tonybassplayer

Hi, along with my other two bands I am just forming a trio with an excellent guitarist singer and before we recruit a drummer we want to get twenty or so songs together so we have the basis of a couple of sets. I have a zoom rhythm track drum machine that we used at first rehearsal but without lots of programming and just using the loops it was ok but not as we move forward. I also have garageband on my apple and that is potentially excellent but also quite time consuming to build up some tracks. I suppose what I am asking for is the route to a quick fix with drum tracks that are already complete. Anyone know where I can source them ?? preferably free ?? I just don't want to spend a lot of time or money as the drummer will be on board in the next few weeks and then they will just sit unused. Anyone help point me in the right direction ?? Many thanks Tony

Almost like I wrote the first post myself about six months ago !! I love playing in the soul/funk I have been in for the last three years band but no matter how hard I try we just seem to cap out at about 35/40 gigs a year. It was frustrating the hell out of me ( and a couple of the other members ) so eventually I joined another band ( totally different music ) to give me more playing and it is now quite nice to have two bands with totally different members, music, work ethos, rehearsals etc Try it, I can definitely recommend it Tony PS Just starting to form a trio as well to fill in a few more gaps and once again keeping the music different

I play the Amy Winehouse version in the function band and the Zutons in my trio. Both equally good songs just different that's all. I would be interested to see the notation when you have it for the bit you want to play as my versions are a little basic. Tony

Just collected mine so will have a listen ( also looking forward to the Rush article !! ) Tony

LOL I had a go a couple of weeks ago and know what you mean. I was more conscious of the band listening ( it was the quiet bit in Wishing Well, "love and a peaceful world" ) than I ever would be with an audience !! Hope it goes well Tony

I have one that looks to be it's 5 string brother with the sticker on the headstock saying BBN5 Serial number MH29326 Are they worth decent money ?? Had it for years and not really got in to 5 string playing

Hi Paul, welcome to the forum. I also play in a function band and then fill the gaps in another with a bit of loud ACDC, Thin Lizzy etc It's a great forum with lots of info to be picked up on and some pretty funny threads. Unlike most other forums it is also very active in particular on a weekend when we are all "post gig" chilling My favourite thread is the "my gig last night" so make sure you put your comments on so we can all read them ( got a three week break now between gigs so quite sad LOL ) we are looking for a drummer for one band a guitarist for the other. Tony

Unfortunately we had to pull out of last nights gig as our singer has lost her voice. We managed to organise a suitable replacement for the pub and all was well until I got a call from our sax player at 9.30 last night who had decided to go watch the replacement band ( The Harry Coffey Band .... thank you guys ) to say that a bunch of my friends, including one that I hadn't seen for over a year and had travelled 60 miles, had pitched up at the gig as a surprise to see me !!! To say I was gutted was an understatement !! They had been surprisingly quiet on the texting/emailing front this week and now I know why !!

[quote name='alexclaber' post='235446' date='Jul 9 2008, 01:11 AM']I have an ethical problem with all of Behringer's gear but at least most of it is a tolerable rip-off of something decent. Their speakers are another kettle of fish - I can't think of a single redeeming characteristic. Poor tone, poor power handling, heavy, poor durability, poor resale value. Buy a secondhand Peavey or something! Alex[/quote] But apart from the above they are pretty good then lol

I have used a Behringer amp and two cabs for the last two years at practice and a gig a week. I had a problem with the first 15" cab that was replaced then all been fine since [attachment=10588:PC170028.JPG]

I would like to ask a question please Have you seen the advert for the Chief Whips who are looking for a bass player on the Partysounds website ?? Tony

Things were not looking good at the beginning of the week when our drummer announced a health enforced two month break due to a hearing problem that turned in to a "best to look for someone full time". Tuesday was spent in a delightful 8 hour non stop meeting at work and then Wednesday night had me down at the local hospital with my 6 year old daughter having an emergency operation on a broken arm after a climbing frame accident. By the time Friday nights gig came along at the Barge at Brighouse ( sister pub to the Queen Vic ... see above ) I was well up for a chilled out gig and what a cracker it turned out to be. The dep drummer ( we met him for the first time at 7.30 that night ) was brilliant, loads of friends and family came to see us and loads of people up and dancing. To cap it all the dep says he is interested in joining the band !!! Apologies to Keith ( yorks5stringer ... see above ) for not turning up on Saturday but during our gig my girlfriend got talking to the guitarist from another local band and said we would go and see his band on Sat night but I promise we will get to a gig soon and I will put the £5 for the auction on paypal. [attachment=10502:P7040031.JPG]

