Norris

Zoning, slight return: "What song are we playing?" "Sh*t - what are the notes?!" "What key am I in?" "How many times have we done the chorus?" "Is it that bit before the guitar solo now, or have we done that already?" ...etc. Yes, it can get that bad sometimes.

I've always wanted another after stupidly selling my excellent 4001 many years ago. However, what with recent events I am seriously in two minds now. I might well wait until the prices drop to a level that suits the build quality ... or hell freezes over.

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1335871743' post='1637206'] Why do people go on about upper fret access. I can get to 1-12 un hindered. Thats me covered. [/quote] So how do you play All Right Now then?!

I must be rare in having a band that actually notices when things are different. There again I play in a trio, so the other two would need to be pretty ignorant to not notice. Anyway, when I got my Thunderbird it was nicer than my US Jazz - "It seems more alive all the way up the neck rather than bottom 5 frets" Then I got my Squier PJ - "Wow" In addition, two of guitarist friends - both occasional bass players, have looked out for & bought a Peavey Databass from ebay after hearing mine.

My Indonesian Squire P/J sounds better than my US standard Jazz - both are reasonably modern, both have standard pups. I certainly think the gap in quality is closing, and it's difficult to justify the extra cost of a US bass. Wherever they come from you still need to check you aren't holding a dud - and unfortunately that includes US basses.

There are some things that you should cup your hands round, but a microphone isn't one of them. Reduce gain, bring back behind line of PA, angle it so it's not pointing straight at the wall behind you that's reflecting the sound.

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1335512720' post='1632297'] Ah, D Minor, the saddest of all keys... [/quote] [quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1335519246' post='1632420'] Not so much Dm as a pentatonic blues scale. For everything. [/quote] Homework: Watch Spinal Tap another 10 times!

[quote name='Jack Cahalane' timestamp='1335442231' post='1631136'] What song was it? [/quote] She's not there, Santana version, the chromatic bass runs during (one of) the guitar solo(s)... G, Bb-B-C, F-F#-G, etc.

Covers band rehearsal last night, guitarist says "Wow - what's that you're playing?" I replied "Urm ... the bass line ... as per the record". "Oh. I've never heard that bit". So now it's an added feature of the track, with him doubling up...

Either he was getting into the groove, or was having difficulties with his denture fixative. I thought they were great. I missed most of the other 'turns', but was glad I caught the Shakes.

[quote name='bremen' timestamp='1335267072' post='1628237'] "I've just got this on Ebay and I'd like you to wear it on Friday' [/quote] We need pictures!

We've been planning a rehearsal for 3-4 weeks now, had already decided which tracks we are learning and just needed to arrange the exact date (this Wednesday) & the venue. Text message from guitarist late on Sunday night: "Just sent you boys a couple of emails with mp3s attached in case you haven't got them. Better late than never eh?!" Reply from drummer: "Thanks mate I've not got them, but have now" Bless him. So he's going to get three tracks nailed in two days...

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1334918043' post='1623369'] Its up to you guys really although having already accepted i think you have to now honour the commitment. We always put it to the band vote - the answer usually depends on the cause and how nicely we have been asked. [/quote] ... and how much free beer you're offered

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1334777648' post='1621225'] Exactly why I can't be bothered with active basses, but then I'm old school anyway... keep it simple, is my thing. [/quote] This ^

I'm still not ready - but have been playing in bands for 23 years now Just go for it

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1334562517' post='1617481'] One, Two One, Two One, Two..... Threeeeeeeyyaaahhhhhh! [/quote] Oh that's my favourite bit of audience participation, and always sounds so original every time. I'd really love to explain to them why musicians use 'One, Two' to sound check mics, but know it's really just not worth the effort

[quote name='Benplaysbass' timestamp='1333530340' post='1602827'] Transit van all the way, back bone of Britain so they say. Never had any problem that couldn't be fixed or bodged on the quick to get me where I'm going. [/quote] Coming back from a gig in Nottingham back in the 80s, the Transit was nearly out of petrol - we were always skint, so it never had much fuel in it. We pulled into the services at about 1am and put the usual tenner's worth in. Once everybody had returned from visiting the loo ... the van wouldn't start. The engine just turned over and over, but wouldn't fire. We checked fuel and spark - they were ok, but the van still wasn't going anywhere. Eventually the AA turned up and spent about an hour trying various things, still the van wouldn't start. It was about 3am when the recovery truck turned up and winched us aboard. A few days later the drummer had stripped down the engine to find a holed piston. How the van made it to the services is still a mystery.

Rock In Peace

I've forgotten my bass before now. The worst one was probably the time I forgot we even had a gig - my mobile rang just as our food arrived...

[quote name='CraigyJ' timestamp='1332270407' post='1585914'] ... Being a guitarist a new set of strings is even alien to me...I will often leave a set of strings on a guitar for a year or so...but it would seem with a bass they fade very quickly...something I didn't know...!! ... [/quote] Some strings fade quicker than others. I've always used [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/8377-ernie_ball_4_string_bass_slinky_nickel_strings_50_105_regular_slinky_50_105"]Ernie Ball [/url]strings which are relatively cheap, readily available and hold their tone a lot longer than a lot of others I could mention. Going back to the bass, if a string and/or pickup swap doesn't sort your issues, maybe look at P/J basses - which have a precision-style humbucker neck pickup and jazz-style single coil bridge pickup. That will give you a good range of tones to play with. If you search for 'fender aerodyne' you'll see the sort of thing, although Squier and other makers do similar affordable basses of reasonable quality.

Anything active - if it has a battery compartment, take it away I prefer thin necks like Jazzes or Rickenbackers, so have never fancied MM - the one I tried 20 years ago was too chunky

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1331816141' post='1579314'] If the neck relief/action/set-up is close to optimal (for you) in the first place, I'd not bother. If it's going to need lots of adjustment, then ask them if they've ever touched it. Given it's not that old, I doubt it will have seized.. [/quote] This ^

Congratulations Clarky! I'll give it a listen when I get home

Of course you already know they're headlining the Reading & Leeds festival this year?...