Thunderthumbs

Can't tell you anything specific, but try and listen to anything where the bass is prominent and try learning them, even if it's not something you're particularly keen on. At the end of the day, it's about training your ear at this point. The more you do it, the easier it'll become.

I've mainly played in covers bands for the past 20+ years. To add to the above, I think my bass playing technically may have suffered, in that I got into a habit of not taking my bass home and practicing because we were working regularly, then rehearsing once a week inbetween gigs too. Prior to joining my first band, I used to practice for around 3-4 hours a night. On the plus side, and maybe counter-arguing my own point above, I also have a good range of styles because of the variation of songs I've played over those years. You will also encounter some of the most difficult crowds depending on what circuit you do. I played working mens clubs, etc. for years, and they treat you as just their entertainment for the night. This is because they go in the same club every week and you just happen to be there. They haven't come especially to see you. But it can be a good grounding, as you learn gradually how to please difficult crowds. At the end of the day, you are there to entertain them, regardless of what you think of their tastes in music etc. So you sometimes have to chuck your personal preferences musically out of the window, and play songs you may not be overly keen on. Ultimately, if you have a great night by doing the odd bit of "cheese", that's got to be better than having a crap night because you're just playing what you love. The band I'm in at the moment have only been together a few years, and they hadn't much experience of doing covers when I joined them. They were originally doing their own material and started doing some covers to pay for studio time, but the money got regular, and therefore they stuck at doing covers. I've been with the band nearly two years now, and we're now starting to reap the benefits of a lot of hard work over those two years. You have to constantly review your songs, and the order in which you play them. You have to learn what works and what doesn't, and bin the stuff that doesn't work no matter how much you like playing them. The great thing is, I've now got three great mates, and we're out playing live on a regular basis....not just rehearsing. And we're getting paid for what we love doing. Just go for it. You've nothing to lose by doing that. If it's not right for you, you'll know. If the band's not right for you, just move on.

The drummer in my band went to that too. I asked him today what it was like and he said pretty much the same, that it was amazing.

[quote name='Gray' post='114881' date='Jan 6 2008, 07:00 PM']...This means that wearing black for gigs is right out.[/quote] Ha ha.....that's me ruled out then.....black suit with black shirt! Oh well.

Hi Graham. Whereabouts in the North? And the Ashbory.....what's it like to play then? Thought about them a few times but never played one. Cheers, Pete.

[quote name='paul, the' post='114364' date='Jan 5 2008, 09:24 PM'] I bet that setup's got some serious thump. Sweet.[/quote] Oh Good God aye! And just replaced the SWRs with EBS Neos this week. Never wanted to gig as much as I do now!

[quote name='TheBigBeefChief' post='114423' date='Jan 5 2008, 10:53 PM']......if he did it in a band scenario he'd be joining Jazz and Jay Kay on "the list".[/quote] If I see him again....I'll warn him!

[quote name='Clive Thorne' post='114075' date='Jan 5 2008, 03:10 PM']On the plus side if he were to do this as solo in a band situation it would give the band and audience a chance to go to the bog/bar.[/quote] Ha ha.....I'm all for more time at the bar! In all seriousness, my original post was not to say that it's the most musical bass playing I've ever heard, it's not, and I'm sure Nige would be the first to admit it. I was just trying to highlight a bass player who I've "known" for a long time, but is relatively unheard of by a lot of people. Like dood said, he's a Rotosound rep, and if you go to the Rotosound main page, the track that's playing is Nigel's (which ironically is the most musical part of the YouTube video). He's a tremendous player, and used to inspire me on many a Saturday afternoon in my 20s. It's a shame in a way that there aren't more videos of his other skills to balance out what can look like a very one-dimensional style in this one.

