chris_b

Over the years there have been loads of "no one cares about the bass player" threads, which I think just isn't true. In the last 4 gigs I've had 3 guys come up to me and compliment me on my sound and playing and 4 ladies who told me that they were dancing to the sound of the bass. We [i]are[/i] appreciated, [i]what[/i] we play and [i]how[/i] we sound is important. My dep is a very, very good player, but the band tells me they prefer my playing. It took them about 3 years to bother to tell me. So don't assume silence means that people aren't listening and appreciating.

My preference would be to replace the cab. If there really is no budget for a new cab then give Phil Starr a PM and find out which replacement speaker would sound best. We're told that in order for the cab to sound good the speakers will have to match the cab. Then were told that most of the popular makes are designed to a budget, not to a technical spec. As most of these cabs sound OK, what I take from that is there is so much leeway in cab design that getting it right, down to the last millimeter, isn't necessary to get a good sound.

Too many blues bands in the UK seem to be playing ideas from the 50's. Based around lead guitar and limited interesting grooves and arrangements. Listen to some of the US guys touring Europe, like Lucky Peterson, Sherman Robinson, Coco Montoya, Bernard Allison. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alzAG7rCAQA"]https://www.youtube....h?v=alzAG7rCAQA[/url] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhr36kVaDoc"]https://www.youtube....h?v=Mhr36kVaDoc[/url] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atr73gUUn5Q"]https://www.youtube....h?v=atr73gUUn5Q[/url] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7UdvncZAtw"]https://www.youtube....h?v=X7UdvncZAtw[/url]

Graeme, thanks for a good sale. Cheers Chris

Good version. Great band and with Vail Johnson playing some fantastic lines.

[quote name='Chienmortbb' timestamp='1427405412' post='2730115'] With regards to the TH500, any one run out of headroom or find it gets hit if driven moderately or hard. There just does not seem to be enough metal in there to keep a 500W (even a Class D) cool at those power levels. [/quote] With the right cab they get as loud as you like. I trust Aguilar to design and build a quality amp. I'd like to hear about it if you think those guys are cutting corners.

You don't seem to be aware of the music has been played for the last 100 years under the umbrella term "The Blues". It has gone through significant changes since the 1890's and is continuing to evolve on a yearly basis.

I use an Aguilar TH500. Apparently the fan can get a little noisy on some, but mine doesn't cause me too much trouble. I have no problems with the EQ. Everything is flat and the Drive off, and distortion is not a common issue. I've only heard of with 1 amp with a problem.. I'd also suggest the Genz Benz Shuttle 9.2. They have a very good tone section.

That's all good, but you've got to find a way to modify your technique and play with less force in both hands.

[quote name='Thump' timestamp='1427300709' post='2728579'] How long did it take you to build up enough hardened skin on your fingers so as to not be in pain when trying to play? [/quote] It didn't. I play for hundreds of hours a year and I don't have blisters or callouses. If you're in pain when you play you're doing it wrong. Never mind your fingers, you're risking RSI.

For the last 20 + years I have covered everything you've listed with just one of my fretted 5 string basses. IMO anything else does not come under the heading "need".

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1427045792' post='2725035'] It would be awesome to see someone play a funk gig with a BC Rich Widow! [/quote] Pointy basses can get funky . . . . . Jerry Preston. . . . . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLwmYI09Lw

I had some time out. When I came back I excluded Off Topic. I should have done that years ago.

We used to do numbers by Etta James, Ann Peebles, Betty Wright, Bonnie Raitt and Koko Taylor. Also by Keb Mo, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lucky Peterson, Johnny Laing, Brook Benton, Delbert McClinton and Jon Cleary. There's a lot to choose from out there.

Only 20 mins? I've lost years on the sodding internet.

An arranger is never the owner of the song. That's why they get paid a fee and not royalties. But I thought it was OK to steal peoples songs these days, in our online world. YouTube is built on people taking songs without permission. Ironic that someone who nicked the songs in the first place is complaining that what he's nicked has been nicked from him.

I wonder if this guy got permission to use the songs he mixed in the first place?

I'll vote for Kenny Gradney. Consistently one of the best "unknown" players out there.

I have used one of my Aguilar TH500's as a power amp and it worked fine. A Genz Benz Shuttle 9.2 has a very powerful power amp section.

My bands hardly ever rehearse but if we are using a studio we use their gear. Drummers have been know to take their own kit as studio kits are usually smashed to bits by the "shed builders" that they get in these places. To the guys who think they have to have "their sound" at a rehearsal, I would ask; Why are you there? Is playing in a rehearsal studio a gig substitute? Are you preparing for a gig? A full band rehearsal for me is to "top and tail" the arrangements. You should already know your parts before you arrive. I don't care what we sound like, that's not the objective. We're getting the playing in sync and for that, the studio gear is good enough.

IMO it's not worth it to go active or add a J pickup. I prefer passive P basses by a country mile. Put some flats on for a great, fat, warm, vintage vibe. IMO flats don't sound so good on active basses. If you don't like flats then good quality replacement passive pickups could breath fresh life into this bass. I have 2 PJ's. One I bought like it and never use the J because the P sounds so much better on its own and one I modded to add a J. It didn't sound significantly better after I buggered about with it, and it cost a lot to do. Complete was a waste of money.

I'd say there's no point in having a 4 string bass.... because you can play everything you can think of playing on a 4 on the 5, but that doesn't work the other way around. I don't see how a 5 is more tricky to play that a 4. You're only playing the E-G strings on either instrument. It's not like you're reaching over to play complicated stuff on the B string. Are you having muting problems? Whatever it is I would analyse your technique rather than the instrument.

That's a fully rehearsed and post processed recording.

I can strum and play a few tunes on piano. I think piano is a good second instrument for a bass player.