Len_derby

Success with 'new' gear.

I bit the bullet and took the Ibanez acoustic bass guitar out for its first live outing (without a solid-body backup, to make sure I didn't chicken out). It was better than OK really, a nice deep resonant sound through my Roland Cube 100. The band line up was me, an acoustic guitarist playing with a piezo pickup through a combo, an electric piano and a violinist. The set was a bit 'lounge jazz' but a very nice way to spend the early part of a Sunday evening. And visually the acoustic fitted in with rest of the band spot-on. I got quite a few comments. In Britain at least, lots of folk don't seem to have ever seen an acoustic bass guitar. More than one person said 'Thats, interesting, I didn't know they made those'.
It's never going to play like an electric, but for some live situations I think it's going to be right choice.

Two big influences for me in the seventies were John Wetton and Ric Grech.

I loved Wetton's playing (and singing) with Moghul Thrash, Family and King Crimson.
I saw him in the Crimson trio with him, Bill Bruford on drums and, of course, Lord Fripp on guitar. Wetton more than held his own with those two musical egg-heads and he looked as cool as f***
I never liked Asia though. To me they sounded juvenile after Family and Crimson.

Ric Grech played with Family (see the theme here?), Traffic and Blind Faith. Good, solid bassman, underrated I think. Any sideman of Steve Winwood's has to be good.
Sadly passed at the age of 43 in 1990.

PM'd

That looks lovely. Very appropriate albums in the background of the photo too.

[quote name='bh2' post='1150789' date='Mar 5 2011, 06:15 PM']Clothes[/quote]

Or not, particularly as they're using 70's Porn as a marketing style.

I'm with Burrito on this one. I think a lot of audiences expect a band to dress appropriate to the musical style. Also they've usually 'dressed up' in some way to go to the venue, even if it's just a 'TFI Friday' pub gig.
I play in a blues/rock/Americana outfit, and most of my stuff comes from charity shops.
Typically a loudish pin-stripe suit jacket worn over a plain shirt, skinny leg black jeans worn over short length cowboy boots. Oh, and of course plenty of rings on both hands. I'm long, lanky and a bit of a dick-head so seems to work.

Dear Mr. Fantasy by Traffic. Vocals by the wonderful Steve Winwood.

[quote name='3V17C' post='1150693' date='Mar 5 2011, 04:33 PM']Guitarist in one of my bands also plays in a signed band who tour all over the place fairly regularly...
7a.m. yesterday morning I get a text from him saying "How do you fancy a few gigs in New Zealand at the end of the month as a replacement is desperately needed - call me a.s.a.p!"
so.... obviously I call him straight away thinking ooh that'll be sweet.

... turns out he'd texted me accidentally and had meant to text the drummer!! D'oh!! what a tool!


grrrrrrrrrrrr


C[/quote]

Or could it be he isn't actually sure of what you and the drummer's names are?
'I don't bother to learn the oiks names, you know, it only makes it sad when you take them to the vet to be put down'.

BTW, what's it like playing with Ron S. ? I saw him with Ollie Brown last October at the Flowerpot in Derby. He plays great bass for a guitarist ;-)

There's some good advice here from lots of experienced players.

As with most things in life, if you wait until you feel you're ready - it'll never happen.
Go for it. What's the worst that can happen? In the long run the whole experience will be invaluable.
You'll soon discover what most of us already have on this forum - playing music with other people is probably the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

Yes, let us know how it goes! A newbie diary would be brill....

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1150174' date='Mar 5 2011, 12:49 AM']Ok was setting off for a rehearsal tonight... in a major rush to get to Bristol..Heard a grinding noise as we pulled off ( i wasnt driving) so stopped to see what it was... t was my Aguilar head being pushed up the drive under the car..!! ARGH!!.. It was in its head bag...i think the bag took the brunt of the very rough tarmac.. as its been ripped apart.. there is a little scuffing on the amp itself, but nothing major and it still works...?????

i sh*t you not i nearly fainted when i realised... how could i have been so stupid!!! This amp is built like a tank though...im amazed it still works... and the bag did its job in a big way..[/quote]

Check the car. It's probably a write-off.

I've been reading this thread with lots of interest.
Anyone else read 'Electric Eden' by Rob Young? It came out last year, subtitled 'Unearthing Britain's visionary music' it's a big fat attempt to survey and explain 'folk' music in Britain. Lots of stuff about Fairport as you would expect, but it really is a good read all round. Highly recommended and not just for 'folk' fans. The author does a great job of illustrating how all music of all genres links and inter-weaves.
Personally I like the Fairport with Sandy Denny on vocals and Ashley Hutchings on bass best. But we ain't going to see that band live again!

Any body else remember Humble Pie? That, for me, was Frampton's finest hour. Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton sharing lead guitar and lead vocals. Although to be fair Marriott was the stand-out vocalist and Frampton the stand-out guitarist.
The rhythm section of Greg Ridley on bass and Jerry Shirley on drums were no slouches, they couldn't afford to be behind those two.
Driving, early seventies rock with a great dollop of bluesy soul. They seem to have faded from collective memory now - we need a BBC4 special! Check out the live double 'Performance - Rockin' the Filllmore'.
I remember that when 'Frampton comes alive' came out it sounded very MOR and wimpy in comparison (to my teenage ears). I learned to love it since though.

