Storky

I think the verdict is probably fair enough, but, I can’t help thinking that if the songs were a little more sophisticated, rather than four basic chords looped for the duration of the “song” that these sort of incidents ie. accidentally copying someone else’s “song” where a similar melody is sung over the same four chords, would be much less common and easy to stumble on. IMHO etc

Very much like my identical one.

Looks great IMO, but a bit pricey 😏

Made in Japan, 2014. One of the nicest necks, fast and slim with vintage radius fret board in a lovely dark rosewood. The body is carved and the bass is well weighted, very light and comfortable. 

These models were made for the Japanese market and so are fairly rare, this one is antique white in colour. The are a few minor dings and blemishes, nothing major or very noticeable and only what you might expect from a well used, but looked after 8 year old instrument.

1 minute ago, Bunion said:

Sounds like they were trying to let you down gently 

I don’t know about gently, but the guitarist could easily have stopped it at any time, but didn’t. I did have the opposite and very complimentary comments from the drummer and from the vocalist. I think I was a thorn in the side of the guitarist though as I sometimes had opinions that didn’t always agree with hers

1 minute ago, Downunderwonder said:

Put together a killer three piece and take all their gigs.

That’s a good idea. One further complication is that the fiddle player had previously asked me to get involved in two separate start up projects and one is doing a showcase gig next week (half hour slot, no money). Do I do it, or not?

Well things move on and I’ve quit.

Quite sad as I’ve been in the band for 8 years. Final straw was when as no one had contacted me in 2 weeks (unusual) I messaged on group WhatsApp and guitarist then phoned and said how good the gig was (that I couldn’t do due to holiday), that the band has never sounded better and that the sound (which I usually take care of) was spot on. She went onto say fiddle player was booking more gigs but that he was finding it easier to book for 3 or 4 rather than the full band of 5.

later on WhatsApp she posted the gigs booked and I confirmed I was available for 6 of the 8 in the diary (the 2 I wasn’t available for had been agreed before they had been booked, so that’s fine). Fiddle player then chipped in that not all gigs were for full band and that all but 2 were for a 4 piece band. It was suggested that we meet to discuss whether me or percussionist should do the gig. The problem being that the percussionist had already been told of the gigs and had agreed the fee; I’d been told nothing and don’t believe in a band with 5 players one person should be required to stand down when willing and able to do the gig.

Anyway without going into more detail, I ended up walking as I felt I wasn’t wanted by the guitarist or the fiddle player.

I play more jazz style than slap and have a Duke. It’s a big beast compared to my Zella (which is a carved bass) much heavier and has a more chunky neck. Sound wise, it’s pretty good, even sounding and nice to play.

Just now, grenadillabama said:

John Entwistle might say "Get yerself a big amp !"

I’ve got a big enough amp, the reason two of them can’t hear me is not because I’m quiet; I’m probably the loudest there, but because they’re too cloth eared and are only focusing on what they play, or the lead instrument for cues as to when to come in. It’s pathetic really 😏

On 28/02/2022 at 10:49, mikel said:

Its simple really, and no need to go in circles. Do you like the music the band plays, and, do you get on with the other members? If the answer to one of those is no, then leave. Life is too short.

The problem is I do like the music and I do get on well with the other members, although one or two of them wind me up, but I have a good relationship with them outside of the band as well.

On 28/02/2022 at 11:28, MacDaddy said:

 

Are these gigs paid gigs?

The first of the three was on Valentines night; it was £180 so not great and I wasn’t going to get a pass from Mrs Storky that night so I suggested they do it as a trio, which they did.

The second was a freebie. The guitarist has being saying she wants to push the band to “the next level” and I agreed, but I backed it up by saying that I wasn’t prepared to keep doing freebie’s (we’ve done a lot of open mikes and free charity slots). They did it anyway.

