JTUK

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1443875053' post='2878365'] ................................... The rugby World Cup comes by once every 4 years and for some people it's a big deal. If you have such contempt for pub goers then perhaps it's a good thing you're not in a pub band. They pay our fee at the end of the day! [/quote] Probably this.... some games are bigger than a pub gig.. know your market

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1443863160' post='2878205'] What's wrong with it? He just got fed up with SOTW and wanted to play something different. Some folk like slap-jazz. Is that so bad? [/quote] it doesn't really matter what tune he was playing it against, ( he didn't seem to worry about that anyway) it was just awful from the bottom up.

yep,.... not at all good, in any respect. Are they competition winners or something?

Fiona Fullerton was a real hottie...I can imagine she is massively MILFY now..

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1443792530' post='2877754'] I wonder if the woodwind section of the London Philharmonic consider themselves side(wo)men or members of a scratch band ? [/quote] Not side men.. they accompany a musical entity..they wouldn't be part of a band.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1443795486' post='2877777'] You are a time waster and I claim my £5. [/quote] This thread is a waste of time..where's my fiver..?? :

Good news..onward and upward and take it slowly. When you have to repair/rebuld something you've spent your whole life building..ie growing up... be patient that you can't seem to do so easily the things you used to. Best wishes

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1443768264' post='2877466'] Can someone give the definition of sideman and pick-up band? [/quote] A side man is a player whom plays a supportive role. And by that he may have input into the song, the feel, the direction, He is involved in the band unit and its business...and a big part of that business is getting gigs which goes to material which he would have an opinion on, no doubt. If you just turn up and are directed, then this is more inline with a pick-up/dep/scratch..which I didn't actually want to determine... You might be THE regular guy who does most/all of the gigs but you could easiiy replaced as nothing you do is not expendable. I would want to avoid that if it was a band I wanted to stay in...but as always, there are subtle variations..so nothing is cast in stone. Most of the bands I play in have very high changeability...it is the way it is. It is very hard to get a high level band with hi level players all to be available at the same time, every time. You can get a pretty decent band all pulling together and dedicated to that one one band..but generally anyone who is any good..relatively speaking.. will be in demand and all it takes is for them to be open to another gig and you have diary conflict potential. Of course, there are always exceptions...etc etc

In answer to the OP..as haven't been able to read the other replies as yet... is that the reason ppl waste time is because the initial Ad isn't defined enough. When I look at players, there is going to be a hierachy... and there is no escaping that, and unless you can filter off the enquiries, there will be mismacthes. I recently had a band unit with everyone recommended for the gig...but it didn't work. The players were of the right standard so it was clearly at what point you call time on it...and for what reason. As it happened two guys said they were 'too busy' and called it off...which saved me the job of having to do that. Now...I kind of knew the outcome before we went in and I was right, IMO... but out of courtesy to some people we went ahead. I'll probably do other gigs with them..if a band leader calls us at some point, ... but I know it will not work. That wasn't a waste of time... but agree if someone is oblivious to their ability and how it stands up in the grand local pool of talent, then yes... but then you should call it and shut down the 'audition' after 15 mins..???

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1443727122' post='2877265'] When they hired me it was to play bass and sing, not choose material or what songs we play. I think what you meant was those [i]"sideman [/i]" not [i]"pick up"[/i] band. Blue [/quote] Nope, I'm always a sideman as I don't do the gig solo and I play the bass part. And as a sideman, I'd expect input and to contribute.

If you really want to pursue this...you could demo a DB750/751. The EQ on these amps is quite subtle and it has a great power stage. Personally I think it is a modern take on the Ampeg SVT and I'd say...for my purpsoes, does it better. It is lighter at around 60lbs...which isn't light but is a one man lift. I also think the gain stage is more under control. For me, the best thing about the SVT is the power stage not the EQ as I said so I wouldn't go for the drivey element in a sound.

There needs to be an angle ....and best part time band thing isn't strong enough on its own. I wonder what they will use to spice it up a bit

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1443719273' post='2877169'] Thing is, if your not the band leader canning a song is not your call and not an option. That's why I say figure out a way to play your bass part differently so you can make it fun. Worked for me. Blue [/quote] That is a pick-up band to me.... I'd make in an option if I felt strongly enough about it...I wouldn't invest in a band myself if they lacked what I thought was musical integrity. Sure, you can make things interesting but to do that...you need chemistry to play off one and another. I'm really picky that way.

