powerball, the more force you use to move it, the stringer the resistance. It's resistance training , basically. I was a little skeptical of them too. A friend of mine bought one for me after listening to my complaints about playing upright. Gave it to me before a gig. Using it for five minutes before doing the gig felt like I had been warming up on the upright for the last half hour. So for me, I was able to hit the ground running and have my hands feel in peak performance. I was a converted skeptic after that. I'm sure they don't exercise the exact muscles we use for upright - they were developed for computer users with RSI - but they exercise enough of the muscles I use to make it a sound investment. Also have a very busy keyboard player friend swear by them too.
  23. Gareth Hughes
    Folks - Here's some of my books that I'm selling, with links beside to give more detailed info. All of the books are in near new condition - with little more than a few pages flicked through. All prices include postage. [attachment=71808:6_String.jpg]6 String Bassics - David C Gross [b]£7[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/6-String-Bassics-Builders-David-Gross/dp/0793583713/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297370144&sr=8-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/6-String-Bassics-B...0144&sr=8-1[/url] [attachment=71809:Bach.jpg]J.S. Bach for Electric Bass - Bob Galloway, PH.D[b] £7[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/J-S-Bach-Electric-Bass-Instruction/dp/1423499549/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297370204&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/J-S-Bach-Electric-...0204&sr=1-1[/url] [attachment=71810:Chuck_2.jpg]The Complete Electric Bass Player Book 2: Playing Concepts & Dexterity - Chuck Rainey [b]£8[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Electric-Bass-Player-Dexterity/dp/0825624266/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297370241&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Electric-...0241&sr=1-1[/url] [attachment=71811:Chuck_4.jpg]The Complete Electric Bass Player Book 4: Slapping Techniques - Chuck Rainey [b]£8[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slapping-Techniques-Complete-Electric-Player/dp/0825624282/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297370280&sr=1-2"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slapping-Technique...0280&sr=1-2[/url] [attachment=71812:Effects.jpg]Stompbox - Art Thompson [b]£15[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stompbox-History-Guitar-Flangers-Phasers/dp/0879304790/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297370354&sr=1-2"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stompbox-History-G...0354&sr=1-2[/url] [attachment=71813:Elements.jpg]Essential Elements for Double Bass, Vol 1-3 [b]£15 for all three[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Technique-Double-Elements-String/dp/0634069322/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1297370404&sr=1-5"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Techniqu...0404&sr=1-5[/url] [attachment=71814:Guitar.jpg]The Guitar Handbook - Ralph Denyer[b] £10[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guitar-Handbook-Ralph-Denyer/dp/033032750X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297370452&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guitar-Handbook-Ra...0452&sr=1-1[/url] [attachment=71815:Hellborg.jpg]Chord Bassics - Jonas Hellborg [b]£3[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chord-Bassics-Compact-Reference-Library/dp/0825610583/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297370480&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chord-Bassics-Comp...0480&sr=1-1[/url] [attachment=71816:Ken_Smith.jpg]The Beat Goes On - Ken Smith [b]£11[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Minus-One-Bass-Beat/dp/1596156287/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297370517&sr=1-1-fkmr0"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Minus-One-Ba...mp;sr=1-1-fkmr0[/url] [attachment=71817:Laird.jpg]Improvising Jazz Bass - Rick Laird[b] £6[/b] [attachment=71818:Mingus.jpg]Mingus - More Than A Play-Along TREBLE CLEF VERSION [b]£15[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Charles-Mingus-More-Than-a-Play-Along/dp/0634001531/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297370591&sr=1-2"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Charles-Mingus-Mor...0591&sr=1-2[/url] [attachment=71819:Ron.jpg]The Ron Carter Collection - Ron Carter [b]£12[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ron-Carter-Collection/dp/0793557496/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297370636&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ron-Carter-Collect...0636&sr=1-1[/url] [attachment=71820:Standards.jpg]Bass Standards - Various [b]£7[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bass-Standards-Classic-Jazz-Masters/dp/0634000357/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297370689&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bass-Standards-Cla...0689&sr=1-1[/url] [attachment=71821:Waits.jpg]Tom Waits - Beautiful Maladies [b]£15[/b] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tom-Waits-Beautiful-Maladies/dp/082561581X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297370717&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tom-Waits-Beautifu...0717&sr=1-1[/url]
  24. Gareth Hughes
    Yep - the Powerball is a great tool for getting the blood flowing to all the parts you need. (Steady on lads, I'm talking double bass here ) As Bilbo suggested - keeping your wrist straight, no matter where your hand is on the neck, is very important in delivering the correct pressure from your shoulder right down to your fingertips. I used to hold/position my bass in all sorts of different ways, trying to get comfortable - mostly based on pictures of other players. Then I finally settled on using the straight wrist to determine where my bass should stand. As a result, for me to maintain a straight wrist throughout the length of the neck, I have to position the tuning pegs way behind my head, so that I can't actually see the first few notes I'm fingering. I also find that I lean into the bass a lot more than I used to. One thing to consider is your body size and shape. I used to go crazy trying to emulate stances from folks like Ron Carter or Rufus Reid - and then I realised: Ron Carter is over 6 foot tall, with arms and fingers to match. I'm 5ft 9, with short arms and stubby fingers to match (No Middle Earth jokes) - so there's no wayI'm going to hold my 3/4 size bass comfortably in the same fashion that Ron holds his 3/4 size bass. Food for thought. And remember- IF IT HURTS, STOP!!!!!!!!
  25. Gareth Hughes
    Check out Stevie Glasgow's site for more AJ grooves than are humanly possible to digest. [url="http://www.stevieglasgow.com/transcriptions_e.html"]http://www.stevieglasgow.com/transcriptions_e.html[/url] And thanks for posting 'Glamour Profession' gajdosmirci - much appreciated.
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