thepurpleblob

I almost bought one of those FNA Jazzman things a year or so back but after a bit more playing the neck did start to niggle me. Seems I don't get on with the shape. Shame, one of the best sounding basses I have ever played. They are a bit "geeky" though. You wouldn't want to turn up to a punk gig with anything other than a black Precision. That's just the way it is

How much are those then? I've always been something of a Yamaha fan. I'd be interested to give one a try. My first bass was a BB :-)

Yepp... complain to your CC company, definitely. This sort of thing goes down very badly with the CC company. I have reason to believe that the percentage rate the shop gets charged by the bank for the CC service can be affected if they have to chase lots of customer problems.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='294438' date='Sep 29 2008, 12:00 PM']Slightly off topic, but it seems like a lot of bass players don't drink.[/quote] I was reading somewhere that bass players often turn out to be the most accomplished all round musician in the band. Perhaps we are just quite cerebral people. I don't think I can claim any of that myself.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='294435' date='Sep 29 2008, 11:54 AM']I'd definitely suggest a few beers. You may play worse, but you'll care less![/quote] I don't drink... another terrible psychological failing

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='294424' date='Sep 29 2008, 11:38 AM']I play in a band where I am by far the least experienced and talented. Most of the other guys have gigged 40+ times. I did my first ever gig a couple of months ago. I've now done a total of 4! Strangely, I always seem to be the least nervous. I find a good few pints helps. Also, I tend to think to myself "its only bass - most people can't tell when you f***-up". I then look at the 40 people watching and it kinda puts things into perspective. Until I play Wembley, I view every gig as a rehearsal.[/quote] Even though I only started playing bass a few years ago in my old age, I've played a LOT (hundreds probably) of gigs. Some on big stages at big events, weddings, the lot. Previous to that, I played percussion in orchestras - I've even played the Royal Albert Hall!! I would have said that I don't get stage-fright but I'm probably kidding myself. Most of the time, I play worse live than I do at rehearsals and it's down to stress and the body-tension that generates. I guess it's just the kind of person I am

[quote name='OldGit' post='294391' date='Sep 29 2008, 10:47 AM']Well the first thing is to remember the 6P rule "proper preparation prevents p155 poor performance" ie manage the situation beforehand. Whomever does the "management" bit in your band should check everything like this beforehand - a lesson for the future, perhaps. If that's you then I guess you have a few new questions to ask the promoters when booking up a gig ... Then remember a few things .. "It's only rock and roll" "No one died and it didn't even rain" Then remember that for about an hour before playing your bloodstream will be running with adrenaline, you'll be nervous and excited and your mouth will probably spout rubbish if you let it. So avoid situations where that may not be the best thing ... Do not under any circumstances get drunk or high until after playing Then there's a few actual techniques .. Remove yourself from the situation, go somewhere quiet (or at least away from everyone else) and just do the visualization mentioned above, It's like Johnnie Wilkinson seeing that ball fly over the crossbar before kicking it. Just visualize your gig going well ... Physically? Here's a few tricks from my public speaking kit bag: (Warning, DO NOT DO THIS ONE IF YOU ARE PREGNANT) You can calm yourself down by massaging the triangle web pad between your thumb and first finger. If you are stressed there will be a little knotted/painful bit there, just give that few minutes' massage. (Warning: DO NOT DO THAT IF YOU ARE PREGNANT - it can effect things "down there") The second technique also helps with shaky hands .. Sit on a chair and push against the sides of the seat (ie under your bum) for 5 x 10 second bursts. this will help you calm down and stop shaky hands .. Then get out there and do the do ..... Remember, it's just a gig ....[/quote] Thanks More good advice. It actually *was* all my fault I suppose. It was just a pub gig, but there where a lot of people I knew and it was on the back of another, unrelated event with which I was involved. The organiser of that had assured me on several occasions that everybody knew everything that was happening but clearly communication broke down somewhere. I ended up knocking on the PA guys door half an hour before the start time (he has buggered off home) asking if we could move his stuff around and getting told that "he would just come and take it all away then". One of those nights :-)

[quote name='phil_the_bassist' post='294367' date='Sep 29 2008, 10:23 AM']I know it'll sound corny but I take a deep breath in, close my eyes, picture meself walking out onto the stage at wembly with a gazillion people cheering and the spotlights on me, then breath out, open my eyes and notice I'm at the local Dog&Duck and it all seems amusingly relaxed after that give it a shot, it might help![/quote] How do you know this wasn't Wembly? Good advice though - not corny at all!

