ianrunci

[quote name='steantval' post='212004' date='Jun 3 2008, 06:51 PM']I have played in cover bands for most of my musical "career". I have a full time job and playing bass in bands is my passion, money is not the reason, so I play the stuff I like. [b]No way could I play the middle of the road/chart numbers for these corporate functions, but totally understand why some folks have to do it for the money.[/b] I'm here to defend the good quality cover bands, I know there's alot of s*ite out there, I've seen them, I don't know how they can call themselves musicians and expect venues to pay them!! I believe the songs should be played as close to the original as possible or don't bother at all. I feel that playing numbers from different bands/bass styles/time signatures stretches my ability on an ongoing basis, whereas the majority of players in original bands only play safe within their sometimes very limited ability. I spotted a bass player in an originals band a fortnight ago playing a right handed bass upside down, for f*cks sake, just buy a proper left handed one and get on with it. Your comments would be welcome.[/quote] Why would you think people only play them for the money? and what would you consider to be "Good Covers" to play?

I think refering to MOR pop songs as garbage is ridiculous, a lot of them are much more technical and difficult to play than stuff by most of todays modern rock bands. I would get much more enjoyment out of playing wake me up by wham than something simple and boring like basket case or I predict a riot. My cover band play all kinds of "so called cheese" including, Spandau Ballet, Robbie Williams & Barry White etc but one mans cheese is another mans masterpiece. We do a lot of soul and mowton, I don't see anything cheesy about that. We also do a set of Indie/modern rock including The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Greenday etc etc but personally I hate this stuff, its simple and numbingly boring to play. However, there are lots of people who like this stuff but I wouldn't call this cheese either

I found [b]Town called malice[/b] was a good tune as it made me realise how unstable my timing was. [b]Never too much [/b]has improved my slapping technique and [b]Wake wake me up before you go go[/b] has definately improved my fingering speed. And [b]Chinese way [/b]is an excellent tune to practice fingering techniqe, especially if you play it in different positions and use the opportunity to practice string skipping technique

Personally I don't see the problem playing any song. Even when playing in original bands I have played tunes I hated because another band member wrote them. As for covers, I play what people want to hear. Whether that be Lady in red or Enter sandman. The stuff I prefer to play is 70s funk and jazz funk because it challenges me as a player but I wouldn't want to bore a wedding audience with Pastorios and Clarke tunes. Most of the stuff our function band does whether it be soul, disco or indie music I enjoy playing. To hate playing Lady in Red is all down to personal taste. Personally I would prefer to play that than The killers or Arctic Monkeys etc because its offers more of a challenge to me as a bass player. When I am playing lead guitar I prefer to play rock music because its more interesting to me as a lead player than say soul or funk tunes. Recently I have had to learn 4 new tunes that people refer to as cheese, Wake me up by Wham, December 63 by The Four Seasons, Dancing on the cieling by Lionel Richie and Never too much by Luther Vandros. However having said that I personally don't think they are cheese, I think they are classic tunes with brilliant musicianship. But when it comes down to it, I am paid by a client to entertain the punters whoever they might be. That means I will play classic MOR tunes all night unless someone asks for a different tune by specific request. I think when a function band is booked they are expected to turn up and be able to play all the stock tunes that most function bands play. Not everyone is creative or has the inclination, talent or imagination to write music or be a famous, does that make them a prostitute? I don't think so

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='208401' date='May 28 2008, 09:30 PM']One of my bands plays Wake me up regularly. Its is a bit of a hand full at first but i find it quite easy now. Always goes down well. I got the midi file of it and although its not 100% its close. I put that in Sonar and just followed the tab.. It also helps that you can slow it donw[/quote] Thanks everyone for the help and the tab/music etc. Good idea about the bassline for wake me up in sonar, I'll see if i can get a copy of the midifile and do just that. Trying to get it from the record is difficult. you can just about hear lots of little runs going on but can't make out exactly what they are

[quote name='Musky' post='208497' date='May 28 2008, 11:08 PM']Frantic Elevators - with Mick Hucknall?[/quote] Aye the very one. and very crap we were too!

A punk band called Nervous Breakdown in 1977 closely followed by another punk band called The Frantic Elevators shortly afterwards,

Lets see, where to begin Dan Armstrong perspex I had in 1981, Ibanez Roadster (1982)in white which was simply the best bass I have ever played. fender 76 precission fretless (1980) 1972 Fender Jazz (in 1981) Amp wise Ampeg flip top combo (sold in 1979 for a pitance) Burman Pro 4000 head & Burman 4x12 (Sold at the beginning of 81) Marshall mk 1 JTM 45 with a 3 figure serial number, I sold it for a tenner in the early 80s, I am still kicking myself

[quote name='Jobiebass' post='208201' date='May 28 2008, 04:46 PM'][url="http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/w/wham/wake_me_up_before_you_go-go_btab.htm"]Wake me up[/url] [url="http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/f/four_seasons/december_63_oh_what_a_night_btab.htm"]december 63[/url] [url="http://www.ultimate-guitar.com"]www.ultimate-guitar.com[/url] Pretty good site, I get most of my tabs/guitar pro 5 files from there.[/quote] Ta for that mate. December 63 was awful so I have re wrote it and submitted it. Not sure about Wham yet as its such a sod to play it will take me a while to get through it. I found someone playing Never too much on you tube so that helped me work out all the slapping parts. Ian

