casapete

In the late 80's I played in a resident band at a local nightclub, backing mostly name acts doing the cabaret circuit. My then wife had just got our first microwave,and used it to do a delicious coq au vin for dinner before I set off to my gig. Our band went on to do the first set around 9pm before then introducing the 'star' act around 10. About halfway through the first part of our set, I suddenly realised I needed to throw up and dumping my guitar ran offstage mid song into the adjacent dressing room where I projectile vomited into the shower cubicle, narrowly missing the evening's act, then comedian Shane Richie! Got back onstage, and did the same thing again 2 songs later. Mr Richie was very decent about the whole thing, and didn't even mention it in his act either. I somehow made it through the rest of the gig, got home to find my wife had been just as bad. When I woke next morning, I had vomited so badly that I'd burst lots of blood vessels in my eyes and face and ended up looking like an extra from a horror movie for days. Needless to say coq au vin still not one of my first choices even now.

Boils down to who you listen to - the booker or the venue manager. When this used to happen in my old band, we would suggest the two parties thrashed it out,leaving us to concentrate on our job of entertaining the punters. Inevitably the person paying for the event won any dispute, although you had to sympathise with venue managers if there had previously been noise issues that threatened their business / licence etc. Personally I used to quite enjoy there being a limit on levels, gave me a break from the usual drum / guitard thrash that so often got out of hand. And even without mics, brass sections can be heard very well.....

Just heard this on Radio 2, never realised the horns were out of tune before - they just sound so right. And love the organ part, played I believe by the great Spooner Oldham. Wonderful stuff.

Agreed. I play most of my gigs on a standard Fender bass with 34" scale. However at my weekly pub residency I use a Danelectro Longhorn with a short scale and both feel right for their respective jobs,with no problem making the change either way. Guess the real tester though would be to try swapping basses around, using them on the 'wrong' gigs and see what happens.....

Excellent stuff. Willie's playing with Chuck Berry probably is the reason I started getting into bass and music in general. Legend.

Recently got the Rick and Squier books, both great reads. Also a fab drum book with lots of vintage stuff from the same shop. Believe they have copies of all in most branches.

I've had this for a few years too, in my left (fretting) hand. Got a strange crease/lump in the palm of my hand that sometimes gives me a slight bit of gyp but thankfully does n't seem to be getting any worse at the moment. Been told it has to get quite bad before they will consider corrective surgery, which suits me!! Good luck with whatever course you go for.

Well done Blue, have a great time mate.

I have 3 from the same era, that is mid to late 90's, right at the end of their production run. Main reason I prefer these is that the hardware on them is chrome - can't stand gold hardware, and on the earlier Lytes it was quite prone to wear and tarnishing. Also some of the late models had 'Made in USA' neckplates for some reason, probably just using up oddments from the parts bin! I have models in tobacco sunburst (again late ones only, earlier were caramel burst), white and red. The finish on most Lytes is not the most durable, with the pearl finishes particularly being prone to marks and chips. Doesn't prevent me from liking them though. All 3 sound fairly similar, and feel pretty much identical with only slight variation in weight which occurred throughout their run.

I have my Lytes set so that the jazz pickup can be dialled in using the blend control, but the precision pick up is high enough to dominate when the blend is in the middle (notch) setting. If anything have found the jazz pickup the weakest, and replaced a couple with Fender Noiseless units, mainly to eliminate hum / interference in some venues. Having suffered a shoulder injury some years ago, if it was n't for the P.Lytes I would be struggling to find an instrument I could get on with. Got 3 of them at the moment, all great basses. Interestingly I also use a Danelectro Longhorn, which I love. Feather light, great sound and looks ace! Use mine in a country / rock band and it suits the job really well. Just don't tell everyone......

I would investigate the set up on your Precision Lyte first. I've had a few over the years and none of them have been lacking in the p-bass sound or output. You won't find a better lightweight bass for the money IMHO.

Definitely 'less is more' approach required. If you don't get it, you're in the wrong band!

I saw them twice in the 70's (including Earls Court with The Meters) and also in the 80's. Still some of the best gigs I have ever been to, and even now think they can still do it, albeit in a rather more ermm...mature way. I always think the Stones 'magic' is that thing of the songs / playing / band chemistry as a whole, and perhaps the reason some people don't get it is because they are looking for technical virtuosity and 'flash', which the Stones have never been about. Having said that, Keith and Charlie are two of my favourite ever players, and their loose groove makes the band sound like no other. Often imitated, never bettered.

Saw him with Chic last Sunday, barely a slap all night - just terrific groovy stuff that fit the band perfectly. Great guy to fill Bernard's shoes IMHO.

Saw them in Leeds last Sunday, amazing. Funny thing though - Nile came onstage around 9pm and introduced the video for the new song, which was then shown before the gig started! The band later played the song mid set. And then after the encore, Nile stayed onstage and introduced the video again as punters were starting to leave!!

Just sold Si my amplifier. Great guy to deal with, kept me informed of everything regarding the courier he arranged etc. Would recommend to anyone,top man.

Yeah, all the main stuff Nile has been involved with throughout his career, including songs by Bowie, Madonna, Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Sheila B Devotion and even Duran Duran! Superb gig in Leeds, absolutely rammed although touts selling tickets outside for less than face value? Queued from 6.30, doors at 7, band didn't come on till 9! No support either, so a long wait. Drinks at daft prices, so audience getting twitchy. Need n't have worried though, the band were amazing, and Jerry Barnes on bass was phenomenal. (Jazz style custom bass in natural finish, with two Aguilar rigs.) Two hour set, great PA sound (upstairs anyway),best gig I've seen for ages.

The Fender Deluxe Active P bass Special would do the trick. MIM but with good PJ pickups and a slim neck, s/h ones can be picked up quite easily too. Worth a look.

Funnily enough I've always found the P pickups very ballsy on my Lytes, with the J pickups possibly lacking a little as well as being prone to interference. To that end have replaced the J's with Fender Noiseless pickups, which seem to balance well with the P and are hum free too. Love P Lytes, would be lost without mine.

Use phosphor bronze strings on my AB20, Elites or Daddarios. Maintains nice acousticy feel with a round full sound.

Feel the need in me - Graham Central Station Got to get you into my life - Earth Wind & fire (good luck with brass parts on this!) We can work it out - Stevie Wonder

Great gig with The ELO Experience at The Severn Theatre in Shrewsbury to a sell out crowd. One of those nights when it all comes together - venue, audience, crew & band!

63 Precision bass Ampeg SVT head Ampeg 810 cab. Old kit that still sounds killer today. Still have the Precision, still regret parting with the Ampeg rig!