uk_lefty

Make sure you know where it is, you're on time, strings are settled in and you can set up quickly and efficiently. If you haven't learned all the audition songs properly have a few print outs of chords for the songs you don't know too well. Have a positive and friendly attitude. Don't audibly twiddle around on your strings while someone is talking, concentrating, or tuning up. The only "audition" I really had involved playing at a pub (that was closed) for what I thought was an established local covers band... turned out it was a guitarist running X Factor style auditions. The keyboard player took forever to set up his four keyboards, kept talking about how he plays massive stages and festivals... then could barely play a note. He had hardly heard of any bands ever but had a big bag of cassettes at his girlfriend's house (this was only 7 years ago and cassette was already dead) so might have some new tunes on those..... The guitarist proceeded like this for the next few weeks. I was the only bass player and the guitarist and singers liked me and my gorgeous Warwick bass, I was in. Weeks of random guitarists, including a guy who can't have been playing more than a few months, keyboard players and metal drummers (for an alleged funk band) came and went with the whole "pretend you're packing up, then when he's gone get your gear back out" until one night I packed up and just went tired of the charade but stupidly came back. The singers (yes, two) were good, nice girls and we got on well but the kindest thing was when she ended it (I've said that a few times before). Turns out the established funk covers band was a guitarist who knew of a girl who was a signer with a friend who was a singer... and all he wanted to play was Stereophonics covers. Main thing I learned - do your research, ask loads of questions, and if it doesn't feel right make your excuses and go.

Absolutely love Sade!! Oh yeah, bass something.

Well done!! Hard to find a bargain in there but always worth a look

I don't know what your band is like, but I'd love it if this was a "p!ss off the guitar!st-singer-bandleader who has to play a 10min blues solo every song" purchase. If you just bought it because you liked it... well, i think you need help

Listen to Pearl Jam "ten". That completely sold me on the idea of a fretless thirteen years ago and its been the only bass i've owned constantly since. Buy a cheap one first and invest in decent strings is my advice. I got a fretless Kramer from Musicyo for my 18th which was a massive gamble, I was playing in a decent hard-rock three piece and it brought a whole new dimension to mine, and the whole band's, sound. And if your band situation doesn't warrant much fretless then don't "mwah" it quite so much and turn off the chorus

i'd rather drink my own p!ss, nay, someone else's p!ss than listen to a note played on that.

my traces are a GP7 7215 combo with a 2103H extension cab. I'm not looking to sell, but does anyone have an idea of value on these? Curious to see how good a deal I got. They're in mint condition, with the green back lighting on the combo still working. I also now have an MIJ P Bass so really itching to get hooked up with a decent band again and let rip! Thanks

After lots of GAS'ing and quandries over different basses and weighing up what I can afford with work on my flat needed, a well-timed purchase from BC member Patch - very powerful sounding bass, feels great. Neck is more playable than my MIM J bass. Here she is with her stable-mates: MIM J, the MIJ P in the middle, and my Kramer 5 string fretless on the right. It kinda goes 60's. 70's, 80's which is entirely by accident but I like it that way [attachment=189063:IMG_2488.JPG]

I think you could get aaround £250-£300 for your Fender on eBay so its worth a go if you want the active Sire

Nice!!!

Hi there... I'm in a quandry!! Long story short - I want to buy a new bass but have other financial commitments. I can stretch a little but there's a nagging sensibility that says some of my options are too much. Buying a cheaper bass to tide me over is an option however, and there's some interesting stuff about... Opinions please! Cheaper Basses: Bach 51 style P - love the style of these basses, would maybe need a pickup upgrade Bach Fenderbird - unique for sure and maple fretboard Sire Jazz - when they're out in lefty G&L Tribute - never played one but think I'd like it More Expensive: New Fender MIJ Jazz 75 - looks amazing, but I already have a jazz and am scared of it needing new pickups New Ibanez SR-1205 - looks amazing, great reviews but no idea if its for me Countless New Sandbergs, really got GAS for these after playing one at at the LBGS 2012 2nd hand Fender P 1977 Fender P - not the greatest bass I've ever played but affordable if they accept a low but realistic offer

If I had the skill and patience.... I wouldn't have ended up selling my G&L neck!! Looks nice mate, well done

The scratch-plate sounds good enough to eat! I have a Fender USA P Pickup with greasebucket tone circuit going spare at the mo, if that's something you could use?

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1426973459' post='2724399'] Cool, love the way you have your gear mounted on the wall [/quote] Yep - carpeted walls is the future.

Is there an alternative to Ishibashi that anyone knows of? Really want to see the pricing for an MIJ P Bass in kack-handed

Am i too late to put in my recently acquired Trace rig?? And yes, the amp face does light up. [sharedmedia=core:attachments:181791]

[quote name='Opticaleye' timestamp='1426270480' post='2716476'] I have an early VM (soft aged) but in a band situation I find the blend of P and MM pickups, in the positions they are in, not useful. I preferred my old TM blend of J and MM. The Umbo's (at least the aged ones I have) are much more vintage and woody sounding and very versatile. The 3 position switch is very useful although I don't use the centre mid cut position. You can get a lot of really good passive tones from clean "Jazz" to dirty "P" The Umbo also has a thinner body to my Sandberg TT. The Umbo uses Alnico II pickups instead of the usual Alnico V's on Fender jazzes and there's a bit more complexity in the mids. I'm not so keen on Delano ceramic pickups personally, and I replaced my VM pickups with Alnico Haussels. [/quote] Thanks for this... considering the amount of money I am potentially parting with and the lack of these there is to try in lefty its very useful info!