AdrianP

I like both kinds of music. Country AND western!

(Coat already on)

No, you could be right. I've got an Iphone 6S as my phone from work. I'd definitely say it was quieter than the BlackBerry Z10 it replaced or my personal phone; a Galaxy S8. So much so that I almost always use it with either the wired headset or speaker phone. Using it against my ear, like where a phone should be is... well not unusable but certainly getting there.

Just saw him too. And they say there were no positives coming out of brexit!

Don't give up on it. When you posted the original pictures up, just after you got it, I thought that it was the most beautiful musical instrument I had ever seen in my life. Nothing that has happened since has changed my opinion. With the work you have put in already,  and how Jon will now take care of it, it can only come back stronger. Have faith.

I guess the reason why this is a long post is because you've got a big decision ahead and you don't want to get it wrong. I'm totally with you on that. More than you think, actually, because I gig a Peavey Tour 700 and 2 X Hartke Hydrive 112 cabs; one of your potential options. I can certainly say that the combination is loud enough. We do quite a few gigs in marquees, so essentially outdoors, and I can keep up with a loud drummer and two hooligan guitarists quite well. And the lead guitarist keeps saying how much he loves the tone of the whole rig when I use both cabs (but what do guitarists know!) And it was quite a cheap outfit. The whole setup, amp and two cabs second hand, came to less than £450. Which is probably less than half of what you are potentially looking at.

But would I do it all again if I had to? Well, probably not. If I was starting from scratch, I'd probably go for a single BF Super Compact. And build from there if I needed to move more air. Don't get me wrong. The Hartke cabs are loud enough. Just not very inspiring. And, when, we supported a pro functions band a couple of weeks ago, I got to hear a SC in action. And was very impressed. I've got no plans to ditch my current gear but, if disaster struck, would probably go Barefaced. 

Not sure if that helps any.

Just got back from the rehearsal. Went OK actually. I spoke to the BL beforehand to tell him frankly about my trouble engaging with the song. So we all decided that we'd have a go at a section from the middle and not try the whole thing. And we'd do it as a link from one song to another; not as 5 minutes of torture. Better for me and more palatable for the audience (supposing there is another audience).

We also spoke during the break about doing some vocals. The other guitarist has a decent voice so we're going to work on a few different songs now with him singing. Which could lead to a change of direction for the band. And it wasn't even a 'clear the air' discussion. Just mates talking about want we want to do. So, unless I get 'that call' from the BL in the next few days, it all seems to have gone quite well. 

So thanks to Team Basschat!

18 minutes ago, musicbassman said:

Really ???   

 

Yes, I can't listen to it long enough to even care!

1 hour ago, Sibob said:

I don’t even know where you live and I can tell you that he’s mistaken lol

Si

Well I do know where I live and I am starting to come around to your way of thinking! To be honest,  we've done three paying gigs and the audience response has not been extatic. And we've had no rebookings either. Maybe a time to think about why we're doing this. If it's just for the guitarist/BL to show 

58 minutes ago, Sibob said:

I don’t even know where you live and I can tell you that he’s mistaken lol

Si

Well I do know where I live and I am starting to come around to your way of thinking! To be honest,  we've done three paying gigs and the audience response has not been extatic. And we've had no rebookings either. Maybe a time to think about why we're doing this. If it's just for the guitarist/BL to show off his undoubted talent, maybe it's time to think again. 

1 hour ago, kyuuga said:

Here's my question: it seems that you're in a cover band, right? What kind of covers do you play and which audience do you appeal to?

I'd only be in a cover band for 2 out of 3 reasons: 
1) the money is good;
2) the songs we play are awesome;
3) it's a band with friends and we all have fun together.
 

Thanks very much for all the comments. Yes, it is a covers band. Exclusively instrumentals as the BL believes there is a local market for this type of thing. What sort of market wants to listen to endless guitar widdling is anyone's guess. And the fact that we are 1) making little money and 2) playing boring songs is probably not unconnected. But, and it's a big but, I do like the folks in the band. Which is why I'm still with them. 

But I do need to grasp the nettle. Stop playing stuff that bores audiences stiff or I'll walk. I have my main band still so not desperate for this. But tonight is probably a good time to get this all out in the open.

