gjones

The passive output on my J retro is not as loud as the active but is pretty strong. The last time I had problems with my pickups sounding weak it was because I had wired them up out of phase. It might be worthwhile checking your wiring.

[quote name='Surrpaul' timestamp='1478684346' post='3170833'] My covers band, like most I assume, get requests all the time from punters. We try our best to add some to our set if we think it'll benefit us long-term, as most fit into the genre of music we mostly play. Until Country was requested... We get asked for Cash all the time. Every gig almost it seems, so we've decided to go for Folsam Prison Blues. Its dead easy, pretty much E A B7 throughout, and whilst I am comfortable playing the original bass lines in the song, I can't embellish it the way I want to. I want it to be an authentic 'fill' when I do it. Some quick web searches throw up chromatic elements to scales but I want something in particular to make country music fans go "oh man, that bass line was sweet there". My question, what would you do, specifically, to provide a quick fill/flourish to colour the dull monotony of the percussive element to the bass line in the song? [/quote] Slap bass solo?

There is a certain age, beyond which, it is embarrassing to play, in public, in a dodgy band. Find a better band, with better musicians.

Macy Gray 'Why didn't you call me'. It's definitely Blues and it's funky too. I could hear Robert Cray covering it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHaz1foH1cc Same goes for Duffy's 'Mercy'. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7ZEVA5dy-Y

Charles & Eddie 'Would I lie to you?' http://youtu.be/G_UXvcr22rM

a few years ago I sold a bass on basschat which had dodgy wiring (which was unknown to me at the time I sold it). The buyer, a trusted member of basschat, messaged me and made me aware of it within a couple of days of receiving it. I immediately gave him a refund of the cost of repair. If he had got in touch 2 months later, I would probably have told him that the bass was no longer my responsibility and the cost of repair was down to him.

I bought a Fender TV15 combo from them a few years ago. It was about £100 off the normal price so I thought I'd got a bargain. when it arrived it was clear that it was a demo model, as there was marks on the tweed covering. I was philosophical about it, as I had paid £600 for a £700 amp, the marks were superficial and it worked fine, so I didn't bother returning it. The problem I had with GAK, was that they hadn't made me aware that the amp was B stock on their web page. I would have been well within my rights to return it and ask for a new amp - if I felt inclined. Ever since that time I have been very wary of using GAK to buy new gear. I'd much prefer to use Thomann, as their customer service is excellent.

I tend to go with the singer. I play in a lot of trios, where the guitarist is also the singer. If they make a mistake I'll go with them.

It took me a long time to figure out it was the cab that was the most important element when playing live. Cheap instruments can be worked on but you can put a five grand bass through a dodgy cab and it will sound like you just picked it out of a skip. Don't skimp on the cab kids!

I bought a hydrive 112 which puts out 300 watts at 8 ohms. It is significantly quieter than both my Ashdown 115 and my Barefaced compact. The barefaced is significantly louder than either the Hartke, or the Ashdown.

The change in tone you can get with varying where you set your volume, is more apparent when recording than playing live,I feel.

Playing, with the new drummer in the band, makes me feel like the rhythm section is a train powering down the track. The old drummer was so lacking in groove,or any musical empathy, I felt like I was dragging a dead whale behind me, over a landscape littered with huge boulders.

A Wal MK 2 is the only bass that I have ever stopped and spun around, mid conversation, at a sound check in Whistlebinkies and went 'What the hell is that bass!'.

I never experience any woolliness from the Ashdowns I've owned. The Ashdown cans might be a bit undefined but the amps are fine.

This has got me thinking. I was asked to join a band recently and I didn't ask any of these questions. If the set list is sh*t but they make big bucks I can compromise. If the set list is great and the money is sh*t I can compromise. But if the set list is sh*t and so is the money......nah!

Japanese Squires had the truss access at the the neck but not 62 reissues. I suspect someone has added a Fender decal to a MIJ Squier.

I have a GK500 which I play with the gain at 12 and the master at 10. It doesn't get hot

I changed the neck on my Geddy Lee Jazz with a quite chunky Allparts neck. The sound was much deeper and rounder with the Allparts fitted.

Those are spiral saddles, usually seen on USA and Jap reissued basses, not Mexican ones. I had fitted one to a bass I owned and quickly replaced it with a bog standard Fender bridge. The trouble with mine was that the strings used to move around on the saddle while I was playing. I felt I need a saddle with a deeper groove, so the string would stay in place.. You can get a standard bridge, on ebay, for next to nothing.

If money is tight,invest in a decent cab. As I find the cab you use has more impact on your sound than the amp.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1473374273' post='3129691'] Don't see it makes any difference, not all classical pieces are 20 minute long epics, listen to classic FM sometime. Even if they are, they're usually in sections. [/quote] Sheet music has more than just the chords, harmonies and melodies, it also has indications of musical expression, [color=#252525][font=sans-serif]dynamic indications, such as forte or piano, phrasing, [/font][/color][color=#252525][font=sans-serif]differing qualities of timbre and articulation, color, intensity, energy and excitement. W[/font][/color]hich is useful when playing with a large orchestra and with little time for extended rehearsals. Classical, orchestral, music is meant to be played as the composer intended, with very little room for individual expression. This is why a professional, classical musician, needs sheet music and Nigel Bloggs, playing Oasis covers down The Pig and Whistle doesn't.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1473372922' post='3129671'] I'll be sure to tell my friend that. He's one of the bassists in the CBSO. [/quote] Ha, Ha we're talking 3 min pop songs not Wagner's The Ring Cycle

[quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1473361680' post='3129525'] Just checking my most recent set list... 53 songs. I take a music stand. [/quote] I bet you know those 53 songs like the back of your hand. Next time you gig, don't take the music stand. You'll astound yourself, with what an amazing memory you have. Live dangerously......you know you want to.

If you haven't memorised the songs, then you lack commitment. Unless you have Alzheimer's, or are depping, there's no excuse

Played at Edinburgh street party at Hogmanay a few years ago. They used to sell 250,000 tickets but reduced it to 80,000 for safety reasons. I don't know how many played in front of our stage? Quite a few.