BillyBass

This has been an interesting thread.  My covers band has done just ten gigs.  We've had a few good ones but we've had a few paid rehearsals too.  We are new, and don't have a following.  Unfortunately, after our last gig, which had just 5 people in the audience, our drummer left.  There were a few other reasons why he left, but this was the straw that broke the camel's back.  We got paid, but we won't go back.

I'm hopeful the drummer auditioning for us next week will fit, I've played with him before so I know he is good.  If it works out and we are a band again, we will still gig new venues but will probably avoid places that are likely to be paid rehearsals.

I don't write music, nor am I a studio guy.  I just play in a covers band, and rehearse at home.  Consequently, I would gig all of the 10 basses I own.  In practice, when I gig, I tend to pick the bass I favour that week, with consideration to the clothes I would be wearing, so if it's a red shirt I won't play a red bass etc.

On 22/11/2023 at 14:27, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

The faded Pelham Blue finish looks really good and there isn't a single chip, scratch or dent anywhere on the bass.

 

Am I going colour blind?  That looks green to me.  Lovely bass mind, congrats!

On 03/10/2023 at 20:28, BillyBass said:

I thought it was you but I wasn't 100% sure!  G&L! Why? and Reverend too, why stop producing purple Triads?  

On 03/10/2023 at 20:33, neepheid said:

 

Yeah, I would have 100% had the purpleburst Triad if it were available when I bought mine.  Korina burst was the next best thing - the Alpine burst one with the maple fingerboard looked a bit daft to me, like the neck was there by accident.

It looks like Reverend are listening

https://www.guitar.co.uk/reverend-triad-bass-periwinkle-burst

and look at this:

https://www.guitar.co.uk/reverend-mercalli-4-bass-orchid-pink

Nice looking John Player Special that!  Congrats.  I'm always put off by the 'Have to take the neck off to access the truss rod' feature, with Vintera series basses but, apart from that, I hear nothing but good things.

I'm sure if you went to the dole office and told them you were down to one bass you would find out you were entitled to some benefit or other.  That is, as long as you could prove you were actively looking for another one.

I'm a little disappointed there are no lefties or 5 string options.

Thanks @slojo I've put a Telecaster in my basket

Review video from 'Bass the world'

3 hours ago, Nothingman said:

Big shout out to the independent retailers supporting our passion. 
 

After a long search looking for knobs for my jazz bass, I finally found some that fit via James’ Home Of Tone. 
 

Great selection of stuff, good quality, decent prices, better looking jazz bass. 
 

 

 

I think my Jazz bass would be improved in a similar fashion, thanks.

11 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Check out the Phil X & The Drills version, it’s awesome 

That is pretty good!  Thanks for that.  I've just forwarded the YouTube clip to my bandmates.

Spank me Daddy

My covers band started out as a couple of mates playing Damned and other punk covers.  I joined, then we got a singer, then gigs and then we realised that our love for 70s punk was rarely shared by the clientele at the Dog and Duck, so we started to drop old Damned stuff and put in more popular stuff.  This went down well with audiences but ultimately our drummer walked out.  We think he really just wanted to play stuff he liked.  Now we are looking for a drummer, not an easy thing to do.

In our quest to play more upbeat songs that can be danced to, The rest of the band volunteered My Sharona by the Knack.  I absolutely detested that song.  Anyway, I learnt it, for the good of the band and now I don't mind it.  If the song has a good bass line I can get behind it.  

I sold an Aguilar Octamizer to @Gasman.  It was a very straightforward transaction and I would not hesitate to do business with him again.

I've just sold a Microthumpinator to Tobie.  It was a very straightforward transaction; I would gladly do business with him again.

I find it difficult to get into music sung in a language I can't understand; the only non-western genre of music I like is Indian classical, so no lyrics.

I lump this band into 0's indie, I hear influences of Coldplay, Bloc Party and perhaps the Killers.  There is also, no doubt, a lot of local Venezuelan influence there too but I'm not au fait with music from South America.

I thought some songs were quite good, mainly those that were closer to western indie rock.  Hornos Del Cal and La Bestia, I mentioned above, also 'Aun'.  Overall though, its not my thing and I doubt I'd listen to it again.  

Personally, I'd give this 5/10 but part of that low mark is down to me not understanding Spanish.

33 minutes ago, LowB_FTW said:

It gives me vibes from a couple of other bands that I listen to, but I'll reserve name ing until I've heard the full album,

 Listening to Hornos Del Cal and La Bestia, I kept thinking of Coldplay.  The vocals in  La Sangre y el eco reminds of an indie song that I hear on the radio all the time but the name of the band has annoyingly escaped me.

10 hours ago, Oopsdabassist said:

Those prices though.......

Its those prices plus the postage!  I paid £79.02 for mine.  I thought it was way too dear, considering the bass only cost just under £500 (in 2019).  The trouble is the only other pick guard I found that I liked was about half that and though I liked it, it was only so so.  The one I bought I just loved and I thought its better to pay over the odds for something you love than get something that is ok, for a reasonable price.

1 hour ago, Oopsdabassist said:

And a bubbly look to a Sub!!

 

 

If Coca Cola ever resurrect the old advert with the New Seekers song, this would be the bass to play it on

I've had a Tidepool blue Player series Jazz for about 4 years and though I knew I wanted to get rid of the boring white scratchplate, I've struggled to find a colour to match the 'Tidepool' blue.  Tidepool seems to me to be a cross between blue and turquoise; it's metallic blue with a hint of green. 

Anyway, a search on Etsy for custom pickguards led me to a Korean business called 'Stormguitar' who make this beauty below.  I will admit to being influenced by some of @admiralchew's colourful pedals.  I love the cartoon design and there is plenty of blue and green so it fits Tidepool well.

Anyone else got any custom or flashy pick guards to show off?

For sale is my SFX Microthumpinator.  £80 + £5 postage.

This is a high pass filter with a 36db cut off at 25 Hz.

I had this on sale before but withdrew it as I believed it was faulty.  It isn't, Max from SFX sound has just give it a thorough test and all is good.  So its up for sale again.

Good thread for me this.   Wifey and me generally visit the home of a bass playing mate on dec 31st, just after his kids have been put to bed.  They supply all the grub and we bring presents.  Two years ago it was a bass strap, from Pinegrove leather:

https://www.pinegroveleather.com

And last year it was a pedal board.  Not sure what to pick this year so I'm keeping an eye out for any good suggestions.

45 minutes ago, neepheid said:

Starting as late as I did.

43 minutes ago, RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE said:

Me too 

17 minutes ago, Silky999 said:

This is my only regret……kit comes and goes which is sometimes a good decision, sometimes bad and the same can be said of bands and opportunities. Time, however, is irreplaceable and unfortunately you only notice the lack of it when it’s running out.

I was 55 when I picked up a bass for the first time.  I wish I had started 5 years earlier.

Unfortunately, I have to go to work today so I won't be coming either.  I'll see you all again next year.

On 06/11/2023 at 14:30, urbanx said:

Fantastic night at the Hunter Club in Bury St. Edmunds, playing with ‘For The Hornets’. 180 Cap venue, we sold 56 tickets in advance, and were at capacity when we played.

 

Composite image as people at the front were too close to get us all in lol! Would you look at my barnet!

Would that be a Fender Meteora by any chance?  Not seen anyone play one of these.  How are you finding it?