bassintheface

I'm trying to think if anyone I know is coming to Scotland soon..... I'm playing in Leeds next thursday......don't think I'll be getting any closer soon........

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1363793440' post='2017752'] No worries, but it's also coming across to me that you have a bit of a problem with originals bands, in that you seem to agree that we're mostly posturing arrogant tools who can't write or perform. Anyway, there we are. [/quote] Not at all, nothing could be further from it and I haven't seen or heard your band so couldn't comment. Like I said - it's probably the old typed forum communication which is just 'black and white' and can be read either way. I just agree that I've experienced many who think they're "insert great band / singer / songwriter / performer etc here......" and they're not! I certainly don't have a problem with them, neither with covers bands in general. Naturally there's good and bad in all. I've done hundreds of gigs with some terrible originals bands, weirdly, usually in London and only a few great ones. I can can count on one hand how many of them have moved me to go and spend my money on a cd or itunes purchase. I'd jump at joining a decent originals band if it were the right style and thought it had potential. I regularly dep for some originals bands and will continue to do so. Where would we be without new music after all? In the past, and that's no good to anyone!

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1363793240' post='2017745'] These days that is all it is to me. It's all it needs to be. I have a good day job that pays well so the music is just a hobby. If I didn't have the band I am in I suppose I would seek out a covers band or the like but I like what I have and intend to keep doing it for as long as promoters allow us to..... [/quote] I too have a good day job - being a Quantity Surveyor, but am used to both wages now!! ........maybe therein lies the answer - "I PLAY IN A COVERS BAND BECAUSE IT SUITS ME AND BECAUSE I WANT TO" Ditto for originals!!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1363792814' post='2017729'] Oh ok, maybe you're a bit sensitive or something [/quote] No, that's just what came across as I was getting up to speed with the thread ........

THIS: [quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1363792633' post='2017724'] On the down side, my personal experience is that although many a cover band member can be guilty of posturing and preening in front of an audience, bands and artists playing original material are too often far worse offenders in this respect. the general standard of songwriting and performance tends to be inversely proportional to the smugness of too many of the individuals involved. [/quote]

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1363791961' post='2017706'] I'm not. Never have been. Never will be. I am happy playing half a dozen gigs a year, almost all on the continent to fans that know and love our tunes, staying in comfortable, if modest, hotels and having expenses paid weekends away with my mates. I can't imagine what playing in a covers band down the pub might be like. [/quote] I couldn't handle only playing 6 gigs a year, however good they may be. That is a hobby to me - lads weekend away playing songs. Great if that's what you want. I need it for work so would be broke if I only did 6 gigs! I don't play pubs, but used to and always had a laugh. Don't knock it as I'd rather see any live band in a pub than some tool with an x factor compilation backing track cd and a Nathan Barley haircut thinking he's Michael Jackson and a credible artist, or a pain in the a**e girl singer thinking she's Beyonce.or even worse, the pub closing and being turned into flats!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1363791886' post='2017704'] Orchestras keep great classical music alive, not much new orchestral music though. Who's turning their nose up? [/quote] There just seemed to me to be more than a hint of an undertone from some posters that 'playing in an originals band only' and people saying they couldn't 'do' a covers band is giving them some sort of 'moral' musical superiority than those that do. Maybe, (as with many threads on here and forums in general) that it's the typing thing and that if we were to be sat chatting in a pub about the same subject, then I wouldn't have felt the same.

Work. Fun. Smart venues. Travel. Getting looked after by clients. Getting paid a fair wage for a fair amount of work. I did the originals band thing for years - releasing albums, singles, videos on TV, BBC sessions, soundtracks on TV programmes, tours with 'big' bands, decent festivals - you name it. As much as I loved writing and performing 'our' stuff and playing to appreciative crowds, to do it 'properly' and make a reasonable living out of it is nigh on impossible - especially with mortgages, wives, kids etc. The time it demanded to ensure it got 100% just killed it for me in the end after a solid 6 years. 3 - 4 gigs a week sometimes, home from London at 5am after a gig in The Dublin Castle or somewhere. Not even £50 towards fuel on some gigs. Then being back in work at 8am. Not healthy! Now we get a a decent rate per gig, a hotel room, a proper meal (not just a crap plate of chips to share), no idiot promoters to deal with, no support / headline (London) bands saying "alright maaate, our bassist has left his amp at home, we ok to use yours....we're on at 11.30pm" - erm, no mate, we're leaving after our set at 10pm..... I get to play smart venues, to appreciative crowds. I love playing music and that's what I'm still doing...... I have band mates still in really good originals bands (and I dep for them sometimes), but the whole 'scene' has changed - maybe not in London, but the rest of the country certainly. It's interesting that when I play Tuba in Orchestras & brass bands, I'm essentially playing 'covers' - other people's music. The LSO do the same -do the 'originals' guys turn their noses up at that too?

I haven't weighed it to be honest, but it's noticably lighter than my 75 RI Jazz and even more so than my Stingray.

You'd go a long way to find a better, more suitable bass than this at that sort of money - http://[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/200874-feeler-fs-ft-squier-silver-series-jazz-early-90s/"]basschat.co.uk/topic/200874-feeler-fs-ft-squier-silver-series-jazz-early-90s/[/url] Yes, I know I'm selling it, but it's an awesome bass for the money!

I'll take the pickups out tonight and have a look. Yeah, were both a bit microphonic. As in Wizard Pickups in Wales? Interesting.............

A bit more research has found 'The Sweet' link to be false. Nevertheless, it's a great bass in exc condition. I plugged it into my Aguilar rig on sat and the pickups sounded really weak and thin compared to my 75RI Jazz with US Fender pickups. It clearly needs a decent set up as the high D and E on the D string were fretting out, as were the equivalents on the A and G too. Think the neck needs a bit of a 'crank' and a general all over full service. Once sorted it'll be ace!

I don't know if it was his or the bassist from the Sweet - if indeed it was even anything to do with them. I'm going to use it at a gig tonight!!

Thanks guys. Yup, pretty lightweight and unmarked! She sure is 'fit'!! I'm led to believe it was owned by someone in 'The Sweet'. I can't find anymore info, though it was bought at auction kind of locally and I do know that 'The Sweet' guitarist, Andy Scott is from Wrexham. If it was, then I think it must have been a spare and stored unplayed for years as its like a time warp bass, apart from some dirt, dust, spot of rust on screw heads etc. it's even got a 70's curly lead in the case! Cheers guys!!

opened up the bass and checked the pots - they all say 137 (which means they were made by CTS), then 74 (which is yr of manufacture) and 09 ~(which is the week number - week 9).

This one is a quick query for those of you who know a bit about old Fenders: In my possession is a 1973/74 (so I'm led to believe) Fender Jazz bass - pics below. It's in awesome condition, though non orig case and no ashtray or pickup cover. It's meant to have some 'history' from a well known 70's glam band. It's owned by a non-musician friend - he bought it in an auction to sell on. I'd like to buy it off him so he's lent it to me to try and do my own research to confirm that it is what I'm told it is. I know you'll need hi res images of it with the neck off and pot info etc to give a proper 'confirmation' but until I do that over the weekend, these will have to suffice (if of course they help). The info I have dates it to a 73 / 74. There isn't a mark, dent, chip or scratch on the body or anywhere. Anyone able to help with confirming that this is indeed a 73/74? http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/bassintheface/library/Fender%20Jazz%20Bass%201973%20or%201974?page=1 Thanks in advance!!!