Pete Academy

[quote name='ironside1966' post='570096' date='Aug 15 2009, 05:58 PM']The fact of life is you get what you pay for, many to venues don’t want to pay a lot so they end up with students or inexperienced people often working for a few quid and drinks.
If you bring your own engineer they are reluctant to let them anywhere near the pa for fear of damage or misuse of the pa, you can’t blame them how do they know if you are any good, other just don’t want to pay someone to sit around so they insist on making them work.

In venues with their own engineer I found it’s the ones that insisted that you stay clear of the PA are the one that would benefit most from you not staying away.
If you have any doubts why not take your own desk/ engineer and just link in?[/quote]

Ok, but this venue was The Jamhouse in Birmingham, supposedly having Jools Holland's involvement To be honest, the whole experience was pretty disgusting. And we had to pester them for the cheque.

I probably shou;ld have made it clearer in my original post - my grievances aren't necessarily with the guy who does the sound. Our band has a soundman who comes to all our gigs and does a greatr job. It's the in-house engineers that set up all the equipment that I have a problem with. We recently played a fairly well-known and prestigious venue in Birmingham, and the engineer turned up about an hour late and proceeded to set up the mikes and stuff at a snail's pace. The result was constant feedback from the horn players' monitors, which left no alternative but to turn them off.

[quote name='OldGit' post='568632' date='Aug 14 2009, 08:37 AM']And some of the audience have ears as well as feelings and would really like to hear something other than a dull thud in he chest from the Roscoe bass on stage[/quote]

Yep, I always ask the sound guy, 'How was it?' and he replies, 'Bass sounded great.' Then later I get an email from a bass player who said he couldn't hear me.

Dear Sound Engineers,

Believe it or not we bass players care a great deal about our sound. This is reflected in the sheer amount of dosh we plough into our instruments and amplification. Having a good onstage sound is integral to our performance - the better we sound, the better the band sound. So when we would rather use our own rig rather than (in our opinion) the inferior house or support band's rig, please don't patronise us by saying, 'What's wrong with using theirs? Bass is bass, innit?' After all, you would never tell the guitarist to forsake his Mesa Boogie for the early 80s HH Valve Sound combo and say, 'Guitar is guitar, innit?' would you?

Also, I know you are the band's DJ and are kindly letting them use your PA at the wedding gig, and we're just standing in for that one gig. So when we stack our gear on crates so the speaker is right by our ear, please don't make us put the gear down onto the stage because 'it sounds better'. It might sound better for you, but trust us, due to years of gigging, our hearing has suffered a bit.

And finally, yes we know that due to the laws of physics, the sound from speakers is thrown forward, causing it to be substantially different depending on where we stand in relation to where our rig is. Thank you for suggesting we'd be better standing forward, away from the speakers, but some of us quite like our little 'comfort zone' right by the rig.

I hope this clarifies a few issues. Thank you for listening.

The Bass Community

I first heard slap bass in the 70s, with Stanley, Larry etc. I didn't really know how they were doing it. One night I switched on The Old Grey Whistle Test and there was a Crusaders live film on. I watched 'Pops' Popwell (fantastic player!) and he was slapping. However, to me it looked like he was playing with his finger ends. So began weeks of me trying to 'slap' with my finger ends. After weeks of sore fingers I (thankfully) discovered how it was done.

On the subject of Larry Graham, he is credited with inventing the style, but Louis Johnson claims he was playing with his thumb without ever hearing Larry play.

You won't be disappointed. They do a 1 x 12" as well. Miked up for recording they would be awesome.

The Millennium BXP IMO is the best bass out there for the price.

The Fender rep brought me a Fender TV series Bassman 1 x 10" combo to try today. I have to say it's a real winner. 150 watts through a 1 x 10" speaker, it was really pokey. Loads of bass end for a 1 x 10". Tried it with a jazz, turn the amp up to about 7, put the back pickup soloed, backed off the tone a bit, and Jaco heaven!

Haven't heard the new Markbass synth pedal, but the Akai Deep Impact was fantastic. I had one when they first came out and traded it for £50 against a Boss Octaver. They now fetch silly money.

I worked for an entertainment agency for 2 years, and I'm convinced that the current celeb obsession has something to do with this. People think it's somehow hip to book a live band.

