blue

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1413844963' post='2582799'] [/quote] Would you be willing to share where i can get that black band shirt? I think it's very cool. By the way, that is one of the hottest looking Fender bass I have seen in a while. Blue

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1413844396' post='2582794'] With you being American you'll know all about "Zoot Suits"? This is how we murder that look in the good old UK. You have my sincerest apologies and see if you can spot anything really weird about the photo ( and I don't mean the costumes)! [attachment=174372:1374316964.jpg] [/quote] Other than you look like you must be around 6'4", I don't see anything. Love the wardrobe and concept. Blue

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1413843983' post='2582788'] Sort of, we recently added goth/steampunk jackets to our cowboy hats, boots and jeans thing and the guitarist is reluctant, but we are working on him and he'll come round Basically we want to look like the band not 4 punters who've just walked on stage, if you get what I mean ? [/quote] Yes, and interesting that you would say that. I have always said, at least for me, [i]"I don't want to look like the patrons"[/i]. Even if I look ridiculous I'd rather over hear someone say;[i] "he must be in a band"[/i] Thing is there are some guys that think nothing of showing up at a gig with the same clothes they had on at the office that day. I was in a band once wear the drummer would show up in a white button down oxford, grey dress pants and wing tips. It looked nice but for a rock gig and when the rest of the band looked like hippies? You guys ruined me with all that fashion you spread around the world back in the 60s. But I still love that stuff. Things change, it's not 1970, maybe I have to catch up with the times. Maybe grow a big beard and wear cargo shorts and a polo? Another thought, maybe you guys that are over 60 like me think, what's the difference. At our age were invisible to most people anyway. blue

[quote name='Les' timestamp='1413843650' post='2582783'] We have a bit of a band image/theme so don't need to put much thought into wardrobe it as it's pretty much the same every gig. [/quote] No odd man in the band that doesn't follow the image accurately? Bluue

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1413789396' post='2581740'] My timing isn't good enough. If I just play unaccompanied, it sounds fine. If I record and overdub, I can hear that my timing is out. I'm addressing this by recording something multitrack most days, usually on a looper. I'm making progress. [/quote] Practice with a metronome. You know, and especially for you guys that will be auditioning. Most of the time you will be playing along with the recording that you will be auditioning and that's an ideal environment. However, be aware that the recording is leading and driving you and you can really been thrown off when you audition with a live band. Blue

For you gigging guys, how many of you have to put some thought into your look or what your going to wear for a gig. Especially you 60 plus guys like me. We can't dress or look like were 20 years old anymore , so it's a tough situation. This might be a cultural thing too. Your over 60 and your choices and options start to diminish. What can you wear to look and feel cool and respectable without looking out of place. Keep in mind, at least over hear, the grey hair, black fedora and bowling shirt doesn't work for everyone. I think most of you young guys, if your in shape can look good in just about anything. Everybody has a best look, do you know what it is for you? It's tough, and I struggle with it. I'm still workin my 70s look. My kids always give me the "thumbs down" on my choices. Am I at the age where I shouldn't care? Blue

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1413661850' post='2580748'] are you sure you need that gold top? [/quote] You know, it's interesting that you mention my Gibson Gold Top Bass. I purchased it mainly to ad a cool look , to enhance my stage presence. I plan on bringing it out and start doing a few gigs with it. I love the way the humbuckers hit my pedals. Do I need it? No. Do I want to keep it, Yes! Blue

I went wireless with Line 6s G-30 relay 5 years ago and I will tell you, even though I had been using chords for 50 years I'll never go back to using a chord. It's first in my pedal board chain, no antennas (right side), it's a clean addition. blue

I think you have to know and understand the level you play at. Even though I have been gigging since 1966 there are still things I don't know and are challenging. Youtube has been a great tool for me. I use Marlow DK's tutorials as well as the thousands of bass cover tutorials. Many times when I think I know, for example a song. I will find a good tutorial and find that what I thought was a half step was actually a whole step. Or what I thought was a duplicate note was an alternate. I never get cocky about my level of play. A bass player peer of mine once said. " I never had to put much into this , it's just comes naturally to me." Non musicians think he's great and I'm afraid he believes the hype. When he said, "I never had to put much into this". I could have easily said, " I know, and it shows " Blue

Yes, I do. It's the only way to advance. If you only play stuff that's fun and you already know how to do it, you never advance. The fact that I gig every weekend helps. I always have something to look forward to and a chance to apply what I have learned. Remember rehearsing is going over stuff you already know, practicing is learning the new and challenging. Blue.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1413573817' post='2579835'] I'm really interested in this octave pedal from MXR.. anyone had any experience.. [/quote] I use the MXR Octave pedal (3rd in my chain). It really thickens your sound. At gigs I keep the mid-range button on all of the time. It's great for a thick foundation under guitar solos. Blue

[quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1413659022' post='2580698'] It's a gorgeous blueburst . . . and the subtly tinted maple fretboard. [/quote] Are you talking about my Blue Burst ASAT? Interesting. I have just started gigging with it again. I used it last night and it was fun to play especially with the active pre-amp on. I purchased it used a few years ago for $500.00 mint condition with hard shell case. I think the G&L used is one of the best values out there, Nice thin neck and yeah, now that you mention it, the tinted fretboard is cool. Blue

Yeah,IMO there's no "right bass". I gig with several different basses and they are all fun to play and I hope to have them for a long time. Now there are things, like the right technique, skills, ability (chops) and dexterity that I'm continually trying to get right. I know some of you have had success with off brand and less expensive basses, That has not been the case for me. Blue

Keep the Squire and save the money. Blue

[quote name='joolsyboywonder' timestamp='1413404830' post='2578042'] In some of the pubs I've played, putting a bucket on the stage would be a bad move [/quote] Good one.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1413360868' post='2577395'] If it were to be left at the side..it would be totally ignored. The problem is also, who takes it round whilst the band is playing...[/quote] Ours is actually a plastic Pabst Blue Ribbon beer pitcher with the word "Tips written on the front. There's money in it so people know what it's for. It's stationary, nobody passes it around and we don't mention anything about it. It's obviously a different culture when it comes to tips. blue

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1413344688' post='2577329'] For the obvious reason that we are - indeed - a nation of thieving bastards. Someone would hook a stationary jar in seconds and out the door faster than weasel sh*t. It's not all Mary Poppins over here, Blue. [/quote] Hmm, I thought everything over by you guys was sort of like the Beatles movie " Hard Days Night". No? Blue

It's no secret, I don't let others use any of my gear. Not at this stage in life. For those that do, I think level of maturity, personality, type of act/band and the caliber of the bass your letting someone else use comes into the equation. Things like high end, low end bass, these terms are all relative. What I think is high end you might think of as mid-range or low end. Blue

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1413324907' post='2577270'] Personally I'd rather buy a CD/vinyl/T-shirt if I think the band are any good. [/quote] If I'm turned on, I'll tip and buy their CD and the t-shirt. Blue

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1413323060' post='2577246'] In the UK, in my experience, the hat or jar or bucket, if used at all, is either passed around or taken round. I've never seen it left at the side of stage. [/quote] Another good example of a cultural difference. Blue

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1413274171' post='2576477'] Yep, I like topics like this as I think the gig dynamic fascinating. i,e what makes a band popular/good/ignored etc etc. in the eyes of the punter. I mean, I'd back myself to know what I mean, but am often 'perplexed' at punters version... Anyway, back OT. Parties, ..? no one puts out a jar or hat at these dates, but someone may be grateful enough to put in a £50 or the organiser will throw in another £100. Generally tho, it's when the band has played to its alotted time, and they want to extend the evening.. In clubs, because there is not really a tip culture, punters wouldn't like a hat/jar go round after paying to get in AND OTT drinks prices, Basically, the only place a jar/hat would really work, IMO, is if the audience felt the band wasn't getting paid properly..hence jazz gigs because no one thinks they pay well... But IME, they don't pay any less that other gigs tbh. [/quote] To be clear, my post is not about anything being passed around to customers, more or less putting them on the spot. I'm only referring to a tip jar being placed somewhere off to the side of the stage or floor where the band is playing. The passing a tip jar around the room is another discussion. Blue

For those of you familiar with tipping, have you ever seen this one? The guy that thinks he can tip only a specific member of the band. Blue

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1413271681' post='2576448'] I've only come across this once - at a gig where we were playing. I felt that the attitude that went with the bucket was uncomfortably pushy. If I's been an ordinary audience member, unless I was a big fan of one of the bands, I's have probably told them to stick it and gone to another pub. [/quote] Cultural difference. Our tip jar is not pushy or uncomfortable, as a matter of fact you really have to look for it. We don't pass it around or make mention of it ever. The people that tip do it because they want to. When I'm out checking out bands, if I'm turned on I'm tipping. Blue

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1413309242' post='2577029'] Very sad to think with all the amazing happy music he made, he ended up committing suicide from severe depression. very powerful thing the mind.. [/quote] It's seems like many of the[i] "greats"[/i] are somewhere else mentally from the rest of us. Blue

[quote name='Oneandfive' timestamp='1413025532' post='2574245'] The ME50B is mostly great, but I agree with the earlier poster about the synth sounds. They're practically useless. [/quote] Agreed, I have a synth pedal in my board. I take a funk solo in [i]"Them Changes" [/i].I use it in one of the movements in the solo. Only time I use it. The thing does sound good. Blue