gjones

WTF!!

Drunks in bands are not good news. I've played with a few. One (a singer guitarist) used to ask to be paid halfway through the gig and by the time the 2nd set came along he wouldn't be able to stand he'd drunk so much. Another singer had to be tied to a chair to stop him falling off. We thought the crowd would boo us off but amazingly they loved him (I think they thought it was an act). A drummer in a band I used to be in (who was a secret alcoholic), fell off the wagon one night and played hip hop beats throughout a blues set at a local Jazz bar. We had a residency there but he got us sacked that night. And finally, another alcoholic drummer, was finally sacked after he had explosive diarrhoea, in the back of the van coming back from a gig. Drunks don't ya luv em.

There should be a mex serial number on the back of the headstock if it's Fender.

I play in a Ska band and play quite a few of those tunes. It formed about 9 months ago and like you I was just throw in the deep end. Remember, bass in ska is the heart of the song so turn up the bass end and turn up the bass.

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1410881287' post='2554239'] [url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-USA-74-RI-Fender-Jazz-BASS-NECK-TUNERS-J-1974-Reissue-Maple-Pearl-/191325433398?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2c8be26e36"]http://www.ebay.com/...=item2c8be26e36[/url] but $800+ plus import taxes! [/quote] I bought one from a Mex classic 60's Fender a couple of years ago, for about £250 including duty and postage. That one is a vintage USA one.

I've played some dives in my time but I've (nearly) always enjoyed the playing, even if the venue is a toilet.

[quote name='sammybee' timestamp='1410538535' post='2550576'] My 70s Classic Jazz (MiM) needs a new neck. I've talked to Fender who recommend a straight replacement - but at £550 it seems a little steep (and I don't think the bass is *that* good that I would spend anything like that on it even when its 100%). Can anybody recommend a supplier of reasonably priced necks (with blocks and binding)? I can remember a thread on here a while ago but cant find it for the life of me. Cheers. [/quote] The Stratosphere has many Fender necks. Keep an eye out for one from a 70's Classic. They come up from time to time and are usually about the £200/£250 mark including postage. http://stores.ebay.com/The-STRATosphere/Necks-/_i.html?_nkw=jazz+bass+neck&submit=Search&_fsub=2&_sid=105525814

I have light gauge DR Hi Beams on my Precision, because it has a baseball sized neck and it makes it much easier to play. Certainly don't have any issues with my sound. Thought they'd be incredibly twangy but not at all.

I saw this and instantly thought it looked like a cheap Chinese neck with a fake decal. Truss rod access is incorrect for USA Fender.

[quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1410303309' post='2548109'] My opinion is the opposite. The ampeg cabs I've used either have thick indistinct rumble and/or clicky tweeter. The best ashdowns I've used were the mag410s. Used two of them against 2 very loud guitarists and they were fantastic. It was the two I traded with Conan ages ago. The 37kg weight of each one eventually did my box in. [/quote] The cab the Ampeg replaced was an Ashdown Mag.

No it ain't. Well not according to the BEEB. Honeyblood is my niece Stina's band, so I may be slightly biased. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27050381

[quote name='Dickyc1981' timestamp='1409775739' post='2543329'] But which Ampeg? Mines the cheapest of the cheap! [/quote] The one I'm talking about is one of these babies http://www.ampeg.com/products/classic/svt410hlf/

I regularly play through an Ampeg 4x10 and it's fantastic. I've owned Ashdown ABM cabs before but they don't compare very well with the Ampeg.

Buy something decent secondhand and if you decide at a future date, you don't want to play bass, you can sell it for what you bought it for.

I assume he's stated a ridiculous postage because he doesn't want to use paypal. [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]If you would prefer to pay by PayPal then you will be liable to pay the shipping charge for this item, even if you live locally to me.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]Under eBay rules I cannot qualify for Seller Protection when a buyer pays via PayPal unless I deliver the item using a trackable/signed-for service.[/size][/font][/color]

Try one of these. It does a good job of getting an Ampeg type valve sound. All for £19 from Thomann. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD0CN4rs8p8"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv1fcgUq2ng[/url]

My band was asked to 'Pay to play' for a support slot for Alabama 3 in some London 'Rock Pub'. A pub's a pub as far as I'm concerned. We told them we were washing our hair that particular night.

Sorry to hear about your tinnitus. I had carpal tunnel and the thought of having to give up gigging was awful. Luckily I had an operation and all is now fine. But I have a lot of sympathy with what you're going through.

Looks kosher.

If you do start a band, keep it small. I was in a 9 piece band a couple of years ago and trying to get them all in the same room for rehearsals was like herding cats. We had one gig in 18 months.

The usual Letterman house band bassist is Will Lee. Wikipedia says he started in 1982. He must have been on his holidays that particular day. Here's Will playing slap bass with Hothouse Flowers on 'Be Good'. There's no slapping on the original but it kinda works. The first (and last) time there ever was slap bass on a Hothouse Flowers song. [center]http://youtu.be/F3r7sQkUvJ4[/center]

I had one of these babes about 3 years ago. A beautiful retro design and a great sound but seriously heavy. If it wasn't for the fact I live 3 floors up I'd buy it. Might be a bargain for someone. They went for £700 3 years ago. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231306140074?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1407773688' post='2523860'] Does anyone else get frustrated not being able to afford half decent gear? I play a Jhs vintage bass and whilst I like it I would prefer something a bit higher quality. My amp set up is just a mixture of second hand Hartke stuff off here or ebay. Last gig my amp head died so I am currently trawling the web looking for cheap second hand heads which I know is a false economy as they probably wont last five minutes. The gigs pay well but that usually gets spent on the kids. Think its made worse that the guitarist and drummer have no commitments so are always buying new gear. I would never expect them to chip in for my gear but cant help getting a bit down about it. I look at prices of decent gear and its like a different world to me. Anyone else feel the same? [/quote] I saw a secondhand ashdown mag 300 on ebay for £75 yesterday. Decent amp and reliable.

I play through a PF500, regularly, at a local venue and I love it. I'd buy one at the drop of a hat but I keep on seeing posts like this one about how unreliable they are. Is it just the original ones that fail? Have they sorted the problem out yet? Are the new ones more reliable?

All right now, by Free. I was still figuring out the bass part on the solo until 5 mins before the gig.