Got a rehearsal with the instrumental band I'm in tonight. The bandleader has said he wants to try a new song Goodbye Pork Pie Hat by Jeff Beck. Never heard of it, to be honest, but the BL sent a YouTube link to a version he likes. So I set aside some time yesterday to listen and put some ideas together.

Hell's teeth it's boring. I put the video on but kept winding forward to the bit when it really starts. Turns out, it doesn't. Tried listening all the way through but, 30 seconds in, I'm just staring out the window at the traffic going by. In desperation,  I punched myself in the leg a couple of times and resolved to sit through it. Within a minute, I was watching a video of puppies playing in a box instead. 

I have no idea what I'm going to play this evening. Can't work out the chord structure or even the key. I'm in so much trouble!

So how do you guys break down a problem like this? When you have to play a song where you're totally disengaged? I'm out of ideas.

There's also the Lexington near Angel tube station. Puts on a great selection of lesser known bands most evenings. 

A lot of good advice from everyone here. As a relatively new bassist I can heartily recommend finding a band - or rather letting a band find you. Bassists aren't as prevalent as guitarists and you may find you spend more time fighting off the offers than you realise. But I appreciate with family commitments, that might not be easy.

My two words of advice, though, are these. Record yourself and listen back. Maybe get a cheap digital recorder or use a phone app. But, whenever you practice, take the time to evaluate how you sound to yourself. 

And, secondly, try to give some priority to technique within your practice routine. Not to the exclusion of playing songs and having fun. But just like a footballer (soccer player) will play practice matches, they will also endlessly practice trapping the ball, shooting, dribbling etc. So treat your practice time like a professional would even if your just playing for fun.

Plus, have fun!

I'm quite a fan of his film review show with Simon Mayo so know he talks about skiffle, americana and the double bass quite often. I remember one show when he played a duet with Tom Hiddleston who was promoting his performance as Hank Williams in I Saw the Light. I recall Mark's DB playing was really melodic and understated. Not big into skiffle but his band the Dodge Brothers makes for quite an interesting listen.

10 hours ago, Dad3353 said:

Jack Casady

Ashley Hutchings

Danny Thompson

Phil Lesh

Mark Andes

I came on here to say exactly this but Dad beat me to it. Folk rock was such an emerging force in the late '60s and Ashley Hutchings was right at the forefront. Think about his work with Fairport,  Steeleye Span (their first album particularly), and the Albion Band. Plus his absolutely phenomenal bass playing. All round, probably my first bass hero.

Back in the day, one of my guilty pleasure bands was Evanescence. Particularly the Fallen album. Really loved the guitar riffs on it, plus Amy Lee's appealing vocals. But, my god, was it over produced. Orchestrals. Strings. Pianos. Hosts of angelic choirs. The whole kitchen sink chucked into just about every song. Felt like what an album produced by Michael Bay might sound like.

15 hours ago, Mudpup said:

The Gator Pro Go bags are excellent - loads of storage and great protection and as Paul S says above the TGI Extremes are brilliant value for money - i use both.

But the best value at the moment are these on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Blake-Bravo-Bass-Guitar-Case-Brand-New/253660672423?hash=item3b0f5ab1a7:g:jsIAAOSwWfdbEEvn

(its a manufacturer thats gone under but a load of resellers picked remaining stock up at auction and are moving them on - theres nothing around for under £80 that will touch them)

I picked up one of these Blake Bravos a couple of weeks ago for my US standard Jazz. Actually,  I got it for £23 from a private seller who was auctioning it off as new and unused.

Very good bag. Incredibly well padded with a lovely plush interior. Also had a separate internal nylon cover for the bass which I haven't quite worked out what to do with. But it is big and quite heavy. Not as much as my Hiscox hard case but it's not far off. Really it's not. I'm wondering whether my original eBay seller didn't get this and, when he saw it, thought "whoa". Then flogged it off without even unpacking it properly.

I'd say try before you buy but that's not really practical. But it is a great bag.