More of an audience shot with the band in the distance but shows that we got them up dancing !![attachment=10501:P7040058.JPG]

Just like to say a big thank you for organising today's gathering and looking forward to the next. I was only able to attend for an hour and a half or so but really enjoyed chatting with the people I met and I had the opportunity to hear the sound and feel the weight of Mark Bass cabs and it convinced me of my next purchase. Only down side was later in the day I got a call from our sax player to tell me our drummer is unable to play for two months due to a problem with his ears so it looks like we are going to be chasing round for deps for the next few gigs !! For identification purposes I was the guy that came late dressed in black jeans and black and white shirt.

Friday night and after the mad dash from work we played high above Holmfirth at the Huntsman Hotel at the Shepley School Summer Ball. As the evening moved forward it looked like a late starter as the audience were having a full three courser followed by raffles etc so we re- arranged the set over free drinks and food ( a nice touch ) and hit the stage at 10.30 Two bars in to Valerie and the dancers hit the floor and stayed there for over an hour and forty minutes. Valerie has recently become our opening song and is going down brilliant. We play a version similar to the Amy Winehouse one and let the drums go round a few times then bass next and so on. It makes for an easy and stress free start to the gig as the intro can just keep playing until the singer starts. A cracking gig with a brilliant audience. By the last song ( Do You Love Me from Dirty Dancing ) there wasn't a single person in the room not on the dance floor. Love gigs like these. [attachment=10108:shepley.jpg]

Will be a bit of an hour long flying visit for me as I am on "dad" duty on Sundays but looking forward to it and hoping someone will give me a few tips on how to play the slap bit in "carwash" somewhat better than I currently do !! Also hope someone has some Mark Bass equipment as I want to feel just how must lighter than my current gear it is.

Another return to one of our regular venues last night, The Deer House in Rudding Park caravan site near Harrogate, and after a four week break there was always a chance we could have been a bit rusty but as it turned out we played superb ( with the exception of carwash which was pretty diabolical ) The place was packed out ( pouring it down so no one was sat outside round a bbq ) and the audience were really up for a fun night. At the risk of getting banned from the basschat website the high point of the night was when our singer Lou split the audience in two during Mustang Sally with the chorus's getting louder and louder ( we even extended it by a few more minutes ) and if that isn't enough to blacklist me I use "Behringer" amplification !!!! Tony

Anyone have any gigs to report on from last night ?? We are playing our first in 4 weeks tonight, I am never waiting this long again, it just seems such a waste of valuable gigging nights !! Tony

I was recently introduced ( via this site ) to Guitar Pro that uses midi files to play back the songs on the software. All the instruments can be "soloed" so you can isolate the bassline and it gets my 100% recommendation ( it also shows the tab as well so you can watch as you listen/play along )

Hi Jez and welcome to the forum from a Cleckhuddersfax lad. Do you play in a local band ?? Tony

Hi, trying to make a plan to get there on the day but as I have my children on the day ( 6, 8 and 11 ) it involves convincing my girlfriend to entertain them locally for an hour so I can call in ( particularly want to to meet Bren Travis again as he is the person who taught me years ago and gave me the confidence to join my first band. He is a top guy and superb bass player ) Can you suggest anywhere that I can drop the four of them off local to the venue so that I can at least call in for an hour or so ( thinking of something like a pub with Wacky Warehouse type play area or a nice park ) Thanks Tony

What a brilliant and original name for a band Good luck with the search for a drummer Tony

I downloaded Guitar Pro ( free trial version ) the other day and so far been quite impressed with what I have found and how easier it is to learn from by soloing the bass line ( like a fellow basschatter I needed to learn Fool For Your Loving and it is hard to hear on the cd all the notes ) Just before I purchase what are your thoughts on it as a tool to learn bass lines from ?? What are the best sites etc ?? If I purchase do I get access to some form of official database etc ?? Anyone got a good library of songs etc ?? Thank you Tony