I won't bore everyone with the details, but we played a gig along with another band over the weekend and to cut a log story short it hadn't been booked properly, the other band didn't know we where coming, the PA guy took a strop and I got *very* stressed out. The net result was that my playing went out of the window. All that stuff that was simple got very difficult because I was very tense. My question is, I suppose, what do you do to either stay or get relaxed for a gig? I get stressed very easily and it has a very bad effect on my playing.

[quote name='lowhand_mike' post='289750' date='Sep 23 2008, 11:03 AM']well i said a while ago that our singer was getting worse. well the last gig we did was pretty awful, and while it is wrong to blame just one person for all the mistakes as we all made more than our share i feel alot of them could have been avoided and could be/were attributed to our singer. he has a folder with all the lyrics in front of him on a stand so missing words/verses/chorus is just not on but that happened alot and is very off putting. also the singers job is to be in tune, or at the very least close to in tune which is getting more and more unlikely. and timing is getting worse. we've been doing this for 2 years now so it should be getting better not worse. so theres the back ground, anyway last night we had a little practice, which wasn't great especially as the singer didn't even bring his lyric book so he lala'd his way through most of the songs that we did. after the practice it got "discussed" without saying straight the "you can't sing" simon cowell style which we (lead/drums/and me) felt would be a little unfair/harsh but he didn't get it, just saying we all had an off night (at the gig). all the people who came to see us said the band was good though we did make alot of mistakes which was unusual but the singer can't sing. so now what do we do as the singer just doesn't get it. i have suggested we get a small tape setup to record some practices so we can hear back what it sounds like in the hope that he can hear what he sounds like but will that be enough or do we just have to be straight as i/we can't do another gig like that with people walking out. we have another possible gig lined up but it is in a pub on floor level with the punters and it is always busy there so we won't get away with it. any suggestions? just to clarify i'm not saying i'm perfect by any means but i can at leaast play in time and in tune as can the drummer and lead.[/quote] Why? Do you know? Presumably he's getting worse for a reason.... drink, drugs, dodgy women? It would be easier if you knew.

Just to add my $00.02.... if you really are a total beginner, it's sorta difficult because you don't know what you like yet. On the other hand you don't know what you don't like either . So, my advice is to buy almost anything in the mid range knowing that you'll almost certainly get rid of it again. Although I'm not a big fan myself, you aren't going to go wrong with a (Made in Mexico) Fender Jazz or similar - they're as easy to play as you are going to get and when you have some experience and decide you hate having two volume knobs you'll get a reasonable percentage of your money back. You can also get some ridiculously good deals on second hand Japanese stuff that has done all its depreciating. High end Yamahas and Ibanezes can be had for next to nothing. There was an RBX-775 (top end of Yamaha's RBX range) for sale on here for 150 quid for weeks, until the guy gave up. Amplification depends entirely on your needs. For learning I would probably recommend a headphone amp. That's what I've always (and still do) use in the house. The variety that plug into your PC too so you can play along with iTunes (and various slowing down software) are the answer. Failing that, everybody makes practice amps. A second hand combo shouldn't rush you too much either, but they're heavy and take up space if you're only going to sit on it and have the volume turned all the way down!

I'm in a punkish/rockish/bluesish covers band called the Barking Spiders. We are all forty-somethings and play stuff we like, so you can imagine what that's like. We still get the younger lads jumping about. We are, of course, completely invisible to women No website despite/because of that being my day job. Next week......

Just to add my $00.02.... all this stuff about directional cable, OFC cable, solid-bloody-silver cable even was just invented to part stupid people from their money. Two core mains flex is as good as anything.

