EssentialTension

[quote name='liamcapleton' post='417518' date='Feb 23 2009, 03:25 PM']That's not how it should work really. You've got to be mercenary about how you sell yourself to pubs. You tell a pub how much money you usually go out for, and if they argue with your price (as long as it's a reasonable one), then you politely thank them anyway and look for a different gig somewhere else. It's not worth your time trying to get blood out of a stone. There was a guy a while ago who booked us for his pub. At the start of the night, in some half-baked attempt to prove his authority, told us that if we didn't bring a crowd then he wouldn't be paying us. We said fine, not a problem... promptly started to pack the gear up and got the van started, and told him that if there was the slightest chance he wouldn't pay us then like hell we're playing the gig for him. He immediately changed his tune after we asked for the money up front there and then if he wanted us to stay. It may seem like you're getting high and mighty approaching money like this, but at the end of the day you're only trying to make a living. As long as you're putting on a high quality show for people to watch and act professionally and friendly to the people paying you, then you should not for one second be in any doubt that you've earned your cash. Anywhere that will treat you like you described isn't worth your business.[/quote] +1

[quote name='bassman2790' post='417265' date='Feb 23 2009, 11:29 AM']At the end of the night we approached him about payment. His reply was, " I thought we'd see how this one went and if it was a success, we'd pay you for the next one." Hmmmm [/quote] That's the point at which I (and any of the bands I play with) would not have been going back. Except to collect the money owed as agreed in advance - you did agree payment in advance didn't you?

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='417678' date='Feb 23 2009, 06:41 PM']Yay! A folk love-in! Another excuse to post [url="http://www.jollybeggars.co.uk/stuff/oakeyreel.mp3"]WoT's favourite folk / bass moment[/url]![/quote] What was that?

[quote name='YouMa' post='417643' date='Feb 23 2009, 06:04 PM']If you just stick to the root notes and add small pentatonic fills for colour tones you should be fine,the main thing in a song like this is not to over complicate,Danny thompson also has no frets so has that droney sound which is more suited to folk music. I would reccomend getting hold of any pentangle albums basket of light is brilliant and taught me a lot about folk playing. Hope this helps mate, folk music is an exciting music and i think it is a genre which is often overlooked by bassists.Good luck.[/quote] I've listened to a lot of folk over the years including RT and DT and Fairport and Pentangle and loved it but I've rarely had to play it. I'm not quite in the groove with it yet. Thanks again for the advice.

[quote name='hubrad' post='417667' date='Feb 23 2009, 06:32 PM']Hi Dave, just leaving work at the mo.. I've a couple at home; I'll find the titles. I think both are from the mid-90s.. saw them in Leeds on one of those tours, and it's still one of those gigs of a lifetime for me! HUGH[/quote] Thanks Hugh.

[quote name='hubrad' post='417635' date='Feb 23 2009, 05:47 PM']Exactly! Listen to the RT + DT live albums.. inspiration for both instruments! [/quote] Which album(s) did you have in mind?

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='417136' date='Feb 23 2009, 08:12 AM']If the arrangement is the same as RT's... I would leave lots of space and concentrate on acting as a counterpoint to the vocal, staying well away from the guitar. aka 'what would Danny Thompson do?'[/quote] Thanks WoT. It is RT's arrangement (although I think the guitarist may be doing a slightly simplified version ). I think your advice is good. I been stuck between doing root notes only or doing something too fast and too complicated that followed the guitar and was anyway (for me) difficult to play at that speed, especially as it's on fretless. I've been thinking 'what would Danny Thompson do?' but hadn't quite come up with the answer - other than I'm not quite as good as DT. So thanks. I'll let you know if I can pull it off.

[quote name='YouMa' post='417100' date='Feb 23 2009, 01:37 AM']Can you not just follow the root notes of the chords hes finger picking,theres enough of em. I think that tunes in DADGAD tuning.[/quote] Thanks YouMa. I can follow the root notes but it was a bit boring and didn't seem to me to add anything to the song. I guess it is the fall back position.

Has anyone ever played a bass part for Richard Thompson's [i]1952 Vincent Black Lightning[/i]? I've got the chord structure (accurately I believe) but I'm struggling to develop a bass line that I'm competent to play and which adds to the song. Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

[quote name='ShaunB' post='416299' date='Feb 21 2009, 06:43 PM']...not the one at Absolute... 1 3/4" nut and plays like a dream... want, want, want.[/quote] The newer candy apple red Lakland DD has a 1.5" nut. The one at Absolute will be the original limited edition Lakland DD which is no longer in production. Very nice too.

[quote name='SisterAbdullahX' post='416396' date='Feb 21 2009, 10:08 PM']I have 3 basses, one of which I use all the time, one which is half built and one which was my #1 for fifteen years but needs TLC. Like any of us, I would spend all of my disposable income (which ain't much!) on more basses/amps/cabs/effects. However, we've just booked our wedding day for next year. Even if we're really careful it'll cost us 10 grand FOR ONE DAY! And no matter how careful we start out, it won't be long before she tells me that she MUST have a chocolate fountain, cos her best mate had one at her wedding. So we need to start saving. She's just told me she will spend the 500 quid I need to finish off the half built one, then every penny after that goes to the wedding. Should I still marry her!?[/quote] Well, that's up to you but I wouldn't spend that much or in fact anything at all on a wedding. Just live together or if for some bizarre reason you must be married it's £24 I think at the register office.

