FinnDave

I have never felt the need to buy a 1957 Precision bass - and if I did, I would expect it to look as old and worn out as I am!

14 hours ago, Bassfinger said:

I play both, but mainly use a pick when live playing as I can't feel all the fingers on my right hand so Im more prone to mistakes playing finger style. 

 

For all the talk of tone and stuff that folk trot out, I find that when I listen to recordings of my playing I cant tell which method I was using at the time.

I've been playing bass for about 50 years, always finger style until 2017 when a motorcycle accident meant I couldn't use my right hand fingers properly So, I switched to using a pick. Took a week or two to get used to it, but as Bassfinger says, when I listen to recordings of the same songs played with the same band, I have to check the date to know whether I was using pick or fingers. 

I found the best pick for me was a 3mm Dunlop, absolutely no chance of any flex, so it had the feel of direct contact with the strings that finger style did.

About two years ago, I was fiddling around with one of my basses and realised I was playing fingerstyle, but bending from my knuckle joint instead of the base of my finger as I had previously, until the loss of  tendon ruled that out. I don't think I have played with a plectrum since.

Still can't tell in recordings which I was using, though! 

7 hours ago, Downunderwonder said:

Boomer is short for ''50's baby boom born person''. Many due to check out in coming years.

Nothing to do with bitterns, then. I was born in 57, so I must be one as well (not a bittern, obviously).

I don't have clue what a boomer is, but I can't see the market in old electric instruments lasting forever. 

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

T-Shirt - Orange website! ( @FinnDave one of the bands last night played Dark Star, bit of a cheat when you get 'three songs or 15 minutes 🤣 )

 

My GD band (Franklin's Tower) often tell the audience that the only have time for two more songs - Dark Star and Playing in the Band. 

2 hours ago, Obrienp said:

Got to ask: what is that bass? Supplementary question: how are you finding the Terror Bass/GR Slim combination? 

Far more important question - where did you get the T shirt? I certainly didn't get one with my LBT!

17 minutes ago, Niiranen said:

Hello - I have the same speaker GR Slim , but why have you fixed the amp on the top 🤔

If the Terror Bass is anything like my Little Bass Thing, then it needs to be prevented from vibrating off the cabinet - very light amp with hard plastic feet.

Played another Wirebirds gig in Witney last night. Same venue as four weeks ago, went well but our lights proved to be inadequate - we were playing in total darkness by the end! Good fun though, paid OK and several free beers (decent stuff, it's an independent bar with links to a local small brewery). My wife drove there and back, so no dodgy driving!

Going to look at stage lights on line today!

I have always used all four fingers on my left hand, but after a recent fall which involve me putting my left hand down to protect my head (instinctual, actually the wrong priority) I have had some trouble with my left hand, last weekend's gig saw my little finger develop a painful cramp, but I played on, albeit a little less enthusiastically.

47 minutes ago, stewblack said:

That's a good solution. Unless you can't play keys. Or own a synth! 😂

My keyboard skills are very rudimentary, but after my motorcycle accident (last 2015) I was unable to play a real bass for more than 5-10 minutes and used a synth to cover the time it took for my right hand to recover.

I currently have three Behringer synths, a Neutron (plus a keyboard), an Odyssey, and a 2600. I bought them to use at home but one of my bands is already asking me to bring them to gigs.

If I really want to sound like a synth, I use a synth instead of a bass.

51 minutes ago, Merton said:

Yes it can

Very surprised the ABM couldn’t, who said that? I’ve run mine without a load several times without issue…

That's good to know - I usually have both the Elf and a Sansamp in my gig tote bag.

Just now, paul_5 said:

Hanging's too good for 'em!!!

Then you'll have to flog 'em - you know it makes sense!

I'm definitely a 'hang 'em or flog 'em' type these days - there's only so much space on the wall, so if I can't hang 'em, I have to flog 'em!

Going to be hard to beat that lot - but here are my five Fenders which is my complete bass collection.

Around 1975/6 I was playing in a local heavy rock band - bass, drums, 2 guitars. We rehearsed in the front room of one of the guitarists  - just a normal semi. His mum and sister would sit in the next room watching TV and occasionally would pop in with tea and biscuits for us. We were using 100 watt stacks and a full drum kit - I would have thought that we were clearly audible up to at least 1/4 mile away, possibly more. I don't remember there being any soundproofing, though I think we did close the windows.

No one ever complained, nor even mentioned it.

Damn! I bought an audio interface two days ago!

1 hour ago, 4000 said:

Ah, right. Yes, certainly wired differently to me then. I don’t really like most blues (there are some exceptions, like Peter Green) and although I’ve tried many times - since the ‘80s in fact - on the recommendations of others, I just can’t seem to enjoy any of the GD’s output.
 

Strangely enough - which I guess shows how differently we perceive these things - it’s the warmth and passion of Yes that I love! 

Different strokes, for sure. If we all liked the same thing, music would quickly become very stale.

5 minutes ago, Thump said:

Sounds like they want to hear it in winter as well. Tell them the can listen for free if they provide the snacks

 

 

I'd hold out for snacks and beers, myself

6 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

They’re unlikely to have change so I’d go for £200

Per person, obviously.

41 minutes ago, 4000 said:

Genuinely interested, what does float your boat? 

Most blues bands, about 75% of the Grateful Dead's output, anything well played that has warmth and passion behind it. My introduction to music that wasn't on the radio was back in about 1973/4 when Virgin released Gong's Camembert Electrique album for about 50p. I have loved Gong and their offshoots ever since, though stopped buying anything after Daevid Allen left though I still see them when they are on tour. I have a ticket tp see them with the Ozrics in Oxford in November.

I haven't 'tried' listening to Yes since the mid-70s. I'd like to be able to say that the music doesn't move me, but it does. I move rapidly to get as far away as possible from it.

Too clever by more than half, I just don't derive any pleasure from listening to them. 

To save time retyping this in the parallel Genesis thread, the same applies there.

Obviously, they have many followers, but I suspect I am wired differently to them and do not respond well to their music. 'Orses for courses.

27 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

I have the ACS ones but to be honest very rarely wear them unless i feel the band is approaching "too loud" but we dont really play that loud on stage.

I also have a set of Senner ear plugs for the bike and they fit really well and allow certain noise thru. They do a musicians ear plug that might be worth a look.

They are round rather than shaped liked the ACS ones and more like the industrial ones you get Dave.

 

Dave

I never could get those cylindrical foam earplugs to work at all - maybe I have weird ears!

40 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

I had that at rehearsal on Thursday with my ACS plugs, whenever I smiled (ok not that regular an occurrence) the “seal” was broken and more noise got through.

Note to self, remain miserable and protect your hearing.

I have photos of me playing dating back over the last 8 or 9 years in which I always look bored stiff - simply because I was trying not to loosen the earplugs! 

9 hours ago, moley6knipe said:

And we weren’t loud but my ears are ringing despite having the ACS moulded plugs in all evening.

 

How anyone can gig without ear protection is beyond me. Don’t buy that pedal you’ve been after - purchase proper moulded plugs instead. Don’t be like the drummer and say “eh?” every time anyone speaks.

I struggled with my ACS plugs for years - every time I moved a muscle in my face one or both would move and let the noise in. I finally stopped using them and bought £20 industrial ear protector 'headphones' from (I Think) Screwfix - lets me hear exactly what the rest of the band is doing but saves my ears from cymbal crashes and loud guitar (I mostly play in a three piece blues-rock band, so volume goes with the territory). They're also much easier to take off for a chat during the breaks and have never moved while playing. Easier to sleep after a gig without my ears ringing as well.