Ou7shined

[quote name='Duarte' post='1174124' date='Mar 24 2011, 12:40 AM']I only have 1 bass, so that's not a problem. I've been playing 9 years and can't remember EVER breaking a string... [b]Who breaks strings!?[/b][/quote] It's them bloody guitards that do it... at least that's the only time I've done it. Never on a bass though.... ... touch wood.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1174111' date='Mar 24 2011, 12:10 AM']Most of the time we played in London most of the other bands where too busy doing there hair and make up to think about bringing a guitar with them or drum sticks or amps etc! I actually had my first go on a pre EB Ray from a friendly Herbert like you there [/quote] Haha I know what you mean. The blokes bogs used to stink of fecking hairspray worse than the lassie's. We were grungers back then so the greasier the better but I remember this one particular poodle-headed Lothario front-man from another band who came into the bogs before going on and he had this special brush with built in hairspray at the other end. Us greebos pissed ourselves rotten at him. I still see him going about town - bald as a coot.

[quote name='lucatus' post='1174110' date='Mar 24 2011, 12:10 AM']Indeed, that´s the thing, thanks! [b]I just checked and everything seems fine[/b], although with these new strings (DR High Beams) I can´t have the neck as tight (lower action) as I´m used to, but is still comfortable! Thanks, guys![/quote] Good stuff. How do you like the High Beams on your Bongo? I tried a set on my 'ray once and they lasted about half an hour before I couldn't stand them any longer. They accentuated the mids too much - not ideal on a 'ray.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1174091' date='Mar 23 2011, 11:41 PM']No comment Rich?[/quote] Go on then. If you can't find your bass case under all the other bands cases to get your spare string out then I'm guessing that there are a number basses about that you can get a shot of - there's always some helpful Herbert (like myself) who will offer. Ok it might feel a bit uncomfortable but as you said at the most it's only a 30-45 minute set (presuming you snapped your string in the first song) - you'll survive. Also if you don't get to play your best tune because of running out time then "tough tits" it happens all the time - besides the sound guy should give you some indication just before you do your last song, giving you the opportunity to re-order your set. And if your fans don't make enough noise for you to play that one last song then they obviously didn't want to hear it that badly in the first place. Ah.

I really don't get where this idea that snapping a string on stage is unprofessional is coming from. Has anyone ever lost the plot or asked for their money back because a musician snapped a string? I can do a quick change and tune up in about 30 seconds if need be, there's a multitude of distractions the rest of the band (even a solo artist) can offer in the mean time. Not that I break strings. P.S. I'm not anti-bring-a backup-bass, I'm just defending against the suggestion that by not doing so is somehow not doing your bit.

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='1174049' date='Mar 23 2011, 10:59 PM']If you're getting paid to play then the least you can do is take a cheap bass you can grab after the song ends, in my view anything else is unprofessional - apart from nailing the entire gig without an E or A string of course, that'd be pretty professional! I've been in the situation before where we've had to have a break for someone to change a string. Not fun, looks amateur and clears the dancefloor - 3 things i don't like on gig night![/quote] I agree it totally looks bad if you all just shuffle about all unprofessional like. I was in this band where our rhythm guitar would regularly snap a string (even happened twice one night once) and have to string up again. But we'd cope with it in our own way (some might say "professionally"). The singer would make some crack about it and involve the audience in some banter or the lead guitar and myself would do a spontaneous comedy jazz break or bash out a few bars of some well known but unexpected tune. There's tons of ways of making light of an unexpected break. But dead air is the height of amateurism yes.

I don't. (as you may have guessed from the other thread )

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1173991' date='Mar 23 2011, 10:24 PM']...A spare set of strings would be enough if snapping a string was the only possible problem. Faulty electrics, your bass being nicked, being knocked over and taking the headstock off, tuning peg snapping and rabid donkeys coming and nibbling the bridge off are all potential problems that could arise at a gig through accidents, idiots or just chance. There's things that, without taking a spare, you can't prepare for.[/quote] Yep faulty 'tronics can happen but realistically they should be throughly checked beforehand. Someone will only knock your bass over if you put it somewhere someone will knock it over. And if your patron gets pissy at your lack of professionalism because his donkey chews your bridge off or his punters half inch your gear then that's his fault not yours. Like I say I'm not against it in principal just that it seems to be another spurious practice laid on us bass players by our peers. Besides all these things you say can go wrong could just as likely go wrong with your backup bass... how much of a cnut would you look then.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1173957' date='Mar 23 2011, 10:01 PM']It's not really possible to take a spare kit. Our drummer takes spares where possible, some cymbols, snare. I don't take a whole spare bass rig either. A spare bass guitar takes up significantly less room though and is practical in most situations. I'm going to play a festival in Holland in a couple of months, I won't be taking a spare bass because of restrictions on the flight and I break out in a cold sweat every time I think about it. My basses are reliable, but playing 3 days in a row without a backup and being payed a fairly significant amount of money to do it is quite scary.[/quote] I know mate I was being facetious to make a point. If all you are scared of is snapping a string then presumably a spare set of strings would (to carry your argument further) take up significantly less room than a whole bass?

