Dan Earp

I have the same experience, upgraded from 2x110 bf cabs to one Monaco. Because the 110’s struggled outdoors in the way the Monaco doesn’t

Interesting. I actually aim to do our version, rather than exactly as a recording. The singer doesn’t sound like the original singer so why on earth should the band beat itself up over being exactly as a version. Which one is ‘right’? I learn the original and then do my thing, in this case in the verses as someone else said earlier. Lots of covers aren’t the same as the original, think skunk anansie, Eva Cassidy. That’s musicianship I envy…. as a punter I do sometimes wonder why don’t some players play well, within their competence, and use their musicianship rather than be a slave to a particular version. I’d rather the audience react positively to the groove than say that’s a good cover but the singers no Freddie, Mick Jagger or whoever else you want to name. So I refute ‘couldn’t bother to learn it properly’ and would replace it with play within your musical competence. I come from this view as a pianist who accompanies as well as a bass player. No way can I reproduce famous song accompaniments exactly. Should I give up because I can’t reproduce a full band?

As I provide a decent PA I now say we all arrive at an agreed time to set up and no one goes home till everyone is packed……unless they’d like to provide the PA of course.

It has happened to me twice over the years, involving the same guitarist. I was blamed the first time because he couldn’t take the politics created by the other guitarist about me. That guitarist then went in to join another long standing band, run by a music teacher and her husband. They were traumatised. It has never reformed. a few years later just before lockdown he asked me to join another group. After lockdown he and the bass player,(I play keys as well) advertised for a keyboard player. he has asked several times would I play with him…..he seems upset somehow I can never make it. so I join those who say walk away…. But learn from this experience mention it at the start. That band should be honest enough to have honest discussions about these decisions and why. It’s not for you if they don’t understand. My beef is the PA. First 5 piece singer turns up 15 minutes before start and walks away as soon as money given out. They still play 3-4 times a year. Now I say it should be no one leaves until everyone is packed up. It working at the moment with two other bands and some 30 odd gigs. Sometimes I not only have the bass rig but also the keys, if one of the two guitarists is absent. I then play bass in the left hand. Can sound very realistic and I have had people come and look to see whose playing bass when the bassist has sat down to play keys🤣 so your not alone, walk away but try to learn from it because, if you don’t, it’ll probably happen again…….

In my band the singer gets the balance of drums/guitars/Bass/keys if I’m playing them for some numbers right, then he comes back into band to sing and then one of the guitarists will check singer against rest of band. Last gig I did that even though I was bass. it works and recordings posted on facebook or sent by members of the audience show it’s not far out.

I assist at an open mic, I bring bass and keys. I do collaborations with some of the regular players on the night, all I ask is they have some sort of chart or tab for me to follow. I also attend Norfolk Blues Society jams. Well run, they have a host who plays a few songs at the start and end, in between the jammers are called up to play two songs. Because of that, I have played with some of the best Norfolk musicians…..and some of the wannabe’s, but the former makes up for the latter. And over the years, have realised how important the better musicians are in allowing the less confident/able to shine and have their moment. there is no doubt that the quality of the night is mainly down to the person who decides the jamming group

Here speaks a musician…….

I have a short scale which didn’t sound as nice as my status, so Tony Edwards of Tony Edwards Guitars made a custom pickup for me….sounds much better now and good value as well. 😎

Playing a pub we played in first time a few months ago with new owners. They’d had a couple of dozen bands already and decided we fitted the bill. Good fee plus food and drink for band and partners Going in the Campervan so I can drink, and missus can retire early if she wants. More into classical than rock… looking forward to it, apart from the fact I usually don’t drink until the last break, or I go off piste. Plus I have to play keys for old ang syne … 🤣🤣

I’m relatively new to bass playing, coming from keys/piano. I make mistakes all the time, though they are reducing. I have two observations firstly, I never stay in a band that insists that there is only one right way to play a song. If doing a stones number, the singer doesn’t sound like Mick Jagger and no one complains. So my mantra is get the essence of the song, and success is tapping feet or hands, and singing along, a and in extremis for a pub blues rock band, dancing along Secondly, to me timing is far more important to concentrate on, with a simpler line, rather than chase after a ‘right’ set of notes that are ever so slightly out. combine the two points to say you should do your thing well and be proud and not some one else’s thing not so well finally, although I’m all to aware of my mistakes, the recordings sound surprisingly good, much better than my feelings at the time…

We could do a temporary swap with mine and I can try something well out of my league🤣🤣

I have the 602. Two six inch speakers and a tweeter. Makes my eub sound like a double bass, brilliant. I use it for rehearsals and quiet pub gigs, open mikes and the like …but for playing rock with the band I revert to eich/sysis. But I cannot recommend it more. Replacement model is called 802

It is mine😎

Same chords if you play is wrote, but I add a V bass note at the turn around back to the 1 chord. Some will say a heinous crime, for other it gives a comfortable resolution

Lots of interesting and correct ideas here, for me what matters is expression and timing. I strive to play a bass line to lead the listener on harmonically to what’s happening next, and pushes them along rhythmically, together with the drummer so they can’t help tap their feet. Then after a while, if things go well and the groove really working I may move further up the fret board for a verse, or with a good drummer play around with the rhythm. Don’t forget, two people can sing the same tune, one you really like and want to listen to, another you can be happy they’ve stopped, same notes, but one is in the groove, puts the right expression in, and the doesn’t communicate in the same way. so in short, there is a lot in it’s not so much what you play, but how you play it..