Beedster

This bitsa is 100% staying however.......

So, I made a terrible mistake on Sunday, I started tinkering, "Mmm, wonder what that neck would sound like on that body with those PUPs and that bridge.....?'. Long story short, of the nine bitsas I have (had), three are staying, all rather interesting fretless mongrels, and the rest are going, albeit as projects/parts, as the time required to get each of them up to the standard that I could describe them hand on heart as ready to go quality instruments is a luxury I don't have at present. So, if you fancy doing you're own Fender-alike bitsa, or upgrading a bass with a Warmoth, Mighty Mite, Shuker, or Fender neck or body, as well as a load of bridges, PUPs, and tuners, keep an eye of the Accessories For Sale forum. I'll tease y'all with this pic again......

A Badass for the 2020's.......?

Not buying anything because there was nothing worth buying does not qualify as an unambiguous demonstration of the power of the spirit over the lures of materialism my friend

Not sure just how accidental that was given you were in a music shop and did have your credit cards with you? Bit f*** me that's a bloody nice bass @neepheid 👍

I knew I shouldn't have clicked the link...... This is surely a joke............?

Wise word young jedi 🙏

Yep, this is not an audio issue it's a political one, far more tricky, and as I said earlier, I think it's one you just have to live with, not least because as I've found too many times, the mix/engineering I often hate at a gig other people love and vice versa. Good luck either way mate, but if you have in-ears and the sound isn't your responsibility, I'd just set up a decent mix for yourself and leave it there, or you risk winning the battle but losing the war 👍

Not at all, as a band we're all happy. I think the point you're possibly overlooking is that nothing in this is about an identifiable and quantifiable 'best/ideal/optimal sound', it's about how expectations differ among people, and how those expectations affect perception and emotion. It sounds like the rest of your band might have agreed with you in principle, but don't share your expectations that it shouldn't happen, so they aren't worried when it does happen again. Re my bunch, we don't have any problem with our guitarist simply because we don't expect him to turn down, it's him (and there are plenty of singers, key's players, drummers, and bassists who are just the same who nonetheless get on with their bands without friction), and apart from a few of the type of musos who like to scratch their chins at a gig and then come straight up to you at the break and offer some well intentioned feedback, neither does anyone else. So there's no tearing out of hair needed. Is it ideal? No. Is it good enough? Yes.

Well f*** me sideways, I think I've seen it all now

Agreed, which I think is why it's best to simply tolerate it. I think our guitarist is way too loud, but he's a great guy and a great player so I tolerate it. At gigs musicians tend to say 'He's too loud' while punters tend to say 'He's a great guitarist'. Everyone has a different perspective/expectation, as bass players we're often just as bad as most other band members. Note the most.......

Sorry mate, if it's still going on after you've discussed it 'a whole load of time' then you've not had the grown up conversation. Given what's you've said, especially that it keeps happening but you don't want to walk, i think it's as Steve suggested above, tolerate it gracefully 👍

Sean, you do realise that was not a mixing workshop, it was group therapy, yes? And if you haven't seen it....

I've been playing in bands for over 40 years and I'm still amazed at how many people - myself included - find it hard to have a grown up conversation about the core currency of the band, the sound, and that when it does finally come up, it tends to do so contaminated by emotions such as anger, resentment, and bitterness. If I was the OP I'd simply say, calmly and relatively unemotionally to the whole band, that despite the fact you clearly enjoy being in the band, the sound doesn't work for you, and that you'd like to discuss options. If you enjoy being in the band do not say anything like '....or I'll walk', because the guitarist might see that as an opportunity to retain his status. Also do not make it about the guitarist, make it about the sound, while one person might be at the desk, the whole band retain at least some if not most responsibility unless this is a fully pro-act. Don't do it when you and the band are tired at the end of a rehearsal, or stressed ahead of a gig, don't do it via WhatsApp, just choose your moments and have a calm and respectful in-person chat with them all 👍

That is ONLY factor here..... The other factor being what do the audiences think...?

Yep, three things come to mind.... 1. If you joined a band in which guitarist does sound you could have seen this coming 2. If you let the guitarist start doing the sound once you were already in the band, you could have seen this coming 3. If the guitarist decided to do the sound on his own volition, you could have seen this coming........ Sorry. But there's a rule to be adhered to here. NEVER LET THE GUITARIST DO THE LEVELS

.....I'm tempted to lose the pickguard and install a Jazz Bass front PUP cover to be honest, it's protect the PUP and provide a thumb rest

Not sure, I'll take a look around, either way I've never been a huge fan of the ashtray covers on the 51s so that option's out 👍