tonybassplayer

Progressively less and less to try to reduce the stress on the back and the clattering about at one in the morning when I get home but minimum of two bass's amp, tuner leads and two cabs.

I had lessons from Bren 10 years ago and I can highly recommend him as a teacher. He gave me the knowledge and confidence to get out and join a band and I have never looked back.

He is also a superb player and a really nice guy as well.

Regards

Tony

Also loved playing it in a previous band but I definitely play it a little more solid as it needed to be in the context ( we were a classic rock band so played things pretty full on ) Lots of lovely little riffs and the bit echoing the mandalin is lovely to play.

Also have to remember to bring the digital camera, work the lights with my feet do the website the day after etc etc........... should be on double money lol

Forgot to add that two songs in to the second set the guitarists amp went pop and he had to use the second channel on the keyboard players amp !!!

Kept the noise out of my ears for the rest of the night so not all bad !!

In theory last night was our annual "no pressure" gig.

Every Xmas we play an early evening gig to a group of about 150 special needs people and the joy on their faces when we are playing is absolutely priceless.

We turned up early at the venue to find the place all locked up with the party organisers frantically trying to locate the club owners as the posters in the entrance indicated that the party was next Thursday !! Eventually they arrived and apologised for the confusion and opened up.

Set up started very slow as our singer was arriving late due to work commitments, the sax player had a migraine and needed to sit down with his eyes closed and the drummer was nowhere to be seen !!

Up with the lights and speakers and look for the leads which were nowhere to be seen. The keyboard player had taken them from the last gig so off he went back home to collect them ( fortunately only a half hour round trip ) The organisers asked if we could put some music on so I pulled out my trusty ipod ( every band should have one ) and put it through my bass rig which livened the evening up a bit !!

The keyboard player arrived back at the same time as the singer so the PA and lights went on but still no drummer. A quick call confirmed that he had not realised it was an early start so twenty minutes later he arrived to set up. Another 10 frantic minutes and we played our first song to an ecstatic audience. The night was a roaring success, roll on the next gig !!

PS Did I mention it was a "no pressure" gig !!!!!!!

Hi Skywalker, Yes let me know next time you are up this way and we can meet for a drink and maybe take in a band.

Are you playing in a band at the moment ??

Tony

PS Check the picture I sent but I had a moustache in those days.

Hi Bren

I used to get lessons from you on a Thursday or Friday morning ( seem to remember it was a two hour session once a fortnight on a Friday )

I am about 6ft and had a few extra pounds around the waist ( now stones ) I worked at Volkswagen in Wakefield and had never played in a band ( I have now and love it to bits so many thanks for giving me the knowledge, ability and determination to do it )

Are you playing in a band at the moment ?? I seem to remember that you were playing in a band at the time ( was it Contraband ?? )

Nice to hear from you and I might grab a few more lessons to try and take me up another notch or two

Regards

Tony

Hi Bren

Bit of a long shot this but did you used to ( and may still do ) live in Wyke near Cleckheaton and work at Comet ??

Regards

Tony

Hi all and thanks for the nice welcome.

Gazm, I live about 15 miles from Wakefield but there is a pub in the city called the Snooty fox which has bands on six nights a week ( might even be seven )

A few years ago I went to a jam night on a Thursday at a pub called the Clothiers which I believe is just down the road from the hotel. Not sure if it still does them though. Thursday night has live music at a pub called The Forresters Arms. Hope this helps.

Skywalker, a little village called Scholes near Cleckheaton ( a slightly larger town !! ) nr J26 on the M62

Great site with lots of info and help

Tony

Hi

Just looking to start playing with a wireless system ( no sound engineer so want to listen from the front ) but need a little advice to avoid the pitfalls ( otherwise known as bargains !! )

I have a Yamaha TRB4 and the jack socket is a little temperamental in that the lead needs to be very firm ( currently use a monster cable ) so it needs to be a tight fit.

I also like the look of the type without the "pack" that clips on the strap.

Any advice as to what you would recommend and more importantly what you would stay away from would be gratefully accepted.

Regards

Tony

New to the site and on holiday.

I am supposed to be decorating the kitchen but enjoying the banter on here so much that i have not done much yet.....love the Coldplay tribute gag !!

Hi, stumbled on the site yesterday and so far very impressed so thought I would register and get chatting to my fellow bass players.

I play in a soul/funk band called soul7 ( www.soul7.co.uk ) but have previously done classic rock and sixties. We are out gigging between two and four times a month but I want more so I am on the lookout to join/form another band to do another two to four gigs a month.

I play a Yamaha TRB which just seems such a good all rounder that I have never really needed to upgrade although I also have a Yamaha 5 string which sits at gigs just waiting for a flat battery/string break on the TRB but has yet to be played live.

I play through a Behringer rig which after an initial hiccup has served me very well and considering the price was a cracking bargain but i must admit that my next move will be to something much lighter ( the back just ain't what it was !! )

I am 48 years old and like many others I came back to playing about 10 years ago after a 20 year break !! I get really annoyed if I think how good i could be now if I had kept playing after leaving school but sport took over my life. The upside of this is that I am so excited about playing and gigging as it still seems new to me and each gig is a big adventure.

Probably boring you now but looking forward to chatting more and perhaps meeting some local players. Let me know when and where you are gigging and I will try to come along.

Tony