Franticsmurf

I was in a band like this once, for about 5 years. It was one of the best band experiences for me because we were good, the venues booked us (we had several residencies) and it made playing so much fun. 100% agree.

I guessed it would have. For most of the venues we play, there still wouldn't be enough room on stage but that's more to do with us being a big band with a full drumkit. A robust stand to lift the projector up might work, but any vibration would be magnified by the stand and projection distance. When we were looking into it, I started playing about with what to project. Obviously it depends on the band/genre/taste but a couple of things I tried were a powerpoint presentation of random coloured shapes on each slide with a slow fade transition applied and the video feedback from a webcam pointing at the computer screen while recording. None of these would have been synchronised, though.

I looked into it for our band, using a projector, a few years ago. The problem at the time was getting the projector far enough away from the screen for the image to be large enough while avoiding shadows from the band and keeping the image bright enough to work in anything other than a blacked out venue. We decided against it in the end (too expensive, needs someone to look after it if sits out in the audience, not practical for most of the venues we were playing). I haven't kept track of the technology since but you need to consider how you would place the projector (brightness drops off as the inverse square of distance) and whether the projector can compensate for 'keystoning' (if it projects at an angle, keystoning is the distortion introduced - most projectors can compensate to a certain degree). Back projection would be best as the distance to the screen will be less because the projector is not in front of the band - as long as you have enough distance behind the band which is usually not the case.

I put this video together at the request of one potential booking person. And this is a photo from a year or so ago at fund raiser for the hall we rehearse in - fancy dress as it was Halloween themed.

The Hulla band is a 13 piece with a mix of Ukes, banjo, electric and acoustic guitars, sax, trumpet and trombone, keyboards, drums and bass. The band started as a community social event in the local village hall and they would occasionally play a concert for the village to raise funds for charity. By the time I joined, they had expanded their horizons and the B/L, a dedicated Bruce Springsteen fan, was introducing more rocky stuff. The drummer and I are the only ones not from the village but we have been fully integrated into the 'family'. What separates us from the other bands in the area? Our eclectic setlist, the fact that we are confident enough not to take ourselves too seriously and therefore always come across as having a lot of fun on stage, and all our gigs generate money for several charities - the band members are not paid. What do we have that others don't? Compared to most local bands here, we have a wider range of songs in the catalogue that means we can fit in to any style of gig from wake to festival (both of which we've done). We also have bigger gigs. If I was pitching the band to a prospect, what would be our bast selling point? We're able to do the whole event, including supplying a stage and marquee, sound, lights, a setlist that reflects what the event is all about and we will do requests if they're made in advance. Areas where I think we struggle. A number of the band members struggle with the confidence to do what they can do - as a result of how the band grew up (with the B/L putting a lot of effort in at the start to get people to play), most of the band only do what he says during rehearsals rather than try out new things or make suggestions. We have some very talented musicians (I once listened to our guitarist play a 2 minute improvised Gypsy Jazz solo) but they won't use that talent in the band context. We take up a lot of room as a 13 piece. 😀

My gig last night was a recording session for which I was the engineer. My mate has opened a small studio where he records his music school students, so it's mainly acoustic guitar and singers. His initial attempt to record were, in his own words, rubbish (well, actually he used non-Basschat language which I have translated) so he asked me in to do it properly. Having been recording myself and bands for years (I started on small Fostex 4 track cassette in the late 80's and went through an 8 track reel-to-reel machine and various digital hard disk recorders), I have some experience. Last night was a beginner singer/guitarist who wanted to record a CD's worth of cover songs so it was a relatively simple set up. He wanted to sing and play at the same time, which made getting separation from guitar and voice impossible and he kept moving around, so trying to get a consistent sound was hard. We managed to get through about half of his list before his voice gave out and he started to struggle nailing some of the guitar parts. After he'd gone, my mate explained that he was in his 90s. He didn't look it, and my admiration for his performance went up a notch or two.

That is a very cool photo.

