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[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='576684' date='Aug 21 2009, 02:18 PM']Agreed, I was playing with my new project the other day when the drummer turned round and said "you are a fantasic bass player", it's the little things.[/quote] I got something similar with my new band last week too! I said the same back to him (and meant it, he's a fantastic drummer and we gel beautifully), became a bit of a mutual appreciation society. I thought we were going to bloody kiss eachother at one point!

Nice one! It's really hard to get a handle on all these subjective things and how you are as a player. I had an audition recently and was surprised at how much they liked what I did. Unexpected success is always nice! Hope it works out really well for you.

I used to be a guitarist, I needed to play bass to record my songs. I got a Jap Squier Jazz. I got asked to play bass in a couple of bands, one of which I'm still with. I ended up loving the bass and about two years ago my interest in guitar waned to an all time low, so I sold most of my guitars and my rig and invested in better basses. Never been happier! I still play a bit of guitar but very rarely. Influences? I don't know really, Geddy was a big influence but Scott Thunes is my bass/musician hero. Don't want to sound like either but their approaches are very inspiring to me. I seem to remember it was dub and reggae that really made me want to play bass years ago, Vivian Weathers in particular.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='576415' date='Aug 21 2009, 10:04 AM']As a fairly new BC member, forgive me if this has been discussed before, but how many of you read music? Do the one's that don't feel it's hindered you? I can't read a note. [/quote] Hello Pete, it's been discussed a few times but have a read of this - the biggest (I think), [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=33949"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=33949[/url] As usual, it got a bit heated here and there and WoT shut that thing down. I read a titchy bit but never need to, know a bit of theory and can can identify notes on the bass pretty quickly. I think theory is much more important than reading for me.

[quote name='Ricki_Bass_DK' post='576315' date='Aug 21 2009, 05:32 AM']Good luck with the project. It absolutely is do-able, so go ahead - it is a playground [/quote] Spot on, nice one!

[quote name='The Funk' post='576212' date='Aug 20 2009, 11:24 PM']That's my approach but then I'm a firm believer in different 'live' and 'studio' arrangements (and 'acoustic' arrangements too!). I do understand that for a lot of musicians (and fans) a live show is about perfectly recreating the record. I don't see that approach as not being valid, musically, ethically or otherwise. It's just not for me. Having said that, when I see a live arrangement of a tune that misses out the good bits of the studio arrangement, I get annoyed. I think the most important principle (and maybe the only principle) to go by is that you can't please everyone - so just try to please whoever you're doing it for.[/quote] I'm not religious about all this "purity" any more. I do what I need to do to help the singer and her songs sound as good as they can be. Two of my bands use BTs, one doesn't. The one that doesn't feels a bit different, it's slightly more fluid because that's the way it is, each is magic to play with in their own way. Whatever you do in your band, it should be compelling for the audience. Don't let anyone tell what not to do. Follow your instinct.

[quote name='JackLondon' post='576009' date='Aug 20 2009, 08:02 PM']I might bring my GT10B as I want to compare to some stuff from Line 6 if there will be any. Feel free to have a go at my Boss if it's of any interest [/quote] [quote name='MacDaddy' post='575922' date='Aug 20 2009, 06:46 PM']Can someone please bring a Floor Pod for me to have a fiddle with? ta [/quote] I'll be bringing my POD XT Live. I'll show you what's what's and you can have a play. I'll be very interested in a comparison with the BOSS!

[quote name='teej' post='575802' date='Aug 20 2009, 05:06 PM']Hey, I didn't think it was either, but you just left a door open for me [/quote]

[quote name='teej' post='575794' date='Aug 20 2009, 05:00 PM']Believe me I have plenty of experience of seeing solists with BTs struggling in the street while we draw in the punters and their money There's no theorising in the street, you get to see instantly and brutally what works and what doesn't.[/quote] Sorry, wasn't aimed at you either teej, i know you have more than enough experience of seeing acts with crap backing tracks or who can't play with them.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='575739' date='Aug 20 2009, 04:25 PM']FWIW I wasn't talking about any high-minded art bollocks, I just think using sequencers tends to make songs a bit stiff. I've no issue with using samples if you've got a flexible way of incorporating them, or (preferably) a turntablist to do it. One of my bands is experimenting with using a "producer" live to tweak effects and the mix on-the-fly because they have a more electronic sound and it seems like the most practical way to get some studio-like trickery on stage without resorting to pre-recorded tracks or clock-bound automation.[/quote] The problem is that it all depends on the band, the music, the whole shebang whether backing tracks work or not. IT ALL DEPENDS! The problem with this thread is that there's a lot of theorising and philosophical crap being said without any practical experience, just based on a theoretical POV. If my local jazz festival is anything to go by, there are no BTs there, loads of improvising and solos, and it's about as exciting as a snail sleepover. EDIT: thisnameistaken - this is not aimed at you, should have made that clear.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='575709' date='Aug 20 2009, 04:05 PM']Absolutely. Its a straight jacket![/quote] Nonsense. The straight jacket is not being allowed that extra sonic flexibility because of "artistic integrity". I realise you guys are into jamming on stage, but my bands are about finely tuned songs which sound more or less the same each time we play them. HOWEVER, we do improvise over the tracks to some degree and play beyond the track length occasionally, and some of the songs have no backing tracks.

