EssexBuccaneer

We’ve got Facebook, twitter, insta and now tiktok - which is actually the most popular of them all. We show rehearsal clips on there (30-40secs per track) as well as clips of us as ‘people’, gear reviews, what were upto etc. In the grand scheme of things our account is small - but it’s very new, and we’re getting 250-500 views per clip without even having played a gig yet.

22 minutes ago, Doctor J said:

Yep, self-taught on bass, guitar and drums and have recorded and gigged in bands on all three. I started on bass in the late 80's, had one book on bass playing, which got stolen after a while, so learned from watching other players live and in videos and taking the things I liked from their sound and technique. None of my guitar-playing friends were any use at writing music, so I started playing guitar a couple of years later, purely so we could have a band and play our own music. I followed the same pattern of self-learning through looking and listening. A few years later, I started playing drums and, again, learned the same way. 
 

I'm not a maestro on any of them but, in truth, I don't really want to be. They're a means to an end and that end is making music. I'm good enough to play what I want to hear and, if I need to play something beyond my abilities, I'll figure out how to do it and practice it. I don't feel burdened by this approach. I don't feel the need to master techniques I have no musical interest in playing. I sound like me and I'm as good as I need to be to make the music I want to hear. That'll do, pig, that'll do.

Drums are a black art! My old drummer sat me behind the kit once. Maintaining a beat with the kick and the snare was easy enough - “i’m a natural” I thought….
 

…Until we introduced a third element 🫣

This has probably been discussed already, but are you a self-taught player or did you take lessons?

I’m self-taught, from an era before youchoob. Books, mates, and frankly trial and error. Learned to play guitar originally and then switched to bass to ‘fill in’ for a mates band - and never really went back to guitar. 
 

The problem is that I have myriad bad habits, I don’t use my pinky, I’ve never paid enough attention to muting, and I’ve never learned theory. All of which I’m now trying to do with ingrained techniques and muscle memory. Finding out to my chagrin that undoing those bad habits is quite a task!…

So how about you guys? 

I’ve been after a five-string for a while, and tbf I’m still saving for the Schecter I really want - but forgot about some shares I had and used them to blow £130 of the finest English pounds on this wee devil. 
 

it looks nice, plays nice. The tuners are *terrible* and the frets need a polish, but at that price I’m not grumbling. 
 

New tuners and a little TLC and it’ll be ace.

If I couldn’t cope with mistakes, I’d have had a breakdown at rehearsal last night. Was all over the shop! One of those nights! 🫣

We are living in scary times, and we’re certainly all feeling the pinch. (Well, except for the ones who put us here)

On the flip side though, budget gear has never been of a higher quality. I was astounded at how good my guitarist’s Harley Benton Flying V is - for the grand sum of £170. Is it perfect? No. Is it comparable to mid-price guitars from a few years back? Definitely.

I just saw the original Biohazard lineup are in London on August. Am Very tempted - they were the sound of my youth (and the first tattoo I got!)

I’ve just bought a cheap and cheerful Harley Benton five string which will take my total to three. One in E, one half-step down, and the five stringer for the really heavy stuff. 
 

I can’t be arsed with retuning between songs.

Joss Stone’s brutal murder of The Green Fields of France is my shout. FWIW the Dropkick Murphys did the best rendition of this ‘un

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8uoBDW-URvw

We’re adding the Beastie Boys ‘Sabotage’ to the set. My chance to shine 😃

Having never been particularly adept at muting strings, I’m learning a whole new skill in the process!

We’re 4 guys in late 30’s and early 40’s our band is called MLC - Mid-life crisis.
 

I thought it was a great name, even though there are some other bands who share the name. Am totally happy. 
 

I was contacted by another band to try out with them, they were called Hashtag and the name was enough to make me think seriously about even trying out. 

On 03/03/2023 at 12:52, uncle psychosis said:

Struggling to process this one. 

