solo4652

I have a Yamaha BB424 and a BB1024 sitting in my dining room. I can't play them because of my neck and arm problems. What a huge shame. The 424's up for sale and the 1024 may well be soon, dammit. I've switched to short scale, and that's made a big difference to my ability to play. Harley Benton shorty with Entwistle PBXN pickups is an astonishingly capable bass, given that it cost me under £90. Bonkers. I do miss the PJ setup of the Yamahas, however, so I've ordered a Talman MTB30. Short scale, wide(ish) nut at 41mm, PJ pickups, lightweight, well-balanced apparently, excellent reviews. There seems to have been a bit of a run on these basses lately, and I really struggled to find one in the UK. Thomann still have them at the moment. I'd have chosen the cream colour, but only black is available in Europe. Bass is "out for delivery"...Ha!

https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/yamaha-bb604-nathan-east-style-bass-guitar/1191695485 Collection only. I'm happy to pick it up if somebody wants it.

"[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]If your band can't sit back and play as simple as this then I'd suggest it isn't going to work."[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]We haven't played it yet. In fact, we've only met once. I'm trying to make sure I'm ready to play the song at Sunday's rehearsal. At this stage, I don't know how it's going to sound. Since I have very little experience of writing lines from scratch, I was seeking feedback on my attempt. "Throw 80% away" is the sort of thing I need to appreciate. So, all good advice - thank you.[/font][/color]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1475754501' post='3148460'] I must be missing something here... why are you writing a line for a song that already has one? [/quote] Well, I'm not trying to write a new bassline - I'm trying to write something down that approximates to the existing line so I have something to refer to during rehearsals. I searched the usual tabsites but couldn't find anything. I generally use existing tabs as a start-point for writing my own since I find that writing down a line forces me to listen to a song which in turn helps me to learn the song much more quickly. I'm not really creative enough to extemporise around a basic chord chart. And what's wrong with my shirt?

Bonzodog - Have you got one of these new Hartke heads yet?

Further fussing and simplifying gives this, which I'm fairly happy with: Verse: We were rolling through the Rockies... [font=courier new,courier,monospace]|-------------|--------------|-------------|-------------| |-------------|--------------|-------------|-----------3-| |-----1-----3-|-----1------3-|-----1-----3-|-------------| X 1 |-1-3-----3---|-1-3------3---|-1-3-----3---|--1-1----1---| [/font] [font=courier new,courier,monospace]And there was a god in heaven... |-------------|------------|-------------|--------------| |-------------|----------3-|--1-3-----3--|-----------3--| |----1-----1--|---1--------|--------3----|--1-----------| X 1 |--1-----1----|-1------1---|-------------|----1----1----|[/font] [font=courier new,courier,monospace]We were headed straight for Eden |-------------|----3--------|---5-3---------|------------| |-------------|--3-----1-3--|-3-----5-3-----|----------3-| |----1-----1--|-------------|-----------1-3-|------------| X 1 |--1-----1----|-------------|---------------|---------1--|[/font] [font=courier new,courier,monospace]BRIDGE: I guess something... |-------------|-3---------7-|-------------|-5----------5-|----------| |----------1--|---3------7--|--3--5-----5-|---5----------|----------| |----1---3----|-----5-------|---------5---|-----3----3---|------1-3-| |--1----------|-------------|-------------|--------------|----------|[/font]

