elom

[quote name='99ster' post='59204' date='Sep 12 2007, 12:27 PM']And another vote for Grolsch straplocks - these are used by loads of other pro players... especially good on vintage basses where you don't want to mess with the original strap buttons.
A no-brainer![/quote]

I have one small problem with this - where do you find those Grolsch bottles? I have been on the look out for [i]months [/i]and can't find anywhere that stocks them. The Grolsch ring-pulls don't work half as well!

If anyone's got a couple of them spare I'll paypal you the cost of a bottle of Grolsch in return.

elom

Hiscox for the Fender Performer
and a super-cheapo bag for Mavis, my super-cheapo Harley Benton DIY kit backup bass. The cheapo bag provides protection from dust and light breezes and that's about it.

Joyrider's cover of the Jane Wiedlin hit Rush Hour

One-hit wonder forgotten by everyone but me - still crackin' though.

Oh and also Ron Sexsmith's "I don't like Mondays"

[quote name='theosd' post='67220' date='Sep 29 2007, 01:32 AM']Play something [url="http://www.myspace.com/aliquotflow"]original.[/url][/quote]

Please accept my humble apologies. I am truly sorry that I have not "evolved and experimented" in the way that you have. Thank you for sharing.

[quote name='lwtait' post='67105' date='Sep 28 2007, 08:31 PM']+1 for smells like teen spirit, unless you have an [size=3]excellent[/size] singer who can sing it well. i've heard a few bands play it, including my own, and none of the singers can reach some of the higher notes. the only band ive ever heard do it successfully (except nirvana) are my dad's band before their origional singer left.[/quote]

We cover this. To be fair though our singer can hit the notes, though it still lacks something. We manage to segway Boston's 'More than a Feeling' into Teen Spirit. The Boston song doesn't really fit with the rest of our set (and I don't personally like it) but it's worth it when you see the smiles creep across peoples faces as Teen Spirit kicks in over the top of it!

As regards covers generally, if you're an originals band don't bother with any cover unless you're going to do something original with it. If you're a covers band, [i]it's your job[/i]. People want to hear popular songs in your genre - it seems churlish not to perform one because it's a classic!

I have a friend who makes acoustics if that's any help. Assuming that it's electric that you want I'll ask him for a recommendation next time I see him.

elom

On a completely unrelated blog just now I came across this quote and it just seemed to fit into this discussion:

[quote]"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."[/quote]

Theodore Roosevelt apparently. Not sure if he played bass but with a name like that I imagine he'd be a funk man.

[quote name='Bald Eagle' post='65443' date='Sep 25 2007, 05:21 PM']Interesting thread-comments.

I don't gig, i'd love to, my problem is confidence and always beating myself up because I don't sound like XYZ virtuoso, so I spend too much time learning stuff people probably wouldn't want to hear anyway when really I should be concentrating on the basics and getting a gig. I also feel a bit apprehensive about contacting anyone over the web to jam etc. mainly for fear of being laughed at as in reality I really don't know what level i'm at! I don't know anyone else who plays or can help me or introduce me to similar aged (late 30's) and minded people, it's a vicious circle.

And a big boo to the muso snobs, I have no time for conceited people like that I wouldn't diss anyone whatever their level we've all been there or are there were always learning.[/quote]

I was in a similar position myself when I returned to bass last year. I wasn't very good but I really wanted to be in a band. Joining a band or even going to a jam session just seemed far too daunting - I thought that I would be looked down on as a root note plodder (which I still am basically).

My alternative was to start a band myself. That might sound crazy but think about it: 1) Everyone involved knows the score before you start (i.e. the style of music, level of musicianship etc) 2) You get to decide if you'd like to play with these people and 3) by all starting at the same time you get a chance to 'form' as a band rather than trying to fill some other bass players shoes.

I used [url="http://www.formingbands.co.uk"]www.formingbands.co.uk[/url] to get together with like-minded people. Just be honest about what you can do and what you want to do and you'll find that there are plenty of people who'll be interested.

Keep the faith!

elom

[quote name='ChocolateTelevision' post='62720' date='Sep 19 2007, 03:27 PM']Bass Collection Speakeasy Bass Guitar, 4-string model, black, active electronics, awesome sound, low action and ridiculously fast neck. Bought as a back-up bass and used for literally only a couple of hours, hence the reason for the sale! Absolutely as new.