I have trawled the net looking for a few bass lines that I can't seem to find anywhere, I was wondering if anyone on here had a copy of them Never too much - Luther Vandross December 63 - The four seasons Wake me up before you go - Wham Ive pretty much got the four seasons one I just want to check on the little run in the middle Got most of never too much but some of it eludes me and the Wham tune is a bugger, there are so many little runs in it that are difficult to pick out from the record Thanks in advance if anyone has them

Thanks for all the input everyone. I have decided to give it a bit more time, at least till the end of the year. I tend to play with the strap quite high. Basically just under my man boob. perfect position if I decide I need to do a bit of slapping to annoy the guitarist I think I will get it set up and maybe put some lighter strings on it as well. I actually like the width of the neck its just the profile and the depth I find unusual. Maybe its just something I need to adjust myself to. I will deffinately give it a go but I might still buy a Ray anyway. thats not being too greedy is it

[quote name='rslaing' post='202366' date='May 19 2008, 07:15 PM']I have two Warwicks (Thumb and Corvette) , both 6 string (one fretted and the other fretless) so maybe the "feel" thing is different. However, I did, when I first bought them, feel they were a bit unusual/different. The remedy for me, was not to revert to any of my other basses, but play the Warwicks consistently and after a while, they felt a lot better than the others. In fact, the other basses felt inferior once I got used to the Warwicks. I also had them both set up by a pro (nut, truss rod and bridge) to get the lowest action possible, which also helped. I'm afraid you may be suffering from a bit of muscle-memory syndrome - especially if you have played the Arai for a long time. I am sure you will get used to the Warwick after a while, and it is definitely worth persevering, in my opinion. If you want to give up on it, there will be plenty of buyers for it in BC, I'm sure.[/quote] not been playing the Aria long to be honest. I haven't played bass in a band since 1986. Been playing lead guitar since then so just getting used to being back on a bass was difficult enough. maybe your right about getting used to it but I'm not sure I have the patience for that. I think I might be off to buy myself a Music Man instead

When I got my Warwick Streamer LX 4 I was over the moon. I always fancied one but I have realised I based my Warwick lust on the look alone. I mean its a nice machine a 1998 version with a bit of Mojo and it sounds wonderful but the thing is no matter how I try I just can't get used to the neck. Must be all that Wenge. I have found myself recently going back to my Aria Pro 2 just for the neck profile although the Warwick sounds a million times better. I am humming and ahhing now about getting rid of it and getting something else instead, I can't see myself ever being completely comfortable with it. Just wondered if anyone else had had a problem getting used to the feel of the neck?

I have used a few really nice basses over the years including an early 60s Jazz which was lovely, an Alembic which had a sound that I have never heard bettered but the one bass that really sticks in my mind as the best bass I ever played was a Gordy headless bass. Made by one of the Gordon Smith Partners when they split. It was Status in style but played and sounded better than any status I have ever played. I tried it in Highway Music in Manchester and they wanted 400 dabs for it. which was back in 1992 ish. I went back the following day armed with the cash which I had scrounged from my dad and they had sold it. I almost cried. The action on it was virtually none existant and there was not a single buzz anywhere on the neck. I am feeling depressed even now just thinking about it. I would think they only made a few so tracking one down now would be nigh on impossible

[quote name='WalMan' post='165656' date='Mar 29 2008, 12:04 AM']And yet I mentioned mine to a guitarist last Saturday evening & there was a definite air of "Peavey? Bag o' sh1te". Mine may not be the most expensive of models (£199 as I recall) but it looks good, plays well and sounds great for what I am using it for, both electric through the PODxT & acoustic model straight into the recorder. Still there you go.[/quote] I Wouldn't worry about it too much, it's just guitar snobbery. I have played lead guitar for the past 30 odd years and I have had all kinds of stuff so I know when something is nice. There are people with more money than sense who spend thousands on a guitar just to thrash out 3 chords in their bedroom. They wouldn't know a decent guitar from a bag of crap as long as it had a particular name stamped on the head.

I remember Nigel when he was working at A1 music and also when he teamed up with Darren and Vinny in Dare. Didn't fit in too well though, I think darren only gave him the job on his looks. Vinny thought he was far too funky. Great technical player though and 10 times the player I will ever be Ian

Mine is the Peavey EXP HP Signature in the pic. Georgeous, ebony fretboard and finished better than any other guitar Iv'e ever owned

Tony Levin - would be my number one simply because of the variety of stuff he has done Marcus Miller - for his work with Lenny White, especially streamline Bernard Edwards - for the best funk bass ever Jaco Pastorius - for his fretless bass playing so far unsurpassed Stanley Clarke - for bein imense and fast as fook In Rock music Geezer Butler Phil Lynott Chris Squire Pete Way Roger Waters

I recently saw a pic of old friend called Garry Bowker playing bass for The Sonar band in North Wales. if its the same Garry who used to play at the Ritz in Manchester and anyone on here knows him, could you ask him to get in touch with me. Email provided via a PM. Ian

Excellent Comms, great case like new, an excellent all round bloke highly reccomended

Lovely guy, great person to deal with and very knowledgable. Cheers Pete nice to meet you Ian

top top lad. great communication fast payer and very patient with the ever underachieving Royal Mail. Nice one mate