niceguyhomer

[quote name='Funkmaster' post='412039' date='Feb 17 2009, 02:59 PM']Great stuff Alan! Hope that works out.[/quote] Thanks Dave -I wish I'd picked your brains on Sunday - I'm clueless when it comes to blues bass but I'll give it my best.

Nice to see you back sir

Ah soulfinger - a pleasant surprise. Where ya been? [quote name='Soulfinger' post='411307' date='Feb 16 2009, 04:45 PM']Mmmmh, maple fretboard... Japanese Fenders come in different versions. Some have basswood bodies, some are alder, some have Japanese pickups, some have US pus - hence the differences in price. The cheapest Standard versions have a generic "Fender Precision Bass Made in Japan" decal similar in style to those found on Mexican Fenders (before the latter were upgraded in 2009). Then there are the 57 (maple fretboard) and 62 (rosewood) reissues with a vintage-style "Fender Precicsion Bass" logo on the headstock (like mine), basswood bodies and Japanese pickups. Those usually can be identified by the standard Fender-type string saddles (cylinders with a single groove). The "US" versions with alder bodies and US pickups have threaded string saddles on the bridge. There are ash-bodied 70s reissues as well. They do pop up every now and then on basschat and are usually cracking basses. Good luck in finding one![/quote]

Will do Pedro as soon as I've learned this week's set Might have a blues band audition Saturday too. Bloody hell, my head's spinning :wacko:

Ooh matron ....how does it sound passive??

False knobs - I wear one all the time.

I wonder if Spector do a black bridge made out of brass - I might email PJ and ask.

I do like that black bridge...I think I may swap the hardware around with my amber Rebop. I don't mind gold hardware with amber finished but I don't like it at all with the black cherry..waddya think?

Thanks Rich - probably make sense to try both methinks.

I played Monz' excellent Ray 5 at the Yorkshire Bass Bash and really liked the Status Hot Wire Strings he'd fitted. I've just been on the website to order some and noticed there's two types - round core and hex core. Can anyone give me any insight / opinions about which I should buy? Ta very glad.

Great to see some old friends and meet a few new ones. Loving the ACGs (one day....oh yes ) Monz' Stingray 5 and artisans P Deluxe - very very nice.

It's the law - every bass player has to watch that - even though I have it on DVD and even though I've watched it 20 times already, I'll be watching it.

Absolutely double f*** that

[quote name='yorks5stringer' post='410286' date='Feb 15 2009, 06:51 PM']Here are the results of the Raffle: drawn by Kim from the Club and we utilised the Rick Turner Gig Bag..... 1. #15 2. #10 3. #8 4. #28 5. #47 6. #32 7. #13 8. #46 9. #23 10. #43 11.#32 12. #30 13.#3 14. #9 15.#40 All prizes were collected at the event: thanks to all who bought tickets and also thanks to all who donated prizes too. We sold 47 tickets at the event and 15 presales making a total of £310 although we will claim some extra gift aid on the £235 donation too![/quote] Please sir, I have ticket number 8 - what did I win?

[quote name='BeLow' post='409893' date='Feb 15 2009, 09:00 AM']Nice one. So are you sticking with it? Whatever you do don't trade your gear for a Harley without giving me a heads up first.[/quote] Mornin' Jon, yes I'll stick with it, I like a challenge, it keeps you young Having to learn 20 songs a week and more 'on the night' keeps the adrenaline going and what brain I have left active too. Gotta think of these things when you're 39 like me.

[quote name='steve-soar' post='409618' date='Feb 14 2009, 06:44 PM']Well in Al, brilliant work and playing Oasis tunes and not needing to shower for a week afterwards. So how long did you play for all together, seems like a marathon gig?[/quote] It was a bit of a marathon - probably 2 hours in total. I spoke to the guitarist earlier - he wanted to know how I was feeling I told him I was fine and that I'll get stuck in and learn another 20 songs. He told me to hang fire cos it's changing and in the meantime could I learn Rocket Man, Rosanna and Signed, Sealed Delivered Gotta laugh eh.. We have the luxury of a rehearsal next Sunday before a gig on the following Friday. I think I'm gonna buy a crystal ball and see what the set will be for that

I'm not that fussy Pedro - I hate everyone ...and BTW, I chickened out and used my Rebop and thought afterwards that I should have used the LX.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='409468' date='Feb 14 2009, 03:18 PM']I like you Al, you seem like a good guy. But having re-read your post, if you start insulting Oasis, I will hunt you down!![/quote] You can have my address - bring mates

