solo4652

[quote name='Tonteee' timestamp='1493035860' post='3284994'] Well, I'm sorry to read it didn't go well Steve. Did you only play the songs you had practiced, or were other curveballs thrown in? Space from the recording might be key to your being able to listen to them. I always find it difficult to listen to anything other than the fluffs in any recording I do, but putting it away and coming aback to it later does help. Have you listened to isolated bass tracks on YouTube? They're quite the eye-opener, especially for their less than pristine lines. At the end of the day, you've been obsessing about these songs for 6 hours in the studio and however long at home practicing. I think it quite expected that you can't listen to them yet. Give it time. By the way, did the band say 'not good enough' or was it the engineer? This is an important distinction. How did they lay down the different tracks? Separately, I'm intrigued as to why you think they want to be more of a recording band, when they only play covers. That doesn't seem to add up. [/quote] We played 5 of the 6 songs I'd practised. For each song, we all played "together" at first, by which I mean drummer, myself and keys player were in main studio, singer and guitarist in another room. We were all di'd into the desk and able to hear everybody else through cans. Once we'd had an initial go at a song, we would all meet up in the control room for a listen, and to decide what needed to be re-recorded. Sometimes the engineer would ask for something to be re-done, sometimes somebody from the band would suggest that somebody could re-record all, or part, of a song. The singer is an accomplished recording artist and songwriter. She has a full rehearsal room and recording studio at her house. The guitarist is a very good (prog) rock guitarist who enjoys playing fairly complex songs with odd time signatures. I think he enjoys the technical challenge. Keys player is also very good and seems a bit bored with pub gigging. Those three are old friends. They don't do lists or plans or structured rehearsals. For them, it's more about trying new things, seeing what happens. I don't have that bohemian, play-on-the-fly, change-things-as-you-go approach. Drummer and I are structured, organised and audience-focussed. Already, the band is talking about recording another 5 songs to add to those from Saturday. It's only the drummer and me who are talking about our first gig together in 3 weeks time.

Quick update. It was awful, just awful. Six long hours of purgatory - I hated every minute I was there. I did my best, but it wasn't good enough, and I had to constantly go back into the studio to re-record various bass parts while everybody else peered through the window. I got the rough recordings today, and I can't bear to listen to my playing. My feeling is that I'll be OK with well-rehearsed songs down at the Dog and Duck where the odd error might not matter too much. However, the band seems more interested in studio work than live gigging. I may not be the right bassist for what the bands wants to achieve. I'll talk it through with them, but my gut feeling is that I'm a square peg in a round hole.

[quote name='Left Foot' timestamp='1492684835' post='3282256'] dude, whats that mean? If Im really looking forward to something, it'll be really bad... and visa versa? [/quote] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]"law of [size=5][b]S[/b][/size]ymmetrically [b][size=5]O[/size][/b]pposed [b][size=5]D[/size][/b]evelopments"[/size][/font][/color]

I'm lost.

Yes - as soon as our guitarist saw it, he asked about ZZ Top.

I have a bad back, with associated neck and arm problems. I've been looking for something that takes the weight of a bass off my neck. This is what I've come up with. It started off as a padded tool belt from Screwfix. I cut the end off an old strap I had and velcro-ed it to the waist strap. I then added an extra strap pin to the bass using one of the neck plate bolts. I still have a traditional strap on the bass, mainly as a back-up, but the waist belt takes most of the weight of the bass. Advantages: You can hardly see the belt from the front because the bass hides it. If you wear dark shirt, you'd be hard-pushed to see it at all. The original tool belt is very strong, with lots of velcro adjustment. Not only does it take weight off your neck, it virtually eliminates neck-dive. Requires no extra holes drilled in the bass, It does not impede access to dusty end of fretboard. It acts as a back support. It acts as a Christmas-belly/gut support... Cheap to make - £9 or so. Disadvantages: All your basses would need the extra strap pin fitted. I've had to add some padding to my gigbags so the extra strap pin on the bass doesn't damage the bag. if anybody would like some measurements taken from my strap, or some more photos, just let me know. [attachment=243253:100_0912.JPG] [attachment=243254:100_0913.JPG] [attachment=243255:100_0914.JPG]

