dclaassen

This is a pub band that has largely played in the space between Cambridge and Ipswitch....mostly small town pubs and social clubs. I have not had the local knowledge to go after gigs for this band, and, honestly, I am not sure the guys really want to play much, as none of them have successfully gotten anything since November. I also think we have had to attitude of "we'll just do what we always did to get places to play" and post-covid, that's not really working in our area. So, I thought I would start looking into how it is done here. I knew how to do it in the midwestern US and in North Texas, but this is quite a bit different. Thanks everyone for the tips...keep them coming in please!

I guess I was hoping for a bit more from folks who are picking up new venues…especially in rural areas like ours. The small town pubs in Cambridgeshire seem to barely be hiring any bands, and I’d like to find ways of getting the attention of those who are. If you have recently tweaked your promotional effoerts to good effect, I would love to know how you did it. I like the blokes I have played with, but we have not had a gig since November.

Please share the promotional stuff that gets you the gigs!

I believe that I could pull it off for 90% of the things I play with the BBNE2 I’ve been using. It’s as close to a Swiss Army bass as I’ve seen since I had an RD Artist in the late seventies. Gotta have a fretless around for the odd jazz or rockabilly thing.

You are , imho, not. I have a LoPrinzi flattop made in 1974. You cannot compare the tone of that guitar with a new one. Same for the feel of my MPV...it's just different. I remember picking up an old Martin D-35 and just being amazed by the feel and tone. Handmade instruments using wood that, as far as I know, is not longer available are superior in both feel and tone. Every new bass or guitar I've played is lots more sterile.

I got my hands on a Nathan East Yamaha that the pro player didn’t want anymore. Great bass, and probably worth the new price tag, especially if you needed one instrument to do everything. The sonic possibilities are endless….

Is that anything like the mop tuners on the Yamaha BBeast2?

I've got Elixer nanowebs on both my fretted basses...love them on the 5'er, but the jury is still out on using them with my Jazz. Flats on the fretless, but I find I play different techniques with flats/fretless anyway. It just fits for me, and I love the sound and feel of the coated strings on the 5 string.

Yup....I want a band to sound as good as possible, but I do not like "Hobby rehearsals" too much...maybe because I teach music all day. My views might change once I am retired (one more year to go!!!!!)

I went to my wonderful local music shop to ask about getting a couple of non-critical cracks sorted on my main bass. They sail their guy has a 2-3 month turnaround time…is this normal?

I’ve been looking around a bit with an eye to getting in another band. I like everything about the guys that I play with, like the setlist,etc. However, we have not gigged or practiced since November. Went to have a play with some lovely folks about 45 minutes away. Right now, they are just guitar and vocals. No lead, no drums. They want to practice weekly but don’t anticipate any paying gigs. Contacted some guys that have a similar setlist to my existing group, practice weekly about 30 minutes away…on Sunday morning…no exceptions. I’m thinking I need to keep looking, but am tired of not playing with a relaxed but gigging band. Am I being too picky? To me, the “ we practice once a week, period” thing is a red flag. Learn the setlist, meet when you want to work on stuff and after everyone has sorted their part out. Thoughts?

Used one bass….pretty good time.

Good advice all the way round..thanks everyone!

Reasonably, I have a jam tonight with some folks I don't know. I am hoping to get some work out of it. I am pondering which bass(es) to take. I don't want to look pretentious, but do want to show these folks what I am about. The jam is in a small village, so I am not too worried about getting stuff stolen. What and why.. MPV-5...this is my main rehearsal and performance bass. I am getting to be more of a 5 string guy all the time. Jazz Bass (optional)...4 string FSO Fretless Spectracore..(optional) just becuase..mwhaaaa... It is supposed to be a rock cover pub band kind of deal. Thoughts? oh, and, no, I am NOT going to buy another bass for the occasion.....:)

This one...MPC Outlaw from the late 70's...strange but really nice bass with effects modules in the back that you could swap out easily. It was always my spare bass through the 80's. I can't even remember moving it on, but I did. Also, my '63 Jazz (sunburst/rosewood), my '68 fretless P bass (sunburst, maple) and, on the guitar side, a really nice blond Guild G37. Back when I sold all these, they were not considered that valuable...if only I had known...

True, but I’ll bet you never had to help move one up stairs to a gig…..

I kinda did the same thing this week…played a bunch of basses, then back to my old reliable. It still feels and sounds better than anything else.

I used the same 3" leather strap for 40 years, just recently switched to a 2-1/2" DSL padded strap from Simply Music in Huntingdon. Comfy!

I always wanted to name a band “Free Beer”

Dirty Hands…pub classic rock 4 piece. This was the name before I joined. My 2 favorite past band names were Black Jack and J Edger Cookie.

I also have a Spectracore. What strings are you using? Mine came to me with LaBella low tension flats…love the feel but not the tone…

I use a Fender Dual Showman on gigs with the stock 4 x 12 cab. You would know long in advance if you were going to blow a speaker. The sound is great for classic rock...warm and with the lovely and totally un-emulatable attack....

Kasino combo amp my parents bought me in 1972 Yamaha 115- c. 1976 Music Man head with Bullfrog 18" Cabinet-c.1980 Traynor old practice amp somebody gave me also c. 1980 Hartke Kickback 12-still have c. 2001 Fender Dual Showman w/ 4x12 cab-Main gigging amp acquired this year....

Where are you located? I’ve got a spectracore 5 er

It hasn’t been an issue….probably because we’re on a coach full of American kids😁