Len_derby

In addition to @BigRedX’s excellent summary I’ll add; think about how you’ll store and keep the stuff between gigs and who has responsibility for transporting it back and forth. When I was in a band that shifted a lot of t-shirts we kept them in an old-style suitcase bought at a charity shop. It kept them clean and neat and when opened up on table looked good, and a little “spivvy”. A bit Private Walker from Dad’s Army.

Slight aside. I am currently sitting in the atrium of Derby University campus. It’s an open day, intended to entice youngsters to come as students. I’m here to buy my daughter a coffee as she’s working (student finance advisor). The music pumping through the sound system is a nonstop stream of 80s and 90s hits with a few noughties here and there. At first I was bemused, and then it dawned on me. It’s the accompanying parents they’re trying to butter-up. 🤣

We do Locked out of Heaven by Bruno Mars. Always goes down well. oops, just spotted you already do that.

Looking good. Is this your second one? Or perhaps a replacement.

On Saturday night I was out with the covers band, Top Deck, at The Holly Bush, Marehay, Derbyshire. It was only our second gig with Elliott (on Flying-V) as our second guitarist . He’s the third we’ve had in two years. The previous one had to retire through ill-health, the one before that we sacked because of his persistent drink-driving. Fingers crossed we can keep Elliott for a while. It all went well although we were nearly upstaged by the bar manager parading her pet chicken (not sexy slang). I used a Mustang PJ through a Markbass LMIII and Barefaced Midget T.

Ain’t this the case with WhatsApp and text? I’ve had a band break up around me due to a silly spat between two members quickly getting out of control on WhatsApp. A temporary disagreement gets escalated because some people can’t, or won’t, walk away and calm down.

Thomanns, Beatbass gig bag. Just right for my Mexican-made Mustang with P-J pick-up configuration.

Here’s an independent shop in a small English city, run by some good guys trying hard to keep going in the internet world, and being very supportive of local musicians. https://fouldsguitars.com

That might have been me, but there are a few of us on here who are happy owners.. Spot-on out of the box and remarkable value for money.

Coincidentally, I’ve been considering buying a ticket for the Marsden Americana and Bluegrass festival in June. Marsden is a small town near Huddersfield. http://www.truenorthmusic.co.uk/upcoming-yorkshire-gigs/marsden-americana-bluegrass-day-22-june-2024/

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.

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. 😆

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.

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. 😆

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.

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. 😆

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.