The Third was a paid gig at a pub I had identified as a possible venue (although fiddle player contacted them). The date the venue offered was short notice as they had a cancellation and unfortunately it was to be when I was on a holiday abroad which was booked months ago. They didn’t tell me they were doing it, but I found out when I heard recorded footage from the night. The fee was £300 I believe.

39 minutes ago, Rich said:

OT for a second...

Did you ever get a resolution of that in the end? Things were moving from what I recall of our last exchange. PM if you'd rather not say publicly.

The band usually use my PA when we play as a five, but I keep it at my place. When they’ve done gigs without me they manage with a Bose S1 and a AER guitar combo.

8 minutes ago, Nail Soup said:

One thing to bear in mind is that broadly acoustic music is different to electric music, in terms of missing instruments.

An electric rock band would sound rubbish if the bass player or drummer where missing. With an acoustic band it's more like any line-up can work. I've seen the folk artist Sam Kelly a few times.... he goes out with any number of musicians, him plus seven, three ,two or one etc.

 

That’s a fair point. Like many I’ve come from  electric bands in the past.

1 hour ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

I don't usually comment on this type of thread. At the end of the day it's down to the individual to make up their own minds. The fact that they bothered to post in the first place usually means they already have, and are just looking for someone to talk then out of it. 

 

There's often musical differences in a band that can someone's be hard to overcome. I can live with that. If it's something that makes the band better overall then it's worth the work. 

 

In this instance though, it's the absolute lack of respect for your skill and contribution that would be the final nail in the coffin for me. It sounds like the rest of the band (or at least half of them) couldn't care less whether you're there or not. That would be plenty reason enough for me to walk. 

Yep, I think you’ve got it. I don’t think it’s malicious though, just a total lack of understanding from the guitarist as to what bass is or what it does. She has said she likes double bass though, because it looks good! (Says it all really)

1 hour ago, OliverBlackman said:

Gigging/ rehearsals ect is a big effort, especially when only for a hobby. If on top of that the band doesn’t value what you bring to mix as a person, there’s no way I’d bother. 

Agree it’s a lot of work, which I don’t mind but then they’re not fussed if I play or not so it’s a bit deflating. Guitarist suggested I skip rehearsals to save the work for me. She says “you can just fit in” completely missing the point that I would want to learn the songs properly to do them (and myself) justice.

2 hours ago, uk_lefty said:

Having made the same difficult decision myself recently I'd say the fact you're even contemplating it means it doesn't look like there's much of a future. You could have a band meeting to give it the rallying cry of getting a better idea of what you are: a guitar/ fiddle and vocals trio who sometimes add a rhythm section or a full band that sometimes does stripped down sets, or a full band take it or leave it? What are you as a band, what type of gigs do you want, what do the punters respond best to (it's not always the songs the singer insists on doing because they're his or her favourite), what do you want to be known for? I was in a band for five and half years and became great friends with my bandmates, but I'd still struggle to describe what that band was: it wasn't "rock n soul" but so hard to describe when trying to get gigs in new places. We had no drive or direction and just played the same handful of gigs year on year with anything new treated with suspicion if certain members hadn't brought it up. That was already creating a divide. Incidentally, it was them booking a gig knowing I wasn't available that sealed it for me. 

 

And now almost six months down the line they've agreed to do a gig but they still don't have a bass player. I've been asked to dep, four weeks in advance, but I have other commitments so can't do it. Seems the person behind all that just hasn't learned. Bad habits don't just disappear.

Yes, I think you’re right about the “trio with optional rhythm section vs 5 piece that can do stripped down gigs. It started as the later, now looking much more like the former 🤔

Just now, zero9 said:

I’d start a band with just double bass & piano - who needs guitar 😉

I’d go with that! 👍 “whenever there are problems in a band, a guitarist is always close to hand” (IMHO 😉)

1 minute ago, chris7273 said:

Next rehearsal: let them listen to a few songs without bass 
they are easily found on YouTube (keywords : bass backing track, baseless…)

if they like the songs: then they are deaf. Or worse : they have no groove…in either case : quit 🙂 

That’s a great idea, although I think I know the outcome - I’d bet no one would notice there is no bass. ☹️ It’s a sad state of affairs that they place so little stock on the bass. Maybe I should look out a rockabilly band or something where bass is essential. 🤔

26 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

 

Absolutely this ^.

