KevB

Not listening right now but later this evening I shall be listening to a couple of tunes I'm not familiar with to learn for an audition at the weekend. Simple Man - Lynrd Skynrd Tattoo'd Lady - Rory Gallagher

Not for me in that finish, looks like it belongs on cruise ships or the backing band at the local WMC before they do the meat raffle

Necks on Rics do feel slightly odd, particularly those of us that often play Fenders and the like. Ric necks don't taper toward the headstock like Fenders, parallel width all the way down. I still like my Ric though in humid weather the amount of paint on the back of the necks can make it less smooth to play than my Fenders.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1351513395' post='1851927'] I remember seeing a covers band many years ago doing Whisky In a Jar - the way Thin Lizzy did it. Except without the lead-line, as the guitarist wasn`t very good. I think it`s ok to change things about a bit, but to not play the main part of a song, well that`s going too far. All that sticks in the mind of the audience is that you were too cr*p to play it properly - job not done. [/quote] There's an amiable old fella that comes along to a jam session I frequent and this is often one of the songs he does. He just strums the chords and sings it and whoever is covering for him on bass usually puts that lead guitar riff in for him

It's been 10 years rather than 20 but just realised the other day I was playing 1 wrong note in one of the riffs to James Brown's 'I Got You' you know the 'I feel good' song? That phrase that's played twice just before the chorus kicks in. The note I used to play still fitted fine but it clearly wasn't right. Very minor but a bit of a face palm moment. Having said that in any given gig I probably play a multitude of duffers that go entirely unnoticed.

I was sent a list last Tues to learn for a dep job on the Friday - over 35 songs on the list. I think we actually played 5 from that list, rest were just chucked at me on the night as we went along. Slightly stressful...band leader seemed happy with how I coped though.

I used to be a bit anal about getting the lines as close to the originals as I could. Having seen plenty of bands get away with a far less disciplined approach through the years I'm more flexible these days. Also if it's a short notice depping job there often simply isn't enough time to learn every line of what is required in absolute detail. Root noting Paranoid or My Generation isn't really acceptible though!

Depped for one of our (now rarely visiting) members at an afternoon jam/open mic session yesterday 3pm till 7pm. Unfortunately no other bass players turned up (which is quite unusual) so apart from one 4 song set where the house band guitarist took over on bass I was on stage for every set. Considering I've not played in a regular band since Jan this year and did an almost 2 hour dep set on Friday night I thought I made a half decent fist of it, completely washed out by the time I got home though. Been contacted by another band just getting started so more stuff to learn for them this week with a jam/audition pencilled in for this Sat.

Dep gig from hell at a restaurant/pub. Got a provisional 'set list' on Tues, worked hard on learning as much as I could in time allowed (was sent >35 songs). Turned up and spotted the band were advertised as 'able to play anything' and 'will take requests'. Ended up actually playing maybe 20% of provided list, rest was just thrown at me on the spot whether I knew it or not. The landlord wanted to do some singing himself (none from set list) then some kid turned up that the landlord had promised could play along with us for a few songs (none from set list). The lights were arranged to avoid them shining in the eyes of any people sat eating which meant they were directly in my eyes instead, when I tried to look at the band leader to guess where he was playing on his guitar (something I'm not that great at, don't play guitar) all I saw was a silouhette, dress code was all black. Went on at 9:45 and finished about 12:40am with a 10min break in the middle, got home about 2:30am. Backing him again at a jam session tomorrow afternoon. My thrill at the prospect is unbound...

[b] [size=3]1973 VINTAGE FENDER JAZZ BASS GUITAR NATURAL USA ORIGINAL 1 OWNER GEDDY LEE[/size][/b] [size=3]That's how the listing is titled. It could be construed that he's selling it on behalf of Geddy Lee, I'm sure he's got more views on it than he otherwise would have. A little ingenuous I think. [/size]

Well that seems to be the implication. Unless I haven't managed to fully navigate around the nightmare oversized pictures I can't see anywhere that gives info on the provenance. I assume he's just chucked the name in because that's what GL mostly plays these days. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1973-VINTAGE-FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-GUITAR-NATURAL-USA-ORIGINAL-1-OWNER-GEDDY-LEE-/261118492660?pt=Guitar&hash=item3ccbdffff4"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1973-VINTAGE-FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-GUITAR-NATURAL-USA-ORIGINAL-1-OWNER-GEDDY-LEE-/261118492660?pt=Guitar&hash=item3ccbdffff4[/url]

Unfortunately this is a trio, 1 guitar/vox, drums and me on bass/b vox - don't think 'doing nowt' is really an option. I'll certainly try to steer him toward the ones I've played before though. Slightly puzzling in that I've played with the guy at jam sessions before recently and none of the songs I've done with him are on the list even though they would fit in with the ones he has suggested absolutely fine. I'll get through it but as you say sometimes they just don't make it easy - surely the whole point is to make the whole package sound as good as it can under the circumstances, not some bizarre 'trial by fire' initiation ceremony?

