dmccombe7

I've played with some drummers that can really motivate me and i can follow their fills etc but its been rare to find that link. Nowadays i just want a drummer to be steady and solid but can play whatever we decide to play. Dave

If i drink coke or fizzy juices i end up needing to pee during the gig. Drinking a litre of water during gig i'm fine but i'm an older bass player. Is it bass player or bassist ? I guess that's another debate we could have. Dave

Same drummer in both my bands. I know and feel his presence but never have to really give it much more thought than that. I don't consciously need to listen to everything he does but if unplanned things happen i am able to follow. I think i might be one of those bass players that knows my bass part well enough i just play and hope everyone else is following Dave

Always driving at gigs so just water for me but i just enjoy playing these days. Dave

I can see how it all works for you now. Obviously been some hard work and hard times at the start but well done Spencer. Think you are one of the exceptions to the norm tho. Big difference between yourself and the OP is that you started from an early age and more or less grew with it whereas the OP (don't know his age) is making a step sideways into a difficult market to break through. But as i said before it can be done. Dave

Don't think the intention is to crush your dream but trying to take away the rose-tinted glasses of being a full time bassist. It can definitely be done but we are all just trying to show how difficult it can be. Obviously some guys do it but they do appear to be few and far between. @spencer.b has managed by sound of it. It would help to know his background and how he got to being full time and make it work . I don't have the experience of being a full time bassist so i'm looking at it from a different angle. I lack that level of commitment. Its a hobby for me and i like it that way. I'm retired with a decent pension. I don't want to feel that i'm back working again. Dave

We only have to ask our very own @Bluewine about the pressures of playing full time. Its obviously not easy when you hear him talk about it. I know he enjoys playing to be fair but you're basically living day to day. Dave

How much do you need ? Dave

Pretty sure he used Fenders most of his life. There's an interview posted on here by @Rich few posts back where he talks about his basses and its really interesting to read. He used the bridge pick up to get that fretless tone. I noted he has a PJ bass with 2 knobs and 3 switches that i would love to know what they all did. Dave

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Shame about the 7 string tho but needs must when things get difficult. As long as you and the family are fit and healthy everything else is window dressing. Take care and keep us all posted on how things are going. We are a caring bunch here at Basschat. Dave

Don't be fooled by the idea of playing as a profession in a function band will be all a bed of roses. Its hard work and one of the main reasons i've avoided function bands over the many years. Weddings can be full day events and altho i enjoy playing i'm not sure i'd enjoy all the hanging around. Many function bands need to set up the gear before the function starts altho they won't be playing till a good few hrs later after the meal and after the speeches etc. Then you have to retain a lot of songs and for me it was mostly songs i wouldn't normally listen to or enjoy. I have friends that make a living from wedding bands and they make great money circa £3k - £5k depending on event and occasion. They typically play once a week in summer and one band in particular is in the top 10 UK wedding bands. However some of the band play other solo gigs to earn additional cash. At £3k split 5 ways at £600 each minus van hire and tax etc you'd need guaranteed 1-2 weekly gigs to survive. You also have to consider accomodation if travelling a distance for the venue. I'm not saying it isn't possible but its a big step to walk away from a steady income to rely on a maybe. Serious consideration required. Personally playing is my hobby and that's all i want it to be. I dont want to be playing as a job, that would remove the enjoyment for me. Wish you every success if you decide to go down that route but please make sure you have given this some serious serious thought before jumping. Cheers Dave

Totally appropriate clip @Rich That's the sound i always have in my head when i think of Mo. Thanks for sharing. Dave

In both my bands the full band helps with everyone's gear. We all help bring the gear into the venue, set up the backline stuff and then myself and the others help setting the PA and lighting up. PA and lighting belongs to the drummer but we all put the effort in. At the end of the night we let our guitarist head off early as he lives a fair distance from rest of us and almost always has a 1.5 drive after a gig. Dave

Wow that was a great read. Thanks for sharing. Dave

Was one of the bassists that appeared on so many great albums in my younger days and i even bought a fretless P bass because he used one. A true bass legend sadly missed. RIP Dave

Sorry Mike but we can't accept this as an excuse. We need vid evidence to prove you aint miming to a backing track like a certain Boy band. Dave

Just a wee update on the DI attenuator. Asked Designacable if they could do one and £28 for a short 12" cable with male and female neutriks at ends based on WoT's drawing. £28 plus £4.50 postage. Didn't fancy the Amazon version sticking out from the amp. I can secure this thru the handle at side of the amp. Really helpful guy at Designacable and will be using them from now on. Recently replaced my Shure wireless cable with a van damme version with angled jack on end. They did a great job. Dave

Is that a Kemper you're using there @cheddatom. How are you finding it in a live situation ? Dave

100% agree. Dave

BLOCKBUSTARZ 70's Glam covers band at The Dreadnought in Bathgate last night, one of our fav venues. Had some issues with Handbox WB-100 DI being too hot (no pad on the desk) Bass was clipping in first set. SE fitted a DI in the break and all sorted. Great turnout with lots of dancers all night after the initial staring at the outfits for first few songs. Mobile cameras going all night from 8:30 till we finished 11:30 with a 10min break in middle. No vids or pics as yet. Group of "fans" came down from Dundee to see us after we played Beat Generator few mths back and quite a few came up from Dumfries & Galloway to see us too. Looks like we are getting a fan base Thoroughly enjoyed it. Dave

Aye you've come a long way from those early horse box gigs to ballroom gigs and that's just the changing rooms. Have to admit i wouldn't have gone with the horsebox. Our stage gear cost us a few quid and i'm careful not to damage it. Dave

What kind of venues are you playing to get band dressing rooms and M&M's Dave