blue

Getting my sound is always a struggle. My tone comes from my fingers, that's easy. Blue

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1506055993' post='3376123'] my take on being in a band is that we are a team. The drummer has many more trips to make from his car to load in and out and we always help him without needing to be asked. And likewise with PA. The ones that don't know how to set it up lug it in while I set everything up, as usual I've been in bands where a guitarist will set his 50w combo in the middle of the stage, run his cables to his pedalboard,set up his guitar and go get a drink and chat up the ladies. But not for long......... [/quote] When I arrive at a gig, I set my gear up then I start helping others lug gear. Same with tear down. I pack my stuff up first then help others. I'm always the last person to leave a gig. Blue

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1506283812' post='3377643'] I totally get why you've said that. However, (I'm 65 btw) there was just as much crap around in the 60s and 70s as there is today. Conversely, there have been some really great artists over the last 10-15 years. [/quote] Name a few. Please don't name Thundercat. Speaking of Thundercat, I guess I get that some can't listen to Jaco. Thundercat is probably the only bass player where I was listening to him on YouTube and had to turn it off. To me his music and bass playing was odd and made no sense to me. Is that generational? Blue

[quote name='Maude' timestamp='1506285934' post='3377664'] I play in a Mod/Northern Soul/Ska band who play covers and originals. Obviously a few of those names you mentioned are big influences, other influences come from the original Jamaican ska bands and the likes of The Who, The Jam, etc. I never realised I was so influenced by John Entwistle until a fair few people have commented after various gigs. I also play doublebass and am very influenced by early rock'n'roll and rockabilly bands. I grew up on post punk, goth, industrial and metal so have influences from there as well. As you can see I have a wide and varied taste but still can't see any influence by Jaco. You mentioned Stanley Clarke, I bought an album of his years ago thinking it would further my bass knowledge but I just cannot listen to it, I revisited it a while ago thinking I might have changed my view, nope cannot stomach it. The same us true of Jaco, I have tried listening to every track posted in this thread but can't get past thirty seconds or so, it really makes me cringe. Yes he can play but it makes me recoil. Edit to add, I didn't mean "why did it stop at Jaco" moving forwards in time but rather going back in time. I am much more influenced by people before him that influenced him, therefore I am influenced by them not Jaco. I also read up on him today to try and understand more but all that achieved was making me realise that as well as not liking his music I don't think I'd have liked him as a person either. Not that that takes away from his talent or his untimely death, although it seems he partially brought that on himself. [/quote] This has to be a bit generational. I've been studying bass player styles for 50 years. So I get some younger guys, 55 and under not getting or understanding Jaco. Hell, I'll be 65 in a few months and I don't get the appeal of this guy named Pino. He's not someone I would consider one if the "masters". IMO he's a product of the "masters". Blue

[quote name='FDC484950' timestamp='1506319228' post='3377784'] Setting aside for the moment what contribution he has or hasn't made, it is amusing that there are still people who want to get a fretless sunburst Jazz out and sound like him. The problem is, no-one does (and plenty of very good bass players have tried). He got his sound through a combination of natural talent, some fortuitous circumstances and a hell of a lot of hard playing.[/quote] Agreed, nobody sounds like him. Even the guys that nail "Teen Town" on a YouTube clip. They playing along to Weather Report and being lead along. If there's a clip of someone nailing "Teen Town" live with they're own band, I would enjoy hearing it. Blue

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1506275320' post='3377529'] What age do you class as older? im 51 and can`t listen to more than 30 seconds without switching off, sorry but he has never done anything for me. [/quote] I would say older are the guys in their mid 60s. By beef is not with people that don't understand Jaco's style of playing. I mentioned that I'm not a huge Jaco fan. My beef is with guys that feel Jaco has not been influential and an ispiration to thousands of bass players. Blue

I think the name brand basses I play today are better than the Fenders & Gibson basses I played back in the 60s & 70s. Blue

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1506455225' post='3378914'] I guess we're all heading towards 60 ( or away from it) but some of us are closer to it than others! [/quote] I think for those of us over 60, baby boomers there is always going to be different opportunities to play with older guys. There are so many of us that started playing when we were kids and we haven't thrown in the towel yet. I don't think it will be the same for younger generations. There won't be as many of you. Blue

I've made every gig and every rehearsal for the last 6 years, and we were doing 65-70 shows annually. Music / gigs come first in my life, anything personal I cancel. Blue

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1506385051' post='3378403'] Oddly enough i thought i had found that ideal band last year. All the guys were likeable, pretty laid back and pretty talented. Today the guitarist announced he had enough and his heart wasn't in it anymore. As he was the main founder of the band and probably the leader when i joined i didn't see the point in continuing without him so the band has folded by looks of it. So its onwards and upwards to the next project or adventure in this Game of Musical chairs. I dream of finding the band will last the test of time but as i get older i fear that the chances are getting slimmer by the day Dave Dave [/quote] Dave Finding 4 people in all aspects of a band all on the same page is nearly imposible. I found those 4 people 6 years ago. In my location I know when and if this band folds, I'm done. Finding a focused working band with experience Musicians that understand gigging for profit band culture and how to be in a band just wouldn't happen. Blue

I guess it depends on what ones role is in a band. In my band my role is to show up at gigs, help set up, play electric bass guitar and sing backing vocols, bring and convey a positive fun attitude, and help tear down. I don't offer or suggest songs, marketing strategies,sound or other production ideas. Keep in mind that was my choice, the role that I chose. There are others in the band that are probably more effective offering assistance in those areas. With that being said, if I ever join another band and depending on the band I might want to contribute in those areas. It might be a part if the terms that I would accept an offer. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1506244402' post='3377227'] There are plenty of people on Basschat that are old enough to fit your idea of the correct generation that openly state that they don't get him, go to a bass gear show in the uk and you'll find people in their 20s and younger doing "the Jaco thing" on a fretless. [/quote] Well, that's good to hear. There's still hope for our youth.😁 Blue