OK, Taking into account the extra factors suggested above, here's a development of Dood's Inevitability Proposition. This is open source material, so anybody can make any alterations they think are appropriate... [center][color=#222222][font=sans-serif][size=4]Ψ[/size][/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=4]{([/size][/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=4][u]Tss X Tsl X 5C) + AoHG + (12 - MOT)}[/u][/size][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=4]2MB X Tng [/size][/font][/color][/center] [size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#282828]Where [/color][/font][/size] [size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#282828]Tss = Time spent saving[/color] [color=#282828]Tsl = Time spent looking[/color] [color=#282828]C = Cost of bass[/color] [color=#282828]MB = Money in bank[/color] [color=#282828]Tng = Time to next gig[/color][/font][/size] [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Ψ[/size][/font][color=#282828][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3] = Psychological constant = expectation of bad things + awareness of partner + [/size][/font][/color][color=#282828][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]h[/size][/font][/color][color=#282828][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]ow much you've convinced yourself that you [/size][/font][/color][color=#282828][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3][i][b]need[/b][/i][/size][/font][/color][color=#282828][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3] the bass[/size][/font][/color] [size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#282828]Mot = Length of remaining MOT on car[/color] [color=#282828]Aohg = Average age of all household electrical goods[/color][/font][/size]

Yesterday, Dood asked: [color=#5A5A5A][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]Is there a formula that calculates the likelihood of a huge bill arising after saving up cash for a new bass gear purchase?[/size][/font][/color] [color=#5A5A5A][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]A quick back-of-envelope calculation produces this crude starting point:[/size][/font][/color] [u]Tss X Tsl X C [/u] 2MB X Tng Where Tss = Time spent saving Tsl = Time spent looking C = Cost of bass MB = Money in bank Tng = Time to next gig Lots more factors to add, I think...

I'm OK with gigging - I'm always as well-prepared as I can be. It's the recording session that spooks me. Really pleased that you've landed on your feet and that you're enjoying the new band. Good for you.

Blimey - full credit to you! 36 songs and an appendicectomy within the space of 2 weeks. Complete trooper. I like your final phrase; "...[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]it will all be alright in the end and if it's not alright it's not the end."[/font][/color]

Flurry of band emails this afternoon. Planned rehearsal for this week is cancelled, and next week's is looking highly unlikely. That means the next time we meet will be at the recording studio to play a list of 4 or 5 songs that has yet to be agreed but will probably include 1 song I haven't learned yet, 1 song that I've learned at home but haven't yet played with the band and 3 or 4 songs which, at most, we will have played together 3 times, because we've only played together 3 times in total. "Don't worry Steve - it'll be great fun", the band tells me. Depends on your idea of fun, I suppose. All I can do is tell them what I'm practising and then turn up at the recording studio and and play that. I'm not going to stress any more about this.

[size=4]Quick update.[/size] [size=4]Yes, yes, I know - I worry too much! Story of my life. I'm over-critical, over-cautious and under-confident. I use B/C to check my natural pessimism. I know I can come across as a bit of hand-wringer, but I value the external advice and support I get here.[/size] [size=4][color=black]Following on from all the excellent advice and support from you lot, I've decided to take a pragmatic approach. I'll concentrate on the recording songs for now, once the band has agreed which ones...I'll keep on practising the giglist but without adding any new ones until after the recording session. The recording songs haven’t been fully rehearsed, and the starts and endings are still largely undecided. I’ll just turn up and play what I’ve practised and let them cut, paste and edit my tracks to create what they want. That approach gives me 9 days to nail the recording songs and, after that, 2 weeks to focus on the gig songs including a couple of new ones. Onwards and upwards, then.[/color][/size] [size=4][color=black]Steve[/color][/size]

Thank you everybody for the support and encouragement. You've all made me much more confident about giving the recordings an honest shot.

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1491828819' post='3275660'] Steve, I do understand and agree to your points but as the new boy I think I'd just go along with it rather than make any waves. [/quote] Well Les, that's the pretty clear message here, isn't it! as Chris_b says, my confidence is sagging. I've just emailed the band to say that I'm feeling a bit maxed-out learning new songs, and under-confident about the recording. They've all been in the studio a few times before, they know each other and the songs well. I don't. I've said I'll concentrate on the recording songs for now, once they can agree on which 5 we're doing... Thereafter, it will be full-on gig focus. I'm crap at multi-tasking. In fact, to me, "multi-tasking" means the opportunity to mess a number of things up at the same time.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1491828091' post='3275638'] A CD? Isn't that a bit 2005? [/quote] Yes. I don't think the band needs a CD for marketing. Much more important in my view is some half-decent real-time videos of the band playing live to an appreciative audience. However, the band still wants to do the studio recording in 10 days time. What I'm struggling with is why can't it be postponed until after the gig? The studio will still be there, the band will be much better-rehearsed, pressure will be off etc.