I always thought the EQ stage was the worst part about it....the good thing being that a good bass wouldn't need that stage anyway as the power section rescues it. For me..that same stage on the SVTlll pro is pretty useless and the reason why the amp..for me..doesn't work, is because the power stage doesn't bail it out. The SVTll is great despite the EQ issue...IMO. I'd carry on as usual. It is normally the weight that flags up this amp not EQ.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1443647189' post='2876662'] Several people have referenced common tastes in material and some comments on songs you don't like playing. I used to have the sane concerns about performing songs I don't care for. When your gigging a lot and and trying to make a living, you really should leave the adolescent " I hate playing this song" at the door. This is what I did to change my attitude. What can I do as a bass player to make this song fun for me. Using New positions, bringing a new feel to the line adding an effect, different fills, whatever. My point, don't let a few songs take the fun out of playing or take the fun out of a gig. Blue [/quote] To me the players are more important that the song... but if the song is crap...in your opinion, then don't do it. Any song is vetoed if someone really doesn't want to play it. There is no point flogging that as they wont bring anything to it.. If you play songs with a good feel and energy, that is your start point.. if it doesn't get to that start point, bin it

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1443646197' post='2876647'] Who are these fuddie buddies of yester year you reference? I'm 62 and I'm not a fuddie duddie. Who are these fuddie duddies? Is that an English thing. I certainly don't know of any, Blue [/quote] That is the point..when you are 30-40..you don't get 60 yrs olds.. but now those 60 yrs oid are guys who grew up on the same music that everyone did which is gtr based rock. Even 19yr kids are into Hendrix and the blues if they play gtr... IMO.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1443628795' post='2876424'] Oi fink we noe dat :-) [/quote] I don't think too many do tho... You see far too many questions about what do certian basses sound and play like..even here.. and I don't believe ANYONE has cracked that level of consistancy. I think/hope creditable makers have cracked the QC/build to an extent but sound is still the big varible. IMO.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1443623940' post='2876357'] While there is always room for improvement, I don't care where I'm stuck, as long as the guys I play with think I play well and sound good. [/quote] To be fair, some gtrs are stuck in another time warp as well...but no matter, if you get call backs, then you are doing something right for that gig.

Obviously a P-Bass has certain sound characteristics but it is not as tho all of them by the same maker sound the same.. so the difference between the 2 examples are just that..THE two examples recorded. Put another two up from the same makers and I'd be pretty sure they'd have sound differences. When I buy a bass... I'll need to hear and play it to know if I like it...all other bets are off so I am very very reluctant to buy blind. I'd be more inclined to buy unseen/played the more money I spent... but not for production models.

Agree...never do more than 2 hrs.