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1506273083' post='3377504'] So six grand gross take. After all the exes I would be surprised if they took home 2k between them even so. Its tough at the top AND at the bottom, evidently! [/quote] 2k between 4 guys is "big time" for guys like me. Blue

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1506235258' post='3377155'] Mathematics doesnt work out too well on that one, Blue. 200 punters x 10 bucks gives you your 2k but doesnt cover anything else. In the UK you would have to be doing at least 3-400 seaters to stand a chance of getting that sort of money & of course you then fall foul of the classic "We make a grand a night once or twice a month" versus "We make 500 a night four or five times a month" syndrome. I am like you - love to gig, so would be doing what I am doing right now. Any place any time anywhere for silly money because I dont really need the bigger $$ any more. [/quote] I get where your coming from, however I should have provided more detail. I was really thinking about the bands touring in the States that are getting $20.00- $30.00 a pop. Brand X played a small club in Milwaukee last week and they were charging $30.00. Blue

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1506206420' post='3377101'] The truth is Blue, is that it's totally unimportant to them. Not knowing about Jaco Pastorious will have no physical effect on anyone's lives and will probably make no difference whatsoever to the playing ability of 99% of the world's future bassplayers. I'm not trying to be sarcastic here. It's just a fact that to some kid who wants to play Foo fighters covers with their mates, Jaco Pastorious made no contribution to bass playing whatsoever as far as they're concerned. [/quote] I disagree. IMO Jaco has made a contribution to anyone playing bass today, whether they know it or not. Blue

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1506177553' post='3376899'] It's not generational at all, it's not a young vs old thing, there are older people that can't listen to him and younger people that really dig it. [/quote] Then I guess it's s personal thing. I don't know any older people that can't listen to him or young people that can. Blue

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1501138681' post='3342704'] We're starting to write our own material - Blues and Southern Rock influenced. At the moment it will be a case of dropping a few in among more well known repertoire at our pub gigs, but hope to move towards doing more of our own stuff. Anyone else gone down this route? Any pitfalls or any useful advice? Thanks. [/quote] That's how my band started, all original harder blues/rock material. One of the goals was to gig as much as possible. They realized early on at the local level playing originals meant little to no gigs. They decided to add classic hard blues rock covers. They went in to averaging 65 shows a year. So it can be done. And for those who label us who play covers as paint by numbers, no creativity or whatever, it's just not true. It's not a "Don't Stop Believing" proposition for all of us. As a matter of fact we don't play one cover that I haven't developed my own spin on, my creativty for. And I probably never play any song the same twice. And BTW, currently we only play one 1-4-5 blues song. Blue

Good gig. Small bar gig in Milwaukee, 9:30-1:30. About 30 enthusiastic engaged fans. The band was playing on all 6 cylinders and the 4 hours went by in a flash. Blue

My effects worked great last night. I did have a chance to do some tweaking before we started the first set. I did have to keep things in check by adjusting the volume on my bass when I kicked in distortion. Last night I used a single coil MIJ (2001) 1954 Fender reissue P Bass. Things might have been different had I used one of my Gibsons with humbuckers. Used one of my GK rb1001 heads with one 2 x 10 cab. Used a little TC reverb, phase, MXR Bass Octave with distortion from MXRs M-80. I would much it up depending on the song. We do a pretty heavy version of Little Wing and I went full boat with all 4 effects. Phase was pretty subtle. Blue

Heard only good things about him. A good friend of mine did some James Brown tribute gigs with him in the City with Felicia Collins from Paul Schafer's band. Blue

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1506074845' post='3376252'] Wow! That is almost as bad as Nashville no-name money! UK I have been getting about 450 uk pounds for club dates and about 250 for pubs. This regardless of if it is the 4 piece band or the trio etc.... even get 150 and more doing a solo! But now I am mostly doing self-indulgent originals/obscure sh*t gigs the money is ludicrous, of course. Between 35 and 50 a man.... [/quote] I would love to move up to 1.5 hour 200 seat headliner gigs for 2k. Blue

A generational thing. I get how young players might not get his once in a lifetime style and approach to the electric bass. However, I will never get or understand how some younger players don't understand his inpact or overall contribution and inspration to thousands of musicians. BTW I'm not a huge Jaco fan. Blue

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1505769495' post='3374237'] Do you routinely record your practice sessions or gigs? What do you sound like with the rest of the band blasting away the frequency spectrum? [/quote] We don't rehearse, lately some of out gigs have been recorded but I've never heard any of the recordings. What I sound like on stage is hit or mis. Some nights I'm really pleased with my on stage sound and tone. Some nights not so much. To be honest, I have no idea what I sound like through the subs and mains. Blue

[quote name='CameronJ' timestamp='1505757987' post='3374112'] What OD/distortion are you using, Blue? [/quote] An inexpensive Dr.J Soloman (the yellow pedal) and an MXR M-80 for distortion. Blue

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1505766674' post='3374203'] ha - we do mini sets of 1.5 to 2 hour sometimes, known as 'oh its only a short set'. 3 hours is normal, beyond that I start getting a bit annoyed! [/quote] If we start at 8:00, I'm just getting warmed up at 10:00. I'm so blessed to be gigging. I'm never annoyed. When that happens it's time to throw in the towel for me. Blue