dmccombe7

Had a 6hr rehearsal on Sun using flats for the first time in about 30+ years. Sandberg VM4 and i found they made me play a bit lighter with both hands for some odd reason and therefore the sore finger issue never made an appearance. Maybe i've just been playing too aggressively with both hands. Dave

Spot on. Just look at my pic. Platform boots and all.

I gave up bands when i was about 35 various reasons. Got interested again when i was 50 when i was asked to jam with couple of old mates. Enjoyed it so much i started looking. Joined a Deep Purple tribute band. Did the audition and got offered on the spot. Did that for about 12-18mths and it folded and i've never been so busy playing in varying styles of bands from Classic rock thru Prog to tribute bands and 70's / 80's covers and some funk / blues rock and then onto my current fav band ever a 70's Glam Rock covers band that i'm just loving. Guys are all first class now that we got rid of the keys player who was a pain in the butt. We have a new guy depping with us till after Xmas and we'll see where we go with it. He might even stay. All in all i've been busier since i turned 50 than i ever was as a youngster and far more enjoyable. Not as many ego's when you get older. I'm now 59. Dave

Because of the debate going on here i went back and watched a few of his youtube clips and thought he did a pretty god version of Gabriel era songs and wasn't too bad a singer. Some of the outfits were a bit weird but we said the same about Gabriel when he did them back in 70's. Its all part of the show i guess. He certainly wouldn't put me off going to see Hackett. Dave

Is that a mute of some kind just in front of the bridge ?

Nad Sylvan must be doing something right. He's got people talking about it on BC. I'm not much of a Hackett fan these days and find his recent material a tad boring. Loved the first few solo albums which i bought at the time and saw them few times many moons ago with Richard Cadbury, John Hackett, Nick Magnus, John Shearer and Pete Hicks. That was an amazing band and all very talented musicians playing a style of Prog i really enjoyed at the time. Altho Nad is playing characters i guess its what made Peter Gabriel so popular with Genesis. I've only seen snippets on youtube and can't really take to him. The band still sounds quite good in the songs i recognise. Sometimes its nice to take an old classic and do something a little different with it. Hackett is now 69 so maybe he just gets a little bored with the old songs On an aside i managed to get the full Hackett autographs mentioned above on the Genesis Seconds Out Music book along with the full Genesis line up on the Duke tour including Tony Smith and even a few of their wives at the time signed it for me. Yes i was a bit of a Genesis nerd in my teens. Still have it too. That was the day Phil Collins bought my lunch for me and chatted with us for ages in a hotel lounge in Glasgow. Top bloke is our Phil. Happy days. Dave

Best thing you'll ever do. I retired when i was 56 altho remaining hols meant i did actually finish my last day when i was 55. After 40 yrs with same company plus voluntary redundancy i hit it very lucky indeed. Full pension no penalties plus a lump sum pay-off. Like you i can't holiday in exotic countries every couple of months but i live comfortably plus my wife was able to finish her work at 49 Make the best of life while you can sir and i wish you well. Hope your wife picks up with her health. Dave

Finger lickin good. it would never reach my strings

Out of curiosity is the plane used in your job. ? Do you mind me asking what an Industrial Geologist does ? Can't say i've ever heard of that job title. Dave

is that like a drive thru plane wash thing or are you really a pilot.

Prefer the Prog image.

mincing about at work ??? what do you do ?

Wow that sounds like an impressive rig. I was using the studio rig today. An EBS HD360 thru an Ampeg 810. My own rig is a Mesa Mpulse 600 via Mesa PH212 playing 70's Glam Rock covers so quite a mix from Under Moon of Love to Hellraiser and Saturday Nights Alright. Sounded good in them all. Dave

First rehearsal with the new LaBella low tension flats. At home i thought they sounded a bit dull and thud sounding. Today in a band setting they were absolutely perfect. They didn't have the attack of the rounds i was using but it wasn't overly noticeable in most songs. Most enjoyable part was no sore fingers on my plucking hand and no blisters. My fingers glided along the strings which was an unusual feeling when playing in earnest but really pleased with them. Think i'll need to fiddle about with my EQ to get just right with a bit more mid to top end just to clarify things. At times i found the bass getting a little lost in the mix. Not a big issue and can be sorted i reckon. Tension on the strings was pretty close to the rounds i normally use but the other thing i noticed was no fret rattle. I quite enjoyed not hearing as much rattle from the strings. All in all i think i'm pretty happy with them. Dave

That was excellent. I might just place an order for that album. The singer has a very addictive voice. Superb playing by all My kind of music

An honest bass player. Refreshing ad. Tell it like it is then everyone knows what they are getting up front Dave

Lot of the time it needs to be the right band for the right audience to get a great night. Having played in rock and prog bands over the years some of the audiences we had just weren't into that style of music even tho i was loving it. On the other hand the gigs i've done where the audience are hugely enjoying the band are usually good commercial covers bands. Playing in a 70's Glam Rock band means we generally have a specific age group that enjoy the music more. Party nights suit us and everyone will enjoy a bit of Glam Rock mainly because the songs from that era are so well known even to this day.. I wouldn't play this kind of music wearing my Glam outfit in a pub gig in some parts of Glasgow. I'd be hung out to dry in 5 mins Dave

I guess a lot of it is down to most people having smart phones nowadays.

Forgot to add that with my current band a lot of people (women) want their pics taken because of the Glam outfits. This was something new to me and never been asked for after show pics before this band. I def like that part even if i am soaking with sweat they just love it. Dave

Any gig i turn up and its a full house just makes my day that people have paid to come and watch us as a band. I'll always appreciate that moment when i step out on stage to see it. Also at the end of the night if someone comes over and still sober makes a good comment about either myself or the band in general. Just makes the night all worth the effort. I do still enjoy playing in this band. We get a good laugh together and get along so well. Dave

I keep a tube in my gig bag and put on 10-15mins before playing. Put it on in the car before you get out to the gig. Lats a good couple of hrs too.

I get this regularly on my fretting hand index finger. Had it for years and it comes when i play for a while. Worse if playing rock music and holding same note doing 8ths. If its too bad i use a tiny spot of Voltorol on my fingertip. Works a treat. It must be a trapped nerve of some kind as i've had it for couple years now. Guessing @41Hz is spot on with his diagram on this. If it happens during a gig i just use the pad a bit more and that works too. Seems fine if i'm playing different notes or strings a lot and moving it. Only when i hold the same note for a while. Dave

Out of curiosity what style of music are you playing @machinehead Is that a Mesa head you're using in the pic. ? Dave

I'm hoping that's the case. My rounds do feel a little dull at home too at low volumes. The amp and cab def comes into its own when pushed a bit, more so the cab. Looking forward to trying it out. Good to hear others experience with flats. thanks for letting me know. If they don't work on my Sandberg they will probably end up on my Jazz. Dave

Decided to put my LaBella low tension flats on my Sandberg VM4 fretted today and get a little used to them for Sun rehearsals. First flats in about 30+yrs when i had fretless basses. Have to say i love the feel of them as my fingers seem to glide over them. My only concern is they have quite a dull sound compared to my Sandberg rounds or even the nickels i use. I expected that to be fair but i'm not sure how it will come across within the band. I'm hoping it will be ok tho as i def like the feel. Its a 70's Glam Rock covers band so this could be an expensive fail altho i will just swap them onto another bass if they don't work and go back to my rounds again. Might have a look at other types like maybe ground wound or similar if these don't work. Some investigation is required just in case. Here's hoping all will be well at rehearsals tho Dave