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1443597701' post='2875961'] Sorry obbm we've wandered off the point. Do we get conditioned? I think we do, both in a practical sense and a psychoacoustic way. Firstly we are odd creatures accumulating a lot of trial and error optimisation without realising we are doing it, and we become creatures of habit. This probably serves us well when gigging as setting up can be a bit chaotic. We go for the tried and trusted eq, tweak for the room acoustics and away we go. Experience makes you quite good at that but change speakers and you start a new learning curve. It'll take a while for you to get used to a new speaker and achieve a good sound consistently. If I'm right and most mid price pro speakers have similar drivers there will be a generic 12" 'sound'. [b]The second thing is that as creatures of habit we like the familiar. I'll bet a lot of us are still playing with the tones used in the recordings of our youth. (Playing mostly songs in 4/4 and a Western tone scale and I,IV,V,vi if truth be told) so after a little experimentation we settle down to 'our tone' and just look for incremental improvements.[/b] It's been interesting designing speakers for other bass players. The 12" I've been designing here has more, cleaner and deeper bass and more top than almost all the non horn 12" commercial units out there which I know from the measurements we've taken. It was what people asked for but the people who've tried it have had mixed responses, they hear the extra clarity but don't know what to do with it. I've gigged them regularly but my graphic eq now looks like the response of an old fashioned 8x10. Even I obviously like the sound of lots of cheap speakers. One of my projects is now going to have to be to design a 1x12 that sounds like an ancient 4x10! Of course it may not just be us. My live sound is set up to work with the rest of the band and if they all set up to sound like their heroes then I've got to fit in with that. The price of playing covers i suppose. [/quote] This is key for me.... I don't even have the same style I had 5 years ago..let alone, sound. Styles evolve and therefore so does you sound. You can pay homage..but the trick is to try and incorporate them all into where you are now. My take...and it may not be the kindest... is that players and bass players in particular, are stuck in the 80's... or even further back. They still play all that stuff..it is their main reference and the only thing they've updated is the fact that they can't carry the same load... which is possibly the only reason they've looked at their rig. So..if they were really honest..and I don't entirely mean this in the wrong way... what HAVE they changed..?? I would also say that a place like this is a tad more vanguard-ish than many bass players thinking.. but then this also represents a small fraction of them as well.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1443570056' post='2875908'] A bit of both, I would say 80% 70s style blues/rock covers and 20% originals. As far as gigs are concerned I think were reaping the benefits of being in business for 9 years. Meaning most of our business comes from existing business and in bound call inquiries. Generating new business is crucial and a struggle for us. [b]Something interesting happened this year, we were also able to land what you guys call function band gigs. We call them corporate gigs. These higher paying gigs are usually reserved for show bands doing Bruno Mars and Lady Ga Ga.[/b] Blue [/quote] This is always a difficult thing to manage. We never changed our 'pub set' too much for functions as we were booked by someone who'd seen us. Of course, you can't be oblivious to what that market requires but what really counts is that they liked us and we knew..and they had the same confidence..that we had a good show. There were no dodgy moments about whether anyone would get up and dance and we basically delivered a hard hitting 'show'..as opposed to a selection of tunes as per the whim of the evening. So we quickly trebled our pub fee to a party/function fee....and the idea is to get it to 5 times. Of course...you need a few dates to tick over on... but you really have to get out of the pub circuit here if you want to up your money. As with all things, you have to be perceived as worth it to the buyer... but this will be the model of a new band as well. The accent will be firstly on the playing, and a great vibe. Then we will see how well this crosses over. I've no doubt it will, tbh... just needs a bit of ground work. I would say a rock blues set...as I understand that in a pub sense over here, would indeed be a tough sell to corporate or functions...but those fuddly duddies of yesteryear...??? they are the ones who grew up on the 60's and rock music and they are the target audience now..?? Simple test.... a 60th birthday USED to be a gig of dread 20 years ago and it would catch many a band out as they just didn't have the repetoire..??? now those 60th birthday people grew up with Hendrix and the Who..???

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1443291326' post='2873657'] Does anyone else think that a different style player (no offence Loz! Might have yielded different results ? Loz was all about the attack [/quote] As I understand it, Lozz plays P-bass with a pick so I'd say that was probably a typical test. Depends what most players who buy those cabs play like detemines how valid it is. I expect a mid hump cab to be most exposed to this style of attack/playing/sound so for the mid hump cab to end up on top says quite a lot, IMO

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1443479867' post='2875198'] But where is the passion ? [/quote] Not sure passion is the right word for me, but you need chemistry and desire and you need commitment... and I use these words with regards what you are playing... not in terms of the band is set up itself. All the guys I'll use have history..they probably have better gigs than I can give them and they may put money quite high up the list as they NEED to, but I like to think I can give them the gig that they'd like. I don't waste their time and they don't waste mine. The music/band is very important as they wouldn't do it otherwise ... so there needs to be credence there. Once people have the desire to play.... and this should be a given, otherwise, don't bother, etc...people bring what they bring to the party and songs become a skeltal template to whizz all over. But...you also need to know when you are overcooking it... But if the music is good and you can create an intimate vibe..I can't see how it can't work. Not one for 3 men and a dog gigs tho... it has to be an event or you can create it. And to do all this...you need a very wide circle of people you can call on and who will play with you. These are the seeds of solid networking and being able to play the level you are calling upon.

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1443433601' post='2874543'] Finding people who are committed enough to turn up or learn songs is a task enough. Having them share musical taste would be a massive leap. It's a huge problem for me actually. All guitarists want to play blues rock and I'd...rather not. [/quote] That is the problem with the throw enough mud at the wall aproach.... you'll waste too much time sifting through things that aren't going to work. I tend to work only with people that have been recommended and play with the same sort of people. So I know whether i 'fancy' the player already... and then it is just a question of finding chemistry and empathy. If you have that then a load more songs become fun... The other thing is to avoid gtrs who think they are the be-all of a band. They colour the song, they don't carry or drive every single and think everyone is there for them