TrevorR

Ever since I've had more than one bass I've taken two to a gig - meaning I have a backup just in case. However simple or complicated a mechanical (or electronic) system is it can suffer failure - as a (rather over-egging the pudding) example, the two space shuttle disasters were caused by failures in pretty much the two most low-tech elements in the entire space craft - an O-ring seal failing and a chunk of insulating foam falling off the fuel tank. OK, fair enough, I've been playing since 1982 and I've only had 3 serious in-gig failures - a capacitor on a bass dying mid gig due to playing in misty/drizzly weather the day before, one broken string and one amp failure after it was dropped off a trolley while being transported up to the room with the stage. Still, on the first two I was able to swap immediately to an alternative bass with minimum fuss and on the second the gig it was close enough to nip home and I could fetch a practice amp and feed the DI out through the PA for reinforcement (otherwise I would have just DI'd and made do). I don't see the point of bringing a spare bass and leaving it in the car - my view is you want to be able to sort it out by the end of the next verse, not by the start of the next set. Not taken a spare amp or cab but DI into the PA is the backup for that. And for me it's the same approach whether playing at the Bath Assembly Rooms, a big festival, a wedding venue, Jagz in Ascot, in a marquee in someone's back garden or at the local Dog and Partridge. I approach all those gigs with the same level of priority and commitment, irrespective of venue. However, as the owner now of some lovely basses each with their own character it's also given me some nice in-gig tonal options to play with and I tend to swap between the two basses across each set. I've played some really cramped stages and dives in my time too but never not been able to find room to safely position two basses on their stands. Win-Win... insurance policy and bass geek indulgence. They just both got put in the back of the car so no biggie. Of course, I could have quite happily played any gig exclusively on any of my basses. However, having two there did give fun options. For example, although my Custom Series Wal is my "lead" bass there are just some tracks which really work well on my Pro Series Wal. Stuff with a more 70s rock or old school vibe for instance - Town Called Malice, Hangbags and Gladrags, Maggie May, Brown Eyed Girl (yes!), Get It On all spring to mind. They sound and feel just fine on the Custom but for me they sound and feel just great on the Pro. Similarly, the Custom is really versatile and can produce a huge range of sounds but there are some where it just sings. Some examples are Mustang Sally (yes!), Lady Marmalade, Babylon, It Must Be Love, Roxanne, Walking on the Mood, Dreadlock Holiday, What's Going On, Long Train Running... So for me it's a case of taking an insurance policy and making something enjoyable for myself out of it too. Indulgence? Yes. Not [i]strictly[/i] necessary? Probably. Will the punters be able to tell the difference... blah blah blah...? That debate will run and run in here long beyond any of our lifetimes but [i][b]I[/b][/i] can tell the difference and [i][b]I[/b][/i] enjoy it so that's more than enough justification for me. And if that makes me happy playing I'm convinced that will help me play better which means the band will sound better and [i][b]THAT[/b][/i] the punters will pick up on.

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1471794047' post='3115914'] Eric Johnson and his bizarre claim that duracell batteries sound better in his pedals. Nah man, you need to see a doctor! [/quote] And Eric is a rank amateur in terms of golden eardness when it comes to the serious hi fi brigade!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1471802885' post='3116013'] There's the rub. Regardless of the FOH sound, I suspect that if you're enjoying your 'tone,' you're more likely to play well, and vice-versa. [/quote] Precisely!

Notwithstanding that the main character in your playing comes from how and where you strike the string I do like the tone shaping possibilities that my Custom Series Wal's tone circuit gives me. I can garnet at quite different tones to suit different songs (or parts of songs through how I modulate that tone by where I pick the string). My Pro Series bass does sound quite different to my ears and the different tone circuits provide noticibly different tones. Now, I'm willing to accept that the two basses might (consciously) sound no different to anyone standing more than 6 feet away from my amp, especially when in a band mix and subject to the vagaries of a FOH engineer. However, I'm standing 5 feet from my amp or a couple of mm from my in ears and I do hear an appreciable difference... And that's what matters to me!

Some great Irish bands mentioned here but what about Lizzy? Waiting for an Alibi http://youtu.be/C8tu8pN8p50 Still a huge fan of Horslips so any excuse to post this gem. Dearg Doom on the Whistle a Test http://youtu.be/y5G8AJf4Xzw And how come no one has mentioned this fella yet? Rory Gallagher http://youtu.be/oKhPCjQZONk http://youtu.be/go9J9REtfdA http://youtu.be/0iF13OT5xv8 And to bring the mood down a bit, I love Mary Black's voice... http://youtu.be/XvABIMOkaGQ http://youtu.be/-3nLjGQpUOU (and Eleanor McEvoy's not too shabby in the vocal dept either!)

