Len_derby

46 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

My intention is to learn a whole load of JJ/Motown material when I retire, give me something to aim for. 

I can recommend the book Standing in the Shadow of Motown, if you can get a copy. It’s got notation for the bass lines of several of his classics. I found it invaluable when I had to learn a couple.

1 hour ago, Boodang said:

Two gigs this weekend, full on plugged in at the Canadian club and an acoustic half improvised at our Brit club by way of a farewell to our female vocalists who leave post soon. 
It was interesting to compare the two gigs back to back. Lots of energy at the first gig, plenty of people up and dancing, the acoustic gig was a very chilled vibe but there were moments where we had lots of people dancing and because it was low volume the families stayed and had a good time too. 
Interesting in a couple of respects. Firstly a lot of feedback to say we should do more unplugged and a whole demographic that prefer it to us in full blast mode and secondly a whole bunch of numbers we do better acoustically. A result of which is we might start doing an acoustic set at the start of our gigs and do some more acoustic nights as apart from anything else it’s a lot easier to set up. 

I’m interested in knowing if you ever play to locals and if they have any appetite for the sort of music you play.

The ensuing gentle hiss of rolling tumbleweed.  😆
 

22 minutes ago, skidder652003 said:

Played a pub in Exeter, best not not name it.

 

Bit of a spoons look to it and its big

 

Lovely lovely landlord.

 

So maybe 70 or 80 people in there but felt half empty. We played pretty well but just no atmosphere.

 

Couple of punters came up and aked for biz cards and I had run out, typical! 

 

Been playing there for years but Im beginning to wonder if its worth it.  Good money too...

Post Bank-Holiday slump? I went to one of my locals last night and it was very quiet. Last Saturday, Easter weekend, it was busy. It looks like people are choosy about when they go out in the current economic circumstances.

Go for it Sam! 
As long as you’re well-prepared and supported by the rest, what’s the worst that can happen?

After a few years of those feeling you’re having I gave myself a good talking-to and decided that the worries about battered ego and concerns about what other people thought of me was just a type of narcissism. Do your homework and be yourself and I’m sure you’ll love it.

I’ve been reading about your sailing exploits in “Off Topic” - and you're anxious about playing a bass in front of people? 😂

Unplugged for me, just a bass. Either my Stagg short-scale acoustic bass or whichever electric is out on a stand. I don’t use any effects or pedals and I live in a very quiet house, so it’s fine for me. The only time I switch an amp on at home is to check things are working before a gig.

This is exactly what’s happened in my covers band with ‘Ain’t No Love’ and ‘Knockin’. Although, to be fair, I don’t think anyone ever lost money in the UK entertainment business through camping things up.

That’s a tough one. I tend to agree with @Lozz196, but I live in a relatively well-populated area where finding alternative like-minded people to play with is easy. 

Thanks for the heads-up. I really enjoyed that. 

Following on from Misdee’s answer, I have a 2003 model of the P deluxe and it does have a slim Jazz-width neck. One other thing to note, the active circuitry requires two 9v batteries and they require a screwdriver to access them. 

50 minutes ago, Jackroadkill said:

I quit a band once; I climbed out of the toilet window and ran away.  Not my proudest moment, but neither was rejoining the same band a year or so later only to quit again because, despite the assurances, nothing had changed.

Did you climb back in through the same toilet window? The world needs to know 😆.

Played tonight with the Daz Kelly blues band at The Boat Inn, Cromford, Derbyshire. A good, appreciative crowd out for a Friday night. My @Andyjr1515 Swift Lite bass through a TC Elf and Barefaced one10 was just the ticket. The landlady told us we were the first band, ever, to put the tables back in place after we’d finished. We’re not very Rock n’ Roll, but very polite boys. 😆

1 hour ago, markbunney said:

I got the “thanks, but no thanks” text this afternoon which is a bummer

 

Nevermind, I enjoyed the audition and playing some songs that I wouldn’t normally play 

Bad luck mate, but onwards and upwards. Did they tell you why they turned you down? Always useful to know. It may well have had nothing to do with you or your abilities, in which you may not get an honest answer, The old ‘guitarist’s brother-in-law’ scenario.

9 hours ago, steantval said:

 

I played in a Free tribute band around 2008 and our original drummer quit due to a clash of commitments with his function band, our guitarist was the head guitar tutor for schools in Lincolnshire and had done several seminars with a well known drummer, this guy then became our new drummer in the Free tribute, his name was Jeff Rich ex Status Quo, Jeff was a real down to earth bloke and it was a great experience to share the stage with him on many gigs.