I hear your words and will obey. 😂

I can hit the shop websites for pictures, but this is where the stories belong. I think it's more interesting to hear the process behind the purchase. And I can always use some of the arguments for making the purchase in future decision making of my own. 😀

I heard that Trump said 'the nice 5 string is the best, best 5 string.' And, apparently, he's going to buy the Gear Abstinence Thread. Or take it. Or hit it with a tariff. 😀

I notice that @King Tut got the 'nice 5 string' and @Geek99 and I were left with the ordinary ones. 😂

Last night was the final rehearsal with the Hulla band before our next gig on Saturday - a birthday party in the next village along. It was sounding good as this one was just a run through of the set. Usually the band leader has added, changed or removed songs between practices but only lets us know an hour or so before kick off but last night the set was the same as the previous week. It was tight, the sound was good and for the most part we knew what we were doing. It was a chance for me to try out my latest acquisition - a 2nd hand Ibanez GSR205 5 string bass (my ticket out of the Gear Abstinence league) - and I was very happy with the sound and the playability. The string spacing is a small-hand friendly 16.5mm at the bridge and all the problems I've had in the past (I have small guitarist's hands) were gone. I was still making a few mistakes as a result of the extra string throwing some confusion into the mix, but overall I was very happy. My current pedalboard is just a Zoom MS60b (providing a noise gate and compressor with an option for adding chorus) and my Ampeg Classic pre-amp going into the desk. The sound of the bass was just right - punchy without being overwhelming. I even got compliments from our sound guy ("I loved the sound and turned you up a couple of times")

Yes, reluctantly and with hindsight I realised that the situation I was in actually gave me loads of confidence in my own playing in terms of ability to keep up with the B/Ls whims and mistakes and to deal with curve balls. As you say it also taught me that, for the most part, the audience don't care as long as they are enjoying what is going on. Looking back on my experiences with that particular B/L (which spanned probably 15 years on and off in various duos, trios and more) I now see it as a great learning experience which I've been able to use in the current bands I'm with. I still occasionally dep with that B/L (we remain friends) but my attitude to his gigs are purely what your guitarist friend suggested.

Yes, been there - not with your band leader, obviously 😀 - but in a pre-Covid band it became increasingly the case that a new (to us) song would appear in the set as the singer/guitarist uttered the classic "It's in 'C', follow me". Often it wasn't in 'C'. We realised after a few months that he was introducing songs from his solo set into our set. Shortly after, we all left him. 😂

Just spotted the comment. Just to let you know the pedal and I are still together despite it being a cheesey Valentine's Day thing. 😍 I'm completely out now - as detailed above - as I've had an ongoing affair with an Ibanez 5er. The pedal is happy with our relationship. 🤣

60th birthday party for the sound engineers wife last night, and the Hulla band were asked to play a short acoustic set in the marquee in the garden. Sacrifices were made to the rain and wind gods and it was dry and warm. We played without drums and after a trial run the week before it was obvious that my acoustic bass couldn't cut through in the mix so I went with my Ibanez AGBV200 through a little Vox practice amp. As the MC was our sound man, the mix was good. It was meant to be a surprise so the instruments were hidden away in vans, behind hedges etc until we all gathered in the tent, much to the delight of the birthday girl. We did about 30 minutes and had everyone (around 50 or so) up and dancing from the start. One of the reasons I love playing with this band is that we always enjoy the gigs, and the kinds of audiences we play to are there to enjoy as well, so we rarely get the drunken idiots mentioned elsewhere in this thread. (I've experience them in other bands and 100% sympathise with you). No photos have emerged yet, probably because the party went on way after we'd finished. 😀 Footwear - black Skechers lace-ups. Here's one I took of my kit.