Thanks folks. I've spent a bit of time on it today and come up with something that sort of fits. Sort of. You'll quickly appreciate I have no musical theory at all, so please be gentle... Sorry - Can't work out how to put spaces between the verse bars to male them easier to read. [font=courier new,courier,monospace]Verse: We were rolling through the Rockies... |-------------| |--------------| |-------------| |-----3--------| |-3----3----3-| X 3 |------------1-| X 1 |-----3----3--| |-1-----1---3--|[/font] [font=courier new,courier,monospace]And there was a god in heaven... |-------------|-3----3------|-------------|---------------| |-------------|-----3-----1-|-3----3----1-|-3-------------| |-1----1----1-|-------------|-----3----3--|---------------| X 1 |-----1----1--|-------------|-------------|-----1-1---1-3-| We were headed straight for Eden |-------------|-3----3------|-----5-------|-----------|------------| |-------------|-----3-----1-|------5---3--|-3---------|------------| |-1----1----1-|-------------|-3---------3-|-----------|---1--------| X 1 |-----1----1--|-------------|-------------|-----------|-1----------| BRIDGE: I guess something... |-------------|-3---------7-|---------3-4-|-5----------5-| |-----------1-|---3------7--|-5----5------|---5----------| |-1----1---3--|-----5-------|-----5-------|-----3----3---| |-----1-------|-------------|-------------|--------------| not too sure how bridge finishes off[/font]

The song is - The song remembers when, by Trisha Yearwood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AygRmWnow1w Being honest, this type of rhinestones-by-the-campfire song isn't my cup of tea at all, but my new band wants to try it. I have limited experience of writing bass parts from scratch, and I'm struggling to come up with something that fits without being too busy. I'm not even sure whether the song really needs bass. I've tried root -fifth for 3 bars, then root-walk down pentatonic. However, it just sounds misplaced to me - a bit like a pop-rock bassline that's been borrowed from somewhere else. Root-root-octave-third sounds a little better. I've decided to play in the intro and then stay out until the second verse, coming in with the drummer. I might even suggest to the band that this song is better stripped down to singer + acoustic guitar + cajon. All suggestions greatly appreciated. Steve

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1473108303' post='3127054'] And thanks Solo for the PM [/quote] No problem.

Just back from rehearsal. I had a quiet word with the owner and said that I wasn't happy taking responsibility for securing his property. If other people were happy to do so, then that's up to them, but not me. "OK", he said, "I'll just have to get somebody else to lock up". "Fine by me", I said.

No idea! Nothing to do with me - I'm just posting the link here exactly as I found it when hunting for a short scale bass.

Aside from the trust issue, there is an implied business agreement here which, for me, goes something like: We pay you money. In return, you allow us to use your premises and equipment, you look after us while we're there and you lock up your own premises when we leave.

Quite - the rooms are new and there are some rather nice amps, drums and guitars in there. There is a very well-equipped recording studio with all the gear. Also, bands leave their money in the piano stool since the owner leaves before the bands have finished. Suppose somebody walks in when the bands are busy and nicks something. Last band out locks up in good faith, only to be dragged into a messy insurance claim later. I'm not comfortable being put in that (potential) position.

I don't know whether we're allowed to stay late. We always leave by 11 o'clock, since we hire the room 7 - 11.

The last two rehearsal rooms we've used, we've been given the keys and asked to switch off all lights, make sure the goods lift doors are properly in place, check that nobody else is in the building and lock everything up when we leave. Now, I personally think it's the owners' responsibility to secure their own premises at lock-up time, not ours. I said this to the owner of our current rooms and he got a bit defensive, saying he couldn't see any problem. Any thoughts?

https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/warwick-corvette-rock-bass/1184564485

Hi Mike, I've always struggled with J-width necks on 34" scale basses, so I'm pretty sure the 38mm J neck on the Fender will be too cramped for my hulking great paws. My Harley Benton has a 41mm neck, and that's OK, but I don't think I could cope with anything much narrower than that. The Ibanez is looking odds-on favourite at the moment.

My Harley Benton shorty is a cracking bass. However, I do miss the bite of a J pickup. So, I'm now looking for something like this: Short scale Wide neck (at least 40mm nut width) Lightweight Importantly, it must be well-balanced on the strap with no neck dive P/J, MM or P/MM pickup arrangement Budget max is £500 I'm aware of the Ibanez TMB-30 Talman short scale, and that's very close to what I'm after. All other suggestions gratefully received. Thanks, Steve

I don't know how much notice the singers got regarding their daughter's audition, but I'd be very surprised if they didn't know at least the day before. The guitarist (good friends with singers) rang me yesterday morning to say that the singers may be a bit late. I pretty much knew at that point they wouldn't be there, but I went along because I'd said I would. I pride myself on my punctuality, and doing what I've promised to do. Last night the guitarist forgot his debit card and didn't know whether he had enough petrol in his car to get home. I give up. I've let them know that I'm looking for another project.

