chris_b

I've heard most of the numbers but when depping I always ask for a set list so I get prior warning and can do some homework. I'd rather none of us had any nasty surprises. I use chord charts for most of the gigs I do, although they are really only for occasional reference; keys, intros. endings. We had a no charts rule for the originals band but no one else minds. The charts can be tucked away.

There are many reasons to prioritise gigs; a pro band, a better paying gig, a gig you prefer to do are all good reasons. You can run a "first in book" system, but if the bands are unequal (ie pro v semi pro, originals v covers) you have to have a pecking order and gigs always trump rehearsals. Whatever you do give plenty of notice, find good deps (not too good) and be open about everything. But most importantly, make sure you're enough of an asset to the band that they'll accept absences.

I've got some Dunlop Super Brights on a Jazz bass which sound pretty good. Plenty of snap there. I used DR Lo-Riders on my other basses for years until I switched to flatwounds. DR have a Marcus Miller signature set which might work well for you.

No one [i]has[/i] to play a 5 string bass. But advice that I have never understood is that some numbers are better on a 4, or covers that were originally recorded on a 4 [i]should[/i] be played on a 4 string bass. I have a 4 string bass sitting right there every time I go out and gig. I play midi bass lines, 4 string bass lines and even some 3 string bass lines on my 5 string bass. That's the flexibility I mentioned earlier.

.... also, for me switching back and forth between 4's and 5's wasn't helpful. It complicated the learning process so my recommendation is to put the 4 away and don't use it.

5's aren't all about the low notes, which they have and which come in very useful and sound great in a large number of songs, they are about increased flexibility, as others have said. I don't understand why others assume that because you play a 5 string bass you [i]have[/i] to play low notes! You can but you don't have to. 5's give you a range of options which you don't get on a 4 stringed instrument. I'd agree about getting the best instrument you can afford, I've got both 34" and 35" basses and I prefer the feel and sound of the 35" scale. I'd also point out that ultimately you should plan to upgrade your amp and cabs. A good 5 string bass at volume and with a fat warm tone should be allowed to thunder through the best rigs.

They don't seem to so a 36" set for 5 strings.

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1417084711' post='2616864'] ....Although if it is as you said, seems rather pointless making a ported cab sound sealed, just make it sealed no? .... [/quote] Ported and sealed cabs have different strengths and sounds, so as the site says Alex is building a [i]"hybrid enclosure which sounds and feels like a sealed cab but can play loud and bring the thunder like a ported cab"[/i]. Pointless? How do we more about this than Alex?

Can anyone tell me, do TI flats fit a 35" scale bass? The descriptions for their strings seem to indicate they are only made for 34" scale.

This video is of an old fashioned Soul band. I can play this easily, but I'd never get the chance because I'm not pretty enough, I'm too old and I'll never break into the clique that these guys are plucked from. I think that's the gist of Blue's point. I'm already suffering. A young drummer I played with in the now defunct originals band has joined a blues/soul band I know and have depped with over the years. They do pub, club and festival gigs. Just joined on bass is a young guy from the same music college. He's a great player. Playing stuff with a technique I've only ever seen on Youtube vidoes. That's another dep gig gone west! Some days I feel positively Jurassic!

I play Testify by SRV in a trio, and it usually gets counted in faster than the record. I try to think of something else when I'm playing it. If I focus on the 16 to the bar beat I always tighten up. I try to relax, play with a light feel and breath. This is an athletic performance, so you need to stretch and warm up first. Don't push it. Take breaks and you'll get your speed up to where you need it to be.

The smaller you go the less bass frequencies the cab can handle and the thinner you'll sound on a gig. The smallest rig I'll use is a 112 and a D class amp.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask where the cash is going. He's asking you to give up your time and money, so if he's donating to a charity he should be proud of that fact . Proud enough to give the details to anyone who asks. The fact that he got huffy means, in my book, he's not giving as much as he should.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1416829364' post='2613912'] You could sell the rig, but then you have the downsize in the TH500 and 1 DB112 option so you don't need to do anything, as far as I can see. [/quote] +1 If you want to downsize why go out a buy a combo when you can down size to 1 cab without spending any money. A Mesa combo would be the same size and weight and IMO wouldn't sound as good.

[quote name='Weststarx' timestamp='1416822696' post='2613810'] ....Now me and the lead guitarist understand that you have to turn up to the volume of the drums because obviously with an acoustic drum kit you cant excatly turn them down... [/quote] Yes you can. Drummers can play loudly or quietly. It's called drumming. If you have one that can't adjust his volume then I suggest you get a better drummer who can.

The conclusion, rightly or wrongly, is that he is something to hide. Call the charity and ask them.

I use my Gramma on solid floors and I've not had any problems with the sound or tone.

Also get it in black. White looks so semi-pro!!!!!!

My experience of music shops, from when I first started to go to them in the 60's, is they have always been full of idiots, on both sides of the counter. Some staff think they're cool because they work in the "music business" and some customers, most of whom aren't going to buy anything, think they are cool because they can play Smoke On The Water, very badly and on 11. I've encountered many poor shop staff over the years but there are usually good guys as well. Music shops have more than their fair share of tyre kickers and morons walking through the door putting on attitudes, so I don't blame the staff for showing a disinterest at first. If anyone has had bad service and you actually want to do something positive about it, call the manager. Then, if you get nowhere, you can post about it.

I learnt the songs from Grease a few years ago, as an exercise in playing something out of the ordinary for me. Get the CD. It's got the cream of LA's ! st call session players on it, with the likes of David Hungate and Max Bennett on bass.

As a 3 man operation (recently down to 2 due to illness) and suffering growing pains (moving premises) and introduction of new technology (CNC) what is there to not understand? These are not off the shelf products. Order a bass and you could be looking at a lead time of years from the good luthiers.

You're storing your gear in Fort Knox! Looks like any insurance would be superfluous.

If the gear is in the van and the van is disabled; ie clamped, and in the garage, is the gear covered then?

When I had my LM2 I used it with 2 Aguilar GS112 cabs. That was a fantastic sounding rig. I only sold the cabs to go to a 410. Isn't there a pair of those cabs in the classifieds?

Hi, what is wrong? What exactly is the problem you're trying to sort out? As has been said, put all tone controls to 12 o'clock, forget about the para eq for now and just make small adjustments to get a sound you like. Until that works I'd also forget the extension cab. Don't try to make it sound like your Ampeg. It won't. About 15 years ago I spent a fortune on a 400+ and 2 Boogie cabs and I couldn't get a sound I liked. In the end I replaced the amp with an SVT3-PRO and gigged that for 10 years. Unfortunately, sometimes even the best gear doesn't work out!