Hi Steve,
You like a challenge then?
A great idea, did you come up with it?
I'm very much Derbyshire-based (we're not able to get out of the sheep-pens very often), but it's only just down the road from you and I'd like to help if I can.
Currently my band (Daz Kelly Band) has only got an August gig booked and that's for the 11th. Too late for your current plans, but if you did need to change or extend your timeframe we could at the very least accommodate you as a 'guest' player/singer.
Here's a Facebook page I find useful for the Derby scene
[url="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Derby-Unsigned-Gig-Guide/109630035724544"]http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Derby...109630035724544[/url]
Several small to medium venues and various open-mic nights.

I'll put the feelers out.
Len

PS I'm the father of twins too. Although they are now 17 and blessed with good health they were pretty sickly as premature babies so I maybe have a little understanding of what's motivating you.

Hiya,
Just a couple of personal opinions, based on my own (old git) experience.
Life's far too short to spend time doing things you don't enjoy.
It's always worth trying to put things right before moving away from something that doesn't appear to work.
If you have the time, try a side-project. I was once disgruntled with a band I was in. I deputised in another outfit for relief and discovered my main band wasn't too bad after all. The grass usually looks greener on the other side! It's up to you if you tell the others about a side-project, but I can recommend it to give a sense of perspective.
Finally, something that happened to me. I was in a thrash-metal/punk band, and the singer was a 24 carat git. One night I'd had enough of the stage invasions he encouraged so during the next melee I took the opportunity to clock him across the jaw without him knowing it was me what dun'it. I couldn't possibly suggest you do that, but by God it felt good.
Good luck, keep the passion.

Interesting stuff.
I reckon that just about everybody who's on Basschat would agree that playing music with other people is probably the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
I also think that in an ideal financial situation a lot of us would actually pay to play, not just do it for free!
I remember the first time I got paid for a gig I gave the money to charity. In my youthful foolishness I felt guilty about being paid for doing something I loved.
But now I've got two big hungry teenage daughters both learning to drive it's a different story!

A tough call, but sounds like you did the right thing. Good on 'yer.
One day, all being well, she'll be auditioning a greenhorn youngster and lets hope she remembers how well she was treated at your audition.

PM'd for the bridge

I've had my Roland Bass Cube 100 for 5 years now. During that time it's been used at least once a week, and it's never let me down. For most practises and small to medium sized gigs I'm convinced that it's the best there for its price range.
As mentioned above, the portability is excellent. I have a Roqsolid cover for it, but the big 'wrap-around' plastic corners protect it well. The range of effects are fun, but to be honest apart from a touch of Reverb I rarely use them.
When using the DLX lineout straight to a PA the internal speaker stays on. This is not the case for all combos. It means that when DI-ing the unit can be used as an on-stage monitor.
At a recent gig I let the (pick-uped) double bass player of another band use it. He was very impressed.
If my Cube was nicked or fell in the river I'd buy another one without hestitation.

Len

Sold a Hartke 1x15 cab to Kim today. He bought me a coffee and even offered me some petrol money. He's a really sound guy, even though he comes from the mysterious Lincolnshire coast
No fuss, no hassle, a pleasure to do business with him.

Bought Hodge's Barefaced BigOne cab and Markbass little mark III amp off him this last weekend.
A brilliant rig, as expected and a neat Gigskinz bag for the amp included. All necessary leads as well.
Hodge drove an hour and half each way to meet me at Newark and we spent a pleasant half-hour talking 'low end'.
Top kit, top guy. Pleasure to do business with him.
Neil Fox

[b]Now sold, pending payment etc.[/b]
This has served me well, but as I've become the thrilled owner of Hodge's Bareface BigOne it's now surplus and takes up too much room.
In very good nick, no dints on the grill or rips to the carpet covering. Just a few scuffs on the plastic corner protectors.
Aluminium coated speaker cone, which I think looks quite classy. 51lbs in weight, so not too heavy. Fits on the back seat of my Clio. I'll stick photos on if anyone's interested.
Don't really want to have to post this, would be happy to meet up somewhere up to an hour-or-so drive from Derby.
I wouldn't ask for any petrol money if I don't have to drive more than an hour or so each way.
Priced to 'go' at £60.

Neil Fox

Now Sold 15/1/11

PM'd for tuners

Have a bump from me.
I really like these double bags. I find my Ritter model really useful when only taking one bass out. I can get everything else I need for a gig (except combo amp) in the empty section leaving one hand free for going up stairs etc.
Also, it means that you can hide 2 basses in 1 bag in the house, thereby conning the missus that you haven't spent as much as you really have done.

Hi, If Rich doesn't go for this can I have next claim please? Would like to buy.
Len

Have a seasonal bump.
I recently bought one of these from that fine gentleman GarethFriend as a backup/project bass.
It came fitted with flatwound strings and is a real groove machine.
A lot of bass for the money.

Bought a Warwick de-luxe acoustic bass gig bag off Phil.
Lovely piece of kit, excellent condition. Fair price, well packed and all top-hole.
A man to do business with.