More details here: [url="http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=05121511164618&guitars="]http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars...18&guitars=[/url]

Harmony Central Reviews here: [url="http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Bass+Collection/Speakeasy/10/1"]http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews.../Speakeasy/10/1[/url]
[size=4][b]
Cost £299, accept £199! [/b][/size]

Available for collection from Ruislip (NW London), HA4, (5 mins from A40 Polish War Memorial or Target Roundabout, 15 mins from M25/M40 junction, 15 mins from M1/M25 junction, 10 mins from Hangar Lane Gyratory)[/quote]

This is a great bass at a bargain price. Not only is it all the things that CT said but it is also incredibly light - if you can remember a thread from some months ago about light basses, this one was the lightest! Someone must surely snap this up. I'd buy it myself except I've already got one.

[quote name='minty fresh death' post='64910' date='Sep 24 2007, 06:00 PM']Just joined up, been playing bass for a while now.

No band at the moment, just taking a year out from uni and i've decided to either start or join a band while i'm working full time. I play mainly punk and metalcore, but I have played in Black Metal bands in the past.

Just finished selling all my old stuff so I can start fresh...etc So you will see my new rig taking shape first hand soon

Looking either at a 6x10 (SWR, Bergantino or maybe Ampeg?) or an 8x10 (Peavey, Ampeg or Orange if I can find the holy grail).
Orange AD200
And at a later date something a bit more dirty like a jcm800 or an SVT-CL?

Guitar wise

Euro Spector P/J 4 string

Not sure what i'm going to add to that but i've seen another Spector for sale locally... and I would like to try out the SX basses since although i'm not a huge fan of the Fenders, i've heard that in terms of bang for your buck... they are pretty damn good!

Always wanted a ric 4001 as well but i've had a 4003 in the past and I didn't get on with it at all even though I loved the sounds it made. But realistically I need a 5 string of some sort so i'll see if I can get myself one of those 5 String Music Man SUB's although they are out of production, I do see them around.[/quote]
That's some pretty tasty stuff you're looking for. Make sure you check out the For Sale boards as there is always a ton of stuff in circulation.

oh, and welcome!

Mansons is just what a guitar shop should be if you ask me - great premises, great stock but most of all great staff. Took my daughter in there last week to buy her first 3/4 size guitar for £40 and they gave us just as good a service as if we were spending hundreds.

(Plus Hugh said he liked my bass which is enough to keep me coming back on its own!)

[quote name='Bassassin' post='63028' date='Sep 20 2007, 11:52 AM']Excellent idea - saw Guy's Edinburgh show last month & loved it.

I'm next in line!

Jon.[/quote]


Steve_K beat the rest of you to it by a few minutes. You'll all have to take your chances when Steve relists it!

Yes this is the recent book by famous bassist Guy Pratt - part autobiography, part musical history, part stand-up comedy. A great book that you will read from cover to cover in no time because you wont be able to put it down. This is the hardback version, it was only published a few months ago and I'm giving it away.

The first person to PM me with their address will get it.

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bass-Other-Animals-Guy-Pratt/dp/0752876317/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/202-4611521-9577430?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190241135&sr=8-1"]Amazon Review is here[/url]

Oh, did I mention that there are some [i]terms and conditions[/i]?

First up, this is not your book. It's a communal book now. Once you've read it you must post it back on this thread to be passed on to the next person who wants it. Oh and if you've not read it inside a month then pass it on anyway slowcoach.

Erm, that's it!

Just in case you really thought that I was a cartoon mole in shades and a hat..

[attachment=2378:Nick.jpg]

Bet you wish I was a cartoon mole in shades and a hat now...

Having an unusual bass is great. If there is a bass player in the audience then I will guarantee that they will come up to me and say something along the lines of "What on earth is that bass?" (It's a Fender Performer for those who haven't heard me go on about it before)

Good thorough review - well done.

I too have one of these, plus a 115 extension cab. Though to be honest I think that I have used the extension cab about twice. The MAG300 is more than enough for the pub gigs that I play and when in a slightly larger venue I just DI too.