First run through last night for a side project that supports the Hulla band at their festival every year. It's a subset of the main band and we only play the one gig each year. The rehearsals are usually few and far between as everyone has other things they are doing, but its worked out well in the end each time we've done the gig. Last night was meant to be just a chance to go through some of the songs, see what's working and what isn't, settle in our newest member on sax and set the scene for the rehearsals to come. We warmed up with some songs from last year's set and then, completely unplanned, decided to give 'Baker Street' a go. It was on the 'possibles' list but we were going to leave it for a separate session as none of us have played it before. The sax player was quite nervous about doing it but it's a fun, relaxed atmosphere so we went ahead. And after one dodgy start we played a pretty good version all the way through until we realised we didn't know how to end it. 😀 The drummer has a purpose built soundproofed rehearsal space in his garden as he's quite busy with several big bands and depping work. It's just big enough for 5 people to squeeze in. I used my BAM200 into his 1x15 cab and my Ibanez EHB1000s to save hitting people with my headstock.

It's certainly not 'worthless information' and as someone who has owned an acoustic bass for 5 years, I am not 'clueless' about it. I may have a different opinion and experience of them than others here but that's ok. I chose to share my experience so that others could make an informed decision.

So sad. RIP Sam.

My acoustic bass is always amplified when we do 'acoustic' sessions. I tried it unamplified last week (playing with 2 acoustic guitars and four ukeleles) in advance of an acoustic gig on Saturday and not only could I not hear it but no one else could either. I am now using my hollow body Ibanez which sounds better amplified. I don't think I'll be using the acoustic again unless it's for show.

This is the mistress of my downfall. I needed a 5. I got a 5. An Ibanez GSR205 relic-ed by the previous owner more through neglect than intent but not so you'd notice (a screw forced into a bolt insert for the battery cover, some dings and scratches, all pointed out by the seller).

Rehearsal last night with the Hulla band. We have an upcoming short acoustic set for the sound guy's wife's birthday so we went through the 6 songs for that. Frankly, it was poor with little understanding of the difference between an acoustic line up and the full band. In order to be heard I have to amplify my semi acoustic bass and so I offered to step out to keep it 'acoustic', but the drummer turned up thinking he'd play a reduced kit (=a couple fewer toms and cymbals) and the brass section drowned everyone out. The outcome was that the drummer finally saw sense and is not playing (apart from anything else we have to sneak all the instruments into the marquee while the birthday girl is distracted and despite his initial claims that he could set up stealthily, the drummer finally got that it couldn't be done). I'll be playing through a small practice amp and the two guitarists will be using acoustic guitars. The sound engineer is happy and ultimately that's all that matters. We went straight into full band rehearsal for another birthday party that we've been booked to play and I think this may have suffered from the previous acoustic session. It was a bit lacklustre and chaotic. Given that the last rehearsal session we had was one of the best I can remember with them, it was a bit disappointing and we called time earlier than usual. I know we can (and will) do better so I'm not unduly worried.

I hereby give notice of impending Gear Abstinence Failure. A 5 string has been sourced, ordered and paid for but has yet to arrive. In my defence, m'lud, a recent setlist update beyond my control has seen the need for some low B action (so the bigger boys in the band have told me) and they made me get one (and they stole my dinner money, too). Good luck to those who have stayed strong and loyal to this thread. Stay strong, brothers. 😀

Four definite bookings with the Hulla band - including our self organised festival at which I'll also be performing with a splinter band. I would expect us to pick up another 3 or 4 gigs between now and the end of the year, if previous years are to go by. We tend to play private functions rather than pubs and clubs. 8 to 10 gigs per year with the Hulla is the norm. I'm also rehearsing with a new band and I would be expecting to pick up some bookings with them, probably starting in the next month or so.

Evri delivered a package to me ordered from an overseas company via Amazon. The first I knew about the delivery was when, four days later, I asked about the non-receipt of my order. The seller came back with a photo from the Evri driver of him about the drop the package over my garden fence into a part of the garden I can't see from the front or back. And he claimed I'd signed for it. Sure enough it was there - and had been during the only rain shower we've had in days. I have a porch which everyone else uses. Fortunately the contents were ok. I (naively) thought I'd get an email notification 'your package will be delivered today' and confirmation email 'your package has been delivered' as I do with other couriers.