All my experience of Lakland has been positive too. A pleasure to deal with them. But how is the Joe Osborn?

With Joni Mitchell fabulous, with Weather Report very good too. On his own - mostly no.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='407890' date='Feb 12 2009, 06:45 PM']+1 I think that painted basses have a huge reflection on your personality.[/quote] Is that why yours are all blue Wayne?

[quote name='rjb' post='407292' date='Feb 12 2009, 08:49 AM']The thing that draws me to Warwicks et al is the choice of exotic dark hardwoods (bubinga/wenge/ovangkol/ebony). If Fender, for example, made a US P fretless with those woods I'd happily spend a chunk of cash on one. If i'm gonna drop a wedge on a bass I want to see some nice wood action! Perhaps Fender should do an exotic wood range...[/quote] I would dislike 'wood action' even if it was on a Fender.

[quote name='Gothicontheloose' post='407043' date='Feb 11 2009, 10:20 PM']you can't play metal with Fender's, and some hard rock isn't great either -.- That's personal opinion but still...[/quote] Well, you may hold that opinion but I'd say that your opinion is not at all backed up by the facts. And that's my opinion.

[quote name='Krysbass' post='407517' date='Feb 12 2009, 12:41 PM']If a bass is going to be expensive, it shouldn't just sound good and be a joy to play - it should look good and should look worth the money you paid for it - or better still, look worth [i]more[/i] than the money you paid for it.[/quote] A pefect description of my Fenders. Thank you.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='406959' date='Feb 11 2009, 08:58 PM']I suppose some Little Feat would be classed as country, and that's amazing. I challenge anyone who hates country not to like "Willin'". It's one of my favourite tracks ever, and if you diss it, I will smash your goddam face in.[/quote] +1 on that.

[quote name='Rich' post='406304' date='Feb 11 2009, 02:04 PM']my first bass was a '64 Hofner Artist II [/quote] Me too, second hand mid-sixties Hofner Artist for £25 in 1974. That was about a week's wages if I recall correctly. I had been doing FOH sound and fixing the back line when it broke down (regularly) for a local band but also had two fairly high quality reel-to-reel tape recorders and a quality cassette deck and mikes and mixer and I would go around to people's houses and record them playing while doing loads of overdubs etc. I imagined myself as the new Joe Meek. I could play guitar a little and so on one session I played a bass line (on a guitar) while the two guys I was recording both played guitars to cut down on one extra overdub. Later, in the pub, they asked me if I would play bass for their band. Impetuously, I said yes and bought the Hofner Artist the next day. I wish I still had it.

I dep and I've been depped. If you can't make the gig that's how it is. Get over it. These guys who are insecure about being depped probably don't like other men sleeping with their wives and girlfriends either - in case the dep has a better endowment. But, hey, a band is not a marriage.

Cachaito's uncle, Cachao, only died in March last year. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cachao_L%C3%B3pez"]Cachao[/url] [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_%22Cachaito%22_L%C3%B3pez"]Cachaito[/url]

I sold Etienne a EBS Microbass II. Very smooth, very fast, highly recommended, and a very cool avatar as well.

When I saw the UOGB, the bassist called his acoustic bass guitar a bass uke as a sort of joke.

[quote name='artisan' post='402076' date='Feb 6 2009, 03:23 PM']cheers for that E'T',looks like i'll have to top load them then which is a shame but never mind. i've tried TI's before on my '62 R'I' P bass & found them a bit "floppy" so i gave them to a friend who loves them--dohh. where as i've got La Bella's on my Jazz & i absolutely love 'em to bits. on the subject of TI's,whats the tension like through body ? cheers. as for these basses-bloody awesome arn't they,just a tad bright with the rounds on for me.[/quote] As you have experienced, TIs are low tension and remain low tension through the body. I'm not actually convinced that through-body really makes more difference than a psychic medium could tell. And yes I love my ADP (with flats).

[quote name='artisan' post='401926' date='Feb 6 2009, 12:27 PM']i nearly always use flats on my passive Fenders but i was wondering what my deluxe P would sound like with flats on it. yes ok i'm too tight to buy a set & try them,i am a Yorkshire man after all. also would they be ok strung throught body or would i be better top loading them, cheers.[/quote] Hey Artisan. I've the exact same American Deluxe P and I've only ever used flats on it. Started with Fender stainless steel flats but then for ages used TI Jazz Flats. Recently I've been trying D'Addario Chrome Flats but I expect to go back to TI Jazz Flats. Flats are fine on this bass. And I've strung all of them through the body without any problem. I've heard though that La Bellas do not work through the body.