It's not a budget buy, nor is it pro kit and that is a profile that works for a lot of 'weekend warriors' out there! Good value for money, especially if you can pick one up 2nd hand. I do sometimes wish it was lighter but that's probably just old age catching up with me...

[quote name='bass_in_ya_face' post='59225' date='Sep 12 2007, 12:41 PM']When I saw Fiction Plane (rubbish name by the way), I did think that Sting's son was trying so hard to be his dad it was like a tribute act.[/quote]

Fiction Plane is an anagram of 'Infant Police' - enough said?

[quote name='Floyd Pepper' post='57910' date='Sep 9 2007, 08:43 PM']Well, I was there and I thought they did a pretty good job of it. I'm never a fan of stadium gigs myself but it was as good as I've seen and I managed to re-live my youth for a couple of hours![/quote]

Yup, I was there too and had a great time. Certainly not shocking, in fact rather good. They don't have much chemistry as a band though in my opinion. They look like colleagues rather than mates - but then I guess that's what they are.

Maximo Park seemed a little embarrassed but made an effort, which can't be easy when the place is half empty and most of the people there have never heard of you. Fiction Plane had a couple of good tunes (Hate, Two Sisters) but not enough and would no way have been there if he wasn't Sting's son.

Well what a response! More than I could have hoped for so thanks guys. Thanks, apart from the fact that you've scared the shirt out of me!

It has clarified one thing though, we are not a function/wedding band and to be honest we don't really want to be. When the guy phoned up he asked "do you do weddings?" to which I said "we could do, but we're not your typical wedding type of band". We've had a couple of email exchanges since and have sent them our set list, which they have declared 'great', plus we've offered to learn something specific for them.

We have nothing like the number of songs that you guys are talking about, so could not have a set as long or flexible. We've been really upfront with them about all this and they still seem keen. They are coming to see us play next week and are bringing the bride's mum!

Having said all that we will take on board a lot of the great advice that this thread has produced. We'll smarten up a bit - no ripped jeans and Sid Vicious T-shirt, make sure we set up early, keep quiet, try and keep our young singer from getting drunk and getting off with the bride, be the mobile disco, check the volume levels and generally try to remember that we are the hired help. Hopefully everyone will still have a great time though I suspect that the 'B&G +20 mates will love you, the rest will think its a bloody racket' scenario may well apply!

Oh well, nothing ventured eh? Would it be appropriate to ask the assembled guests to be upstanding for the Queen as it is a formal occassion, before launching into the Pistols? No? Anyone got any Van Morrison tabs....

elom

My band has been booked to play a wedding - our first. The couple know the kind of stuff we play and said that they didn't want a typical wedding band. I'll be meeting them at our next gig anyway to discuss exactly what they want anyway but I thought I'd ask here for any tips.

So what does a pub band need to know before they play a wedding? Any advice gratefully received.

Also, they've asked if we could provide lighting. I said we'd see what we could do and get back to them but I haven't really got a clue. Hire or purchase? What are the options and the costs? I've done a bit of net searching without much success.

Thanks

elom

I'm off to see them on Saturday at Twickenham. Maximo Park as support is a big bonus.

When I was 15 I decided that I wanted to be in a band. There were loads of guitarists in my school and no bass players, plus it looked a lot easier! Got a Westone Thunder 2 back in 1984 and the rest was history.

[quote name='Gwilym' post='46588' date='Aug 16 2007, 07:54 PM']i'm sure people aren't as hen pecked as they make out. probably just an irreverant remark most of the time, and maybe a bit of sales patter if it's in a for sale thread. after all, a seller is rarely going to say "I'm selling this cos I don't like it".[/quote]

+1 A convenient reason why its a 'reluctant sale' when in fact you think the bass is a dog!

The non-bass playing element is a major factor in getting the gig. Bass-wise you're either good enough for them or not (and I guess you know the answer to that already), most of it boils down to whether they like you and you like them. As others have said, just be yourself and see what happens.

[quote name='bass_in_ya_face' post='40715' date='Aug 2 2007, 11:47 PM']i think i'm in luuuurve[/quote]

Everyone loves Lydia - I still prefer the pink bobble hat phase though.

Hey, they should get her for Bass Day! Can we start a campaign?