Clarification: Recording will be 4 or 5 songs, all of which are on the gig setlist. Only one more rehearsal before the recording. I don't think the recording songs will be "well-rehearsed" before the studio. There is one on there I haven't learned yet and we've only played the other three as a full band three times. Apparently, the recording session will be instruments recorded seperately, with drummer first to a click track, then me, etc

I joined a good function/party covers band 4 weeks ago. The keys player is a friend of mine who I played with for a couple of years. He asked me to join when their previous bassist left. I don’t know the circumstances. Gigs are in the band diary – next one is a pub gig in 5 weeks’ time. In the last 3 weeks I’ve learned 25 new songs, and I have 5 more to go. I’ll be ready for the gig – I pride myself on doing what I say I will. Band leader is the guitarist. Three days ago, he booked us in for a full-on pro recording session on 22[sup]nd[/sup] April. He wants to record a CD, ostensibly for “marketing”. I don’t want or need to do a studio recording session right now – I’m up to my neck learning new songs for the gig. I’ve said this to the band, but they seem set on the recording on 22[sup]nd[/sup]. There will only be 1 more rehearsal between now and then and the recording list has songs on that we’ve only played together a very few times. Those songs aren't gig -ready yet, let alone recording-ready. I’ve suggested we postpone the recording and concentrate on our first gig together. Nobody else in the band agrees to this. I’m not getting my point across. What shall I do? I’m very much the band New Boy and I certainly don’t want to be obstructive or awkward 4 weeks in. However, neither do I want to go to a studio ill-prepared. My priority right now is learning the setlist for the gig. If the band continues to insist on the studio recording next weekend, despite me suggesting that it's postponed, I'm close to saying I won't be there. Steve

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1490865310' post='3268567'] My definition of a rehearsal is that everyone arrives knowing their parts and you put all the pieces together in a band context. Things might have to be changed and honed, but working out the chords, inversions and arrangements should have already been done. You don't need to do any of that at full volume. [/quote] Completely agree.

[quote name='bassjim' timestamp='1490607797' post='3266279'] Problem most drummers have is no way to practice at home. Even the ones that have an electronic kit at home still have the banging away on the kick pedal that can drive neighbours downstairs/next door or family members up the wall. Lack of practice leads to lack of enthusiasm. Or frustration. Most only really practice when playing with a band be it rehearsals or gigs which leads onto the usual problems associated with that. I think a lot of them end up as what I would call "people that happen to own a drum kit" rather than what I would call a "drummer". In my ideal world I would like more readily available drummers that understand the whole song structure thing as well as have all the chops, are not already in umpteeen bands, dont have a permenant personal crisis on the go, just get the fact that if you play drums you have to move a drum kit about if gigging ect (thats a debate already done) have great feel and dynamics, I could go on... that are like this one. [url="https://youtu.be/4bAY-dVtvVo"]https://youtu.be/4bAY-dVtvVo[/url] [/quote] I think this is an important point. It's easy for me to practise quietly at home, but how on earth does a drummer do that? Another important consideration is keeping the drummer awake at rehearsals. While keys player, guitarist and bassist discuss the finer points of extended jazz chords and which key to do the song in, the drummer gets bored and starts checking their phone. I see this all the time, and I can certainly appreciate why some drummers wouldn't want to lug kit just to spend a fair amount of time listening to endless debates about chord shapes and progressions, and also having to put up with guitarists who insist on noodling between songs. In my experience, guitarists and singers are often the "difficult" band members.

I sold my 1024 recently after I switched to short scale. It was probably the best-sounding bass I've ever had and it was such a shame to see it go. Now, if Yamaha did a lightweight, well-balanced 1024 short scale, I'd be reaching for the Visa card.

Following on from my last post, if I did look for an AEB (and I'm far from convinced about this), the shopping list would probably look something like: Short scale Thinline body - I can't really see the point of wrestling with a jumbo sized thing if it's going to be electronically amplified Low(ish) action that can be easily adjusted via truss-rod Lightweight and no neck dive Must be easy to play standing up Decent pre-amp Prefer to buy secondhand up to, say, £200 ish. In other words, it would need to feel and play as closely as possible to an all-electric short scale bass when played standing up. Quick Google throws up Washburn AB10 and Fender BG 29. Any others out there?

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1490692170' post='3267021'] Hi I've got a Harley Benton fitted with D'Addario black nylons and if sounds great acoustically or plugged in. Drop me a pm....I never get round to playing it and to be honest it's a bit in the way. We might be talking about 'for the cost of the strings and gig bag' territory. I'm near Belper above Derby so easy reach to or from Stockport. Andy [/quote] Hello Andy. Thank you for that. I now only play short scale (30") basses, so the HB isn't going to work for me.