Len_derby

Just back from the YNot festival in Derbyshire where my band 5 Hills Out played two sets, one on Saturday afternoon the other early evening today. We played on two of the smaller stages and had big, responsive audiences for both. It's just as well it's only a thirty minute drive home. I'm knackered.

Hi Chris, I use my Roland Cube 100. Seems to do the job ok. Maybe we can arrange a get-together if you fancy a try.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1468748238' post='3092995'] I've said before the vast majority of bass players need a P bass because it does what most people need it to do. If I hear a bass with a weak sound..it very very often isn't a P.. [/quote] Would you say this extends to 5 string too? Genuinely interested if people think that the 5 string P or P clone corners the market in a similar way.

The Facebook page 'Official Brand X' posted the item below today. I know not everyone on here uses FB so I've pasted it. Welcome to "TALES FROM THE BRAND X FILES". Start the week off right, "Tales" runs each and every Monday morning. Today's feature: PERCY JONES (Bassist of Brand X) A lot of people have been asking about Percy's Bass, and of course about his unique style and approach. Percy says: The Bass he's using right now with Brand X is a customized Ibanez Grooveline Five-String, with Piezo pickups. Percy's added some weights to the headstock, which "shifts the frequency response slightly and gives the bass a bit of a tighter sound." Percy uses a standard Bass tuning for the regular four strings, and has the lowest string at "C". "So how the hell does he do that? many ask." Percy can get rapid-fire triplets flowing by using a three finger approach reminiscent of a Classical Guitarist. So he's sometimes plucking the strings with all three fingers in quick succession, and will also use his thumb occasionally as well. One of Percy's trademark sounds is hitting a hard note and simultaneously hitting a harmonic as well, and then sliding the note up on the fretless. Check out the beginning of "Nightmare Patrol" from Livestock CD, or just come to one of the gigs and see him do it live. When asked what Bass he used on those first three classic Brand X albums, he replied: "I mostly used a Four-string Fender Precision Fretless (see 1st picture), though I also used a hollow-body Gretsch (fretted) on one song, and an Upright Bass on another." Effects? A lot of Percy's unique sound actually comes from his playing technique and how the bass lines work within the context of Brand X compositions, but what few know is that he used home built effects on the old Brand X recordings! Nowadays he's using an Eventide processor at the moment. The first run of shows for Brand X will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday 12th) and go from October 19th through 25th, with more coming in November?

We tend to adjust the set list to try and suit the venue and crowd mix. So, it's not always the same each time. I think one of the lesser talked about skills of a performing musician is the ability to play the same material time and time again and keep it sounding fresh. How many times must BB King have played 'The Thrill Has Gone'? He always, to the end, made it sound like he meant it. It's probably a rare skill. I don't think I have it, but I'm working on it!

[quote name='rungles' timestamp='1464646331' post='3061172'] I usually find that with a new band, cancellations are always a good way in. It's tough to get gigs but if a venue has your number and they are in the sh*t, chances are you will get a call. Word soon gets around. [/quote] Yes, this is a good way in. I've found that if you're nimble and ready to go as a band a lot of work can be picked up this way. I've linked in to most of the local live music sites on Facebook and every weekend there's requests posted for bands to fill cancellations.

Rural and small town Derbyshire, £200 - £250 for what usually amounts to 2 hours of music.

Another great bass-related day. A special thank you to Simon for all the background organisation. Also really nice to chew the fat with friends old and new. Brilliant cake again made by Jo Sharman.

[quote name='Si600' timestamp='1462005276' post='3039441'] It's next week! Hopefully you're all excited and looking forward to it [/quote] Absolutely!

Newtone are very local to me. Great strings, great company. The person now in charge is Neil Silverman.

It sounds pretty shabby if it's as you describe. I don't think I'd want to go back. I've just come back from a pub gig where the professionalism of the landlord in his attitude to us was just about the opposite of yours. My point being that in this game you win some and lose some.

Congratulations SB. If this one doesn't work out, let me know. I have a few contacts locally who may be useful to you. As for an audience for that material - definitely. I have a bunch of mates who get as many gifgs as they want in the Derby area playing just that kind of stuff. They are called The Real Deal.

This looks brilliant Andy, your usual ultra-high attention to detail. I might has missed it on an earlier post, but are you installing any pickup system?