Good topic this. The list of musicians in my family is exactly zilch. Nothing. Nada. I don't recall ever seeing any member of my family even picking an instrument up, let alone playing one. And yet, there was always music being played. Dad loved Lead Belly and all the old blues music. Mum loved Elvis. Both my sister and I played recorder in school but never persevered to any extent.

My wife's family is different in that her brother is an incredibly natural musician. He can pick up just about any instrument and get a tune out of it. It's just that he's not that interested in doing do. Both his daughters are very competent musicians though.

Well, not exactly a new bass day as i picked this up a couple of weeks ago. But my first chance to take some pictures and post this. This is my first ever fretless bass. I tried one in PMT in Romford a couple of months ago and really liked it. Especially, the unlined board but dots on the side where there should be dots and lines on the side...well, you get the picture. But nearly £700 was a little too much to chance it.

So I saw this up for sale, second hand, at Bass Direct recently and, as I was doing a gig near Nottingam that Saturday, went and picked it up. Really like it. It's got such a great, slim, neck that playing it is effortless. I also like the piezo pickup in the bridge and have been using that at full volume together with a touch of neck pickup to add a little more growl. All in all, I'm really happy with it. I've dropped the action down very slightly at the bridge but haven't had to do anything else to it.

Anyway, some pics.

Just watching this on BBC 4 now. I'll be honest and say that this is probably a little too intellectual for my tastes but I am giving it a go. So what do I think? Incredible talent. Total control of each of his instruments. Is clear about where he wants to take the listener on this journey. Its just that I'm not at all sure where we're going. And not really enjoying the trip either. There is also a fine line between stage presence and showing off. I still haven't decided on which side of the line Mr Collier falls.

15 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said:

And yes, about 2 days

Assuming we're still not using names or other identifiers on this thread, I can well believe it would take him just two days to conceive, design and produce a new pickup in two days. I purchased a couple of wide range humbuckers from him a couple of months ago. As I live quite close, I asked him to install them into my '72 reissue Thinline Telecaster and to drop in a new wiring loom at the same time. When i pickup up the guitar, I got to meet him and he gave me a short tour of **** Towers. The place is ... magnificent in it's disorganisation! But the winding machines and laser cutting equipment are really impressive. Although a small local operation, I would have no heitation whatsoever to go back for any more of my pickup needs, from an off the shelf item to something really customised.

Surely vindaloo qualifies on both counts 😀

Played one of our longest anticipated gigs at the weekend. A classic motorcycle race meeting in Derbyshire. Had a marquee and huge stage laid on for us with, probably, a hundred or so punters watching us. All in a jolly state after a hard day's racing and given England's victory earlier that day! Sound check went well. Spent about 45 minutes getting all the levels set up. My new wireless transmitter/receiver was working well and had great hopes for the gig.

When we went on, though, just had one disaster after another. Singer wasn't getting any volume out of the stage monitors so she couldn't hear herself and the rest of the band just had to guess whereabouts she was in the opening song. Sorted that after a bit of fiddling. Then the lead guitarist started getting massive feedback during the next song. More fiddling. Then an amp change. Audience now getting a bit restless. Then, during the last song in the first set, my wireless receiver goes down. Just starts cutting in and out like the receiver is rebooting or something. I just plug straight in the amp head and go on, probably missing about 20 seconds of the middle of Rock and Roll.

On the plus side, the second set gets much better. Technical problems seem sorted. Some of our newer songs, like Jolene and Hard to Handle go down really well. Finished the set with a medley of the songs that we'd messed up earlier on. So, all in all, not a great gig. Not considering how long we'd planned and prepared. But we had a storming finish and I'd much prefer it that way round than the other.

I use the ACS pro 17s and agree that I'm probably missing out on a hell of a lot when I do. Ear damage to start with. Ears ringing for days after a gig or rehearsal. The lead guitarist bawling out the rhythm guitarist. The singer bickering with the drummer. All just washes over me with the plugs in. Actually, I'm thinking of wearing them all the time.

No chance we won't be watching this. The wife is a huge Duran Duran fan. Or, should that be, has a worrying John Taylor fixation? 

Actually, she's far more into the early stuff too. I bought her Paper Gods when it came out. Still sitting there unplayed in its cellophane. And Planet Earth is the only song she ever asks me to play on bass.