peteb

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1388520014' post='2323096'] That's keyboard players for you. I've worked with loads and there's definitely something wrong with 'em. [/quote] The good ones do tend to be a bit of a strange breed! I have done quite a few gigs in the past where the band leader tended to go off-piste like that a fair bit, but at least we all knew where we stood and that was the deal when we signed up. The material tended to be pretty straightforward stuff (mainly blues based) and there were a lot of fingers being raised in the air to indicate the next chord change, etc. It was great fun and there were not too many train wrecks – it certainly kept you on your toes! However, I’m sure that the band would have generally done better if we had kept to an actual set list… The guitar player once called a Bob Seger track to end a first set in Burnley of all places and a punter came up to tell the drummer at half time how much he had enjoyed that particular song. He was genuinely amazed that the said drummer had absolutely no idea what the song was and had never heard it before he had started to play it that night…

Hey, I am not getting nostalgic for the times when a decent bass cab was so heavy you could barely lift it on your own. However, weight is not the main factor in determining what cab I would buy as long as it is not so heavy that I can hardly lift out of the van at the end of the night! I’m not knocking Barefaced here, I heard someone use one at a gig a couple of weeks ago and it sounded fine. It’s just that I’m not bothered about whether I can lift a cab one handed!

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1387066322' post='2307987'] I'd just like to say I've never knowingly heard anything by him before and that cover was truly f*cking aweful. (keep yourself alive). It was like a small kid showing off his tricks. The lack of humility or feel for the original material for an apparent musician is extraordinary. [/quote] I think that you (and others here) are kinda missing the point! If you look at another of one of my favourite guitarists, say Billy Gibbons. You don’t go and see the Rev Billy G and expect him to shred, you want to appreciate his touch, feel and sparse but expert note choices, all delivered with an eccentric sense of humour. Likewise, you know that Yngwie is going to assault your senses with an over the top display of prestigious technique, incredible musicality, fierce attack and absolutely no taste whatsoever! Personally, I think that the Queen cover is a stunning display of guitar playing and is great fun without (for once) taking himself too seriously (and I am a big fan of the original). You may not appreciate it or indeed you may not like Yngwie. However you should at least acknowledge that he is an incredible player and has influenced many other top guitarists, many of whom have gone onto to make far better records than he ever has himself (e.g. Paul Gilbert / Mr Big, etc). PS. If you think that Keep Yourself Alive is over the top, you should hear his pass at Gimme, Gimme, Gimme by ABBA…! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cUClZiUXsc

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1387031251' post='2307592'] There's a particularly good covers band I know that take reasonably well known funk and soul songs and cover them with a bit of a different twist and feel. There's now another band who are basically covering the songs the covers band play - right down to the same arrangements and feel! The second band often go to watch the first band play in order to cop the arrangements properly (obviously a lot of them aren't available to buy). They also tend to make out that they are playing their own original arrangements because, of course, not many people have actually heard the first band's versions. Apart from finding ithis all slightly odd I wondered if this makes the latter band effectively a 'tribute' act to the former [/quote] Probably best to ask the acknowledged authority on this matter to be sure – I’m sure that Bilbo will be along shortly…

FWIW - I've never really bought into the BF thing. I really don't like the looks, unconvinced about the concept and don't see why a cab needs to be THAT light. However, I had never played thru one or really seen one used in anger, so I have always reserved judgement on them. Last weekend I saw a band with a really good bass player using a BF cab and it sounded really good. I had a brief chat with him and he said that he was generally pleased with the cab - he had a good 410 before but the BF compared well to it and he appreciated the weight! I'm still not intending to flog my Berg to get one, but I certainly wouldn't dismiss them entirely based on the looks alone...

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1386891871' post='2306242'] It's personal and probably not entirely tangible and not something everyone will agree on. I can put on Hendrix's Little Wing and feel like the guy can really just sing through his guitar, or like his guitar is a natural extension of him. I can't buy into that with Yngwie because it always sounds like he's worked too hard at being the best without ever having paid attention to making or writing a good tune. To me he's made guitar no fun. I'm totally speaking for myself here of course. [/quote] I think that he can be quite good fun at times (especially on the covers) but you have put your finger on why he is certainly no Hendrix...

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1386891239' post='2306236'] Not speaking for the person quoted and don't know if I'd describe it as bollocks, there's bits of stuff I kind of like but players like him always seem to have learnt their theory to the Nth degree and then applied it so stagnantly and without musicality. It's almost like they've made music a depressing chore or a science. I can't enjoy music that sounds like it lacks soul and for me personally, it lacks soul. That's kind of the clincher for me. [/quote] I think that Malmsteen is supremely musical and I would disagree that his guitar playing lacks soul. However, no matter how good a guitarist is, they need to be put their playing in a musical context and he is a consistently poor song writer and his ego seems to mean that he is unable to collaborate in a meaningful with anyone. To me, his most enjoyable records have been him playing covers or goofing off on tribute albums where he has superior material to work with… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cev-Sjhab_M

Astoundingly brilliant guitar player – it’s easy to get blinded by the speed and technique but profoundly musical as well. Unfortunately he can’t write a song to save his life! A bit of a kn0b by all accounts as well…

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1386857600' post='2305438'] Rainbow Rising. Just spotified it and had forgotten how good it is. Marvellous stuff! [/quote] Absolutely! When I was a kid, that was the album that made me want to be in a band - I was wanted to be part of something that could sound like that...

[quote name='Mickeyboro' timestamp='1385897299' post='2293216'] Deke Leonard of Man is quite the writer if you want sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. Though as his publisher I admit I am biased... Order through this website before Xmas, quote Basschat and deduct £2 off the price of any of his three titles. [url="http://www.northdownpublishing.co.uk/id47.html"]http://www.northdown...co.uk/id47.html[/url] Plug over! [/quote] Plus one for Deke Leonard - read it on the beech last summer, great fun... Bettye LaVette's book is a good read and Guy Pratt's is very funny (you will never look at the Womacks in the same way ever again)!