[quote name='NancyJohnson' post='113968' date='Jan 5 2008, 11:53 AM']A few years ago I was leaving a gig at the Astoria in London and saw a large crowd of people surrounding a couple of people who were having sex on some stairs leading into a building. It was about 11.00pm. I suppose a lot of people thought that this was particularly impressive, but it's not really something I want to see in public. P[/quote] Clever analogy.....but a ridiculous one all the same........in my opinion.

PM'd

[quote name='NancyJohnson' post='113947' date='Jan 5 2008, 11:11 AM']Can I just make a straight remark here (and I'm not looking for a fight)? If this was a guitarist we'd all be saying it was a load of fretw*nk. I'm sorry, but that sort of playing is just drivel and it doesn't have any place in a musical sense. OK so the guy can do a lot of fancy tricks. Duh. And no, I can't 'play' like that, nor do I have any inclination to learn and do so either. If I actually had to listen to a musical track with that going on in the background I think I'd upchuck. P[/quote] Remarks are fine, we all have opinions. But to describe that sort of playing as "drivel" is bit harsh. It's the sort of playing that's earned the likes of Mark King et al a nice pension plan. And the fact that he had a huge crowd of interested people around him at the time shows that it's still impressive to a lot of people, and if one person goes home inspired then that's fine by me. What you won't know is that Nigel is also a wonderful player with his fingers, and also played in a full on rock band for a while with ex members of Thin Lizzy, so he does have many strings to his bow.

Me playing my 76 Precision on New Years Eve. Also my last gig with my SWR rig......roll on January and the new EBS rig!

I've sort of known Nigel for years, as he used to work at A1 Music in the centre of Manchester, and it used to be my haunt every Saturday for years. Even back then, he was one hell of a bass player, and could do things I could only every dream of doing. I seriously believe there is lots you can achieve with practice and hard work, but there's still an awful lot I believe you are just born with....and for me, Nigel fits into the second category. Anyway, I've not seen him for years, but bumped into him at the Bass Day at the RNCM in November and had a good chat with him. Just having a nosey on YouTube tonight, and came across a video someone did while he was thrashing out on a bass. Ironically, he was gigging that night, and said he should be out of there by 6pm as he's always late, but if I remember correctly, he was thrashing out around 6.15pm. I don't know....some people just don't know when to stop Enjoy.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='113862' date='Jan 5 2008, 12:05 AM']It's only a matter of time til the GBs come flocking... Everybody I know who has gone into Bernie's basement has come away with new ideas about what bass they should be playing... I smell a Thumb and a Marcus Miller Jazz quivering as they know it's not long til they get the chop...[/quote] A lot of people use the phrase LOL all too regularly, but I really was laughing out loud They're cowering in the corner like a couple of puppies that know they shouldn't have done a doo-doo on mummy's best rug

psychoandy.......you need to update your sig now

Cheers Dave. Pleasure to have been of assistance.

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='113703' date='Jan 4 2008, 07:08 PM']You are hooked [/quote] .....and Bernie's gonna reel me in!

[quote name='phsycoandy' post='113617' date='Jan 4 2008, 04:49 PM']I have her! Yippee, what a great day out, as ebs-freak pointed out Bernie can talk for england about his basses. Played thru the ebs rig it sounds stunning cant wait to try her out on Sunday. Ill get some proper pics up next week. All the result of an off the cuff call to Bernie as to what he had in stock, er " I dont carry stock I build to order, but I do have a bass that I made for a show about a year ago, shall I send u some pictures. The rest is history. Thunderthumbs did u have a go on her?[/quote] Sadly not. By the end of the day, I was a bit pushed for time, and Bernie may well have been too, but he did play it just to show me what it sounded like. Like I said, it looks and sounds incredible. What it has done to me is given me some more serious GAS. I own a Warwick Thumb 5 string which I bought in the late 80s/early 90s, which I've always thought I'd never sell. Having seen and heard that, I'm now having second thoughts and emailed Bernie today to ask what price I'd be looking at so I've some idea what I need to put by! A 5 string like that, and I could sell my Thumb and my Marcus Miller Jazz. Oh me, oh my!