bassist_lewis

I've played in varying sized bands. sometimes it works sometimes its more hassle than its worth. i play in a 4 piece doing originals and i works to have singer/guitarist, guitar, bass and drum. I've also done things in 10+ piece bands, one was a jamiroquai tribute and it didn't work because its nearly impossible to coordinate everyone, there was practically no money so no-one really cared enough to bother and the band leader is a tool of the highest order. The other one was a 60s tribute and that worked really well because we were all getting decent money, though the band leader was a bit disorganised. different strokes for different folks

[quote name='janmaat' post='1340145' date='Aug 14 2011, 10:49 PM']it took guitars quite a while to "settle" at six strings - tell that your guitar guy. Besides, most guitarists hardly use all their strings, and 7 string guitars are wicked and far too rare. more strings are harder to keep quiet and the instrument becomes a bit heavier to carry, that's all I can see really. how about pianos? church organs? it is just so absurd how fixed rock people are on gear. ever noticed if a viola has four or five strings? does anybody notice 4 or 5 strings on a double bass? anybody bothered for the brand of violins? all crap in my opinion: the music matters thats all. as long as you play it to play it, not to wave it round, its all good. And if people say something critical, they are just envious.[/quote] interestingly I played with a fiddle player who used a 6 string violin (F C G D A E, I think), sounded really good through a mesa-boogie amp.

[quote name='d-basser' post='1339626' date='Aug 14 2011, 02:14 PM']I love having a 6 string, as you say offers a lot more versatility, particularly if your singer is prone to switching keys for songs. Get the odd weird comments but most folk think it is pretty cool and some how makes me a better bassist (little do they know). That said I have just finished putting together a precision copy for one of my bands because 6 string really doesn't look right for folk punk. I would go for it though mate, what bass was it you where thinking of getting?[/quote] Its more that I play covers with so many singers (8 I think) so I have to play the same songs in a load of different keys, good for my playing/ears though. I'm looking at the Clover XP15.6 as I've got the 4 string and want the same tone and feel. [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Clover_Bass_Guitars_Xpression_at_Bassdirect.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_sp...Bassdirect.html[/url]

cheers for the support, guys! the drummer/singer in question are good friends of mine which is why I'm considering their opinion at all. I don't tap (I think Kevin Glasgow does enough tapping for everyone!) but I play quite a broad spectrum of stuff, from classical to fusion to pop to funk, and my thinking is a 6 string allows me to do all that without switching instruments. I'll remember to count the drummer's kit pieces next time i play with him! (and don't most guitars have 6 strings...)

I currently play a very very nice 4 string which I wouldn't sell for love nor money (well, perhaps money) but I'm thinking about buying the 6 string version. My thinking is that it allows me to play almost 2 and half octaves in one position, I'll never be at a loss for notes, and that when singers transpose down (eg don't stop believing) I can play it nearer the original pitch. However, there is a lot of hostility to this idea. last night the singer said to me "I'm glad you don't play that 5 string pish, nae ******* point in them things, they should be ******* outlawed" and a while back the drummer told me "don't bother with a 6 string, they're for pretentious *****". now I shouldn't be influenced by other people's opinions but lets face it, we're social animals. Any thoughts?

[quote name='Soliloquy' post='1269011' date='Jun 14 2011, 06:38 PM']My new beautiful new Calibas 6 string. The serial number suggests that it's a 1988 model. It off to John tomorrow for a set up and service.[/quote] holy s**t! thats one of the most beautiful basses I've ever seen! whats the low B like on that?

On the subject of shorter scale has anyone ever tried a 30-32" scale 5/6 string? I'm curious coz I find 34" a bit of a stretch towards the nut (I reckon its contributed to my sprained wrist) and was thinking of having a shorter scale one built. Any advice?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='953352' date='Sep 12 2010, 09:45 AM']Every post here is looking at it as a session pro and not made comments as a band member so I will add,Bullshit.We lost a couple of years of good London gigs because we had never played there before and no venues would give us a slot then we just lied and said we had and got in at the Bull and Gate after that first one it was no longer a lie and got more London gigs where it is all still at.The better gigs made us practice more and so on but by then we were too old for the indie market and we had still not done enough to be fair but maybe if we had got in earlier the rest would of followed? Dont let anyone elses failures hold back your dreams and try to be as confident as possible but +1 if you cant play then your out of it either way![/quote] I agree that a one off lie with no repercussions is good if it gets your foot in the door but one of my band leaders (i won't say which one) tends to "omit and embellish" certain information, how much we're getting paid, what we're playing at a particular gig etc. and its VERY VERY ANNOYING.

[quote name='phil.i.stein' post='982831' date='Oct 9 2010, 07:06 PM']welcome. you must be good if you play in a jamiroquai tribute ! do you wear a silly hat ? [/quote] nah, but the front man does, he even has the one with the metal spikes, but don't touch it!!!

I did my first string of wedding gigs this summer and I'm curious about one thing: as much as i agree with playing all the old stuff (i once played a birthday where all songs released post 1985 were prohibited), why are wedding bands so afraid to play anything from the last 10 years? the 90s i understand, it was either thumping house or plodding indie, but i find 'sex on fire' and 'mr brightside' get everyone up, and black horse and the cherry tree always gets a few ladies dancing . i think my question is what test does a new song have to pass before it gets added to the list?

hi everyone, I'm 21 and i've been playing for about 8 years now. i decided i should make more contact with bass players, seeing as there's only ever one per band! Currently i play weddings (and the odd extravagant birthday) with a contemporary/ceilidh band, a jamiroquai tribute, a 60s tribute and a singer/songwriter (Craig Souter if you're interested). I mainly play a Clover XP15 4 string (courtesy of Mark Stickly of bass direct) but i also have a Lakland 5 string and a Cort 4 string which I've put flatwounds on to get a thicker, more vintage sound. I play all my basses through a Phil Jones Suitcase amplifier. Too much information? cheers Lewis