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[quote name='The Funk' post='574273' date='Aug 19 2009, 03:07 PM']My attitude is almost the reverse. I'd have more sympathy for a covers / function band using backing tracks than, say, Destiny's Child. That's a f***ing disgrace. I don't have any time for 'artists' playing to a backing track (even hip-hop artists - get a live band or a DJ) or getting the keyboard player to do little more than press the space bar on his Macbook Pro at the beginning of each song. It's different if their music relies on triggering samples for sound effects rather than instrumentation (such as Pink Floyd), or on live looping, or live programming - which I've never witnessed but would like to see happen.[/quote] With you on all that, big boy.

Using electronic / pre-recorded augmentation: * If you're an 'Artist' - say, Kraftwerk or Moby and performing your own original stuff, it's OK. Challenging, even. M'wah, M'wah, air-kiss. * If you're doing covers, you're a hack, reeking of cheap cider and Superkings. Weird, innit. We're edging dangerously close to the 'Covers / Tribute' debate.

The more that we drift off into the murky waters of artistic integrity and value judgments, the more I'm bloody-mindedly inclined to support the OP in his endeavour. The key to all of this is what's expedient in the OP's current situation. That said, I'm confused by the notion that it's [i]the venue[/i] that won't pay for the keys player. Do they operate some sort of 'per musician' fee? Just curious. The other thought that occurs is that if it's a question of the band taking a financial hit by adding another member - well, maybe it's worth looking to the future. Having real keys (oh, OK, Bilbo, an electronic substitute for an entire string and brass section!) would mean an overall expansion of the band sound and repertoire - not just the songs that need a particular part. This could lead to a corresponding improvement in the total package, thus leading to more gigs, more audience satisfaction. As I've mentioned elsewhere, keys make a band sound more 'expensive' and keys players, IME, tend to align themselves with the rhythm section. In any event, do what you feel is best for your band, enjoy it and don't fret about the 'Integrity' issue. In the context of cheerfully knocking out some covers in a club, 'Integrity' = Tripe.

[quote name='lowdown' post='573424' date='Aug 18 2009, 08:29 PM']The Who used a reel to reel in the early days of Wont Get Fooled Again, live [the Arp synth part][/quote] ...and on at least one of the many occasions that it all went hideously wrong, Townshend hauled Bob Pridden out from behind his Revox and chinned him in front of the audience. I respect both sides of this argument about "real musicians" and "creative augmentation" - it's situation-specific - but for the OP, it's got to be a question of what's expedient, no more. Fair play to him. That said, I predict fun times ahead in the rehearsal room. A-One, A-Two, A-Three-and-a-half! Best of luck

* Mapleglo 4001, Walnut EB-3 with slot headstock, Gibson semi-hollow 4/6 doubleneck * Big ol' SVT, Marshall Lead / Bass, Acoustic 370 * Ampeg 8x10, Marshall 2x15, Acoustic 301 ..and get back to a 32" waist so I could wear the flappy bell-bottoms to go with this nostalgia fest

[quote name='arabassist' post='570524' date='Aug 16 2009, 11:31 AM']Prob no. 1: I'm 18, been playing for 16 months and i've never been in a band and never gigged in my life before. ...how much of a problem would this be? Prob no. 2: I really do not understand the electronics of bass ... the only thing i know is: turn on amp, plug in bass, change EQ on amp for desired tone, change volume & tone on bass - what else do I need to know? Prob no. 3: i dont know much theory.... messing around with scales, doublestops and triads (ive just been messing round and listening to what sounds and 'feels' right).[/quote] 1. No problem at all. Everybody has to start sometime. If they didn't, then there wouldn't be any gigging bass players. 2. Er...that's pretty much all there is. You're done. As for effects, you may not need any - that all depends on the genre of music you're going to be playing. 3. Like many people, I started gigging without even knowing there was even such a thing as '[i]theory[/i]'. So, again, you're way ahead of the game. You don't need more than 2 basses. One to play, one spare for emergencies. Just chop your practice amp in and score yourself a rig that'll chuck out min 300w, with a DI out if poss. Maybe get a little compressor if your new (s/h) amp doesn't have one built in. Yup, you're ready.

Just ask them in advance which songs you might sit in on, and ask them what key they play them in. Get solid confirmation, as people have a tendency to mis-remember. Then go away and learn the parts in those keys. If it's Rock, Soul, Blues they'll probably be fairly straightforward songs. Failing that, buy a capo

Yeah, about 5 years ago, IIRC. I'd have one if I could get a Cheesy-Star Squier for around £100+; then re-spray it, new p-ups. Pickguard's a bit thick too, but hey. Cheapest way to a "sort of" T-bass.

