Damonjames

If your heart is not in it, then you shouldn't be either. Congrats on making the jump AND being lucky enough to find something that excited you at the same time. Most of us muso's suffer from the monkey syndrome, in that we won't let go of one band unless we have a hold of another. Atleast you didn't get stuck doing something laborious while you waited for a suitable project to come up. Good luck!

Add to all of the above the ever slowly strengthening pound, and things could get worse in te used market due to falling new bass prices. In my latest round of effects pedal GAS, I checked out GAK's pricing and it's ridiculous on some pedals. A digitech BSW is £35 NEW! They were going for that used last year, and I managed to pick up a mxr bass blowtorch for £55 inc post from these pages, they were going for £80-90 last year. It is a buyers market, which is great new of you have money in your pocket!

Welcome to the GK club! Glad you are happy, I bought my GK rig in November and love it to pieces. Does the 2x10 go loud enough?

Ok, I'll get back in my box!!! :-) The point I was trying to get across (albeit badly) was that performance (whether it be "tone" or fast lap times) has more than one ingredient to success. I'll say again, I don't disagree that technique plays a huge part, but IMO you can't rely on it alone if you want something very specific. Will the rest of the band notice? probably not. Will the punters notice? Almost certainly not! In my band, I cover a huge range of tones, and through necessity have had to do without my sansamp lately. I can still get close to the tone I'm after, but step on that little black box and it is surprising how much more like the original it becomes.

I may be wrong, but when people want to chase a certain "tone", it's usually what they have heard on a studio track, so the room is pretty much taken out of the equation, at least from what people are trying to achieve. Player-strings-wood?-pickups-desk

[quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1394280686' post='2389807'] I assume when the OP talks about 'tone', he isn't just referring to making the sound woollier or tinnier by twiddling with the eq knobs on his amp/bass. 'Tone' is about a whole lot more than eq Absolutely, and it's amazing the number of bass players that underestimate just how important "the fingers" are in creating tone. Many will spend hours/days/weeks researching, and thousands of pounds on gear in their quest for 'THE TONE'. You will likely get more 'bang/tone for your buck' if you spend the time and money on good quality lessons and solid practice. [/quote] I'd disagree with bang for your buck, as I said in my previous post, and support the OP on this part of this argument, that NO amount of lessons/technique will get you flea's sound on BBSM (for example) if you are playing a passive P bass. Technique is a massive contributor I agree, but if you want a particular "tone" you need to start with the right ingredients. To use an analogy, Sebastian Vettel is one hell of an F1 driver right now, but put him in a Renault, is he going to perform at the same level? Most likely not. It's all apples and oranges. As I have said, I still flip between sides in this argument, and I still think ultimately it's a combination. You gotta have the shoes AND the strut if you wanna walk like someone else

This is a never ending argument..... It's a combination of all of the above. There is a thread going about Bernard Edwards tone, and people are listing the notorious strings he had, his bass, his amp etc but just buying a stingray with dead strings WONT get you to sound like Bernard. He has a very unique right hand technique which IMO is the contributing factor to his tone. Flea is a really great example of this magical thing we call "tone", he is one of my all time fave players, and he can be picked by a country mile in a recording, but he doesn't really have anything unique about his tone. His ray sounds like a ray, his jazz sounds like a jazz yet it still sounds like HIM! As has been stated it is more about the way these people construct their bass lines that contributes to their "tone" or our perception of it. Personally I can't make up my mind which side of the fence I sit on, "tone" is a very personal thing, all I know is you will get a lot closer to someone else's tone by using the same gear. And by that I mean, if you want to have flea' stone on BBSM, you will NEVER get it with a P Bass, it's just not available regardless of technique and eq. You Need to start with a ray (or wal) and then adjust the eq and your playing to suit. There is a lot to be said for technique, and I remember someone saying once that jaco and Larry graham played almost identical basses and rigs so it ain't the shoes! Having said that, I sound more like robert deleo when I'm using my sansamp BBDI than when I'm not!

Anyone here tried to play spoonman by soundgarden? I have the exact same Problem. I'm working my backside off to nail this tune and it is getting easier, but it controlling the light touch that I'm finding the most difficult.

Hey Mel, good on you for going to the doctor, at least now you know what you are up against, and hopefully have a plan in place to treat it. Rest up and look after yourself in the meantime, and good luck!

Rig too big? Wash your mouth out! 😈

[quote name='Ant_On_Bass' timestamp='1393621121' post='2382798'] I'd still like something that could push some air around just not break my back :-D [/quote] See my above post, my rig sure gets my jeans flapping 😈 Shame you live so far away, you would be welcome to come try it out!

