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Newfoundfreedom

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Everything posted by Newfoundfreedom

  1. Newfoundfreedom
    My apologies. In the cold light of day it makes perfect sense. Last night, post gig and under the influence of several vodkas it was an unbreakable code.
  2. Newfoundfreedom
    Who does a what now?
  3. Newfoundfreedom
    I hate cricket and football even more than gigging. 😋
  4. Newfoundfreedom
    Sing Street is great. Kind of a similar vibe to The Commitments but I actually like it better.
  5. Newfoundfreedom
    Even at £100 you can still pick up some fairly decent stuff these days, especially second hand. My first bass was £90 back in 1990 and it was absolutely woeful. I wish I could have bought anything like the quality of gear you can get for that price now.
  6. Newfoundfreedom
    Having owned both. I'd take a "Vintage" over a Squier any day. Unless we're getting crossed wires. I mean Vintage the brand, rather than old beat up stuff.
  7. Newfoundfreedom
    Unless you're a banker (with a capital "W") or a spoiled brat. No one in their right mind is going to go out as spend a grand or more on a first instrument, when they don't even know if they're going to get along with playing it or not. So to me the definition of a "beginner" bass has to at least in part, mean it's cheap. That would mean, for me personally £200 max budget, and even that's being rather generous. Fortunately, quality wise, what you can get for £200 these days is far better than you could get for the equivalent money 20 or 30 years ago. In fact, I would say you could spend £200 on a bass now, that would keep you going and gigging for a good few years to a fairly professional level. It's almost a shame. I think everybody should learn on an a absolute POS. It sorts the wheat from the chaff and forces you to develop skills that will stand you in good stead for years to come. Then, when you finally upgrade to a good instrument, you will really appreciate the difference.
  8. Newfoundfreedom
    That's a very interesting perspective. Then it would becomes a job I don't particularly enjoy, pretty much the same as every job I've ever had. But it would certainly beat working 12 hour night shifts in a factory. So in that respect there would probably be a mental shift to it being not a bad way to earn a living. But the actual standing on stage in front of people and playing? Maybe if I was doing it "as a job" several nights a week I'd get used to it. It's surprising what you can get used to when you need the money. But would I actually learn to "enjoy" it? It's difficult to answer that as a metaphorical question. I honestly don't know. Edit Having thought about this some more, and taken on board what Bluewine said about "choosing the wrong band". As part of the same thought process, I do wonder if I'd enjoy gigging more if we were doing original material? As I said earlier, hanging around with my mates and making music is where the enjoyable part of being in a band sits for me. I like the creative part of it. Churning out cover versions has always felt a bit like serving up junk food to me. Yeah people will take it, and they'll probably enjoy it, but where's the satisfaction? (I'm not in any way having a dig at covers bands. Just expressing a personal view about where my own creativity lies) So maybe a change of direction is the way to go? Which is probably something I've been telling myself all along, but in the spirit of "compromise" I've just kept going with something I didn't particularly derive a great deal of satisfaction from. Anyway, it will be interesting to find out. 😋
  9. Newfoundfreedom
    +1 for the Gretsch Junior Jet. Cracking short scale basses. Unbelievably well made. Well priced considering the built quality, and they sound like thunder!
  10. Newfoundfreedom
    I beg to differ.
  11. Newfoundfreedom
    There's a couple on Amazon but it means ordering them from the States. https://www.amazon.com/TECHNOLOGIES-3110KL-05W-B30-D00-AXIAL-80MM-24VDC/dp/B00DJYAZCM
  12. Newfoundfreedom
    We're playing at 4 o'clock tomorrow too. 35 degrees forecast here. So it ain't gonna be pleasant. I always get nervous before a gig anyway, but I'm absolutely dreading this one. Your situation doesn't sound ideal given the lack of recent practices, but if you all know your parts I'm sure you'll be fine. Fingers crossed for you mate. Good luck.