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1471561747' post='3114100'] A Hofner sounding better than a Wal? Now that is rare. [/quote] I think there may be significant levels of "IMHO" operating there (on all sides)... Not that I'm biased or anything, ;-)

Some JG (and Pro, Mk 1 and MK 2) porn here... New JG based blog today (and it's a goodie even if I do say so myself). Featuring some very special basses owned by John Gustafson and some Colin Edwin and Martin Elliott thrown in for free. With HUGE thanks to Martin for his help and inspiration! http://walbasshistory.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/jg-bass-special-pt-2-tale-of-two-basses.html

Taxman/Start springs to mind but my "trying out a bass in a shop" tune is The Theme to Star Trek Deep Space Nine which always just falls nicely under my fingers. Only ever had someone recognise it the once. About a month ago the two guys serving in Wunjos while I was trying out a rather nice Sandberg stopped, stared at me and said, "Hey, is that Deep Space Nine? Used to love watching that..."

Yes, definitely focus on a new amp first. And don't feel shy about taking your bass along to a music shop and trying it through the amps you reckon might be in your price range - even when you have no intention of buying that day/week/month. There's nothing wrong with that. You're researching what you eventually will buy and a good music shop will know that if they're helpful then they're more likely to get your cash whenever you ARE ready to buy. And while you're there, treat yourself and try a couple of more expensive ones... Also part of the research/learning experience.

I got a Faith Neptune Titan and a Feedbackbuster plug for more acoustic based stuff. Works well and sounds pretty good through an amp or PA. not had much feedback issues at sensible volumes.

Welcome to Basschat Chris. Dive in and enjoy the fun. We're just up the river in Staines so know Walton well. Used to do the function band thing too but now mostly doing my playing in the worship band in the new church in Walton (just opposite the railway station in the old Jaguar showroom). There are a few BCers in the area so let us know when your next gig is coming up, maybe we can have an informal bass hang!!!! Oh, and bookmark Saturday 25th for the 10th Annual SE Basschat Bass Bash over in Addlestone. Going to be a great day and a good chance to say "Hi" to othe BCers in person... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/283248-south-east-bass-bash-no10-surrey-saturday-24th-september-2016/

Looks like Nick Beggs is having a belated spring clean and getting rid of a few basses... A Jaco Jazz, a MM and a Wal 5-er with midi (but not a Midi bass)... Click below for a quick lust... https://www.facebook.com/nick.beggs.9?ref=ts&fref=ts And remember, you can resist everything except temptation!

[quote name='jonsmith' timestamp='1453284979' post='2958017'] It's even worse when it's your bass that's in the advert, which happened with my Mk1 fretted a few years ago.... [/quote] My Mk 1 has turned up on eBay once or twice as well. But then again, photos of my bass aren't hard to come by...

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1470656947' post='3107345'] Apparently not many Sunday bands get invited back. The venue gave us some fairly strong feedback, liked the setlist, didn't like the pauses between songs (we have a few numbers where the guitards detiune - not sure what we can do about that). [/quote] Glad to hear that it went well and paid off (don't under-estimate the value of having an established venue sitting on your gig list or being on the cancellations phone list. As others have said, dead air while guitar players go "ding ding dang dang" for a couple of minutes is an atmosphere killer. The answer has to be a mixture of having a spare guitar which is in the alternate tuning (and a cable with a silent switching jack - changeover should take no more than 15-20 seconds with that set up) and considering sensible grouping of songs in alternate tuning. You see bands whose set goes (tuning wise) normal, normal, drop D, normal, drop D, normal, normal, drop D, normal, drop D... with 2 or 3 minutes of "ding ding dang dang" in between each change. For most punters that's immediate "time to go to the bar - or indeed, another bar".

Good luck this afternoon. Let us know how it goes.

Odd. When igo there the menu is there on the left and the front page string icon takes you to the relevant brand page with clear in and out of stock and number to purchase boxes...

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1470264155' post='3104691'] Ask BC'er Dolando. I happen to know that he just got a very nice looking '75 Jazz from his family for his 30th. However it appears to be very much wanted! [/quote] Do you have his mum's email and do you know if she's interested in adopting?

