Len_derby

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1350177806' post='1835562'] 5 hours? Luxury! I know this is a long time ago, but many times I've been picked up by the van at 9 am to drive to some wet, cold and very distant place up north. Do the gig and drive home just in time to get into the next mornings rush hour traffic on the M1 coming into London. If you were dropped off before 10 am you'd be one of the lucky ones! Hey Len, did you ever play Clouds in Derby? [/quote] Clouds! Yes, what a place that was. I know 5 hours isn't a big deal, but the pub we played at was 4 miles out of the town we all live in!

Ha ha! I had this very same conversation at the end of a gig last night. Five hours elapsed time from going out to getting home for one hour of playing. I suspect that it's always been the case for musicians. The time spent playing is the tip of the iceberg in respect of the time spent setting up and taking down. At least we have the opportunity to use cars. Once upon a time we would have been vagabond minstrels walking from town to town.

Although I've got some nice basses they're all mass-produced instruments. So I'd like to buy something by a specialist low-volume luthier just to see how it would compare. The Fodera Imperial 5 Elite Spalted Maple on sale from LouLou might be a nice start.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1349974546' post='1833017'] Just trying to see what sort of people these 'play for free type musicians' are. [/quote] Judging from quite a few replies and from my own perspective, it's the same people who also play for money. In some circumstances I play for free. In others, I want payment. It all depends. Personally, I've never nicked anyone's gig by undercutting. Or had it done to me. To be honest, I've not come across it. But maybe I live a sheltered life in a relative backwater. My take on it all is that if any band I'm in can't command the money we think we deserve, then it's our fault, no one elses.

I love it when I get to play for a singer who really knows how to work a song. Recently I played in a trio (Bass, Cajon and acoustic guitar) backing a female singer who did, amongst other things, three Bill Withers' songs back-to-back. Lovely Day, Grandma's Hands and Ain't No Sunshine. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stick up (and they're not many).

I can't see me being able to afford a genuine birth year bass anytime soon. So I've had to be content with a re-issue. As they go, a CIJ re-issue of a'57 Precision ain't too bad.

I know what you mean, but will 'the perfect band' ever come along? Personally, I've always compromised and put up with various shades of stool rather than be bandless. Playing music with other people is an amazing skill-accelerator. There's no real substitute in my opinion. Go for it. Nothing ventured, as they say

The singer in the blues trio I play in often says, after his voice has taken a caning 'can we take this down one?'. Or up one, or down two, or whatever. I see it as part of my job to show no emotion whatsoever, just give a curt nod and get on with it.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1349280513' post='1824234'] Well I wouldnt want to work with them if thats their attitude - and major congrats to you all! [/quote] Agreed. You're now going to get unplanned, unpredictable calls on your time for the next couple of decades. If that lot aren't sympathetic, walk away now. It'll avoid tears in the future. Many congratulations. Being a parent is about the best job a human can do.

I've just bought a Yamaha acoustic guitar off James. A very convivial meet-up at Trowell Services on the M1. It was good to meet and do business with James. He's a really nice guy. I hope the new job and planned house move go well!

I'm only an infrequent visitor over there but these guys may well have some suggestions. In fact, I'd be surprised if they don't. Hopefully, you're a facebook user[b]. [b][url="https://www.facebook.com/#!/newarkblues"]https://www.facebook.com/#!/newarkblues[/url][/b][/b]

I think Bilbo had one of these for a sale a few months back. It might be worth asking him for some feedback.

It's still 1976 where I am

If it really bothers a bassplayer to be unappreciated or misunderstood perhaps they've chosen the wrong instrument.

Welcome to Basschat. Expect the unexpected

Hi Tom, The Shure SM57 and SM58 are long-time industry standards. They do the job well, but aren't cheap. A friend of mine who's a pro soundman assures me the Behringer XM8500 is almost as good and a lot cheaper.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1347729607' post='1804424'] If the audience didn't leave, boo or chuck stuff at you the chances are they won't have noticed anything was wrong. [/quote] Exactly right. I played a pub gig last night with a hastily trained dep on lead guitar. We had a few 'car crash' moments, but people still danced and (sober) strangers came up afterwards to say thanks. Let the audience be the judge.

[quote name='steve' timestamp='1347014943' post='1795974'] just bought a banjo last night, after hankering for one for ages, Its a 60's or 70's Harmony, dunno if it's any good but it's great fun trying to work out Foggy Mountain Breakdown [/quote] Brilliant, well done. It's amazing what reactions you get from people (even if you've known for years) when they find out you've become a Banjoid.

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1347093237' post='1796833'] Those old Harmony banjos and Sovereign guitars from the '60s and '70s were pretty good quality if you ask me. A decent find. Just had a so-so experience with Hobgoblin in Milton Keynes. I live a long way from all the Hobgoblin shops, so I was going to take advantage of a rare meeting in MK to check whether my Tanglewood will fit in an Ashbury hard case. I ran HG on Tuesday, gave them their own stock number, and was assured that they have one in stock. When I arrived yesterday it turns out they didn't, clearly hadn't checked when I rang, and offered me a second-hand case for a Seeger style longarm that clearly didn't fit. At least I didn't make a huge detour to get to the shop, but I was a bit miffed. What more can one do? [/quote] You may have tried this route, but I've got a very study soft bag for my 4-string banjo made by Tom and Will. I got mine through Amazon and they've currently got a 5-string bag for £35. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tomandwill-66BJ-String-Banjo-Gig/dp/B003XJKXSY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347099180&sr=8-3-fkmr0"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tomandwill-66BJ-String-Banjo-Gig/dp/B003XJKXSY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347099180&sr=8-3-fkmr0[/url]

I shall see you at some point on the tour Steve. I've been following Aynsley for a few years now. No offence, but you're not as good-looking as his two previous bassplayers.

I have gigged successfully for several years using a Roland Cube 100 watt. As a piece of kit I can recommend it highly, check out the reviews on this forum for other people's opinion. Obviously, the suitability of 100 watts will be dependant on type of music, type of venue etc. Quite often the clincher is having a drummer who is willing and able to play at lower volumes.

If you do want a hollow body bass I can recommend the Yamaha Bex. I don't think they're made anymore but they do come up on sale pre-owned from time to time. The usual excellent Yamaha quality. It has a piezo pickup under the bridge as well as the electro-magnetic soap bar, with a pan knob to blend both so it can do a wide range of tones. Mine is called Mavis.

Welcome Floyd

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1345919758' post='1783208'] You're still allowed to slur your ustan da? [/quote] Maybe there's no warning for that.......