chris_b

Bands like ZZ Top have been ampless on stage for years. IMO the lack of "soul" and not "feeling it" etc comes from the players being out of their comfort zone and letting that affect them.

When I played there, some 12-13 years ago there was a Beatles tribute band playing on the "Cavern" stage, with a left-handed "Paul", and the place was full of tourists. We played in the side room and that seemed to be full of locals.

I've never bought from them online, but have bought stuff in the shop and they set up and fix all my basses. No help to the OP but they are great guys to deal with in person.

There is a service entrance around the back. We brought our own gear except PA. There is a large room behind the stage for the band. Ask the Cavern, they'll have their load-in, soundcheck and set times, procedures and local info etc. There's not much history in the place these days. The site was knocked down and when building plans changed was turned onto a car park. When planning changed again and an office block was built they rescued the original bricks and built a "Cavern" in the basement. It looks like the Cavern and is built as a replica but it's located about 20 yds to the right and the modern gig space is an add on.

If you want a bass to end all basses, check out Sadowsky. IMO the NYC, Metro's and German made ranges are the peak of bass manufacturing.

VW also sounds good when playing his 5 string basses with Bela Fleck. He told me that he uses 4 string basses for his bass clinics because he feels more comfortable playing those lines on a 4. He owns 4, 5, 6, fretless and double basses and will play any bass if it is right for the song and band. The grown up approach.

I know half a dozen musicians working in schools today. They are teaching drums, guitar and singing and have full books. Some of these kids come along to our jam nights and the standard is good. In West London at least music education and learning musical instruments seems to be prospering.

Hate dictators, politicians, murderers, Married at First Sight, but what's the point in hating things.

Fabulous. . . .

That's one reason not to buy new basses. You could run a lawnmower over my Jazz bass and you wouldn't notice! It's still the best sounding bass I've owned.

Songs don't care how many strings are on any musical instrument. Play what makes you happy and gets the job done. I'm happy that some players prefer 4's. I'm happy that I prefer 5's.

My experience exactly. I bought a 55-94D in 2003 and loved the sound, feel and look. It retired my Wal and was my #1 bass for 14 years, but, at just over 10lbs started to cause aches and pains in my bad back, so I sold it. Last year I bought a 55-02 and while I thought the sound of the LH3's was OK I missed the Barts. At 8 1/2lbs, which is light for a Lakland, it was still causing me back problems, so it was also sold. My #1 bass is now a 6 1/2lb Sandberg and I was toying with the idea of installing a set of Barts. @Chris G which Barts did you buy?

Has anyone put flats on their Sandberg? If so, which flats did you use.

I'm sitting on Friday's gig and standing on Saturday and Sunday's gigs. So I'm playing the Sadowsky on Friday and the Sandberg Superlight for the rest of the week-end.

Always this. Unfortunately with so many people filming bum notes can be broadcast around the world before you've even finished the gig!! Last week I was surprised to hear the whole band play a different sequence of bars to the original, which was the version I'd been told to listen to. It's now on Facebook for everyone to see and makes me look like I cocked up!!!

I was in a duo with a guitarist and Amazing Grace was in the set. One night he started it in 4/4 (should have been in 3/4!) and I had 3 mins of hell, firstly trying to understand what had just happened, I didn't even recognise which song he was playing. I should have sat there and let him play it on his own, but I tried and failed to fit the old bass line into the new time signature. He did apologise afterwards!

You can talk without being able to write. Likewise you don't need to understand the rules of grammar in order to express yourself. But, know the rules and you'll be expressing yourself in more interesting ways. What you write and say is always enhanced by the extent of your vocabulary and your knowledge of grammar. Same with music. Understanding theory reduces your limitations. You'd think the old blues guys knew no theory, but they did know the relationship between 1, 4 and 5 chords and 8, 12, 24 bar sequences, minor and major, 7th chords before a change to the 4 chord, so they did know enough theory to make their music work. Knowing more and knowing why is always a good thing.

If everyone can count to 4, communicate with each other, keep eyes and hears open and start and stop together, you're 80% there.

This. And start looking after them when they are fit and healthy. Don't end up a disabled f#ckwit like me, who only started to be sensible after I herniated a disc.

I've done that, several times. I had to chart out several songs on one gig. Just before kick-off I asked the BL about one of them and his answer stopped me dead in my tracks. His arrangement was totally different to the YT link he'd given me. The other 3 charts were wrong as well!! I always bring a pad so I was scribbling down the new arrangements as we went on stage.

Nervous? Not worthy? Doubting yourself? They asked you to do this. They must think you're OK. Believe in their judgement. Just do whatever it was that got you the gig.

I wasn't on the gig, but 10 years ago my band turned up to a gig (can't remember the name) in Sussex to see the security staff and the management having a fraught and loud "discussion". At the end of that the management told the band they had given all the cash to the security guys and wouldn't be paying the band! They could play or go home! The band were already setting up, so they packed up and went home. I felt sorry for the bass dep, and we never went back.

A couple of my gigs have a low key and laid back vibe to them. I perch on a bar stool for those and we all sit on a wine bar trio gig. I stand for the covers, reggae and rock/blues stuff though. I bought a great 3kg bass for those gigs.

I did a gig last week with a drummer who forgot to pack his snare stand! He spent the night balancing the snare between a stool and the bass drum! I have a terrible memory, and given half a chance would forget my head. I fixed that by never unpacking my gigging gear at home. I also count 8 boxes/bags into the car and out again. My permanent home practice gear is 1 or 2 Barefaced One10's, a TH500, whatever bass is at hand and headphones from the laptop. I am thinking of going silent with something like a Palmer Pocket Bass amp.

Does anyone know if Sandberg make a Superlight 5 string P bass? I've been searching the web and can't find any indication that they do.