 

I don't really do the whole celebrity RIP thing, but Pulp were "my band". I play bass mostly because of Steve. My username is a reference to one of their songs, and one of his killer basslines. 

 

It feels really quite odd to be quite so upset at the death of a total stranger. 

I feel you. Chris Cornell was mine. Still occasional hits me out of the blue. It’s odd, isn’t it? 

What do other basschatters think about building your setlist, regarding popular songs vs less well-known?

I understand the need to get people up and dancing/singing - that’s how you get rebooked, but so many covers bands have identikit setlists (Sweet Child O’ Mine, livin’ on a prayer, Basket Case et al). Don’t we all want to mix it up a bit? 
 

How niche can you go in a pub full of punters who all expect to hear Mr Brightside? 

5 hours ago, gt4ever said:

What a great opener, hope it works out.  Out of interest how are you getting Timmy’s killer tone from that album??  Good luck, I’m not jealous much 😝 

Presently, I have no idea what we’ll be doing - trial and error to see what we can replicate. I’d be happy with anything that comes even close!

We’re adding Audioslave’s Cochise to our set as an opener, will be practicing it for the  first time at rehearsal on Tuesday. Killer song. 

Well, not a gig, but my new band ‘MLC’ had our first rehearsal with me a few weeks ago - my audition. We clicked pretty well from the off, and I was invited to join half way through! We plan on having regular vlogs as we prepare, and will have gig footage as soon as we get out there! 
 

Here’s the first vlog with the new lineup:

38 minutes ago, Richard R said:

Are they all individual stickers, or a single sheet of paper, or a combination? I can’t tell from the photo, and I don't know if Arthur, The Simpsons, and Transformers would naturally appear together.

Looks great however it's done, what did you seal it with?

It’s a stickerbomb, so all individual stickers. 
 

At present it’s not sealed, because I really want a Thundercats, Beavis and Butthead and M.A.S.K addition - (Its only ‘theme’ is retro cartoons).

Not exactly a build, but here’s how I spent my day. The original electric pink is an unbranded cheap Chinese thing. When I get some funds I’ll change out the pickups for something worth having.  

I went out and saw the band I’m presently auditioning for last night in a local pub. Had a great night, and they were keen to chat with me in the break. Also introducing me to their little gaggle of friends and family…sounds positive, I think?

I have a workmanlike GSR180, as I’m just getting back into playing. Lovely thing. And great VFM. The only mod I’ve made so far was to change the chrome knobs for black ones, and I may change the hardware for black as well for that stealth look. Very impressed with it so far.

5 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

The Fender blues deluxe seems to be a pretty decent harp to start with considering it was thirteen quid. The blow & draw on all of the holes works the tone/volume seems to be consisten. I believe these are made in China by Easttop for Fender—it appears to be a rebadged T10-3. It will be interesting to compare it to my old special 20 when I return home.

That’s what I use, I have a C and an A at present. Trying to nail that 2-draw bend is proving a frustrating experience! 

Any other harp players? I’ve been playing on and off for about a year now. My blues licks are sounding alright, if basic. 
 

It’s a great, fun (and portable!) instrument, keeps me occupied in the office on lates when I’m alone. Am not quite confident enough to pull it out when there’s others around just yet though! 

I’ve been invite back for a second rehearsal/audition so have got a few tracks on the go at the moment. 
Whilst hopeful that I get the gig, am terrified of a 36 song setlist landing in my lap, with looming dates booked!

Hi guys, I’m a forty-something bass player and sometimes rhythm guitarist, recently venturing back into the scene after 2 decades (yes, decades) away. 
 

I played my last serious gig in 2002, gave it up due to shift work, and after a job change decided to get back into playing. Presently messing around with a covers band and just loving playing again. 
 

I play an Ibanez GSR180 through an Orange Crush 100. Looking to add compression shortly (Kongpressor?) 

Looking forward to chatting and hopefully learning a thing or two!