The fact is, the nay-sayers' attitude is "I don't care if you have a forty piece band, backing tracks are out of order" and the yea-sayers use them as an augmentation or a substitute for people for a number of reasons. What makes me laugh though is the bit where some of the nay-sayers recommend getting a keyboard player instead, to simulate the strings and horns and whatnot, and that is better than a backing track. There's some hypocrisy going on here really, in the name of "artistic integrity". When I go to see Jase's band I want to hear the full glory of the songs as they are meant to sound, not an empty version with no BVs , keys and second guitar, just because of misguided "artistic integrity". Go get your BTs sorted Jase. And bollocks to unreliable "musicians".

I LOVE shops that have lots of S/H instruments, it's so much more interesting and exciting and much more likely to get me to open my wallet. What puts me right off is if I spot the S/H prices are way too high. What you should also remember is that justification of the purchase to the partner is almost always a prerequisite and to be able to say "ah but it was a bargain and I can always sell it on at a profit later" smooths the way considerably

We use a hardcore minidisc, stereo direct into the desk. It has percussion, some backing vocal, pads, mbira, noises, whatever ..

[quote name='Sibob' post='574687' date='Aug 19 2009, 08:29 PM']Yeah exactly, so why is it costing me £100 and I'm supplying all the junk? haha. Just to clarify, they supplied the electronics?[/quote] I supplied the pup, they supplied the tronics.

[quote name='geilerbass' post='574679' date='Aug 19 2009, 08:25 PM']I would have thought that a Jazz rout would be by far the simplest and quickest task. But then again, I'm not a luthier.[/quote] Not necessarily, there are four screw mount routs which a soap doesn't have.

Mmm, interesting, I got charged £75 at the Gallery very recently for routing for a soapbar and providing all new electronics with pull push pots. Thought that was very good value.

[quote name='JTUK' post='574206' date='Aug 19 2009, 02:21 PM']... but 4 guys on a stage in a pub doesn't quite work IMO..[/quote] Erm, yes it does. Two guys and a girl in my case, doing originals. And it works beautifully.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='574157' date='Aug 19 2009, 01:51 PM']The electronic orchestras and electronic horn sections that are used as alternatives to the real thing are compartively sterile. Bands can get away with it because audiences are ill-informed, have low expectations and are easily impressed. Take someone to see a big band or an orchestra for the first time and watch their faces.[/quote] Mmm, thanks for that, Bilbo. My electric basses are then sterile compared to an acoustic. My audience is ill-informed, have low expectations and are easily impressed. Great. I'll pack it in now then and carry on with my Health & Safety career where my audience is much the same.

[quote name='Tradfusion' post='574012' date='Aug 19 2009, 12:40 PM']I think you are still missing my point Bilbo, we only have one fairly average guitar player with drums, bass and a vocalist who plays nothing...thats it... and we are a decent sounding band at that but we could be better if we had a fuller sound, and we cannot afford to pay another musician.... thats all I am saying, I am looking for advice and not a lecture on musical ethics...[/quote] I think you need to understand that Bilbo is happy in the days before electricity. He's not looking to advance music and performance. I don't think he realises sometimes that the reason a lot of modern orchestral music never gets heard is because the rehearsal and performance costs, along with the generally poor attitude of many rank and file orchestral musicians, makes it prohibitive. If there's a way of programming a computer to simulate an orchestra, why wouldn't you use it. At least then you can allow people to hear your music.

[quote name='HMX' post='572519' date='Aug 18 2009, 01:25 AM']Low action, low tuning, slap and scoop the mids.[/quote] I think I would have to agree with that. I really like the line and the sound on the first vid. The second is dread, he sounds like he has no musicality at all. Never really been a fan despite my bro trying to get me to be.

What do you want one for? I'd only want want one to give my ego a damn good rub down with baby oil and have a "happy ending".

[quote name='BigRedX' post='573583' date='Aug 18 2009, 10:37 PM']Sounds like an exceptional drummer then.[/quote] Apparently, long before I played with him, he was laying drum tracks to nothing but a click in the studio when the click disappeared for about half a minute or more. When it came back in he was perfectly in time with it. I have this on very good authority. Pretty awesome timing I reckon. In fact, I think he deserves a big up for that, Hamid Mantu from Transglobal Underground. This will end up in the BC Cliché thread now

The drummer I play with in the two bands that use backing tracks never uses a click. He gets a good band mix with the backing tracks a little louder in his wedge and plays to that. BUT there is usually a percussion track in there or some other rhythmic reference. Other than that he has extraordinarily good time sense.

[quote name='lowdown' post='573424' date='Aug 18 2009, 08:29 PM']I think it should be called[b] Augmenting tracks[/b]. Because thats what you are doing. I have done countless shows and tours with large bands that have been Augmented with some kind of extra percussion or stg and brass parts or even 2nd guitar parts, or whatever with the use of a click. And it aint anything new. The Who used a reel to reel in the early days of Wont Get Fooled Again, live [the Arp synth part] Would not call them unmusical,whatever your taste in music is. Go for it. Garry[/quote] Well said. The point is that music and creativity is happening and people are being pleased by it. Music, recorded or performed, should not be reduced to religious dogma.