[quote name='Stag' post='567206' date='Aug 12 2009, 07:40 PM']Ive been in this situation before - it tends to be the bride and groom that want you there (and usually book you), and no one else could give a toss if you were there or not. Easy money but kinda soul-sapping...[/quote]

Great response! The girl singer we had was a friend of the bride and groom. She had also heard that her ex-boyfriend might be attending with his new girlfirend. Our singer sang her socks off, but to no avail, as the aformentioned boyfriend didn't turn up.

There was some great totty there, though!

I played at a wedding last Saturday. I haven't played this kind of gig for ages. The band was a soul/funk cover outfit, and we were due on at 8pm for the first dance. After the first song we continued the set, playing to nobody, as the food was being served. The second set was OK, but it was obvious people were just waiting for the disco to come back on.

I must admit I was home before 12 with a hundred quid in my back pocket, but why do people bother with live bands at weddings?

Is it just me?

Sounds like the best way to me. Learn the chord changes, then put in the fills. The more you learn songs, the easier it gets. A Tascam CD-BT bass trainer will make it easier, as it has a useful looping feature.

Nearly Dan will be playing at The Jazz Cafe, Camden, London this Friday 14 August. www.jazzcafelive.com

Advance tickets £17.50 (I'm afraid).

For what you need, a Stingray would be perfect.

Smoking...terrible habit.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='563436' date='Aug 8 2009, 01:12 PM']Just wondered. Maybe you could try leaving the Elixirs in a bowl of pineapple juice to 'sticky' them up.

No need to thank me. [/quote]

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='563409' date='Aug 8 2009, 12:07 PM']Which hand - fretting or plucking - or both?[/quote]

Both

[quote name='lonestar' post='563291' date='Aug 8 2009, 08:32 AM']What is it you don't like about fast fret Pete?

I've just tried Ernie Ball Regular Slinky over Rotosound Swing Bass s/s which I've used since I was an egg.
Much nicer feel but can't comment on longevity yet.
String prices,I use Strings Direct, seem to have shot up drastically from around £13- £18 for a set of four since I last bought a set.
I'd like to try DR's but I can't afford them![/quote]

I just hate the slippery feel.

I've found the tension of Elixir strings always seems to help get a lower action without too much fret buzz.

Also, have you looked at Vigier and their carbon reinforced necks...no truss rod?

Trying to finding the perfect bass is like trying to find the perfect partner.

[quote name='SteveO' post='563094' date='Aug 7 2009, 09:46 PM']Change the strings? you mean like when you break them?

Mate, I'd check your nut / bridge for sharp edges. If they're OK then try digging in a little less. Maybe not pop quite so hard. I bought a spare set of strings in '92, but haven't needed them yet.

[/sarcasm][/quote]

Haven't broken a string in about 30 years.

[quote name='Moos3h' post='563066' date='Aug 7 2009, 09:03 PM']I make no claims to have tried every string in the book, but I find Elites (Stainless Steel) are just fantastic for me. Yes, you might get 1-2 gigs extra out of a set of Elixirs, but that doesn't justify the huge jump in costs.

Oh and a dab of Fast Fret as and when they need it.

Cheers,
James[/quote]

I should really use Fast Fret after the gig, but I prefer Fast Food.

[quote name='Moos3h' post='563066' date='Aug 7 2009, 09:03 PM']I make no claims to have tried every string in the book, but I find Elites (Stainless Steel) are just fantastic for me. Yes, you might get 1-2 gigs extra out of a set of Elixirs, but that doesn't justify the huge jump in costs.

Oh and a dab of Fast Fret as and when they need it.

Cheers,
James[/quote]

Aaarggh...I HATE Fast Fret

Has anyone tried those Dean Markley Alchemy ones yet?

I must have tried every brand of string over the years, but I can't find any that last. Elixir last a bit longer for me, and I've just tried the new Rotosound Nexus coated, which are actually very good, and don't have the slippery feel of Elixir. They look very cool, too. I like my strings bright and punchy - I hate it when they start to go off. Saying that, I'm a bugger for not wiping them down after a gig, as I'm too busy wanting to get away for the kebab on the way home.

I tend to play quite hard. I can't accept that any uncoated string can last any longer than another, as the dirt in the windings causes them to go off.

Any thoughts on this?