DaBassMonsta

Nice one!





So... when are you gigging?

Aged 33 and although I first got a bass at 17, I've only really played for about 2 and a half years - two of those between 23 and 25. Picked it back up about 6 months ago.

I like to play Indie/Rock/Alternative. Play 99.9% with a pick, 0.1% is when I've dropped it. Nothing too flash, the odd run if the song can do with it but no more than it needs.

Never had a lesson. Have virtually no music theory and can't improvise very well (working on that).

Like to get into the music and have a good time when I'm playing.

Hopefully they've given you some tunes to learn and you've got them well practiced.

Other than that - just be yourself. Seriously. It may sound naff but they're trying out for you just as much as you are for them.

Just be relaxed and do your thing. If it works out - excellent, if not - don't worry.

Right! This is discrimination! Where's my porn?

A few weeks ago, my first gig with the new band... my first gig in over seven years and we're playing a school charity fun day. We're partway through my most involved song in the set when we have to stop for an announcement. Announcement over and we're straight back in, starting on the second verse, thing is, my mind thinks we're halfway through it (where we'd stopped) so I go into the bridge far too early, completely on autopilot, wondering why everything else sounds different. Realising my mistake, thought I'd finish off the run and then play it again when they'd caught up!

(OK, it's really because I didn't know a good way to get back without sounding worse)

Loads of great advice above. Practice is the Daddy.

My method is to get the bassline nailed so that it's almost second nature. Then I'll try the vocal parts. No idea why but once I'm playing away and trying to get the lyrics right, my playing gets nice and polished, maybe a subliminal learning thing.

Ah! I've just realised that I should learn the lyrics for all the stuff I'm [b]not[/b] singing!

Pick 99.7% of the time. Mind you, I was a gu*tarist then I saw the light.

Led Zeppelin's How Many More Times. Every time I hear it I have to bounce. Don't think it's possible to stay still when that's playing.

Good Times Bad Times - Led Zeppelin

Hi Greg.

I'm also a Hants dweller and play in a Southampton based band. Are you in a band? If so, whereabouts do you rehearse?

Let us know when you're gigging.

BlueBear.

Very sorry to hear the news. Hopefully your gear will turn up.

I've now taken out a policy with MusicGuard as I had no insurance either.

2 Basses
Head
Cab
Stand
Mic Stand
+ My Alu Case containing...
[indent]Mic
Leads
Picks
Tuner
Strings
Strap
Torch
Tools
Tape
Fuses
Tyraps
Notepad
Pens
Rohypnol
Kitchen Sink[/indent]

Drums - Caroline Corr
Bass - D'Arcy Wretzky
Guitar/Vocal - Louise Wener
Guitar/Vocal - Avril Lavigne
Vocal - Shirley Manson

Costume and shower co-ordinator - Me

+1

Good call.

I got a set of the Orange dots. Funnily enough, I think that's what Bargy had been using as well when he raved about them.

They should endorse him really.

I've ordered strings from Roberts before on BargyBass' recommendation. Absolutely spot on, decent strings - great price.

I'm another Grolsch user. Wouldn't it be great if every accessory came with a free beer?

My picks of choice are the Jim Dunlop Delrin Standard 500 jobbers at .71mm. I've always liked those. They're fine on my acoustic guit*r as well.

No other pick has ever felt as comfy. I used to get serious hand-ache when I used Big Stubby picks. Some time ago I even used to use some brass ones.

Led Zeppelin - John Paul Jones

Runners up...

Rush - Geddy Lee
Wonder Stuff - Rob "Bass Thing" Jones & Paul Clifford

Try some Snow Patrol.

We've got two Snow Patrol songs in the set; All That I Have and Chocolate. Absolute snore-fests on bass I can tell you.

The latest addition to the Bear clan arrives a couple of days before so I doubt very much I'll be able to make it.

Shame as I bet it'd be less noisy.

Following on from the above, they've called me back and are sending me out my amp this afternoon and will look into where the other one went.

Overall, apart from the email response I'm happy. I'll definitely use again. The delivery issue could well be down to the courier so I can't blame GAK for it.

They're all jolly decent chaps when you eventually get through to talk to one.

Funnily enough, I've just been on the phone to them in the last half hour about a recent purchase.

I was looking to buy a new bass, head, cab, practice amp and case and wanted to part-ex some old gear. I hadn't realised the huge difference between web and shop prices but in the end they worked a very nice deal and the whole lot only ended up about twenty-odd quid over the web price. They then waived the delivery charges and said I'd get my amps during the week when they'd come in stock on Monday. That was Saturday the 9th.

Happy with that, very impressed.

The following Tuesday, the head and cab turn up but no practice amp. Delivery driver said that'd probably come later. By the Friday there was still nothing. I'd tried phoning through but got frustrated as I kept ending up back in the automated system. On trying another department they simply redirected me to the ones that weren't answering. I emailed GAK on the 15th about this asking if someone would look into it.

By the 20th I'd had no response so emailed again, forwarding the previous mail, asking if there was any news at all. Today, 25th, I have called and eventually got through to someone who is dealing with it at the moment.

It has been frustrating because they were very quick to respond to emails and reserve items for me when I was about to make a purchase. To be fair, the guy who'd done the deal for me is currently on holiday but some acknowledgement of the issue couldn't have been too much trouble could it?

Well I decided to go ahead and buy the BA115 last Saturday.

I'll let you all know if it blows up.

Finally got my amp delivered today and got the chance to try out the cables I'd bought from Dave three days ago. They're simply excellent. Not only are his cables great value for money, Dave's a thoroughly decent chap as well.

Great service, great product. Cheers Dave!

BlueBear