OldGit

[quote name='Finbar' post='115986' date='Jan 8 2008, 12:16 AM']My concerns about that are that it would probably bump the price up a lot more (bad). And also that I think the fingerboard may already be slotted for the frets, and don't designs like that usually get done before that process? Then again, I wouldn't know - I've never built a bass My thoughts are currently something along the lines of what BigRedX was talking about - simple and understated. Still not decided though! [/quote] Oh yes that would probably cost as much as the rest of the bass, specially if the fret slots are in already .. Entwhistle had roman numerals on one of his, Fodera do some nice inlays - butterflies etc ...

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='115972' date='Jan 8 2008, 12:08 AM']Probably a northern WMC saying......basically an "encore"......whether they really want one or not![/quote] It's a different world

[quote name='Mike' post='115980' date='Jan 8 2008, 12:13 AM']Met me in a service station too. Very strange - what sort of life does he lead?[/quote] He came to my house .. I wondered why he asked for 20 litres of unleaded and a mars bar with his coffee ....

[quote name='nottswarwick' post='115952' date='Jan 7 2008, 11:49 PM']oops - forgot this thread. I am a bit happier now - I had a nightmare few gigs which I will put down to experience. I am looking at a 4*10 option to go with my 2*10. I have decided that I agree with my own previous opinion that low onstage vol is better. But I think that 4 or 6 drivers will spread the sound more, so that even at low/mid vol, the movement of air will be fuller and more audible. I think I was wrong to state that the LMii is not loud enough.[/quote] I missed the dates and thought it was a new thread I saw Mark King a few years ago (not my money, I won the tickets ..) He had a pair of monitor wedges just for bass at his feet - Ashdown customs I think, as well as the normal Ash stack. Seeing as your problem is when you have FOH doing the main low end work, why not try a mid/top wedge aimed at your head and no backline at all ... Or in ear monitoring. Smarter not louder .....

[quote name='Finbar' post='115802' date='Jan 7 2008, 09:42 PM']I considered something like this too, and it is still very much a possibility - much more understated than full on blocks. Not sure if I'd want just plain dots on the front though - I'll have a wee thinky about this![/quote] I like the grapevine inlay approach. Something spectacular ..

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='115877' date='Jan 7 2008, 10:30 PM']Yeah Dave, I understand fully. I said pretty much the same. We do WMCs, as it's the bread and butter, and we're doing the best we can to get more and more weddings, corporate gigs, etc. The trouble with an awful lot of WMCs is that the same people go in, and sit in the same seats, week in week out. We are there just as their entertainment for the night, and are of no more importance. They haven't come [b]specifically[/b] to see us. At weddings and the like, the people are there already in celebratory mood. So, they're generally a lot more enjoyable to play at. Some WMCs can be great, because some punters surprisingly [b]do[/b] care about the music, but some do almost try and challenge you, which is why I also sometimes wonder why I'm bothering with them. One example.....a club in Liverpool where they didn't shut up, and virtually didn't clap all night. Then when we finished, we politely did one "false tab", and they brought the house down wanting us to do a second, just so they could stay and drink longer. Needless to say, I told the other guys in the band where to get off. I wasn't doing another under any circumstances.[/quote] Amen Brother ... It's about managing the gigs you go for and understanding the needs of the different types of audience. If you can sus the differences and respond to them you can do the best you can in the different scenarios. Sometimes that will be financially rewarding but a pain to play and some will be a hoot but cost you money. Fortunately there are many that fit down the middle and pay Ok with a pretty high enjoyment quotient. Like the man said for most of us it's a hobby that finances itself. But what a great hobby eh? oh What's a "false tab"?

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='104062' date='Dec 13 2007, 08:43 PM']Or get a Schroeder cab.[/quote] I think it would be worth it to at least try a Schoeder. They are reknown for being audible through the mush.

[quote name='Johngh' post='115553' date='Jan 7 2008, 03:53 PM']Oh, and one final thing, don't just stand there looking bored and staring at the neck on the bass all night, it looks crap. [/quote] +1 - or your laces... but don't overdo it or you will upset the front person

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='115475' date='Jan 7 2008, 03:00 PM']Oddly enough, we do a cover of "A Little Respect"......without a keyboard player! (And it's not bad, even if I do say so myself.....bearing in mind I didn't even want to do it at all to start off with).[/quote] I think a good tune will shine no matter what instruments it's played on ... Point two is good though - you have to be laid back about playing stuff you don't like or are bored with if they fill the floor. Also keep a note of every gig you play and how much you get paid and expenses, in case the tax man ever asks to see your records (financial, not musical ). It's easier to do that rather than try to prove you only earned expenses 18 months after the gig. They will always assume you earned a load and you have to prove you didn't rather than them having to prove you did.

