ratman

A humid evening. One of the sweatiest gigs ever. We were just dripping from the start. A good night though.

I've been using flats for about 2 years, and live they are amazing with my P bass. But for recording there just wasn't enough mid definition. I recently got the heads up on half wounds, so I fitted a set, and what a difference. they're a lovely half way between flats and rounds, like it says on the tin. For gigs they still have the depth, and it is nice to have the option of some more mids to play with which has been really useful as I like my overdrive pedals where the sweet sounds need mids to shine. For the studio work, the mid definition I craved is all back. I haven't had an engineer complain about them yet, actually I'm getting compliments on my tone and I'm often being asked what strings are on the bass. It's half wounds all the way for me now

I have to add Wham to the list. They get right on my t*ts, but the bass playing is always top notch.

I have a couple of sets of Sennheiser HD200's. I've had them a while but they're great for practicing quietly with. And they sound great with my Streamliner!

How about looking at the Squire P Special. I got one a few years ago for peanuts, new. It's a P body, J neck, P neck split pick up and the bridge J pick up. Controls are J type, vol, vol & tone. For me it's the best of both all in one. It's now got a new wiring kit fitted, with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder pick ups. Total upgrade cost around £120. It does what a P should all the way but with the option of blending in a bit of bridge p/u bite. And the neck is nice and slim. It's a killer bass now and I wouldn't swap it for anything. Definitely worth a try if you see one, but upgrading the cheap stock Squire pick ups will transform the tone.

I'm sorted for a dep now

[b] Hello everyone. I'm posting here as I'm desperately in need of a dep for a gig on this coming Saturday night. I only got told about the gig today and I can't be there. The band is the Empire State band, and the set is lots of Stax/Motown and some RnB, all standard covers. The venue is Dover Street Wine Bar in Mayfair W1. You arrive at 10 to set up & have a pint, on at 11, 2x45 minute sets and you're done. There's even a Hartke 1x15 combo at the venue so you can take the tube to the gig. It pays £65. Dress code is all black. It's an 8 piece band - male & female vocals, 2 horns, guitar, keys, bass & drums - so there's no need to get too fancy on the bass for this gig. Just lay down the grooves and swing the bits off it. If anyone's interested please give me a shout, I really need to find someone to do this ASAP. Thanks for reading. Alex.[/b]

Wasn't it a fantastic afternoon! Lots of great gear and basses to paw over, and nice folk to natter to. A big thank you to Mick, Lozz and everyone who helped put it together. And of course, everyone who turned up and made it what it was. Let's do it again sometime

I've added my gear to the list: [size=3]Berg HD112, Streamliner 600, various pedals - Ratman[/size] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]EBS HD350+ EBS cab -The Greek Roscoe Century 3005/ Overwater J4 - The Greek Markbass Mini CMD121P & NY121 cab - Lozz196 Some form of Precision - Lozz196 (very predictable there) Ebay double neck kit finished - irvined Alpher Custom Bass - StephenYork 70s Fenders, Status S2s - Fat Rich Ibanez GSR-180 (modded), Line 6 combo, pedals and myself - Bottle Heavily modified Fleabass (if ready by then!) - Aende Warwick Fortress Masterman - Aende 500W Ashdown + 2 x 210 Eminence loaded cabs - Aende 3 Year old daughter and possibly a Border Collie - Aende MIM Fender Presicion - seashell[/size][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]1983 USA Fender Jazz / Line 6 POD X3 LIVE if anyone's interested - xilddx[/size][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]1980 Aria SB-1000F + Ibanez Promethean 5110 - Bloodaxe.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]TC Electronics BG250 combo & Studio spares Grammapad copy (isolation board) - sticker[/size][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]Cort GB74 (Natural), Ashdown 5-15. - Balcro[/size][/font][/color]

At last I now know where I'm gigging Saturday and as it's not too far away the good news is that I will definitely be along to the bash on Saturday, so I'll be able to bring along my Berg HD112, Streamliner 600 and a couple of pedals to boot. I'll probably be there about 1pm. I'm looking forward to putting faces to names and meeting you 'orrible lot at last Seeya there.

[quote name='danthevan' timestamp='1366970431' post='2059576'] Could get a decent pole dancer for your next gig? [/quote] This has my vote.

How much were they asking you to pay for this?

One survey done. Best of luck.

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1368352409' post='2075900'] Music is art, there are no rules. [/quote] Well said.

I play it the same way you do. I find that by using a barre I can let the bottom note ring out whilst I'm playing the octave & 7th above it. It may not be exactly true to the original part, but, it is the chorus and it needs to be big. I don't have loads of layered samples, backing tracks etc etc so I'm gonna make a f*ck load of noise there, especially so in the insturmental chorus just before the end. No apologies, just crank it up, nail it and enjoy At the end of the day it doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you're comfortable with it that's all that matters.

Another long drive yesterday. London to Windermere and back, but I got home at a surprisingly early 4.10am. A great gig - and my rig sounded awesome, stunning scenery and the wedding party were really up for a good time. Job done on all counts.

Does he need a band???

I get the same as every one else in the band. If I asked for £100 for a pub gig that pays £50 to the rest of the band I'm never going to hear from them again. Whether it's a small paying pub gig or a decent paying function I just ask myself if I'm available that night, if I want to do it, and if it's worth it because of distance to travel & petrol costs. I don't normally have to learn too many songs as I've been at this a while and pretty much know most of what I'll be asked to play. But I always do my homework and learn (and chart out in case I need to play the songs again in the future) any songs i didn't already know. There have been times in the past where learning 20-30 songs for one gig hasn't been uncommon but these days it's usually only a handful at most. My approach to depping is simple - turn up at the gig completely prepared, do a solid job without showing off all over the place, and be confident in my playing that next time that band want a dep I'm top of the list or damned close to it. That way, in time, the phone will ring and more gig offers will come my way.