HeadlessBassist

It was always going to be the Queen and Quo sets for me at Live Aid. I just watched Madonna performing Like a Prayer at Live Aid and whoever the bassist was, it felt very thin and empty without Guy Pratt and his Octaver. Edit: Duh! I was watching "Live 8" some years later. 🤣

Yes, I played mine through a serious PA system at Warners' Alvaston Hall on Saturday, and it sounded huge. The punch of the passive Nate P was practically equal to my 18v Jazz Elite which has a very powerful preamp!

Hi Kiwi. Add me to the list, please. Where do I send my £135 to?

I like all my Jazz basses just how they are. They have a rich tone of their own, and I wouldn't really change it. As others have said, to butcher your main bass which for the most part you seem to really enjoy would be a shame. I recently (last week) acquired an early Nate Mendel signature Fender Precision with the aforementioned SD Quarter Pounder. That does have some serious punch. Maybe get something similar for when that extra punch is needed?

Personally, (and this is just my own thoughts), I'd see how the new lineup works and see if the female singer wants to push forwards with the rest of you. Also, blokiness often isn't particularly popular in this woke world these days, LOL Basically, I wouldn't let one person (the promoter) put you off what could be a very positive change for the future.

Change of personnel is always a strange one. In the Live Tribute Show we changed our Jerry Lee Lewis / pianist a couple of years ago. The original guy was blind and obviously relying on older parents (with medical issues) to drive him all over the country for gigs. He'd lost a lot of confidence over the years apparently, so he bowed out a couple of Christmases ago. As a result, our new 'Jerry Lee' kicked the whole show into touch with not only his skill, but his enthusiasm and on stage persona. We've also gone through quite a few drummers. A large part of my job has been training new drummers on the fly during shows! But even they totally changed the feel of the overall show. Luckily, the current drummer is a top session player from Milton Keynes, so we've again landed in a good place. Mick, your situation is indeed an odd one. What sort of level/audiences do you play to? I'd say the promoter is working on their own personal taste and your wife has the right idea. Surely going more mainstream with a female vocalist (I assume she's very good?) will lead to more work and a bigger audience over time? Anyhow, I hope it all goes well in the long run for you guys

As the title says, whatever happened to the Music Man Stingray Through Neck models? I remember all the promotional stuff with Joe Dart etc, but never saw one for sale or can find a used one now. I guess they probably did the usual American maker tactics of pricing them crazily expensively above the standard range of Specials and no one bought them!

I really like that, Neepheid. Looking at it sideways on (sort of playing angle), it looks slightly reminiscent of a map of the USA. There've been a couple of oblong(ish) shaped basses I've seen recently and they are very attractive in a strange sort of way, especially your 'melted' oblong

Mainly, don't spend half your life rehearsing. Make sure everyone has independently done their homework and learned the material, then have a couple of run throughs together and gig it asap. Endless rehearsals don't achieve a lot generally. Your arrangements of songs will develop with your own style the more you gig them. Also, always get to the venue at least an hour (or more if you can) before soundcheck. That way you have time to set up and relax and have a tea/coffee before you're needed to play. And the last and perhaps most important one - Don't drink alcohol on a gig. Afterwards, fair enough. But drinking alcohol before or during playing is seen as seriously unprofessional these days.

You're lucky, Dave. I can't get away without doing one. They'd dock my wages if I didn't showboat at least a little. 😢

Prodigy's Fire Starter in the style of a Military Waltz, perhaps..? 🤪 Joking, obvs! Anything you like that shows off the sound of the bass.

That'd be nice. Thanks

I'd be interested to hear some sound samples. The body you sourced looks really nicely finished, too. I really like open pore stained Fender-shaped bodies.

So did you put this together yourself, Fretmeister? Or did it come to you like this? I assume it's based on a Squier or MIM Precision or something like that?

Very nice, Linus The quality of instruments coming out of the Ensenada plant in Mexico has been consistently high for the last 3-4 years. Love the Forest Green, too!

I don't know what it should be called, but I like it. I like it a lot.

Yes, I used my Jazz Elite last night. Sadly, my newly acquired Nate Mendel Precision didn't get a look in. The Elite at full chat with the preamp on was potent and powerful for most numbers, and palm muted and passive with half passive tone for the quieter ballads. Even my "vintage" passive American Original can do any job on its own. Full 50s-60s tribute show, or technical power trios. I'd have a trawl through the marketplace on here. You can find some good instruments for very little money.

As for what makes a good all rounder bass, there are many variables. What sound do you like best? Which players do you wish to emulate (slightly), and what's the budget? Also, the type of music you're playing counts for a lot, too. Generally, I'd say that by the sounds of your mention of articulation, I'd go for a Fender Jazz. (Boring choice, I know!) American if you can afford it, Mexicans are very good these days if not. It's the one that can do literally everything. Make sure you try before you buy if you can, so you can assess the feel of the instrument in your hands and actually hear it. Some of them just hit the spot sound-wise. If you like that active punch of the Spector, I'd have a look at a few Spector Euro LX's. They're great basses, and very accessible on the used market.

Played my usual Everlys & Friends Live Tribute Show last night at Warners' Alvaston Hall near Crewe. First show for the full lineup in two months and was a belter, despite the ridiculous 30 deg heat. Luckily the powers that be at Warners actually had the air conditioning switched on, so playing was bearable! Two hour set straight through with no interval is always a challenge, but was very rewarding. Full six-piece setup, including fake Grand Piano housing for Pete's Digital Piano!

I'd like to try a neck for one of my American Jazzes if you're going to put them into production, Kiwi? I assume the 'PEEK' material is similar to the Status 'Phelonic' fingerboard material?

Very true, Mykesbass - you can't articulate or play with dynamics if you're constantly beating the thing to death!

Sounds like your son has given you some Rotosound 'Funkmeister' strings. They'll likely be ultra light Mark King spec 30-90 set, or similar. In order to run these, you'll need a very stable (full graphite neck or wooden with graphite support poles) and solid neck. I'm going to second Reggaebass here. I use 30-90 gauge on two of my basses, and 40-95 Elixirs on all of the others. I find the Elixirs light enough to have decent flexibility, but also plenty of tension. The tone at the end of the day comes mainly from the pickups (some body wood resonance) and the density of the fingerboard material, which gives the percussive quality. I generally like a bass to work with me, and not against me. I shouldn't have to work hard to play it. I did a two hour live show with no interval last night. Hands and fingers were fresh as a daisy even by the end of the show. So the 40-95 Elixirs are a very good compromise, last 30-40 shows at a time and are highly recommended.

First bass owned: Columbus P&J (basically an 80's Korean Charvel/Jackson copy.) Go-to bass: Fender Jazz (any out of a choice of three.) 'Signature Bass': Status S2-Classic which I've owned for 18 years.

Weird one last night; A prize giving evening for Dominos players at a hotel in Derby (the table-top game, not the pizzas!) Our newly jigged Duo set got a surprise early outing. Pity about the 30 degree heat. You could have wrung my shirt out into a bucket afterwards! Out tonight with the Everly's & Friends live tribute show at the Alvaston Hall Warners near Crewe. Just need to remember all of the Everlys/Buddy Holly/Jerry Lee Lewis numbers that I haven't played for two months! Perfect weather for a three-piece suit. Obvs.