  13. Newfoundfreedom
    That's what this band was supposed to be, but it all got a bit out of hand 😂 Lucky 4 out of the 6 band members are still kind of on the same page, and enjoy the social, hanging out making music side of things. They're also the ones, like my wife (singer) and I, who have more of a creative steak and want to do their own music, rather than just churning out covers that people will dance to. So once the dust has settled we'll probably get something together more laid back and relaxed. Without the pressure from the other two constantly wanting to book the next gig. Also that would then make us a 4 piece, drums, bass, guitar and singer. Which will take away a lot of the "herding cats" situation we've had with a 6 piece.
  14. Newfoundfreedom
    Yeah I agree. The thing is, I love to play, and I love to hang around with my mates making music. That's very much where the enjoyable "hobby" side of things sits for me. The problem is, the ultimate conclusion to this is to go out gigging. At least for most people who play instruments, and most people you're likely to form a band with. So it's kind of a catch 22.
  15. Newfoundfreedom
    On 2 occasions after recent gigs, other members of the band have had audience members come up to them and say that I'm a brilliant bass player. I don't agree. I'm extraordinarily average at best. (Not false modesty but an honest assessment of my skills, or lack thereof) I think it's probably more to do with my sound, which I'm extremely happy with and sits in the band mix beautifully. But still. I'm happy to at least be keeping up with the rest of the band, and I find for a bassist to be singled out as being "good" in a band context, especially from none musicians is quite rare. So I was pretty chuffed. But I would have to say, on balance, my absolute proudest moment would probably have to be this...
  16. Newfoundfreedom
    That's what my mindset had been all along. I gave it a fair crack, over a dozen gigs in 10 weeks, and rather than changing my mind, which I genuinely hoped would be the case, it actually just proved to me beyond any shadow of a doubt that for me, it's definitely not worth the hassle. Take our final gig tomorrow for example. Outdoor gig. 4 o'clock start in 35 degree heat, and that's after lugging all my gear, and all my wife's PA gear 200 yards across a field. Then having to lug it all back to the car again afterwards. I'd love to go out with a bang and enjoy the afternoon, playing with my mates for the final time (at least in the current configuration / band) but I'm absolutely dreading it. It's going to be a living hell playing in that heat. Edit Oh yeah, I almost forgot. As with everything else we've done, It's an unpaid gig. I can kind of understand putting up with the downsides if you're making a living from it. Or at the very least covering costs. But when it's actually costing money to go out and gig? The rest of the band love gigging, so they're happy to do that. For me the pay off just isn't there.
  17. Newfoundfreedom
    I've been trying to learn some Ed Sheeran. It's surprisingly difficult.
  18. Newfoundfreedom
    You clean your bass? I don't even clean my house.
  19. Newfoundfreedom
    Not killing anyone.
  20. Newfoundfreedom
    It's usually about 2 songs before the end for me.
  21. Newfoundfreedom
    If definitely have any of the "Vintage" bass lineup on there. Absolutely superb instruments. Cheap as chips and punch massively above their price tag.
  22. Newfoundfreedom
    Football
  23. Newfoundfreedom
    Well that's that then. Final gig with the band this Sunday. Too many people pulling in different directions so I'm out before it starts to effect the friendships I have with the rest of the band. I made it clear from the start, before we even played a note that the band was very much a hobby, and I wasn't interested in, and don't have the time or inclination to be out gigging every weekend. 12 gigs in 10 weeks, plus practices in-between was breaking point for me. I still have to earn a living in-between gigs while the rest of the band are financially independent. It's been fun for the most part, even a couple of the gigs were enjoyable in the end, but it's become obvious that some of the band want to do far more than I'm willing to commit to, and while they love gigging, I honestly don't think I ever will. It's a shame really. Things were really starting to come together and we were sounding pretty good. Still, we raised a fair few quid for a local charity supporting children in care, so it's not all bad.
  24. Newfoundfreedom
    Never heard of these before. I've just looked them up and I'm intrigued. I might have to invest in one. Although they're a bit on the pricey side.
  25. Newfoundfreedom
    1. Originals band. Great! Get your creativity hat on. That's what it's all about for me. I haven't heard of two of the bands they mention, but 90's pop / rock. I can get onboard with. 2. Sounds OK, but the last "life got in the way" statement sets alarm bells ringing. 3. Eagles tribute band. I think I'd rather hang myself. 4. Original metal band. Definitely up for that! 18-30.....Erm......nope! I think I'd have to go with option 1.
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