Chiliwailer

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1429193512' post='2749058'] The question that is the title of the thread. Seems like it's a 'yes'. [/quote] Doh, gotcha!

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1429189916' post='2748995'] Oh (and from personal experience) don't let your guitarist knock the 'ear' off the dalek! [/quote] Was that with KLF?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1429189027' post='2748967'] I think then you've probably answered your own question. [/quote] You lost me there pal, what do you mean? P.s. I ended up getting paid jobs in the end, but it sure is a gamble giving freebies.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1429186657' post='2748899'] If you're getting expenses and you're not actually going to be out of pocket AND you're moving here anyway, I'd say GO FOR IT. [/quote] I hear you brother about not being out of pocket...but.... If you're serious about being a session player then often dues have to be paid. I spent a year doing sessions, after doing varied work I quickly realised I didn't enjoy it, at all. But my journey there was fun and i was proper dedicated. I did some sessions for free and without expenses to 'get out there'. It ended in paid work, one act I did freebies for took me on the road and the next thing I know I'm sitting in a room hanging out with 2 Spice Girls, 2 All Saints, Bryan Adams and Liam from Prodigy. That could have been the experience to keep me buzzed and enthused but I could see in Liam's face how much he wasn't enjoying being there (his Mrs was an All Saint) and I knew I wasn't enjoying the whole experience too. That's when I knew the end was nigh. After a months recording session in Spain with some tossers who went on to have a number one album I realised I was better suited to bands and chemistry playing so I have no regrets whatsoever about dropping out from threat gig (in true tosser style they screwed up the 2nd and 3rd album anyway!). To conclude... If I hadn't done free or non expenses sessions, I'd never have known or got myself out there.

Ugh, hell....

If you want to be a sessiom player then I'd say you need to do it. The session world has its own rules, you need to put yourself in the mix and get to know people and have them know you. This is an opportunity that could go nowhere or result in exposure of some form that may help you now or in the future. Cliche but...it ain't always what you know but who you know, and how your personality and vibe fits. Good luck

Pay to play killed many London venues years ago, back then I stopped playing and going to those venues, I'll be damned if I support them as they did sweet FA to promote. The more serious bands knew to avoid those places anyway if they didn't have a large following. Those venues attracted a certain type of band, I'll leave that one there... Then there are venues or promotors using venues that have their own vibes, excellent DJ's, different rooms, an evening that doesn't revolve around the bands playing, and a scene. They do it so well, bands don't need to concentrate on promotion. The music was secondary, made it more fun for everyone as my pet hate was and is being stuck in a room having to watch a band you're not into. So if people came in to watch the band they actually wanted to be there, good times. Lastly, and my favourite, we played in a scene that had warehouse parties. The kind of atmosphere created always made for a great gig and night. Again you don't have to promote a gig, just a great night for your pals. That's the secret I reckon. Edit - just to say that those last two paragraphs can work, we got a following and deal that way, people weren't forced into liking us just because they were there, proof was always in the pudding by the way the room filled or emptied and how people respond after.

I do like a nice Jazz Bass me I started off with a USA 5 string Deluxe, especially bought for a band I was in, when that was finished I ended up selling it and bought a MIM Standard - I was using P Basses or a MusicMan Sabre mostly so it was used as a practice bass due to the versatility. I liked playing it so much that I sold some bits and came home with an original 1964 Jazz which was beautiful. I had to sell that one to buy property, since then I've had a couple of USA standards, USA 75RI, and an original 1972 but have stuck with a CS Closet Clasic '63 Jazz Bass, it's the one most suited to me. Still fancy a Mike Lull M4V but my CS is a real stand out one, compared it to at least 6 other CS's and it's always come out on top so why change?

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1428957755' post='2746485'] Chiliwailer - so is your 'old' set TIs? Mine have run me 8 years so far, used TIs yes please [/quote] Yes mate, 2 year old set. Problem is, they were my tester set for a while, they went on quite a few basses whilst I was deciding which basses to keep and which to sell. It's kind of silly, but the red wraps are looking quite worn and that bothers me, plus I'd really like a set on the bass that have only been on that bass. I'm not sure if they are in a condition to sell so I may just leave them in the spares box?

