WAYNESWORLD

Get the most from every gig as the opportunities are shrinking to do what we all appear to enjoy so much.

Personally I love em. We you use a click in a live situation and have done for years now.I would probably say compared to a lot of people on this site my skill level is probably quite mediocre. The one thing I do well is lock stuff down . I find click keeps us tight but admit leaves little room for flannel which hand on heart suits me.It’s been a while since I played live without backing tracks but did join in on a jam the other week. We played a few well know tracks everyone could let go on. The first thing that struck me was even with different drummers how loose and sloppy the music sounded,but in fairness it was only a jam.

I have spent time and money replacing pickups(under licence Bart’s) and factory installed preamp to. USA Bart’s and East preamp. Is it better than stock without a doubt. But here’s the thing I have another bass same spec under license Bart’s with factory pre amp that sounds just as good. Only real difference except shape is pick-up placement. To be honest we tend to do all these changes to satisfy an itch we get from time to time. IMHO in a live situation for a lot of us playing pubs and clubs all the nuances we strive for get lost in the mix especially if most of the sound is coming from a back line. Not to mention the guitarists trying to be heard above everything regardless of composition or a keyboard players left hand playing notes lower than a snakes kneecaps.. I’ve reconciled myself that if I play the correct notes and the audience and myself can here then in the right place jobs done.

This for me is a fascinating discussion. I over come the performance angst later in life but enjoy the tingle of anticipation before a gig to this day .Conversely I never got over the feeling of inadequacy and nervousness when doing a location photoshoot in my 30 yrs as professional company/ commercial photographer. The thought of heading down to London which was a regular occurrence to do a shoot filled me with dread. Through out my work life I received many complements from some incredibly well known brands that had employed some of the worlds leading names in photography to represent them.Still I lacked self belief. In hind sight I know I was pretty good at what I did and proud of my contribution.On retirement I was asked by our marketing team how I would describe my time at work. My answer was “can’t believe I got away with it all these years”.Which on reflection was sad. Living and enjoying the moment is difficult to master some times. But reflection can be a nice conciliation. The most important thing though is to just do what you love whilst you can, not to try will be a the biggest regret in later life. Remember life is not a practise run.

Well I am feeling far happier to hear it’s not just me. Did think I was letting the side down a bit. I suppose as Ped says as long as we all enjoy what we do the reason is immaterial.Appreciate the input folks.

Before I start could I say the following is probably down to my inability to multitask. Something I have noticed over the years when listening to music and even reviewing some of my previous favourite bands is. I now appear to be picking not only the bass lines to hum to but dissecting the whole composition and doing the same at the detriment of the lyrics. On reflection I realised that this is something I have always done and only really learnt backing harmony lyrics as required. Occasionally the main lyrics stick but for me become secondary.It’s like everything is musical but the lyrical content washes over me,even when I make an effort to listen to them . When I was very young and was learning to playI worked in a record shop and used to be able to help parents that we’re trying to buy records for there kids based on a single line of the lyric scribbled on a bit of paper but didn’t know what the record was called. That ability to put the vocal first diminished as I concentrated more on learning to play.Anyone else have this problem. Apologies to all the great lyricist’s out there.Please be gentle concerning my inadequacies.

It is my pleasure to start the feedback for Johncee. John just bought my Sire 5 string v7. He is a lovely fella punctual and great coms.Another great Basschater and thoroughly recommended..

Ibanez sr ff with east uni pre 5 into line 6 pod go into FrFr Use on board east to suit venue, never have to touch pedal board.The passive tone also works with the active shaping which is a joy to use.

For me this is just like anything else. Once an instrument contains all the important stuff built to a good standard anything can be made to work for the individual requirements of the player via adjustment through a decent luthier.But in saying this we may ask why don’t we all do this.The answer is simple human nature,we have aspersions,marketing plays a part and other musicians influence our opinions despite the arguments to the contrary. If this was not true we would never see Fodera’s or equivalent quality instruments for sale .To the question asked. I am good enough to play a Fodera ? yes because I could afford to buy one .Would the purchase cost reflect my skill level? No. Should it ? Who cares.It’s a piece wood with strings and electronics .If it make a bass sound and is satisfying to the owner and fits its purpose jobs done.This does not stop you trying other things and spending as much as your happy with .Variation is the spice of life.The instrument does not define the player and there is no best just a lot of people trying justify there choices with some who are incredibly happy having found what they have been looking for and unable to withhold there excitement. Long may these views continue as it will keep the music shops open and encourage future musicians.

On the difficulty scale of juggling both singing and playing Mark King even if we like slapping or not.

Thanks guys for all suggestions gloves are on the way and give other ideas a gotoo.If this works though I will run out of excuse’s for playing all the right notes in the wrong order.

Just been checking out these compression gloves cheers. I’ll give any ideas a go. Thanks for the replies .

Thanks Len I will take a look.👍

Sorry to say getting to that time in life where my body keeps reminding me parts could do with a service or replacement. I’m getting real issues with poor hand circulation lately. My right hand especially gets cold which makes playing faster lines a bit more tricky. Please don’t slate this idea but do any of you play with fingerless gloves to help keep hands warm and if so do they help. Any other suggestions are welcome. I do massage my hands as got a bit of arthritis showing up along with those bumps on the inside of my hands which sit on the tendons .Although they don’t bother me much.Although a time machine would be a great all points of view are welcome along with what will be I’m sure the obligatory Micky taking about had numbness’s.

I’ve found when it comes to tone regardless of the bass I am unique as I must be the only bloke who can make any fat wire machine sound bad. On the upside and after 40 odd yrs of playing I am consistent at doing this.

Could be woodbine /no6 or if the previous owner was posh Senior Service. Personally I was of the Wills Whiffs brigade with occasional ParkDrive. Thankfully I gave up years ago and and now am trying to kick the Gas habit which is proving more difficult.

Sometimes it’s like a comfort blanket syndrome. It’s like buying a new bass that is completely different from your usual choice and spending ages trying to make it sound like the one you just sold. Or as my musician friends tell me no matter what I buy I sound the same which probably means crap😂👀🤫