Sibob

[quote name='BassBunny' post='492771' date='May 19 2009, 10:23 PM']Spot on Si. It is the point at which the Pot doesn't have any effect. When you wind it one way it Boosts and the other way, Cuts.[/quote] Generally yes, but not always? The Sadowsky preamp is all boost isn't it? I suppose that means that their knobs don't have a centre-dent! Si

Great article mate! Cheers for that! Si

Fender listings generally go like this: Fender Standard Jazz/Precision bass (Mexican MIM) Fender US Standard J/P (American MIA) Si

See the story above is very cool! Nice one Teej The DIY ethos can serve people incredibly well, if you know what you're doing! I think it works especially well in the roots based genres as most of the fans are completely up for supporting their community, there's an underdog mentality, and it works in the artists favour. I think a lot of the time in the rock/pop/mainstream genres, the labels and sometimes even the artists (Metallica anyone) are seen as the 'rich corporate enemy' and so people are less likely to feel loyal enough to purchase a CD over downloading illegally. Of course measuring success is completely subjective, but when we're talking about major, or even large indie, record companies, there are very specific numbers involved! . For the record, I myself would be very happy with the place that Teej has found himself in, anything else is a bonus Si

Glad to hear it went well, such a fun song to play, you can't really do anything wrong....it's that kinda groove This is a great live version of the song by the guys themselves (if you haven't seen it already), with an extended bass break Si

Yeah my last couple of gigs have been tone heaven, my saturday night (just gone) gig to be specific! Just my '03 US Jazz into my Ashdown rig, but it was beautiful!! Si

[quote name='chris_b' post='492373' date='May 19 2009, 02:14 PM']It was a long time ago, and all contracts are different, so I would never take the advice on these specific BBC and Wiki sites as anything other than just general info.[/quote] Of course, absolutely 'general info'! And I agree that all contracts are different. But I'm afraid, to me at least, your friends predicament is in a world of its own. Of course I've heard of anything and everything being charged to the artist, meals, parties etc, but almost always recouped from royalties, not from the artist's own finances earned from other ventures unrelated to the contract or even to music!!! It really does go to show that one NEEDS to thoroughly read, or have checked by an independant legal party, any and all contracts! Si

source: [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/guide/record_contract.shtml"]http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/gui..._contract.shtml[/url] "The advance is not money that the record company is giving you. It is essentially a loan which the record company expects to recoup through record sales, royalties and licensing of your music for other uses." source: [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/general/incomep03.shtml"]http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/general/incomep03.shtml[/url] "If an act is running at a loss from their first album, the label is likely to want to keep a tight rein on things when it's time to record the next one. If it's a big loss then it's unlikely that there will even be a second album. The act will be 'released from their contract' - or dropped in less polite terms" "It can take years for a band to recoup and see any more income from the album. In fact there are acts who have careers spanning a few albums who have never recouped at all" source: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recording_contract#.28iv.29_Advances.2C_Royalties_and_Recording_Costs"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recording_con...Recording_Costs[/url] "Some of the money may be "recoupable" which means that it can be earned back from record sales, some of it is money that the label is simply expected to pay out." "The loan is paid back slowly through sales." I would suggest that if you're friend, who was signed, is still paying his advance back out of his own pocket as opposed to his record sales, he might have been sold a bit of a craaaaaaaaaaaaaap deal!. I'd even be inclined to find out if that is legal or not. Si

[quote name='chris_b' post='492147' date='May 19 2009, 09:52 AM']I know I've not seen many contracts like this but the ones I have seen have never been "written off". In my experience no one makes a present of 150K, especially in the Music Business! The signed guy (the rest of us weren't signed) in one of my bands was still playing off the advance, in instalments, 5 years later! That’s why my advice is to get this contract checked out by YOUR own lawyer before you take the money.[/quote] Still paying from his own personal income? Or from any royalties he had coming in? I wasn't aware that record company advances were personal loans, more 'loans' made to the "The Artist" only recoupable against royalties made from the record(s) in question!? Si

I think the case is that any publishing or 'points' given to a bass player for writing their own bass part is down to the discretion of the producer/writer of the tune! I believe that from a legal stand-point, a song is consisted of 'Chords' and 'Melody'. Like you said, if a bassist creates a bass part that is to become an important part of the melody or chord structure, than you will obviously have more of a case for writing credit than simply performing a root-five line. Si

