Huggy and the Bears

[quote name='Jono Bolton' post='433901' date='Mar 13 2009, 05:00 PM']My flatmate has recently volunteered her services as a bass player to a friend of ours, despite the fact that she doesn't own a bass. As you can see from my sig, I own some fairly decent (IMO) gigging bass equipment, having been playing for the past 12 years or so. So far my flatmate has been practicing on my Jazz in the flat, but now wants to start taking it round to our friends flat for rehearsals and eventually use it for gigging. I've yet to question her about it as it's not been a problem so far, but I'm fairly sure she said she would play bass on the assumption that she could use my gear as and when she pleases, as I'm not currently gigging. Am I being selfish if I refuse to continue letting her use my stuff? It's fine in the flat but I'm not really happy with my stuff being taken away for gigs/prectices. It's quite quiet folky music she's playing so it's unlikely there'll be any Who-style destruction, but I'm not really comfortable letting other folk use my gear. What are other people's view on lending out their stuff? My gear's insured against 3rd party damage but why should I put up my premium by claiming in the even of some breaking? I had to work and save the cash to pay for it, so surely I'm in the right here?[/quote] Nor a borrower or lender should one be when it comes to gear. there is an exception however. I don't lend gear because it has been so difficult to acquire it along the way and usually, if someone is hard up and they borrow something, that's when it will go wrong. The exception is that I would lend something if someone I knew if they had problem such as there gear has just broken last minute and they are stuffed for a gig that night. We could all be in that situation and I'd hope someone would help me. The difference though is that they have gear etc. and are in a position to reciprovate.

Well, mine is a funny story. My Dad was a bass player and we were never allowed to touch his gear. That was the law in case he turned up for a gig and we had not replaced something that we had played with. As a kid I used to sneakily mess with his Epiphone Rivoli (spare bass) when I was alone in the house. I never took up playing though for some reason. Anyway, he died about 5 years ago and I kept his gear. One day I was driving along listening to the radio and a tune had a really good bass line so when i got home I thought, well, you can't bollock me now mate! (Hee hee!) I Got out his prized Gherson (Jazz bass) and sussed how to tune it and since that day I was hooked! I saw the light and have played every day, gig every week and have my own band. He also had an old Fender Jazz bass but he always played the Gherson. The Rivoli was his bass from the 60's. The first bass i bought was a Jap Jazz bass. The best gift he could have given me (even though I was 35 before I started playing. The rest is history, thanks Dad!

This is what i think... I have a P bass, A Marcus Miller Jazz and a MM Stingray. I have them for a variety of reasons, but I would liken them to car ownership. I rather think of the P bass as being similar to a series 1 E-Type Jaguar. The first of its kind for looks, performance and money. An icon of its time and much copied since. A fantastic driving experience but vintage by todays standards of driving. Loads of cars today are faster, safer, cheaper to run, more reliable etc. but that could never make it better than a series 1 E-Type. The Jazz bass is to me is like a Series 2 E-Type, designed for a different (but similar) market, stunning in its own way, iconic etc. etc. A development of the series 1 but no better or worse (in my opinion). The Stingray is like a Jaguar XK8. Utilising the history and styling cues of the E-Type but with modern features to cope in todays world. A real improvement in terms of performance and quality but will never be classed as 'better' than an E-Type, even though its specification is clearly superior. Basically, if I felt like driving an E-Type (and if I could afford it) I would be driving it not for its reliability, build quality etc. but because I personally want the experience of it. Likewise, if I wanted the feeling of driving Jaguar heritage but in todays world with performance, comfort and reliability I would drive an XK8. Its horses for courses in my opinion with none being able to out perform each other. There are many pretenders to the throne, such as BMW, Lotus etc. (Warwick, Overwater) but I know which car and bass I would prefer to use every day. Thats why I gig with my Stingray and drive my XK8 convertible to work...

