martthebass

2 hours ago, TimR said:

 So you stopped working on bass and your bass playing abilities stopped improving. 

 

And you started working on your vocals and your vocals improved. 

 

Who'd have thought? 😆

Crazy eh? 

Well at least I know now who to come to if I’m going wrong in future. 

2 hours ago, TimR said:

 

Not one bass player on this forum is not better now than they were when they started. 

 

At some point they make a decision not to do any work to get better. 

 

 

I think that’s a stretch Timbo.

id say my bass playing has probably declined a bit over the last few years but my abilities as an overall performer (backing vox particularly) have improved as that is what is required in the current band….if anything I’m working harder that I was when concentrating on being the next Pino.

Just now, dmccombe7 said:

Will need to try that Mart. 

Dave

Deffo Dave - make those Mesa valves glow like the sun!

I consider myself mediocre but some of that is because I know my musical theory is pretty pants. I’ve occasionally got good comments and I take it as a positive that I get asked to jam and dep so I try to focus on the positives. I’ll never be Entwistle or Pino but I intend to be a weekend warrior till I drop.

On 23/10/2023 at 17:01, Bluewine said:

 

We can't impose band policies anywhere. The bar imposes their policies on us. 

 

Daryl

Sad that mate. We usually insist the background crap goes off while we sound check, if this doesn’t happen we crank the volume until it does…

Well unfortunately after all the learning the vocalist suffered an injury and had to cancel all gigs until the new year. Still, as they say no practice is ever wasted 

Don't do many rehearsals with my band (70s Glam Rock) as we are normally gigging plenty and only really need to get together to pull in a new choon or pre-test new PA etc.  However our autumnal break left me with 2 weekends free and a local band with a bassist deficit (due to illness) asked if I'd step in on 3 gigs booked on these 2 weekends.  So cue frantic learning of 37 rock n roll standards and a rehearsal last night with 3 musicians I hadn't played with before.  Bit of a challenge as RnR isn't really my forte and I refuse to use a music stand with chord charts.......glutton for punishment.  as they say in Yorkshire, 'It'll be reeet'.

10 hours ago, Ramsay777 said:

After a break from playing i've been loving my Sterling 4HH in Trans Gold lately - checked out the website and they've totally decimated that range, 2 colours and single humbucker only?!

 

Also can't believe the price these basses are running, I ordered mine through Bassdirect about 10 years ago and think I paid £1550! 

 

Calling their budget range "Sterling" is a crazy shout too, but I imagine there's already been plenty ranting on that front 😂

 

 

I know what you mean, I’m one of those who prefers the Sterling to the Ray but explaining to the uninitiated what it is….

Still looking for an illusive Starry Night finish 4H Sterling 

20 hours ago, Brian18242 said:

Very much on the fence if these upgrades justify the price tag. 

It’s a big hike. I think if you pick up one of the later make original MEs you’d have a lot left over to do whatever upgrade you wanted. 

4 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

This surfaced from our gig on Sat night. SLF Gotta Getaway. This is the 2nd time we've tried playing this so its not quite there and a bit of work in progress. Great song tho.

The vocals are louder in the mix but camera was just in between PA cabs which were angled outwards.

Dave

 

 

Nice tone on that one Dave.

2 hours ago, casapete said:

Withernsea can be a drag to get to Mart. Hull’s roadworks are going on for years yet, building a new intersection

by the Marina. Once it’s done you’ll be able to whizz straight through to Withernsea though! Would have liked

to come and see your band, but family health stuff meant I was unable to. Hopefully catch you soon.

All the best, Pete.

No worries Pete, I think we’ll be back there next year. We don’t do many out that way, we were asked to do some holiday camp work out Hornsea/Skipsea way but we were booked all the dates they wanted. Hope everything is ok with you and yours mate.

Played a smallish venue at Withernsea last night...pain in the derrière to get to as you can’t avoid going through Hull and the never ending roadworks are, well, never ending. Strange layout, long and thin with rooms off to the side. Couldn’t crank it up too loud as you’d deafen the punters at the front which meant the back of the place was a bit quiet. Despite it being ‘off season’ the place was packed and up and dancing from the off. The Landy was well chuffed and even made between spot sarnies.  It’s a bit of a trek but worth it with this kind of reaction so hopefully we’ll be back there sometime in the new year.

One thing, another one of them small stages which was a challenge but apparently the previous week’s band had been a 5pc with keys...god knows how they managed it 🤪......smallness demonstrated with pre first spot pic of drummer waiting out the ubiquitous bingo.

2 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Part of my Glam rock stage gear. ............... honest. 

And there’s me thinking it was your own hair 😂

That reminds me, it’s time to wash me hair…..