[quote name='chris_b' post='492135' date='May 19 2009, 09:38 AM']Mmm. So he's signed a contract and he doesn't know what it entails? That is not good! One thing is for sure....they are NOT being GIVEN anything! I would imagine, at best it is a loan and someone will have to paid it back back. Please get the contract checked out and find out what the "small print" says!![/quote] Again, without seeing the contract, it's difficult to assume. If the 150k works like a standard Record Label advance, then it is recoupable from the artist/album royalties and will obviously need to be paid back before the artist sees any royalty payment themselves. From that point of view it's a loan, but usually these companies write off such advances, simply because if an artist's royalties don't cover the outlay, they're not personally liable to pay the deficit. Also, it is very unusual (read: stupid) to sign an agreement without any legal advice. Hving said that, if they've taken legal advice and signed, then they're obviously bound to the contract. If they've signed without any legal advice having been offered or given, then that has, in the past, been grounds for voiding the contract.....via the courts of course! Si

Not meaning to sound like a Harbinger of doom, but production deals *can be* bad times! Not saying this one is, but I've seen some very poor ones on paper. I assume that because a Major label is part of the production deal, that they have first dibs on the artists recording career should the production team tick all the boxes. The bad side of these deals is that even after the production company has signed over the artist to a record label for release, they still take a slice of the royalties, perhaps even past the initial album as I've seen in past agreements (one that didn't get signed I might add). It is also sometimes the case that they have some creative control of the artists musical output and also can take cuts of other income streams such as Merchandise etc, which should really be kept wholly by the band if they can help it! To be honest, without seeing what clauses are in the contract, not much point in assuming! Si

So first off, the girl who 'got famous by doing webcasts' already had publishing and management deals in place, that afforded to do that! Also, has anyone heard of McFly since they left Island?, no unfortunately not (and I actually mean 'unfortunately', that kid writes some good pop songs). The Majors are fundamentally massive banks that can role out their PR machines to make a hit. The OP figures also seem to be a bit off, PR costs are around that I guess, but MOST artists won't even consider that until a label (to pay for it) is in place anyway, unless they're from rich parents.....and I know a couple of those lol. Good albums can be made for easily a £1000-£2000, if you have a bit of savvy and know-how about you, my bands album cost £1100, start to master, and it sounds great if I do say so myself. Gallows recorded their debut for about £1000 or so and that got them a 7 figure advance from Universal for their new album. Good videos, of television broadcast quality, can be made for under a £1000 Photoshoots cost around £100-200 with a decent photographer, but most people nowadays have, or know someone with, a decent camera and some photoshop knowledge!. It is true that very few labels now scout out gigging artists with A&R and pump them full of money. Most of the time they're looking for a successful touring artist in their own right because they know they probably won't make any money from CD sales. Most bands who build themselves a decent fan following, from a DIY perspective, long tours etc etc, will probably go ahead and record their own album anyway, and license it to a label that wants to put it out. This is what is happening mostly with the indie labels. The majors then tend to pick off the top the artists that survive their first 1 or 2 albums on an indie. Also I wouldn't say that the Indie's are 'flourishing' as such, they face the same problems as any major record label when it comes to maximising their revenue streams in such a difficult digital environment. But at the same time, because of their much smaller operating sizes, they are able to 'move with the times' a lot faster than the majors. So while I agree that a band has to have a 'successful business model' to gain some industry recognition, I'm not sure that they need 15k capital to make it happen. I would probably say that the biggest costs are touring anyway, with petrol and merch etc, but again, if you're pulling in decent crowds, you're probably on an alright guarantee and so at least breaking even per show. No-doubt i'll edit and add stuff to this! Si

I picked up an Allparts Jazz neck on the forum here for £60 a couple of years ago! And generally the unfinished ones are cheaper, albeit rarer second hand! Saw an unfinished body in Denmark street the other day (in Hanks I think), routed, £95. Not sure what wood, possibly Alder Si

+1 for their general vibe as a shop! Popped in there after just before xmas '08 when I learned that they had moved, just to check the shop out really as Colchester is my home-town (although not my town of residency anymore). And Darren spent a fair amount of time talking about their stock and what things they had happening, we spoke about my want for light-weight cabs and what they were looking at over at NAMM. I had a bit of a look at basses, had a play through some cabs and went away thinking that I'd give them my business if I ever bought anything 'new' again! So yes Well done! Si

Richard Bona - Bona Makes You Sweat (live cd), amazing grooves, energy, playing, everything Gabriel Nelson - Cake, any album, get them all (although he didn't play on the Fashion Nugget album) Jim Creeggan - Barenaked Ladies, any album but probably 'Gordon' has the most 'chops' on it, great playing and phenomenal song-writing throughout their career Lovely Si

Nice one, the Classic Vibe look great!! I recently bought a Squier Deluxe 5, and completely agree that Squier have upped their game! Rather impressed! Si