Len_derby

I can recommend Newtone strings. They are a small, specialist British company, local to me. The MD, Neil Silverman is a bass player himself. I now don't buy any other strings. Contact them and talk about what you're looking for.

Welcome to Basschat. Take a look at the Build Diaries section (under 'Gear'). Prepare to be amazed and inspired!

Definitely try before you buy. I had a Mexican Fender Jazz V and it was seriously 'average'. Heavy too. I moved it on, and now very happy with a Yamaha TRB 5.

Amicably, always - even if it means gritting your teeth and forcing a smile. If you burn bridges with people you burn networking opportunities. It's a small world in someways and I've had things passed on to me from former bandmates. I'm not sure that would've happened if we'd parted company in a sour manner.

A nice end to the story. Or is it? Be prepared for negative comments from band members. When I whipped out my Countryman Uke bass the guitarist said "that looks a bit naff on stage". My reply was, "what, more than your fat belly, dad jeans and red trainers?". I'm not in that band anymore. 😉

Great news that you're back in the groove. 👍

Welcome to Basschat. You do realise that your wants will never be fully satisfied? 😂 It's a kind of joining fee 😉

Can't beat a bit of self-love. 😉

Currently in two trios. 3300 & 3300

Nice position to be in, a choice of three! Just a few thoughts. Are they in any other bands? Commitment issues. Are they likely to stick around if you invest your time in them ? Some people never seem to stick a band for more than 6 months. Any transport issues? The carless drummer is an annoying sub-species. Depending on the kind of venues you may play at, can they play quietly when it's required?

Good old Mick! Still doing the business at least once every week. Although he is looking increasingly frail and like he hasn’t seen daylight for years.

As an owner of a Roland Micro Cube I'm not sure that you'd get the volume you need. I'm unfamiliar with how a serpent sounds but when I was a band with an accordion player and soprano sax the battery Roland didn't really cut it. If you're anywhere near Derby you're very welcome to borrow it and have a try. The folk/baroque scene is unknown to me, but would turning up with an electric bass guitar result in cries of 'Judas'? 😄

Yep. Pretty universal I think. Just last week I watched a pub band whose bass player just couldn't stop himself playing on the verse of All Right Now. Sounded pants to me. Maybe not to most of the audience though, I don't know. Are we being too picky?

For me a lot of the pleasure using (especially gigging) cheaper stuff is being relaxed about it getting scratched/broken/lost/stolen.

Just a heads up, this beauty will soon be on its way to Hawaii but Swift Lite Bass #001 will be at the East Mids Bass Bash on the 4th of May.

I'll second this. Back in the day, didn't the drummer for Chicago play wearing old-school 'cans'?

Wonderful. Congratulations on 002!

I have a principle of never mentioning I'm in a band unless. a. There's a reasonable chance it will turn into a gig opportunity. For example a promoter or venue manager b. There's a reasonable chance they'll come to a gig or buy a cd. Eg "I love the blues..." i find people who tell you they're in a band when you haven't even asked or are talking about music fairly cringe-worthy. But that's just me. Other ways of living are equally valid 🙂

The Craig Charles Funk and Soul show on R6 Music usually has some grooving organ sounds. Personaliy I'm a fan of Jonny Henderson who plays with the Matt Schofield band. I'm not sure if it's a Hammond he plays, but it sounds good to me. He also does the bass for the band these days via pedals. A bit of a shame from a bass-player's point of view. But, given the level of gigs they play, one less member to pay probably makes the band more of a viable outfit.

She's been a collaborator with Nick Cave, which is good enough for me.

Similar message if you're near Derby. All the best, and welcome home 😉

Lots of sound advice given. I don't think anyone has talked about weight/size of any any new rig you might buy. You might have unlimited use of your own car or van, or maybe not. You might be happy and able to carry big heavy stuff around, or maybe not. I might be over-cautious but I think anything that can't be kept out of sight in a car boot is asking for trouble. Oooo the joys of having a wedge to spend on new gear 😄

My best purchase of the year was my Swift Lite bass made by our own @Andyjr1515. The worst (not that I had much to spend after buying the above) was a replacement Jack-to-Jack lead. Two days after buying it I found the one I'd 'lost'. It's an age thing. 😂

BB Blackdog. A Derbyshire steam-punk band led by Dale Rowles, who is a member here and also a fellow Bass Relay veteran. Side note - I saw Deaf School at York University in '78. Fun times.

Running a band that way is, in some circumstances, a legitimate and normal one. For example, orchestras via the conductor. It probably happens in brass bands too. Is the band successful and does it sound good? If so, you could say that he's 'right'. In which case, you've got to decide whether the working methods suit you and act accordingly. Alternatively, if the band is poo-pants - well, what are you doing still being there?