22 minutes ago, Paul S said:

Don't think I hadn't thought of that 😁

I've been waiting ages for the star shaped version of this to come up for sale.

1 hour ago, Pirellithecat said:

Nice bass!   Could you tell me the Nut width?

These are 'Jazz' width - 1.5".  At least mine was and the standard US Sterling is.  Most comfortable neck ever.

Another nice local gig in Rotherham last night. A well run and packed social club with a verrry compact stage. The audience were up for it from the start, I was just about sat on the drummers lap 😂 The club was full by the time we’d got the gear in which compromised the sound check somewhat but we managed. It was a 3 spot gig which is unusual for us but it made the night go quickly. 
That’s the last local one for a while, next week it’s the seaside - Withernsea.

I had one of these.  Seriously nice basses and as you say the Sterling version is pretty rare.  Originally wired in series IIRC, it really did wipe the floor with the Stingray I had soundwise.  GLWTS

38 minutes ago, ezbass said:

So many things are overrated in the world, our own opinions being pretty high on the list (I’m aware of the irony here). However, in our world of bass, I think pick playing is rather underrated.

Strangely I get goaded at jamnights around my parts because I'm one of the few bassists who's mainly finger style.  I feel compelled to get a pick out and show them the middle (unplaying) finger.

On 03/10/2023 at 20:35, Dan Dare said:

Interesting that more than one asserts that Markbass is over-rated. I must disagree. I find MB gear doesn't have the baked in eq that is designed to give products showroom appeal, even when set supposedly "flat". It is honestly voiced. It does not sound bright/hyped when you stand next to it, but it projects very well out in the room and has a real weight to the sound. It does lean a little more towards old school than some brands, but is none the worse for that. I'm don't use MB (I have an AG700), but I would be happy to do so.

It just goes to show that we all have different ears/expectations.  I've been using MB (LM3/MM500 with 2 NY121s) for a good few years and get a great rock tone not just to my ears but also fellow musos.  

A local one for us last night, literally a 5 minute drive from home. A well stocked club and remained that way to the end. Fortunately no major technical issues on this one as we just used the tops as the venue was doable without big subs so the drummer was acoustic rather than electronic.  Gave the little MW sig Mustang a run as it’s been a while since I’d used it, I’d forgotten how easy this thing was to play.

We’re playing this one next on NYE so hoping for a repeat crowd as experience has taught me not to expect too much of NYE.

15 hours ago, BigRedX said:

Hurtsfall have just been told that tonight's gig at the O2 Academy in Sheffield has been cancelled. The explanation we have been given is supposedly due to RAAC Concrete at the venue and all gigs have been postponed while investigations are carried out. However there is nothing on the venue's website about this. I smell BS from the promotor (HRH). Anyone have any definite info about the situation?

I think I caught something on the local evening news on this….

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-66963409.amp

On 22/09/2023 at 17:31, Cat Burrito said:

It's been an amazing 7 days for my little gothic duo Deadlight Dance. The album came out a week ago and we had some surprise radio play in France ("un groupe darkwave d'Angleterre" - or as my partner rechristened us - "The Sisters of Merci" 😂 We have our biggest show to date tomorrow so decided to venture down to the open mic night. Armed with two massive effects pedal boards and two mandocellos, we seem to be accepted by the locals like the strange teenage kid of the friends who is going through a phase. Nick's vocal is so strong that people can't help but watch us - I am not convinced that means they are all liking it but we certainly seem able to captivate. That appeals to my punk rock spirit. We recently opened with Joy Division's New Dawn Fades which kinda bombed recently in a rival village pub. The decision at the time was we shouldn't open with it again - a couple of weeks had passed and we totally ignored our own advice to much more success! 

 

My favourite JD song, always brings a tear to me eye.

2 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Spot on. 

Its not a song i really enjoy playing but lots of people like it. I just don't like the feel of the E string tuned down to D. It bounces too much altho fitting Elixirs few weeks ago has meant the tension is greater and i don't notice it so much. I've now ordered a set for the Glam bands main bass my Sandberg VM4.

Oh happy days.

Dave

Ditto, not one I’ve really played much but I was asked to play it at a jam a few weeks back. Drop D on a Mustang - not the most effective combo 😂

11 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

If you're used to playing 5 stringers then why go back to 4 ?

Personally i've tried 5 and 6 stringers over the years but i'm happier with 4 strings.

In the punk band  i have to tune down my E string to D for one song. I just do it between songs while the singer talks to the audience. Only takes a few seconds. I guess a drop D tuner would be the easy way around it but for one song it just wasn't worth it for me.

Have to say that after 20 happy yrs with a 5 er i can't see any benefit in going back to a 4 string bass.

Dave 

Into the valley?