I'm the lead singer in our band and the bass player. i don't have a problem with it now but I have a few techniques that might help others. I started singing because I was told it was difficult and so just to have one up on the rest of the band I got it nailed! And I love it! I also use a Digitec Vocalist Live4 harmony pedal which I am jumping on and off all through songs - now that's a challenge and a half but it works well. I'd recommend one to any band. Basically when I learn new songs I learn the vocals and bass line together. Never independently! I don't read music, so I listen to the song and unpick each part in 'chunks' with my bass: intro, chorus, verse etc. I then have a listen whilst reading the words so that you get a feel for the flow of the phrasing of the words relative to the starts/stops etc. of the bass line. I then have a go for the first time singing and playing. The key is to get the rhythm of the vocals right with the correct bass line. I don't worry about the exact words for the first few run throughs. That comes later in the night. Usually 5 times through listening to the CD it is almost giggable. I also make cryptic notes (i.e. what bass parts to play - '4 bars of the first bit' 'that funny run down') where I need a prompt on the words. I need words for new songs until after about 6 gigs. Also, I find if I hammer a song all night, I don't make progress. 20 minutes of one song, then do something else is enough and when you come back after playing something else I find that it has sunk in a little bit. This week's brand new songs to gig at weekend that I've been nailing since Saturday are: Stuck in the middle, Gimme shelter, Rockin in the free world and Can't get enough of your love. We do a few Weller/Jam songs and they are very rewarding to sing and play. Easy peasy! I'll put money on the guitarists screwing up before me! Hope this helps! Si.

Yeah, socks are cool. What about high heels???

I have a Bassman 135 and matching 2 x 15 cab. It was my Dad's from new and he gigged with it for 30 years professionally! I did gig with it for a while but as it has a different gravitational pull that other things on earth it is heavy! Also it fell of the parcel shelf of the car onto a pub carpark one night which frightened me as it has such sentimental value. When i got home and plugged it in, I'd say it sounded better! I just use that setup at home now. It has enough balls for pubs and stuff but the speakers in the cab are a bit tired now and lacks a bit of volume for bigger gigs. I have used it through my Aguilar 2 x 12 and it is fine. The band wish I would use it as the sound is unbelievable. I would recommend one if you can get one. Its also a good backup for guitarists as well and the last couple of times it has been out in anger it was with guitar. A cool piece of furniture as well.

[quote name='david_l_perry' post='393528' date='Jan 28 2009, 11:24 AM']that would be me....I bought them off Stuarts other pal Shaun (4000) I think Stu only has three friends.... So are you taking yours then ? (Well that makes no sense now you deleted your thread....)[/quote] Dave, Didn't realise I had deleted my thread! What a wally! Don't think I'll take my stuff but I hope to go! I have borrowed Stu's Status as a view to buying it but its not for me at the mo.

Well this has given me some positive (I think?) reassurance! I'm 38, play covers and gig with a Stingray, sometimes with my Sunbust P bass (1988 62RI) and last night took delivery of a new Marcus Miller Jazz! A good tip however is that slippers are really comfy for playing in at home. Not gigged yet with slippers on but I was wondering, if you were to gig wearing your slippers, what style would you go for...??? Is this the start of a new thread or am I losing the plot??? And ... would you have Jazz slippers, P Bass slippers and Stingray slippers??? Am I losing it???

Hmmmm... hate to be pedantic but Avengers were a '70s car not 60's! Hee hee!

Bang for buck in my opinion is the Japanese stuff. I've had a couple and they are faultless. I have no experience of Mexican built but I have of US built. At the end of the day a US built is always going to be deemed as a 'proper' one, however I have played a couple of US made dogs. So it isn't garaunteed to be better. I currently have a Jap (MIJ) p bass that is a real keeper and I would challenge anyone who thought they could prove differently. I actually chose that over a US one that a friend had. I would definately recommend Japanese from my experience. Also the Japanese stuff appears to hold its money so they are a safe bet. Si.

How about this for an idea... I use real drums, that i have had recorded by a session drummer and then play through minidisc through the PA. It is the best drum track that you will find. It fools many musicians! Very authentic and minidisc has autopause at the end of the track. As I own the tracks, I would be interested in selling if they were of use to anyone. Check them out on: www.huggyandthebears.com If you click on my hat in the pic, a list of songs will be displayed to click on. Just an idea!

I had a LM11 which i then changed for an LMK. Fantastic amp and I'd recommend to anyone.

I'm Huggy Bear and am in a covers band called [b]Huggy and the Bears[/b]. We play all sorts. I'm also in another covers band that is more blues orientated calle [b]BluesTone[/b]. www.huggyandthebears.com If you click on my hat on the website you can critique some of our songs. I'm obviously the bass player and am the lead singer.

I use a Markbass LMK for mine. Its the future!

I use a MB LMK with Aguilar GS212. Swapped it for ABM setup. The MB/Aguilar for me is an ultimate sound. I use a Stingray and sometimes a p bass. Does anything you could wish for. I dont think I've ever needed to go above 1.5 or 2 on the volume. Wont be swapping for a long time!