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1173939' date='Mar 23 2011, 09:42 PM']I'm curious, the guys that don't take backups, what kind of gigs do you do? I could imagine it if you only played the local every so often,[b] but if you're being paid for gigs or really trying to make a good impression, surely you'd make a point of taking backups for everything possible.[/b] Asking someone who's paying you to do a job to hold the gig up because you need to run home and get another bass if something happens wouldn't leave a good impression. Unless you can be 100% certain that you haven't got a dodgy set of strings on, no one's going to knock your bass over and damage it, no thieving &%$@ is around or any other number of unforseens, it seems a risk not to take a spare, regardless of whether it's a similar backup or if it's a totally different bass.[/quote] Does your drummer take a backup kit?

That guy selling the white body and hardware on the bay made £73.22 + postage for it - all there minus the very recognisable neck and p/g which will no doubt find their way to the bay soon too. He told a couple of porkies about not knowing the origin of the parts and when asked directly about the origin of the tuners claimed they were "for a Fender" (note the clever wording - not [b]off[/b] a Fender).

Wind it back and see if the relief changes.

I think the concept of a "backup bass" is sound but in practice it doesn't quite pan out. The sort of person that has enough of a clue (or be anal enough) to take a backup bass with them to a gig is unlikely to be gigging a bass that is going to let them down in the first place. I've been gigging for over 20 years in all that time I've never needed a backup guitar or bass. There have been times where I've wished I taken a different bass for tonal reasons but never for emergencies. I do carry a spare set of strings though and in all my years gigging you can count on one had the amount of times I've had to replace a string mid set.

It'll work like a dream.... provided both donors had a good fit n finish in the first place. Have you looked a non-Fender-y basses btw or is that not an option?

[quote name='icastle' post='1172910' date='Mar 23 2011, 08:25 AM']... all that will happen is that they will book someone who [b]will[/b] play for that money.[/quote] Then there's "pay to play". If we start making firm demands of the venues then there's nothing stopping them adopting PTP and getting some rich kids with all the gear and no idea to play to an audience who don't appreciate real music in the first place because they are being force fed talentless formulaic shyte over the airwaves anyway. And how do you legislate for charity gigs, festivals or Big Dave's birthday party? The way to pull in a decent fee is to take over the organising of the event yourself - with the help of unpaid volunteers (the WAGs and fans). In my old tribute band we would do everything right down to booking the support who we'd pay ourselves. We'd aim to pull in £400 net profit for the night and 9 times out of 10 the money went straight into the band's account - if we were playing away from home occasionally we'd all agree to go crazy with it. My originals band, playing pretty much the same venues but relying on the pub to do all the work would be lucky to make a quarter of that.... gross!

Might just need soldering. Unscrew your control cavity cover and check for loose wires.

I'm wondering if copper tape would do the job.... even if as just a temporary measure.

[quote name='spinynorman' post='1171878' date='Mar 22 2011, 10:54 AM']Ironic that. I think the only thing super glue will stick reliably now is my fingers.[/quote] Hardly ironic considering that was it's primary intention. /smug

It certainly gets about, this one. It started off in Aberdeen where it sold for £331. Then it reappeared in Letchworth and sold for £370. And now it's for sale in Leeds.... All sold by different sellers, all of whom coincidentally used the same pics and schpeil.

[quote name='tommorichards' post='1171365' date='Mar 21 2011, 09:32 PM']Dam, thats what im using. And its 4 for £1 actually.[/quote] Ew that stuff is about as sticky as spit (probably fine for this though). I use the dear Loctite stuff on everything (it's the luthier's best freind)... even then it's not a powerful as it used to be.

Excellent idea. This needs to be stickyfied.

[quote name='icastle' post='1171243' date='Mar 21 2011, 08:27 PM']Tinfoil hat? Man, what a let down... I was expecting copper tape and a trailing lead to a ray bridge... [/quote] I save that for only when I'm on stage.

[quote name='icastle' post='1171175' date='Mar 21 2011, 07:49 PM']Are they still looking for you? [/quote] I presume so but ever since I started wearing the tinfoil hat I've not noticed it much.