Hi Ant, Go get yourself a GK neo cab. I have a 212 and 115 running off my gk 1001rbii and it is awesome. The cabs are really light (I can just lift them one handed but only due to the size) and it sounds HUGE, and very defined. I have only just put this together (I think I may have spoken to regarding a 2001rb head actually?) and I don't think there would be anything I would swap it for. Other than getting an ampeg svt rig, which for practical reasons will probably never happen, my gk rig will probably be choice from now on.

Am I the only one not thinking 'ey jo?

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1393750180' post='2383879'] I was gonna come as I only live in atherton plus I'm nearly 35 so was a teenager in the 90's would have loved the tunes. However, both my kids decided to vomit all day so had to stay and look after them. Congratulations pal, glad you had a good un. if you gig local again I'll try and make it! [/quote] Cheers mate, we are playing wittles in Oldham on the 5th of April doing a cobian anniversary gig if you are keen!

Facebook only costs you the time and energy required to maintain your page, which realistically isn't a lot. In return you have access to everyone who has liked your page, in most cases now 24/7 if they have the app on their phone. You have the ability to inform them of new gigs, changes to gigs, new songs, or generally just talk rubbish to keep you in the minds of the punters. Small Price to pay really, you simply will struggle to get By without one now.

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1393706284' post='2383643'] definately this^ [/quote] Agreed, I used this to help with the nerves. I am sure you will be as amazed as I was, but the drummer was the first one in place tonight!' To be fair, he is exceptionally "normal" for a drummer!

Just finished unpacking the car, and sitting down to a celebratory beer.... What a night!!! For me, I have learnt a lesson or two, mostly I allowed the nerves to get the better of me in the lead up, but fortunately all but disappeared as we walked on stage! There were two songs I was worried about in particular, spoonman and Cochise, but fortunately the drummer got a little giddy and played spoonman a bit too quick so helped to cover any little cock ups. Cochise didn't go too badly in the end, a bit of fuzz helps to cover up some stuff too. I ended dropping a couple of bits here and there, but certainly no train wreck moments where the whole song fell apart. Most importantly the punters seemed to really enjoy it along with love buzz's set so happy punters= happy publican. From a personal view (and I am alway really tough on myself, I can't help it) I need to work my ass off to tighten up the stuff I messed up, but I had a blast and think I will enjoy it more once I get the nerves out of the way. I found enough time to look around at the other band mates (especially the drummer, even though the guitarists Insisted I go on the right hand side of the stage, Away from where I have been rehearsing for the last six months but in the end it didn't matter) and also found time to look up and smile check out the crowd. I have the fortune of having mentor who is a professional musician and punk rocker from the 80's, and in talking to him he said "you were right on the nose, right up until you decided to play wrong bit"... To get a positive comment on timing from a punk in my book is a pretty big endorsement, just need to not play the wrong bit next time! Thanks again for all the support, it's been great! As soon as I can get some pics I'll drop them in the thread so you can see. Overall it was bloody brilliant and can't wait to do it again.

Right I'm off, thanks for the tips and well wishes. Ill report back, Here goes!!

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1393268558' post='2378066'] Manchester Bass Lounge is easy to find and surprisingly well stocked for an independent place! Drew is a good guy too [/quote] This, Drew is a true gent and will give you all the time you need. And they are now a Sandberg dealer so you might be in luck. Check out their website, they carry a great range of basses and fortunately, don't have credit yet.... Me thinks I would have walked out with full hands if they did!

Check out some classic funk, Bootise would be a great place to start (and possible finish) and see how he uses it. It's not really an effect you would use all night, but a splash here or there can really make a so g!

It's not all bad, I just bought a gator pedal tote for £35 off gumtree, and it was in better condition the the photos made out. The seller was a bit hard to pin down, but it didn't bother me too much as was in no great rush. The world is full of the type of people mentioned above, just have to keep your eyes on!

Thanks for the feedback and all the encouragement! I will report back once it's done!!

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1393493217' post='2380855'] Have a good one, it will absolutely fly by. Just lock in with your drummer and try not to overplay, it's a common reaction to a few nerves. One thing that did strike me though - your band are doing a 'Seattle' set and the support is doing all Nirvana songs isn't there a likely clash in set lists? Or do you guys just avoid the obvious Nirvana songs that will be in the tribute's set? [/quote] Technically it is us that are the support! But we have not included any nirvana songs in out set, we should only be on an hour so we have enough material to fill it. And +1 to the flannel shirt!!!

Hey guys n gals, just got back from our last rehearsal before our (and mine) first gig on Saturday! I am absolutely buzzing, at the age of 35, and after 2 years of starting over again with playing, I am finally goin to play my first proper gig. Any advice before I go out? I think I'm all set, a couple of songs that are not quite where I would like them to be, but pretty much all good. If anyone is interested, we are smells like Seattle and playing Moses Gate in Bolton, doing a Seattle grunge tribute along with Love Buzz Nirvana tribute. Should be a huge night!!!