kusee pee

Well done, it had to happen and you won't regret it.

We (the four musicians, not including the sound guy) own all the big gear in equal shares. The PA, desk, van etc is all shared plus storage costs, insurance etc.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1474306483' post='3137003'] The painful reminder that technology has moved on and left me behind....it all sounds fantastic, I understand IEM's and even own an IPhone but putting the technology together scares me. From your IPhone can you alter the mix for the other members of the band and just give them loads of lovely bass guitar? Could a member of the audience with the right app totally trash your monitor mix and even replace it with a One Direction song playing in your ears? [/quote] You can do pretty much what you want, it amazed me to be honest. But you can lock everything down and just give each member what's useful to them. The audience can't interfere as you need to be on the wifi from the iPad controlling the master mix and it's all password protected.

Thanks all, seems definitely worth pursuing. Was nice not to have to worry about catching the sound guy's eye and just being able to adjust myself. I only had the bass and my BV to play with this time but I'll put the whole mix on next time.

Any else tried this? Our engineer brought it along for us to have a play with at a gig last night. I was able to control my IEM mix from my iphone between tracks, was pretty simple and quite cool. We'll probably stick with it and see how it goes. I am guessing it has far more potential than I currently think. Anyone else used it and got any tips?

I did. Bought one of Derek Forbes' basses from him. Didn't pay a huge premium but I was certainly willing to pay a fair chunk more as it was used by one of my bass heroes in my favourite band. Very pleased to own such a thing. I would only do it again if it were from a name who really meant something to me, not just because it was someone famous. So, yes for emotional reasons of attachment, no from a commercial or bragging rights point of view.

Get a 5er and never turn back. You know you want to.

Barry Adamson with magazine. Particularly this: https://youtu.be/TFVrEJR2jN4 Great tone and playing, cool song too. Never have had the need to try and replicate but love the sound.

About an hour and a half each way is the norm for me. Normally means very late getting home (2-3am) after locking up the van etc but it's my choice to gig away from where I live and work. The tiredness gets me but I remind myself that gigging is a privilege. It would be ace to have roadies and a 10 minute drive but it's not going to happen.

We have 80s/90s but also plenty of 60s/70s and post-2000. Anything that gets people singing and dancing. Everything through FOH but with a markbass combo and extra amp on stage too. Gig a Dingwall ABI 5 mostly with another Dingwall as a spare.

I wasn't really sure why I first got a five but soon learnt that it's a far better instrument for gigging for me, much more flexible for hand positions and allowed me to play further up the neck - good for someone with short arms! I've played purely 5s for the last four years and would never go back now. They look cooler too 😎

A good drummer is essential to making a band sound good. Totally worth going through the hassle of moving the current one on and finding a replacement. You'll forget the hassle as soon as the first rehearsal kicks in.

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1472813999' post='3124448'] Not sure I reckon 'now' is that great. Sure there are niches like jazz, fusion and prog metal where there are top players but in much mainstream and dance stuff the bass is all computerised. Back in the early-mid 80s the charts were chocka with songs that had upfront bass playing what with Level 42, Sade, Duran, Paul Young, Associates, Smiths, Japan, ABC, Jacko, Paul Simon etc doing their thing. [/quote] The era and bands you mention are the reasons I play bass. For me, definitely a golden era, both for bass and for pop music. I'd throw in Talk Talk, China Crisis, Simple Minds, Curiosity Killed The Cat, Nik Kershaw, Kajagoogoo and many more - great basslines all over the charts.

I think TrevorR summed it all up nicely. Live with the hassle and the benefits should come back to you, particularly if you want to be getting into this type of gigging. Be the helpful band that did everything to make the occasion great. I normally like it when it's a bit different with other singers and stuff, makes it more interesting and a learning experience. Good luck!

In my experience, it's worth being as accommodating as possible unless there's a real cost to you or a risk to your equipment. It's a shame you weren't asked before but if you show willing to do everything to make the event special then the chances are that the reputational benefits will come back to you. Particularly if you are trying to get a foot in the functions door. There have been many times where we've got bookings from guests, friends, relatives of the original client and it's as often from how we are to deal with as how we perform. Of course you don't want to be taken for a ride but you should be able to get a win from this I would think.

I never get nervous nowadays but used to a bit in the early days. The nerves went as we practised more and gained confidence that we knew we could always put on a good show. Preparation is an important key for confidence.

Well done for the opportunity! A few years ago we had the luck of playing live on BBC Radio Surrey. It was much less nerve-wracking than I'd thought, largely because it was difficult to imagine people listening and seemed more like just playing to a couple of guys in a room. There was an interview too and the DJ was easy to chat to so it was just a nice, fun occasion. So just relax, play something you're confident with and just enjoy it. Let us know when you're on!

[quote name='Shaggy' timestamp='1471686262' post='3114994'] Never knew MM played with them; I'll have to re-listen Slightly off-topic, but the Herbie Hancock keyboard break on "Hunter and the hunted" (New Gold Dream) blows me away every time, it's so beautifully understated [/quote] I agree. It's never the same when they play it live but it's cracking on the album. Charlie's work is also great on that track.

[quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1471651846' post='3114850'] I've just spent about an hour, scouring the internet but I can't find anything other than album credits as a whole - not individual tracks. [/quote] Thanks for trying! The bass is good throughout the album but, as bubinga5 says, it would be tough to guess which track(s) are MM. Maybe we can ask him.

Indeed. During their mid-90s no bassist phase before Derek came back in for a brief second stint.

I've been hunting for the answer but to no avail so reaching out to the BC masses. Marcus Miller was one of the bassists playing on Good News From The Next World but I can't find which track(s) are him. Bit of a niche question but I've got confidence that someone here will know. There's certainly some nice playing on the album.

What a wonderful thing. Great gesture OP.

Only once and it happened to be at a gig. I was totally shocked, wasn't playing particularly hard or anything. Was an A string and I had to blag my way through the rest of the song. Luckily I had a spare bass 😏

I always have a spare bass sitting on stage ready to swap if needs be. In about 400 gigs I've had to use it twice and was mighty relieved to have it there both times. The possibility of having to stop a gig is something I want to avoid at all costs as reputations are easily lost and we never want to let an audience or a venue down.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1471345381' post='3112274'] Waterfront by Simple Minds. [/quote] Show off.