Firstly, welcome back! All of the basses you mention have fans on this forum, and hopefully some will be along soon to give advice and opinions. Personally I can recommend the Yamaha BEX. Not too easy to find now but a lovely hollow body bass guitar.

Great post. Thanks for putting it up. Nice to acknowledge your 'superfans'. We all need those, especially when far from home.

Hi John, Somehow missed your posts so far. Welcome from a fellow Derberian.

There's a venue in my home town that puts on tribute bands very regularly. A lot of them pack out the place and I think it allows them to take the financial hit on originals acts that don't sell so well. One thing I have noticed is that it's a noticeably different crowd who go to the tributes. I have non-musician friends who go out to see tribute acts but have no interest in seeing originals or even normal covers bands.

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1459353310' post='3015728'] Thanks Len .. I'm being swayed towards the micro cube even more now Just wondering ; if the model I chose has an xlr socket, could this be played through a p a to increase volume ? [/quote] It can indeed, there's a handy XLR socket just for that. But, unfortunately if you do that the combo's own speaker switches off which means you can't use it as a monitor. You can on the cube 100, which has been really useful at times. If you can live with the low volume the micro cube is grand. An inbuilt drum machine and tuner! The effects are a bit cheesy, but aren't they all? 😉

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1459352452' post='3015709'] Mmm, TBH I prefer the bass micro cube. May end up getting that , and or cube 60xl [/quote] I have a Micro cube and a Bass Cube 100. Both are, for me, great pieces of kit but neither in my experience will be loud enough do anything but a restrained drummer. The micro is a great practice amp and will hold its own with acoustic guitars and cajon. The 100 is great for small gigs but just doesn't go loud enough for anything but quiet drumming. If you were to jam with a drummer I think you'd find it underpowered. It has a small footprint but still weighs about 18kg. My Barefaced Midget and LM3 is even easier to carry and has never been drowned out.

Hi Freddy, I have a Yamaha TRB 5, never played an ibanez. The Yammy is indeed 35". I also use a Warwick Corvette 5 and a MiM Fender Jazz 5, that are both 34". I can honestly say that the extra inch on the Yammy makes no perceptible difference. Someone (Raslee I think) has a Yamaha 5 for sale on the For Sale bit of this forum. I'd buy it if I didn't have one already.

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1458991448' post='3012633'] I've just pulled off a prestigious gig for one of the bands I'm involved with to play at a country fair in the summer. I won't say where but it's all a bit top drawer. So this morning I told the Mrs that I've got a meeting with the two young events organisers next Tuesday. Her reaction was 'and what will they think when some beat up old geezer turns up?' Got me thinking. [/quote] Firstly, congratulations on getting the gig. If the two organisers know anything about the business they're in they shouldn't bat an eyelid about your age. You should just need to make sure that they're confident that you and your band are competent to deliver.

A lively night with my folk/punk originals band 5 Hills Out at the White Swan in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. The pub was rammed with people starting the long weekend off in style. This was the second well-paying gig in two weeks and we have several more in the diary. This just goes to show that playing original songs can pay off. We do no covers at all. My personal experience on how to make playing originals work is; Have good songs with quality arrangements, Play them well, there's no chance of doing a sloppy cover version while the crowd singalong covers it up, Put on a good show, playing with conviction, If you're genre specific, as we are, make that totally clear on your publicity, Seek out venues that have a reputation for your genre. Happy Easter everybody.

My personal recommendation with your budget is to look seriously at Yamaha. Although I love Fender 4 string basses I've never been impressesd with their 5 strings. Certainly not the ones you'd get for £500. I have a Mexican Fender Jazz 5 as a passive back up, and it's miles behind by Yamaha TRB 5 at a similar 2nd hand price.

I hate this kind of situation. If you have taken on the job of booker it's your reputation that gets damaged when having to cancel or renegotiate with the landlord. It's happened to me before and I wont tolerate it anymore. Assuming you've collected band member's diary details and they've made commitment-type noises. It sounds like you've done that.

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1457859685' post='3002310'] This post is obviously by someone bitter and twisted who got asked to play "Hi-ho" at a wedding and has never fully recovered [/quote] No! 😄. Never had to play it, luckily! Mr Beck is, as we know, a stellar guitarist with a distinguished career. But to maybe 95% of people he's a one hit wonder.