So whilst Strings Direct have up'ed TI's by a fiver, Dv247 have the, at £30.30 or £35.29 delivered. My Jazz Bass is looking forward to a new fresh set tomorrow http://www.dv247.com/guitars/thomastik-jf344-4-string-bass-guitar-strings--211125?gclid=CO-6zI-588QCFQn3wgod72sA1Q

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1428847951' post='2745176'] For gigging, the white G&L, hands down. For a contented and pleasurable sigh every time I open the case, it has to be the 66. It just looks, smells and sounds so right [/quote] Mmmm.....

Great score! These are killer basses for the cash, I literally sold tons of them back when they came out as I worked for a Cort dealer. If memory serves me right, they were £179 back then, which is about £269 these days. Enjoy!

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1428827307' post='2744799'] I currently own 2 Precisions and they both feel like 'coming home and putting on my slippers'. It is nice to go out, go on holiday, but nicest of all to come back home again. [/quote] Nicely put! I never tire of hearing about your short scale, would love to try one if them one day, shorties always add certain something I really like. For a few years I played a heavily modded 71 Musicmaster with a full size P pickup, shame I let that one go as it did things a full scale can't,

[quote name='Shaggy' timestamp='1428828086' post='2744810'] Up and posting at the crack of dawn Chlilwalier? My first was a self-build in the early '80"s with aftermarket parts, intended to be a replica of Sting's maple board fretless P circa '1979. It was OK if a bit rough, and was my only bass for the next 15 years or so! Then a succession of bitsa P's made with mainly '70's Fender parts, but I've ended up with a '65 P in 3TS / tort / rosewood that ticks all the "P" boxes. You've got to have at least one! [/quote] Haha, yeah I'm nearly a week away from my long overdue and delays surgery so currently greeting hardly any sleep...Basschat to the rescue!!! You 'ended up' with a 65P?

My first proper bass was a Ray, happy happy days

[quote name='grahamd' timestamp='1428793171' post='2744672'] As an aside Flea favours a low action, go figure!! [/quote] Buzz buzz buzz!

To get the ball rolling... On a personal level, a Precision became my go to bass, the one I feel most comfortable on and which suits my style. I also like Jazz Basses and early MM Sabres, but the P Bass gives off an extra special vibe for me. My first was a Squier JV, black and maple. I've had too many in between, pre CBS, 60's, 70's, Deluxe, Custom Shop though strangely never a USA std even though I rate them. Currently using a Mike Lull. For my needs it's perfect due to the weight, balance and tone. I don't really have one I'm GAS'ing for as my Lull covers what I need. If the 6 lucky numbers came up then probably an original 1960.

There's been some nice posts on BC recently about players getting their first P Basses. Even though there's a huge amount of varied high quality basses out there, it's amazing how a 1957 design is still so useable, copied and appreciated. It doesn't have to be a Fender either, as long as it's split pick up, volume and tone, it's a P Bass isn't it? So what was your first Precision? Have you had a few? What's your current flavour? What are you GAS'ing for?

A pleasure to sell to Andy.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1428760355' post='2744341'] I used active basses exclusively for over 25 years, but there was always something about the sound that I wasn't happy with & as a result I was always farting around with the EQ on the amp & the bass. Over the course of the last couple of years I sold all my active basses & now just have two passive basses - they just sound "right" to me. Getting them to sit in a mix either live or when recording is a doddle too. [/quote] I get you there. When playing with others passive basses make me play better in that I feel the grooves better and it's easier to lose myself in that natural tone that sits in the mix. I like that different players get inspired by different tones. [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1428761228' post='2744350'] I think people worry too much about all that. Isolated recordings are full of noise - but as the bass was never intended to be heard thus, it doesn't matter. All those little sounds, ghost notes, unmuted string rings and inflections are what makes the music what it is and proves it was played by a real person and not programmed by some git who doesn't know that bass guitars don't go below low 'E'. [/quote] Spot on for me too.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1428760503' post='2744344'] Flea digs in like feck, so you'd expect his action to be moderately high. [/quote] Yeah, and the albums and live recordings are still full of fret buzz, I love it!