IainS

I think if I were looking for a new band I’d ask what type of music they played, some example songs, and take it from there. Hanging out with a bunch of people twenty years younger or twenty years older can be pretty fun as long as you’re all on the same page musically.

Amazing! Two and a half hours, too! That is a long time to fly by the seat of your pants. I hope it does lead to a change in a jazzier direction for you.

This thread has made me realise that I don’t actually play any of our songs exactly like the original. I get close on a few occasions but on the whole I make it up as I go along and then if I like what I’ve played and nobody complains I try to remember it next time. That’s worked for me for the last 30 years. Our guitarist is the complete opposite to the point where he nails not only the song note for note but also the guitar and amp sound. He makes up for my shortcomings. It seems to work.

They’re huge fun. I could watch their videos on YouTube for hours, and probably have. I thought of them a moment ago when reading the thread about covers bands’ most popular songs, wishing that more covers bands (mine included) were as talented and creative as PMJ.

I think it’s what Christmas is all about, isn’t it? Buying basses. Christbass, I think they’re changing it to from now on. Roll on next Christbass.

I hadn’t seen it, but glad I have now. That is giving it some and then some.

Mmm...sweaty flatwound bracelet...

Got a bit of a thing for Balkan Beat Box and Gogol Bordello lately, in fairly equal measures. They get me dancing round my kitchen like nothing else.

I played BSSM to death and then did the same with their earlier albums. Some of the first songs I ever learnt (badly) were off those albums. Didn’t John Frusciante play with Mars Volta for a while?

We tried Mariah once. Our singer struggled. We haven’t played it since. Just Slade from us from now on.

Where The Streets Have No Name tends to kick our gigs off with a plodding rumble. Not the most exciting way to start a gig but I feel fairly settled in afterwards.

I'm changing my name to John.

We've been doing it for a while to aid our aging singer in his singing of the higher pitched songs, which seems to be most of what we play. The only problem I had was a loss of tension in the strings, losing that zing that some have spoken of. Thicker gauge strings sorted that out though.

They work a treat! I've given it a few days to get used to the extra tension - and there is a little more tension than I'm used to, even at my previous standard tuning, but I don't mind that at all. Thanks all, and to @verb for the strings!

Absolutely. It's much more fun to just start with everything turned up full and then wait to see if anybody asks you to turn anything down a bit.

Ah, you're a gent. I'm sure they'll get here tomorrow. I'll let you know.

I'm pleased you've recommended the EXL230 set as that's exactly what Verb has offered to send me to try out. If I get on with them I'll grab myself a shiny new set. Thanks again Adam. I've learned something this week!

I picked up The Legend Lives On many years ago. I didn't know anything about him at all and have no idea why I bought it. I remember the quizzical looks from friends whenever it went on the CD player. I don't think I understood it either, but it remained one of my favourite CDs for years.

We had to get a dep once when I broke a finger. He learned every song in one rehearsal, didn't hit a bum note on the night and left me feeling quite inadequate, and possibly redundant. But my band said that they never wanted to play with him again. He was technically brilliant but the band wanted someone 'solid', and that was me. I can live with solid being my outstanding quality as a bass player.

I saw that. I hope it's not too cold or damp in that basement. Ours is just a budget issue and my wife is the sensible one.

I thought of that but there was much frowning in my house when I suggested I might need another bass. So 4 strings it will have to be. For now.

Adam, that is about as comprehensive an answer as I could have hoped for. D'Addario strings have just become my new favourites. And I haven't even tried them yet. I've currently got 45-65-85-105 strings on and, as you say, the loss of tension when tuning down is noticeable, although I couldn't have told you that it was about a 5lb loss. I'll have another go on the tension guide and see if I can make more sense of it now.

And Dood, thanks for the link to the D'Addario string tension guide. I've never considered looking at the tension of strings in measurable terms, just high or low tension. I feel like I have been educated.

That's a good point. The strings do spend half their life at standard pitch while I'm learning songs from the original, then tuned down to play with the band. I'm going to try out a set of used 55-110s and see how I get on with them, then if I like them I'll get a new set and leave them tuned down from day one.

Thank you all. A few good suggestions there and it seems D'Addario might be a good place to start. And Verb, that's an incredibly kind offer that I think I'll take you up on. I'll PM you.