chris_b

Sounds like Bob Babbitt to me.

I replaced a 60's Precision pickup which had a weak and lifeless tone, with an 80's Bartolini, which had a huge, warm, fat tone. Same shape totally different sound. Shape was the only common denominator.

You can slow YouTube down, in settings. Start with it at 1/2 or 3/4 speed and work up.

1 bass is OK if you're not gigging. My minimum is 2 for gigs.

My solutions when I was faced with your problem; reduce the weight of each carry by moving to a separate amp and cab; no single item weighs more than 30lbs; if using small cabs, get 2 of them; reduce the distance you have to carry anything, buy a folding aluminium trolley. Good luck.

Experience and practice makes everything easier. All songs follow patterns of chords. Know your patterns.

I was travelling to a gig in the guitarists van and had to ask him to turn down the volume on the SatNav. It was so loud it was hurting my ears!!! I would never disagree with a band when I'm depping, but once the usual grumbles spilled over into a full argument about stage volume. As usual I couldn't hear the other band members for the very loud guitarist, only this gig he was even worse. He told me to take out the ear plugs. I said, "No, because I don't want to end up deaf like you". He replied, "I'm not deaf!" Ironically, he'd just had 10 mins of the singer telling him he was playing too loud. His reply, "Loud? Me? I always play at this volume. I'm not too loud!" Bloody guitarists!

I hate the IBTL mob. It's such a smug, stupid thing to post!!!

£160 for hearing protection is cheap, compared to the £2-3000 that good hearing aids cost.

If I'm playing with a good drummer I can enjoy any song. IMO all bass lines can be made interesting with a good drummer.

There's nothing wrong with that, if you stay in the rehearsal room. As soon as you go out and gig, different rules apply.

Alice In Chains. . . . that wasn't what I was expecting!! That'll be a room clearer on any gig I've done in the last 30 years. Good luck.

Does the audience like what you are playing? In a cover band that is the only objective. There aren't many songs I dislike or wouldn't play, but I've refused to play songs that other members of the band couldn't play properly. IMO if you only dislike one song you're doing well. In our Top 40 covers band any song would be dumped, no matter how much we liked it, if it didn't get an enthusiastic response from the audience. If the audience liked it then my opinion didn't matter. I focussed on the mechanics of the song, playing it to the best of my ability and making it work. Hearing an audience shouting and clapping at the end of a song I didn't like made everything better again.

I saw James Brown twice. First time was in 1971 at the East Ham Odeon, with Bootsy. The show ran for more than 2 hours, was their second show of the evening and started at 1 am, and was one of the best gigs I've ever seen. The second time was at Hammersmith Odeon. It might have been sometime in the 90's. The band was still great but the show floundered a few times due to Mr Brown's "issues". James Brown invented a whole new style of bass centric music. I'll be listening to those records for ever.

IME the most comfortable straps are found on the lightest basses.

When I bought my basses they came in gig bags or cases that are either too heavy or too flimsy. When I sell the basses they will be posted in the same bags/cases they arrived in, but while I'm gigging I use 2 light and strong Mono M80 Vertigo gig bags.

All valid reasons. . . . but IMO your need might be more pressing. One lesson shouldn't break the bank.

I don't really do FB, but I'm currently receiving an avalanche of mobile and land line scam calls. The scum bags are pulling out all the stops for Christmas!

I really hope you're not trying to use one finger per fret! Is there anyone you can have a few lessons with, who can show you how to adjust your technique, so you can work around your arthritis?

Another regret. . . . in my teens I also sang, played piano and double bass. When I started to move in more capable musical circles, I let them drop. I've lost many gigs over the years because I didn't give being versatile enough attention.

I regret not networking more effectively and being less than 100% focussed. These days, I've cracked the latter but still need to work on the former!

Many thanks to Colin, Trevor, Gary and anyone else who was involved, for making the bash a great day. . . . again.

I'd take the 2 basses I'd want to play (in my case the P and the J) and make the decision after trying both during the sound check.

My TI's have been on for about 8 years. They are still youngsters. I'm using a set of JF345 Long Scale on a 35" scale Mike Lull PJ5, and the B string has about 1/2" to spare.