 

I’d forgotten about meeting Jeff Rich. For the last few years of my working career I was a teaching assistant in a primary school. The headteacher had a social connection with Jeff and got him to come in and give a drumming demo to the kids. He also bought a ton of percussion items and generously let them bash around with them. As you say, a really nice bloke. Over a cuppa we chatted about music and he said ‘shame you didn’t bring your bass in, we could have had a good old jam for the kids.’ The nearest I got to playing with Status Quo. 😆

1 hour ago, EliasMooseblaster said:

Indeed it was Parasight! Glad to hear the others are still in music one way or another; they were a lovely bunch and all really good musicians.

 

We were very much passing through - the band was called Cherry White, and a local group called Thunderous Jones were headlining. Were you there that evening, by any chance?

I’ve been going there since about 1973, so it’s quite possible I was there - although most of it’s a blur! 
After a shut-down of a couple of years the place is back in business and somewhat tidier. When on stage, the pungent aroma of the nearby gents’ toilets seems to have gone. 

1 hour ago, EliasMooseblaster said:

The nearby "Worst Auditionee" thread has been hilarious (thank you all!) - but it's thrown up a couple of stories of auditionees who turned out to be absolutely stellar musicians and went on to greater things. I assume, between us, we've a few more stories about somebody you played with / drank with / had an argument with who you've since seen on the telly or suchlike.

 

My example: played a gig with two or three other bands at The Victoria in Derby back in 2015(?), and we were a bit surprised when the first band loaded in - they didn't look old enough to be there! (In fact, I think a couple of them were only 16 and there with a parent!) But they were really good. Hard rock with harmonised guitars, definite shades of Maiden and Wishbone Ash. Nice guys, too.

 

I never did know what happened to the band - or where the others ended up - but one of the guitarists was clearly destined for greater things. He now plays lead guitar for Inglorious, and I'm pretty sure I heard about him starring as a young iteration of Slash in a biopic about Guns 'n' Roses.

 

Over to you...

The band was Parasight. They called it a day when Danny De La Cruz moved to London and joined Inglorious. The rest of them are still involved in music although not as high-profile as Danny. Joe the bass player is with Eddie and the Wolves. The drummer, Tom, went to study music full-time in Birmingham. The other guitarist, another Tom (Platts) is playing in a covers band while completing a Masters degree in music production at Derby University.  Were you part of the local scene then, or just visiting the Vic? 

I rarely go into a big town or city these days, so I’m definitely out of touch, but these venues must have deliveries of drink, food etc. Do the drivers just take hit on fines, is there special dispensation or do they deliver outside a certain time range? I’m interested how it works because people must be driving up to these places regularly to drop-off and pick-up.

10 minutes ago, Rich said:

 

Blimey. I'm the opposite of that really, I don't think I could be in a band with people I didn't think of as friends. A big part of the reason my soul band has lasted for nearly 30 years is that we're all mates. 

I think I’m more on the @Bluewine side of things. I want to play with people who are good musicians and not unpleasant. If they’re friends as well, it’s a bonus but not essential. So, being good work-mates I suppose.

Back to the OP.  Pathetic football rivalry.

We had a drummer who liked Nottingham Forest and a guitarist who liked Derby County. For those who don’t know, there’s a tedious local rivalry.

The ‘banter’ between them was irritating enough but when they started to wind-up audiences with their back-and-forth comments - to the point of fights nearly starting - it got too much. When a landlord said “don’t ask for another gig, I don’t want you back”, that was the end.

Lovely looking bass. Are you interested in any trades?

2 hours ago, Mickeyboro said:

 

Was told to ‘turn up the bass’ in the interval… understandably so as I was only using an Elf and BF One10. But ‘going active’ on my Sandberg VM4 gave me the bass boost I needed and apparently the second half had more low end

I think you did well there Mick. I have the same amp and cab set up and it’s great in most situations. I did an outside gig with it last summer and had to crank everything to the max to be heard. It was a dream load in, and out, through the farm yard and into the field where the gazebo was, though!

Liquid and funky. Reminds me of being on nappy-duty when the kids were little.

A nice description of bass-playing, though. Well done 👍 

David has just bought my PJB Cub combo. Everything went very well. A top Basschatter to deal with.

I’d echo what Uk_Lefty says above. Leave it as it is and just enjoy playing it. I gig with my HB short-scale P bass left just as it came out the box. Does the job just fine. 
And congratulations on having some cool sisters! 

5 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

As above the antiques trade seem to use 40 years, so my Fender Performer is 'on the cusp'.

 

'Mid century' seems to be a popular term for furniture etc. from the 40s-60s which would cover older basses.

Yes, I’ve noticed the “mid-century” thing in the last year or so. I recently saw it applied to houses for sale.  I think a lot of us on this forum fall into the category too. 😎

Clothing fashion seems to have hijacked the word.

My daughters talk about their ‘vintage’ outfits. When I was their age I called them Jumble Sale.