Well, where do I start? I had my audition last Sunday, was given a long list of songs to learn followed by Friday's set list which arrived on Monday. Twice, I asked the guitarist if there are any deviations from the original versions (key / structure etc) and he said there was only two songs - Wonderwall and Long Train Runnin' - no problem I said so long as I know the script (sh*t - don't mention the script). Needless to say I didn't see much of my missus all week and that my brain hurts from information overload. My ears have also taken on the shape of my headphones too - which is deeply disturbing. I took Friday off (not cos it was the 13th) because I still had 4 songs to learn. Afternoon came and I drove to Oldham to meet the others, picked up their gear and went to the venue - a nice medium sized club (about 150 people capacity). So far so good. I set up and get my levels in the ball park and then we sound check with "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" by The Script. Twenty seconds into the song - the singer stops the band and says to me "That's all wrong - the bass isn't like that" to which I replied (politely) that I was playing the correct notes. Never mind I thought, I'll do it their way even though it's wrong. So we run through it again and everyone's happy. So we try something else and that's all wrong too ..."We don't play it like that"..frustrated, I asked if there were any other surprises to which they said "there might be" so I proclaimed that the night was going to be a f*cking disaster and if it hadn't been someone's birthday bash, I would have walked. The drummer and singer stayed at the venue so we could run through the set. So we start again with "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" by The Script and guess what? They said (the revised) bass line was wrong - "I know" I says and so they put the song through the PA using an MP3 player and I played the original correct bassline to it and they were a bit taken aback cos I was right in the first place. I get the impression when they learn a song - it's done at rehearsal from memory / collective negotiation so with few exceptions, every song they do tends to be an approximation of the original and there's genuinely nothing wrong with that IMO, so long as you're not the new bass player standing in front of 150 people. The first set goes well - we planned to do 45 mins but did 70 mins even after dropping two songs. Turns out the singer is not only an amazing vocalist but also an extremely funny bloke and knows how to work a crowd. I'm feeling a bit more relaxed and confident. Second set starts ok - we open with that f*cking song "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" by The Script - I revert to the original bassline and it sounded brilliant. Then half way through the set, the singer asks if the audience like Oasis and, being in Oldham you can guess the reponse. No problem methinks I've learned Wonderwall (in the hastily revised key) and it goes down a storm. So...the singer asks if they'd like more Oasis... and sure enough the crowd calls out for more. I shout to the others that I don't know any more Oasis songs but they do more anyway. You have to be a lifelong Beatles fan and scouser lik me to understand the emotions I went through playing Oasis shoit. My teeth were itchy and I had an expression on my face like I was having my scrotum shaved with a rusty, blunt carving knife. I played along watching the guitarist's hands and winging it and although I got through reasonably well, I'll probably need counselling for the remains of my days. The singer's on a roll know so he leaves the set completely and decides to do some U2 stuff - another band of w***ers that I despise (sorry if you don't agree) So I wing Vertigo and it goes down a storm..So...the singer asks if they'd like more U2... and sure enough the crowd calls out for more. I shout to the others that I don't know any more U2 songs but they do more anyway. By now, I feel like a picturesque **** and inwardly, I'm as miserable as sin. I turn round, look at my kit and start thinking about that Harley Davidson I'd promised myself once more. Then...a revelation. I'd been dreading playing "Dance the Night Away" by the Mavericks all night but then, what else is there to lose. The guitarist starts with the opening strum and then, to my surprise the female vocalist whips out her trumpet and does the most amazing rendition of the song. The whole place was up on its feet and for the first time I could sit back with the mind numbingly simple bass line and enjoy myself. I hate the song but when it's this good...sit back and enjoy methinks. One more song and it was over. I came off thinking that they'll say thanks and bid me a fond adieu - but it turns out they were worried that I'd say no thanks lads - it's not for me. Turns out the last bass player was a root note strummer and they aren't used to proper basslines and they all said that they thought I'd done really well to learn as much as I did in the time I had. I think the band has huge potential - the vocals are stunning and they play nice stuff but I struggled with the lack of structure TBH but that's probably me being too anal. I need to simplify what I do on the bass too - even I was probably guilding it a bit but that's what I had to do in my last band. We got 3 other gigs on the back of last night - one of them a wedding too and I have a bit more time to learn their stuff and I'm looking forward to them. I think they realised that they need a more structured approach if it's going to reach full potential and I realise that I need to calm down, relax and enjoy myself a bit more. Sorry it's been a bit like War & Peace.

I'm definitely coming - dropping the missus in town for a bit of shopping. We should've made badges for the wives / girlfriends too cos I reckon Harrogate town centre will be full of bass widows tomorrow.

Just done the deed with Karl and it was a cinch. I haven't even looked to see if the money's in my bank account cos I know it'll be there. Top geezer - nice one Karl.

I've had a proper look Pete - I haven't got that issue after all - sorry mate.

Ahem...that makes you GreeneBling innit

Ooh, I'm glad you posted that pic - I'm probably going to put black hardware on mine when Spector get some new bridges in. I'm only half an hour away if you want to try my ACG02 loaded LX5 BTW.