[quote name='King of Loss' post='115432' date='Jan 7 2008, 02:03 PM']Don't do it. PLay jazz for money instead, it's easy to do (playing crappy versions of standards like St Thomas, Autumn Leaves etc) and in my experience pays better (If you are in a trio, say, Sax, Keys, Bass/Upright, £200 or £250 splits better between 3 than 4 or 5) - Then create your own music in your spare time. [/quote] Wow Where do you get those gigs? I'd suggest that playing covers is easier than playing in a Jazz quartet where the other musicians and audience will expect a certain standard of playing and soloing. Those standards are relatively easy for an experienced person but it's not as if a beginner can learn the bass line from a record and expect the band to play that version exactly (as per a covers band playing rock or pop) You'd need all those Jazz gig skills too like holding the whole tune together for the solos, walking bass, doing 8's and wearing a black polo neck

[quote name='MB1' post='115417' date='Jan 7 2008, 01:43 PM']MB1. Would that be Erasure?.....The Pet Shop Chaps?...Could this be a hide behind the keyboard player related tribute Scenario?(very dodgy ploy!, in either band id have thought) [/quote] Yeah typo .. no bass player... geddit?

[quote name='MB1' post='115398' date='Jan 7 2008, 01:14 PM']MB1. Interesting!........ what tribute bands , might a crap bass player be able to get away with?????? [/quote] Erasure

You are talking about joining an existing band and not forming your own new one, I think. Forming new bands and all the management stuff like gig-getting and marketing etc are different subject .... But for progressing fast, joing a covers band is a good move especially if you follow the advice above about not getting lazy. Read this about playing weddings and functions [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5436&st=0&p=56924&#entry56924"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...amp;#entry56924[/url] Good money but takes skill (beyond playing skill) and the right attitude to do it well and often. There's no much money in playing pubs but it's generally enjoyable, if you have a crowd pleasing set The pub building/staff/booker/chairs/tables are not impressed with Jaco solos if they don't bring in a large number of people .. Tribute bands get boring too - there are people on this very forum who are part of dormant tribute bands which got bored playing the same 12 hits every gig and having anoraks point out their deviations "from the bassline on the live 1973 recording" etc and now only come out for special occasions. Working mens' and other clubs are soul destroying gigs so I'd avoid them initially. So .. go for it and keep practicing the jaco solos ...

[quote name='simontdo' post='115347' date='Jan 7 2008, 12:09 PM']Hi guys, I need some technical assistance (and possibly a new amp ) I was rehersing with the band last night and I started having a few problems with my amp. At first I though it might be the Sax player's Wireless transmitter interfering with mine (it it still may have been). I was getting some intermittent squeaks and pops out of my amp. Anyway, checked it out, sax player changed channels and it seemed to go away. Until 30 mins later when my bass starts distorting (bit like Muse ). I tried new batteries, disconnected the extension cab, and then the one in the combo, but still the same. I cant have blown all 3, can I? Its an ABM 500 15" combo with a 2x10" extension cab. Anybody else had a similar problem? Thanks in advance Simon[/quote] Did you check the batteries in your wireless and the squelch control? Last time I had 'orrible sounds like that it was the squelch. No idea what it does but it stopped the distortion.

Gibson three corner 1mm ("heavy") Nice and big and three points so it doesn't matter which way you pick it up.

Are you sure you need fret markers on the front? After asuming I did I stated to analyse how I used the markers and realised I don't use them at all. As long as I have really good side markers (lights now) I am fine.

[quote name='BeLow' post='114519' date='Jan 6 2008, 02:22 AM']Wenge is a pig to carve and the finish is prone to sink into it. One of the necks I built in about 1990/1 had a thick layer of lacquer but after about 7-8 years the finish started to noticeably sink in. Similar thing has happened on my fretted shuker. This is not a huge problem but it may be a good reason to have relatively thin wenge stringers. I think this is finish dependent as well - my bass used cellulose and Jon used his standrad finish on the basses he built for me.[/quote] Doesn't the % of wenge make a significant difference to the sound?

He's posted all the anorak questions pointing out that it's almost certainly not a Fender etc so anyone who buys it now should be pretty clear about what they are getting ...

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='112712' date='Jan 3 2008, 08:48 AM']same here. when i practice sitting down at home im not to bad with just my fingers but at gigs, standing up, i try but always revert back to the pick for 95% of our songs.[/quote] New Year Resolution (number 67) is to learn any new stuff with my fingers so that feels "right", rather than try to convert things that I have always played with a pick .. And to alternate fingers, play lots of scales and practice between lessons

[quote name='elom' post='113853' date='Jan 4 2008, 11:36 PM']Of course all over the news at the moment is possible next President of the USA Mick Huckabee[/quote] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=2881&view=findpost&p=112954"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&sho...st&p=112954[/url]

[quote name='dood' post='113331' date='Jan 4 2008, 02:03 AM']Yes.. I can use a sewing machine.. stop laughing.. :oD[/quote] Is it purple? I just got a decent length cable from OBBM and stick it in my pocket. Having said that I did get couple of the Thomann things on my last order from them (as they are only a few quid) so I'm looking at using those. They have a popper thing on the transmitter holder but don't seem to come with a socket thing to put on the strap which is odd but not insurmountable ..