Done and good luck...

I didn't mention in the topic that he was disabled because he is a very good drummer regardless! I think that he is pretty inspiring, to say the least...

Great drummer... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxPZiNmcfq8

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1383949344' post='2271288'] Isn't it actually getting hard to find a second-hand one for sale that's not been modded in any way? (That's if it's not a bitza with no Fender parts except the logo) Isn't this part of the reason - bass players know this expectation and so they go and buy a Fender on a lemming style mission. They then try to get the sound they really wanted all along by modding. This happens because attempting to do it by changing the pups etc, is within the scope of their ability, and it's more glitzy to do this than to go all over the country trying to find amps to complete the sound. Isn't it a bit sad really? But then I may be wrong.. [/quote] Not sure why you think it is sad to mod a fender?? Bearing in mind that at many gigs you don't even get to use your amp, surely it makes sense to take a Fender and drop a set on Bartolinis in and put on a decent bridge! Job done...

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1383816873' post='2269377'] Had the album a while, got some good stuff on it and holds up well as a collection of songs. Didn't even know Kotzen could sing! [/quote] Can he ever! Check out some of his solo albums...

[quote name='skychaserhigh' timestamp='1383692835' post='2267915'] They might sound the business but not £1899 worth of business. [/quote] It depends on whether you have £1.9k spare to spend on a bass amp?? There are plenty of boutique valve guitar amps that go for that type of money! I'm not sure who they think they will sell this amp to? If I was going to spend that much on an amp, I would want it to be 400w (with a step down to 200w). I would hate to buy such a great (but expensive) amp, only to find that it wasn't loud enough...!

Bleedin' expensive it may be - but it does sound the business... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJKdG5A0tAo&feature=em-subs_digest[/media]

A lot of people buy Fenders for the look and the general vibe but they are easy to mod and some of the parts are not that great. I have a Am Std Jazz with upgraded pickups, bridge and an active circuit - it sounds great but importantly, it is still an American Fender, which is unfortunately is still much more of an important factor than it should be for many band leaders and members of the audience! IMO most people buy a Musicman for a particular sound. The pickup is great and the bridge is fine and difficult to replace anyway, so although they have their limitations, their isn't really a reason to change things around on them...

Basses are far more likely to get damaged / knicked at proper theatres with professional crews than they are at supposedly rough pubs!

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1383304544' post='2262820'] Over the period I've been playing bass, I've been fortunate enough to have had a few fairly expensive basses. 4, 5 and 6 stringers including 5 Status basses, 2 Alembics, an Fbass, 2 Vigiers, a Leduc and 2 Spectors. Going through old band photos on the PC whilst trying to free up some space, I'm either gigging with a 4 string Jazz or something with a few more strings that cost less than £150. Seems no matter what I've ever bought, I always go back to basics for playing live. What a waste of money all that turned out to be. [/quote] Can I ask why you spent so much money on so many basses if you were never going to gig them?? I agree that basses are pretty much tools and that the music should come first, but good workman always invest in quality tools that allow them to go a good job. If you had these basses sitting at home whilst you took out inferior ones to gig, then I would suggest that you were probably selling yourself cheap!

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1383315384' post='2263065'] Alembics are all ugly. I have one electric bass and one double bass for everything. I have more guitars than basses (4) but play them a lot less. For me, it is and always has been about the music not the tools. The 'music' includes sound so a specific bass is defensible I guess but, for me, they all sound like basses so a decent professional sounding piece of kit works every time. The rest is just fluff. [/quote] I can't disagree with you, but it should be borne in mind that you own an old boutique bass that must be worth a pretty tidy amount of dosh these days!

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1383177211' post='2261352'] Yes i can see the appeal of a covers band as musical wallpaper but personally i don't even have a radio on as background music. If something is worth listening to then it's worth my attention. I have actually seen a lot of mediocre bands turn into decent bands over the years. I remember being not too impressed with The Stranglers when i first saw then in the mid 70s on the London pub circuit but by the end of that summer they had turned into a competent band that were worth the 50p admission! [/quote] Fair point about bands improving over time. To clarify, I am not talking about covers band being musical wallpaper - more about them providing simple entertainment, which is fine in my book...

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1383175239' post='2261327'] That's great but if i'm making the effort to go out and see a band ii'd rather see a mediocre band playing their own material than a superbly proficient band play the usual tired old songs i've heard a thousand times and often by the original band. [/quote] Personally, if I go to see an original band I expect to have to pay to get in and I expect them to be good. I have absolutely no time for a mediocre original band – if you are not good enough then don’t bother! If I am just going out for a beer with the missus or some mates then I am more than happy to go and watch a covers band. Hopefully they will mainly play songs that I recognise, but without resorting to doing all of the obvious ones that every other band does. Ideally a good covers band will also be able to provide a few surprises i.e. play a few songs that I wouldn’t expect or don’t recognise. I judge covers bands less harshly than I would an original outfit, but still expect them to be at least half decent. If I were to come across this band on such a night out, I would be delighted…

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1383174389' post='2261316'] Of course there are and those are the ones i go and see. If i want to hear classic rock i'll have a night in and listen to the real thing. [/quote] They are a very good covers band - I'm happy to just appreciate them for what they are...

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1383173441' post='2261301'] I'm really glad that i lived through a time when groups actually played their own songs, otherwise Led Zeppelin, Yes and Deep Purple would have been playing covers by the Glenn Miller Orchestra and we would never had had those classic original songs by them. [/quote] There are still bands out there gigging original material - they're just not playing the covers circuit...