No such luck here unfortunately. After some badgering I finally got a 'set list' last night. Except it is not really a set list but a list of around 40 songs which the actual 2 x 45 min sets will be chosen from, presumably at randome on the night. At least I got some notice which ones were in altered keys. Fortunately I know some of them so it might just be feasible in the 2 remaining evenings to knock a few into shape before the gig on Friday. It will be rather less than polished though!

Purely on aesthetics (not really much of a reason I know) then for me it's usually Warwicks, single cuts and bespoke 6 strings or more obscure 'coffee table' wooded beasts that look like very expensive ironing boards.

Well as I said we're not total strangers so I just have to go back through my ipod and recall all the songs I've ever played with them when I've jammed at open mic's with them. If they had a limited repertoire it would take the guesswork out but they know dozens and dozens of songs so I'm hoping they can at least narrow it down a bit. I'm going to try and force it by volunteering to do a few songs singing lead that they have backed me on at the same jam sessions then at least I can get through a few I'm more comfortable with. I'll feel happier when I've 'woodshedded' a bit this weekend, never seems to be quite long enough in weekday evenings to get a really good practice in.

Go for option 1 now, use the experience to have a better chance of achieving 2 at a later date.

Sadly my dad has virtually got to the 'stairlift' point since his health has been in serious decline over the last few years. This is partly what has prompted me into looking at how soon I could realistically get away with retiring and still have a good few active years that I'm not working full time! Since I moved house nearly 5 years ago I've barely saved anything at all, any excess money I have each year gets thrown at additional payments on the mortgage since the % interest that is costing me far outweighs any % interest I would earn in an ISA or whatever.

Cheers guys. As I said it isn't a total unknown as I've done jam sessions with them before (in fact I'm covering for same bass player with same band as the house band at an open mic 2 days after the gig, shame it wasn't 2 days BEFORE ). He's just a very good singer/guitarist and has been at it so long he gets very laid back and 'you'll be alright'. We may get 1 quick jam together a couple of days before the gig but I'm not expecting to see any formal set list, the guy is a walking jukebox. I think if I can scribble down the alternate keys compared with the originals for half of them that'll be as good as it gets. I've pretty much cancelled my other usual weekday evening activities to get some practice in, relearned a few that I recall jamming with them before last night.

Learn something new every day...I once saw a good transcription of SIBLY and I doff my cap to JPJ if he did that with his feet!

Oops, didn't see it was US. Actually with shipping it'll be even worse. No way they will ship to UK for $25, it'll be $100 at least. Not wanting to derail the thread but this on the other hand may be worth keeping an eye on... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HG140-Fender-Squier-Classic-Vibe-Precision-Bass-50s-Lake-Placid-Blue-China-/170921739932?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27cbbac69c"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27cbbac69c[/url]

My MIA jazz was cheaper than that! If he can find some mug prepared to part with 600 notes for an Indonesian Squier then best of luck to him. Interestingly I note that all of my current 3 basses were via eBay.

I think WOT was referring to them playing SIBLY etc live. As JPJ was also the keys player the natural thing to do live was play some form of bass on pedals whilst playing organ over the top. Obviously on studio recordings he had the benefit of overdubbing to be able to play multiple parts. It's one thing that very few LZ tributes cover properly with the main exception of 'Letz Zep' who actually have a bass player that does keys/bass pedals in full when needed, great player.

Not been in a regularly gigging band since January, became very lacksadasical about practice etc etc. Phone call out of the blue yesterday for a dep gig next Friday, full 2 sets of covers, many of which I won't know and most of the ones I do will be in alternative keys. Unlikely to actually get a set list in advance though I have jammed with the act before (only a 3 piece band). Oh and the guy I'm depping for is a well respected pro who used to frequent this very forum. Naturally I said yes, like a dick...

Simply one of the all time greats. Unfortunately I've never been in a band that covered any Yes. In fact I've probably never been in a band that was capable of doing it justice and I'm probably as much at fault for that as anyone!