 

If you're the entire rhythm section and they can't hear you, then something is seriously wrong with the way the band sets up at gigs. 

 

I'm not convinced that you can blame their defective hearing or lack of musical experience! 😂

 

If I were you (and of course I'm not) I'd be suggesting the band goes out for a drink and a chat.

 

A drink and a chat is always a good idea; although I’m not the entire rhythm section as we have a drummer and a rhythm guitarist as well! And to be fair, it’s only 2 of the 4 others that don’t hear the bass, the trouble is the guitarist thinks as she can’t hear it, the same must hold true for the rest.

Thanks for all the comments everyone; it stops me moaning on at my other half! 😁

6 minutes ago, zero9 said:

Sounds to me like there is a mutual ‘not fussed it’s not about the bass’ in the band. Wouldn’t work for me...

I think the guitarist feels that way; drums and vocals go a along with it and fiddle just wants something to solo over. All a bit unsatisfactory. The thing that makes me hesitate is the band is a bit different to other bands and I like the material, but it’s nice to feel that you make a worthwhile contribution and I don’t. I think it’s similar for drummer, but she doesn’t seem bothered, so should I?

5 minutes ago, mikel said:

If you were not available for said gigs its hardly their fault. Acoustic bands seem to get away with almost anyone missing, except vocals. If you enjoy the music then stay, if you don't enjoy the music, leave. It's all about the music for me, as long as the other band mates are not complete idiots.

Yes, we had a couple of gigs offered. The last one was whilst I was out of the country for just 6 days on a holiday booked months ago. I asked if they would be prepared to ask for an alternative date; the answer I got was that they didn’t want to miss the opportunity so they went ahead

Thanks everyone for the comments. The guitarist and the singer can’t hear the bass, or at least their ears are not developed enough to know that what they’re hearing is bass. The drummer and fiddle player hear it fine. It wouldn’t occur to them that bass players had their own forum, so not much chance of them seeing this.

I play upright bass in an acoustic band. It was formed by the guitarist and I was 2nd one in. Guitarist is very limited so I recruited fiddle player to add some lead. We also have drums/percussion. Female vocals have recently changed; guitarist chose her without consultation with rest of band and in my opinion she is also limited. Fiddle player loves it and is getting loads of gigs, guitarist loves that fiddle has improved the sound and is getting gigs. They are now getting gigs when I’m not available (I’ve missed last three) and it seems they are quite happy to go ahead without me. Guitarist has admitted she can’t hear the bass anyway, so I don’t think I’m much valued. So question is should I stay, or should I go? Waste of time, or worth sticking with it?

That’s a very interesting thread; I’d love to have a silent stage but don’t know what exactly is need and in any case doubt I’d ever get it past our dinosaur guitarist/singer and drummer.

10 hours ago, Woodwind said:

Bit late to this.

 

I use Phil Jones Double4's to amplify my woodwind instrument.

For on stage monitoring these are wonderful. Great sound and so easy to transport. This is when I'm going through a house PA

 

However I'm planning more shows where the audience/stage relationship is slightly different and greater amplification is required. The "stage" sound is the sound in the whole space.

 

I recently got a Yamaha DBR12 and just as the others have said about their QSCs I simply don't see why I would buy a "bass amp" again.

 

Oodles of power, wonderful bass extension and very articulate mids.

Oh and £370 delivered......

Thanks for the input. I also have the PJB double 4 which I use at home and am very happy with it for practice. It does look like I should seriously consider the FRFR route.