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1471446378' post='3113118'] I've just jotted down the band's rehearsal history. It's a start-up band, and the full has only met 3 times: Rehearsal 1 - Went ahead without lead singer who was sick. Room costs split between those present. Rehearsal 2 - As rehearsal 1 Rehearsal 3 - As rehearsals 1 and 2 Rehearsal 4 - Cancelled. Guitarist's wife sick. No room costs Rehearsal 5 - Cancelled. Both singers (man and wife) sick. No room costs Rehearsal 6 - Cancelled. Guitarist's wife sick. No room costs At this point, I suggested a short summer break while people recovered from various illnesses, and the guitarist's wife gave birth. Rehearsal 7 - All present! Room costs split evenly Rehearsal 8 - All present, but guitarist and both singers arrived with no money. Room costs split between drummer and myself. Rehearsal 9 - All present. Room costs split between those who didn't pay the previous time. Rehearsal 10 - Due tonight. Cancelled late because guitarist's wife is sick. Guitarist has offered to pay room costs. [/quote] Rehearsal 11 - Due last night. I turned up, as arranged, Both singers absent because they were taking daughter to an audition. Drummer, guitarist and myself paid for room and played through a few songs, but a bit meaningless without vocals. I had a good moan and said that I'd be looking for an additional band/project.

I've just jotted down the band's rehearsal history. It's a start-up band, and the full has only met 3 times: Rehearsal 1 - Went ahead without lead singer who was sick. Room costs split between those present. Rehearsal 2 - As rehearsal 1 Rehearsal 3 - As rehearsals 1 and 2 Rehearsal 4 - Cancelled. Guitarist's wife sick. No room costs Rehearsal 5 - Cancelled. Both singers (man and wife) sick. No room costs Rehearsal 6 - Cancelled. Guitarist's wife sick. No room costs At this point, I suggested a short summer break while people recovered from various illnesses, and the guitarist's wife gave birth. Rehearsal 7 - All present! Room costs split evenly Rehearsal 8 - All present, but guitarist and both singers arrived with no money. Room costs split between drummer and myself. Rehearsal 9 - All present. Room costs split between those who didn't pay the previous time. Rehearsal 10 - Due tonight. Cancelled late because guitarist's wife is sick. Guitarist has offered to pay room costs.

No band rehearsal tonight because guitarist has just messaged everybody to say he can't make it. He's offered to pay for the rehearsal room. Does that seem fair? Or should everybody pay their usual share - collective responsibility, and all that?

Quick update on the Harley Benton Shorty, following rehearsal last night with stock pickups - not yet fitted the PBXN's. Not far short of extraordinary! I felt much more comfy with the short scale compared to the 34" Yamaha BB's, and was making appreciably fewer mistakes, mainly because of the closer fret spacings, and the shorter reach to the bottom frets. The band said it was the best-sounding best they's heard me play, and the best playing from me! This cheap little bass is making me have a fundamental re-think about The Herd. I'm fairly certain the BB424 will be up for sale shortly, perhaps even the BB1024, replaced with a light, 30" scale P/J - something like a Marooshthingy Jake, or a Scott Whitley SWB-1. All change here, folks but I'm feeling a lot more positive about my bass-playing prospects. Off now to get the PBXN's put into the Harley Benson by B/C's Bassbunny. That's a lovely gesture by him.

I think I can see what you mean. Looking closely at the yellow wire, I can see a number of wires emerging from it and joining to various lugs on the volume pot. If you could possibly install the Entwistle pickups for me I'd be most grateful, since I haven't got a clue (or a soldering iron!). I can't find your address - if you could send it to me via PM with a suggested meet-up time, I'll pop round. How kind you are.