chris_b

When Steely Dan started gigging after a break of 20 years, they bought the sheet music to all their songs but found so many mistakes that they had to relearn all the songs off their records.

A guitarist I played with used to just shout, "Go!"

# My SR5 was a 1989 model. It was the only decent 5 string bass I could find when I switched in 1995.

I'm also interested. It's a subject that has currently grabbed my attention. I played my heavier (9 1/2lb) bass for 3 hours last night. Today my back aches and I have to be very careful or I'll not be able to stand. This has nothing to do with working out (I do) or better straps (mine are excellent) it's about injuries and wear and tear on load bearing joints. 6lb basses here I come.

I'm playing tonight, tomorrow, the day after and the day after that. 2 gigs and 2 deps, 4 gigs in 4 days and I'm looking forwards to each one. It's why I bought my first bass in 1965 and why I just loaded the car. Love it all.

I haven't watched the programs, but the drummer has just posted a photo of an Isle of Wight gig on Facebook. . . and I know him and have played with him. I haven't seen him for a few years but Barry is a great drummer.

Never mind that the guy was a "name" in the 80's. What's the band like now? A lot of guys haven't aged well. If the band is good enough join it. If you're not interested, give them my number!

So when you join an originals band, who have the set already written, you're actually joining a cover band?

I've played in cover bands and original bands and many that are a mixture of both. It's all music and if you play the songs right they are both equally satisfying.

Ah OK. On our jam night, all jammers bring their own instruments and drumsticks. As a result of Covid, we are now requiring singers to bring their own mics. No one touches my bass. If you don't bring your own, you don't play. IMO by eliminating people who just want to get up and play on the spur of the moment, you get a better bunch of players turning up, and it's a better evening for all.

Why are you worried about taking a bass to jam nights? I'm in the house band for a local jam and take my regular #1 bass. No one else plays it but I have no problem using it myself. Basically the only guy who is guaranteed to sound good is the house bassist. It's his gear, so that's to be expected. Very few jammers sound great. They don't know the amp and are usually flailing in the dark when they try to adjust the eq, so it's all about what they play rather than what they sound like.

I have both, a passive PJ5 with specially designed Seymour Duncan pickups and flats and an active 5 string Jazz with Sadowsky single coils and rounds. IMO the PJ sounded better at low volume, and was the bass I played the most during lockdown, but the Jazz, on a gig, has more dynamics. After lockdown I've also decided that I prefer the PJ through my Aguilar TH500 and Super Compact, while the Jazz sounds better through my Aguilar AG700 and any combination of SC, BB2 and SM cabs. I'm also dedicating basses to different genres, something which I've never done in the past. The blues and soul bands mostly get the PJ and everyone else gets the Jazz. Although that can change depending on the band line up and the room. 2 pickup basses can sound scooped if you have both pickups on full. I turn the bridge pickup down 10% or so, and the "scoop" goes away.

I'm very happy with the sound of my active Sadowsky Jazz bass. Would it sound the same without the preamp? I very much doubt it, so there is definitely a place for active basses.

No matter how many times. . . it all comes out like me saying it.

After 50 years common sense kicks. You play 50% less notes and sound 200% better.

Ag-u-lar - as pronounced by Dave Boonshoft, ex owner of Aguilar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz4GadmRPW0

I get a man in to do that.

Yep. My first gig bag was a Sketchley Cleaners plastic bag.

I played the St Moritz several times in 1968. It was a dump even then, but they liked a bit of Soul and Blues so the gig was fun.

I wouldn't buy a bass because it was active or passive. That would never be on my list of preferences. Currently I have one of each, a passive P and an active J. It's all about the tone of the particular instrument.

The biggest lesson I've learnt from gigging. . . is that it's the biggest turn on, greatest fun, most satisfying thing that I've ever done. Selecting your gear, practising the songs, loading the car, driving around the M25 at 20mph, putting up with drunk punters, the drive home, all worth it for a good gig.

Which ones?

Don't forget Bob Blackman. . . .

I remember when tank tops were cool.