I've tried a few - some very expensive - and they've all been rubbish or broken quickly. Ones that plug into the mains are the answer. Get an extension lead

If you don't have a CD..... Have a nicely printed set list / information sheet. The venue wants to know what sort of stuff you'll play, how horrible you look, and if you'll fit. Don't forget contact details that actually work. Have business cards too. Go in looking like you mean it. Try and be a bit presentable :-) As to speak to the person who books bands. If they're not there, and they never are, get their name (write it down), when they are in and leave an information sheet. However, always always always go back and speak to the right person. Ask for a gig - just ask, "we are a great band, you'll like us, and we'd go down great in your pub. Can we have a gig please?". When they say they are fully booked ask if you can leave your details in case of cancellations. If all that fails, go back in 3 months and try again. Around here, the good pubs are booked up a year in advance and it's hard to get on the circuit. Being available for cancellations can make the difference. This all assumes that you are not crap when you do get to play of course Couple more thoughts.... don't go at stupid busy times or when other bands are playing. Again, if anything like around here, avoid big cities. Central Glasgow, for example, is just full of places that basically want you to pay them to play (sell tickets to your mates). The choice venues are all in the "burbs".

[quote name='jmccabe' post='284670' date='Sep 16 2008, 12:00 AM']Hi Since getting my new Dean Edge Pro I've started tinkering with the setup on my old Aria Laser Electric (Heritage) Bass, but I seem to be having problems getting a lower action. I've read loads of bits and pieces here and there and I think I know what to do, but I've hit a snag. I've tried tightening the truss rod a little at a time but the last time I noticed that the nut where the allen key goes in appears to be cracking up a bit. I haven't really forced it or anything, but there is some damage there. So my first question is are the threads, diameters and lengths of these nuts fairly standard or do they vary hugely from brand to brand? If they're pretty standard then presumably the nice nickel one from WDMusic will fit. Secondly is a more general question. I've lowered the saddles quite so that they're very close to bottomed out but the action in the middle of the neck still seems quite high. However after the 15th fret or so I'm getting quite a lot of buzz. From what I've read that suggest that there's too much relief (the place I read that said "buzz on the high frets -> too much neck relief, buzz on the lower frets -> too little neck relief, buzz all the way up -> strings too low). That is why I'm trying to reduce the relief by tightening the truss rod so that, at some point, I can raise the bridge saddles back up a bit. I've also been looking at the possibility of shimming the neck but as far as I can see, if I shim it at the nut end of the join I should be able to overcome teh buz on the high frets but it will make the action at the middle frets even worse. If I shim at the body end of the join then I'll have to raise the sadlles quite a bit which might end up with the action being no better in the middle frets. So I'm a bit not sure what to do. Comparing the neck to the Dean it certainly looks like there is too much relief there, i.e. it's much more bent, but the Dean is a thru-neck so does that make a difference? Finally there's a possibility I would take it along to an expert to get it sorted out, but I was wondering what that's likely to cost and whether anyone knows a good place near the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border. Thanks for any advice. John[/quote] I'm going to suggest something is wrong with your neck. Do you know how to check the neck relief? Hold down the string against the first fret and the last fret (or as near as you can). The string should *just* clear the 12th fret. I'm going to guess that you'll have a big gap in there. That would mean radging up your truss road a lot but you'll need to fix it first. I very much doubt that parts are standard - you'll need to get the right bits.

[quote name='Bass_In_Yer_Face' post='284148' date='Sep 15 2008, 12:30 PM']I have been playing Bass for a couplr of years now and used to have lessons. Due to financial reasons I've had to stop going now and I'm fast running out of stuff to practice to. Can anyone recommend songs that are a bit of a challange to re-spark my enthusiasm?[/quote] Anything / everything. Switch the radio on and listen. Also, join a band :-) It doesn't *need* to take over your life; I am old and have loads of other commitments - it was just a matter of finding a band with similar people.

Try a DI box and see if it makes a difference then. It doesn't need to be anything special just to prove the point one way or another. There's a lot of rubbish sound engineers out there too. It's a properly difficult job. I wouldn't know where to start making something sound better with a wizzy parametic EQ etc.

[quote name='6stringbassist' post='283727' date='Sep 14 2008, 04:03 PM']Melodic minor sounds great played over an altered /super locrian scale, a semitone up from the key you're playing in, eg play Ab melodic minor over a G altered. Not rcok and roll, but I like it !.[/quote] What the hell are you talking about?? Back to Wikipedia........