...plus £510 postal insurance

Hi pbassman and welcome Sounds like you've got some seriously interesting kit there! There's a fair amount of useful playing stuff in the technique section, and you'll find some interesting gear in the amps for sale thread - much better prices than ebay and you meet some nice people picking it up. Cheers Skank

Hi John - welcome to Basschat Hope you enjoy yourself here - lots of info, gear porn, great deals and the occasional hilarious flame war

Hi Max - welcome to the Forum Hope you enjoy it here - just don't let your sister see any of the drummer 'jokes'

Hi FlatEric - welcome Sounds like you've got a interesting stash of gear - post some pics sometime in Gear Porn? Good to have another grizzled veteran ([i]if I may be so bold[/i]) with us. [quote]I look forward to learning more about this site[/quote] All you need to know is that 'Off Topic' is where the really naughty boys hang out All power to your low end thump Skank

Hi entropicp - welcome - and hope you enjoy BC

Hi Charles, hope you enjoy it here

Hi V4lve - welcome to the Forum. In describing yourself, you've listed a number of characteristics - which in one way or another are shared by a large number of people here - except maybe the Klezma - that's a bit more unusual! Hope you enjoy yourself here. Skank

Welcome to the forum, ebbingtide Hope you find what you're looking for!

[quote name='Starless' post='568490' date='Aug 13 2009, 10:49 PM']And what is it with these people (eech..sounding like a stand-up comedian now) who fit brass nuts (no monkey jokes now) to their basses? "Oooh... listen... great sustain...", these poor sods play nothing but open strings all night?[/quote] When people first started fitting them in the 70's-80's, the original rationale was sustain + "gives you a similar tone to when you fret against a metal fret, thus 'balancing' your sound" - presumably as opposed to the tonally "dampening" characteristics of a bone or plastic nut. My P came to me with a brass nut and, being a lazy-a**e b*st**d, I've never bothered to take it off. In A/B testing with other, conventionally 'nutted' P's, it seems to make little or no difference. More Voodoo from guitar parts suppliers, I reckon. Though YMMV, of course.

[quote name='Rich' post='569177' date='Aug 14 2009, 04:06 PM']What, as in "Can I have more clarity/upper mids/2k on the baritone in the monitors please?"..? [/quote] "Is that Italian Tony? Can I have 2k on The Baritone in the 2:30 at Haydock Park?"

Or you could do it yourself for about £40-50 odd, primer, colour + clear finish. This guy sells the right lacquer: [url="http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/lacquer.html"]http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/lacquer.html[/url] made by these guys: [url="http://www.reranch.com/"]http://www.reranch.com/[/url] Lots of hints and tips.

Actually, the real genius is the 60,000+ year old hunter who invented the bow, then realised it made a nice sound if you plucked it. Then the b*stard invented Jazz and spoiled it all for the rest of us.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='566559' date='Aug 12 2009, 10:09 AM']I see my response as balance for the over-glorification of Leo Fender. His bass was an adequate starting point for the music of its time. What depresses me is that over 50 years later on people are still putting up with and copying what should be long out-moded designs. To use your car analogy, it's as if most people were still driving Model-Ts today.[/quote] This is an issue worthy of its own thread. There's a general, possibly faulty, assumption that time [i]should[/i] bring significant, beneficial changes. It's also often assumed that, by virtue of its antiquity, whatever went before must be outmoded. In this instance, the products seem [i]not [/i]to be outmoded, as evidenced by the current, market-leading positions of Leo's designs. Markets are driven by demand, and if the bass guitar is stuck in a time-warp, we have only ourselves to blame. That said, I agree that one might reasonably expect greater changes than have occurred. That they haven't suggests that - for this particular approach to delivering low-frequency notes - Leo got it more or less right first time. Also, given that he got out of the mainstream in 1965, I think we'd agree that he can't be blamed for the failure of others to carry forward the torch of innovation on a mass basis. Or for the bass-playing community's general failure to embrace innovative approaches. Thinking more broadly, I suppose one could draw an analogy with the hammer. Subject to variations for specialist use, the basic form of the hammer hasn't changed much in the last few hundred years, because it does the job more or less right. Where innovations have occurred, they've rendered the classic form of the hammer obsolete for particular tasks - e.g. the nail-gun. Perhaps the plucked string approach is obsolete. Maybe we need to rethink the means by which we deliver low frequency notes - such as sensor pads woven into our clothing or embedded in the palms of our hands. Or neurally-wired.

[quote name='bythesea' post='566050' date='Aug 11 2009, 05:03 PM']This wouldn't be connected to "London Pro Audio Centre" would it? Website suggests you contact the store owner for info - andy@Lo...[/quote] Nah - t'was 'Andy's Guitars'. Dunno about this other lot... As regards Denmark St in general, it's fun for a browse, but Caveat Emptor on the 'Vintage' stuff. The only vaguely honest trader I encountered was one of the blokes at Angel, who was usually prepared to highlight any issues with an instrument. But, of course, YMMV.

[quote name='Protium' post='566164' date='Aug 11 2009, 07:34 PM']True, who knows what we might be playing now if his ideas had taken off [/quote] Tutmarks. As in :"B*gger, I've got Tutmarks all over my new underpants".