hairyhaw

Not a fan really as I've never been keen on the vocalist but Wire has a couple of decent riffs under his belt - the verse for 4st 7lb is definitely one of the them.

I'll happily put my hand up and admit I watched I'm a Celeb...from start to finish. Absolutely no time for McFly's music but thought Dougie came across as a thoroughly likeable chap.

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1322864113' post='1456930'] So, it would appear we don't actually like the natural sound of a bass guitar![/quote] Er, if its an electric bass you're talking about then you're not really going to hear [i]anything[/i], because its an electric bass - it needs to be plugged into something. [quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1322929591' post='1457444'] already we have a conflict in the definition of the 'basic sound'. This is why it's a futile debate. Especially as it doesn't matter (see rule 2 ) [/quote] Completely. The original query is probably better pointed in the direction of acoustic bass guitars, an instrument not specifically designed for use with amplification. But then, another poster has already alluded to instrument construction taking in so many variables that really any natural sound is builder and user defined so again, maybe a futile debate.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1322843140' post='1456597'] Those are actually instrument rehumidifiers, to correct warps and fret sprout from being left against warm radiators. [/quote] and to quote the time-honoured old Scots phrase: "Aye, right."

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1322840501' post='1456548']I often have 'frontman' urges. Part of me wants to take it to another level and be a frontman, write a lot more, and sing the majority, because if so many others can do it, so can I![/quote] I actually did the frontman thing once, mainly because no-one else in the band wanted to do it. Realised after a couple of gigs that I wasn't mad keen on the sound of my singing voice. Much prefer blending in doing harmonies.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1322834026' post='1456417'] 1 in 1200 chance of sounding as good as it could. I like my basses with tons of switches, but not because of their tons of switches. [/quote] That's a cracking pair of socks drying on the right side of the radiator Mr.F.

[quote name='swanbrook' timestamp='1322815542' post='1456076'] When I see a band play that is using a word stand or a cheat sheet all I think is "lazy git couldn't be bothered to learn the words" [/quote] When its really obvious like that then I have to say I'm the same, its not really doing things justice.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1322756123' post='1455499'] As it happens I do bv's on Hundred Mile High City, not too bad once you've gone through it a few times. The ones I find hardest are songs with repeats which are similar but with slight variations.[/quote] And that song's chorus is a classic example! Well, I've got till next weeks rehearsal to get on top of it. Sticking it on in the car's out as the missus uses it for work, however I do have the iPod for the walk to and from work so I'll listen till I'm sick of them.

Cheers for the responses gents, keep 'em coming! Looking at the moment that just buckling down and rote-learning it seems to work best for people. Anybody found that they've had diffculty integrating the bass part and the singing part? I've found that some of the vocals were clearly never designed to fit in with being played at the same time.

The covers band I'm in has taken on two new songs; "Hundred Mile High City" by Ocean Colour Scene and The Lemonheads cover of "Mrs Robinson". Up till now I’ve never really had a problem with BV’s as they were few and far between, Choruses etc. so generally not a whole lot that I had to remember. Now these two tunes require me to sing the harmonies from start to finish. Do many of you guys and girls do BV’s? If so, how do you memorise your words? I've thought about cheat sheets with prompts taped to the back of the PA but I'm maybe a bit old fashioned in thinking it'd be a good idea to actually try and memorise them. Any thoughts?

[quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1322311406' post='1449189']There is a band gigging in these parts called Ernest. [/quote] Was about to say the same - didn't know the spelling though. And welcome Derek.

The neck pockets are a standard size across all Fender/Squire P's and J's so should be fine. I've got a Mighty Mite fretless neck on a Squire Precision Special Body. Have to say it fitted better than the original neck did!

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1322558507' post='1452446'] I managed 3 bands at once for a while on top of a busy stressful job. [i][b]It probably led to the break up of my marriage[/b][/i] but it can be done. I kept them very separate[/quote] Grief - I'll need to watch myself then as I'm in the same situation now. I think everyone's points are pretty good about this, as long as all parties are clear and you watch the diary like a hawk then fill your boots. The thing about commitment demands is a funny one - a lot of bands demand it in the bit of fag packet that masquerades as a wanted ad on a rehearsal room. The reality though is like two gigs a month and one rehearsal a week. That leaves a LOT of time for doing hee-haw.

Caught SSOTH but then had to go out. Have to say Wakey's Moog solos were starting to grate on me a bit.

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1320069729' post='1421841'] The basic advice and info is okay, but very repetitive in the case studies of various basses[/quote] This. Balmer certainly likes his '50's type P's as he case studies feature four different ones (if you include the Squier CV) so a bit too biased toward that type of bass. That said, he does do the Bass VI, a 70's Tele, a Jag, Mustang, a MIM Jazz 5, and a Squier Bronco, so there are other models in there as well as a healthy smattering of Squier/Fender J's and P's. The knowledge stuff on the maintenance side is sound enough. He's a bit of a tease though - shows a close up photo of a P Elite and mentions them in passing but doesn't do a case study. No P Lyte or Stu Hamm Urge bass (don't know if either were popular enough to warrant an entry though) [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1320772041' post='1431226'] I keep a copy in the bog. It's worth a look. [/quote] Ha ha, me too. Great minds.

[quote name='JimmySims' timestamp='1320671567' post='1429680'] Thanks for the feedback gents. I thought this was the case, but just wanted to double check that I'm not going crazy! Having told me that I was good to go at the end of the day and that he was "very happy" with what we'd done, he then called me the next day and asked me to come back free of charge to make up for the fact that I didn't bring a di box... All most unpleasant! [/quote] Name and shame!!!

[quote name='oldslapper' timestamp='1319704492' post='1417356'] If people insist on buying level 42 records, this is what will come of it. [/quote] Really? I buy L42 records, and the music I'm do sounds nothing like it. Stop talking crap.

Quite like Monty brown - have to say Mapleglo though - no bias there at all.

[quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1318798881' post='1406387']Cumbernauld[/quote] what's it calllllllled? Sorry, couldn't resist. Welcome!

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1318532767' post='1403498']when they manage to evade the Rickenwaffen![/quote] Rickenwaffen - love it. So true.

[quote name='deanovw' timestamp='1318445764' post='1402340'] The horrors.[/quote] Really? Grand. Played many a tune off their second album. I'll be watching at the end of the week then. Not a band you listen to for the bass but a good band nonetheless.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1318407415' post='1401600'] [/quote] Eye of the beholder indeed...I love this bass. Black Blocks on Maple is the business. None of the other basses do it for me. Its as if the shape of human beings haven't caught up with the body shapes of some these other basses.