A bland set list or a set list full of tunes that slightly tipsy punters love to get up and dance and sing along to...? It's a wedding/function band so I'd suggest that this is nearly the perfect set list. You'd need to throw in Mustang Sally, Brown Eyed Girl, Sweet Home Alabama and maybe some Oasis tunes to make it perfect. As in, perfectly fitted to what the band is being paid to do. It may not match my personal playlist but that's not the point. For me there was always a LOT of enjoyment to be had from playing MY version of this sort of tune with musos who played really well and were a laugh to hang around with to a room full of people having a tangibly great time. For me that is as much or even more of a buzz than the actual chord sequences/notes being played. Artistic fulfilment can always be found in other projects, and besides learning good stage projection and the ability to connect with/drive an audience as a muso and as a band is also a skill that can be developed and honed in these sorts of musical situations. And as to Wal or Enfield? I would strongly advise... BOTH!

[quote name='TommyK' timestamp='1470308515' post='3104924'] What are the necks like on a wal 4? I really fancy saving up for one but yet to try one. Are they more stingray/p than jazz? [/quote] If you can arrange a day trip up to Surrey from Dorchester in September my two and a good few more will be at the SE Bass Bash. See in the events forum. You'd be welcome to try them out (which is half the fun of a Bass Bash!). On your last q in your post. I have a real dislike of the fatter P and Stingray necks and love Jazz bass necks. The Wals have always felt more akin to the latter than the former to me. But of course, if you were ordering, personal prefs may be able to be accommodated.

My 1985 Mk 1 has the following dimensions... Fingerboard width: At nut: 42 mm 12th fret: 55 mm String width (outer edges E-G): At nut: 37 mm 12th fret: 47 mm Bridge: 56 mm As to the profile, the neck has a subtle V-shape which I find very comfortable to play. I'm not a fan of wide or chunky necks and this fits perfectly in my hand. My Pro series bass neck is quite different. I've not measured it but the width feels sort of similar. However, the profile is much more of a rounded C shape. It feels different in the hand but still very comfortable to play.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1470295812' post='3104776'] Are you doing anything else that Sunday? If not, treat it as a rehearsal without having to pay any studio fees. Use social media to advertise as much as possible, friends and family are your draw when getting going, they will still be faces the venue's management have never seen, so a good thing. Knock together some posters for the venue to display to show you mean business. If you don't get any bookings from the gig (at that venue), well that's that and you did your best and hopefully had some fun. However, it might also pay off and there might be other people there who know other venues and will recommend you (this happened to my band). Ultimately you either want to do it or would rather do something else. Are the venue taking the pee? Yes, probably, but 'twas ever thus. If you do do it, enjoy it for what it is and don't constantly be thinking how you're being taken for a ride. [/quote] This! So very much This...! Make the gig work for you and make the very best out of it!

This thread also reminds me of the other advert fave... "Unwanted gift" Who gets £400, £500, £600 basses as birthday presents? And who is it doing the giving and, more importantly why are none of them my auntie? I'm lucky if I get a pair of socks and a CD!

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1470229405' post='3104274'] . We might get a few family and friends, but bearing in mind this is Sunday gig, and the venue has not advertised the band because we are a late cancellation stand in, I think this is totally out of order. Isn't getting an audience in the venue's job? [/quote] Well, if you do decide to do the gig, short notice or not, judged on attendance or not, you should currently be promoting the heck out of it. Every band member's Facebook page, Twitter account. Every Internet forum you're a part of. Because, if you can bring along some punters then it makes the likelihood of future paid gigs greater and the chance of a wasted afternoon being a patsy for the landlord smaller. So a "hey, I'm doing a gig this Sunday at... Come along and check us out" post on here might, as others have said spark some BChatters to come along, say "Hi" and have an informal bass hang. You'll never know if you don't try.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1470236842' post='3104388'] The solution is blindingly obvious, of course. If employed, either ask for (and obtain...) a pay rise, or bid for (and obtain...) a higher-paid job. Those self-employed have only to raise their tarifs by an equivalent amount. Those with fixed income just stop spending (and therefore gain with no effort at all...). What's not to like..? The majority of the British populace are apparently happy enough to accept this modest price for having taken back control again, and have even dodged the 'Blond Bombshell for PM' bullet..! It's all good, surely..? [/quote] Dad, "You are Norman Tebbit, I am carrying a copy of the Daily Express and I claim my £10!"

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1470213516' post='3104064'] Brexit - the excuse for everything. The pound is down a bit against the dollar and euro - it recovered after an initial drop. As it's somewhere round 10% down, that is not the sole reason for a 30% price rise. So it's simply money-grabbing greed while there's a good excuse to be had. [/quote] But no surprise that corps react that way... Costs rise 10%, prices rise 30%... = more profit. Twas ever thus!